[SP-F2] Exploring the 2nd Floor

[Reusririasuir 0]

Reusririasuir emerged from the first floor dungeon, and found himself standing on a cliff-edge, a very narrow cliff edge. Oh geez, falling here would be death and a half! As he tiptoed his way along the narrow path, he looked out over the floor. A town lay roughly a kilometer to his south, Reu's map read, 'Urbus'. Beyond Urbus and roughly three kilometers to the southeast lay Marome, a town according to the guide published by the front-line teams as 'boring and insignificant, and containing no significant quests'. The area to the west of Urbus was field-like, and inhabited by stronger ox-like monsters, and continuing west, you'd find a wasteland, the higher players had marked this as extremely dangerous and best avoided. South, farther south then Marome, was Taran Village, the raid base for the floor and a place where everything except for the furniture was made of stone. Reu cast his eyes south and east of Urbus; that looks like the place for some good hunting. I can't call myself an adventurer if I just stick to the main towns and let the assault team clear everything out. I just need to get a bit stronger so I can continue soloing near the front-lines, and then I can start to beat out the assault team while they take their time reaching decisions and playing politics among themselves.

 

Reu readied his sword, and continued along the cliff edge, moving towards a set of circular stairs which would lead him down from the cliff, and onto the field. Before he could reach them however, a large Red Spotted Beetle flew in front of him, and turned around making an aerial assault.

 

Reu easily ducked the attack, and swung his sword in a counter-strike. Landing a major blow, Reu ripped it across its side. His sword, Ragnarok Enduring, dripped with a bright green goo and the strike cast it along the mountain wall.

 

Reu 11 / 11

Red Spotted Beetle 7 / 9 (-2)

 

11961, BD 8 MD 3 - 2 evasion = MD 1

[Reusririasuir 0]

This time, not being taken by surprise, Reu assumed his typical combat-stance in preparation for the beetle's attack. He swung his sword up and out, ready to counter strike, he took a step to his right...and felt the ground give-way underneath his feet! Rocks fell off the cliff edge and Reu nearly fell with them. Aighheeee. I need to be more careful or I'm done for.

 

The only advantage to Reu nearly falling off the edge of the cliff is that the beetle flew in and missed its' attack because of Reu's stumble. The beetle flew into the cliff wall but quickly orientated itself, climbed up the wall, and then flew out and away, preparing to come around for another pass.

 

11966 BD 2, MD 1

[Reusririasuir 0]

The red spotted beetle let out it's extremely loud, extremely annoying buzzing sound as it swooped back in, pincers ready. Reu prepared himself, attempting to swing on the beast before it attacked but alas he swung too early, missing. The beetle's attacked landed just after the sword had passed, it used it's pincers to dig into Reu's arm, finding blood. Reu howled in pain, blood running down his wounded arm.

 

 

Reu 10 / 11 (-1)

Red Spotted Beetle 7 / 9

 

ID 11969 BD 4 MD 8 - 2 evasion = 6

[Reusririasuir 0]

Making another pass the beetle flew in, suddenly stopped, changed direction, and attempted to strike from another angle, however it still missed it's attack, and Reu, thrown off by the sudden change in direction, also missed his attack on the annoying flying insect. Ok...I think I'm figuring out your attack patterns now, so let me try that same sword attack again next time...if he attacks like I think he will, I'll have him!

 

11971 BD 5 MD 5 - 2 = 3

[Reusririasuir 0]

Reu was ready. He levied his sword as the beetle flew in. This time, I'm going to hit you with an overhead slash. 1...2...3! Reu quickly fell to one knee and swung his sword overhead and felt it rip into the beetle's underside, drawing more of the disgusting green goo. The beetle, clearly thrown off by Reu's quick ducking motion, passed harmlessly overhead, but not without flying off sporting a nice bright-green glowing wound. It let out another loud buzzing noise and this time did an immediate back-flip in the air, and came at Reu from behind. Reu felt his energies surge as his battle healing skill kicked in and did it's job of mending his wound.

 

 

Reu 11 / 11 (+1 Battle Healing)

Red Spotted Beetle 5 / 9 (-2)

 

ID 11972 BD 6 CD 12 MD 6 - 2 evasion = 4

[Reusririasuir 0]

"Ha, you're getting way too predictable. Of course you'd try and strike me from behind while I'm lowered down, but you can't hit what you can't see. Reu threw out his cape behind him, simultaneously stepping left, and to his credit the bluff worked! The beetle flew right into the cape, aiming where Reu was, not where he was now. Even better, this straight line attack gave Reu the easy sword swing he needed to again carve into the beasts backside.

 

Reu 11 / 11

Red Spotted Beetle 3 / 9 (-2)

 

ID 11973 BD 8 MD 1

[Reusririasuir 0]

After hitting it with a slash attack, the beetle flew up and left along the cliff wall, continuing it's arc around, it attacked Reu from above, this time landing, and ripping a chunk out of him with it's pincers and it's claws. Reu, in desperation and not exactly sure WHAT to do, swung his sword up, and then tried to swipe at the creature, almost as if he was using his sword as a back-scratch'er. Not only did he miss doing this awkward movement, but the beetle simply flew off and returned to a safe distance in flight, preparing to strike again.

