《In Range》Chapter 25: Lucky Rabbit's Foot

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You have collected the [Eyes of a Rabbit]. Eyes of a Rabbit: Meant for avoiding predators, your field of vision is improved, allows you to blink less, and even allows you to sleep with your eyes wide open.

Looking up from the hunted rabbit, I immediately saw that my peripheral vision changed to be my new normal vision, and that my new peripheral vision helped me see slightly behind me. “Woah, these rabbit eyes are strangely useful, and I wonder if I can increase my vision to see 360 degrees with other types of eyes?” I wondered, pulling out the arrow from the dead rabbit, and carrying it back to Oros’s camp.

Beginning to skin the rabbit to prepare for breakfast, I looked up to see the sun still at dawn, and I remembered the past.

***

In the forest, a rabbit began to run as an arrow came flying and missed it—hitting the ground. A boy in the distance—in camouflaged clothes—shouted “Noo…I missed again!” Turning to a tall muscular man, “Uncle Thal, this is impossible.”

Uncle Thal with similar clothing walked up beside Jude, and said “It isn’t impossible, you just suck!” Uncle Thal started to laugh at Jude, making him angrily pout. “Look Jude, you wanted me to teach you archery, right?”

“I did, but why aren’t we back at the archery range? And why so earlier in the morning.” Jude asked, peering at the sun just passing dawn.

“Because this will help you stop sucking, and hunting rabbits is a lot harder than shooting at some targets, right?” Explaining, “And we’re here so early because I knew you would suck, and that you needed the whole day to do this.”

“Hmm…” Jude stomped over and picked up his missed arrow, “I don’t suck! Just you watch, I’m gonna hunt down a rabbit before 9 o'clock!” Walking away with determination.

“I know you will Jude, because one day, you’re going to be the best, even better than me, I just know it.” Uncle Thal thought, catching up to Jude. “But for now, making fun of you is the best way to motivate you.” Wrapping his arm around Jude’s head and teasing him again.

A few minutes before 9 o’clock, Jude did it, happily showing off his kill to his Uncle—who still teased him about him getting lucky. Though having done it, Uncle Thal then showed him how to skin and cook rabbit for the first time. And with this, their first yearly bow hunting training started, hunting every few weeks when the season came, and hunting bigger and bigger game.

***

Finishing the cooked rabbit, I placed it’s dirty pelt in my Inventory, as well as my Copper bracelet; but I held up the left hind foot of the rabbit that I cut off before skinning.

Lucky Rabbit’s Foot

Uncommon

+5 Luck

“Uncle was always slightly superstitious and believed rabbit’s feet were lucky, but for it to actually be true.” I thought to myself, even looking at my Stats and seeing the effect in the Bonuses.

Status: None

Bonuses: 20 Strength, 10% Physical Damage Reduction, 5 Luck

“I didn’t know Luck was a thing in this System, and I wonder if it works the same as in other games? The weird thing is there is no Equip option for the rabbit foot.” Deciding to put the foot in my pocket, I saw that I still got the bonus.

Climbing a tree, I could see it was still early morning as I located the taller tree that I used to look over the area. Knowing the direction I needed to go, I began using Archery’s Dash and Sprint, alternating when I used up all my Mana or Stamina—letting the other recover and trying to level them both. After two hours, I definitely noticed I was getting a little faster and dashing further, even if they both only Leveled Up by one and hit Lv.4.

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Getting back faster than when I left, I could already see the gate entrance of Asheton in the distance; I slowed down and began to run normally, and noticed in the sky—coming from the gate entrance—a row of black smoke pillars. As I got closer I could see what was causing it; thousands of dead bodies of different types of goblins, some I’ve never seen before—along with a lot of wolves.

Shock at the sight, my mind went back to my Vision, and I thought “Did it really happen already?”

Looking at the sight, I could see that there were 8 guards at the entrance with weapons drawn, 12 more on top of the walls patrolling with bows, and about 20 more guards still making more piles of goblin bodies and setting them ablaze—separating the wolves near the entrance.

“Looks like they’re still on high alert.” I thought, noticing two individuals that really stood out.

One of them was in a damaged full plate armour, wearing a full helmet with a red plume on top, and a greatsword on the back. The other was a hooded figure wearing all black, with a sword on their waist and a bow on the back, and surprisingly with no quiver; though once I saw the bow, my eyes were just drawn to it. Extremely similar to the overall design of mine, the bow was a lot longer and thicker—72 inches in length, compared to my bow’s 60 inches—but it also had an even more intricate silver engraving that went all the way to the ends of the bow.

