[quest completed] "purchase an item"
[exp earned] 15
[exp until level 3] 5
Great, now all I need to do is take out a monster, and I'll be at level three.
Suddenly, I get a notification.
[New feature unlocked] Inventory.
[New item acquired] Level 2 "starter sword"
[New item acquired] Level 2 "starter helm"
Inventory?
Like a backpack or something?
My hands search my back but find nothing.
That's strange…
Maybe it's a thing on the menu.
I imagine a new page opening, and it does.
I see several empty slots and two full slots with a sword and a helmet with the words "starter helm" and "starter sword" below their respective slots, all under the word "items."
And a full slot under the word "skills" that has a fist in it and the words "level 2 punch" below it.
All of a sudden, my sword and helm disappear.
I frantically look around for pickpockets, but I don't see any shady figures.
I look back at the inventory page and tap the "starter sword" slot.
Out of nowhere, the sword I bought appears in my hands again.
"This will be very useful…"
I mutter, thinking of the things I could do with this.
But I snap out of it.
Enough stalling; it's time to hunt down my first monster.
***
I've been traveling in the forest for thirty minutes now.
Still, I've found nothing.
The view is familiar, though. The trees are so green they remind me of… the plains…
No.
I shouldn't think about that right now.
It will only slow me down.
Suddenly, I get hit in the back and sent flying into a tree.
"Argh! What's going on?"
I feel a sharp pain in my back and a warm liquid trickling down it.
Blood.
I turn around to see a large dog-like creature growling at me.
My menu opens and gives me a description of the beast.
[monster name] dire wolf
[level] 2
[element] earth
[elemental weakness] water
[health level] 100/100
[energy level] 100/100
This thing is just as strong as me… I should be able to beat it.
"Argh!"
The pain in my back intensifies as blood pools around me.
[CAUTION] Your health level is 50/100.
I'm losing blood… Am I going to die?
No… I'm not going down without a fight.
I have a mission to save my family.
And not to mention, a guy just died for me yesterday.
I can't let that be in vain.
"You think you can kill me, mutt? Come here and do it!"
I painfully stand up and open my inventory.
My sword and helm appear.
I feel blood trickling down my legs.
My vision is getting blurry.
I don't have much time until I pass out.
I just need to kill this thing before then.
I charge at it.
Raising my sword and preparing to strike.
Woosh!
The dire wolf goes limp.
Its growling is dying down.
I almost feel bad for the little guy.
Almost.
[monster slain] level 2 "dire wolf"
[exp gained] 5
[items gained] none
[level up] level 3
[total exp] 40
[exp until level 4] 40
[New skill unlocked] Level 3 "sword slash"
Sword slash?
I could already swing my sword perfectly before… obviously.
Maybe it just makes my sword stronger.
Enough about that, though….
"I need to get back home."
I start walking towards the village, but I feel more sluggish with each step.
"I need to… need to… get home… get… geh… uh…"
I start using all the strength I have left to try and move forward.
Come on!
Move!
I can't die here!
My vision gets blurrier and blurrier until it goes completely black.