Zenshu 0 Posted June 3, 2022 #1 Share Posted June 3, 2022 The previous evening had been one of true enjoyment for Zenshu. He’d spent a few extra col – nothing too outrageous – in order to enjoy a slightly fancier meal. It wasn’t much, and yet somehow it had made a world of a difference to him. He had spent some time considering that, thinking about how such a small difference in something as simple as a meal could change his demeanor so much. The morning sun had awoken him, and as he pulled himself out of the bed he had rented for the night, he considered the fact that for the first time since Sword Art Online had started, Zenshu was able to obtain a full night’s, comfortable rest. It was something he’d become unaccustomed to – although it hadn’t been that long since they’d become trapped in this world, it had been enough for Zenshu to forget some of the basics that he’d enjoyed in the real world. Namely, the comfort of a well-formed bed. Having spent his fair share the night before, Zenshu chose the path of frugality, deciding that he could handle a slightly lesser breakfast in order to save for a better lunch, or dinner later in the day. ‘Small comforts, when one works so hard. But it is sometimes the little things in the future, that one has to look forward to, that drives one onwards. Even something as simple as a nice lunch can make that morning of work that much easier.’ By the time he had left the inn behind, Zenshu was feeling far more confident in his decision. The breakfast itself had been basic, but enjoyable nonetheless. Especially more so with the knowledge that later on he would be treating himself to something more. As his feet carried him down the street, he found his mood only improving. He has just turned the first corner, when his ears caught the sound of angered voices. Curiosity overcoming him, he stopped, looking for the cause of the disturbance. Spotting two players a little ways up the street, the two apparently frustrated at the shop in front of them. Zenshu caught a few aggressive waves towards the shop front, before the two stormed towards Zenshu. As they passed, he caught a portion of their conversation, as they continued cursing about the lack of tailors available in the Town – and the game as a whole. As they disappeared from sight, Zenshu wandered over to the shop, glancing over the closed sign, and eyeing up the other stalls around him. It became quite apparent the few tailors that had resided here had closed their doors, no longer in business for whatever the applicable reason was. ----- Word Count: 445 ----- Spoiler Zenshu | Lv. 5 | HP: 100/100 | EN: 28/28 | DMG: 7 | MIT: 13 | Light Momentum [+1 BD] Tier 1 Equipped Items Ninjato [Tier 1; One-Handed Straight Sword; Uncommon] A simple black, single edged ninjato. Enhancement: Damage [1 Slot] | Effect: +(1 * Tier) base damage per slot. White Tunic [Tier 1; Cloth Armour; Uncommon] A simple white overcoat with blue and yellow embellishments. Enhancement: Light Momentum [1 Slot] | Effect: After an unsuccessful attack, gain +(1 per slot) to the BD until your next successful attack, at which point this bonus is removed. Another unsuccessful attack will reactivate this enhancement. Cannot be used to cause a critical hit. [For Area of Effect attacks: This effect only activates if you miss all enemies targeted by the attack.] Arrowhead Brooch [Tier 1 Trinket; Perfect] A golden arrow-head with a pin fastened to it. It's modern and minimalistic. Enhancement: Accuracy [3 Slots] | Effect: Gain +(1 per slot) to the BD when attacking. Cannot be used to cause a critical hit. Fox Head Necklace [Vanity] Battle-Ready Inventory Starter Healing Potions {5} | Heals 50 HP T1 Uncommon Health Potion {1} | HP Recovery I T1 Uncommon Damage Potion {1} | Damage I T1 Uncommon Overhealth Potions {1} | Overhealth I T1 Rare Health Potion | HP Recovery II Inventory Sword Arts [x8] ST-I (8 EN) | A single-target sword art. [x11] ST-II (11 EN) | A powerful single-target sword art. Only available for use when ST-I was used and successfully struck an enemy the previous turn or if ST-II had been used and had missed the previous turn. [x3] AOE-I (1 + 2 * targets EN) | AOE | A sword art that strikes multiple targets at once. [x4] TECH-A (5 EN) | STUN | A single-target sword art that stuns an enemy. Weapon Skills Straight Sword Rank 3 Passive Effect: +5 DMG Armour Skills Cloth Armour Rank 2 Passive Effect: +13 MIT Link to post Share on other sites
Zenshu 0 Posted June 3, 2022 Author #2 Share Posted June 3, 2022 His mind racing as he realised the opportunity that he had landed upon, Zenshu tried to remember reading about how to start a profession within the game. He knew that it was likely a quest – it was almost always a quest in games like this, which had you introduced to the profession itself. He was sure that at some point he’d seen something regarding just such a thing. Pulling up his menu, Zenshu combed through the help files, before switching over to his available quests. He spotted it almost immediately, blinking before him. Reading over the available options, he located the exact quest he was looking for, before hitting the notifications to start the quest. Smiling to himself as he made his way along the streets of the Town, Zenshu couldn’t believe his own luck. Had he been only a moment or two earlier or later, he might have entirely missed out on the fact that there was such a need in the game – something he found rather peculiar, all things considered. “Well, regardless of the reason, I can thank the ancestors for providing me this opportunity. I’ll have to make doubly sure to make this a success, now! But if there’s demand, and nothing to fill it – it must be easy money to some degree! Or col, rather…” His smile widened as he continued on his way. His day had only just begun, but it seemed to be taking all the right turns. ----- Word Count: 244 Link to post Share on other sites