 

ID 11974 BD 2 MD 9

 

Reu 9 / 11 (-2)

Red Spotted Beetle 3 / 9

[Reusririasuir 0]

The beetle flew in for it's attack, but Reu recognized this attack pattern. This time, staying calm and collected he side-stepped and swung at the beast with another overhead strike, only this time Reu stayed standing. As the creature and it's loud buzzing noise were directly overhead, Reu felt the reverberation of his sword as it struck the beetle, the attack disrupted the beetle's attack and so Reu escaped unscathed. The beetle however, did not fair so well. It is clearly on it's last legs and I feel great! My battle healing is kicking in again too!

 

ID 11975, BD 8, CD 11, MD 3 - 2 evasion = 1

 

Reu 10 / 11 (+1 Battle Healing)

Red Spotted Beetle 1 / 9 (-2)

[Reusririasuir 0]

The beetle, making it's attack run, skimmed low to the ground making a head-on assault and, at the last minute, flew up into Reu ripping him open across his stomach. Reu had been prepared to stomp the creature as it got close, the creature angling up at the last minute caught him completely by surprise. As he fell backwards from the blow of the beetle, Reu felt his fighting instict take over and he stabbed straight out with his sword. His instincts proved true, his attack pierced into the beetle. Laying on the ground, Reu slowly got up, looking at the beetle skewered on his blade. Glad for his victory, but disappointed because of not finding any loot, he slid the creatures carcass off his sword, collecting what he could as materials. Maybe someone will want these pincers he thought to himself.

 

Sheathing his sword, Reu continued making his way on the precarious foot path.

 

1 Material Gained, Red Beetle Pincers

 

Reu 8 / 11 (-2)

Red Spotted Beetle 0 / 9 (-2)

 

ID 11976, BD 8, CD 2, LD 4, MD 9

[Reusririasuir 0]

Finally, I've arrived at the stairs down. The staircase he was referring too, was a quite literal spiral staircase carved into the side of the cliff-face. Reu slowly checked the area out...hmm ok, it looks safe enough. Reu began the long trek down to the ground-level. In fact 'the staircase', was actually a series of spiral staircases, all slightly offset from one another, and all containing exactly 48 stairs. What a marvel of a game he thought to himself. I can't imagine how long this took to design. It was obvious not everything in this game was procedurally generated, there was too much care put into things...no that's not right, Reu thought to himself, there was too much love. Love in a death-game, imagine that...

 

Reu HP 9 / 11 [Out of combat healing +1]

[Reusririasuir 0]

Arriving on the ground floor, Reu made his way across the woodland and rocky terrain. My feet are going to be hurting after a day of walking this stuff, that's for sure. I wish I had a good pair of boots right now. Continuing his trek, Reu found himself roughly half a kilometer from Urbus. Feeling much better after time to rest from his fight with the beetle, Reu made his way East. I really want to go check out those wastelands, but it's probably not a good idea right now on my own. I'm just going to have to play it safe, and continue East... at-least Urbus isn't too far away if I get in trouble; though I think I'll be alright here. I can't believe their are 100 floors to go through, even on level one the monsters seemed strong, and here I am on level two already and the monsters can be surprisingly dangerous. I mean individual beetles are ok, but if I run into one of those Ox monsters the guide talks about, I'd probably be a goner. I really need to buy a teleport crystal, but sadly they are SO expensive. It's almost like Akihiko Kiayaba didn't want to actually give us a chance in this game.

 

...Hey, that's enough of that now, snap out of it. Stay positive. You've been in way worse situations then this before; remember the time you were in the desert for three days with barely any water, and no food? Or remember all the hard sessions you put in, inside the dojo back home? Yea...home...I miss home.

 

Reu HP 10 / 11 [Out of combat healing +1]

[Reusririasuir 0]

Reu's thoughts were interrupted by a sudden explosion under his feet. A massive five-foot long worm erupted from the ground underneath him and he felt a massive, stinging pain in his right leg. Undeterred, Reu swung back on animal instinct, sinking his own debilitating strike into the creature. Feeling his battle healing kick in, Reu kept his wits about him and using his eyes, Reu saw immediately the creature which attacked him, saw it in all it's hideousness. Reu was facing...a Ragged Worm!

 

 

Reu (9 / 11) (-2 Worm Critical + 1 Battle Healing)

Ragged Worm (9 / 11) (-3)

 

ID 11980 BD 9 CD 11 MD 9

[Reusririasuir 0]

The giant, slimy, slithering worm suddenly dove back into the earth. It's fast! Where's it going to attack from! Reu's eyes scanned the earth around him. He was going to have to be fast if he wanted to avoid and counter-attack this creature. He would need to pick up on the slightest of movements from the soil.

