A Newbie's Journey

A vast grassland greets me.

The area surrounding the vault is surrounded by a wide prairie. Beyond that, big trees that scrape the sky covers the rest of the grassland.

"So that is the Giatii tree, that sure is huge."

I walk towards the entrance to the forest. It's good to be back on the surface, to feel the warmth of the sun. I can feel the breeze of the wind sweeping on my skin. The fresh air of nature after 1000 years of sleeping is good. No more pollution, just fresh air. For a moment I forgot about the whole reason I came up here.

As soon as I enter the forest, a calm and soothing atmosphere comes in. It's so peaceful in here. If only there are no monsters to worry about, I want to camp here for some days. The guild has given us the pinpoint of the vault location on the blind map and the quest location in our HUD to make sure we don't get lost on the surface.

The Giatii tree is so big, its' roots emerge on the surface. Sometimes, the roots grow too big, blocking the path. I climb the roots sometimes to observe around. This tree also has vines clinging on its' branches. I gradually check on top to prevent monsters encounter, since most Moonewks make their home on this tree.

I follow the pinpoint, and so far, so good. I haven't spotted any monsters yet. I just wish I don't have to fight until I arrived at my destination.

I keep my sense at the highest level to avoid any potential encounter. Enggar said Ulos love to flank, so I need to stay vigilant, watching over trees after trees, checking if there are any uncommon features on it.

I've walked for about 15 minutes in the forest. Unlike the flat grassland, the forest ground is wavy. I arrive at a branch, one is going downhill, one is going uphill. I took the downhill path. Staying vigilant, I keep walking forward. The downhill path is an extension of Giatii tree roots. The path is shifting to the left, where on the right is a rocky wall of the uphill path.

The bottom area is a denser part of the forest. The Giatii roots are extending down here, lining up one after another, making a cave-like area. I explore the cave, and a T-junction now lies before me. A took the path to the right since my destination is on the right. The path is going upward again, this time, it leads to another two paths. On the right, an extending Giatii tree, sloping downward as I see, serves as the path toward the tree. On the left side, a flat ground of grass leading to another part of the forest. I took the path upward, climbing the tree, and it leads me towards an area built by a series of extending tree branches.

I swear, I never imagine a forest this dense and complicated. I'm amazed by how nature works. It's truly magnificent. The branches are so large it has enough space for someone to make a camp. No wonder the Moonewks like to make a home here. I take a look downward, and hell, it's an area full of bushes and small trees. Not just that, I see a glimpse of a slithering beast down there. Damn, if I went to explore that part, I would have to deal with Ulos.

I follow the path built by the branches. It has a few turns here and there, but overall, it's pretty straight forward. After going through some inclined branches, I arrive in a large area standing on a leveled ground. The area is located under a series of overlapping Giatii Tree roots, while on the sides are blocked by the ground wall. It seems this area is a leveled down of the upper ground area, with Giatii trees growing on the upper level, making it has a cave-like structure bigger than the one I found before. The serene atmosphere it contains makes it a perfect place for camping.

I observe my surrounding, and I see a structure, unnatural to the surrounding, lies on the other end of the area. Not just that, I see several figures of monkeys, standing around 170 cm, wandering in front of it. As I checked on my HUD, the pinpoint is located on the top, meaning that my destination could be that structure I see right now.

Well, shit. This is it.

I proceed cautiously, checking my surrounding over, and over again to prevent flanking. Well, like it or not, I'm gonna have to fight them. This is my quest after all.

I plan on dealing with them one by one, so the first thing I do is observe my surrounding. The area has two ways out. The one in the 9 o'clock direction is leading to the left, and the other in the 1 o'clock direction is to the right. Phase one, complete, now I gotta make a distraction. I search for something to be thrown, some rocks, perhaps?

.

.

Got it.

I found some rocks on the left side of the area.

Aiming to the left exit, I then throw the rocks towards it.

((Guhaha Hau Hau Ha))

It looks like they take the bait. Out of six Moonewks, three of them going in the direction of the left exit. I then throw some other rocks towards the right exit. 2 of them go checking out. Now, there's only one. I throw the remaining rocks towards the one Moonewk guarding the structure. As a hunter, I have to act like one. Engaging it head-on would probably make it alerts the pack, and I would get a hard time dealing with them in one go. I never faced them before, so the risk is high. That's why I retreated backward each time I throw the rock to the last Moonewk. I'm guiding it to the tree branches pathway. I'm planning to face it there, then repeat the process. I only hope it's stupid enough to fall to my plan.

