1st Person POV (MC)-Present Time-
Upon finally arriving at my apartment…
*PLOP*
“Haaaaaaaaaaa… I’m swamped, no more.”
I dropped my tote bag and the weight on my shoulders got far lighter as I slumped on the couch for a few seconds of rest.
Realizing the state of my body was covered all dirty from either outside air, dust or even germs from the hospital. I decided to clean myself up…
“Okay, time to shower. I can’t y down on the bed Just yet.”
While showering, my train of thought wandered to the medications I needed to take. Based on what the pharmacist said, it is once a week...
(“No dietary and timing restrictions but! I need to take it on the same day each week. Today’s Friday… so might as well be dinner time.”)
I think I will remember it better since it is Friday night!
“Aaaaahhhh~ it feels so refreshing! Time to heat my dinner.”
-After Dinner-
I ate the medicine given by the pharmacist & recommended by the specialists. Nothing happened yet, after all it going to take some time…
But!!!
*Pat* *Pat* *Pat*
I imaginatively pat my shoulders before expanding my chest in pride.
“Jobs done!”
Finally, I can OL!!!
I must say… seeing other people using those VR machines at the hospital gives me the itch to py.
Jumping to the bed, I nabbed the helmet at my bedside table and wore it in one smooth motion. Lying down in a comfortable position, I then pressed the big button at the top.
-Entering O.w.O-
As the blinding white light fades away, my view returns to the familiar sight of a grove with a lone circur temple in the middle of it.
There’s an ethereal spring and next to it lies a golden tree rustling in the winds. It’s getting taller and taller day by day, I am gd to see it growing healthy.
*TAP* *TAP* *TAP*
(“There he is.”)
Instinctively, I recognized that footsteps. I can sense the feeling of excitement, of enthusiasm, of want, and it is infectious as I unconsciously smile at the direction of that sound.
“Master!!!!” -Gaia-
What I see now… isn’t a small injured deer of the past, but rather a galnt figure standing proud in the present.
Gaia is a white male deer with a size as big as a fully grown moose. He has eyes as green as the verdant forest and whenever he goes, I can hear leaves rustling coming from his antlers.
His antlers have grown so big that they spread like tree branches and on them there are various pnts each representing a different season. After all, he is the bringer of seasons as a sacred beast.
Other people must’ve looked at him in awe or fear due to his overbearing presence and gait.
Though in my eyes…
Hehehehehehe…
I raised my hands to squish his cheek. Earning a head tilt from the herbivore…
“Master?” -Gaia-
(“He’s the cutest!”)
I continue to py around and then conjure up a comb. With it, I sift through his fur… doing this is already a daily occurrence as Gaia with all of his glory melts like butter.
He’s enjoying this service and I multi-task too re-crafting & selling the previously made potions from the st batch.
Heh… figures…
I smirk seeing all my potions, poisons, and bombs have been sold out as I sell the ones in my Safe Inventory in max stacks of 99.
Before long though, I heard a distinct noise in my ear I knew that it was coming from the system. Uttering the voice of command, a panel appears showing my chat system.
-Chat-
(Siegfried Calenus)
-Heya! How’s the doctor's stuff?
(Me)
-Sighhhhhhhhhh T^T Better to talk about it face to face
(Siegfried Calenus)
-Oh Shit!? Okay, wanna meet up then?
(Me)
-Sure! We can also grind a bit in the meantime
-Meet at the base?
(Siegfried Calenus)
-*Thumbs Up*
-Chat-
Looking at Booba’s profile, she seems to be offline at the moment. I did want to invite her as well but oh well.
“Sorry Gaia, I am going somewhere. Would you please protect our home with Oreo?”
Just uttering their name, I can hear a rattling noise in the distance alerting me of their presence as I greeted Oreo who brought more Gold Ambassador loots.
Gaia nods silently although not before giving me big doe eyes. Gosh darn, he looks so very cute…
In the end, I peppered Gaia with kisses and affectionately petted Oreo before leaving my home.
-Tainted Wastend, U.w.U Base-
After teleporting, I’m greeted by the sight of a castle made of hardwood with Nordic architecture in the distance while around it are houses & farmnd.
I can see NPCs hanging about doing their day-to-day activities including several more armoured ones patrolling the area.
(“Hehe…”)
I have seen this sight many times and nevertheless, it always made me proud of myself.
They curtly nod at me as I slightly hover towards the castle following a designated path, I do need to show off my magical capabilities from time to time after all...
(“It’s a part called maintaining the image! Based on the tips & tricks on being a leader book I read.”)
Finally arriving at the castle gates, I see a silhouette of a man wearing a Lion’s armour set.
“Yo!” -Siegfried-
He looks at me up and down before pointing at my feet that are hovering from the floor.
