Read The Savage Garden :: Chapter 4 - Reality [PART 2]

Frey checked his Status in anticipation of a fight to see where he stood.

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Status

Name: Frey

Race: Human

Faction: None

Classes: Druid [LVL 1] (1/3)

Professions: 0/10

Level: 1

Experience Points: 65/200

Health Points: 83/100

Mana Points: 120/120

Stamina: 53/150

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Upon seeing his stamina Frey back-pedalled and began to contemplate. A skirmish now could be the death of him. He began to wonder if he should take a skill now, he was in urgent need if he was going to win the battle. Although how was he to know what he’d get? It could be entirely useless to his current goal.

A risk Frey wasn’t sure was worth taking. He didn’t even know the power difference between him and his enemy. Maybe he could win if he played his cards right? Maybe he had a chance?

If he was going to fight he had to do so while its underlings were dispersed.

Fuck it! Time to gamble!

Without any more hesitation Frey opened the Skills tab and selected “Copper Grade” with a thought.

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< WOULD YOU LIKE TO PROCEED WITH YOUR SPIN >

< YES/NO >

YES!

< ONLY ONE [CLASS] AVAILABLE >

< COMMENCING SPIN FOR THE [DRUID] CLASS >

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A wheel appeared, covering his vision. It spun, the colours of Copper, Silver and Gold could be seen along with the radiant, Platinum which took up the least space on the wheel.

Please!Please!Pleeeaasse! Be something good. I’ll even take a cringe ass skill like berserk. Please!

The wheel came to a halt after only a few short seconds, the arrow landing on a space occupied by copper colouration.

Fucking wanker!

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< OBTAINED SKILL >

Vine Snare

Allows the user to call upon nature, trapping any part of them in contact with the ground. Halts the movement of the affected body part for 0.3 seconds. Depending on the strength of the target it may break free.

< Cost: 5 Mana Points >

< Cooldown: NONE >

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Fuck me up the arse while ya at it! That is TRASH!

Frey could not believe his luck, he had gambled a bit when he was eighteen, each time he operated at a loss. This would mark the continuation of that bad luck.

Looks like I’m running.

Frey pulled himself up into a crouch. He tried his hardest to shuffle away while remaining aware of the Orthopteran leader below him.

*Ccrraackk*

As if to remind Frey how bad his luck truly was, a branch underfoot snapped under his weight.

His eyes darted towards the Orthopteran, to which it stared straight back at him.

The monster fell into a squat and seemed to prepare itself for a short moment before launching itself clear into the sky.

It vanished from Freys sight for a moment before the flitting of wings alerted him to its location.

It landed at speed, dust rose in its wake. It was four metres in front of Frey.

“Ah shit!” Frey let out.

Knowing hesitation would lose him his life. Frey held his shovel, prepared to attack.

He had made sure to keep off the road in order to keep his perk active, he needed as much help as he could get.

The Orthopteran dashed forward, mandibles clattering together as it did. It seemed to be talking to Frey.

“No idea what you’re saying bud.” Frey quipped.

The blade arm of the orthopteran swung downwards as the monsters dash came to an end.

Frey reacted instantaneously, adrenaline pumping through his veins. He held his shovel over his head with both hands blocking the blade. The vibration of the blow reverberating down the shovel into Freys arms.

I need a better weapon, goddamn! He thought to himself briefly.

In a back-step the monster prepared to swing again, this time too fast for Frey to block.

Vine Snare! Vine Snare! Vine Snare! Frey commanded knowing he was out of options, though not even sure that was how the skill worked.

As Frey braced for his imminent impaling, he noticed the vines rising from the ground below hugging the creatures legs.

They had stopped the creatures momentum and in the process limited its reach. The blade had stopped just short of Freys stomach.

“Ha! Fuck you!” He shouted as he swung down with his shovel aiming for the monsters head.

The vines had since gone limp, no longer restricting the creatures movements, allowing the Orthopteran to jump backwards and evade the strike.

Oh Shit!

Frey wasn’t prepared to stop his swing and instead hit the ground, the vibrations again bouncing through his bones.

I fucking hate this thing!

The Orthopteran swung its sword-arm in a show of skill, then taking advantage of Freys blunder charged once more.

Channeling the only memory he had retained from a parkour class he took when he was fifteen Frey rolled to the side. An awkward clang from his shovel against the ground rung out as he did.

He had rolled dangerously close to the edge of the bank, if he had overshot he would be tumbling downhill, most likely to his death.

The Orthopteran altered trajectory rapidly, once more charging for Frey, its legs providing it with inhuman speed. Its sword swing though no faster than the average human.

Frey blocked this time with ease, the trajectory of the swing easily readable.

“Looks like someone like to train legs, arms need some work though.” Frey taunted the monster once more.

“Grrraagh!” The creature seemingly furious let out a growl.

Using the creatures anger to his advantage, Frey used Vine Snare again. Staggering the timing of each use prolonging the time the vines held the monster in place.

Frey charged, swinging the shovel sharp side first. This time unlike its weaker brethren the Orthopterans skull didn’t split on impact. Instead all that could be seen was a small crack in its exoskeleton.

Tough little bugger.

Frey swung again. This time though the Orthopteran squatted, dodging the blow and using its powerful legs it jumped high once again.

Glancing upwards Frey surveyed the sky for his enemy.

“Fuck!” He yelled.

The monster clawed feet could be seen heading straight for Freys face, he rolled once more to dodge.

His enemy landed with a thud, ground cracking slightly underfoot.

Frey felt a stinging sensation, he glanced down to see a gash down his forearm. A second later his vision clouded over in one eye. He rubbed at it, blood had coated his hand.

Thats gonna leave a nasty scar.

“Sneaky cunt! Ya got me!”

“Huhuhuhu!” The monster let out what could only be interpreted as a laugh.

Frey kicked into overdrive. He took advantage of the monsters smug confidence.

He once again used Vine Snare in succession.

Blood muddied his vision once again but that didn’t delay his enraged charge.

The creature readied itself for another leap in order to break free.

Just short of the Orthopterans take off Frey arrived within attack range.

He swung, this time not towards the head. He had realised he didn’t have enough strength to do serious damage, this time he swung at the creatures knee joint.

As the shovel made contact a crack could be heard, its leg buckling in response.

The enemy collapsed to the ground, its leg broken, and in an instant Frey began calling upon his vines to wrap the creatures body.

Dozens of green tendrils cracked through the earth covering the Orthopterans downed body.

Frey took his chance and began delivering a barrage of blows to the monsters head. He swung over and over again while simultaneously making sure to keep the vines coming.

Fragments of exoskeleton flew into the air, clanging rang out through the forest, green blood began to seep from its skull.

Many, many swings later Frey finally received a notification.

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< Orthopteran Swordsman (Level 4) has been slain >

< 360 EXPERIENCE POINTS GAINED >

< BONUS >

< ADDITIONAL 60% EXPERIENCE REWARDED DUE TO DIFFERENCE IN LEVEL >

< TOTAL >

< 576 EXPERIENCE POINTS GAINED >

< CONGRATULATIONS YOU HAVE LEVELLED UP >

< YOU ARE NOW [LEVEL 2] >

< CONGRATULATIONS YOU HAVE LEVELLED UP >