Earth Tactics Advance: Volume 1
Page 16
“You planning to kill off a few hundred of those things in the morning when this place closes down?” asked Scott. “It’s only open at night.”
“Fuck,” muttered Daniel. “Go ahead, do whatever.”
Scott and Craig headed out to do whatever, just as Daniel had said. The moment that they stepped outside of the safe zone around the shopping arcade, growls and loud hisses could be heard from all around.
A ghoul came running around the corner at normal human speed. The bright blue light of battle flared all around them. "Mr. Badass VS Night Ghouls! Fight-O!" exclaimed the announcer voice.
"It's Mr. Badass again?" asked Scott to uncaring night air. When he had met with the mermaid before he had been referenced as Scott Keen.
"Hey, why didn't he call my name?" asked Craig, annoyed.
Scott shrugged. "Guess I'm more important."
Craig gave him a stink eye then lined up his shot. As Scott and his temporary guest party member began the battle, more of them arrived. Soon they had fought and defeated over a dozen fast moving ghouls. They were more dynamic in their movements than daytime ghouls and made it a habit to dart in and out while fighting. That forced Scott and Craig to do their best to use the terrain to their advantage. They led the monsters around to places were debris or abandoned vehicles narrowed their avenue of attack.
It was a lengthy series of battles, but nothing epic. There was no boss fight, or impromptu dance number. The ghouls were a bit stronger, faster, and a bit more cunning at night. Otherwise, it was no different than fighting ordinary ghouls.
Craig received several hard strikes to the arms and one claw to the side of his face, but he took down three of the beasts in the initial flurry of exchanges. Scott guessed that he and Craig were fighting monsters roughly similar to a level four ghoul, but they had superior strength and vitality. Had he faced ghouls like these earlier that morning, Scott was certain that he would have died.
Better equipment and a higher overall level helped a lot. If nothing else, his attack power increased drastically. He did not even need to use his special attacks despite the higher caliber of opponent that he was facing.
Scott took a few minor hits during the combat exchanges, but nothing too exciting. He was simply better than his opponents despite their upgraded status. More ghouls came, and more of them died. The battle seemed never ending. As far as Scott was concerned, that was a beautiful thing.
Several hours passed and the corpses piled up outside. Craig was forced to retire with his loot several times so that he could heal. Scott, however, found the current battles to be the exact level of conflict that he needed. He did occasionally work his way to the side in order to heal up within the confines of the white protective shopping arcade light screen, but that was mostly to quickly regain stamina if he was forced to fight several opponents in a single turn. His hit points rarely dropped below one-third of their maximum, but when they did he also took that as a reason to rest.
After a while, Frank came out to see what he could do. He was wielding a broad axe and a lot of strength. Craig had long since retired into the store. So it was just Scott and Frank outside fighting the good fight. Between the two of them, the ghouls continued to drop at a steady pace. Frank proved to be a more consistent damage dealer. Craig's shotgun had a strong chance to deliver high damage, but most shots did not do much to the ghouls. Its best feature was the fact that it knocked a ghoul down most of the time when a shot struck solidly.
Three or four hours before dawn, they called it a night and headed back inside. The ghouls had been stronger and faster at night, and had better combat sense. However, they were not much smarter. If anything, they simply seemed like normal ghouls that had been granted more attack speed and combat insight.
Throughout the enduring battle, six more people trickled in to the shopping arcade. Two of them mentioned others who were in hiding, while a designated person made the trip to see what was at the arcade.
Scott yawned loudly and trudged through the area, gore and ichor plopped down to the floor below as he moved over to his private corner to check his status. A slow frown spread across his face. He’d been out there for hours, personally killed at least two hundred or more of those things, and only gained two levels?
“Ah well, at least the loot was amazing.” Scott gathered a lot of coins and pilfered dozens of treasure boxes. Even a few pieces of armor and some weak weapons appeared. “Hell, I have more money now than when I first came here.”
Scott immediately went to the accessory area and purchased the best charisma booster he could get. He purchased a level eight Charismatic Band of Splendor for twenty-two hundred coins. It increased charisma by six points. Afterward he went to the armor section and bought an Average Black Beetle Chest Plate for fourteen hundred coins, a set of Average Black Beetle Leg Guards for another seven hundred, and a simple woven tunic for eighty coins.
[Armor]
Average Black Beetle Chest Plate
A chest plate crafted by an average smith. Formed from the plates of the Black Char Beetle, it provides both reasonable protection against general injury and a minor defense against fire elemental attacks.
Defense: 14
Special: Small increase in elemental fire defense
Value: 2800
[--]
[Armor]
Average Black Beetle Leg Guards
A set of leg guards crafted by an average smith. Formed from the plates of the Black Char Beetle, it provides both reasonable protection against general injury and a minor defense against fire elemental attacks.
