[SP-F1] Assassination Training (Complete)

[Zerva 0]

Zerva was very much aware of the fact that he was building himself up to be a stealth based player, and that untrained this would put him at a disadvantage each time he entered combat. He didn't particularly desire to become a murder, so he decided to hunt the next best thing he could think of. The floor's local kobolds! They were roughly human in shape, so he figured they would make for great training dummies. To this end he had taken towards the first floor's dungeon with his <> skill ready and activated.

[Zerva 0]

Once in the dungeon he also activated his <> skill, eyes towards the ground and the horizon to try and find his mark. Each footstep took him closer to his goal until he started seeing footprints on the ground with the help of his skill. Following them he found a lone kobold, alone and away from the rest of it's companions. Doubting a better opportunity would arise he glanced around to ensure none were hiding away as he moved towards the unknowing kobold.

[Zerva 0]

With his dagger drawn and at the ready he moved to the patrolling beastman's back, carefully aiming the dagger for a clean cut to his enemy. After taking a calming but silent breath he slashes forward, putting his stealth to his advantage to catch his enemy unaware, and to land the first blow of the battle! He grit his teeth in frustration when a rock crunched under his foot, making the kobold turn around in alertness, the movement unwittingly putting the monsters out of reach of his strike! He quickly took full advantage of his <> skill to leap backwards away from the angered AI with his dagger still at the ready. Thankfully his natural instinct to dodge placed the kobold's counter as a miss as well, but not it seemed he needed to fight properly, something he had hoped to avoid.

Zerva 8/8

Kobold 4/4

[Zerva 0]

While he cursed his luck, constantly against him save for a brief period in his life, he knew he had to fight this creature. The thing he could take most comfort in was that at the very least it had no backup. He calculated the conditions of the fight mentally and came to the conclusion he could win, so long as his skill outclassed his bad luck. With his mental dialogue over he <> at the lucky kobold, his dagger held in a backhanded stance as he aims for the NPC's heart, regardless of if it truly had vital organs. Unfortunately his blade was met with the shield of the kobold, who seemed to be following some strange panicked AI setting where it slammed it's shield in front of itself and huddled behind it, rending all attacks pointless from the front. In frustration Zerva made another swipe at the shield before taking two steps back, holding his stance in wait for the kobold to change it's attitude

Zerva 8/8

Kobold 4/4

[Zerva 0]

As Zerva stepped back the kobold lifted it's shield, and with its strangely shaped club began to flail around wildly and unpredictably, making him have to duck and dodge to avoid contact until he could see an opening. Untrained opponents were in a way the worst kind, because of how ununiform their methods were. Finally, when it looked like the kobold was taking a breather from its mad attacks, Zerva jabbed his dagger forward in a stabbing motion towards the seemingly resting creature. Unfortunately Zerva overlooked one detail, that it was swinging its club upward at the same moment he had planned to strike, and of the two, the kobold had the longer reach. This caused him to get clubbed by the creature, even if by accident, and pushed back by the impact. Zerva shook his head in frustration and to try and focus as he grew to dislike this creature more and more by the exchange.

Zerva 7/8

Kobold 4/4

[Zerva 0]

Sensing his own anger he made a momentary retreat, walking backwards away from the kobold while gathering his wits and his breath. He refused to do battle with his anger, he needed to be calm about this or the day would come he would pick his emotions over rationally avoiding something stronger than him. When he felt he was in his happy place he readied for another attack, but not before the AI had chased after him and slammed its club into the ground beneath him. Deciding to reenact so many shows and movies, he moves to balance atop the club before slashing his blade towards the kobold. The kobold was stronger than he thought though and managed to heave it's club even with the extra weight, sending Zerva up into the air with a gasp, bracing himself for the landing as he hit the ground a fair distance away from the still charging kobold "Damnit!" He exclaims while giving the virtual ground and indignant stomp as if it would somehow be felt by Akihiko and his RNGs.

