by Arthur Stone
What was that? Movement? Something definitely blinked. He scrutinized a bald patch between the creeping cacti and scattered stones, one he’d passed seven minutes ago. Nothing. Had he imagined it? Cheater’s mind had never deceived him so readily before, nor had it warned him so intently.
Alert! Your current pure Observation has exceeded 100! (Pure level is your current level times your multiplier and plus your main level bonus.) You now have access to new intuition and insight. You have experienced your first instance of intuition. Congratulations! Bonus: +50 Perception points.
Dammit! The unprompted message popped up suddenly, startling Cheater so much he nearly leapt five feet in the air. Intuition? This was the first time Cheater had felt like this—he’d never even heard of such a thing before! Since the System congratulated him on this new sense, he strongly doubted his observations were mere hallucinations. Something real must have triggered them, and he knew how to find out what it was. Waves of Omniscience rippled out, now illuminating more than lizards and scorpions. Before him stood more than a dozen humanoid figures, descending on the hollow with their abnormally-angled legs. They were the “grasshoppers” who’d chased the van away two days prior. He was unsure whether this was the same tenacious herd, but the crowd that stalked him was clearly formidable.
He only had a few bullets left. Maybe he could take one with him? Cheater remembered well that even a machine gun burst from twenty yards couldn’t drop one of these creatures, which made him feel sick. Against the rippling rainbows of his ability, Cheater could pick out the creatures’ defenses. Something like an aura flickered over their bodies, obscuring the finer details of their anatomy. He was not even sure that his modded pistol could punch through. His only hope was to hit them from the side or rear, where it seemed they were exposed—but there was no way they’d let him get away with that. Cheater’s rifle would be far more effective, but his four rounds would be woefully insufficient; plus, reaching for the ammo would alert the crooked-legged monsters that they’d been discovered. Charging at full speed, they’d drop their camouflage and lunge at him before he could take a shot.
These creatures had not reacted to Omniscience. Perhaps they believed Cheater couldn’t see them? If so, this was his only advantage. How could he use it? He could try to sneak up and carefully ambush one with his sword. The largest one’s defenses appeared far too powerful to puncture, so he’d target the shorter, weaker one on the left. His shoulders were narrow, his aura only a couple of fingers thick. Choppa enjoyed enough useful modifications to effectively slice through. If it didn’t, this meant that even a tank couldn’t dent the larger specimens. This didn’t necessarily mean they were invulnerable—nothing on the Continent could escape death. Even the most nightmarish of leviathans came with an Achilles’ heel, so the grays had to have a weakness. Right?
Cheater chose to stare vacantly into the distance, pretending not to see them. Hopefully, he could take some with him—perhaps by tossing a grenade to explode behind them as they tore him to shreds. Their rear protection was weak, so it might work...unless Omniscience was misleading him. With time running out, this was the best plan he could muster. Here we go. Continuing his oblivious charade, Cheater hunched over, slowly reaching for the hilt of his sword. Its scabbard was bound to one of his backpacks. Then, when the semicircle was upon him, he drew the weapon in a sudden motion and lunged, sweeping it through the nearest, smallest creature.
He hit—He hit! It was a perfect hit, in fact. The massive blade dully flashed as it punched through the creature’s defenses, hacking through its arm to firmly skewer its solar plexus. Cheater immediately yanked his sword from the alien, simultaneously redirecting a enemy spear with his other arm. Leaping back, he clung to the rock, his axe’s handle clanging against it. He drew his pistol from its holster, but the spearman wouldn’t stop; it aimed its weapon directly at his navel. While Cheater managed to divert it with the base of his blade, it knocked the gun from his hand. The battle would continue with melee weapons alone.
All of a sudden, the creatures began behaving strangely. Rather than rushing him from all sides, they bumbled about, clumsily retreating a few paces. Some hissed like serpents, weapons clutched at the ready; others relaxed, more perplexed than aggressive. They then dispersed, allowing the largest to step forward from its earlier place at the rear. It was one and a half heads taller than Cheater, who was reasonably tall himself; its physique was broad and strong. Staring hard at Cheater with its huge, narrow eyes, it raised a spear over its head...then slowly backed away, beckoning Cheater to follow him.
