[SP-F01] Earning A Living

[Saix 0]

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The leather clad swordsman with the red mantle cloak faced off against another of the ooze like creatures, his simple iron sword and shield in hand, and a careful watch on his HP bar as he shifted his stance ever so slightly. This was the difficult part that had cost many players their lives. Fighting for their life, in a situation where failure would equal death, many players panicked and flailed wildly with their weapons. Even if they managed to hit their target with their wild swings, the damage done would prove minimal at best.

[Saix 0]

In order to 'win', players needed to use specialized maneuvers, or Sword Skills. These Sword Skills were performed using a special System Assist, allowing players to strike faster and harder than would otherwise be possible. More importantly, the System Assist automatically accounted for accuracy, helping even a novice player with no real combat experience in the real world hold off a monster like this Ooze. Saix had been practicing, and could even make a few combat maneuvers of his own without help from the System Assist mode, he would still need to rely upon the Sword Skills to make any real headway.

[Saix 0]

He let himself remain loose and focused, lowering his body and bringing his sword down parallel to his leg just so, drawing the weapon back he paused, ‘feeling’ the skill begin to activate. Knowing that the attack has been ‘primed’ almost like a gun ready to fire, he lets the skill go. Instantly he rushes forward in a blur, his sword snapping out and up in a single slash upwards from the bottom right. This is the One-Handed Straight Sword skill <> one of the two initial charge type maneuvers.

[Saix 0]

It’s damage is largely insignificant, but against a low level Ooze it is enough severely deplete the monster’s HP, at least it would have if the attack had connected correctly. However using the Sword Skills required absolute focus, and though he had initiated the skill easily enough, he was still too taunt. Of course now came the freezing the swordsman in place following his use of the sword skill. The Ooze reeling from his attempted attack, even if largely unharmed, does not capitalize on his momentary freeze, and instead jiggles it’s way closer, before launching a single attack by stretching forward almost like it were trying to form a heavy fist to punch him with it's own mass.

[Saix 0]

Rather than waste valuable time trying to activate another Sword Skill and go for the kill before he takes damage from the slow attack, Saix patiently waits, angling the buckler shield on his left arm just so to take the brunt of the attack with a clang and spark of impact. Better to play defense and wait for an opening then try to rush victory. Shifting forward he activates a second Sword Skill, the 2 hit One-Handed Straight Sword skill <> a diagonal slash from left to center, followed by a second slash back upwards in a V formation.

[Saix 0]

This time the skill executes properly, carving deep into his intended target. Instantly the HP bar depletes, dropping into the red and flickering before the Ooze bursts into fragments with a flash of prismatic color. Taking a moment to savor the victory, even if it was hardly worthy of glory, Saix opens his inventory window, scrolling down, and confirming that the creature had deposited the most basic of crafting materials into his inventory. With a few hours of hunting under his belt, he might even be able to make a potion or two. Soon he could begin leveling his Profession at his leisure, not to mention the Xp for farming these Ooze mobs wasn’t that bad. Still, it was growing late.

[Saix 0]

He had set out to obtain his desired profession, and had taken this goal a step further by gathering a few materials to use. He supposed that this would qualify as the day having been a success. Sheathing his , he turned his attention back on the nearby city. One day, maybe not as soon as he would have liked, they would be free. He told himself this, repeating it like a mantra. He had to believe that, for Inu’s sake.

[Saix 0]

Banishing such thoughts from his mind with a cluck of the tongue, he started back down the worn path intent on being back in Starting City by nightfall. He had managed to scrape a little Col together through his farming of the Ooze mobs, no doubt Inu would be starving. Perhaps tonight they could enjoy something a little more appetizing then the normal black crusts of bread they bought as cheap as possible from the NPC merchants. He wouldn't mind getting something that would taste a little better, even if it was simply . With such thoughts on his mind the swordsman returned home, ready to share the bounty from the day with his young sister waiting for him at the inn.