Chapter 3: First real fight
Deryn opened up his < INVENTORY > and focused upon the two green chests. They appeared in front of him with a soft green glow.
"I still won't get over how magical the < INVENTORY > is" Deryn muttered in childlike excitement.
< HOST IS EASILY ENTERTAINED - SYSTEM NOTE LOGGED >
"…system" he groans.
Looking at the first Iron chest the interface pops up once more.
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< IRON CHEST >
RARITY: Uncommon (Green)
DESCRIPTION: A chest made out of iron, can be opened to gain random rewards. Rewards received have an impossibly small chance of exceeding the rarity level of the chest. The chest can be dismantled to gather basic material parts.
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He crouched down and lifted the lid slowly. While doing so the soft green light got brighter and brighter before a ding echoed in his head.
< DING >
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< RECEIVED >
BASIC WATER COLLECTOR BLUEPRINT x1
REGULAR STONE SHOVEL BLUEPRINT x1
REGULAR STONE SPEAR BLUEPRINT x1
IRON x4 (From dismantling the chest)
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< DING >
< 2x REWARDS SYSTEM ACTIVATED >
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< RECEIVED >
BASIC WATER COLLECTOR BLUEPRINT x1
REGULAR STONE SHOVEL BLUEPRINT x1
REGULAR STONE SPEAR BLUEPRINT x1
IRON x8
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" Sys… *ahem* System, are blueprints hard to get," Deryn asks.
< YES HOST >
" So why am I getting so many?" He replies.
< BLUEPRINTS ARE HARD TO GET WITHOUT THE SYSTEM. HOST IS ACTUALLY DEEMED UNLUCKY TO ONLY GET BLUEPRINTS AS A CHEST REWARD, THERE ARE MANY REWARDS THAT ARE BETTER THAN WHAT THE HOST GOT, SUCH AS ?LOCKED? AND ?LOCKED? >
"System, has anyone ever told you that you are super annoying, why would you tell me that... you ruined my excitement" Deryn whines.
< THANK YOU FOR THE COMPLIMENT HOST >
"THAT'S NOT WHAT I MEANT… *HUFF* whatever. I need more information system; how can I get it? ".
< CLUELESS HOST. THERE ARE TWO WAYS TO GET INFORMATION >
< 1. BUY INFORMATION THROUGH THE SYSTEM STORE USING ADVENT POINTS >
< 2. GATHER INFORMATION AVAILABLE THROUGHOUT THE DOOMSDAY ADVENT WILDERNESS >
"So how do I get these 'advent points' system? And ill just ignore that first part…".
< HOST CAN EARN ADVENT POINTS THROUGH NUMEROUS WAYS, THE INITIAL WAYS SYSTEM SUGGESTS IS TO EARN THROUGH THE DAILY COUNTER WHICH OFFERS A CONSISTENT AMOUNT OF POINTS SHOULD HOST DO TASKS WHICH INFLUENCE YOUR SURVIVAL ON A DAILY BASES"
"So let's say I eat a meal and drink enough water in a day, would that net me advent points?".
< YES HOST, EATING AND DRINKING ARE TANTAMOUNT TO YOUR SURVIVAL SO BY DOING SO YOU CAN EARN A SMALL NUMBER OF ADVENT POINTS EVERY DAY. BY GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND JUST SURVIVING YOU CAN ALSO EARN ADDITIONAL ADVENT POINTS >
" So does that mean if I live in comfort, eat good food and have plenty of water I will exceed the basic survival scenario and earn more points?".
< VERY ASTUTE HOST, YES THAT IS THE CASE >
"Ok. Thanks, system…let's open this second chest!" Deryn bent down to the final chest before opening it quickly this time in a rush to see what other items he is rewarded with.
< DING >
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< RECEIVED >
DOOMSDAY ADVENT SURVIVAL SHELTER (LEVEL 1) BLUEPRINT : < REPLACES DOOMSDAY SHELTER LEVEL 1 >
MATCHBOX (20 MATCHES) x1
LEVEL 1 MANA CRYSTAL x1
BUCKET (2.5litre storage) x1
IRON x4 (from dismantling the chest)
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< DING >
< 2x REWARD SYSTEM ACTIVATED >
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< RECEIVED >
DOOMSDAY ADVEN SURVIVAL SHELTER (LEVEL 1) BLUEPRINT : < REPLACES DOOMSDAY SHELTER LEVEL 1 >
MATCHBOX (20 MATCHES) x2
LEVEL 1 MANA CRYSTAL x2
BUCKET (2.5 litre storage) x2
IRON x8 (from dismantling the chest)
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"Open Inventory" Deryn mutters
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< INVENTORY >
6x 500ml WATER BOTTLE
4x 100g BEEF JERKY
2x 100g WHITE BREAD BUN
2x LEVEL ONE MANA CRYSTAL
2x BUCKET (2.5l capacity)
2x MATCHBOX x2
32x WOOD
8x STONE
16x IRON
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< BLUEPRINTS (New) >
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< BASIC WATER COLLECTOR >
DESCRIPTION: A blueprint designed to collect water from the moisture in the air through the heat from burning fuel. One piece of wood can keep the collector operating for one hour and will allow for 250ml of water to be gathered. It needs a fire source to get going. Not a bad option to obtain enough drinking water initially.
