《A Diver's Tale》Chapter Two - Enter the Fray
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They had been walking for about an hour, it was strange that Henry had already begun to think of them as a THEM. He had only undergone the Injection procedure at most two hours ago. It just felt so natural to refer to her, Amie, as a separate person even if technically she was a machine intelligence that resided in every cell of his body. Actually, when he thought about it it was a little creepy how quickly she had become a part of his experience this must be what the integration and optimization process was all about. Making them a single organism similar to a highly trained and well-coordinated team.
"It's really starting to get dark, we should try and find shelter for the night and a way to start a fire. Shit, we don't even have any food how are we going to survive out here?!" He was starting to get over the initial wonder of being in an ancient magical forest in what was left of the Appilatician Mountain region. "How do we get back after this Integration is finished? We could literally be trapped here for the rest of our lives, Our very short lives if we can't find food, water, and shelter. This was a bad idea, how could I even get into this? I'm no Adventurer, I'm just a temp on the local farm for Christ sake!"
"Henry, by all the gods calm down." Amie was much calmer in life and death situations and this wasn't even close to a deadly encounter. "We'll be okay as long as we can keep our heads and learn from everything there is out here. That is the whole point after all."
Taking a deep breath he could calm down, "What is that smell? It's like the wrong end of a cow had sex with a dumpster and their baby died."
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"This looks like a great opportunity to start learning some skills." Amie's chipper attitude did not help keep Henry from gaging and nearly retching up his breakfast.
The source of the smell became obvious once several tiny gray-brown skinned people dropped to the forest floor surrounding Henry. They were dressed in molted furs and carried crude spears and short serrated blades. The Pygmies, Henry couldn't think of any other word to describe the tiny aggressive people, started to circle and advance on the hapless Henry. "What the hell! Where did these little bastards come from and why do I get the feeling this isn't to be a friendly chat?"
"It looks like they may have followed us from where we teleported into the Forest. I suggest you Analyze them before this gets too out of hand. Just focus on one of them and think 'Analyze'. I can interpret the Mana they give off and get some basic info on them."
Henry quickly glared at the nearest of the Pygmies, a particularly ugly specimen and thought 'Analyze'.
Pygime Scout - Skill Level 3
Pygmies are native Earth sentients distantly related to the dominate Humans. Before the Incursion, the Pygime Clans were widespread and isolated from the world at large, but the events after the Incursion have enabled them to spread across the Planet. Currently, Pygmies and Goblins occupy a similar niche in the Post-Incursion world, only time will tell who becomes the dominant species.
Scouts are the hunters of the Pygime Clans and often have superior reflexes.
"Amie how can you possibly know all of that?"
"Henry, please focus on the task at hand!"
"Shit, Yeah! How'd I get so distracted"
There were five pygmies slowly circling Henry poking him with spears and hooting what he assumed could be only insults. The ugly one in front got fed up waiting around and lunged with his spear aiming for Henry's throat, looking to end the much bigger man quickly and get on with the eating. The sudden surge of movement caught Henry off guard, but he instinctively put his arms up to block. Even though the spear was crude the stone blade easily gashed Henry's right arm cutting almost to the bone. Bleeding and cursing Henry lashed out with a strong left hook. The pygmie scout was not expecting an attack from the loud tall man after cutting him deeply and took the hit right on his jaw. Staggering backward the leader of the group was no longer an immediate threat. Henry heard a soft *DING* and suddenly there was a gray screen taking up most of his vision.
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Congratulations!! You have unlocked your first Skill.
Skill Gained - Unarmed Combat lvl 1
The ancient art of beating on an enemy with your bare hands. Knock em' down and kick em' for good measure. As you gain experience more sub-skills will be unlocked.
The other scouts took the opportunity to attack all at once and all but one got tangled in a mass of spears, blades and tiny limbs.
"Henry, Behind you!" Amie's warning was the only thing that kept him from becoming shishkebab right then and there as the final scout's spear flew through space where his head was a second ago. Again a *DING* sounded, but for now, Henry was able to ignore it and the gray box failed to materialize.
Deciding that cowardice was the better part of valor Henry ran after the thrown spear, scooped it up and kept on going as quickly as his legs would carry him.
