NOVEL WEB 2. Survival
The first problem right now is the environment. In Elvis Arcane, I've died more to the environment than to monsters.
"Body status," I say.
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Overall body status: Fine
Hunger: Fine
Thirst: Fine
Injury:
Forearms sore muscle(-10% atk)
Status Ailment:
Cold(-10% dex)
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That's right...debuffs.
The state of my character is very important or I will get countless annoying debuffs. Some of them can even kill me.
Beneath the breastplate, there is some fur padding to mitigate the cold. I throw a glance at the corpses.
...
"I'm sorry, brothers," I say and loot their bodies, taking their armour fur for myself.
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+8 bloody fur
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Next... I need the crafting system.
A panel pops up:
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Available crafting options: 1
(Fur-filled armour)
-8 bloody fur
-1 fur armour
Estimated Crafting Time: 10 seconds
[Craft]
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I press craft and an arrow materializes in the air, pointing at the fur and then to the armour.
I follow the instructions and stuff the fur in my armour, evenly spreading them out.
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Crafting Successful!
+1 Fur-filled armour
+10 cold resistance
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"Phew...that feels better."
The crafting system in Elvis Arcane requires the player to do everything manually and the player is vulnerable to attacks when crafting.
Now, I need to know where I am.
There isn't such a convenient feature as a minimap. The player needs to have a good sense of direction or bring a map.
On my waist is a small pouch, acting as my inventory.
Open inventory.
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Inventory Space: 10/10
-1 rock
-1 dagger
-1 flint
-1 small steel
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Great! Flint and steel can help me start a fire but why was I carrying a rock??
I throw the rock out and check the bodies of my comrades. After 10 minutes, I finally find a map from a corpse wearing golden armour.
"This must be the commander," I mumble.
*tsst...*
!
I heard something...
Shit, something is here!
I don't have time to run! I'm too slow and weak to fight too!
As last resort, I dig in the snow and attempt to bury myself with corpses again.
*CLICK!*
"Ack...fuck..."
Blood drips down my middle finger, part of my fingernails broke off.
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-5 hp
Status Ailment "Bleeding" is applied.
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I dig myself a hole under the corpse and roll up into a ball before slightly kicking the snow, forcing the area to cave in and burying me below the corpse.
1 minute later, footsteps and muffled growling can be heard.
It's probably Snow Wolves, a fast and ferocious beast. At my current level, even one of them can instantly kill me.
...
To wait, I rest for a while and close my eyes.
=============================
"Ngh..." I groan.
Loud howling rings in my ears.
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You have rested for 1 hour.
+5 hp
Hunger: Fine -> Mild Hunger
Thirst: Fine -> Thirsty
"Bleeding" Status Ailment removed.
"Cold" Status Ailment added.
-10% dex
Body Status:
Mild Lumbago
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Lumbago? Ah right, it's back pain because of my sleeping position.
I push the corpses aside and stretch my body.
"Haachew!!" I sneeze.
Damn it. It's a blizzard.
I can barely see the surroundings but the wolves left. I should too.
I take more fur and wrap it around my face before leaving.
Although foggy, I can see some mountains near.
"Please let there be a cave," I pray as I venture closer.
20 minutes later, my prayers were answered but not to my advantage. The cave is too small only a rabbit can fit in.
Tch...
As I quickly rack my brain for solutions, a familiar silhouette came into sight.
I follow it and found a rocky statue carved as a dwarf with his right arm transforming into a tentacle-like monster.
...!
I remember this! This statue is related to the main mission of the protagonist, the first campaign quest for the main story starts with finding this statue.
And near the statue...
I go around to the back and find a map.
!
Yes! That's right, this is the pathway to the abandoned dwarf kingdom, an ancient city within the mountain overtaken by monsters.
Although it is dangerous, it should be fine if I set up a camp at the entrance.
Since I memorized the map and landmarks, I quickly left and found the cave easily.
An eerie atmosphere ejects from the cave.
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The atmosphere tears at your soul.
-2% overall stats.
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Right, there's this debuff too.
Regardless I'm only going to stay at the entrance. As a start, I use my dagger to gather wood for a campfire.
Let's see... I need to manually gather tinder, kindling and also the fuel wood. Dead wood should be a good dry source of wood.
It took me 3 hours collecting before I finally settle down and make my fire, striking the flint against the steel and lighting the tinder. The fire slowly spreads as I lightly fan some air into the spark.
"Finally..." I say and sit on the rock, breathless. The fire burns wildly.
...
"Ahhh..."
It's tiring...but the warmth rewards my hard work.
Exhaustion gives a massive debuff of 20% stats reduction. I should sleep...
Unable to contain myself, I doze off into a deep sleep.
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The next morning, the blizzard passed by and so did my fire. I am greeted by a loud growl from my stomach.
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You have rested for 7 hours.
Hunger: Mild Hunger -> Hungry
-10% overall stats.
Thirst: Thirsty
-5% overall stats.
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Yeah yeah, I know. I push the panel aside.
Since this is the first campaign mission, the protagonist should pass through here soon with backup. I have to survive until then.
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A Main Mission has been created!
Survive until the protagonist Rena reaches the cave.
Reward: 5000 exp, 1 free stat.
Failure: Death
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...
I have a bad feeling.
Whenever the game gives out missions, some bad things usually happen.
"Whatever, I will just deal with it when it comes," I say and stand up.