 

...

 

There! Reu jumped and rolled out of the way of the attack. He wasn't able to launch his own attack, but he was safe...for now.

 

11981 BD 3 MD 6 - 2 evasion = 4

[Reusririasuir 0]

Reu again felt the worms attack, and this time, used a back-flip to easily evade the creature. But again, Reu had placed himself too far out of range to counter-attack. It's ok, I just need to be patient, my opportunity will come. This creature can't match me on power, and on a long enough timeline, my battle healing will make all the difference. Just stay patient...

 

Reu (9 / 11) 

Ragged Worm (9 / 11) 

 

ID 11982 BD 2 MD 3

[Reusririasuir 0]

Reu continued his patient routine of searching the earth for disturbances. He was at the ready, and now, now his patience was going to pay off. As the worm rushed in, again amazingly fast, Reu took a simple series of steps back, and swung his sword with perfect timing. He cut open the bottom worm's tail-end, split it open from mid-stomach to tail-end. It may still be alive, but it was bleeding, profusely. Even Reu was impressed at the clean dissection he had performed.

 

Reu (9 / 11) 

Ragged Worm (5 / 11) (-4)

 

ID 11983 BD 10 MD 3

[Reusririasuir 0]

Enraged, the worm reared up, and stretched itself much farther then Reu would have thought possible. It wrapped itself around his legs and drug him to the ground, the barbs on the creature ripped into Reu, and it also arched up and struck again. While still lying on the ground, Reu swung his sword, landing a return blow of his own. All in all, they had both given an equal amount of damage, but Reu again watched as his HP gauge went back up from his battle healing ability.

 

Reu (8 / 11) (-2 + 1 Battle Healing = -1)

Ragged Worm (3 / 11) (-2)

 

ID 11984 BD 6 CD 12 MD 9

[Reusririasuir 0]

Reu saw this as his opportunity. He had hurt the worm, and it was struggling to burrow back into the earth. His combat healing was working overtime, and using this as his strength he dug deep within himself and got to his feet as quickly as he could, and went immediately into a final slash attack. The worm was injured, it wasn't putting up any type of resistance. Reu dug his blade so deep into, he saw it poke out the other side. He finished his attack, with a flicking motion up, carving through what was left of the creature. It's husk laid on the ground, it's blood seeped into the earth. Reu sighed, and began checking the corpse for remains...who the hell would want something from a giant worm? Still...those alchemists love all these creepy things, he thought to himself.

 

Reu pulled out some sort of fluid sack from the worm. Well, this looks promising...and disgusting.

 

Let's see what else we can find...oh awesome, col!

 

1 Material Gained - Ragged Worm Fluid Sack

55 Col ( 5 * 11 (mob hp) = 55 )

 

Reu (9 / 11) (+1 Battle Healing)

Ragged Worm (0 / 11) (-3, -1 basic + -1 Ragnarok Enduring (sword) + -1 Critical = -3)

 

ID 11985 BD 9 CD 11 LD 17 MD 3 

[Reusririasuir 0]

Reu was feeling pleased, he had come out here with intentions to do some hunting, and just see what he could get himself into. All in all, it was a pretty good day. He had gained money for the inn and to buy some dinner tonight too, meaning things couldn't be going better. Looking up at the sky, Reu could see that it was still early-ish; wanting to see what else he could find, Reu decided to keep going, in the hopes of earning more col, more materials, and getting more experience; all while continuing to stay alive...

 

Reu HP 10 / 11 [+1 Out of combat]

[Reusririasuir 0]

Reu ran across the next set of plains. He was interested in finding another monster, when all of a sudden he spotted movement in the distance. The creature was massive, running across the fields at a high speed, and looked to be angry. Looking at it's four-legged profile, Reu knew, this was the 2nd Floor specialty monster, the Trembling Ox. Right now it was just smashing into things, causing a big mess. The guidebook had mentioned that these were strong, direct attack monsters, and prone to bouts of 'raging bull madness'; well, the beta tester guidebook was certainly right about the 'madness' bit. Reu decided he would move in before making a decision on what he wanted to do.

 

He slowly stalked his prey, moving in ever so slightly. He wasn't going to launch an attack yet, not until he had a better idea of the creature he was dealing with.

 

Reu HP 11 / 11 [+1 Out of combat]

[Reusririasuir 0]

Reu's eyes slowly scanned the monster.

 

Ok...I think I can do this. 

 

Reu readied his sword, and lept out at the monster. The Ox was wild however, and whether by chance or grace, it had charged forward just as Reu attacked, causing Reu to completely miss. Turning back around, the ox, now lined up at the exposed Reu and charged. Uh-oh! Reu couldn't do anything other then take the beast's attack head-on. This was not how he was hoping to have started the battle...

 

Reu 9 / 11 (-2)

Ox 10 / 10

ID 11990 BD 1 MD 8 - 2 evasion = 6