True Power of Low Expetation
After the Wolvebeast fiasco, I was feeling pretty good. Sure, I'd nearly been torn apart by a creature twenty times my level, but I had managed to beat it—and without dying this time. That was progress! Even better, I had gained a new title, a decent chunk of XP, and 50 gold. Things were looking up.
As I walked back toward the village, a thought occurred to me. Maybe, just maybe, things would start to get easier from here on out. I had proven myself, right? Defeating a monster that strong had to count for something.
---
SYSTEM ALERT:
Due to your zero Charisma sfat, the following has been updated:
NPC interactions remain... complicated.
New Quest Available: Talk to the Village Elder—if he'll talk to you.
---
I stopped dead in my tracks. "Complicated" was an understatement. NPCs hated me. They had made that very clear.
The last time I tried to talk to some blacksmith, he told me to get lost because, apparently, my face annoyed him. But, there was a new quest available, so I might as well give it a shot.
The village elder's house wasn't far, just up the hill. It was a modest place, with wooden beams and a thatched roof. As I approached the door, I hesitated. Knowing my luck, this would go horribly wrong.
I knocked twice. The door creaked open, and a short, grumpy-looking old man with a long beard stared up at me like I'd just ruined his entire day by existing.
"What do you want?" the elder snapped, his tone making it clear that he had no time for me.
I cleared my throat awkwardly. "I heard you might have some work for me?"
He narrowed his eyes. "Oh, it's you... the one everyone's been talking about. The... special player." He spat the word like it was an insult. "You look like you could use some toughening up."
---
SYSTEM ALERT:
New Quest Received: The Elder's Challenge
Objective: Prove your worth by surviving the wilderness for three days.
Reward: Access to the Elder's store of rare items.
Difficulty: Only slightly better than suicide.
---
I blinked. "Wait, survive the wilderness for three days?"
The elder grunted. "What, too hard for you? Should I send you after a few slimes instead?" He smirked as if I was about to back down.
I gritted my teeth. "No, I'll take the challenge." The thought of getting rare items was too tempting to pass up, even if the quest sounded borderline impossible for someone at my level.
"Good luck," the elder sneered. "You'll need it."
As I left the elder's house, I swiped open my map. The wilderness area was just outside the village, filled with various low-level monsters and a few higher-level ones that wandered in occasionally. Three days out there... What could go wrong?
—
PLAYER STATS:
Name: Ridley
Level: 2
HP: 100/100
Strength: 18
Agility: 12
Endurance: 14
Charisma: 0
Luck: 5
Skills:
Power Strike (Active): Deliver a powerful blow, +20% damage.
Wolf's Endurance (Passive): Increased stamina and critical hit chance against beasts by 20%
Enemy Taunt (Passive): Hostile creatures will always prioritize attacking you.
Title:
Beast Hunter: Increased damage against Beast-type monsters by 20% (NPCs are now slightly more afraid of you.)
Inventory:
Rusty Great Sword (Equipped)
Basic Health Potion (x1)
Beginner's Rations (Tasteless)
50 Gold Coins
(Notification: You've got 10 Attribute Points as a sweet reward for leveling up!
---
I spotted the notification at the very bottom. I just leveled up, and guess what? No announcement.
Is the system seriously throwing shade at me now?
Well, not on my watch! I've got these Attribute Points, and I'm dumping them all into Charisma.
Screw you, game! You've got no reason to mess with me now.
—
10 points added to Charisma FAILED.
Reason: Stats set to zero at the beginning can't be boosted permanently, no matter what items or conditions you throw at it.
—
This is total nonsense.
So, I'm stuck with a bunch of game features that are clearly trying to make my life miserable?
My urge to restart shot up like a rocket. But with everything I've achieved and the struggles I've faced, it feels like such a waste.
There's no guarantee it would change anything anyway. I mean, the Wolfbane's Gift Package mentioned that its effects wouldn't even help if I reset my character.
It's possible that this stat upgrade might not do a thing. I might be stuck with this pathetic Charisma stat no matter how hard I try.
So, I threw my hands up and decided to make the most of what I've got.
[Are you sure you want to add 10 Points to Strength?]
I hit Yes because, seriously, what other option do I have?
At least I can be confident that the stronger my Strength stat is, the more damage I'll dish out. The more damage I deal, the quicker I'll take down monsters, level up, and actually get somewhere!
The sun was setting as I crossed the boundary from the village into the forest. The trees grew thicker here, and the sounds of chirping birds were quickly replaced by the howls of distant creatures. Great. Just what I needed.
As I moved deeper into the woods, I opened the quest window again.
---
QUEST:
Objective: Survive the wilderness for three days.
Current Status: Day 1, Hour 1.
Hint: Maybe you shouldn't have set Charisma to zero. Too late now.
Additional Objectives:
Don't get eaten by wild animals.
Try not to die of boredom.
(Completion of Additional Objectives will not grant you any extra rewards.)
---
"This system has a real sense of humor," I muttered, closing the window. I mean, if it really doesn't mean anything, then why bother including it at all?
I found a small clearing, set up camp, and kept my eyes peeled for any signs of danger.
So far, nothing had appeared, but that didn't mean I could relax. I quickly realized that surviving three days wasn't just about fending off monsters.
There was also the little issue of food and water. My beginner's rations would last, but only if I stretched them out.
As night fell, I heard rustling in the bushes nearby. I gripped my sword tightly and scanned the area.
---
Enemy Spotted: Level 1 Goblin Scout
HP: 120
Difficulty: Easy
Loot: Small coins, Goblin Dagger
---
A goblin. Finally, something my level.
I charged at the creature, using my Power Strike right off the bat.
---
-70(+14) HP (Power Strike effect activated)
-70(+14) HP (Power Strike effect activated)
---
The goblin barely had time to react before I finished it off with another slash. It even fell to the ground after just two slashes, dropping a few small coins and a worn-looking dagger.
---
Loot Collected:
5 Gold Coins
Goblin Dagger (+10 damage)
---
"Well, better than nothing," I muttered, pocketing the coins and holding the dagger. It wasn't much, but it was sharper than my rusty sword. It even added some extra damage while my rusty sword didn't.
As I settled back into my camp, I couldn't shake the feeling that things were about to get a whole lot worse.
---
SYSTEM ALERT:
Due to your zero Charisma, additional enemies may be attracted to your presence.
---
"Are you serious?!" I groaned, staring at the screen in disbelief. "I can't even camp without getting trolled by the system?"
Sure enough, just as I started to relax, more rustling came from the bushes—this time louder.
---
Enemy Spotted: Level 5 Dire Wolf
HP: 350/350
Difficulty: Moderate
Loot: ???
---
I stared at the massive wolf as it stalked toward my camp, its glowing eyes fixed on me. "Oh, come on. I just killed a goblin! Can't I get a break?"
The wolf growled, and I raised my sword, ready for another fight. It seemed like my zero Charisma stat wasn't just making NPCs hate me—it was also drawing in enemies like a magnet.
This was going to be a long three days.