《Quantum Rip: Welcome to Ethos》A hellish gift (Part 4 - An Orc Appears)
Advertisement
This repeated a number of times. However, sometimes it was not sleep that got him. Rather it was food poisoning. Knowing that he would likely only survive a day or two, Edvard made sure to sample a different type of berry, fruit, nut, mushroom, anything edible each day.
Slowly he learned what was poisonous, what was hallucinogenic, and what was just normal food.
With time, the deaths became more often than not caused by the food. When Edvard died on the third day, having managed to wake to the slightest sound, he started feeling that he should only eat what he knew was safe.
This single change allowed him to survive for an entire week. By which time he had died hundreds of times. His mind had changed, his perception of life becoming one of survival and constant fights. With his nights spent thinking of a life long passed.
He would constantly talk with himself like a madman. How else was he to vent his anger?
It was also at this time when the animals coming for him changed. While the beasts of prey were still there, snakes also appeared. The first time having really pissed him off.
"Fuck! That is so unfair!" Edvard cursed as he looked at the bite mark near his ankle. The snake had been silent, perfectly camouflaging with the grass.
'How long do I have?' He questioned, bending down and finding that the snake was a green mamba. 'Shit, not even a day.' He cursed, the bite burning like hell.
Not wishing to live through the torture of dying from the venom, Edvard set up one of his spears as a stake in the ground and fell onto it. He had long since learned that he should not make death harder than it need be.
A week later again, he was more cautious. Being able to plan better as he had learned that each day there would be exactly four animals coming for him. Each six hours apart from the other. As such, he knew more or less when to expect them. Though what would come was always random.
Advertisement
Having made a rough sundial on his second day and his body also starting to become accustomed to the timing helped even more with planning.
Slowly he was becoming used to this terrible life, starting to believe this was truly hell and his new normal. He no longer felt that it could have been Ilvisar who had sent him here, but rather that he had died.
He started believing that the meeting was but a dream and that this was what had actually happened after the accident. That this was his life now... If it could even be called a life.
He might even be slowly atomizing like the others he had seen and this was how his mind tried to make sense of it.
His only reason for fighting was to avoid the pain of being killed. Not to avoid death, to avoid being ripped apart.
At night he would think of his previous life, longing for his wife and hoping that his kids were doing well. Wishing for home and that this terrible nightmare would come to an end.
Once he managed to learn how to make fire, surviving became much easier. He would track the time after each attack, sleep in caves or high in trees. Even making simple traps to make surviving easier.
After probably another twenty deaths, he managed to survive an entire month. At this point, he had managed to make himself clothes from the hides of the animals he killed. Though terribly made and hideous, they kept him warm at night and offered some protection from their claws.
Slowly the animals were also growing larger, from teens to fully grown adults. Luckily this did not affect him much as his weapons became better and better. He also started making proper traps to kill even the largest of beasts.
Advertisement
Once he passed this hurdle, having many backup plans. He started to live longer and longer with each life. Even when suddenly not just one beast, but two or later even three came at him it did not change much.
So, it continued. Slowly a year of surviving was overcome. The world a dark terrible place, but one Edvard came to accept as his new world.
"Yawen... I hope that you are alright." Edvard mumbled, as he often did when waking for the next battle. For the next day.
He was wakened both by the snap of a twig and his body's alarm clock. Informing him when to expect a visitor or two.
Slowly sitting up in his hammock, Edvard jumped down with practiced ease. Landing like a feather, he readied his stone knife from his belt. Picking up his spear at the same time.
"Where are you?" He asked through a whisper, focusing on hearing another mistake from the enemy. A few seconds later the crunch of dried leaves being crushed could be heard.
Edvard turned in the direction and prepped his spear for a throw. After a few more seconds he saw an orc coming out from the brushes. Edvard paused for a slight moment in shock. It was the first time he had seen a humanoid creature in years.
Seeing the man hunched with a spear in hand, the orc roared in a declaration of war. Sprinting at Edvard with his massive wooden club. A club thicker than Edvard's thigh.
Edvard did not rush to action, instead, he observed this new enemy. Taking in as much information as he could.
The orc had a mix of dark green and mud brown skin making it almost invisible in the forest. Tusk-like teeth told him it could rip him apart like any other animal. Its club would easily fracture any bone in Edvard's body, its arms like that of a bodybuilder.
It stood over two meters tall (6'7"), and each of its steps was over a meter (3.3ft). There were no wasted movements as it ran towards Edvard, it was clearly also used to fighting.
Taking a deep breath, Edvard readied himself for a hard battle. The orc would certainly be the most difficult opponent he had had to face since coming to this hell.
As the orc came within five meters (16ft), Edvard suddenly sprang into action. He threw his spear with all his might. The orc smashing it to bits with its club, arriving before Edvard in the blink of an eye.
Its explosive speed was far faster than a wolf's, and its strength even more than a tiger's. Without delay, it swung its massive club at Edvard, who jumped to the side and rebounded up. The air seemingly vibrating from the strength of the blow.
As Edvard landed the orc was already on him, so he dodged again. Quickly being forced against a tree by the orc. On the next dodge a massive explosion occurred, Edvard's ears ringing from it. Disorientation him for a slight moment.
The orc's attack had ripped through the tree, the club shattering after taking nearly half of the trunk with it. The rebound shock from the hit caused the orc to slow down just enough to give Edvard enough time to recover.
