The path down the mountain was steep and rocky. Mark approached it carefully, sliding his Taskmaster’s Iron-Plated Boots on the loose gravel and mud. The cool night air smelled wonderful and fresh. Above Mark’s head, the two moons cast long, mysterious shadows over the forest below.73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzQ22CA52Qm
When he reached the bottom of the mountain, the landscape suddenly opened up. The trail led into a wilderness of tangled roots and colossal trees. The blue magical lights from the ruins were gone, replaced by moonbeams piercing the tree leaves.73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFRumQlUtU5
Mark pulled out his mini-map. The blue lines marking the dungeon doors and connecting corridors were gone. In their place, the rectangular area around him was covered by the dark green mass of the jungle. One narrow trail stood out, leading to the distant yellowish glow Mark had seen from the cliffs.73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZdvmgKrAY7
"Keep a tight perimeter," Mark reminded himselfself, adopting the standard pace for scouting missions. Combat in Earth’s jungles was one of the harshest experiences a soldier could undergo. Reduced visibility and the peculiar acoustics of the place made one extra noise-sensitive. Not to mention that danger could come from all sides, including from above.73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKz92S2fjkY
Mark unstrapped his iron-tipped spear from his back and took a battle-ready stance. The extra length was helpful in such cases, allowing him to poke around large clumps of bushes before opening them.73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ20YENbA9Wq
After walking for about twenty minutes, his Tactical Awareness notified him of something suspicious. The usual sounds of the forest were gone. The chattering of the little creatures that inhabited the bushes was replaced by an unusual silence.73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgfZRhxJBux
Mark stopped, bending his knees. He tilted his head to the right, listening.73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm6iHPujtnv
Snap!73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPNnrvzAkrd
The dry twigs broke under someone’s step. Then the strange clicking noise began. It resembled the animal’s chattering but was slower and deeper. Mark raised his spear, staring into the darkness between two enormous trees.73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkdinWZAx6L
“Inspect,” he thought, narrowing his eyes. He had not waited for this, but his senses did not make mistakes.73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG9GGmQh8Hv
Initially, there was nothing. Then the darkness to his right cracked under pressure, and two spots of pale blue light appeared. A text box hung above the space where the creature’s head should be.
[Forest Strider – Level 4]73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5B3iPRUVQV
[HP: 110/110]73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQRHj9dGAck
[MP: 10/10]73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2tcQ2VMilT
[Description: A giant insect that preys on everything it can smell on the ground. Its long, sharp legs can pierce even the thickest armor.]
Before Mark could finish reading the description, the creature pounced at him.73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Ou61ALHXs
Its body resembled a giant praying mantis, but its exoskeleton was covered with brown scales that made it look like a piece of the forest itself. The Forest Strider was more than six feet tall, with four long legs, and a pair of oversized pincers that looked like broken saber blades. It rushed at Mark, its pincers clicking furiously.73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAUH8zgdSm7
“Not this again,” Mark muttered, sidestepping to the right and then forward. Dodging to the side was a bad idea, considering the creature’s reach. He needed to get inside its swing. Instead, he rushed forward and to the left, diving inside the Forest Strider’s space.73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ZZbnRoUbT
The creature’s right pincer hammered the ground where Mark’s head had been, burying three inches of its blade into the dirt. Mark rolled on his side, bringing his spear up in a staff-like position. He drove the butt of it into one of the creature’s front legs.73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw8NL0bWz1k
“Minor Cleave!” Mark shouted, and his mana surged through the spear. A crescent-shaped arc of energy lashed out from the weapon, cutting the insect’s leg at the knee.
[Skill Used: Minor Cleave! You dealt 28 points of physical damage to the Forest Strider]73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB8hHeS0uig
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The green liquid jetted from the wound, splattering on the ground. The Forest Strider stumbled to the right, growling. Its remaining front pincer slashed wildly, trying to decapitate Mark. The soldier dove to the side, his stomach almost brushing the ground. The Forest Strider’s pincer missed, but the force of the swing cut a thick branch of a tree from the middle.
While the monster was busy growling at the tree trunk, Mark took advantage of the lull in the attack. He pulled himself up, raising the spear over his head. With all of his might, he drove it downward, aiming at the creature’s diaphragm.73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6iETIRqZCV
The iron tip of the weapon pierced the Forest Strider’s ribs, going straight into the thick mass of its belly.
[Critical Hit! You dealt 38 points of physical damage to the enemy.]
The Forest Strider reeled back, spewing green liquid from its wound. Mark took a step back, twisting his body and keeping the pressure on the spear. He used his considerable Strength stat to wrench the weapon, tearing a big chunk of the creature’s insides. The Forest Strider’s health bar decreased significantly, turning red.73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx3Aycc4mKN
Realizing that it was losing the fight, the giant insect growled, trying to get away. Mark jumped back, freeing his spear from the wound. Instead of chasing the Forest Strider through the woods, he switched to his short sword, drawing it out from his belt with one smooth motion.
“Heavy Strike!”
The glowing blue aura enveloped the blade of Mark’s iron sword. He jumped forward, avoiding the last angry swipe of the Forest Strider’s pincers. Then he drove the glowing blade downwards, splitting the insect’s skull in half with a single powerful strike.
[Heavy Strike! You dealt 56 points of physical damage to the Forest Strider.]73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKIwGDrwu71
[Forest Strider (Level 4) has been defeated.]73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaMAR5LuSw2
[+85 XP received]73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJqpbbsI3EW
[Current XP: 330/300 needed for Level 4]
[Level up conditions have been met!]73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzKV8aWq9iq
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A warm feeling of triumph surged through Mark’s chest, spreading from his core outwards. He felt his tension drain away, and the fatigue from the long hike down the mountain simply vanished.73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡewtgJ6Tarl
73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLb6UpIvONp
[LEVEL UP!]73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP6fJ2weCYj
[You have reached Level 4. All health and mana are restored.]73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg01wxRZLcb
[+5 Attribute Points]73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi5xbLbLvep
[+1 Skill Point]
Mark smiled, letting out a steady breath. He kept the tip of his short sword on the ground as the Forest Strider’s body began to turn to gray ash. “Level 4,” he said, looking at his new stats. Everything was great, and he only had good words to say about the game’s character creation system. His previous life had not prepared him for this, but now he felt more powerful than ever.73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsONi0Bu8ma
Mark took a closer look at the place where the creature had died. The Forest Strider’s body was already dissipating into the dirt, leaving behind a single item – a long, green-tinted shard of its chitinous shell.
[Chitin Fragment (Common Material): A sharp piece of a giant insect’s exoskeleton that can be used for making various weapons.]
Mark picked up the fragment, adding it to his inventory. He decided to wait before spending the attribute and skill points. It was best to get to the city and figure out the build he wanted before proceeding further into the dungeon.73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfAP2qkDJUu
Looking at his mini-map, the distant yellow light did not seem so far anymore. In the gaps between the trees, Mark could see the black silhouette of the wall and the smoking tower. He was approaching the edge of the wilderness.73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuoco1GBnFO
Mark wiped his blade, sliding it back into its sheath, and shouldered his spear. With a confident step, the soldier left the dark woods, heading towards the city.
and then Add to home screen.