Fight. Level. Survive.

Chapter 28 - Fucking Trees

Mason loved his bigger on the inside trunk. It was great, it really was. Between fights, he could grab some food or even nap. The only thing it was missing was a shower. Mason seemed to have developed a habit of getting covered in blood, It didn’t happen every day, but when it did happen, a shower would have been blissful.

As part of his plan to get stronger, he was attempting to power-level himself by facing Monsters far stronger than himself. In the week or so that he had been in this world, he had already managed to fight a Giant Drake, a Basilisk and a Crack Hen. All far higher levels than he was. He figured if he was going to end up fighting them any way he might as well do it on his own terms.

Covered in blood, he ran through the forest, trying to evade the creature currently chasing him down.

He had been level 12 when he had entered the forest, and now he was level 14. The progress was relatively slow, but progress was progress.

He was in this forest as it was where the majority of his contracts had as the last seen location. He had been here since the day before, but until a few moments ago, he hadn’t managed to find any of the Monsters he was contracted to kill. He had only found weaker beasts that earned him his two level-ups.

The creature currently charging at him was a giant tree. Its huge steps allowed the Monster to get close enough that Mason could identify it.

Monster – Level 24 Arboroth – It’s a giant tree. It has heard rumours of your disrespect to others of its kind and wants to teach you a lesson. Let’s hope its bark is worse than its bite… Get it?

It is wood, so fire is a good place to start.

He rolled his eyes at the system’s joke. He sincerely regretted Mayry not being there with him. That woman was a walking flame thrower who could have BBQ’d the thing in seconds, but nope, she had to be boring and work.

Minutes earlier, he had been invisible, attempting to sneak up on the giant tree in hopes that his sneak attack would do enough damage to the Monster that he could finish it off easily. He didn’t know its exact location, but the contract information did include where it was last spotted.

The moment he got within 100 feet of his target, the ground underneath him started to shift. The tree’s razor-sharp roots shot out from under him, acting as a snare. He managed to avoid being trapped but did feel the roots attempting to cut through his armour, luckily, it wasn’t close to being successful.

The moment he saw the size of the Monster, he started running. He had known ahead of time what Monsters he would be facing but he hadn’t realised the size of the thing. He had come somewhat prepared In his inventory, he carried several dozen potions, a few of which worked in much the same way as a molotov cocktail.

Item - Flash Fire potion (uncommon)

Effects: The liquid inside this bottle will rapidly combust when exposed to air. It burns hot and burns quickly. Throw and run.

Due to Viv's anger about him collapsing the cave where she got most of her ingredients, he was only able to buy three of these particular potions as she had been charging him far more than she usually would have. Eventually, she had calmed down enough to let him explain what had happened, but she held a grudge and told him to expect increased prices.

He had planned on asking her if she had any use for the crack he had found, but He had wanted to get out of there as fast as possible so he had handed over the spider venom, bought some potions and then promptly left.

While running away from the Tree Monster, Mason used the first potion by throwing it behind him. It landed on some of the Arboroth’s branches and produced a scorching heat, which he could feel even as he fled in the opposite direction. However, these potions were designed not to spread uncontrollably, so it burnt out quickly. Despite the Tree Monster's roar, it continued to chase Mason. Not for the first time, Mason wished he could see his opponent’s HP as well as his own, that way, he’d know how much damage he had done.

He stopped suddenly, causing the tree to skid before it could stop. Mason took this chance to aim his second flash fire potion at its head. He undershot the throw, causing the potion to land in front of the creature. It skidded right over it, putting it out with its body and preventing it from doing any significant damage. The fire hadn’t been affected, but as it had skidded, It had gotten tangled in some of the forest’s more lively plant life. Yellow and blue flowers clung to the tree, temporarily keeping it stationary.

He needed to hurry this up, he had the dinner with Mayry and her Father in a few hours, and he still needed to get back to town, get cleaned up and mentally prepare himself not to fuck it up.

Furiously trying to think of a way to end the fight fast, he devised a plan that could theoretically work, but it was a long shot. Could trees even get depression?

His bow appeared in his hands as he ran at the Tree Monster. He leapt over its struggling form and shot an arrow at it. It would now either be inflicted with depression or necrosis. Either one would work for Mason’s purposes, but necrosis probably wouldn't leave much of a body behind, meaning he wouldn't be able to claim the contracts completed.

The arrow hit, and blackness started to spread from where the arrow had pierced. Writhing in pain and fury, the Arboroth died as it’s body turned to ash.

*DING*

Notification 1/3

You have slain – Monster – Level 24 Arboroth.

You have received 240 XP.

Notification 2/3

New Class obtained - Hunter

Hunter level 1 - Class tab unlocked

Contract 1/5 complete

Return trophy to association building to collect reward.

Notification 3/3

You have absorbed 1 stat point of Resilience from Level 24 Arboroth.

He was very aware that he still had no way of telling time, and so wasn’t sure how long he had left until he was supposed to be at Mayry’s house. He wanted to check out the Class tab in his menu but decided to loot the body and check the new tab on his way back to town.

Loot Received:

Living log x 2

Ash of Arboroth

5 iron coins

Using his map, he navigated his way out of the forest and headed back toward the town. On his way back, he opened up his menu to take a look at the Class tab.

Class: Hunter level 1

Local rank: ???

National Rank: ???

Continent Rank: ???

World Rank: ???

Turn in first contract to receive a ranking.

Class skills: None

He found it interesting he was able to get skills to do with his hunting profession, if he survived this dinner he would turn in his contract tomorrow and find out more.

He made it to the Inn with an hour to spare. He ran up the stairs and burst into his room. Intending to shower quickly to wash all the blood off his body, he started stripping off his clothes.

“Do you have deja vu in your world?”

Mason jumped a foot into the air, holding a hand out toward the voice, ready to shoot a Magic Missile at a moment’s notice. “Mother fucker, Mayry! I was this close to killing you!”

“I’m glad you didn’t. That would have made for a very awkward dinner, just you and my dad.”

He got control of his breathing and asked, “Yeah, we have deja vu. Why?”

Trying to hold back laughter, she said, “Oh nothing, just you, naked, covered in blood, it’s bringing back memories.”

Having completely forgotten that he was naked, Mason spun and ran for the bathroom, shouting, “I hate you.”

As he showered, he could hear Mayry laughing at him.

After getting out of the shower and drying off he walked out all squeaky clean, “Why are you here anyway?”

She gave him a puzzled look, “Because we’re having dinner at my house.”

“Yeah, so?”

Puzzlement turned to incredulity as she said very slowly, “Do you know where my house is?”

Embarrassed at him being an idiot, Mason replied, “Oh, yeah, fair point.” Usually, when going to a friend’s house, he would just text them asking for the address just as he left, but sadly, neither he nor Mayry had a phone. Oh man, he really missed his phone.

He got dressed quickly, and they left the Inn. Mayry reassured him he looked good and that the dinner would go fine. Despite Mayry insisting they weren’t dating, he still felt like he was meeting a girlfriend’s parents for the first time. It was nerve-wracking.

They walked until they got to a part of town he hadn’t yet been to. The change wasn’t subtle in the slightest; the houses in the part of town he had just left were pretty nice but nothing to really write home about. Where he was now, the houses looked more akin to mansions, this was obviously where the truly upper-class folk of the town lived.

As they walked towards her house, Mason tried to calm his nerves. He had a tendency to be sarcastic and kind of a prick, but he wanted to make a good first impression on Mayry’s dad, so he reminded himself to be respectful and polite, no matter how nervous he was feeling.

Mason knocked, and a few moments later, the door opened. His jaw dropped as he saw her father and recognised the man.