Chapter Six - 006Flesh still sizzling uncomfortably and clothing finally ruined, Felix sat behind some trees and chewed yarrow while attempting to meditate. He was too distracted though. He was furious with himself.
The copse grub had used an area of effect skill to launch acid in a burst all around itself. Felix got a full dose, all over his chest and face. He barely survived, and his shirt didn't. It finally had given up the ghost and dissolved off of him, only a few scraps of once-white cloth remained. He had shoved those in his pocket.
So now he had an acid burned chest, tattered pants, and--
A Copse Grub's Acid Explosion Has Entered Your Bloodstream.
Status Condition: Poisoned
You Have Learned A New Skill!
Poison Resistance (Common) Level 1!
By poisoning your blood, you have learned to resist the harmful effects of poisons. Efficacy increases slightly with skill level, damage taken from poison decreases slightly with skill level.
Ah yes. Blood poisoning. Felix grumbled as he ate another mushroom. He saw a debuff icon blinking in the corner of his vision, a drop of blood half colored black. As he finished the Witchcap, Felix watched the icon flicker and disappear.
Finally. He sighed in relief. He only had three Witchcaps left.
Metaphorically out of the woods, yet still unable to meditate, he focused on his notifications which had piled up in the past two hours.
A Copse Grub's Acid Explosion Puts You In Critical Condition!
Felix waved away the battle notifications and status conditions. He already knew he took a crazy amount of acid to the chest and face. His nearly depleted stash of yarrow could attest to that.
Acid Resistance is level 7!
Poison Resistance is level 2!
Acid Resistance is level 8!
Poison Resistance is level 3!
Acid Resistance is level 9!
Pain Resistance is level 2!
...
Pain Resistance is level 5!
Herbalism is level 5!
+2 END
Congratulations! You have earned a new Title!
Survivor III (Rare)!
Drop to less than 10% Health 3 Times In A Week. You should really take care of yourself! +2 END, +3 VIT
Breathe. Just breathe.
Felix pushed passed the pain and focused on breathing and chewing more of his yarrow stash. He was lucky these magic herbs regenerated skin and blood and muscle so quickly or else he'd be disfigured beyond recognition. The amount of acid that grub ejected was astounding. At first, Felix figured it had killed itself and tried to take him with it, but then he saw the damn slimy bastard slip down into the log. It had burrowed away!
Breathe. He reminded himself. Breathe in, and out. I can't do anything about it until I'm back at full here. Hell, I can barely do anything at my best.
Even a giant gummy worm kicked his ass.
On the bright side, he had gained another Survivor Title and his resistances were leveling very quickly. Probably had something to do with stress, but his Skills and stats all improved better while in combat. When his life was on the line.
What did that say about this world?
Felix let that thought go as he meditated; the past was unchangeable. There was just now, this moment, where he can recover and try again. And again. As many times as it takes.
Some time later, Felix blinked open his eyes.
Meditation is Level 5!
With a smile, he stood up. The smile quickly faded as he observed his naked, pudgy torso and his beat up jeans.
"I've gotta get more clothes." Felix turned and looked around the trunk of a conifer, seeing a familiar grub sitting back atop its log. "But first I have to do this smarter."
An hour later Felix was back in the gully, and the grub was still there, munching away. The log was almost half gone, and a quick Analyze told him it's level had increased to 14.
It gains levels by eating trees? So weird. Felix stepped forward, out of the trees and toward the gully, a collection of rocks in his arms.
Felix had realized something while he was meditating. This dangerous, deadly world was misleading. He could die from the smallest misstep from even the weakest of enemies here, and his first instinct was to turtle up and hide. But without risk there was no reward. If he didn't push himself to the edge of his capabilities, over and over, he would never escape this forest. He would never get home.
Felix climbed down the shallow walls of packed earth, sliding slightly.
No. He was done hiding in a tree while monsters prowled the woods.
He dumped the rocks out on the ground around him, hefting two out of the pile. They were softball sized and colored a faint shimmering gray where the sunlight hit them.
Let's do this.
The first two stones flew true, hitting the grub square in its back.
Thrown Weapons Mastery is Level 2!
Felix dodged to the side, just barely in time to miss a stream of acid. The grub lifted onto it's hind portions, wiggling it's stubby limbs at him as a glowing green sac began to grow beneath it's clacking mandibles.
Felix snatched another rock and hurled it as fast as he could.
Please please...yes!
Critical Hit!