Swing, hack, Eden swings at the first tree with all of his might. However, it seems the swirling tree had other plans as the glowing axe had little to no effect on the thick bark Eden was hacking away at. Even after 10 swings with all of Eden’s strength, the tree barely looked damaged at all, with only a couple inch deep slit appearing in the tree. Though the swings were not all that accurate to the same point, harmed greatly from the rage filling the already slightly pissed off Eden.
“This is the most useless axe ever made!” Eden screams out, throwing the glowing green axe to the ground, having dust clouds form at Eden’s feet. “It lacks the ability to even chop down a single tree!” Eden believes as he then looks at the now grounded axe he had just thrown, as even the dirt and dust did not go up much from the force. But after a thought, he quickly picks it up, realizing what may happen if Quatch hears of this. He picks up the light axe, not sure on what he should do, or even why the axe is not cutting.
Maybe I am just too weak to cut down this tree. No, that cannot be right, or at least to enough of a degree to affect performance. But I should test just in case. I mean, I got another axe, and what harm could this possibly bring? Eden realises as he draws his sturdy axe in place of the glowing one. The idea; if he can cut down the tree with the ‘good axe’, then the glowing axe just sucks, if not, then he is just really weak. Hoping that it is the former, Eden swings with all of his hope and might, and a mighty crack is echoed throughout the forest as the twirling tree is finally slain. Eden almost fully cuts through the thick tree in one swing, a feat helped from Eden’s proper aim at the “deepest” slit in the tree, leaving Eden to drop his axe and jump out in joy.
“Yes! I am not weak!!! I should have known it was because I was using a faulty axe all along and never doubted myself!” Eden yells out in joy. Though this joy is quick-lived as he watches the falling tree, the tree that is about to crush him head on. Luckily however, Eden is barely able to sneak through the innards of the tree’s swirls and narrowly avoid death, along with any real injury, pardon a few scrapes from miscellaneous branches. After a few seconds, Eden pats himself down and stands up, brushing off the mud stains on his clothes, and looking to see if he had any big wounds, which he did not.
Notice! User has cut down a tree! (1/10,000)
Okay one down, 9,999 to go. Eden thinks as he sheds a tear, regretting that he met Quatch, though he does think of something that would make this day much worse. Thank god nothing here says anything about bringing the trees back, or else I would have just taken my chances in the woods. Actually, now that I think about it, if I go back to town, who is to say that I will not be given more tasks from Quatch? Let alone if I can even afford it, given how much a simple apple costs. If I had to guess, the best idea for me is to live out here, maybe train a bit if possible. Eden concludes, ignorant to the scam the obese merchant was doing. So he goes to cut down some more trees, and more trees, and even more trees, until 3 hours have passed.
Notice! User has cut down his 100th tree! (100/10,000)
Notice! User’s strength has slightly increased!
Notice! User’s stamina has slightly increased!
Notice! Skill ‘Patience’ proficiency has increased!
“Hhhhgggg. Why do these trees have to be so annoying to cut!? Eden questions fumingly, as the cutting was rather hard work to cut down each and every tree. “I mean, ugh, that last one shot spines at me, and the one that sprayed poison all over me! Not to mention how all of these trees keep falling on me!” Eden angrily rambles as he wipes off his forehead sweat, forming a pool of sorts in his hair for the bugs that snuck into it. However, he has no time to worry about his current predicament, as dusk sets and the moon starts to rise overhead.
Damn! I was not watching the time. I should have at least set up anything, as who knows what is in these woods. I have not even thought of what I should make my “home” out of. Eden worries, but he gets a rather solid idea. The quest only states to cut down 10,000 trees and hand over the logs. It never says I have to hand over all the other parts of these trees. Eden schemes, as he starts hacking away at the branches of the field of fallen trees. As he does this, the branches fling off the tree, which would normally be annoying for Eden, but luckily he has quite the work a round; collect. He screams out “Collect!” hundreds of times to gather all the branches he cut off, saving who knows how long. Though it was still a long enough process for him, taking around half an hour to finish just the harvesting.