Defense: 8
Special: Small increase in elemental fire defense
Value: 1400
[--]
[Armor]
Simple Woven Tunic
A simple cotton tunic created by an average weaver. It provides comfort and protection. Best used as an undergarment when wearing plate armor.
Defense: 2
Value: 160
[--]
The armor pieces that he acquired in battle were a Simple Necklace of Brilliance, Common Silk Pants of the Slayer, and a Cotton Warrior’s Band.
[Accessory]
Simple Necklace of Brilliance
A necklace crafted by an average jeweler and enchanted by an adequate magician. It sparkles in the light and makes the wearer seem more intelligent.
Special: Intellect + 2
Value: 400
[--]
[Armor]
Common Silk Pants of the Slayer
These pants were crafted by an average weaver, and are made of inferior silk. A common item for the uncommonly fashion forward arcane slayer.
Restriction: Arcane Slayer
Defense: 6
Special: Agility + 2
Special: -1 Reduction of Mana Cost for Arcane Slayer Skills
Value: 2700
[--]
[Armor]
Cotton Warrior’s Band
A cotton headband woven by an average weaver. It represents strength and virility.
Defense: 4
Special: Strength +1 | Vitality + 1
Value: 900
[--]
“Hell yeah,” said Scott lightly. He could have gone with even heavier armor, there was a type of armor available at his level that had a good deal more defense available. However, his strength was not high enough to mitigate its weight. He would have had a heavy penalty applied to his movement.
It did not matter really. At his current capacity, he would be able to easily defeat most of the common ghouls with no problem. He was certain that the lowest leveled versions could not even injure him now. Even the night ghouls had rarely done more than two or three points of damage when they had hit him solidly.
Scott checked his status then blinked. “Damn right…”
[Status]
Scott Keen
Age: 20
Profession: Arcane Slayer
Level: 10
[HP: 168][157][167/167]
[MP: 211[231/231]
[SP: 207[202][212/212]
COMBAT
[Attack: 18][46] | [Arcane Attack: 26[30]
[Defense: 16[73] | [Arcane Defense: 25[28]
[Evasion: 17] | [Arcane Evasion: 19[21]
ABILITIES
[Strength: 7[8] | [Agility: 4[8] | [Vitality: 7[8]
[Durability: 6] | [Reflexes: 10] | [Arcane: 10]
[Intellect: 7[9] | [Charisma: 6[12] | [Luck: 4]
MANEUVERING
[Speed: 18[21]
[Counter: 24]
[Movement: 33]
[Jump: 8]
[Load: 70]
[Moderate Injuries]
[—]
That was a great increase compared to the day before! Scott was satisfied for the moment. Hunting at night outside the shopping arcade proved to be a good idea. He was tired, but still amped up. A nap seemed like a good idea, but it was hard to trust the people in the shopping arcade.
As Scott's adrenaline wore off, he would no doubt change his mind. But for the moment, he wanted to keep an eye out for the people around him. Separately they might not be able to do much to him, but who knew what shenanigans they might start if they caught him napping. The allure of his random hodge-podge of items might be too fabulous to resist.
Chapter 8
Whispers echoed through the shopping arcade as fifteen people chatted quietly among themselves. Scott had staked out an area near the arms and armor booth to lean against while he rested. The current situation proved to be strange, even for the current state of the world. He was tired but not particularly sleepy. The reason for that eluded him, but he suspected that it was either due to his enhanced vitality or an overdose of his natural adrenaline.
After about an hour passed, Craig came over to ask a question. “Hey, how come you’re so strong?”
“I killed a lot of those things and got a few bonus levels doing quests,” said Scott.
“No, I get that. But it’s like you’re on a whole different level compared to the rest of us. Is there something you aren’t telling us?” he asked.
“Don’t know what to tell you, unless your profession just sucks. It’s not like I’m some wise sage, or anything,” said Scott lightly.
“What’s wrong with being a cop?” asked Craig. “You got something against us?”
“Cop? No, your profession,” said Scott with a laugh.
Craig looked at him with a strange expression. “What the hell are you talking about, man?”
“You know, on your status. What profession did you get?” asked Scott, confused. Surely they’d gotten a profession book. He’d gotten one earlier.
“Status? You mean that little section that says Profession?” asked Craig.
“Yeah, that one,” agreed Scott.
“Mine says none,” replied Craig.
Scott blinked at him. “Wait, you guys don’t have professions? Shit!”
He hopped up and waved at Craig to follow him. They had perhaps an hour until dawn if he had to guess right. “What is it?” asked Craig.
“Come on, we don’t have much time,” said Scott.
“Time for what? Hey!” called Craig.
“What’s going on!” asked Frank when he saw Scott and Craig rushing over.
Scott shook his head. “Everyone needs to be gathered up, now. It’s important.”
“What’s wrong?” asked Frank.