Zerva 7/8

Kobold 4/4

[Zerva 0]

Seeing as any attempts to remain calm had done nothing but fail him, he just gave an angered growl while charging the AI that had been giving him an embarrassing display. The thing Zerva was most thankful for was that he was alone. He clenches his fist around his dagger and starts slicing and cutting in the kobold's direction, trying to see if he could out combo the NPC or if it just happened to be the one kobold with the AI of the gods. Of course, once again, the kobold dodged and parried each of his strikes as if it had been trained in combat thousands of times. With his increasing frustration Zerva just gives a reluctant sigh and turns, deciding to quit the field and find a different kobold to deal with. This one was -not- worth the effort. He had turned on the spot and ran from the mob until he left its patrol range, rapidly trying to reactivate his hiding skill until it finally did and he found a nice little spot to sit, and relax while he curses the game.

[Zerva 0]

He took a looooong breather in his little shaded corner while stealthed. When he felt calm and relaxed, he decided to try again. He stands up and looks around for his next mark. He held his dagger at the ready while walking along until he found another lone kobold with the help of his various sensory skills. When he finally reached the kobold he slashed at it from behind, hoping he had better luck this time around! He smiled in triumph as this time he manages to catch the kobold off its guard. The dagger cut across the AI's spine allowing him a chance to back away and prepare for another attack while the kobold responded.

Zerva 7/8

Kobold 3/4

[Zerva 0]

He tried not to dwell on his lone successful hit. It would take more than just that to end the creature, so he had to keep the blows coming! He lunges at the kobold while keeping his eyes locked on its weapon, wanting to try and avoid any further damage to his avatar as he attempts to keep his combo going! Unfortunately his eyes were looking the wrong way, as he felt himself getting bashed by the kobold's shield, making him gasp in surprise as he steps back to realign himself mentally and physically from the blow.

Zerva 6/8

Kobold 3/4

[Zerva 0]

Convincing himself that one screw up wasn't enough to dissuade him he lunges towards the kobold once again, trying to change the way he moved to keep its learning factor from catching up too much. The last thing he wanted was to be overly predictable in any battle, simulated or otherwise! Thankfully his strategy was proving more effective, his dagger slicing along the kobold's cheek when he stabbed, damaging it further and leaving him with a sense of happiness at his gradually improving karma or luck or what have you.

Zerva 6/8

Kobold 2/4

[Zerva 0]

He didn't want to lose his tempo so he swiftly sliced with his dagger once again, grinning mischievously to himself. While he was not entirely confident in his luck coming back, there was a chance the next hit he lands could kill the kobold, which to him would be cause for celebration in his mind, regardless of how much it might not matter to anyone else! Unfortunately he was being given another turn to try and land that final blow, having to back away to avoid the incoming attack from the kobold who he was backstepping from, grumbling a bit but in far brighter spirits than he had been before.

Zerva 6/8

Kobold 2/4

[Zerva 0]

After a moment of hesitation and thought, his eyes tracking the kobold's movements the entire time, he begins to dash at his mark once again, dagger lifted on level with the creature's throat as he once more closes the gap between them, eagerness to see the creature finished showing in his eyes. However the kobold had lifted it's shield to interrupt, forcing him to retreat back until it relowered its guard for another opening.

[Zerva 0]

The moment the shield was lowered so the kobold could peak over the top, he charged the NPC down, dagger arm forward and aimed for the NPC's weapon supporting shoulder, eager to see if bodily damage affected NPC, and by extension any other threats he would encounter. He would need to find out another time, though, as the kobold had little intention of letting him find out, its club swinging to meet him part way there and shaving off another one of his hitpoints.