It didn't take the Pygmies long to get back into what they believed was the very picture of military discipline, but more closely resembled a pack of wild dogs. Like dogs, they took off after Henry only thinking of catching the man who got away and the feats he represented.
Not long after he started his marathon escape attempt Henry started to get light headed from blood loss. On the verge of passing out, he looked around and spotted a cave a few hundred feet ahead. Seeing his salvation he sprinted the full distance. Crossing into the cave's damp interior he heard the loudest ROAR ever and immediately passed out.
The scout group raced after their prey unwilling to let him escape after the humiliating display at the ambush site.
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Museum of Deadly Beasts
Lin Jin never imagined he would ever transmigrate. And to such a peculiar world at that. Here, deadly beasts were regarded as sacred, and thankfully, he owned a museum for deadly beasts. “Master, this is just a dying little tortoise…” “What tortoise? This is a rare species that contains the blood of a Black Tortoise and could be promoted up to level seven.” “What about this shedding mongrel?” “Mongrel? How narrow-minded. This is a branch descendant of the snarling hound with a hint of Kirin’s blood. Take my word for it and sign the blood contract at once. I guarantee you that you’ll soar to success and be on your path to invincibility!”
8 3434Weapons Don't Have Names
Replicants. Dogs of war, their leash held by greedy corporations. Living weapons with serial numbers instead of names. Genetically perfect soldiers, created for one purpose and one purpose only - to complete the mission at any cost. But what are they to do when the battlefield is far away, commanding officers are gone and they are on a peaceful planet that belongs to the enemy? Two replicants must not only escape the enemy territory, but also deliver two civilians to the HQ. However, their charges are doing everything they can to sabotage the mission and the orders are clear - they can't be left behind or killed.
8 160Green ‘n Gold
A bastard. An outcast. A dishonored knight to be. Each enough of a reason to find misery in life, yet, Godwin found all three to be immutable truths to his very existence. Each day, they would remind him of it, until the final moment came. He transcended into a true knight. The fort he called home would soon kick him out after a few scant lessons. With his guard, a dishonored knight like was soon to be, and Mother Melissa, kindness personified, they destined him to roam the lands aimlessly, hoping beyond hope someone would accept him. But suddenly the entire world collapsed around him. The Count of Teralis died? All his children slain? How? Without warning, he was the last living male child of the Teralis line. The only person who could hold the seat of the county. If he does not hurry back, some thief would steal his only chance out of this forsaken future. Without time to plan, he rushed towards his new lands. Only to meet endless obstacles. Will he survive and reach his home? Will he be forgotten in the annals of time or lead the county to become something greater? Only the God above knows. This is the story of The Green 'n Gold. County of the legends, myths, and abandoned.
8 72Roboworld
"Even in a modernized world, we can never live a life of perfection." In the year 3020, humans and robots live on the same planet. There are flying cars, talking robots, futuristic weapons, and more. With such advanced technology, life seems perfect. That is until a new Master takes over and the world becomes a complete chaos. NOTE: In this story, Kizuna Ai is created by the Master, not the original creators. I DO NOT OWN KIZUNA AI, SHE IS CREATED AND OWNED BY EN MORIKURA, TOMITAKE & TDA. WARNING: RATED NC-17 FOR EXPLICIT LANGUAGES AND SOME UNCOMFORTABLE SCENES
8 109Looping, oh the fun! (Naruto)
Naruto and Sasuke are looping, and they're bored. They've already destroyed Konoha 15 times, taken over the world 15 times, gathered a harem 20 times and failed each time, joined ANBU 78 times, created their own villages over 30 times... What should they do now?For those of you who don't know what looping is, basically, it's time traveling done over and over and over again. Sometimes, it can also be dimension jumping (which appeared in my story). Something always triggers looping. Most of the time the trigger is death. If a character dies, he will wake up back in time. Do things, die again, and wake up back in the same time again. Or in some circumstances, wake up and find oneself in another dimension. See "Naruto Omake Files Innortal Style" for reference. Recommend Chapter 7 New Intros.
8 159Innocent.
None yet
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