“You’re leaving?!” the children chorused with obvious dismay.
A pained grimace flit across the woman, Robin’s, face, before she plastered on a fake smile.
“Only for a little while- and we’ll be back before you know it! A quick trip. Nothing more. In and then out.”
After their little fiasco following his not so secluded breakthrough, and the subsequent undressing, washing, and burning that came after—his clothes and the tent ultimately deemed unsalvageable—Robin and the others sat the children down around the roaring campfire to break some rather harsh news. No doubt they’d hoped it would be resolved quickly and painlessly, so that they might get on with the things that really mattered—their leveling. Of course, there was no chance of that ever happening, though he thought the attempt was admirable all the same.
He would’ve just left without saying anything.
Almost immediately, several of the children burst into tears. A couple running up to latch onto her legs, wailing things like “don’t go!” and “don’t leave!” It was all very heartbreaking, or heartwarming, or whichever. Personally, he just wished they’d get on with it already. Other people had lives too you know. He had things to do! Very important things! Others, however, clearly were not of his opinion. They might’ve ripped the heart from Robin’s chest and bitten into it right in front of her, and done less soul damage to the poor woman.
Robin shot a pleading look towards the other woman, Denise, to which she merely rolled her eyes.
“Alright, listen up you brats!” her words had the intended effect, snapping them all from their waterworks—fear having evidently replaced sorrow. “This is all for your own good! How do you expect us to deal with the next ‘man-eating teddy bear’ or ‘blood sucking clown doll’ that shows up on our doorstep, if we have to spend all our time babysitting you!?”
She grimaced, plainly aware of the irony in her word choice.
“Look. Point is, you’re perfectly safe here so long as you stay under the dome, and besides, it’s not as if you’ll be without supervision. Isn’t that right?” these last words she directed at Robin.
“Y-yes of course. I’ve spoken with our tutorial guide and he’s promised to keep you all company while we’re gone. He’s sworn that no harm will come to you, so long as your under his protection.”
Richards blood ran cold. Almost involuntarily, his head swiveled in the very direction he’d been successfully ignoring thus far, feeling like it were moving on rusted hinges.
There, a scant few paces to his left, stood the creature.
Or rather, stood was a bit of a misnomer. No, he was crouching, definitely crouching. It’s bulbous head—with those two yellow ringed pools, so large you felt you could drown in them—scant inches from that of his beloved charge. His ward…! His disciple! His winning lottery tick- erm, his soon to be apprentice! And the girl in the meanwhile—showing no predilection toward self preservation whatsoever—was staring right back. Did she have a death wish!? Their noses bare centimeters apart.
Look away, look away, look away, LOOK AWAY! For the love of all that’s holy, if you value your life, LOOK THE SWELL AWAY!!
That was when, of all things, a purple butterfly navigated the space between their noses. Ever the curious little empress, her large amber eyes followed the gentle flutter of its wings with rapt attention.
She looked away.
Richard let out a sigh of relief.
Phew!
The creatures head snapped in his direction, so fast, it might have stopped time for all he knew. And yet Richard was already staring straight ahead, whistling a merry little tune, a bead of sweat slowly trickling down his brow. He felt the heat of the creatures gaze on him for several seconds more, before it apparently lost interest and the feeling disappeared.
Richard didn’t let his guard down for a second.
“We’ll be back soon, okay?” Robin called back, the others already half way to the tree line.
“Okay!” the kids chorused, taking the separation surprisingly well, if you ignored the few red eyes and obvious sniffling.
In another minute, the grownups were completely gone.
And you know what they say. While the master’s away, the mice will play.
And as resident chief rodent round these parts, naturally, he’d be calling all the shots. Flexing his vastly improved body, both wary and excited—he hadn’t even explored the smallest iota of what it was now capable of—Richard launched to his feet. Startling a young Alice so badly, she barely even resisted as he broke free from her dastardly clutches.
The children gasped. Richard ignored them
With a determined look on his pudgy face, he began to make a slow circuit around the campfire. It was a bit awkward in the beginning. He stumbled the first couple of times he’d tried it. With his head as big as it was, it took sometime to adjust to the top heavy equilibrium.
“Little brother! You’re walking!” Alice announced the very obvious.
“See?! That’s what I been telling you guys! He’s like a ultimate ultra super rare crazy awesome ninja baby!” Donald exclaimed, before he began running laps around Richard, arms held out in a Superman pose.
“He was probably shot off into space on a rocket ship, and had to fight off fricken space pirates in space, but then he crash landed on earth—boom! crash! pow! ahh! save me! save me!—and was raised by wolves for, like, fifteen whole years! But, instead of regular wolves, they were wolves raised by ninjas. Ninja wolves…”
“Uh. Wait? How fifteen years if he is not fifteen years old?” Jimmy Yoon asked, genuinely confused.