Zenshu 0 Posted June 3, 2022 Author #3 Share Posted June 3, 2022 The quest’s starting location was a few blocks away, and by the time Zenshu reached it he’d already planned out his store’s future – at least, as far as what he would focus on selling. Stepping into the tailor’s shop, his planned ideas fell apart almost immediately. Before him were racks of numerous clothed materials, displays that reminded him of wedding shops found in the big cities, and everything other than what he had imagined. “Hello, and how may I help you?” A masculine voice called out to Zenshu as he rained frozen, processing what his eyes were seeing. A few moments of silence stretched as Zenshu considered his options. Turning, he bowed to the man – not quite registering that large frame and muscular build that seemed out of place in such a shop. “Good morning. I’m Zenshu, and I’m looking to become a Tailor. I was wondering if you offer any sort of apprenticeship program, or training…or anything, really, that would start me down the path of such a…lucrative…career…” His words fumbled at the end as he glanced around once more. He was having second thoughts about his choice, unsure if this was what he truly wanted to do. “And you’ve decided to seek guidance from the master? I can hardly blame you for that. Unfortunately, my fabric is all top-of-the-line, and hardly the quality for a novice to experiment with. Should you gather your own materials, I would be happy to help you.” The man’s large smile beamed back at Zenshu, as if waiting for a response. Nodding, Zenshu gave another bow before leaving – his mind still distracted from the conversation at hand. He hadn't been sure what exactly being a tailor in Aincrad had meant – and now that he had encountered what appeared to be a tailor’s shop, he was sure it wasn't what he had been imagining at first. ------ Word Count: 312 Link to post Share on other sites
Zenshu 0 Posted June 3, 2022 Author #4 Share Posted June 3, 2022 Having left the quest’s origins behind, Zenshu wandered through the Town of Beginnings for a time. He knew that eventually he’d have to make his way out into the fields beyond the wall in order to find the materials that were required to complete the quest, but for the moment he needed to walk in order to clear his mind. “Well, it’s certainly not creating wonderful and visibly pleasing pieces of fabric armour – or leather armour, for that matter…at least not based on what that shop had on display…but maybe I’m judging it too harshly? It’s fair to assume that in Aincrad people need clothing…and from the way that the information was written, it did seem like tailors were engaged in armour as well. Maybe it’s just that each shop specialises in one specific design style. That seems plausible.” His feet had carried him back to the shop that hard sparked this desire, and as he stopped before it, he realised that he could confirm his theory rather easily. Glancing through the window, Zenshu peered into the shop’s interior. Displays lining the wall carried numerous fabric, leather and cloth pieces – everything from fancy dresses, to common sweatpants and beyond. Along a distant side, he saw some pieces of leather – clearly in the shape of the armours that he had expected to find. Content, he moved on to the next shop, peering inside in order to try and complete his theory. It took him almost twenty minutes of searching to find each closed shop, peering through windows that were darkened and often times covered to keep prying eyes out. Eventually though, he was content with his decision. “It seems my final analysis was right…it’s not just fanciful dresses and bouquet styled suits. I guess those are inclusive, but there’s more to it. Which…well, if there’s a need, it’s my duty to fill – right?” His musing continued for a while, and lost in thought he found his feet carrying him to the front gates. Unconsciously waving to the guard on duty, Zenshu made his way back into the wilderness outside of the Town of Beginnings. Looking up from his internal dialogue, he found himself standing a few steps beyond the gates themselves. “Well, I’ve started down this path – it wouldn’t be good to back out now. I’m sure if I don’t like it, I can change it all later! For now, let’s complete the quest and see what being a tailor is all about!” ------ Word Count: 412 Link to post Share on other sites
