Chương 27

I used Quick Step and moved to the side before they had the chance to trap me properly. However, instead of attacking me, both of the creatures started rushing towards me! I turned around and was about to run when I noticed that the way led deeper inside the forest. I had just been corralled into a trap, and this looked like the setup for the next one. I turned around and instead of fleeing from them, I Quick Stepped towards them, rushing through the middle of them both and striking a reaching vine with my dagger.

A pained screech sounded out, but I continued on moving towards the relatively open ground near the river. I could hear them rushing at me again, but thankfully, I was faster than them. Once I was past the tree line, I stopped and turned around, noticing how they had slowed down too. I kept backing till I was about 5 feet from the water's edge. Both of the bushy monsters advanced, their vines held aloft, waving slowly and menacingly in the air.

I called upon Critical Sense, and it highlighted the tips of the vines and something right in the central mass of both of the creatures. The tips were highlighted lightly, whereas the central mass was like a small blazing sun. It looked like the tips were sensitive, but the core was the only way to put this thing down. The major problem was that I was sure I wouldn't survive against the two of them. If I could separate the two of them, then I think I would have a better chance.

The creatures kept coming towards me, and were now almost within distance of reaching me through their vines. I had only one thing to keep them at bay, so I took out the flint and some more wooded pieces wrapped with dried grass, and started lighting them on fire. As soon as the sparks flew from the flint, I saw both of them flinch and halt in their tracks. Encouraged, I used their brief hesitation and kept lighting the wooden pieces on fire, till I had a small fire going in front of my feet.

They were now slowly but surely backing away, and I had to take the chance while I had it. Fireball! I launched a piece of flaming wood straight at one of them, and picked up another in quick succession and hurled it at the other one. The first one tried to swipe the wood out of the air with its vine, but it missed, and the wood landed directly within its leaves. The second one was smarter, and scrambled out of the way, the wooden piece sailing by harmlessly and bouncing off the ground, into the distance.

The first one, however, was now completely in a panic, scrambling about and desperately trying to dislodge the wooden piece, to no avail. I picked up two more pieces and quick stepped my way closer to it, before hitting it with both the pieces. It started flailing much more animatedly now, flailing about in desperation while it started smoking away.

The leaves closest to the wooden pieces had now started curling away, and I could see a small, brown mass of something that looked like dense, packed dirt at the center. That must be the core! I knew the wooden pieces would burn out soon enough, and I had to take my chance. The second one was still circling around, clearly agitated but not willing to come closer to anything that was on fire. I kept my eye on it though, while searching for a moment to capitalize.

Soon, the leaves were sufficiently burned away for me to see the core clearly, and the creature was still occupied with the burning pieces of wood. I raised my dagger and rushed forward, dodging a retaliatory vine as the creature realized it was under attack from me as well, and struck it cleanly at the core. The creature immediately stilled and let out a long, forlorn sound, before collapsing, still smoking away. I looked up and, shockingly, the other creature was now speeding away back into the forest.

Before long, it had disappeared into the tree line. Huh… I looked around to see if anything else had been attracted to the commotion, but could spot nothing. I tried going under Concealed Presence again, and this time, thankfully, it worked. Feeling relieved, I sneaked away, continuing upstream, eager to put distance between myself and the scene of the fight. Feeling relatively secure under concealed presence, I took the chance to open my inventory to see if the creature had given any loot.

In fact, I hadn't looked properly at my inventory in a while, just opening it absentmindedly and taking what I thought of out before closing it again. I looked at the inventory in detail, and noticed that there was just one slot remaining. The other thing I noticed made me halt immediately. If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. Wait… what's that? There was a small, blue chest in one of the slots, and I had no idea what it was.

I thought about taking it out, and it immediately materialized on the ground in front of me. It was a small, rectangular chest, about the size of an opened laptop. The box was royal blue, and had intricate silver linings along its borders. It looked beautiful. I reached out to touch it and immediately a system window appeared. Would you like to open Elite Loot Box (Rare)? An Elite Loot Box? Which elite? I thought back and there was only one real explanation – the kobold boss. So that was an elite creature!

I thought back to the Forest of Beginnings Assessment, which had awarded me +5% damage to elite monsters, and had also enhanced Loot Drops by 30%. This was the first time I had actually seen those rewards in action. Maybe the 30% enhancement to loot drops increased it to a Rare box…? If I was being honest, I had completely forgotten about the initial rewards I had received.

I thought back to the rewards and another key reward I had forgotten about was that skills would be 20% easier to unlock for me during the tutorial. I realized that it was probably the reason why I had been able to upgrade Stealth. I couldn't exactly blame myself for forgetting the rewards, so much had been happening that it was difficult to keep track of everything. Still, I made a mental note to try and remember everything that could be advantageous to me here.

Focusing back on the chest, I mentally said yes, anticipation and excitement coursing through me. The chest opened up without preamble, and then just vanished. … What? I looked around to see if it had somehow spawned something in the vicinity, but there was nothing. I had a thought and checked the inventory, and was relieved to find two new things inside. Taking out the first one, I saw it was a simple necklace with a silver chain and a small red pendant.

A system screen also popped up, showing the name of the item. Kobold's Wrath Attack +10% Wow. My first real item! The dagger and armour I had gotten at Class Selection did not have such a window appear, so it made sense that they neither had any additional effects, nor an identifying name. This one was different, and its name was also green in colour, indicating that it was an Uncommon item.

I equipped it straight away, feeling no different apart from being conscious about wearing a necklace for the first time in my life. However, I trusted that the necklace was working and moved on to the second item which I was much more excited about. It was a Stone, much like I had gotten earlier. I selected it, and immediately felt it in my hand as a system window popped up. Would you like to use Skill Stone (Rare)? Yes! I mentally shouted excitedly. You have used up Skill Stone (Rare).

You have gained the Skill: Tactical Insight (Passive) A passive skill! I knew how important and game-changing passive skills could be, and was extremely excited to try it out. The Skill Stone dissolved into particles and I was instantly aware of a new feeling, or sense, inside of me. Apart from that, I could feel nothing different, and the system was frustratingly silent as usual. Exhaling a sigh, I accepted that I would just have to wait to see what my skill could do, and moved on.

I opened up my Status to see the changes, and noticed the new skill listed at the bottom, in a blue colour. My exp bar was now at 109/130, meaning I was extremely close to level 10. Another thing I noticed, a bit alarmingly, was that my mana was full. Closing out the status, I looked around frantically, but the surroundings were still peaceful. I remember clearly that I had been under concealed presence earlier, so how had the skill turned off? Thinking back, only one thing stood out.

Was it because I had taken out the chest? It was something I needed to test; however, now wasn't the exact time to do so. I activated the skill again, and continued on moving upstream, excitedly thinking about my new skill and necklace. I continued further before I came across a new creature, this one simply lounging out on a rock by the river side. It looked like a weird mixture of a turtle and a crab. It had two massive claws that were currently resting on the ground, and four spindly legs underneath.

Its' back was covered by a dense shell which was dark green in colour, and it currently had its eyes closed as it soaked up the sun without a care in the world. It was large, about the size of a giant sea turtle. I slowed down and gripped my dagger, intending to use Critical Sense on it and then attacking it from its blind side. Before I had the chance though, my newest skill pinged.