NOVEL NEXT Chapter 40 - My Slow Brain
I weaved randomly around the city of Purge, looking for hints. As I passed a tavern and inn, I noticed the lack of guards relaxing. When I got to the scrimmage area and the market, the guards stood ready at their posts. The city was a maze with its dead-end streets. I found three of them on my trip out, along with some tiny lizards that ran the moment my shadow touched them.
I chased them around in the corner, trying to pin, but not squash, one. But they kept running into small mice holes or gaps in the buildings. Finally, I tossed my shield, and it landed on top of one to pin it for a moment before it could use its tail to free itself. Its upper body was grey brown, but the long tail was thicker than its legs and brown, with yellow spikes running down its back.
>>><<<
[Level 1 Creature: Crowned Basilisk (common)
Description: This is the smallest variant of the Basilisk, normally a snack for the creatures in hell. Because of that, they have found refuge in the city of Purge, excelling as mice and insect creatures. Their bite is weak, it's their tail's dexterity and grip that helps them hunt.]
>>><<<
"Well, tiny little basilisk, let's get you a pet carrier. You're going to be a gift." I remembered what Naiad said about Triangle liking crawlers more than fish.
With that important side mission done, I found my way back to city hall. It had the most guards around it. While keeping a distance, I waited until a group left and headed toward the west wall to follow them.
I found the place where Bearita wanted me to go to. The security on the city's west side, near this part of the wall, was intensely inward-facing. At least ten guards stood at the ready. More than the gate Naiad and I went through yesterday. The extra security was extremely odd in the fact there wasn't even a gate to the outside they defended.
To avoid drawing too much attention, I wandered to a nearby food merchant. With a single coin, I could afford a bag of nuts.
>>><<<
[Item: A bag of nuts. Crunchy. They taste yummy. You just made this merchant's day.]
>>><<<
Hearts floated about the merchant's head, and he looked at me, waiting. I popped a handful of nuts in my mouth and told him the truth. "They taste great."
Before another pointless quest started, I moved myself far away, but keeping a constant eye on the guards by the wall. Their position made little sense. The tower up top even had a mage looking inward at the city, watching people, and folks like me.
This section of town was bare of any players, just NPCs roamed the streets here. Making my naked head stand out in this minor part of the city.
With a glance at the merchant stand, I confirmed there were no drinking cups or tea for sale before I talked. "What shops are in this area? Anywhere to get some art or clothes?"
"Not too much of that here," the merchant yammered. "If you want food, people have to walk to center town and back."
I munched on another nut. "You got a prime spot, then."
"I do! I got luck the Mayor gave me it.."
My mind zoned out as I heard him rambled. I tried to focus on him and how he found some mushrooms growing in the area, saving the city from an infestation… but I wasn't that skilled at listening yet. I watched guards walk into the nearest building, one by one. After a few minutes, none came out.
Then my slow brain caught up. "Wait, you said something about mushrooms?"
"Yes," the merchant's voice got lighter with joy. "All along this wall, there was a field of these bulbous, ugly things. They created an awful smell for the nearby apartments. But that was the problem, with time worm snakes showed up."
I bit on a nut, staring at the merchant, forcing my ears to stay locked on him. "Where they white?"
"Yes! Creepy little things, and not that yummy to eat."
I glanced inside the bag of nuts to confirm they were safe. "What did you do with them?"
"I captured a few and reported it. Then the mayor set up that defense, making sure the blight doesn't show up again. It definitely made me feel better."
"What do you mean?" I looked at my Helitical Shroom buff.
"Within a few days of the shrooms being gone, I had more energy to do things." He laughed, "Though I was excited to set up this shop."
"Yeah, I'm glad you did. Thanks again." I nodded to him. Listening to random NPCs paid off.
I cinched the bag of nuts closed and walked to the apartments. The guards pointed at me. I stood out as the only without a darn balaclava. I ignored them and pretended that I went up to the apartment neighboring where the guard had entered earlier. With an overly loud knock, I hit the door. Waited, and hit the door again.
Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.
From where I stood, I could see a narrow alley that connected to the building next to the wall and weaved back out on the other side. The building was tall enough to create coverage from the mage tower.
"Oh darn, guess they aren't home." I called out as I walked like a cheesy character back to main road and back to the nut merchant.
I bought a few more bags of snacks for the kids before going the opposite way I arrived until I could no longer see the tower. I pulled my cloak up in the middle of the day, to cover my hair and blend in with the city while I made way to lose anyone watching me.
Once I got into the main street of the city with other foot traffic, I changed my walking gait and lowered my center of gravity, hoping no one would recognize me. It took longer with a waddle across the street and my exhaustion hit me again. I felt weaker in hell than middle earth lately. But at least I knew why now and was determined to focus on my quest more to gain even more answers.
Hidden in the alleyway at last, and alone, I again changed my walking stride. The path forced me too, with how narrow it was. My shoulders bumped into the walls, forcing me to side walk like a crab between the two buildings.
What was even the point of having a gap like this? My stomach and shoulders scrapped up against the wall. "It's just a game. This isn't a tunnel. It won't actually hurt you."
Each breath felt tight in my lungs.
"Easy breathes. You're safe in a tight gaming capsule at home…" I really sucked at motivational speeches. I couldn't be panicking like this in front of the stream viewers. That wasn't the drama they enjoyed.