“That’s another person from my Visions.” I noted, being the last one I saw. “It looks like the Visions can’t see that far into the future then.” Seeing how I’ve already seen all my Visions happen so far.

Walking past some of the piles of goblins, the guards took a quick glance at me and then continued their work stacking the goblins. Then in one of the piles, I saw some slight movement. With a guard nearby turning his back and not noticing, I instinctually pulled out my bow and nocked an arrow; and as expected, a goblin hiding in the bodies jumped out of the pile—running sword in hand towards the back of the guard. With the echoing sound of the bow being fired, the arrow flew in the air, piercing a huge hole in the goblins skull, and then disappearing as the arrow dug itself into the pile full of goblins. The guards all looked at me, startled by the loud bow shot.

The individual in the full armour suit shouted, “What the hell are you idiots doing!? Go check the bodies again and make sure those damn goblins are dead and burned!”

The guards all replied, shouting back “Yes, Captain!” Beginning stabbing at the piles for any movement.

“So that’s the Captain of the Guard.” I thought to myself, staring at the commanding armoured figure. “But since they're Npcs, I should be able to see what their levels are, right?” Looking at both the Captain and the hooded figure with the Eyes Of A Seer, I saw their levels show Lv.35 Dayla Wyn and Lv.80 Odelia Ven’Thyl. “Lv.80?! Who the hell is this?! And I think my bow is named after them!” Holding up Odelia’s Shame before putting it back on my back.

I walked towards the entrance of the gate, but was intercepted by the captain. “Hey you, I watched you beat Galen at the barracks two days ago, right? You ran away right after?” Holding her hand out to stop me, “I just want to know who’s coming into my town.” Seeing them closer, I could now see they were clearly both women—the captain having her face covered by her full helmet—and the hooded person I could tell was a Dark Elf.

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I decided to feign ignorance. “Just a new adventurer passing by, but more importantly what happened here?”

“A horde, no more like an army, around 10,000 goblins attacked the town in the middle of the night. Somehow we kept the town’s casualties to less than 1,000, I guess it’s thanks to the strange amount of adventurers in town recently; with their help and Lady Odelia’s, our town made it out safe.” Gesturing to the hooded woman.

The woman removed her hood and stepped forward, “I see that you are in possession of my shameful bow.” Her voice, both smooth and elegant.

Stunned by her beauty and elegance, all I could do was admire the dark elf woman and her light purple eyes, smooth light grey skin, and her partly braided silvery white hair. Tall but shorter than me, she wore fine leather black pants; and her boots, gloves, and shoulders were some type of black metal with silver engraving, similar to her bow. The most interesting was her chest piece, having a black fine leather crop top that showed her amazing midriff, and in the middle of her covered chest was a purple diamond shaped gem—glowing with some type of energy and mana.

Pressing her right hand to her chest and bowing her head slightly to me, she said “I would like to apologize for that bow you have, it was my first and worst creation.” Explaining, “It has a horrible downside of being unfathomably loud, and I could never find a proper solution for it.” Lifting her head back up and smiling, “You may call me Odelia.”

Shaking my head, I finally spoke and said “No, no, this bow is amazing, Odelia. The strongest I’ve ever used, and it is a bit loud, but I think I know how to make it quieter.”

“Oh? Then please go ahead, I can’t stand to hear the sound of that bow again.” Odelia looked with interest and anticipation.

Thinking for a second, I pulled out the rabbit pelt and a goblin bow from the Inventory. To my surprise the System cleaned the freshly skinned pelt for me, “How considerate.” Untying the string off the goblin bow, I asked “May I use your sword for a second, Odelia?” She happily unsheathed the sword and handed it to me.

When I held the sword in my hand, I instanly noticed how unbelievably heavy it was, along with its very simplistic design—estimating the sword to be about 80cm in length, and about 30lbs in weight. The sword itself had an extra long grip that took about one third of the sword's length, with remaining two thirds being a dark purple straight blade; it also strangely had no pommel or guard, but it did have a small outward pointing v-shape at the bottom of the flat hilt. Though while the sword looked to be well made, I could see that it currently had a lot of chipped edges, as well as a huge crack near the end of sword's point.