“What was this for?” -Siegfried-
I chuckled and told him enthusiastically.
“Extra awesome points for the NPC!”
Upon hearing that answer, he ughed for a moment or two.
“Kekeke… you’ve been so into it! Kekekekekekekek.” -Siegfried-
“Heyyy!!! It works at least…”
Evidently! The NPCs gave some sort of respect towards me when I walked in…
Before long, he swiped a tear hidden by his bangs and asked.
“Fiuf… All right, where are we grinding? Then tell me about the Dr. Appointment.” -Siegfried-
I smiled, feeling kind of happy to have someone worrying about me but! Before that he is right, we need to decide grinding spot.
“What do you recommend? I was thinking of Starscorched Desert.”
“Ouh? Why not? Interesting enemies, all malformed and stuff. I wonder what their core taste like.” -Siegfried-
Other pyers would probably find it strange to hear that from Siegfried as cores are used for enchanting or bcksmithing not as food…
Knowing what is Siegfried, it doesn’t faze me at all. Booba knew it too. He’s been delving into the monster’s core fvour like a connoisseur.
At the moment, he likes the taste of pnt monsters found in the Dark Forest the Rebirth Area of Deep Woods.
“Hmmmm… since it’s malformed maybe a mix of fvours?”
“Heh… could be! Can’t wait to eat them.” -Siegfried-
He licked his lips, showing the jagged teeth he set in character creation.
-Starscorched Desert (ReLV 40-50)-
As always, it is nighttime here in this Area with the stars all smeared like inkblots. This pce is also cluttered with ruins from civilizations in ancient times.
From pilrs jutting out of the sands, rubbles partially covered in it, or crumbling buildings. This entire area screams ‘Ruined’ I mean based on the lore in my Css Quest, I can see why…
“Mag!” -Siegfried-
We spotted a group of malformed creatures. I can see what they are originally; a majority is humanoid but there are canines, felines, and even avian too.
All of them have pulsating tumour-like growths attached to various parts of their bodies and tendrils jutting out from odd pces...
(“Ew… it twitches around.”)
“Shall we?”
“Hah!!!! Here I go!” -Siegfried-
His legs already turned digitigrade and he dashes & leaps to the centre of that group at an incredible speed.
*BAMMMM*
A wave of sand and dust came out from where he nded earning the attention of nearby malformed creatures.
Then…
“GRAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!” -Siegfried-
He roared as loud as he could like a lion, activating a {Skill} as the air vibrated to his voice.
Immediately I can see his {Skill} taken an effect, the group around him and even further jolted as their attention zeroes in towards Siegfried.
Their ‘mouth’ or ‘beaks’ grow wider, split, then stretch revealing rows and rows of teeth before shambling towards him contrasting the usual speed the monsters walked around…
“[Widen: Quagmire]”
As those words left my lips, I could see a cast bar appear atop my P.O.V. Alongside that… I signal Siegfried that it’s almost done as he begins to pull out monster cores from his inventory.
*CRUNCH*
It sounded like he was eating crunchy hash browns or fries…
(“Now, I want to eat fries…”)
With the {Spell} finishes casting, the magic occurs on the ground where Siegfried is and around him turns to sludge. I can hear the spts from monsters as they are trying to reach him but slowed down significantly.
Since he ate that core, a new appendage burst out from his shoulder. It bears sembnce to vines but in the colour of pink flesh adorned by jagged bones. Trying to mimic the original abilities of who that core belonged to.
(“It is supposed to be ivy with thorns but yeah, close enough…”)
“Alle-Up!” -Siegfried-
One appendages shoot towards one of the ruined pilrs, attached to it like glue, and then it retracts. Causing Siegfried to be pulled upwards while dangling he grins widely clearly having fun and the monsters try to chase him but slow down.
Knowing he is not in the area, I can use other magic… Extending my left hand, I point towards the currently stuck group of enemies.
“[Maximize: Necrotic Shroud]”
While it is casting, Siegfried hurls several bone daggers from afar targeting avian creatures.
(“Fragments…”)
Reading my mind, the crystals orbiting around me shine in various colours and shoot elemental bolts towards the flying creatures while I watch over the battlefield waiting for my cast to be done.
I’ve noticed that each time Siegfried transforms or hurls his body parts. His HP gets damaged by a tiny bit although since he has passive regeneration as part of his racial capabilities it went back to full…
“Hahahahahahaha!!! Can’t catch me!” -Siegfried-
By swinging to another pilr again and again using his new appendages, he maintained the aggro of monsters by making them run around in circles trying to chase him.
Our kiting strategy seems to be getting better and better!
Ah!! My {Spell} finished… hehehehe…
A bck smoke exudes from the ground engulfing the creatures in eerie miasma as some of them crumpled unable to withstand the DoT. They fall and quickly disperse into cubes leaving behind glimmering orbs…
(“Oh?”)