“Because he grew back in time, duh! You didn’t let me finish!”
“Oh.” Jimmy Yoon agreed, though you could tell by his expression that he still didn’t really understand. “Duh.”
“Ye reckon he could always do tha’?” Skye asked.
“Not yesterday he couldn’t,” pronounced Sanya. “Not unless he was faking.”
“He wouldn’t do that!” Alice this time. “You’re just jealous cause he’s a genius!” she exclaimed smugly.
“Aye, he’s somethin’, alright,” Skye muttered to herself.
“Umm! My daddy says I walked even sooner than him!” Chance butt in.
“No he didn’t you liar!” said Sanya.
“I’m not lying!”
“Yes you are.”
“No I’m not!”
“Yes you are!”
“No I’m NOT!”
“Hey… be nice you two…” Jimmy Yoon tried to mediate.
“Yes you ARE!”
“NO I’M NOT!!!”
“YES- Wh- huh? Hey,” Sanya got distracted. “Where’s he going with the baby?”
“Huh?” the others asked in unison, swiveling in their seats to see Richard princess carrying the other infant with difficulty, as he marched his way toward the distant tree line.
The children stared nonplussed at one another for a time, before their eyes widened in sudden comprehension, and they sprang to their feet.
“Stop!” said Alice. “You can’t go in there! You’ll get hurt!”
“Yeah!” said Sanya. “Didn’t you hear what Mrs. Smith said!? It’s dangerous!”
“Wait!” said Donald. “Take me with you!”
The others nearly fell flat on their faces in surprise.
“Are ye daft?! Look at ‘im. He’s no’ right in the head. What’cha wanna go runnin’ after him for?”
“Obviously because he’s gonna go hunt some fricken monsters, duh! Don’t you guys wanna see?”
His question, earnestly spoken and with passion burning in his eyes, engendered something of a mixed reaction. Skye looked speculative, Sanya looked intrigued, Alice looked conflicted, Jimmy appeared concerned, while Chance just looked like he had a really bad tummy ache.
“Y-you think it’ll be okay?” asked Sanya. “Mrs. Smith said to stay here you know.”
“Yeah, but grown ups don’t know everything. ‘Member when we tried to tell them about his powers and they thought we were just making it up?”
The others nodded. They did remember that. It’d been somewhat frustrating.
“This is pretty much the same.”
And, faced with such iron clad logic, the others were left with very few rebuttals.
“I s’pose… we could just go in and come back…” said Alice, anxious to let her little brother out of her sight for a second time. “Maybe if we’re quick, no one will know?”
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“Booyah!” Donald pumped his fist.
“Aye, so lang as nae one lets the cat oot the bag.”
Abruptly, every eye unerringly drifted toward Chance. The short blonde haired boy puffed up indignantly.
“I’m not going to tell!”
“Yeah right,” Sanya scoffed. “We should just leave him here.”
“I’M NOT GOING TO TELL!”
“Hmm… I don’t know…”
“I’M NOT! I’M NOT! HONEST I’M NOT!!”
“Alright, but if you really want to come, then you have to do everything I say!”
The boys protests faltered. Suddenly it was if that tummy ache had come back in full force.
“I- only if you don’t make me do anything weird.”
“Nope! You have to promise right now or you can’t come!”
“I- I-!” his eyes darted around, tears brimming at the corners. “Okay I promise.”
“Good, now oink like a pig!”
“But you promised!”
“I did not!”
“You did so!”
“Guys hurry up! He’s leaving!” Donald shouted back, already racing ahead.
Previous bickering and trepidation completely set aside, each immediately made to chase after him, anxious to not be left behind.
+++
Richard was barely ten paces from the sparse tree line when a looming purple figure barred his way.
Richard froze. Slowly, ever so slowly, he lifted his eyes till they were level with the creature’s red collar, not daring to go any higher. Immediately he found himself unsure of how to proceed.
Of course it was a risk he was taking, he knew that. Standing out so blatantly wasn’t something he’d considered lightly. In all honesty, the only reason he’d ever considered it to begin with was currently nestled between his stubby little arms. Unbeknownst to her, he owed his little protégé more than she knew. More than she ever would know, if he had anything to say about it. Because now, no matter how outwardly unusual he appeared, compared to a bona fide Empress, he was borderline unremarkable. Especially if he stuck to the story he’d settled on.
It was a convenient excuse for his sudden boost in strength and mobility.
Martial Awakening.
A preternatural development of physical might and combat prowess which, while extremely rare to see in someone his age, was not entirely unheard of. It certainly wasn’t something to sniff twice at when you considered the company he kept. So long as he didn’t reveal anything truly inexplicable, like his engraving knowledge or future insights for instance, he should be able to slip under the radar relatively unmolested.
