《Hero or Fool》Chapter 5: The Dangers that Lurk Below
Advertisement
Just as you would expect from a cave it is dark and the air is highly humid. I light my torch to illuminate my surroundings. I notice that the walls like pretty untouched. The most likely scenario would be that the wolves drive people away from this place. Someone could probably make a pretty penny from mining this cave— I can see bits of ores sticking out from the cave walls. In hopes of finding worthy prey, I journey deeper into the cave.
After some time of searching, I realize something very important I have no idea how to get back to the entrance. I shake my head. Whatever, these things tend to work themselves out and I have enough supplies in my day to last for a couple days. I continue to walk down the twisting hallways in this maze of a cave.
Finally, I spot my elusive target, I feel a chill run down my spine as glace at its body, it is much bigger than I imagined. It notices my torch and charges right at me. I ready myself for battle by setting down my torch and unsheathing my sword. To slow the momentum of the wolves I cast bind monster, gold chains rose from the ground, completely halting the wolf's charge.
Now's my chance!
I leap at the wolf, but the wolf manages to break the chain just in time to avoid a fatal blow. However, the wolf was not completely unharmed from this encounter, I was able to glace one of its eyes. It should no longer be able to see out it, the odds are shifting in my favour.
Before I could register anything, the wolf howled making my legs weaken a bit. The wolf's howl was so loud I also almost lost my balance from the shockwaves it generated. Arrogance is not going to win me this battle. I need to calm down and plan out my next attack.
Advertisement
The wolf lunges at me baring its sharp fangs at me. I use a roundhouse kick to send the wolf's body into the cave wall. While the wolf is still recovering from the impact, I throw one of my knifes straight at it, I was aiming for its last functional, but I miss my intended target quite significantly, only managing to grace its side, angering it further.
This fight is harder than I thought it would be. I wish I could just fire of my spirit sword to end the fight instantly but, Istill don't understand how it works and I lack the ability to control it. I use bind monster in an attempt to create an opening. The wolf sees it coming and jumps away from my chains, unfortunately for the wolf I expected this and stood exactly where it is about to land. In the air, the wolf is defenceless. Taking advantage of this, I swing my sword directly at its neck. Its head comes off and rolls to the floor. I stand to look at its lifeless drenched in sweat proud of my achievement in slight uneasiness. For the first time in many years, I feel true joy.
Overcome by the joy I start to jump around a bit, but my celebration is cut short by a sudden noise that is unmistakably footsteps. Another challenger approaches, it is a wolf it is much smaller than the last one. It charges at me much faster than the first wolf. Using my fast reaction, I manage to block it with my sword just in time and push it back. I underestimated it at first because of its size, but it seems that it more than makes up for it with its killer speed.
It goes for another bite, I proceed to block with my sword again. After I push it off I go for a counterattack, but the wolf speed far surpasses mine and it is able to avoid the blade with ease. This wolf may be fast but it has a weakness— its blows are light. I can block its attacks infinitely, I continue to block attack after attack, darn this starting to turn into a stalemate.
Advertisement
Then I realize the mistake with not thinking. My stamina may run out first. I need to do something soon. Panicked, I come up with a plan. It is risky, but I believe it gives me the strongest chance to win.
The wolf lunges at me with the intention of either killing me or severely injuring me and instead of blocking I let its fang sink into my shoulder wincing at the intense pain. I throw down my sword and then wrap my arms around the wolf's body. I cast bind monster and since the chains only affect monsters, they pass right through my body and pin down the wolf. It struggles, but it is no us. It lacks the power needed to break even my weak chains. I pick up my sword to put an end to this battle as I did to his 'friend' I took his head off.
Now it's time to collect my loot from the two wolves. First off I absorb the cores and rise to level 11. I then proceed to skin the animals and collect their fangs. I thought I was mentally prepared to skin an animal, but it is a whole lot grosser in person. I felt like throwing up. Luckily, my wound is not that deep so I can still move around freely. Perhaps, I should rest soon from travelling and fight I am tired.
Using wood from my bag and stone and flint from the cave, I create a make-shift campfire. After the fire gets warm enough I begin to roast the remains of the wolfs I killed over the fire, and hopefully, the meat is not poisonous or anything like that. I mean how lame would it be for a hero to be done in by bad meat. Eventually, the meat is fully cooked and I 'wolf' it down with some water I packed. Haha... I'm horrible.
Examining the area, I figure that I should be safe to rest here for a bit and since the wolves are so loud and I could hear one coming from like a mile away. My vision slowly fades as I begin to sleep, suddenly, in front of me lies a familiar white house, in a completely white land.
