The Beginning (4)

Tristan devised a plan to defeat the orcs and boars.

"Alright, I have four trap pits. If I can lure them in one by one, I might have a chance to take them down. But what if they move in pairs? Can I handle them? Like it or not, I'll have to face one of them one-on-one once one of them falls into a trap. Or… should I just wait for them to leave? No, there's no guarantee they won't come back. I need to deal with them now."

Tristan waited a few moments to Getting his eyes used to the darkness.

"Alright, my eyes have adjusted to the night. I'll move closer to the one nearest the trap pit." Tristan crept forward silently, positioning himself right behind one of the orcs who was sitting. He waited for the other three monsters to move away. "It seems this sitting orc is the leader of the group since the others are busy searching around the campfire while he just sits here. Alright, let's lure him in, slowly."

Tristan slowly backed up toward the trap pit, hiding among the bushes, and began rustling the leaves.

"Shhrrrkk... Shhrrrkk..."

The orc turned toward the sound and started to stand, moving in its direction. Tristan rustled the bushes again, ensuring the orc would head exactly where he wanted.

"Shhrrrkk..."

After making the noise, Tristan shifted to a bush right by the edge of the trap pit and waited for the approaching orc to reach the first bush.

Once the orc reached the first bush, Tristan waited a few seconds before making noise again.

"Shhrrrkk... Shhrrrkk."

The orc turned toward the sound and cautiously walked forward. Tristan held his breath, patiently waiting for the orc to step into the trap. But just before it did, the orc paused, sniffing the air,

"Hrff, hrff."

Tristan was about to rustle the bush again but hesitated. When the orc started turning back toward the cave, Tristan shook the bush once more.

"Shhrrrkk... Shhrrrkk." The orc spun around quickly, eyeing the rustling bush, and took slow, deliberate steps forward. Moving directly toward the pit covered in leaves and grass, the orc then...

"Thoom... shluck!" It fell into the hole, followed by the distinct sound of its body impaled by spears.

Tristan immediately stood up and looked into the pit to check on the orc's condition.

"Krnnch... hrugh!" "Damn, it's blocking the spear aimed at its head with its hand and trying to get up, I can't waste this chance." Tristan leapt down, aiming his spear directly at the orc's head.

"Crunch!" The spear pierced through the orc's skull, landing a fatal blow.

The orc stopped moving. "Phew... I managed to kill one. Now, just three left. Come on, Tristan, you can do this," he whispered, encouraging himself.

Tristan quickly checked on the remaining three monsters. They had split into two groups: one consisting of an orc and an adult boar, and the other with a single adult boar.

"Normally, I'd target the lone boar first, but I can't reach it without being spotted by the orc and the other boar. I'll take the risk and go after the orc and boar together first." Tristan carefully moved toward the trap near the cave entrance, scouting out the best route to lure the two monsters while slowly approaching and hiding in the bushes.

Tristan monitored the situation, waiting for the lone boar to move far enough away before he began luring the orc and the other boar into the trap.

"I think that boar is far enough. Time to start luring these two." Tristan made a rustling sound in the bushes, like before.

"Shhrrrkk... Shhrrrkk."

Both monsters turned toward the sound and hurried over. Tristan quickly moved to the next bush but accidentally stood up too high, causing the monsters to see him.

"Grrrrreeeh!" "Gnnrraaugh!" They roared and charged at him.

Running toward the trap, Tristan muttered, "D*mn, didn't expect my leg to go numb like that! I just stretched it a bit, and they spotted me."

He slowed his pace as he neared the trap. "I need to make it look like I'm slowing down from exhaustion, so they don't notice my trap."

Tristan reached the edge of the pit, timing it so the monsters barreled right after him.

"Gnnrraaugh!" "Grrrrreeeh!" With their focus locked on Tristan, they suddenly plunged down.

"Tho...Thoom...shluck!" Both monsters fell in.

Tristan rushed to check the trap, seeing the orc glaring up at him in rage, already attempting to climb out. "Krrronk!", "Damn it, only the boar got speared in the body. The orc just got a leg wound! When it's almost out, I'll strike it in the head with my spear." 