Zenshu 0 Posted June 4, 2022 Author #5 Share Posted June 4, 2022 The open fields beyond the Town of Beginnings were much as Zenshu remembered them from the days previous – open, sprawling lands of flowing grasses that seemed to blow in a wind that appeared and disappeared at random throughout the day. He’d still not figured out exactly where the wind always originated from – seemingly somewhere out of sight, a point of origin beyond the players capabilities of locating. His marvel at the world – although soured by the realisation of the dangers it presented – was still wonderous. Even now, knowing that he could very well die, gone from the digital and real world all in one fell swoop, Zenshu found himself amazed at the realism of it all. He could understand the basics of the Cardinal system – enough that he was able to acknowledge the genius of it all, the strength and capabilities as well as its many downsides. Yet he still found himself surprised by numerous things in his travels, things that he figured he would only ever find in the real world itself. “It’s almost as if the blurred lines between digital and reality are slowly slipping away. Sure, there’s still stark realisation moments where one comes to terms with the fact that this in fact digital – not real, but a fake, created world. But sometimes, sometimes it’s easy to forget exactly where you are – immersion, in entirety.” Nodding in agreement with his own statement, he glanced about the fields. He knew that the boars presented the easy pickings for the materials that he required. For some reason though, he felt that it would be far more beneficial to take some time with the gathering – he’d failed in his last attempts, but perhaps today the system would find a blessing within itself to allow him success. “Besides, it’s good to branch out in numerous different skills. You need to practice a skill in order to get good at it, and I’m sure with continued practice I’ll only get better!” His confidence was radiated in his words, and the smile beaming on his face. Assured that he was making the right decision, he focused his gaze towards a collection of trees, heading in the direction before stopping suddenly. “Wait – does tailoring need specific materials?” He contemplated the possibilities, before shaking his head. He’d not been told to collect anything specific, and so he could only assume that materials were materials – likely universal in this world. Without any further guidance on it though, he’d simply have to trust in that fact and hope for the best possible outcome. Shrugging, he continued on towards the trees. He hoped he wasn’t wasting his time, but he was confident that the system would have warned him if there was a special requirement to complete the quest – and neither the NPC, nor the quest directions had specified anything. “Well, here’s hoping…” ----- Word Count: 475 Link to post Share on other sites
Zenshu 0 Posted June 4, 2022 Author #6 Share Posted June 4, 2022 The collection of trees was far smaller than he had anticipated – four of them branching together in twisting, twirling shapes that seemed weirdly like a bonsai that Zenshu remembered from his childhood. He’d spent a few minutes simply staring at the branches, eyes roaming over them in an attempt to decipher their paths and possible growth. Shaking his head, he’d reminded himself the system had generated them, and that they hadn’t naturally grown in any way whatsoever. “Yet another sign of being unable to decipher realism. Truly, this world is awe inspiring, were it not for the dangers constantly involved with it all. Or perhaps that is a danger in and of itself?” His brow furrowed for a moment, a frown coming across his face as he considered the concept. Suddenly breaking into a smile again, he mentally shrugged to himself. “Well, even if that were the case, knowing about it means that I can prepare for it. As much as possible, at least. A danger is still a danger, no matter how ready one is to face it.” Musings aside, Zenshu turned his attention to the task at hand. He knew that in order to find the materials he would need to perform some gathering – a task that he had attempted in the past. He’d had limited success with it previously though, and as he glanced around he began to wonder what exactly would entail success. “Well, this is a game. So I would assume that success is simply based upon statistics and generators…numbers, in essence. That means that there’s little I can do to predict it. So…just look around until I find something, I would assume.” His eyes cast over the ground as he spoke. Tall grasses seemed to sprout between the trees, and it was here that Zenshu’s attention was immediately drawn. Logically, he knew that this would be the best place for him to start his search – the most likely place to hide something of value. Crouching down, he began pulling the grasses apart to glance inside their hidden areas – careful not to destroy the plants. He doubted it would cause any actual harm to them – more than likely they’d simply reappear over time as the system restored what he destroyed. The thought of doing unnecessary damage went against his beliefs, however, and so he ensured that he was gentle in his search. ID209405 | LD: 3 | Gathering | Failure ------ Word Count: 397 Link to post Share on other sites
Zenshu 0 Posted June 4, 2022 Author #7 Share Posted June 4, 2022 The grasses proved to be far less revealing than Zenshu had hoped. Having failed in the task previously, he wasn’t nearly as disappointed as he had expected to be, however the lack of success did bring his otherwise happy demeanor crashing for a brief breath of time. Frown on his face, he shook his head to clear away the foul mood. “I can’t expect to be success on the very first attempt! It requires patience, and continued practice! Like any good skill, it requires continuous attempts, over and over again until I master the art! I just need to keep going, and eventually I’ll find the success that I’m looking for – and then I’ll look back on this moment and laugh about it. About how down stricken I was over such a silly little thing as failing at the start!” His pep talked seemed to clear away the foul mood, and as he glanced about again his normal grin had returned. His