Or, at least, that had been the idea.
Deep down, though, he’d known trying to predict how a being such as this would react was a fools errand. How did one fathom the unfathomable, after all? And yet, he’d still been about 99% sure this little gamble of his would pay off. Even if it saw through his ruse, there was no reason for it to stand in his way. If it truly knew he was trying to subvert its little game, it would’ve simply killed him on the spot and been done. Wouldn’t it?
He was under no illusions that the creature was haunting the tutorial for any reason other than to sate its own twisted hunger. Any words promising aid and protection were just that.
Words.
By all rights, it should’ve been jumping for joy at the chance to see a child endangered. It was the kind of meal that was likely to sate it for a long time, he was sure. So why now was it standing in his way? Surely it didn’t actually intend to keep its word. That was just not how entities of its ilk operated. His growing confusion and anxiety was eventually put to rest, when he felt the pounding of tiny feet from behind him.
“Wait up!” Donald called. “We’re coming too!”
And, like he’d spoken the five magic words, the creature promptly stepped aside with an elegant bow. It’s yellow eyes flashing in the morning sun.
Ahh. Now I see. So two wasn’t nearly enough for you, huh? Greedy monster. Though I really don’t know what I’d expected honestly.
Not even turning to acknowledge the gaggle of children yipping at his heels—if they wanted to get themselves killed, who was he to stand in the way of natural selection?—Richard continued his arduous march. His charge, not so much heavy, as unwieldy in his arms. Of course, that was when she decided to gently lift herself from his hold, the ambient mana cushioning her as if on a cloud of air.
Couldn’t have done that earlier? Ugh! My back!
From her new vantage, the girl looked down on him with those too wide, too curious eyes. He looked back, then frowned.
It’s going to become increasingly inconvenient referring to her as “girl,” or “protégé.” Hmm..
And so, going out on a limb, he decided to send her a quick message.
…
… interesting…
Penelope huh? Not exactly what I’d call empress-esque, but it should serve as a placeholder for now.
Still holding her amber gaze, he walk several paces past the tree line.
***WARNING!***
You have exited a safe zone! You are now entering a hostile area! Dangers to your personal well-being may apply!
Ignoring the nonsensical warning message, he was unsurprised when the second notification arrived. In fact, it was honestly more shocking to him that it’d taken this long. Apparently, as had been the case inside his tutorial, actually dredging up the nerve to walk into the forest was the trigger.
*Ding!*
You have discovered a floor quest!
?—|-FLOOR QUEST-|—?
?|In The Wilds There Be Monsters|?
Floor Type: Sprawling Acreage.
Challenge Type: Monster Dens, Roaming Elites, Random Beast Encounters.
In one months time—now 28 days 21 hours and 15 minutes—you will be transported to the second floor of this tutorial.
Your Quest: Survive for one month inside a hostile environment teeming with monsters.
How exactly you choose to do so is entirely up to you. Erect a mountain of corpses to denote your supremacy, hone your body and skills to newfound heights, or jump at every shadow that crosses your path, anything is permissible so long as you survive for the allotted time.
Be aware, however, that while the wilds may seem treacherous and untamed, the worst has yet to come. You would be advised to grow, level, and learn in the time you’ve been given.
In the race for ascension, by far the worst thing one can do is fall behind.
Once past the tree line, he stopped, waiting. After a seconds hesitation, Penelope floated in after him, passing through the protective barrier with nary a ripple. Richard smiled, turned, and began to lead the way further into the bright and airy forest. The others—terrible creature included—hurried their steps to follow.
+++
They’d been walking for about fifteen minutes when a notification appeared that caught all of them by surprise—Richard included.
***WARNING!***
You have entered a higher level zone!
|-|—Lower F Grade—|-|
(Lvls 15 - 30)
Please consider relocating to a zone more appropriate for your grade and level.
They even curtail the monster levels here? Segmenting them into graded zones? Hold on… wait! Does that mean the chances of randomly encountering a lvl 150 monster while still in early F Grade are basically zero!? For the love of-! Just how easy do these super easy participants have it?! Baby mode indeed….
Still, it didn’t mean he wasn’t grateful for such an easy to read indication of what he could expect to face, he just wished he could’ve taken advantage of such a convenience during his own tutorial. Might not have lost so many friends that way.
Richard never noticed the others’ steps falter upon hearing the foreboding message, nor how they eventually picked up the pace, after he’d already gone several meters ahead. No, he was far more intent on finding a victe- that is to say, a willing sparring partner with which to test out his newly prestige’d body. Eventually, after maybe five more minutes of walking—the sparse underbrush and widely spaced trees making for easy traversal—he finally found what he was looking for.
