"Then I'll accept that request."
"Very well, here."
_________________________________________________________________________
QUEST RECEIVED
Eliminate the slimes roaming on the forest outskirts!
0/10 slimes killed
Reward: 1000 EXP, 150 Gold, slime essence, slime goo, Small health potion.
_________________________________________________________________________
'1000 EXP? That's actually.. really good. Like 1 or 2 of those quests and I should level up to LVL 3 already. '
Hisgard had a glint of motivation in his eyes. His mouth slightly abate.
"Oh! how strong are these slimes and what should I look out for?"
"Hmm.. They are around level 2 to 5 depending on their age.. And you should look out for their tendrils. They tend to lash out once threatened."
"Doesn't seem that hard. Okay! Thanks for the info! I'll come back once I've finished."
"Take your time, sir."
Using the map given to Hisgard by that weird Syndicate member from before, he was able to find the city gates, albeit it wasn't a short walk across town.
'I'll just head out of Soyo and search around for a bit. I should find slimes pretty quickly.'
His assumption was probably correct. Though he saw first that commotion was happening at the gates, it appeared as if a merchant was denied exit from Soyo.
As Hisgard approached with the intent to go thru the gates, a guard stopped him. Said guard was upholding chainmail and a shortsword, with another guard near, no way would Hisgard force his way thru.
"Halt! Sir. We need to search you before going out to prevent any contraband from escaping Soyo to the wider Empire. As ordered by the Emperor. Submit to our search and you shall pass."
"Uh.. Okay I guess?"
'Being patted down isn't really comfortable but if it's needed..' Hisgard thought.
The guard looked wary of Hisgard, due to his attire.
"Sir, why do you have a machete hanging from your belt?"
"It's my weapon! I've accepted a request to hunt slimes around, and it's not a machete. It's a butcher's knife."
"Right... Do you have your hunt request on you?"
"Uh.. Oh!"
After shuffling around in his pouch hanging from Hisgard's belt, he then handed the request to him.
"Here."
"..Okay. Sir. You may pass."
"Alright, thanks! Have a good day!"
'What a hassle.'
...
'Considering that the receptionist said that slimes frequently attacked merchants and people going in and out the city, following the main road should be the fastest way to find slimes.'
...
'I've been walking for about 10 minutes already and all I've seen is some squirrels on branches.
This 'main road' is completely desertic. No one has passed thru in ages I feel. Carriage wheel marks are roughed out and starting to disappear and grass is starting to invade the cleared out path.'
"This is really annoying.."
'Hm? Wait.'
A sort of bluey round shape appeared from behind a bush.
Indeed, it was a slime.
"Just in time.. Come here!"
"..Uh oh."
'I didn't notice at first but it seems like I'm actually completely surrounded by those slimes. The slime I saw was purposefully there to bait me in.'
'Hm. That looks like the number of slimes needed to finish the quest. Even looks like a bit more than needed.'
"Well. What can I do, I'll just kill you all-"
Hisgard then screamed not because he attacked, but because he was thrown by a slimy tendril.
"Let me go you slimy thing!"
'It just wrapped around my ankle with it's tendril and threw me towards the group of slime... Didn't the guild worker say to be careful about those tendrils? Well, too late now.'
'I'm currently flying towards a dozen slimes I need to figure something out fast.'
Cold sweat was already running down Hisgard's neck, if one tendril could throw him like that, what could a dozen of them do to him?
'Should I just use 'Chop'? They're slimes so I figure they have some sort of resistance against slashing type of damage but since they're so low level it would maybe work?'
'But what about the cooldown-.. No. I just have to do it.'
Hisgard regained the composure he had lost, indeed, he was yet in another difficult situation with not way of hiding, as he was right in the middle of the road.
'As soon as I reach that first slime I'll cut it in half.'
'Chop'.
______________________________________
Common blue slime slayed!
20 EXP earned!
______________________________________
'Nice! It worked! And now the rest...'
The slimes seemed to be preparing a sort of combined attack, all of them are staying back and appeared to be squirming.
'Tendrils! I'll need to either dodge or cut them before they reach me.. Think.. Think..
They're coming!'