Note: A veteran warrior from a long-feral tribe of the Shgrazqu honors the memory of his ancestors. He has recognized your sword as a weapon of the great master of his people. Now, he offers the opportunity to prove that you are worthy of this weapon. Accept his invitation to a duel.
Duel conditions: fight to the death.
Victory prize: the feral tribe of the Shgrazqu will consider you a more worthy opponent.
In order to accept the duel, follow the warrior to an open location where nothing is present to interfere with the fight.
Note: If you do not make a choice within 60 seconds, all of the soldiers in the enemy party will attack you.
What an interesting message! Would Cheater have to duel each and every one of these desert inhabitants? As the power of the sword coursed through him, Cheater grew eager to fight. He was sure his blade could crush these opponents into powder, one by one. However, experience left him pessimistic. Despite his underground torment and the System’s promises, he had yet to become a great swordsman. He also didn’t want to step away from the rock, for it covered his rear. Yeah, right—it’s just a wall this crowd can pin you against like a tail on a donkey! He simply had to fight one-on-one against this giant. This was the Continent, after all, where everything was unpredictable. Anything could happen during the fight…including possible escape.
As Cheater followed the monster, he looked warily to his left and right as the grays stepped aside. These creatures could attack at any moment if they wished, stabbing him in the back in an instant. Despite the System’s message, he had no way to know if their dueling code prohibited treachery. While they stood down, the warrior himself was battle-ready; once out of the hollow, the beast pounced, lunging forward with no warning. To Cheater’s disadvantage, the creatures’ legs were well-suited to such powerful leaps. However, he was soon surprised to find he’d learned a little bit about dexterity in the underground chamber. He hadn’t realized his months of hard practice had set into his muscle memory; as unprepared as he was for the warrior’s attack, he actually managed to handle it.
Though Cheater had warded off his opponent, he failed to wound him, as the beast hovered just out of sword’s reach. Its weapon was longer-range and its sides were sharpened, so a skillful swing could turn into a chopping attack. The resulting slice would cause immense bleeding; strategic dodging would follow as Cheater bled out. As Cheater parried the blow, he realized how much he had improved. The stab, the chop, the cut—all blocked, followed with a dodge to the side and back. The gray warrior’s speed was inhuman, his swift dance of lunges, hops, and swings impossible to predict. How could Cheater strike with any confidence? The enemy’s weapon was far longer than his. He had to break this endless attack and draw closer.
Cheater was exerting all of his energy simply protecting his own skin. A thought broke his focus: fights couldn’t be won by defense alone, so he had to make a move. It was time to employ an ability. He’d saved them in order to take three, four or more of these things with him. At the tip of his opponent’s spear, he let loose with Tranquility.
Note: During a duel with warriors of the long-feral tribe of Shgrazqu, you cannot use character skills within 500 meters of your opponents. Items’ special abilities and properties will continue to function as usual.
Nothing happened—his mana didn’t even go down! This was a gravely unpleasant surprise. Had Cheater known beforehand, he’d neve
r have agreed to the duel. He would have to find another way out. After repelling another chop, Cheater swung to sever the spearhead from its shaft. Despite its description, the blade did not sever the spear; assuming his Darkvision wasn’t failing him, it didn’t even leave a nick. He could not win by damaging the enemy’s weapon. His plan would have to be riskier…if only he could think of one. This overgrown grasshopper possessed enough Stamina for ten Cheaters. Cheater had grown weary lugging his backpacks of wealth through the desert, but he knew he’d resent losing them far more. He couldn’t lose his life, and he wouldn’t lose his loot. There was no longer room for any mistakes.
Remaining on the defensive, Cheater directed all of his movements to the right, forcing his enemy to shift in the same direction. The duelists rotated 180 degrees, placing Cheater above the gray on the slope of the hollow. This orientation leveled them face-to-face. Whirling his spear overhead, the gray chuckled, pulling a grotesque face to provoke Cheater. After countering a sweeping blow, Cheater promptly blundered in his attempts to push the spear aside. The move succeeded—but Cheater’s sword caught on one of the spearhead’s curled protrusions and promptly went flying. Ripped from Cheater’s hand, the sword flew over the creature’s head to land in the center of the hollow, ten yards from the pair. To retrieve it, Cheater had to somehow circumvent his enemy’s spear without being maimed. Impossible! The gray read his mind, twirling its lance overhead as it hissed in triumph.
