Sheep Vs Wolves

A young man walked along a narrow road through a lush mountain forest. If you listen, you could hear mutterings and complaints flow endlessly from his lips. He was so loud in his complaints it startled the wildlife around him. Birds flew away and smaller animals hid. Xan was extremely displeased and talking to himself. If others saw him acting like this, they might think he is crazy. In reality, he was talking to Otrera the AI of the system he created.

"I still don't get why you took away all of my inventions! How am I supposed to protect myself in this nasty dangerous world?" he complained. "The player has repeated his complaints ever since we left the Superior Crafting Guild. It goes against the game rules player himself established before coming to this world. Winning this game will make the player the strongest warrior of the twenty-four num galaxies. The player is only allowed to rely on his superior intelligence under certain conditions. Player's mission is to make the body stronger," Otrera said to him once more.

"I am stronger, I'm already a level ten warrior! I used the Rebirth Cabinet to not only finish the synthesis of my old body and that of the body of Xan Gower but I also increased my warrior level from one to ten! I have my good looks back but now I've lost all of my gizmos and weapons," he complained.

"It is not within my capacity to ignore the strict rules Player established for himself. The system suggests that instead of complaining, the player should practice warrior exercises and train in your weapons. The more formidable a warrior you become the more your strength will increase and eventually you will be able to use whichever weapons you like," Otrera said once more.

"What a lonely and unreasonable path I chose for myself. Sometimes I just understand why I did what I did. Everything seems so mysterious to me. I just don't understand," he said. "The player's lack of understanding is a direct correlation of his lack of intelligence," she said. "Lack of intelligence, I happen to be a genius in this world!" he argued. "Indeed, in this world, you are a genius, but according to your original body, you are an idiot," she said. Why didn't my intelligence return to me after I finished genetic synthesis?" he asked.

"The player placed self-limiters on his intelligence to force himself to acquire and learn to use physical strength," Otrera said. "Fine, fine, what can I do? I'm such a sly devil I always outsmart everyone, even myself," he still wasn't happy but he was finally getting tired of complaining.

"How much farther until the cat village," he asked. "Traveling at current speed, the player should arrive in about two weeks," she said. "Uh...two weeks of walking. Why can't I just use that traveling device the old man gave me?" he asked. "Player is free to use the Fish ATV, except it can't fit through the forest. Additionally, you decided to use this opportunity to train your body but the player seems to have forgotten about this," she said.

"Hahaha, remember how shocked those warriors were back at the guild? Kon Zi really laid it on thick. I can't believe the old ghost was named Kon Zi. What a strange name; maybe that's why he wanted me to call him "ancestor," he thought. I was surprised the old man was so handsome when he came out of the Rebirth Cabinet, he really didn't age very well. The gold and blue armor I designed really gave him some impressive presence. Everyone nearly peed themselves when he entered the room. Things should move forward with him in charge," he said.

"Player, multiple dangerous life forms detected. This is an opportunity to train your fighting ability and instincts," Otrera said. "What kind of life forms," he asked. "Green Pelt wolves," she answered. Xan thought over his options for a little while. "Fine, I guess I really should start to train. I won't be able to use the Level Up Cabinet until I've acquired a certain level of mastery over my combat abilities," he said. A hammer appeared in his right hand. This was a new hammer, Otrera allowed him to acquire a level ten hammer with "smash effect" imbued. This was much better than the starter hammer he received when he first arrived in this world.

"Okay, first I'll activate Battle Learning Mode and record so I can review my battle latter. Battle Learning Mode will allow me to utilize the technique I'm learning and improve quicker during an actual battle. Remember, Otrera, if you think I'm going to die, you have to let me use one of my laser guns!" he said.

"The Player is reminded, relying on advanced weaponry is not allowed according to rule seventy-three-a," she reminded him. "Yes, but dying is forbidden according to rule one," he reminded her. "This is correct, but judgment regarding the use of advance technology to save the player's life is at the discretion of the system according to rule eight hundred and ninety-nine," she responded.

Xan wasn't happy but he knew he couldn't win an argument with the system so he stopped. Looking at the radar map in the lower right area of his vision, he noted the wolves' location relative to his own. Quickly thinking of a plan, Xan climbed up a tree to hide and wait for the wolves.

It wasn't long before a group of four wolves cautiously came into the clearing near Xan's hiding spot. The wolves were about twice the size of a normal wolf. Being Green Pelt Wolves, they were able to use the surrounding foliage to a certain extent. They could move it out of their way to increase their speed and use it to block off escape routes of their prey.

Xan waited until one of the wolves was just below his position and jumped out of the tree with a "YEAWW" sound. The wolves were startled and the one closest to Xan jumped out of the way. He was surprised to see nothing below him and fell on the ground at an odd angle and twisted his ankle. He stood up awkwardly. This was his first actual battle. He saw lots of people fight and he always figured it was easy. The reality, in the form of gravity, the earth, and Green Pelt Wolves quickly cured him of his wrong notions.

The wolves looked ticked off. Xan had startled them and wild animals never liked to be startled. The wolf who was closest to Xan was the first to attack. Xan didn't hesitate and swung his hammer, which completely missed. The wolf pounced on his chest and knocked him to the ground. The surprise of being knocked down caused Xan to drop his hammer. This was far different from training and theory!

Xan punched the wolf in the side and knocked it away, but the other three wolves were already there. Two attacked his legs and one attacked his arm. The wolf he just knocked away came back and made a dash with its jaws open aiming at Xan's neck. He was petrified with fear.

"Activating Fireflies," Otrera said. Five small egg-shaped and egg-sized devices appeared. The back thicker half of the device glowed red while the small electronic "eye" in the very front also glowed red. The five fireflies shot lasers out of their eyes killing the wolves instantly. The commotion from the battle alerted other wolves who ran into the clearing, the fireflies began killing all of the wolves as soon as they appeared. Very soon, over thirty dead wolves lay around Xan.

Still in shock, Xan looked at the wolves with a fright. "Otrera, you saved me!" he said with relief. "The player has the strength but not the skill and experience to save himself. If the player took practice serious he wouldn't need the system to save him. The mission "Kill Thirty Green Pelt Wolves" is a failure and the performance rating is pathetic. The player should work hard to not be such a wuss and suck so bad," Otrera said.

"That's rather harsh," Xan said. "The player programmed all comments and ratings. The system is only saying what it is programmed to say," she said. "What a jerk I am, I can't even give myself a little understanding! I've been reduced to an idiot and now I have a fight like some barbarian or I have to mocked by an unfeeling AI," he said displeased.

"The player's assessment is correct, he only has himself to blame," Otrera said. "For the rating or the outcome of the battle?" he asked. "All of it," she said.