MATERIAL NEEDED: wood x4/ stone x6 / iron x4 / buckets x2
RARITY: Uncommon (Green)
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< DOOMSDAY ADVENT SURVIVAL SHELTER (LEVEL 1) >
DESCRIPTION: A more advanced version of the previous doomsday shelter. With the increase in cost at all levels unique evolution paths will be available. This is a two-story shelter with one layer above ground and the other below ground. The above-ground will be 5m x 5m with a height of 3m whilst the underground level will be 3x3m with a height of 2 metres. Mainly built out of wood with some stone. This is the first step of something great.
Material needed: wood x100 / stone x25 : Additional option mana crystal level 1 x1 / iron x8 / stone x25
ADDITIONAL OPTION DESCRIPTION: The additional option will use the required materials to build a rudimentary lighting and ventilation system for the shelter. Ventilation will be available below ground whilst lighting will be available on both floors.
RARITY: Uncommon (Green)
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Before Deryn could even exclaim in shock at the two new blueprints a familiar voice rang through his mind.
< SYSTEM STRONGLY SUGGESTS HOST COMPLETES ADDITIONAL OPTION FOR THE DOOMSDAY ADVENT SURVIVAL SHELTER >
"Why is that system?".
< HOST WILL SEE MARGINAL BENEFITS NOW. HOWEVER, AS HOSTS SHELTER UPGRADES INTO THE FURTHER LEVELS YOU WILL SEE HOW USEFUL HOSTS DECISION TODAY WAS >
"Noted system, thanks. ALSO WHAT IS A MANA CRYSTAL SYSTEM, CAN I USE MANA AND SPELLS AND SHOOT LIGHTNING OUT MY HANDS?!?".
< YOU ARE WELCOME, HOST. HOST, MANA CRYSTALS ARE CONDENSED FORMS OF MANA, YOU CAN THINK OF MANA AS ANOTHER ENERGY SOURCE. THE HOST IS STILL INCAPABLE OF COMPREHENDING THIS, THE SYSTEM SUGGESTS THAT HOST DOESN'T THINK ON THIS FURTHER AND PRIORITISES THE SHELTER FIRST >
"But my lightning… *sigh* okay system". Deryn puts everything back into his inventory before grabbing the makeshift skinning knife off the floor. Squatting down he puts the knife closer to the body of the rabbit. With a mote of light, the knife touches the body and it vanishes. Deryn hears the familiar ding.
< DING >
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< RECEIVED 2x FUR >
< RECEIVED 3x 100g RAW MEAT >
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< DING >
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< 2x REWARD SYSTEM IS ACTIVATED >
< RECEIVED 4x FUR >
< RECEIVED 6x 100g RAW MEAT >
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"Wow, I thought I would have to try and manually skin it".
< DUE TO HUMANS ON AVERAGE LACK OF TOUCH WITH SURVIVAL SKILLS. THE DOOMSDAY ADVENT OFFERS A FEW LUXURIES DURING THE INITIAL PERIOD >
"How long will the initial period last?"
< ?LOCKED? >
Sighing Deryn looked into his < INVENTORY > once more. 11 of the 20 < INVENTORY > slots were now filled with the addition of fur and raw meat.
"System, what time is it right now?" Deryn questioned.
< HOST, THE TIME IS 2:05 PM >
"Okay, my goal now is to gather enough resources to build the shelter"
< SYSTEM SUGGESTS HOST BUILDS AVAILABLE TOOLS AND WEAPON BLUEPRINTS BEFORE PROCEEDING >
"System craft the following: Regular stone axe, regular stone shovel, and the regular stone spear".
< CRAFTING IN PROCESS, REGULAR STONE AXE COMPLETED >
< MATERIALS CONSUMED FROM CRAFTING: WOOD x7 / STONE x8
A stone axe materialised itself in Deryn's hand, a polished handle with a tightly packed axe head. "At least this won't give me splinters, hah".
