Aldrich crouched inside the hollow tree trunk, the damp, earthy scent surrounding him as he clutched the lottery ticket with trembling fingers. The wind howled outside, a reminder of the peril he had narrowly escaped.
His heart pounded in his chest, a mix of hope and desperation flooding his senses.
Closing his eyes briefly, he murmured, "Please, let this be something good," before carefully tearing it open, his hands slick with nervous sweat.
DING!
YOU MAY NOW SELECT ONE PRIZE:
1 attribute point in strength
500 experience points
Bck Cleaver (weapon)
His breath hitched as he looked over the options.
The choices loomed before him, each carrying potential to shape his journey. “I don’t need experience right now. Still sitting on fifty thousand of it,” he murmured.
“An attribute point… useful, but I can earn that with hard work. But the Bck Cleaver…” A faint smile crossed his face as memories surfaced.
In the game he used to py, this weapon was a game-changer. It granted both a health and damage boost to its wielder.
The decision, in the end, was easy.
With no hesitation, he selected the Bck Cleaver.
(T3 RARE) BLACK CLEAVER
Strength: +5, Vitality: +5
Damaging an enemy with this weapon stacks Carve up to 5 stacks to an enemy, each stack reduces armor of the enemy by 10.
Holding the weapon in his hands, Aldrich felt its weight and power. “This could really help me,” he muttered. “Maybe I can upgrade it beyond its tier with my bcksmithing skill. If I can just get that skill high enough…”
Shaking his head, he equipped the weapon in the second slot of his inventory.
The moment he did, an invigorating surge coursed through him. His strength and vitality spiked, greater than anything he’d felt before.
“Status!” he called out.
[Status Panel]
Age: 2 / 75 years
Css: T1 Newbie Bcksmith Level 3 (0/800)
Subcss: T1 Fighter Level 3 (100/800)
Health: 90 / 90
Mana: 7.8 / 19.8
Strength: 9
Agility: 4.44
Intelligence: 1.98
Vitality: 9
Skill Points: 7
Unused Attribute Points: 0
Experience Points: 50,200
Bonus Attribute:
Tier 1: +0.2 to Strength, Agility, and Vitality
He nodded in satisfaction, deciding to save his next lottery ticket for ter.
The night passed uneventfully, and when the first rays of sunlight filtered through the tree canopy, he was roused by the sound of another system notification.
DING! DAILY QUEST: SWING YOUR WEAPON TEN THOUSAND TIMES.
REWARD: 100 EXP to Fighter Subcss, +0.01 ATTRIBUTE POINTS TO STRENGTH, AGILITY, AND VITALITY
Aldrich sighed at the new quest. “Why is it always for the subcss?” he muttered. “Nothing for my main css. Maybe I need to unlock it first.”
Stretching, he emerged from the hollow tree trunk and yawned, still adjusting to the unfamiliar sensations of his new body.
Grabbing the Bck Cleaver, Aldrich stepped out into the crisp morning air, the weight of the weapon reassuring in his hands.
The sunlight filtered through the trees, casting dancing patterns on the forest floor, but the serene beauty around him did little to soothe the growing ache in his shoulders.
Each swing of the weapon felt like a csh of determination against exhaustion. His muscles burned, the strain seeping into every fiber of his being, yet he pressed on.
Sweat trickled down his temples, mixing with the earthy scent of dew and bark. "One swing at a time," he muttered to himself, his voice barely audible over the rhythmic whoosh of the bde cutting through air.
The task was grueling, yet a strange satisfaction bubbled within him, knowing each strike brought him closer to strength and survival. Swing after swing, he worked diligently, though his mind wandered. “Maybe I can incorporate our family’s greatsword techniques into this,” he thought.
But as he attempted the first stance, the weapon’s weight threw him off. “It’s not the same,” he realized. “A greataxe isn’t a greatsword.”
Hours passed. Even with his enhanced body, fatigue set in. By the time he completed the ten thousand swings, his arms felt like lead, but his determination burned strong.
[Status Panel]
Age: 2 / 75 years
Css: T1 Newbie Bcksmith Level 3 (0/800)
Subcss: T1 Fighter Level 3 (200/800)
Health: 90.1 / 90.1
Mana: 19.8 / 19.8
Strength: 9.01
Agility: 4.45
Intelligence: 1.98
Vitality: 9.01
Skill Points: 7
Unused Attribute Points: 0
Experience Points: 50,200
Bonus Attribute:
Tier 1: +0.2 to Strength, Agility, and Vitality
His stomach growled, pulling him from his thoughts. He scratched his head, muttering to himself, “I need to figure out where I am… and get something to eat.”
Re-tightening the bnket around his waist, Aldrich began walking in a straight line. The uneven ground was a challenge—thorny bushes snagged at his makeshift attire, and sharp rocks bit into his feet. He winced with every step, silently cursing his ck of proper gear. “Why didn’t I choose the boots?” he joked bitterly.
After trudging through the forest for what felt like an eternity, Aldrich stumbled upon a clearing. A faint plume of smoke rose into the sky, and the scent of burnt wood reached his nose. He squinted and saw a small group of people huddled around a bonfire, its embers glowing faintly as they worked to put it out.
The scene looked almost serene under the cheerful sunlight, but the group’s wary posture told a different story.
Clearing his throat, Aldrich approached cautiously. “Hi there! Can you help me with some directions? I’m kind of lost.”
The group jolted at the sound of his voice.
A grizzled man with an unshaven face stood first, his hand hovering near the hilt of a rusted machete.
His eyes narrowed as he took in Aldrich’s strange appearance—blonde hair messy, body wrapped in a tattered bnket.
“What happened to you, young man?” the man asked, his tone gruff but not unkind.
Aldrich hesitated, then forced a sheepish smile. “Hi, I’m…” He paused, realizing he couldn’t use his real name. “Raymond,” he lied.
“I was camping with some friends, but when I woke up, they were gone. I’ve been wandering ever since. Can you point me to the nearest town?”
The man studied him for a long moment before nodding slowly. Beside him, an elderly woman with shaggy gray hair spoke up. “You’ll want to head west. Walk for about three hours, and you’ll find the town of Brambleford. Name’s Debbie, by the way,” she added with a small smile.
She gestured to the grizzled man. “This here is Rob.”
Aldrich bowed his head in gratitude. “Thank you, Debbie. Thank you, Rob.” He hesitated, then added, “One more thing… as you can see, my… outfit isn’t exactly presentable.” He gestured to the makeshift skirt of a bnket, his cheeks flushing slightly.
The group chuckled at his predicament. Even their tattered clothing looked better than what he was wearing.
Rob scratched his chin thoughtfully before heading to a nearby tent. Moments ter, he emerged holding a pair of oversized pants. “Here, kid. They’re not your size, but they’ll do.”
He tossed the pants toward Aldrich, who caught them with a grateful smile. “Thanks, Rob. I’ll make sure to pay you back someday.”
Debbie ughed, her eyes twinkling. “Good luck, boy. If you ever come back, make sure you’re wearing something better than that silly skirt.”
Aldrich joined in the ughter, the warmth of their kindness momentarily lifting the weight on his shoulders.
Bowing once more, he said, “I’ll be sure to visit when I’m better prepared. Take care, everyone.”
With that, he turned and began walking west, the oversized pants fpping awkwardly as he moved. The forest seemed a little less foreboding now, and for the first time in a while, Aldrich felt a spark of hope. He had a direction, a goal, and perhaps even a chance to rebuild.