Twilight Blade

Epic

Attack: 975

+35 Agility

+25 Strength

+15 Endurance

Requirement: Lv.65, Str 300

“I haven’t nothing to compare it to, but these Stats look great.” Then when I tried to use the sword, it dropped out of my hand, and a message appeared.

You do not meet the Requirements to wield the ‘Twilight Blade’.

“So I can hold it, just not use it.” Odelia gave me a questioning look, “Oh well, I’ll make do.”

With the sword on the ground, I continued by dragging the bow string across the edge of the blade—cutting it in half. I did the same for the pelt, cutting it into thin strips. Taking one strip of fur, I wrapped it on one side of the bowstring of my bow, and using the cut bowstring I tied it around the fur keeping it in place. Doing the same for the other side of the bowstring. Putting away the rest of the pelt strips and giving Odelia her sword back, I got up and said “This should do for a makeshift silencer for now.” Nocking an arrow and shooting the bow, the silencer made the bow shot sound like a regular unsilenced bow. “I guess it’s better than a gunshot.” Then a new notification came up.

You have successfully modified ‘Odelia’s Shame’ into ‘Silenced Shame’. You have learned the Crafting Proficiency: [Bowyer]. Bowyer: Making or modifying a bow, you naturally start to understand and develop ways to better do so. Skill Level based on your ability to make or modify a bow, and the methods you choose to do so. You have gained the Title: [I’m A Bowyer]. I’m A Bowyer: With the ability to make a bow, you better understand how to treat and take care of them for your own benefit. Bows you use and make can now take increased strain and are more durable.

“Incredible! I have never seen or heard of such a method!” Unlike her earlier elegance, Odelia came towards me frantically asking questions, “How did you learn that? Also I have been meaning to ask, may I see that quiver? Where did you get it? And how does it work?”

The captain tried to stop her by stepping in the way, “Lady Ode—“ Odelia shoved past, not controlling her strength. Her strength was so strong that it sent the Captain flying into a burning pile of goblins.

“Holy shit!” I thought, seeing her monstrous strength.

All the guards yelled “Captain!” rushing to her aid.

Seemingly oblivious to what she did, all I could do was laugh as Odelia kept badgering me. Finally I said, “Okay, okay, why don’t you go meet Drune first, I’ll meet you there, and we can talk.” Stopping for a sec she gave me a strange look, almost as if asking how I knew. “Also you might want to apologize to the Captain over there.” Pointing at the guards pulling out the seemingly knocked out body of the Captain—with her armour now having burned marks.

“Oh no, what happened to Little Dayla?” Her personality back to it’s elegant self. Running over to help, she looked back and said “We shall reconvene at Drune's then.” Waving her hand.

I waved back and went straight through the broken gate—which was left unguarded after the guards witnessed the Captain being sent flying. Walking down the main street, I could see a lot of the houses with weapon marks on the doors and walls, some having broken down doors and windows, and even a few that were completely burned down. I also saw dead goblins on the streets, a handful of dead guards, civilians, and even a handful of Players. I walked towards the town square where I saw Mr.Hensley with his cart collecting bodies.

Seeing me walk up, he said “I’m glad you're alright, Eyes.”

“I’m glad you're safe too, Mr.Hensley, and what about your wife?” I asked.

“She made it fine.” He assured me, “We live near the cemetery so only a few weak goblins made it that far, though enough for an old man to work up a sweat. Speaking of which, can I ask you to help me collect the bodies?”

Quest

Gravekeeper’s Assistant:

Help Hensley collect the dead bodies of the people around town.

Reward: ???

Will you accept:

Yes or No

Having nothing immediate to do, I accepted “No problem Mr.Hensley, I was actually gonna look for you and talk to you about something.”

“Hmm...must be important, seeing how you would look for a gravekeeper, but save it for later we got a job to do.” Nodding my head in acceptance. We spent the whole rest of the morning collecting bodies all over town, civilians, guards, and adventurers—leaving the monster bodies for the guards to collect.

Riding the cart to the cemetery on the east side of town, Hensley told me about the areas that got attacked last night, and even some rumours that began to spread. “Some people said that a dwarven ghost was running through the houses last night, they say he was trying to find the goblins that killed him.”

“A dwarven ghost? Could it be Tobias?” I thought.

“There's also a rumor going around about how there’s a bloodthirsty serial killer in town, killing both men or women and disembowelling them, even ripping all their skin off.”

