FortuneCraft in Apocalypse

Samurai

He woke up with a start. Draven touched his chest to see if he was alive. After confirming that he was indeed alive, he took in his surroundings. He was still in that damned forest, and the dead bodies of the players were no longer there. Maybe they had vanished. He wondered if that wasn’t the case, if he had simply walked on until he fainted out of distress. After all, he hadn’t rested for hours and his memory felt fuzzy.

Groaning, he stood up. His back hurt, his whole body hurt. Draven stretched out his arms and his sides, then his back. It felt good. He craned his neck from side to side in an attempt to stretch it; the crack he heard left a satisfying feeling within him.

[System activated. Welcome, Draven.]

Draven stood upright. He vaguely remembered that he had reached level two the night before. He’d killed those two people-in self defense, of course, and he had his XP increased. He was sure of it, even though his memory felt vague due to all those strained activities the night before. A hologram came out once again, sizzling in the air.

[Level 2 updated. You have been awarded a series of skills and wealth]

[Sword Mastery - unlocked]

[Elemental Magic - locked]

[Stealth - locked]

[Archery - locked]

[Firing skill - unlocked]

[Lore Knowledge - locked]

[Survival Instincts - unlocked]

[First Aid - locked]

[Agility Training - locked]

[Leadership - locked]

[Appraisal - locked]

[Language Proficiency - locked]

[Resource Gathering - locked]

[Charisma - locked]

[Summoning - locked]

[Tactical - locked]

[Wealth Received: $50,000]

“Hold on a minute,” Draven said, more to himself than to the system. “Does that mean out of all these skills, I have only unlocked three?”

[Yes]

“Does that mean I get to unlock more as time goes on and I get to a higher level?”

[Yes. Depends on your skill proficiency.]

The list of skills that appeared fizzled out and it was just the three that were unlocked that remained. Draven stepped closer, like he wanted to fully peer into the screen before him. Sword mastery, firing skill and survival instincts. He nodded to himself. That was nice. Heaven knows he really needed sword mastery and survival instincts before he would be killed out here.

[Would you like to start your training immediately?]

Draven coughed, bringing himself back into focus. He felt sort of elevated. At least there was training to equip him with those skills.

“Yes,” he said. Nothing.

The screen expanded just a little to bring out a few options. There was some ticked box beside each of the unlocked skills, allowing him to pick which of them he would like to train on. Looking at the screen, he didn’t even have to think twice. He needed sword mastery more than he needed firing and survival instinct training. If he could use a sword properly, he could as well know how to survive in this very hostile environment. Draven clicks on the sword mastery button.

It only took a second. Then the system sort or folded and rolled into the air. Draven squinted, but he didn’t have to for long. It cracked only in the air like electricity before a man appeared before him. It took Draven a short moment to realize that it was a virtual person with two swords, like a samurai.

He cleared his throat, unsure of what to say. “Uhm, hello?”

“Do you have a sword?” The samurai asked, his voice crackling and trying to stabilize.

“Just some weapons,” Draven answered as he gulped.

“You will need something better, but we can train you with this.”

The Sumarai raised his sword in attack mode, and Draven automatically reached out for him.

“You’re the one training me?” He asked, surprised.

“Would you prefer a female?” Came the answer. “You can change gender if this bothers you.”

“No, no.” Draven coughed in discomfort. “I’m only surprised, that’s all. I didn’t expect you to actually come out and train me.”

“I’m a virtual trainer.” The samurai stood up straight now, still holding his weapons. “For you to master sword art, you need a trainer. At that, your skill point and sword mastery point would increase, and you may yet unlock another skill.”

“Ohhh…” Draven said vaguely.

He was still trying to get it in his head that he was talking to a virtual game trainer that would help him learn the sword skill. Draven hadn’t known what to expect; maybe he was thinking his skill would increase without having to fight anyone.

“Shall we begin?” The samurai asked, positioning himself back into attack mode.

“Can I know what your name is at least?” Draven blurted. “I have to call you something, don’t I?”

“You can call me whatever you want, and I shall answer that.”

“Master?”

“Fine.”

“Master Puke?”

“Fine.”

Draven cocked his head. It was apparent that the samurai simply did not mind whatever he was playing with.

“I will call you Master,” Draven finally said.

“Fine.” The samurai raised his sword. “Now, shall we begin?”

Draven nodded, unable to answer. This had all been a roller coaster ride for him. Just yesterday he was nearly killed four times, four times! Who could beat that!? From Elena—god knows where she has put her head in; hopefully she wasn’t chasing him, to the monster to the two players. He wondered if he had a death target on his head or if being a level 1 player was just as much a target as a mouse to a cat.

He was so focused on his thoughts that he didn’t see the samurai attack until he landed straight on his butt. The samurai straightened and looked him in the eye.

"LET'S START AGAIN. I suggest you focus, Mr. Draven.”

Draven sighed as he stood up, now determined. He’s got a personal trainer, and he's going to make good use of it. The samurai raised his sword again, and Draven slowly reached for his. The weapon was blunt, but it would do.

For now.