Notice! User has gained the wood of a spine tree!
Notice! User has gained the wood of a rubber tree!
Notice! User has gained the wood of a blood tree!
Notice! User has gained the wood of a spring tree!
Notice! User has gained the wood...
Notice! Skill ‘Patience’ proficiency has increased!
Nice! To think putting the wood in my inventory would give me their name and some info. Kind of obvious now that I think about it. Eden realises as he reads the endless wall of text that is the description of the numerous woods.
Unfortunately however, the more normal woods lack this description, only giving a name and basic colour. Sadly the more ‘basic’ woods do not have any fancy descriptions, maybe they were from my old world? Who knows, I never really cared about trees anyway, I mean why should I care about an extinct plant type? Eden concludes; as he now goes to glance at the other wood types, the ones with actual descriptions. So to summarize the woods properties; spring wood acts like a spring. Rubber wood has the flexibility of rubber. Blood wood makes that annoying poisonous sap. And spine wood is spiky and is like barbed wire.
Spring Wood- (F-) wood
Description: A very odd type of wood that appears in the shape of a spring, used mainly for special crafts, rather than normal ones. This makes this wood poor for crafting, but can be used to knock back a target by 4 tiles for an attack.
Armour Craft Range- H to F+.
Weapon Craft Range- H to F.
Ammo Craft Range- H+ to E-.
Tool Craft Range- G- to E.
Special Properties-
Requirements- Level 30 or higher
Armour- +1 tile of knockback resistance for every 20% used.
Weapon- +1 tile of knockback for every 40% used.
Ammo- +1 tile of knockback for every 50% used.
Tool- +1 tile of knockback for every 60% used.
Spine Wood- (F-) wood
Description: Spined wood that acts similar to barbed wire, dealing more damage compared to other woods, but lacking the hardness of similar woods. This gives all crafts made with 50% or more of this material deal 5 typeless damage when blocking or attacking with it.
Armour Craft Range- G- to E+.
Weapon Craft Range- G to D+.
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
Ammo Craft Range- H+ to D-.
Tool Craft Range- G to E.
Special Properties-
Requirements- Level 20 or higher
Armour- deal 2 typeless damage when attacked for every 20% used.
Weapon- +5% pierce for every 20% used.
Ammo- +2% pierce for every 10% used.
Tool- +1 damage for every 20% used.
Rubber Wood- (G+) wood
Description: A unique type of wood that holds a very special property, a high flexibility, making it great for crafting things used for rubber. This material can be used as a substitute for anything that uses rubber, and if an item is 100% made of this material, that item has an extra 5 ft (1.52 m) of range for melee, 15 ft (4.57 m) for ranged.
Armour Craft Range- G- to D-.
Weapon Craft Range- F- to D-.
Ammo Craft Range- H+ to E.
Tool Craft Range- H+ to D+.
Special Properties-
Requirements- Level 10 or higher
Armour- +2% blunt resistance for every 25% used.
Weapon- +5 ft (1.52 m) of range for melee, +10 ft (3.05 m) for ranged, for every 80% used.
Ammo- +1 tile of knockback for every 50% used.
Tool- +5 ft (1.52 m) of range and radius for every 20% used.
Blood Wood- (G+) wood and blood
Description: A wood that is blood-red, that pours out a sap when attacking that is very similar to blood. This wood can act as both as blood and as wood, though it will normally be out preformed by both for materials of similar grades.
Armour Craft Range- H+ to E+.
Weapon Craft Range- G- to D-.
Ammo Craft Range- H to E.
Tool Craft Range- H+ to D-.
Special Properties-
Requirements- Level 15 or higher
Armour- +2 max health for every 25% used.
Weapon- heal +1 health on attack for every 20% used.
Ammo- heal +1 health for every 20% used.
Tool- +1 max health for every 25% used.