eyes were caught on the trees as he considered the next place to search. He figured that if anything, there was logic behind the system hiding the materials in such an obvious place – although, he hadn’t considered it at first. “I hadn’t thought to check in the trees, so perhaps it’s not as obvious as I give it credit for being. That being said, there’s only one way to find out if I’m right about this!” He strode forward, placing an arm into the tree and looked for any signs of openings, or crevasses on its exterior. The few that he found, he immediately jumped upon, looking inside when possible and shoving his arm in those few that he felt he could reach into. He continued throughout the four trees, looking, feeling and search each for anything that might help him towards the completion of the quest – and more importantly, the start of his new career. Excitement at the thought pushed him forwards, forcing him to try for that success that seemed within his reach now. ID209406 | LD: 8 | Gathering | Failure ------ Word Count: 338 Link to post Share on other sites
Zenshu 0 Posted June 4, 2022 Author #8 Share Posted June 4, 2022 Pulling his hand back, he found it once more empty. The trees had provided no materials, and Zenshu found himself no closer to the completion of the quest – or to his own profession. He huffed slightly at the trees, eyeing them up before shaking his entire body. “It’s not the trees fault that I failed here. They didn’t do anything, and they don’t have any ill will towards me. They’re trees, after all. If anything it’s just a sign that I need to keep trying – and maybe expand my search a little bit. I can’t expect the system to just hand me everything I need for success. I need to work for it!” He remembered his father explaining to him the importance of working hard. Good things only came from hard work, he’d been told. He’d taken it to heart – as did most others that he had met – going at his schooling and extracurriculars with a desire to be the absolute best. For a while, he’d even been close, making his way to national tournaments and leaving many of his fellow practitioners behind. His sensei had even commended him on his skills in the arts of kendo and kyudo. While he’d never been the best at aikido, he’d been told that he was well versed in the art – something that he’d felt pride at, even if he wasn’t the top student. “All of that came from hard work – which means that if I give up now, everything I’ve done previously is for naught. I need to keep pushing forward, keep fighting, that’s how we’ll succeed! More importantly, that’s how we’ll get out of here and back to the real world, one day.” He stopped in his search for a moment as he realised what he had said. For a while, he’d forgotten about that final goal – not just to survive here, but to eventually get home. To get to the real world. He’d promised himself that he’d fight so that everyone could one day escape what he had wished upon them. Instead of the normal sadness that he felt whenever the idea came up, he felt a sudden hope. He was actually doing something towards that goal – making it more possible. “One day…one day I’ll help us all escape. I’ll join the frontlines, I’ll help us fight to the one hundredth floor. Then we’ll all go home. One day…” ID209407 | LD: 15 | Gathering | Success [1/5 materials] --------- Word Count: 399 Link to post Share on other sites
Zenshu 0 Posted June 4, 2022 Author #9 Share Posted June 4, 2022 His efforts had suddenly been realised. As Zenshu pulled the shimmering piece from within the small hollow of the ground just below one of the trees, he felt that broad smile split his face again. He stared at the piece for a time, its shape simply a shining white light in his hand – indecipherable in shape and size. Blinking, he realised that he was still holding the piece – now visible that he’d broke out of his trance. Crystalline in shape, the piece was no bigger than his palm. Translucent, it seemed to shimmer with a soft white glow that radiated from around it – the source of the glow beyond Zenshu’s understanding. Excited at his find, he quickly stored it away in his inventory for safe keeping, before heading back to his search in earnest. “The first one is always the hardest. From here on out, it’ll get better. I’m sure it won’t be easy by any means, but I’ll keep searching and eventually I’ll have what I’m looking for! Once I do, I can head back to the tailor and learn how to craft them into clothing, and other designs.” Glancing at the area around him, he realised that he had scoured almost all of it. Knowing that he could only continue to search here for so long, he looked for another place in the fields to find what he needed. A little ways away he spotted a collection of bushes, growing tall against the grass around it – a perfect location for gathering things that anyone would wish to hide away from plain sight. He crossed the field, careful to avoid the roaming boars and wolves that seemed in abundance. His eyes lingered on a lone wolf as he passed by it – careful to stay out of its reach – considering taking his search to a more violent approach. Tempting as it was, he knew that it would be the easy way out – and that would diminish his success. Putting aside the temptations, if only for now, he returned to his gathering. He knew that there was an honour to be found in combat, and restoring to it simply because it was easier was not proper, and not something that he would do if he could avoid it. ID209409 | LD: 5 | Gathering | Failure [1/5 materials] ----- Word Count: 377 Link to post Share on other sites