He heard it before he saw it. A quiet snuffling from behind the thick trunk of a tree. He froze. If only to indicate to Penelope that she should do the same. She looked confused, but eventually acquiesced to his “stay back,” gestures.
She really is far too smart for her age. Is the wealth of ambient mana impacting her mind somehow? Speeding up its development?
It was a thought. And one he honestly believed likely. Content for now with the simple fact she was capable of listening to him, Richard slowly began to creep around the thick oak. Then he hesitated. Looked down at his empty hands, and nearly face palmed.
Pulling up the points catalogue, he bought a dull dagger and a whetstone token for 60 total points—praying that his hunch was correct. Before him appeared a chipped iron dagger and a shining copper coin. He caught both easily. The dagger was rather basic, with a 12” long blade. While the coin depicted a man bending over to sharpen something on one side, and two crossed swords on the other. Richard pressed the coin to the very dull blade and was gratified when the coin disappeared, and the dagger grew visibly sharper.
He placed his finger on the tip. It took a bit of pressure, given his skin was now far tougher than a small child’s had any right to be, but he eventually managed to draw blood.
Good enough, I suppose.
He wasn’t exactly what one would call a “close ranged” specialist. He was more of a “pelt the enemy from range with a metric ton of talismans” specialist. Even still, for the sake of preparedness, he’d dabbled in all manner of paths he had little to no interest in. He was sure that, at these lower levels at least, he could easily get by.
Finally, with one swift motion, he swung around the tree trunk, eager to get his first good look at what the tutorial had served up to him.
+—|-Candy-Hide Boar-|—+
?[Lvl 16]?
If the monsters they’d encountered thus far looked like they belonged in the children’s aisle of a toy store, this creature looked plucked straight out of a children’s board game. A Land entirely made of Candy, to be more exact. Four and a half feet tall at the shoulders—placing it well above him in height—it’s matted white fur, stiff and smelling strongly of mint, stuck out at odd angles. Angry candy cane tusks sprouted from beneath its upper lip, while a pair of beady gumdrop eyes glinted in the morning sun.
The wild pig squealed, startled by his sudden appearance, before those shocked little gumdrops narrowed with hate.
About ten or so paces separated them. Richard licked his lips, readjusting his grip on his knife. The beast stamped its hooves into the dirt, it’s gumdrop eyes flashed, and it charged. It crossed the intervening distance in three great strides—head bent low. Just as it’s red and white tusks looked ready to gore him straight through the chest however, Richard sidestepped, swaying his upper body away from the clumsy charge. A quick flick of his knife hand leaving a minor cut along its side.
The beast charged past, squealing it’s pain and frustration. Richard frowned. The beast arrested it’s momentum, but only with an effort. Charging forward was no problem, but it clearly had trouble turning. Dust was kicked up in its scramble to swing back around. Once it was once more pointed in his direction, the beast snorted, clawed at the earth with its hooves. It’s eyes… flashed, and the beast charged. Again, Richard easily danced to the side, leaving a second shallow wound on its flank.
Again, the beast struggled to turn, again the beast stomped the ground, and again the beasts eyes flashed. He was able to make it out now, a red glint in its eyes that was as noticeable as it was fleeting. Was it a skill of some kind? He wasn’t sensing the fluctuations of mana, but then what else could it be?
The beast charged. Richard dodged, leaving another red line across its flank. Only… it wasn’t actually red, now was it? The closer he looked, the more blood seeped down its side, the more sure of it he became.
This time, when the beast charged, Richard was done messing around. The beast did it’s little routine, it’s eyes flashed, then it leapt into action. He sidestepped, feeling it whistle past, the wind of its passage ruffling the gray fabric of his onesie. Instead of leaving another shallow cut however, he lunged, striking forward with his freshly sharpened knife. His hand guided by years worth of experience—countless times spent courting death just to survive another day.
His knife easily slid behind its shoulder joint, and between two of the creatures ribs, firmly planting itself in its heart. Richard twisted his wrist, pulling the dagger free, before it could get trapped in the beast’s ribcage, as its momentum carried it forward. His knife slipping free in a fountain of rainbow colored blood heavily incorporated with glitter. The gushing fountain splattered across the trunk of a nearby tree like a bucket of unicorn barf. The Candy-Hide Boar staggered forward a few more steps, before collapsing to the forest floor.
Dead.
?-|—(You have slain an enemy: Candy-Hide Boar [Lvl 16])—|-?
Experience Gained. Participation Points Gained.
[+160 Participation Points]
Dismissing the kill notification, Richard could only stare at its rainbow covered corpse in slack jawed disbelief.
Wha-what in the ever loving-! What the swell is going on?!