Conflict of Culture

Conflict of Culture - Chapter One Scene Eight

After Fyle touched ‘Yes’ on the THI, the letter turned into a map. Its legend indicated terrain and distance. The terrain was 90% forest and made the map look like a green blob. However, there were some trails and streams indicated.

There was a black dot and a red X about two kilometers apart - both were blinking. He guessed the map location was the black dot and the red X the location the goblok was sent to scout. To test the theory, he got up and went for a stroll. But, since the scale was set to a large area, nothing changed. So, like with the personal devices (PDs) used in real life, he tried expanding and contracting the map with his fingers. The map zoomed in and out. It had a minimum range of ten meters and a maximum range of 50 kilometers and wouldn’t expand beyond the forest.

The letter indicated humans might be found at the red X. Fyle wanted to find out. He needed help. He’d survived a few hours in the game so far, but wasn’t convinced of his chances to last a full day, much less the two week training period…especially considering his inability to collect experience and subsequently level up. He angled towards the X.

Before losing sight of the deer, he held his finger to the map at its approximate location (after a sufficient zoom level was achieved). A menu popped up on the map.

-MP cost: 1/hour-

-Do you want to bookmark this location?-

-Yes-

-No-

Fyle pressed ‘Yes’. A yellow dot appeared on the map.

While using the map at its highest magnification, he barely had to take his eyes off it as he angled towards the red X - the map was that detailed (at least with respect to terrain). Subsequently, he didn’t realize what was going on around him until it was almost too late.

He’d felt a chill run down his spine. It made him stop and take stock of his situation. He’d crossed into a small clearing, maybe five meters across and not particularly symmetrical. The dense weeds had grown sparse and the ground was rocky. Like a bald spot in nature, he was surrounded by trees. But, rather than lice, the trees were infested with ravens.

Oh Shit, I guess I know where that other guy went. Fyle activated both Observe and Identify.

Ding! Ding!

 -You have successfully used Identify in conjunction with Observe!-

-Identify proficiency increased +10%-

-Observe proficiency increased +10%-

-Level 0 (50%)-

-Level 0 (70%)-

-By using both Identify and Observe at the same time on the same target, your mastery of these proficiencies have increased.-

 -You have successfully identified and observed Raven Flock!-

-Monster Type - Uncommon, Swarm, Mini-boss-

-Level 10 (100 - 200 HP)-

-Raven Flock is a type of mini-boss monster found in low-level forests. Raven Flock is made up of 50 - 100 Raven. Raven are weak individually. Raven Flock has been known to overwhelm low-level adventurer parties.-

-Raven Flock is made up of 100 Raven. To defeat Raven Flock, all Raven must be defeated. Raven Flock does not retreat.-

-In order to attract the attention of Raven Flock, it is necessary to have pissed off Raven Leader. The greater the malevolence felt by Raven Leader, the greater the numbers of Raven in Raven Flock.-

Even among the mass of chaotic movement that was the raven flock, Fyle was able to pick out the leader, now dubbed RavenX. They’d spent enough time staring each other down that Fyle felt he’d never forget its face. Besides, it was the only one standing completely still. It managed to give Fyle the impression that it detested him with all of its being. The smugness externalized in its eyes was palpable, as if saying, ‘Who’s talking shit now?’

Fyle knew he was done for. There was no way he could take on 100 Raven, not even if he’d been a few levels higher…unless he had a flame thrower or similar wide-area magic to work with. He could try running for the red X location shown on his map, but with the ravens numbers and speed advantage, he knew they’d take him down easily enough - he only had eight HP. He figured he’d be lucky to make it fifty meters; he had five times that to go.

He didn’t know what they were waiting for. Maybe they wanted to taunt him as bad as he’d been taunting them. Maybe they were waiting for some sort of signal. Or, quite possibly, given the way the leader looked at him, it was trying to defeat his spirit first. Demoralize then destroy - standard military tactics.

The pageantry was unnecessary, though. Fyle knew it was hopeless. Still, he was determined to go out with a bang. And, while the leader stayed more than 20 meters back, few of the foot soldiers had taken that precaution.

As he put the map away, he pulled out his second bow and one Raven meat. The first thing he did was bite a big, bloody raw chunk out of the meat. The second thing he did was toss the remains high into the air and then shoot arrows indiscriminately into the swarm with his first bow - the swarm was so thick that it was almost impossible to miss. The third thing he did was double-wield his bows as clubs and bash wildly at the swarming birds as they rushed him in response.

As far as PCs go, he wasn’t that strong, but his strength was fairly massive when compared with real life people. He estimated he’d be able to bench at least 160 kg. In overall game terms, this wasn’t anything to brag about. However, when it came to bird bashing, he was a whirling dervish of death.

Inevitably, the sheer numbers overwhelmed him.

Ding!

 -Danger! Your HP have fallen below 10%!-

Fyle’s world went black. Ah, the familiar darkness.

 Ding!

Here it comes. The message telling me I’ve died. Will I even know I’ve been kicked out of the game? These were the type of thoughts going through Fyle’s mind. After all that work my sister did, this was the extent of my will. I…I hope I don’t wake up. I hope I won’t have to face her with my failure.