Zenshu 0 Posted June 4, 2022 Author #10 Share Posted June 4, 2022 The bushes proved to be less bountiful than the trees had, and as Zenshu finished combing through their undergrowth he sat back with a sigh. He’d known that it wouldn’t be easy to find what he needed – in fact, he’d known it would likely be a challenge – but he certainly hadn’t expected it to be quite this difficult. “I’ll give this a little while longer, but if it seems like there’s going to be no success to be found in the gathering, then perhaps I’ll have no choice but to move to combat. I don’t want to keep the tailor waiting forever for me, after all. That would not be polite. For now though, there’s still lots of time, so there’s no need to rush to fighting if it can be helped.” He reasoned aloud with himself even as his hands returned to pushing the bushes aside in his search. He doubted that he’d find anything in a place he’d just searched, but it felt good to continue working as he argued with himself. It reminded him of all the effort he’d poured into his activities in the real world, and the success that had brought him, over time. None of it had come easily – he’d worked his body to the point of breaking many times, but it had paid off for him in the end. Thinking back to the days beyond the game, Zenshu found himself working mindlessly, pawing at the ground as he remembered the many tournaments and trials he’d attended. His favourite had always been the Yabusame practice. Feeling the mount beneath him as he steady his aim, having to trust that the beast would carry him towards his goal – a kinship shared between mount and rider that couldn’t quite be described well in words. He had been saddened to find out that there were no ranged weapons in Aincrad – he’d have much preferred to find a proper bow. Although he did enjoy his ninjato, he had always favoured the ranged competitions – the steadiness and strength it took to hold the draw, to aim, and to release – and to learn to do it all in lightning fast movements. He was aware of the skill that was required in close quarters combat, but at the same time he’d always felt drawn to the more distant skills, the ones that required extreme precision – and quick reactions, all the same. ID209410 | LD: 2 | Gathering | Failure [1/5 materials] ----- Word Count: 400 Link to post Share on other sites
Zenshu 0 Posted June 4, 2022 Author #11 Share Posted June 4, 2022 His gathering attempts had been less successful over the past few tries, and Zenshu once again turned his gaze towards the boars in the distance. He knew that it was the easy way out, and yet a part of him argued that sometimes success came at a cost. His arm, unconsciously, had begun to rise in order to call up the menu before he’d even fully noticed what he was doing. Forcing it back down, he shook his head. “I won’t give in to temptation that easily. Besides, it’s still early in the day! I might as well use that to my advantage, I’m sure the tailor won’t mind waiting a small while for me to finish collecting what I need. He was the one who sent me out here for it, anyways. He probably doesn’t expect me back for some time yet!” The collection of trees in the distance called to Zenshu again. He’d had success in the original area, and although he knew the chances were low – something in him called him back to the location. Deciding it couldn’t hurt to at least try, he gave up on the bushes he’d been searching in and began walking back towards his starting location. “One way or another, I’m going to find everything I need – even if it takes me all night to do it. I will succeed – and I won’t do it by taking the easy way out. I’ll work hard, because that’s the only way that I’m going to be proud of my success. That’s the only way that it’s worth succeeding.” ID209412 | LD: 11 | Gathering | Failure [1/5 materials] ------ Word Count: 264 Link to post Share on other sites
Zenshu 0 Posted June 4, 2022 Author #12 Share Posted June 4, 2022 His search was going about as well as he had expected, with no real success to be found in the small collection of trees he’d returned to. Sighing as he rose from his most recent position, he glanced around the fields again – looking for any other spot that might provide him with a successful gathering attempt. The roaming fields, the few bushes and groups of trees, all stood out against the horizon – yet, Zenshu wasn’t even sure where to begin. He was determined to make another attempt, but as he looked out over the horizon, he began to wonder if he wasn’t reaching into the land of insanity with his push for success. “Perhaps I should let fate decide this. I’ll make one more gathering attempt – and if it’s successful, well, then I continue with the gathering. Should I fail to find anything, then perhaps that’s a sign from the ancestors that it’s time to move on to other means of completing this quest. I have put a lot of effort into it already, which is to say that I wouldn’t be quitting, so much as moving on to another means of succeeding…” He had to acknowledge the logic to be found there, and even with his historic upbringing, advancements were required for continued success in life. Even his father had agreed with that much. Nodding to himself, concreting the idea in his mind, he left the collection of trees behind and moved across to another area of tall grass. He began pulling the grasses aside as he searched, wondering if he would have any success as he went. Even with the doubts in his mind, though, he put all of his effort into looking – should he fail, it would not be because he didn’t bother to try, but because he was not destined to succeed. He could accept that, and move on if that were the case. ID209413 | LD: 7 | Gathering | Failure [1/5 materials] ------- Word Count: 318 Link to post Share on other sites