All was arranged to Cheater’s satisfaction. Jumping up, he held up his right hand and mentally summoned the sword. Thanks to its hidden property, it instantly obeyed, tearing lightning-fast towards Cheater’s open palm…right through the rear of his opponent. Had the sword soared handle-first, the creature would have escaped with a bruise, but Fortune was on the side of those with a high Luck value. Instead, the edge of the blade razed through the protective aura to plunge square through the alien’s shoulder blades. Protruding from the creature’s chest, the sword’s flight stopped. Unprepared for a rear strike, the enemy fell forward; the obedient sword then forcefully twisted its way out of the alien’s back, its thick blade widening the ugly gauge. A moment later, its handle lay obediently in Cheater’s palm. Stepping forward, Cheater brought the blade down hard. With a sickening crunch, blood and alien brains splashed onto the rocks. It was done.
Rising, Cheater twirled his massive sword with ease, shaking off the giblets stuck to its blade. He looked around, preparing for the next fight. If the creatures followed the rules, his next opponent should be easier; perhaps he could even win without resorting to tricks. As they now knew what his magical sword was capable of, it was unlikely they’d fall for a repeat of the summon-and-stab routine. The grays hissed, grimaced and postured menacingly, yet hesitated to nominate their next champion.
“What are you afraid of, grasshoppers?” Cheater gloated, tossing his sword from hand to hand. “Come on, let’s go! Who’s next?”
Suddenly, a short victory message startled Cheater. The System usually waited until all combat was complete.
Personal victory: veteran warrior from long-feral tribe of the Shgrazqu destroyed. Level 57. During the battle, you showed impressive Strength, Dexterity, Speed, Endurance, Reaction, and Luck. +204 progress points to Strength. +261 progress points to Dexterity. +133 progress points to Speed. +47 progress points to Endurance. +293 progress points to Reaction. +62 progress points to Luck. Note: No Humanity points or penalties are assigned for combat with gray creatures! Note: You have gained fame among the feral tribe of the Shgrazqu people.
Note: You have won a duel with a non-human opponent! This is your first duel victory. Congratulations! Bonus +5 distributable meter points.
This message was intriguing, the next development, more so. Falling silent, the creatures rushed at once to sweep up the weapons of their fallen kin. Instead of threatening Cheater, they gave him a wide berth; with the exception of a single nondescript member, the tribe leapt out of the hollow and charged off into the desert. A quivering haze rippled around each member, growing in intensity. Their auras melted into gauzy liquid mirror, reflecting the surrounding wilderness, then—POOF—they vanished. Cheater blinked in surprise. While he could still hear the sounds of them retreating, the tribe had effectively dissolved into thin air.
Note: The feral tribe of the Shgrazqu now consider you a more worthy opponent. You can wait for this party to return in order to accelerate the beginning of the next duel.
Extending its thin paw, the remaining gray let out a low hiss. Was that…congratulations? In return, Cheater cautiously held out his left hand, palm up. Suddenly, he received something like a delicate, intricately-woven ping-pong ball.
Challenge Token. Consumable. If, in your wanderings, you find yourself too far from the lands of the feral tribe of the Shgrazqu, activate this Challenge Token. After 60 seconds, a dueling zone and a pack of Shgrazqu will appear around you. Note: If the tribe does not find a worthy opponent for you by this time, the Challenge Token will have no effect. In this case, however, it will not be consumed. You can use it again at a later time.
What? So he was expected to wait here until those monsters brought back a stronger beast for him to vanquish? Did he have to go on his merry way, summoning a new opponent in a day or two? Did they think he was a complete idiot? No, thank you. Cheater wasn’t exactly a fan of alien duels. He was a fan of ditching this desert, posthaste. He cared little that his Chameleon’s effectiveness would drop the faster he escaped; after all, his disguise ability and snail-like pace hardly protected him from the grays. His only hope to escape the next fight was flight.