These are very interesting materials if I say nothing else. I could make quite the base with these wood types, though only if I use them right, and in the right places. Eden concludes, as he then looks for someone else to go to. After just a quick glance however, he sees a quiet looking area up on a hill that is noticeably farther away from other trees, only containing a small quantity of normal trees and a few blood trees. So Eden decides to build his base there given the geographical advantage with the hill. But upon getting closer Eden notices a very small pond, properly distilled, but Eden has no knowledge of the concept, let alone having it affect him much with his poison resistance anyway. Matching the safe feeling of this place, there are a few cute blue blobs around, which Eden takes no real notice to, assuming that they are nothing more than common creatures in the forest.
“This looks like the best place to rest-” Growl Eden says as his stomach growls, interrupting his words. Before doing any other work, Eden takes out some of the more basic woods and makes a campfire a couple of feet away from the pond, wanting to cook himself a good meal, or at least the best he can. He lines the campfire with some of his stone, 0.8 pounds (0.36 kg) to be exact, and lights one of his matches. As the flame ignites and smoke starts to spread out like a plague, and every plague needs their transmitter. The fire sticks out like a sore thumb and draws the attention of a few, gooey blue blobs. Overhead the creatures it displays their name as Slime (H) as they bounce their way towards Eden. The soft plops of the slimes gains the attention of Eden, who has now gained a bit of interest on a closer examination of the creatures.
Woah! What are those things? Eden wonders as he reads overhead the slimes. Ah, Slimes! How did I not guess that? Well I cannot imagine that slimes of all creatures are that dangerous, but better to deal with the problem then let it explode in my face. Eden partially believes as he equips his armaments, now thinking of the slimes as monsters rather than simple animals.
Swing Eden’s axe echos as he swings his mighty weapon around. Each swing cuts down a slime or two, even though Eden does not put much power in each swing. Their deaths ring off numerous system notifications about gaining EXP to Eden’s sad delight, realising what he is doing, though it is far too late, as he has already killed 30 slimes.
Notice! User has killed a slime! User gained 1 EXP
Notice! Slime has dropped material “Slime goo”(3 oz).
Slime Goo- (H-) Organ
Description:The goo of a slime, harvested from either their corpse or residue from their body.
Armour Craft Range- H- to G-, must include the word slime or goo in the name.
Weapon Craft Range- H- to G-, must include the word slime or goo in the name.
Ammo Craft Range- H- to G-, must include the word slime or goo in the name.
Tool Craft Range- H- to G-, must include the word slime or goo, can go up to F+ for potions and this will have no name restrictions.
Special Properties-
Requirements- Level 5 or higher
Armour- +1 magic defence for every 25% used.
Weapon- +1 magic damage for every 25% used.
Ammo- applies a -0.5 movement speed for every 25% used.
Tool- +1 round of effects for every 50% used.
After the thirty slimes were slain, the field was cleared of life, only the gooey corpses of the fallen creatures remain in Eden’s presents. However, Eden had not got off scot-free either, as he had not killed off every slime here. There was a single slime who hid among the corpses of his fallen comrades, who had bounced out of hiding, but not yet met Eden’s eyes. Furthermore, with Eden’s hunger and tiredness, he was ill fit for battle, and lacked awareness for his surroundings, so he would never have met the slime’s eyes until he struck. This had led to the lone slime, hiding among his comrades corpses, to strike like a dagger at night. At least, that is what the slime had thought. In actuality, the slime had tackled Eden, but its weak body had made it do little more than reveal itself to his predator.
“What was that?” Eden questioned after feeling a light tap on his back, thinking that it may have been the wind or something. But he had soon discovered the source of this “attack” was a surviving slime, who had slightly shrunk in fear of the man known as a monster to it, and its eyes cloud up with small amounts of slime. But when Eden looks at its bubbly eyes, he feels a sense of remorse for his actions, and begins to question why he ever did this in the fist place.