As I throw rocks after rocks, the Moonewk moves faster and faster, so I gotta do a little sprint. Now that I've arrived in the tree branches area, I choose a safe spot for the encounter. At this range, the Moonewk would be far enough from the structure that it couldn't reach for its' comrades. I then put my oversize bag on the safe side before the encounter.

((Gauhaha Gugaga Ha Ha))

((Ghaa Ghaaa Huaa))

It founds me. I put my unarmed stance, preparing for the fight. The Moonewk charges. With four arms to propel its' body, it moves quite fast. Only in a matter of seconds, it reaches me and launches a propelling kick with its' arms as the pinpoint.

((Fwoosh))

I turn my body to the left, using my left foot as the axis, dodging the attack. Still trying to grasp the situation, it turns around, switching into two feet. The beast has the face of a monkey, but the body of a gorilla. Standing as tall as I am, fist clenched, legs bent, tail waving, grinning expression painted in its' face with its fang gnawing, It looks like it wants to eat me.

((Groaaaaarr))

Fixing my position, I get myself ready for the next attacks. It begins attacking me using a double-arm sweep, left and right consecutively, followed by an overhead slam using both arms. I lean back, weave to the left, and stepping to its' side to dodge all that.

Damn, that slam was dangerous.

Even though, it took the Moonewk quite some time to recover its' posture. I use this moment to retaliate, launching a straight, left body hook, left hook, and right sweeping middle kick. It manages to block the left hook, but it seems my kick deals a critical hit. As it staggers, I move back to the right. Now in front of it, I push the Moonewk with a middle kick, followed by a jumping straight.

((Ghaaaa))

Pumped by adrenaline, I continue throwing another strike. I throw a right elbow, but alas it's blocked. When I attempt to follow by a grappling right knee, the Moonewk breaks free from me. It then follows by throwing a front kick.

((Gyahhh))

"Gahhh!"

Shit.

It seems I take a critical hit. That kick knocks me down. It then launches itself for a jumping slam.

((Brakkk))

((Gauhaaa))

I roll myself to the left, dodging the slam. Before I even fully recovered, the Moonewk already throw a right backhand swing towards me. Leaning back while recovering, I dodged it in the last second. As I retreat backward to make some space, it follows me and throws two more swings using its' left and right arms, consecutively. I weave to the right, then roll to dodge them. I instantly skip and launch two consecutive right middle sweeping kick to its stomach, followed by right and left body hook, and a body straight. Using the momentum, I go straight for a left elbow to its' head, followed by a back elbow.

It all hits.

"Hyaaahhhhh!!!" My battle cry as I throw a T-kick after a shift move to its front before finishing the combo with a jumping knee.

"Hahh… Hah... Haahhh…" The sound of my exhaustive breath as I try to recover my stamina after an intense fight, and it's not even over yet.

After that jumping knee, I managed to knock down the Moonewk. I then immediately retreat backward during the recovery time to make space and regain my stamina. I don't initiate grounding, since the last grounding with Juna took a heavy toll on my stamina. Grappling might be easier, but striking is safer. As the Moonewk is recovered from a knockdown state, I put back my stance for another round.

Round 2.

It begins with me charging in. This time, I take the offensive. Right after I get in front of it, I do several feint weaves before throwing right and left body hook, followed by a body straight. It manages to block the straight, but I don't stop there. I throw a pushing middle kick to break its' cover. It works. I then throw another pushing kick to knock it back, then I follow the strike with a downward jumping elbow.

((Gauhahhh… Gahh… Ghhh…))

((Bughh))

The Moonewk has fallen. This time, it stops moving, completely.

I win.

I win my first battle, unarmed, on top of that. The excitement and proudness from the victory give rise to my adrenaline which boosts my confidence. If I can take one of them, then I can take them all. I get arrogant, which is why now I proceed to engage on another one of them without caution.

I walk back towards the cave-like area at the end of the road where the structure is standing. I plan to draw their attention one by one again, just like before, but this time, no more strafing.

((Guhah… Ghaa… Ghaaaaa!!!))

((Ghhaaaaoooo!!!)

Oh, shit.

I'm spotted by two patrolling Moonewks. One of them immediately launches itself at me.

(Graooo!!)

Rolling to the right, I dodge the jumping claw that it tried to pull on me. I immediately turn back and run.

Goddammit, they're so fast.

In a split second, they already managed to catch me up, one of them even managed to jump over me. Now I'm stuck. With no way to escape, the only way out is to deal with them all at once.

So, here we go again. Only this time, it's gonna be bad, real' bad.