While Hisgard's guess was correct, he needed to figure out something fast.
'There's about 7 tendrils rushing towards me now. I'm guessing that they're going to pressure me with 2 wave attacks right after the other. I think I'll have to rush in while clearing the tendrils.'
He took a deep breath, trying to calm down.
'Here I go..'
'You leave me no choice you stupid slimes..'
'15 meters away. I avoid this tendril. Cut this one.'
'10 meters away. I can cut this one but there's no way I can dodge or repel this one.'
'It slashed me right on my shoulder. I'm bleeding quite a bit but I should be fine until I kill all those slimes.'
'7 meters away. 3 tendrils this time. I can cut this one but the other two are unavoidable.. I'll minimize the damage by blocking them with my free hand.'
..
'That hurt really bad.'
Indeed, Viadium took pride in itself for being of utmost realism, the feeling, sensations, and thus, the pain felt in game could be recreated and sent directly to the brain, simulating an experience similar to real life, though it remained optional, Hisgard didn't get the opportunity to even glance at that option.
'I'm 4 meters away now, the other slimes are practically ready to shoot out their tendrils.. Do I take care of them now or do I finish those defenseless slimes...'
..
'Damn it.'
'I'll kill those ready to attack first.'
'CHOP'!
______________________________________
Common blue slime slayed!
20 EXP earned!
______________________________________
'CHOP'!
______________________________________
Common blue slime slayed!
20 EXP earned!
______________________________________
'CHOP'!
______________________________________
Common blue slime slayed!
20 EXP earned!
______________________________________
'4 more! Only 4! And then I'll finish the other slimes! They're probably reloading their attack.. I must have 20 seconds at most!'
'CHOP'!
______________________________________
Common blue slime slayed!
20 EXP earned!
______________________________________
'CHOP'!
'Alright 1 more! 1!'
''And with this 'Chop' I'll be..''
"ARGH!"
Hisgard screamed in pain. He didn't finish one of the slimes appropriately, indeed, the status message had not appeared, signifying it was still alive.
'It hit me with its tendril near the liver aswell. I'm bleeding severely. I can feel my strength leaving me quickly. I still have to avoid that other slime. It looks like it's about to shoot its tendril right now actually. This is really bad.'
Hisgard looked at the fast approaching tendril, aiming for his stomach. He needed to do something. Now. Or else.. He would die.
As Hisgard screamed, he thought to himself 'Dodge! Come on! Dodge!', after all, he was the 'King', how could a mere slime defeat him?
'It narrowly grazed me near my thigh. I managed to dodge it. I can barely hold on right now.'
The pain that embellished Hisgard's body was nothing like he had ever felt before, his mind clouded by his suffering, all he could think off was to kill the remaining slimes while they were still recovering.
'Chop'! Chop'!
______________________________________
Common blue slime slayed X2 !
40 EXP earned!
______________________________________
And now to finish those other slimes off.. Quickly...
'Chop'. 'Chop'.
______________________________________
Common blue slime slayed x2 !
40 EXP earned!
______________________________________
"Finally... I can.. Get.. That health potion..."
_________________________________________________________________________
QUEST COMPLETED!
Eliminate the slimes roaming on the forest outskirts!
10/10 slimes killed
Reward: 1000 EXP, 150 Gold, slime essence, slime goo, Small health potion.
As you are currently in a 'Wild' zone you are not able to receive your rewards.
Please get into a 'Civilized' zone to get your rewards.
_________________________________________________________________________
"Are you kidding me? Urgh.."
Blood was spilling more and more, his teeth colored red, blood was accumulating in his mouth and vomiting out of it.
..
_________________________________________________________________________
SYSTEM ALERT
You are currently in critical health condition. Find a safe zone immediately.
_________________________________________________________________________
...
Two figures could be seen in the distance, one taller a man, with broad shoulders, full plate armor and his helmet held in his hand, with a Great Sword in the other. And the second figure being much smaller, appearing to that of a girl, wearing what appears to be light leather armour, with a bow and arrows, a knight and archer.
"Hey big bro. Is that a ghoul crawling over there?"
"Maybe. Who knows? Let's go check on it. We can kill it to get some EXP."
"Fine with me."