Wait, why did I strike at these slimes again? They had not tried to attack me, and they clearly don’t have the capacity to do so. What was I thinking? Eden questions while trembling, thinking how he clearly had no reason to attack the slimes. He looks down at the slime, his axe shakes, and he hears a hard beating from his chest. He then looks down at himself, what would have been the guts of normal animals, but instead is slime goo, had covered his body. But then, out of nowhere, Eden feels a wave of relief and suppression to his former thoughts.
Notice! Passive Skill, ‘Patience’ has activated its effect. Mental abilities have slightly improved.
No, I cannot act, let alone be weak any more. I need to be stronger. But, this isn't how I wanted to become strong. I cannot take this path, the easy road paved for the fools entering hell. Eden rationalises as he puts away his axe, shooing the small slime away, too which it happily abides. “I need not kill the innocent, the ones trying to live their life in peace. I must not strike those who have never struck first, even if it is the easier path to follow.” Eden declares proudly, but his growling stomach removes all faith someone listening would have. To quench his hunger, he walks over to the barely lit campfire and quickly throws in some more branches to get the fire rising. He then looks at what he has to eat, some chicken and eggs. Not having much better to do, Eden sets up a wooden holding pole and places some chicken stabbed with sticks he carved with his knife. He then scavenges for some berries and the slimes’ corpse. The only true way to respect the dead is to use every part of them. Making sure you can save the need to kill even one more would be the best way to use a dead creature's body. Eden firmly believes, vaguely remembering it from his past, but not quite sure from whom.
“Collect!” Eden Screams, gathering all the slime goo he can. However, something he had not expected had happened after a few uses.
Notice! User’s strength stat is too low to hold more in the inventory.
We would highly advise you to drop some items.
Inventory limit? Makes sense but it is kind of annoying. Eden thinks; dropping off all of his sticks and branches near base to open up his inventory. He then goes back to collecting all the slime parts and sees some strawberry bushes. Eden then goes to grab them, but “collect” sadly does not work so he instead picks them one by one. But they do not even last to make it into his inventory before Eden eats them. As Eden gorges on the average-tasting strawberries, he gets a notification from a skill he has long forgotten about.
Notice! Skill ‘Harvester’ has activated!
Notice! You have gained 23 gold!
Oh yeah, forgot I had this skill. But why has it not activated earlier? Eden wonders, but comes up with an idea right after. Maybe it only works on crops? No, that stupid, but I guess it is a farmer skill, so I guess it makes sense, no matter how weird it may be. Eden concludes as he picks and eats the last of the berries. Once he is done with that he walks over towards the campfire, still burning brightly, and looks at his slightly overcooked chicken skewers and begins to eat his first tower meal. The food itself is not all that good, but the feeling is like if his own mother had cooked it for him. He stuffs himself with the crispy 2 pounds (0.91 kg) of chicken he cooked, before beginning to make himself a place to sleep.
So there is no chance I am getting a room with their prices and Quatch walking around, so I better make the baseline now. Eden believes, still unaware of the fact he can more than afford room and board, but the Quatch part is fair enough. Eden grabs the more flexible woods, such as rubber wood, and uses it to tie around three trees and a bunch of miscellaneous branches, using most of his slime goo to keep the thing in place. He connects each end of the wood, covered in slime goo, with another, making a triangle of sorts, though it lacks most of a normal triangle structural stability with the poor craftsmanship. The thing starts to fall apart, but nothing a little more wood cannot fix. Though it takes much more wood than Eden had expected, but eventually through trial and error, Eden builds the structure. By the end of it, it was bad-looking to say the least, but it was at least better than his former crafts, which would be basically nothing. He then takes a quick walk back to the stick pile to grab off some leaves, making a somewhat passible leaf bed. He then uses a little more slime goo to help stick the leaves together, making the bed block the cold with much greater efficiency. When he is done building the thing, it looks rather shabby and like any wind could knock it over, but it will make do for at least Eden’s first night in the woods. The first that would become many.
Eden Status report-
Stored-
10 oz of slime goo