Advertisement
Physician’s Odyssey
An urban fiction. Mediocre is a common characteristic of the majority. But when someone outstanding appears beside you, your life will change because of him. That’s the principle of ‘who you mix around with is a reflection of yourself.’ The doctor in charge of the Three Flavour Hall will change everything. You can raise a campus belle, a CEO beauty… Somewhat vulgar, a little cold yet sexy, admiring young married woman and nurturing lolita. Moralists, please be warned.Translator's Synopsis:Despite not wanting to be dragged into troubles, Su Tao would often get dragged into situations by those around him, and he had no choice but to clear a path with his own ability and wits. Depressed by the decline of Traditional Chinese Medicine with the advancement of technology, a young physician decided to change everything with his two hands and forge his own TCM Business Empire.Exciting character development and hilarious interactions with tons of face slapping!
8 1477The Inheritance Saga
In the southern fringes of the barbarous Hinterlands, a young Demon spends his days deep underground, forging a path in the cold and narrow tunnels beneath Mount Stormpeak under the whip of the Aurelians. Yet, despite his harsh reality, the boy still clings to his dreams of becoming a Warlock and roaming beneath the sun unfettered. When a dangerous discovery shatters the fragile status quo in the Trion Mountains, Atell disregards his safety in a desperate bid to spite his enemies and see his dreams realized. *I do not own the cover image. Will take it down upon request*
8 182Chronicles of Alex Chase
Kidnapped and helpless, Alex Chase begins life as the property of the Elven House Quinala. Emotionally lost, he struggles to understand his new life as a slave. Alex finds himself thrust into a world of magic, politics, and intrigue that he must navigate to find his way back home to Earth. He must battle his way to freedom. Will Alex overcome the numerous obstacles he encounters? Can he survive the trials and tribulations he must endure? Will he ever make it back home? Photo by murat esibatir from Pexels
8 190Dragon Atlas
A map drawn in dragon blood allows Kublai to travel anywhere in an instant, with nothing more than the prod of a finger. No castle walls can prevent him from entering. No army can stand against him.
8 184The Dragons Predicament
Monsters, humans, war. Within their shielded cities of Technomagi, the humans live their lives in small boxes. Only venturing out of their bubbles with gunslingers or mages trained to defend against the beasts outside. Teleportation to other cities is normal, done through square boxes on rails that are housed underground. These days, the disparity between humans and us has grown to a breaking point. In a single night: an entire nation of monsters vanished. A cloud and flash of light that all had seen. Only the strongest could survive against their might and stubborn ingenuity. Those terrifying, amazing humans. We had laughed at first. ‘What possible danger is there? They’re just humans’. That was centuries ago by this point, of course. We all realized the moment we saw that metal tube fall. There is something that only a human can accomplish, through their ability to see light even in the darkest situation. You don’t win against humans. You either die with them or live to serve them.
8 364MCU Oneshots and Novellas
My back catalogue of shorter MCU fanfiction. Most are focused on Loki, Thor and Odin, but the other Avengers also show up on occasion. 1. Shadows of the Past Yet Loom:Thor thought he had grown out of his childhood stutter long ago, but to his distress, the speech impediment resurfaces shortly after he's crowned as king of Asgard. Loki tries to cheer Thor up. [set between Ragnarok and Infinity War] 2. Another Sleepless Night Thor has brought Loki back to Asgard and Odin has pronounced his sentence – Loki is to spend the rest of his days in the dungeons. That was supposed to be the end of the matter, yet sleep continues to elude Odin. One night, he makes a covert trip down to Loki’s cell. 3. Truths, Lies and Bilgesnipes There are children you can leave unsupervised for an afternoon without courting danger. To Odin's consternation, the two young princes of Asgard are not that kind of children. With Frigga absent and Odin distracted with the minutia of government, Thor and Loki sneak out of the palace on a bilgesnipe hunt. Their short adventure leaves Loki badly injured. But the physical injury is not as potent a force as the secrets Odin is determined to protect or Loki’s desperate need to live up to his father’s expectations. 4. Dear Mr. Thanos The trouble with the universe is that it doesn't want to be balanced. In fact, it requires regular pruning. In the year 2327 the Infinity War is a distant memory and Ariadne Thornton has some questions for the dark spectre that has haunted the universe for the past three hundred years. [post Infinity War, not Endgame compliant] 5. Not A Place But A People For a time, dreams of peace and safety can sustain a people lost in the wilderness. But soon the reality of the situation sinks in – a ship not provisioned for the number of people on board, a culture on the verge of extinction and a shadow spreading further with every passing day. [post Thor: Ragnarok, not Infinity War compliant]
8 225