Past me was a complete idiot for coming here, and I had to get back over there to find out what was in that apartment behind me right now.
The building wall behind me collapsed from my weight and I stumbled inside, gasping for breath, the scream dying in my throat. My back smacked into the ground, and the game coded the effect of air escaping my lungs, but it returned within three breaths at least. I heaved and waited for my eyes to adjust to the purple glow filling the small room.
"Who are you?" Someone with a deep voice called beyond what my eyes could see.
"Umm, is your refrigerator running?" I joked back.
Another softer voiced filled in the air, "Catch him before he runs!"
"Hey that's my joke!" I pulled out my axes, finally seeing that I had two guards to face.
They pulled out their short swords and ran at me. I missed the chance to explain who I was with a dumb joke. At least I only had to worry about me and not Naiad or Triangle.
I ran right at the shortest one, swinging up and spinning around to hit the other taller guard with complete control. The dexterity point and added strength stat points were already helping me. Blades and metal struck against each other. The guard's low aim of his next attack forced me closer. With our weapons locked, I took the moment to see what was behind them and grinned.
"Hey, Short Stack," I mocked the smallest guard, "hold on tight."
This wasn't a one-on-one. The Big Guy body guard behind me used his short sword to swing down at me. I backed up to avoid getting hit.
Short Stack looked stunned as his ally almost hit him. "Watch it!" He stuttered.
He adjusted his grip on his own sword, preparing to charge. The moment he adjusted his weight, I took advantage of my larger stature and charged forward to shoulder check him. The hit knocked him off balance and stumbling over the table behind him. He was a new soldier, and easily afraid. He scrambled to find something on the desk, instead of defending. Before my blades could finish him, the other Big Guy followed over and hit my arm. The pain forced the axe blade out of my hand and onto the table.
Didn't matter, I had lots of potions now. Excitement for this fight fired my attacks onward.
I turned my full attention to the larger guard. With quick parrying abilities, he proved more effective with the blade. Our weapons clanged with each block. I couldn't move from where I was, pinning me next to the table, and Short Stack cowered on the ground next to me.
Big Guy roared at me, and I chuckled back. It was so easy to focus on the guard alone and not worry about if my kids were safe.
I countered his attack. My axe meeting his sword in a clatter of noise. His grip loosened, and I wrenched the sword away, the heft of it surprisingly light in my grip as I raised it to strike.
"Don't take my joke." I explained, just as I finished him with his weapon. I yanked the sword out and pointed it at Short Stack crawled on the ground by me, trying to get around the desk.
"Back up from the desk if you don't want to be like him." I caught my breath as the soldier stood up, shaking. I reached over on the table and grabbed my axe. It was within his reach, so why didn't he grab it?
As I went for it, Short Stack dived across the table, landing on the other side with a scream warning others. My arms and legs scrambled after him, my shoulder flaring in pain. I pushed the sword across the desk, and it landed in his gut. He didn't even try to stop it, keeping his hands reached out for something under the table.
I tossed the blade on the ground, took a cheap health potion, and grabbed my axe. Because of that scream, others will come soon. Torches of the purple flame lined the wall and moved further into the apartment building. I didn't see anyone else in this small room. No wonder no one answered the door and why I looked suspicious in approaching the building. This wasn't an apartment, but a fake building for a completely different purpose.
I needed to blend in now.
I put my hand on the guard's gear and added it to my inventory.
>>><<<
[Item: Guard's Purgatory helmet (rare). Type: Heavy armor.
Description: Ever wanted to protect the little soft squishy brain of yours? Hide your face? Have horse blinders to stay better focused and miss that fire spell blasting at the side of you? This is the hat for you!]
[Item: Guard's Purgatory Chest Piece (rare). Type: Heavy armor.
Description: This will protect you from sharp edges and most piercing attacks! But won't stop your heart breaking from emotional damage.]
[Item: Guard's Purgatory Greaves (rare). Type: Heavy armor.
Description: Hey now, those kicks won't hurt as much.]
>>><<<
I equipped all three pieces from the larger guard. The chest piece was too tight, meant to fight a guard who could fit in that alley way earlier. I could still move my arms around, just not as much at the shoulder.
"Should I go for more movement but flimsy armor? Or do weaker attacks, and have stronger armor?" I asked the viewers, not that they could respond. I knew the answer: both options sucked.
>>><<<
[Notice: Your armor stats are higher, but the gear is too heavy for you. You will burn through stamina and be slower.]
I grumbled everything about this game was determined to make me slow. I took the greaves off and moved them back to my inventory. The debuff didn't go away. I took the helmet off, and it finally stopped. I was going to have to choose between a helmet or a chest plate. The chest plate went to the inventory, and the greaves came out. The debuff didn't appear with these two items.
At long last, I had better armor. Two full zones better. I flexed for a moment, showing off the gear to any fans watching. "What'cha, think? Brings out the color of my eyes?"
Not being able to see their response made this difficult to know if the jokes were landing. I didn't have anyone to bounce off of. It made me miss the kids more. As I moved around, the helmet wiggled on my head, a bit too large.
My health was back up to speed, and I moved forward with the quest. "Let's get going. I don't want to take too long on this."