Pluck And Prey

"Huh... Another skill?", Arin muttered as he read through notification. But he didn't pay much attention to it, thinking maybe that's how things worked.

He selected 'Yes'.

[Quest Reward Received]

[Exp +30]

He then proceeded to withdraw his newly crafted slingshot. But he was surprised finding some of Crude Chameleon Hide.

I guess it didn't need whole piece. So it means it will return the excess material. Nice, Arin thought as he put hide back in inventory and held slingshot in his hand to inspect.

___________________________

[Ember-Lash Slingshot]

Tier : 0

Rarity : Uncommon

Type : Ranged Weapon

Description :

A lightweight improvised slingshot. It has a 'Y' shaped frame instead of 'X' shape. Special material was used in crafting, giving it special properties.

Functions :

• Can launch small projectiles

• Range and damage scale with strength and dexterity stats

Special Effects :

• [Ignition Channel] - Normal ammo can be imbued with minor fire damage 'Or' Fire attributed ammo can be imbued for increased fire damage

[Durability : 60/60]

Notes :

• Good for slow moving foes

• Need initial practice to use properly

• High sense stat can make aiming easier

• Modifier slot : 0

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Arin read through information with a foolish smile on his face. After reading it, he started to kiss the slingshot multiple time.

This is awesome. It even has an elemental damage. It must be due to...— Arin stopped kissing as he completed his thought. Tongue of that chameleon.

He felt like puking again but he immediately covered his mouth.

Anyway, I only kissed the frame which is the plant, Arin thought trying to control his mood. But it's from the plant where the chameleon was resting initially.

Arin kept arguing with himself in his mind for few minutes, trying not to puke.

Finally after few minutes, Arin stood straight after managing not to puke. "I'm never kissing any weapon again. No matter how good it is."

Then he proceeded to collect small pieces of metal, debris or anything that can be used as ammo for slingshot. He put all these ammos in the pocket of his pant and slingshot in inventory.

So, what was i doing before all this mess, Arin thought, Yeah, I was inspecting that garden. Arin completed his thought as he moved again toward the rooftop corner which was covered with flora.

He pulled out T.G and asked, "You scanned all of the flora earlier right or do you need to scan again?"

[Yes. All of it has been scanned. Do you want to check the information.]

First Arin thought of saying yes, but he soon stopped and said instead, "You know what. Show me only important information."

Arin was feeling smug after giving that order.

[Important? Clarify the parameter of what is important]

Arin fell in thought hearing the response. Now, that's another pain in the neck. If I never saw the raw data then how would i clarify what's important and what's not.

"Forget that. Just give me list of items, I should take with me, like that tasty looking berries." said Arin while pointing at red berries that looked like mulberry.

[Understood. Parameter set]

T.G the projected information.

[FrostLeave Moss (common)]

[Rustroot Vine (uncommon)]

[Sunlatched Flower (Rare)]

[Icebark Leaves (Uncommon)]

[Boom Berry (Uncommon)]

Arin nodded reading the information and said to T.G, "Guide me to them one by one"

T.G projected an arrow and Arin started to follow the arrow. Soon he saw the arrow was pointing toward a rusted metal pipe and damp concrete covered in pale blue-green moss. It was FrostLeave Moss.

Arin simply collected it and put it in the inventory. Then he moved to his next target. It was nearby.

It was tangy-smelling vine occupying corroded metal beams. Rustroot Vines.

Arin collected it too and moved to next target.

Next was small yellow bright flower.

Then, a plant with waxy white coating and thick leaves. He collected the leaves.

But just as he was about to touch last item he stopped. He remembered this one had boom in it's name.

Fearing the worst he decided to check it's information first. He touched the berry and activated his Talent skill.

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[Boom Berry]

Tier : 0

Rarity : Uncommon

Type : Consumable

Description :

Need to be handled with extra care but It is perfectly safe to eat. It is full of energy and highly nutritious.

Notes :

• 1 or 2 will be enough for a meal

• Saliva prevents it from exploding

• beware of it's seeds when it explodes

• Long term consumption can improve some attributes

• Can be used in alchemy

___________________________

Description only made Arin more confused. How can an explosive thing be Edible?

But just as he kept reading. He read the notes and finaly understood some of it.

Well then let's pluck it carefully then, Arin told himself. He first pinched the stalk connecting berry and the plant with his nail and slowly pluck the berry.