Zenshu 0 Posted June 4, 2022 Author #13 Share Posted June 4, 2022 Nothing. Empty hands, Zenshu turned away from the grasses, his attempt made and his destiny decided. He sighed softly, a mixture of disappointment, excitement and contempt coursing through him as he realised that he would be turning to the violent methods after all. A soft smile split his face as he considered it, before he spoke his thoughts aloud. “The game is called Sword Art. One would theorise that it would entail fighting, and the use of the blade as it’s main theme…so it only seems logical that players would be pulled, or pushed, towards engaging in combat more often than one would expect – or perhaps, as much as one would expect.” He opened his inventory, selecting the ninjato and summoning it into his hand before making his way across the field. A pair of boars drew his attention, and Zenshu shifted his path towards them, wondering if he should strike at both, or wait for them to separate. He recalled his most recent conflict with the wolves, deciding relatively quickly that he would be better off splitting the pair and dealing with them individually – if only for his own safety. It only took a few moments before the pair split. Zenshu didn’t hesitate, leaping forward towards the single boar as it made its way away from its partner, his blade flipped in his hand as he moved in preparation to strike. Driving himself forwards, he tucked himself inwards, before rolling head first and popping up beside the boar. A quick swipe of his arm, and the blade was flashing forwards towards the boar’s side. Zenshu shifted his gaze slightly as he struck, ensuring he hadn’t accidentally called the second one to the conflict. ------ Zenshu | Lv. 5 | HP: 100/100 | EN: 20/28 | DMG: 7 | MIT: 13 | Light Momentum [+1 BD] Boar | HP: 4/60 | DMG: 20 Round One ID209414 | BD: 7 | <<ST-I vs. Boar>> | Hit: 7x8 = 56 DMG ID209414 | MOB: 4 | <<Boar vs. Zenshu>> | Miss ------ Word Count: 284 Link to post Share on other sites
Zenshu 0 Posted June 5, 2022 Author #14 Share Posted June 5, 2022 His blade drove across the flank of the boar, tearing a line of shimmering, rainbow colours to mark his strike. Zenshu carried on past the creature, taking a few steps before swinging himself around, using the momentum to face his opponent again. The boar had continued onwards, taking the wide turn it required in order to return to the conflict. Zenshu waited, biding his patient. Lowering his centre, he balanced himself in preparation. He knew that the boar would eventually make its way back towards him – gaining speed as it went, and providing him with the ability to react quickly to its headlong charge. He was far more agile than the creature was, giving him an edge in this conflict. “Come on, right into the final strike, the killing blow.” His voice was flat of emotion as he waited, no sign of enjoyment on his expression as he focused his entire willing into the conflict. “One final strike, and it will all be over…at least, for you.” The boar’s rush brought it directly towards Zenshu. At the very last second, he slid sideways, swinging his blade upwards and towards the creature in a hope of catching it along the neck. His eyes half-closed as he moved, the muscle memory taking over as he gave the single, basic swipe at the beast. ------ Zenshu | Lv. 5 | HP: 100/100 | EN: 13/28 | DMG: 7 | MIT: 13 | Light Momentum [+1 BD] Boar | HP: 0/60 | DMG: 20 Round Two ID209415 | BD: 9 | <<ST-I vs. Boar>> | Hit: (7+1)x8 = 64 DMG ID209416 | LD: 14 | CD: 5 | Looting Boar 300 col (180 + 120) 2 materials T1 Rare Weapon (1), Uncommon Consumable (1) ------ Word Count: 221 Link to post Share on other sites
Zenshu 0 Posted June 5, 2022 Author #15 Share Posted June 5, 2022 With a flash, the boar exploded into numerous different shards, signifying the end of the combat. Zenshu quickly checked the rewards for the fight, seeing that he was only two materials short of completion now. “Certainly can’t argue the fact that this is faster…that being said, there must be some sort of benefit to gathering materials. I just haven’t found it yet! But, maybe one day I’ll focus on the skill and find out exactly what good can be obtained with it. It’s not as if I won’t have the chance…” His words drifted off as he realised what he had been about to say. He was aware that it would take some time to complete the hundred floors – although good progress had already been made by the frontliners. Still, somehow he felt that saying it aloud would make it all the worse. Shaking off the odd feeling, he instead turned back to the problem at hand – specifically, the other boar. “Looks like you and I get to have it out, after all. I still need two more materials – so hopefully you can provide those to me. Once I get those, then I’ll be out of your area. Well, not your area, I guess, but whomever comes along after you…” He gave a wave of his sword, a pseudo bow, before making his rush towards the boar. He knew that he was quickly running out of the energy required to use his sword skills, but he figured a well placed strike, followed by a more basic attack could end this quickly as well. He was unlikely to get the hard hits that he required in order to quickly end the fight in one single strike – though it was possible, simply unlikely. ------ Zenshu | Lv. 5 | HP: 100/100 | EN: 12/28 | DMG: 7 | MIT: 13 | Light Momentum [+1 BD] Boar | HP: 60/60 | DMG: 20 Round One ID209417 | BD: 4 | <<ST-I vs. Boar>> | Miss [-2 EN; Light Momentum] ID209417 | MOB: 2 | <<Boar vs. Zenshu>> | Miss ------ Word Count: 291 Link to post Share on other sites