The orc climbed out of the pit, but just as its head emerged, Tristan thrust his spear directly toward its forehead. In a swift move, the orc managed to dodge a fatal blow, sustaining only a wound to its left eye before fully pulling itself up.

With a fierce glare, it let out a resounding growl, "Grraaoohh," and took a sumo-like stance, radiating intimidation.

Tristan muttered to himself, "D*mn, it dodged my spear! From the way it stands, this one's clearly a fighter, different from the first orc. It's got this intimidating aura around it… Can I even take it down? My strength is barely on par with a young boar. Like it or not, I need to exploit its injuries." He observed closely, noting the orc's weakened left leg and blind left eye. "Alright, I can do this by using its weaknesses for my advantages."

Tristan drew two knives hanging from each side of his waist and positioned himself in a boxing stance, gripping the knives firmly in his fists.

Tristan and the orc stared at each other for a few moments before the orc charged directly at Tristan.

The orc lunged with a fierce attack. "He's coming! I have to dodge his strikes no matter what; if I get hit even once, it's over for me."

The orc swung his right fist toward Tristan, and Tristan managed to leap back twice just in time. Without pause, the orc followed up by raising both fists and smashing them down toward Tristan, striking the ground with a force that shattered the earth.

Tristan deftly dodged by jumping to the right of the orc. "This is my chance! I've entered his blind spot."

Tristan leaped toward the orc's head, aiming to stab his knife right behind its eye. But suddenly, the orc's eye snapped open, its red iris spilling blood as it retaliated with a brutal headbutt. Tristan's attack only grazed the orc's skull, and he was sent tumbling and rolling several times from the force of the blow.

"D*mn, I didn't expect his eyes to still function. *Coughs-cough*. This hurts so much; my body feels like it's shattered."

Fueled by rage, the orc charged at Tristan again.

"Ggrrooaahh".

"I have to dodge it's attack, or I'll die here!"

Tristan slowly stood up and spotted his spear a few steps away. With barely any time to spare, he jumped with all his strength, rolling to reach the spear, ready to throw it at the orc. The orc slammed the ground again, turning to face Tristan, who was poised to launch his attack.

"Eat this, you filthy orc!"

As the orc charged forward, Tristan hurled his spear toward the orc's right ankle, striking its wrist. The orc stumbled and fell to the ground. Without hesitation, Tristan dashed toward the orc, leaping onto it while gripping his knife with both hands. He plunged it deep into the orc's back neck with all his might, stabbing repeatedly until the orc lay motionless. 

Breathing heavily, Tristan stumbled down from the orc's body, swaying unsteadily before collapsing, drifting in and out of consciousness. Tristan mumbling to him self, "Damn it, I can't pass out here; there's still one wild boar left to deal with." With a strong will, he managed to rise again, trudging toward the solitary boar while muttering to himself, "I have to kill it; I have to kill it."

He continued mumbling as he approached the trap where the lone boar had previously wandered. Tristan noticed that the wild boar had indeed fallen into the trap, its body lying still and defeated. A sense of relief washed over him, knowing he had successfully taken down all the threats nearby. With the last of his strength fading, he let his eyes flutter shut, a small laugh escaped his lips.  

"haha." Tristan fell unconscious right beside his trap.

*Level up* *Level up* *Level up* *Level up* *Level up* *Level up* *Level up*

*Tristan Ciyane-Level 16*

*Skill Level Up* *Skill Level Up*

*Skill: Pain Resistance-Level 3*

*Skill Level Up* *Skill Level Up*

*Skill: Crafting-Level 11*

*Skill Level Up* *Skill Level Up*

*Skill: Thrust-Level 7*

*Skill Level Up* *Skill Level Up* *Skill Level Up*

*Skill: Stab-Level 9*

*Skill Level Up*

*Skill: Cold Blooded-Level 3*

*Skill Level Up* *Skill Level Up* *Skill Level Up* *Skill Level Up*

*Skill: Trap Setter-Level 5*

*Unlocked Skill: Strong Will-Level 1*

*Unlocked Skill: Enhanced Vision-Level 1*

*Unlocked Skill: Observation-Level 1*

*Unlocked Skill: Throw-Level 1*