He put the axe and newly materialised shovel into his inventory while picking up the spear that dropped in front of him while his hands were full with the other items. 1.2 meters long with a 10 cm stone head, sharpened to a point, made the stone spear 1.3m long, weighing around 5kg in his hands.
*swoosh* *swoosh* *thwack*
Swinging it around a few times before stabbing the spear into a tree Deryn nods to himself before walking once more on the outskirts of the forest in an attempt to find some easy pickings of materials. After 20 minutes Deryn sat in the shade of a tree, it just hit 2:30 pm and he was hungry.
Taking out a bottle of water and beef jerky Deryn had a look at his recent material gains absentmindedly while he ate.
< RECEIVED: WOOD x24 >
< RECEIVED: STONE x14 >
< RECEIVED: IRON x3 >
Wood was the most accessible resource, by picking up sticks he could gain a unit of wood, and cutting down low-hanging branches could give a few units.
Whilst stones were a bit harder to find in the forest as only the tops of stones were poking out of the ground he had to use a shovel to dig most of them up.
The iron was gathered from picking up random stones, some of which turned out to be iron ores which gave a unit of iron.
Finishing the beef jerky he drank half a bottle of water before returning it to his < INVENTORY >.
Deciding it was time to move on Deryn walked a bit further into the forest than he had gone before, in hope of finding more materials. After an unsuccessful few minutes of finding no materials a crackle from the bushes up in front made his head snap towards the noise. Sighing as he realised it was just another rabbit he prepared to kill and skin it for materials by summoning his spear.
This rabbit didn't stop like the first one he killed however and darted towards him before zigzagging behind him on its way out of the forest, moving too quickly for him to do anything about it.
Another crash followed not even seconds after the rabbit disappeared and Deryn paled as he realised the rabbit was being chased by something. A stubby boar dashed out of the bushes before freezing upon the sight of Deryn. The boar, barely coming past his knees, stared Deryn down, huffing at the mouth whilst a beastly snarl left the mouth of the angry hog.
Pointing its head down its tusks glinted with a deadly glimmer from the sunlight coming down from the canopy. Padding the floor, the boar growled wildly before charging at Deryn who was blocking his way of its prey. Spear in hand he stood there watching as the beast charged at him. Lowering his stance he pointed the spear towards the boar's head showing no fear at the small but dangerous creature.
*whoosh*
*riiiiiip*
The duo danced the dance of death as Deryn couldn't land a hit on the boar, whilst the boar was getting increasingly violent. Charging at Deryn once more the boar dodged the spear stab before running into its newfound prey's legs.
Deryn barely jumped out of the way at the last moment, not before losing his trouser leg to the sharp stubby tusks of the boar. The impact from the cloth tearing made him lose his balance, as he fell sideways onto the ground. Frantically sitting up he saw the boar spin around ready for another charge.
Even as he fell from the inertia of tusks pulling and ripping his trousers he didn't let go of the spear, not that he could even if he wanted to, he couldn't relax his grip. Mind racing and adrenaline pumping he positioned his spear as best he could, slightly upwards ahead of his body with the shaft planted into the floor.
Right as the boar was merely 10s of centimetres from colliding with the spear he threw his arms forwards. Realising his initial plan of using the shaft of the spear in the dirt wouldn't work as it would snap he could only stake his life on thrusting forwards.
*squelch*
*wheeeeeeee*
The boar squealed as the spear punctured its right eye. The force from its charge and Deryn's thrust managed to go through its eyeball, into the socket before piercing its brain.
He finally let go of the spear before scuttling backwards as fast as his bum shuffle and frantic leg scooting could take him. Sweat dripped down his face as his heart raced at the close encounter with death.
He couldn't remove his gaze from the boar frantically shaking its entire body and head to get away from the pain. The spear was still stuck in and the struggle only caused the wound to worsen as more blood began to flow.
As the seconds passed into minutes the boar's movements got weaker and weaker. It slumped over, chest weakly raising with laboured breaths.
A minute passed as he found the strength to stand up. Deryn shakily walked over to the carnage of the area where the hog finally fell. The boar was still clinging to life with its chest barely moving and its blood everywhere.
Deryn steeled his heart before grabbing the spear with both hands, throwing his weight downwards. The spear sank further into the boar's brain and with a final squelch and squeal the boar convulsed once more before dying. Heart feeling like it's about to jump through his chest he sat on the floor next to the corpse.
Deryn was thankful that it wasn't him lying there, a life was taken from the world for the sake of another's survival.
"I guess this is my life now..." he whispers still lost in his thoughts.