Zenshu 0 Posted June 5, 2022 Author #16 Share Posted June 5, 2022 He’d hoped to catch it in the first strike – to use his element of surprise in order to obtain the very first hit and make the fight much easier. That hadn’t happened, of course. Instead, he’d rushed forward and managed to slide right on past the giant beast as it hopped to the side in a display of agility that he hadn’t expected. Catching himself, he spun on the spot and flashed back around, striking out with a collection of swipes of his arm and blade. He didn’t expect to land a strike on the creature with his wild movements, simply trying to drive it backwards to give him some space to collect himself. “Seems like you’re going to be harder to deal with than your predecessor. That’s fine, it wouldn’t be right for this to be too easy. I accept your challenge, and look forward to your eventual defeat at my blade. I do honour your choice to stand against me, however, and put up such a valiant fight.” He dipped underneath a weak thrusted tusk, passing off to the side and returning a failed slash of his own. He had to admit this creature seemed far more lively in many ways than the other, as if there was something different about it. A quick glance at the displayed information for the creature showed no obvious differences – albeit, there wasn’t much displayed to prompt any sort of immediate acknowledgement. “Perhaps you’re just more aware. Which is fine, I’m sure I’ll come out victorious either way. You’re just going to make me work for it. Earn it. I cannot fault you for that, for no one wants to die – not even a simple boar like yourself.” Zenshu rolled off to the side again, moving around the boar in an attempt to find an opening to strike at. His blade tailed him, the soft glow of the pending sword art leaving a minimal trail on the air. ------- Zenshu | Lv. 5 | HP: 79/100 | EN: 11/28 | DMG: 7 | MIT: 13 | Light Momentum [+1 BD] Boar | HP: 60/60 | DMG: 20 Round Two ID209418 | BD: 1+1=2 | <<ST-I vs. Boar>> | Miss [-2 EN; Light Momentum] ID209418 | MOB: 9 | <<Boar vs. Zenshu>> | Minor Critical Hit: 20+1 = 21 DMG -------- Word Count: 326 Link to post Share on other sites
Zenshu 0 Posted June 5, 2022 Author #17 Share Posted June 5, 2022 His attempt to find an opening was met with an error on his own part. As he moved around his target, trying to force the boar into a more advantageous position, Zenshu forgot one major detail – his target could decide its own path forward. Something it took no hesitation in doing. Zenshu was thrown backwards as the boar slammed into him, the hit strike nearly a quarter of his health bar away, the single hit combining the sheer strength of the boar into its rush. Breath knocked out of him for a moment, Zenshu struggled to roll to his feet, moving far slower than he would have liked – saved only by the fact that the maladroit boar was forced beyond him and into a wide turn to make its way back. “I did say I didn’t want the easy way. I guess you’re just going to make sure that you live up to the challenge. Just don’t go too hard on me, okay? I’m sure we can come to an agreement on this, after all. It’s not like you’ll die, die. Just returned to the code and rebirthed somewhere else.” Zenshu’s words were pouring out, and although it seemed as though he was speaking mindlessly, the entire time he was sizing up his opponent – looking for the opening that he needed. Spotting it, he moved across the open field towards the boar. Dipping low to the ground, he rolled gently towards the left flank, pulling his blade back and lashing outwards with it as he neared his target. ------ Zenshu | Lv. 5 | HP: 79/100 | EN: 4/28 | DMG: 7 | MIT: 13 | Light Momentum [+1 BD] Boar | HP: 0/60 | DMG: 20 Round Three ID209419 | BD: 10+1=11 | <<ST-I vs. Boar>> | Major Critical Hit: (7+2)x8 = 72 DMG | Boar is defeated. ID209420 | LD: 13 | CD: 11 | Looting Boar | 300 (180+120) col, 4 materials, T1 Rare Armour/Shield (1) -------- Word Count: 258 Link to post Share on other sites
Zenshu 0 Posted June 5, 2022 Author #18 Share Posted June 5, 2022 The boar finally defeated, Zenshu sighed. He was more than content with his success – and he now had all the materials he required in order to complete the quest. Sheathing the ninjato and letting it disappear from sight, Zenshu turned back towards the Town of Beginnings. He was more than ready to leave the fields behind for the day – he’d had his fill of gathering and fighting. Not to mention he was acutely aware that the tailor was still waiting his return, and the last thing Zenshu wished to do was keeping the NPC waiting longer than need be. “It would be extremely rude. I’ve taken far longer than I originally expected to, as it is. I doubt that the NPC’s here are aware or concerned about how long it takes – they are just here for one single purpose, generally – but it’s no good to let bad habits like tardiness grow and take route.” Zenshu spoke aloud as he made his way back, mostly to keep his own ears company against the otherwise quiet setting. He smiled and waved at the few actual players he passed on the way – some of them returning the gesture, but many others continuing on as if they didn’t notice his presence at all. It was something he’d slowly grown used to in this game; until you knew someone, you tended not to trust them at all – you never knew where dangers laid. ------ Word Count: 238 Link to post Share on other sites