Noticing that smoke, the avian monsters tried to escape the sludge by fpping their wings some managed to dislodge themselves from it and take flight…
(“Ooooooo, no you don’t!”)
“[Mass: Earth-]”
“[CONSUME]!!!!” -Siegfried-
*CHOMP*
The avian monsters disappear as Siegfried who perched like a predator between the pilrs ate them so easily.
It happened so fast, that I am unable to see what he has done only the aftermath. There is a slit on Siegfried’s belly where occasionally I can see rows and rows of sharp serrated teeth. It bloats and then chews as the creature still trying to escape goes deathly silent.
…
…
…
*SPLAAAATT* *SPLASHHHHH*
Siegfried’s back sprouted a mesh of flesh and gore painting the rubble red. That fleshy net is interconnected creating an image of wings. Before long, it began to fp and Siegfried’s started to fly…
“W-whoa… it’s a bit weird. WHOAAAAAAA!!!” -Siegfried-
He fumbles over flying hitting rubble right on his back and ribs…
*BAM*
“OUH, FUCK!” -Siegfried-
(“Poor Sieg!”)
I tried to withhold my ughter.
“Pftt!! Do you need help?”
“NO! I’ll get the hang of this shit. AH SHIT!” -Siegfried-
*BAM* *BAM* *THUD*
Sorry, but I can’t! He’s like a fly trying to smack a window to get out.
“BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH…”
The combat music is already finished anyway so Siegfried can take as much time to adjust to flying. It’s the same as me when I cast [Fly], it is hard…
In the meantime, I can collect the loot!
--
“Haaaaa… flying is kinda hard.” -Siegfried-
“Heheheheh, I know I tried using the {Spell} [Fly] and had the same reaction as you.”
He picks some orbs and continues…
“By the way, what about the medical appointment? You mentioned it in the chat.” -Siegfried-
“Well… it’s a long story.”
“I’m listening.” -Siegfried-
Well, since he offers it wouldn’t hurt to tell him about it….
So, I told him about the start of my complications from disruption in bowel movements, and absurd test results before being told it was an issue that happened in the b, then to the hospital with all these specialists I met.
“Dammmmmnnnn…. So the Drs think you have problems with your thyroid?” -Siegfried-
“YYyyeahhhh… more or less, the thing is I’m not sure what I did that caused it. Like, I maintain the same diet throughout these years and haven’t used any medications at all. Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa…”
After letting out a huge long sigh, I can feel my heart feel lighter. Just like before, I need to keep myself calm…
“There is a silver lining though…”
“???” -Siegfried-
He tilts his head while grabbing more glimmering orbs as if asking me to eborate on my words.
“The doctor doesn’t seem to be worried about it and assures me that this isn’t life-threatening. At least I’m not gonna die! I have seen and heard worse things. Hahahaha.”
(“I will omit the constipation stuff… it’s still a puzzle yet to be solved. So far, no harm done and my bowels were empty evidently when I went for the endoscopy.”)
Siegfried chuckles a bit either to entertain my humour or it gets a ugh out of him that’s fine by me.
“Anyway, enough about me and my medical stuff. What about you? Anything going on?”
From his usual smirks and grins, Siegfried gave an excited smile including a short wiggle as he says…
“I managed to persuade my coach to py this game!” -Siegfried-
“OOHHOOOOOOOO!!!!”
I cp my hands multiple times in celebration, so he can join our Guild and start from there!
“So, I was wondering if I can invite him to our Guild.” -Siegfried-
Hearing that I replied…
“Of course! You don’t need to ask… I was just going to tell you that.”
A genuine smile was etched upon his face after receiving my answer.
As we finished our looting, a familiar notification noise pinged my ear and simultaneously a panel appeared before my eyes.
“Oh! Booba’s Online. Let’s invite her to the EXP grinding.”
“Sure.” -Siegfried-
Siegfried straightened his posture and gait as I sent out a reply to Booba’s question of ‘where we are’.
She replied with pouting emoticons after knowing we were in Starscorched Desert grinding EXPs. I assured her that we hadn’t gone that far yet since she came in right on time.
Pointing my left finger midair towards nothing, I then cast…
“Here she cometh! [Unbound Gate]”
With fir, I trace my index finger lowering it down as if trying to tear space apart. The game recognizes this and does the same while the cast bar is filling up.
Not a moment after, a slit opens in space revealing Booba’s figure as she came out from it. Teleported from distances away.
“Heya~ this is convenient!” -Booba-
She cheerfully waves towards us.
“Yup… well then! Shall we?”
She mirthfully smiles and Siegfried brandishes his signature jagged grin as we start the grind anew.