Chapter 15
Life Nine. A Reckless Run
By Cheater’s most modest estimates, he was easily carrying 160 pounds of cargo. Most of that weight was owed to the modifications he toted. Alone, they were light items—but approximately two thousand of them at once? Unmanageable, to say the least. He also dragged along his weight-reduced rifle and sword…plus his normal-weight ax and pistol…plus a pair of grenades, his torn and burnt clothes, the backpacks themselves and various miscellanea. The weight was a nuisance, but he needed to keep all of it. Cheater moved through the night at a decent pace, considering the load weighing him down. Alternating between a run, a jog and a brisk walk, he allowed himself the opportunity to catch his breath, though it did nothing to restore his Stamina.
He saw hair nor hide of the local grays throughout his passage. Were they otherwise occupied, roaming other territories—or had word spread of Cheater’s formidable new reputation? Perhaps he was untouchable…at least, until the aliens found a new champion to challenge him. Cheater did run into a few infecteds among the cacti, but Choppa made quick work of them. He had reached down to check them for spores—a silly reflex, all things considered. Idiot. With his store of treasure, it’d be nothing but a risky move to loot sporesacs. He’d honestly pay a dozen spores per second to escape this mess. At this pace, he figured he would cover five miles in an hour; the eastern sky, however, was beginning to turn gray. He should be seeing rivers and trees by now, not cacti and reptiles. Yet the wilderness stretched on. Would it ever end? Lost in self-defeating thought, Cheater nearly stumbled into a ravine. He jolted forward, steadily recovered, then looked down to see…
…Water! Lots of water! A rushing river stretched out before him, twenty feet across. The enthusiasm he felt was tempered somewhat: he had no way to descend the sheer cliff face before him. Vertical walls flanked the river, standing a dozen feet tall. Cheater saw no sign of stairs or slopes, but he refused to despair: a deep river was better than no river. Cheater began to follow the river in the direction it flowed, ignoring the dangers of this choice. Kitty taught him early on that rivers and other such barriers were best avoided, but his escapades as of late had made him something of a cynic. To hell with that—everything in this world is best avoided!
As dawn broke, the landscape changed. The narrow river gradually widened, flowing around fifty yards across. The flat earth began to slop
e downwards, cliffs no longer bracketing the water. As Cheater uncomfortably descended this steep slope, he noted trees on the opposite bank. These trees were squat and sparse, but at least they weren’t cacti. There was still no clear way across. Cheater’s cargo instantly ruled out the idea of swimming to the opposite shore. He developed an idea upon discovering several fallen trees, driven into the sand by the current. While exposed from three sides, he decided to take his chances; a heady mixture of intuition and anxiety warned him to move away from the desert at all costs.
Here, the length of rope from his backpack finally proved useful. His sword also came in handy, clearing away unneeded branches. After stripping down the wood, Cheater bound it together into a rough, rudimentary raft. His rush job looked terrifyingly rickety, but Cheater was far too eager to depart the desert to mind. It was time to seek a new shore. Directing a hastily-built raft is no simple task, of course; keeping the wood braced against his chest, Cheater kicked to propel himself as he turned it this way and that. The current was uneven and unpredictable, forcing him to fight it—with varying success. It was only at a mile downriver that he gained a foothold. His greeting party? Why, half a dozen young infecteds, fussing about on the shore. They had migrated along the bank, knowing full well Cheater approached them. He stood, took a breath, drew his sword and strode onto land.
“Come at me, guys!” Cheater crowed, rushing the group headlong. “I need the practice!”
* * *
Half an hour later, Cheater sat in the tall grass, leisurely enjoying the last of his foodstuffs: a can of tuna, which he had saved until now. Many players considered tuna superior to stew, if cooked properly; others vehemently disagreed. As he ate, Cheater gave the tuna fans a point. Living exclusively on canned stew grew tiresome. People needed variety! This tuna was a bit too salty, to be fair, which would make him thirsty. Salty food was anathema to desert life, so he’d squirreled it away for better, wetter days. He’d swallowed plenty of water during his swim and, after quickly washing, guzzled more until his stomach hurt. After he’d carefully wiped coarse sand over the pinkish skin growing over his burn sites, he headed away from the coast. A river was a wonderful thing, but it was best avoided—where players roamed, monsters did, too.