Zenshu 0 Posted June 5, 2022 Author #19 Share Posted June 5, 2022 The shop itself was much as Zenshu had left it. The tailor – still tending to the orders that he appeared to have accumulated, likely trying to meet the market demand in Aincrad – smiled as Zenshu made his way into the area proper. Packing aside what he had been working on, the NPC made his way over to Zenshu, smiling broadly. “Ah! So you’re back! Did you find everything you needed?” Zenshu nodded, bringing out the materials and displaying them to the NPC. “Excellent! We can get right to work then! Here, take the thread of the material, and follow me.” Zenshu watched in amazement as the materials in his hands seemed to shimmer and shift, changing from the crystal-like essence before his eyes, into shimmering, colourful threads of various colours. He spent a few moments looking over the newly shaped materials, careful not to unwind the thread. A cough and smirk from the tailor called Zenshu’s attention back, away from what he had been focusing on. Mumbling an apology, he made his way over to the tailor, watching as the man explained some basic patterns. For a time, Zenshu was tasked with simply repeating the threading patterns, before the tailor eventually set him loose to make his own creations – giving Zenshu a stern look as he told him his work would be judged. Not one to turn away from the challenge, Zenshu considered what he wanted for his first piece. He knew it would need to be something that he himself would wear, and therefore something that would prove beneficial to him. He glanced over the shop’s merchandise, before looking down at his own clothing. He was partial to his tunic, however the shirt and pants were nothing special – something that he could easily do away with, if he was being honest with himself. His decision made, he picked up the newly acquired needle and thread, before setting to work on his piece. ID209421 | CD: 10 | Crafting T-Shirt | Uncommon [1 Slot] ------ Word Count: 323 Link to post Share on other sites
Zenshu 0 Posted June 5, 2022 Author #20 Share Posted June 5, 2022 As his piece came to conclusion, Zenshu couldn’t help but smile at his success. Sure, he could spot some of the flaws in the threading, and it wasn’t the perfect shade of royal blue that he had been intending to create. Overall though, he was sure that he would be able to wear it without any hesitation, which was all that mattered for his first piece. A soft chuckle from behind him caught his attention, and he turned to find Richard, the tailor, standing behind him – eyeing the piece. “Promising work. Keep practicing and you may just be as good as me one day!” Zenshu took the praise with a beaming smile, content to accept the compliment even if it was minimal in sincerity or originality. In truth, he was far more amazed at his success – even knowing that the system assisted in his work, and that the crafting mechanics allowed him to be far more efficient at this than if he had attempted it in the real world, Zenshu was amazed with the quality of work that he had accomplished. “It will only get better with more work, too! If I keep practicing, then one day I’ll be able to make masterful pieces. I’m sure there will be a large profit to be had from that. Especially with the lack of other tailors throughout Aincrad, people will be lining the streets to buy my stock!” He smiled eagerly as he thought about the success he would have in the future. He knew that the return would be worth all the effort he put into the newfound skill. Realising he hadn’t done so yet, he put aside the t-shirt that he had just finished crafting, before making his way across the shop to Richard. Bowing deeply, Zenshu gave his thanks, hoping that the sincerity in his voice at least outshone that of the NPC. “Thank you, very much. For all your help and guidance in teaching me how to become a tailor. I promise you that one day I will outshine you, and create pieces that are truly wonderful – pieces that people will want to wear and display to others! Of course, I’ll tell them all who it was that I learnt from, should any want to come see the masterful pieces that you have here!” The NPC smiled at Zenshu, but remained silent. The quest now complete, there was little for the NPC to say or do aside from basic interactions, and Zenshu took it as a sign that his time here was over. Giving a final bow, he made his way out of the shop and into the street – knowing from the completion dialogue box that he now needed to go looking for a shop to open for himself. He considered where he would look, before realising that he had the world before him. “I’m sure I can move it later, if I decide that it’s not working out. Shops move all the time! Just need to find that perfect little place, and see if it works out. I guess I’m going to get a crash course in business management at the same time here.” ----- Word Count: 527 Thread Summary Word Count: 6,849 EXP: 6,849 / 10 * 1 * 1 = 684 + 300 [Quest] = 984 EXP 1,000 col (300+300+400) 5 materials Standard Tailor Shop Uncommon T-Shirt [Royal Blue Shirt] Link to post Share on other sites
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