He sighed in relief and continue plucking the berries from all the plants. It took him over 15 minutes but he plucked total of 127 berries.

Fortunately for him items stacked in inventory otherwise he would have run out of the space to keep them.

[New Skill Learned : Basic Botany]

Arin also learned a new skill related to plants as result of his hardwork. He just read through it. It didn't seem very impressive to him.

After collecting berries, he decided to rest. A lot had happened in little time since I arrived here. Killing the chameleon, making weapon and now collecting herbs & berries

He walked to the empty corner of the rooftop and sat down.

It was cold and windy but due to occasional peek of sun from the clouds gave Arin just enough heat to not feel the cold too much.

Arin slowly shifted from sitting to laying and awake to sleeping.

***

Arin was running through cemetery. Just as he ran by a tombstone, he fell down.

He turned to look for the reason. He saw a hand made of bone clenching his left leg.

He screamed in pain trying to get away.

Then suddenly he opened his eyes. What greeted him was moving grey sky full of cloud and sunlight bleeding through them.

Huh... It was just a nightmare, thought Arin, but why is my leg still hurting?

Just as he looked towards his leg, he found out why his leg was hurting and why the sky seemed to be moving.

A bird nearly half his size was clenching his left leg trying to fly but all it could do was drag him slowly.

Arin panicked, WTF is this? He tried to calm down and think what to do.

Then he pulled out Slingshot from his inventory and opened his pocket. Many small pieces of metal and debris fell out from his pocket.

Arin picked few of them and keep them in his left hand as he held slingshot in right hand.

Arin put one piece of debris in the pouch of slingshot and pulled it back as much as he could and released it.

It missed.

He tried again. It missed again.

At this point Arin's hand started to shake due to nervousness but he still aimed and released.

This time projectile hit the bird in the wing and pierce through it. The bird hooted in pain and fell down as it released his leg from it's talon.

Arin quickly stood up and observe the bird carefully. It was an owl.

Arin thought it would run away after being injured but It jumped toward Arin.

Arin stepped back. He let the slingshot fall to ground and pulled out his knife.

Owl tried to attack with it's beak and claw slowly pushing Arin back.

Arin could see all of the attack coming in slow-motion so he focused on blocking and dodging. After there was no more space to back out, Arin decided to attack.

Just as owl attacked with it's talon, Arin also swung his knife without defending.

Arin could see talon coming for his stomach but he still decided to continue attacking. Everything seemed to move slow in his eyes.

Arin got hit in his stomach but his knife cut through it's leg like hot knife in the butter.

Now owl has only one leg and one wing but still it didn't back down and attacked.

Arin now full of adrenaline and confidence stepped forward and with his knife swinging.

He saw owl slowly coming in range as he slowly swung toward it's neck.

And before the Owl could do anything, it was decapitated.

[Mutated Stealth Owl : Unranked Creature Slain]

[Exp +10]

Hearing the notification, Arin also fell down his chest moving up and down as he tried to catch his breath.

That damn owl almost plucked me to death but why did it tried to kidnapped me first. Arin thought as he sat up and looked around.

He saw the bloodstains nearby, Maybe it saw bloodstains and thought I was already dead.

After being pleased with his own deduction, he moved toward the body of the owl and muttered,"let's see what goodies will you give me."

He used his skill Material Extract. Just like before all of the body of owl got covered in soft white glow. As it slowly receded, only one blue orb with soft glow remained.

It was first time seeing blue colored orb but Arin already had an idea about it. He quickly picked it up and crushed it.

[Item Acquired : Stealth Owl Feather]

Arin quickly activated his Talent while holding black feather in his hand.

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[Stealth Owl Feather]

Tier : 0

Rarity : Rare

Type : One-time use item

Description:

A soft large black feather of Mutated Stealth Owl. It ripples with unnatural stillness. When crushed, it creates faint shimmer that mask user from being detected.

Notes :

• Grant complete stealth for 30 seconds from any unranked creature

• Ineffective if already being observed directly

• Best Use : Escape

___________________________

Reading this Arin put the item in the inventory carefully. This is a live saver for sure and went to pick up his slingshot.

After gathering his items Arin checked his vitals.

___________________________

HP : 109/120

Stamina : 013/120

Energy : 140/140

___________________________

Arin sat in a corner. This time with straight back, trying not to fall sleep and restore stamina.

"If that was just the bird, I don't want to meet the cat" Arin muttered as he stared at the bloodstains left by bird.