“I’ll explain it to everyone, but you people are seriously in trouble if this place shuts down without hearing this,” said Scott.
“Right!” Frank ran off in one direction to get one group. Scott glanced to Craig and he did the same.
Daniel and the fourth officer, Martin, came rushing up. “What’s going on?”
“Do either of you have professions, and I don’t mean police officer?” asked Scott. The rest of the people in the arcade were streaming toward their position as Scott started to explain.
“What do you mean?” asked Daniel.
Scott shook his head. “Only enough time to explain this once. We need everyone here, first.”
It was not long before all sixteen people were gathered up in the front of the arcade. Scott began to explain. “Those of you here who do not have a profession attached to their status, please raise your hand.”
“What do you mean?” asked one of the nameless girls who’d come in while Scott was hunting.
“I mean, did you gain a profession today? Something like warrior, or sage, or something.”
No one knew what he meant. “Shit, that must have been a rare drop. Look, there’s a book over in the skill booth called The Big Book of Professions. You all need to get that book and use it before this store closes.”
“Why, what does it do?” asked Martin.
“It randomly assigns a profession. You might get something that sucks, or you might not. Either way, you’ll have access to professional skills and higher stats,” said Scott.
“Why didn’t you say something earlier?” asked Daniel.
Scott offered him a sour expression. “I didn't think about it until a minute ago. There’s no time to complain about it, though. It’s a cheap book.”
“How cheap?” asked a man that Scott had not seen earlier.
“Fifty daemons,” said Scott.
“F-fifty?! That’s a small fortune,” said the man, before the shock left his eyes wide and his mouth hanging open.
“Shit… that’s right, money is hard to come by if you can’t kill a lot of those things. I can cover a few people, can anyone else help?” asked Scott.
Frank and Craig dug around in their pockets. They pooled their money and came up with another eighty coins.
“Fifteen times fifty. We need seven hundred fifty. I’m good for about half,” said Scott.
Craig’s eyelid twitched. He had seen Scott buy a lot of stuff. “You rich bastard… How much did you have?”
“Now’s not the time. Can anyone cover their own costs? If so, go ahead and buy that book,” said Scott.
Four people headed in that direction after a moment of confusion. The remaining people raked and scraped to come up with the rest of the money. One of the people who had left, returned with the book and showed it to Scott.
“Yes, that one! Say, do you have thirteen coins left? Everyone can get a book if you do.”
“I’ve got like four, but you can have them,” she said before handing them over.
Scott handed over two hundred coins to the police officers. They had butted heads a little, but they at least knew how to fight. “You guys go ahead.”
“Hey, home come you’re deciding who gets to do what?” asked one of the other men.
“This needs to get done. If we come up short this morning, the people with the best combat skills or actual training need to get their professions. Or would you rather leave it up to chance?” asked Scott.
Another of the first people returned and Scott asked if they had any coins. The new arrival had a single copper left.
“Eight short. Who here is only level one?” asked Scott. Two people held up their hands.
“OK, the rest of you come here and get your coins.”
“What about us!” exclaimed a level one man.
“One of you can get a profession, the other one has to hold out and hope for eight more coins,” said Scott.
The man started cursing and the teen girl in his same level one group spoke up. “Just give it to him.”
“You sure?” asked Scott.
“Yeah,” she said nervously.
Scott passed out money to everyone except for that one nice girl and waited. He was able to collect six more coins total. They were two coins short.
“Is everyone sure they don’t have another coin?” asked Scott.
No one had anything else. More than a half hour had passed while everyone received their money and gained a profession. There was a lot of hub-bub about that in the shopping arcade. People acquired professions ranging from warrior to blood sage. There w
ere no other arcane slayers, but at the same time, most of the professions seemed to either be generic such as warrior, or unique sounding. The unique professions were literally that. No one else in the group had that profession.
Scott walked toward the lone girl and handed her the coins in his hand, and then headed toward the entrance to the building. He was a bit tired, but he decided to clear away a few ghouls in front of the building while also hunting for change.
He managed to score several coins and head back just as light started to break over the horizon. He tossed the coins to the girl and shouted, “Go! Go!”
She ran toward the skill booth as fast as she could. Several tense seconds passed and a book appeared in the air. She snatched it up just as all of the lights in the building died.
“Hurry up and use it!” called Scott before turning toward the door.
The girl read through the little blurb quickly and announced that she requested a profession. Not long after that an overly perky sounding announcement echoed throughout the shopping arcade, the first that they had heard. “Attention arcade shoppers. The store will be closing in fifteen minutes. Please take your final purchases and escape. If you are here when the doors close, you’ll die horribly.”
“Shit, what do we do?” asked the middle-aged man who Scott had helped earlier.
“We need to go. I’ve cleared the way forward, but there is no telling how long that will last. Either way, we can’t stay here,” said Scott.