Zerva 5/8

Kobold 2/4

[Zerva 0]

He took a breath as he watched the damage indicating pixels disappear from his body, now that he was a bit calmer he figured that it was going to take more than a regular blow to REALLY incapacitate an enemy. He would need to do a particularly hard one to achieve such a result. With that in mind he moved in to strike once again, wanting to prove to himself he was ready to compete in the death game. As if to answer his desires his blade struck true, more than he would have expected across the throat of the cursed kobold, severing one side to the other and making the creature shatter apart in a reverse rain of pixels!

Zerva 5/8 WINNER

Kobold DEAD

No Loot

[Zerva 0]

Zerva watched as experience points filled him and granted him a level, making him just a bit stronger than he was before! With some success under his belt he was feeling fairly content, looking at the higher numbers on his stats. He figured he had some time to spare so instead of returning to the inn to rest or hunting another kobold, he decided to try his skills in a more practical setting. Again, not planning to shank anyone, but learn ways he might surprise others. He starts by leaving the dungeon with his hide skill up as usual, happily avoiding mob patrols and heading straight towards town. He decided to risk seeing what all the fuss was about and took the nearest teleporter straight up to the eighth floor!

[Zerva 0]

Once he had appeared out onto the currently highest floor, he grins as he looks around eagerly. He figured the floor would be full of stronger players seeing how the floor had only recently been unlocked. What better way was there for him to train himself? Atop all that, he could easily use the environment to his advantage, using what little training he had in acrobatics. He looks downward towards the ground with his hide skill up to grant him some level of stealth, a grin crossing his lips as he leapt from the side of the humongous tree the town was settled on and into the branches of neighboring trees, happily staring down at his 'mark' which was a player in heavy armor with a mace. He doubted the player could have seen him even if he wasn't hidden, the trees giving him some natural camouflage as he watched the player explore the new floor.

[Zerva 0]

He grinned down while watching the player explore the world, jumping from one tree to the next, careful not to slip and fall while he tailed behind him, watching his movements and looking around to see if anyone else had adopted his method of getting around. As a bit of a game, he silently pointed out every point the player left himself wide open to ambush. It seemed that a lot of players were not too worried about the constant threat of attack when outside of town. It wasn't exactly unwarranted, but it was still unusual to him, given that one screw up is all it takes to end your life forever in this world.

[Zerva 0]

Soon minutes turned to an hour and his boredom was getting ahead of him. It was starting to seem like the player was just going to wander aimlessly without any real action for him to watch. With this in mind he glanced around, spotting something off in the distance. He starts going from tree to tree once again, towards what seemed like an opening at the foot of a tree. Afterward he starts climbing down the tree, planting his feet on the ground once again and peering into the hole to see if there was anything inside for him to see.

[Zerva 0]

As Zerva peered into the hole he couldn't help but squint, soon remembering he had night vision and switching it on. Suddenly he gasps and falls back to the side of the cave just as a large scythe-shaped leg jabs out from the hole, and then another nonchalantly steps out followed by six more legs which were thankfully normal, unlike the front two. In front of him now stood a large fur covered spider twice his size! Zerva felt himself scrambling back as the creature made a strange screeching roar towards him. He glanced up and gulped, suddenly remembering his own low level as the monster's HP was undefinable to him! He suddenly felt like it was a mistake to come to the eighth floor so soon.

[Zerva 0]

Feeling death resting his hand onto Zerva's shoulder her scrambles up onto his feet, turning to flee only to be met with a swipe from the creature using one of its long scythe-like arms, sending the lightweight player through the air and into a somewhat far away tree. It wasn't until he slipped trying to get back up he noticed, his right arm had been severed. There was no blood, but he could faintly hear the limb shattering into pixels. He needed to leave, NOW! He quickly moved behind the tree which he had collided with, whimpering when he heard a loud thud, assuming the spider had made a leap at him. He ran as fast as his sprint skill could carry him. He was certain he had his hiding up, how did the spider see him? Was it the fact it had eight eyes? He had no time to think about it, moving to keep his back protected by a large tree as often as possible while he fled.

Zerva 4/11

Unknown Arachnid ?/?