Advertisement
Heroism and Bad Decisions
When superpowers appeared, the only reason civilization did not collapse was a century of comic books and movies making the new reality familiar and even welcome. When threats out of fantasy and science fiction became truth, people with powers rose up to the challenge because it was both a dream come true and the culturally acceptable thing to do. But not all is well in the new world. Monsters, power-related accidents and villains are on the rise. Governments, companies and opportunists are not staying idle. In this slowly darkening New Age, Valley Grant just discovered she has powers. Joining the ranks of heroes is the next step, right? What do you mean she's not qualified? Why won't hero teams let her join and why are superhero costumes more expensive than cars?! And above all else, why do cape fights keep ruining her make-up? Updates 3 times a week.
8 148Mortis Operandi 2 - Hostile Takeover
Author note: First, thank you for reading. Now that book 2 is done and after a month of it sitting here I've moved it to Amazon. https://www.royalroad.com/amazon/B07X12GZMZ the first book Mortis Operandi - New Hire can be located on Amazon ----> https://www.royalroad.com/amazon/B07T46B4NM Currently it is on Kindle Unlimited as well. Enjoy. Adventurers enter dungeons every day. Battling evil monsters, defying dangerous terrain, triumphing over devious traps... ... but none of them ever ask why? That arrow trap, who reloads it? The pitfall trap, who cleans out the bodies and sharpens the spikes? What if the grates get clogged, where will the blood and gore drain? When you are trying to study ancient lore or plan on conquering a kingdom, you don't want to worry about all that. You just want peace. Mortis Operandi is a different kind of company. One that celebrates diversity. One that celebrates value in individuals. With flexible pay and plenty of advancement opportunities, it is a company that knows its workers are it's most valuable asset. As they design, build, and install traps, rooms, obstacles, and repair they are a one stop shop. The sudden exit of Mortis Operandi's CEO, the company was facing ruin. The goblin Eft was choosen as the new CEO and boss. The previous CEO made promises and contracts that Eft now has to fulfill, and it is causing a lot of trouble. Restoring the ancestral home of Ogre's seems easy enough, what if a thriving town now resides there? Along with facing corporate invasion, Eft must take on the tasks he wouldn't wish upon his worst foe, Customer Service. *Note the above statements are forward looking statements. In no way do they promote or suggest that Mortis Operandi will project greater sales or revenue. Understand that investing in a company does involve some risks, and possibly much rewards.
8 126Analyst Advancement! (A LitRPG Adventure)
After 50 long years and a losing struggle against cancer, Gabriel the librarian returns to video games for the last time. He has his mind downloaded to Ancient Realms MMO, arguably the greatest VRMMORPG of all time. But with his class being a unique yet non-combat "analyst", how will he survive the roguelike labyrinth of a tutorial he must pass to succeed in the path of Champions? And how can he prosper once he reaches the main game? Find out with me, as we watch our adventurers grow: A shy shadowmancer, an edgy gunslinger, a spacial mage who specializes in dropping boulders on enemies, and an annoyingly observant Librarian. I took a rather long break from writing, but I have returned! Expect regular weekly updates from now on.
8 76The Superhero Crafter
Join in the adventures of Wilbur Trent as he uses his dimensional gateway to enter a world of superheroes. Watch as he fights terrorists, and criminals while developing his business. Cheer for him as he saves scientists that are held as hostages. Hold your breath as he pushes his body past the limit of even a god, and be captivated as he collects the materials and crafts his Hero weapons and gear. Enjoy as you live this story. Cover Image Thanks to C.W. Ashley
8 200The Little Time Travelers (Discontinued)
"Where the heck are we?" Boruto asked in confusion looking at his younger sister Himawari"Look it's the kage sumit!" sarada said pointing to the huge mountain with the face of the Hokages on it."Wait where is dad's face?" Boruto asked confused.someone ran past knocking over Himawari "Im sorry little girl" the boy said helping her up then putting there hands behind there headBoruto looked at the boy confused because he looked oddly familar.( I don't anything about Naruto, Naruto:shippuden, or the Boruto movie the ONLY thing that belongs to me is the plot the owner ship goes to Misashi Kishimoto)(Guys this story is way over and done with seriously stop reading it like I have other stuff lmao)
8 126Lie and win in the chronology with space (MTL)
Author: Moon and a half CCategory: Rebirth through timeRelease time: 2021-09-10Latest: Chapter 88 [VIP]When Chuanshu met the reborn girl, Jian Qingtong, who had space in her hand, said that the heroine is not important, and it is serious to live a good life. She looks at this brother Gao Lengbing more pleasing to the eye than that sloppy villager. The villager will turn Xianyu into the richest man in the future. She was supposed to be the richest wife of all the stars? No no, she is slightly socially afraid, whoever wants to take this beauty, or the married life with less gatherings and more separations is more suitable for her. Coupled with her little habit of cleanliness and little secrets, it is a perfect match to live with the self-disciplined, responsible and workaholic Tang Yuanzheng! She doesn't just look at the face, she swears. Tang Yuanzheng raised the orphan of his comrade-in-arms. He wanted to find a nanny to help take care of the child, but unexpectedly, he was designed to force a daughter-in-law. He watched from the sidelines and found that his daughter-in-law was different from what he thought. He did not abuse the children, nor did he suck blood to make up for his parents' family, nor bothered him to have several sons so that he could inherit the family property. Instead, he was enjoying herself. day. The family has gradually changed, adding a lot of beautiful gadgets she made at random. The three meals a day are constantly fragrant, the son and daughter are well raised, and there are no patches on his underwear and socks... Tang Yuanzheng is on another mission. At that time, not only cared about the baby at home, but also cared about the baby's mother, the whole person became more and more calm and sophisticated, and he made continuous contributions and rose step by step. Everyone said that he married a lucky daughter-in-law, the Wang family.
8 106