“A serial killer? Is that comfirmed?”

“Just a rumour that’s been floating around the last few days.” Mr.Hensley remembered some more news, “That reminds me, I have to pick up bodies at the Mayor’s house, the goblins somehow made it that far, but I heard the guards are investigating it, so I’ll have to get them on my own tomorrow.”

“Bodies at the Mayor’s house? That doesn’t sound good….wait this town has a mayor?” I thought, as the cart arrived at the cemetery gates. I looked behind us at an elevated stone church with a bell tower that suddenly began to ring, echoing loudly in the air. “Does that mean it’s noon now?” In front of us was the double gated entrance into the cemetery.

The metal and stone cemetery fence extended all the way down the forked road, ending at the town walls. “This is a big cemetery, if it takes a whole corner of the town.” Hensley led the cart down the cemetery’s stone road. Taking in the cemetery, I saw well kept gravestones, some tombs and crypts, healthy looking trees scattered all around, and statues of different winged people wielding different weapons. I said to Hensley “This is not what I expected the cemetery to look like. Do you work here by yourself Mister Hensley?”

“Did you expect dying trees, broken tombstones, and skeletons rising up from the ground or something?” He asked jokingly.

"Well yes." I answered honestly.

Laughing, Hensley said "I work during the day, while someone else takes the night." Then stopping in a big area with 5 forking roads, “So what’s the thing you wanted to talk about?”

Taking my time I explained all of it, my guild request to investigate a giant monster, then finding the giant and being captured by him; explaining how talking to Oros made me understand not all monsters are monsters, then telling Hensley about Oros’s condition and how Oros wanted to hear about his friend, and how I honoured him with a funeral pyre. Hensley just nodded his head as I talked, and after explaining I stayed silent to let him process.

After a few moments I said “These are the last words he wanted to tell you, Thank you my friend.” Then tears started to fall from Mr.Hensley's eyes, giving me a hug.

Wiping his face, Mr.Hensely said “It’s been 60 years since then, when he called me his first real friend.” Pausing, looking like he was remembering the past. “Thank you, Eyes. I was just gonna give you some money for helping me out, but now you deserve my most treasured possession.

Quest Completed Gravekeeper’s Assistant has been completed. Reward: A True Lucky Rabbit’s Foot

Seeing the reward I took out the rabbit’s foot from my pocket, and said “Look Mr.Hensley, I already have one, if it’s really something you treasure you should just keep it.” Ignoring me, he took off a rabbit’s foot necklace. For some reason my eyes activated on their own, and Mr.Hensley’s rabbit foot practically blinded me with light again, I could also now see huge amounts of magic emitting from it now. “It’s actually hard to look at, is a rabbit’s foot really that valuable?” Mr.Hensley then grabbed my hand, placing the rabbit’s foot in my hand.

A True Lucky Rabbit’s Foot

Legendary

The left hind foot cut from a live rabbit shot with a silver arrow, on the grave of a truly wicked person, under the full moon of a storming 13th night.

+100 Luck

Consume: ???

“Woah, Mr.Hensley do you understand what you have here?” I said, in disbelief at the item.

“Of course I know, I’ve known ever since I got it on that stormy night all those years ago.” Forcing the rabbit foot in my hand, “Eyes, you're young, strong, good looking, and most of all kind. There isn’t anyone I’d rather give this to, so please, accept it.”

Hearing his words and seeing his eyes, I could feel his sincerity. Sighing, I said “Okay, I’ll accept this.” Clutching the foot in my hand.

“Now get out here, there isn’t anything else I need help with.” He said, smiling at me.

“Fine, I’ll see you when I see you, Mr.Hensley.” Hopping off the cart, “Oh, and I’ll buy some fruits from your wife today, and tell her about how you cried in front of me.” Then heading towards the cemetery gate.

“Hey! Buy the fruits but don’t go telling her I cried, she’ll tease me about it!” He shouted, and I replied with a wave.

Walking on the street I thought to myself, “I should head to the Guild next and then to Drune’s, but first the foot.” Lifting the foot to my mouth, “It said it was a consumable, but do I really have to eat this?” Staring at the furry foot, “Oh well, bottoms up.” Chewing the rabbit’s foot, I could feel the disgusting fur getting stuck on my tongue, but something inside bursted as I swallowed.

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