Hand of The Eldritch God

Ren looked at the cat again after staring into the distance for perhaps too long, and in a quite unconventional manner. The striped, orange cat looked up at him as he had finally returned from his daydreaming. Speaking with a voice between an AI robot and a British butler it said, “Sir, I believe you still have not yet looked at the items as I have instructed you to.”

He peered into a pile of dead murder rabbits, albinos with all white fur and red eyes, they had giant fangs instead of tiny buck teeth. A light blue box appeared before his eyes.

Loot Murder Rabbits: Y/N

“Why does everything look… like a game?”

“Sir, this is for your understanding. Humans from your selected planet seem to be extraordinarily fond of such things and so for that purpose, this is shown to increase understandability and quality purposes.”

The tiny cat remained motionless as it spoke.

Mentally ‘poking’ the yes option he saw a flood of new information.

Items Looted:

Murder Rabbit Meat x5

Fangs of The Murder Rabbit Upgrade (Unique)

Vial of: Murder Rabbit Toxin

“Alright so?”

“Sir, please use your upgrade artifact on your blade.”

A small fang appeared in his hand as if from thin air. Pulling out his knife, he looked at the two. “So how…”

Use: Fangs of The Murder Rabbit Upgrade” on “Knife” Y/N

The knife transformed into a long and thinner version now made of a crude bone. Its blade had a long groove stretching from tip to handle.

“This will allow you to use poisons as an effective agent in battle. Add the vial to the handle of the blade until it drains.”

Taking the vial in hand Ren placed it onto the handle of the new blade. The venom from the rabbits drained into it where a thin green sheen was visible on the knife’s groove.

“Based on information about you this has been deemed a likely choice of weapons.”

Ren’s eyes widened. “What makes you think I want to go around killing things with a rabbit poison knife?”

“This is an accurate assessment of your preferences. Now, I must leave you to do things more independently.” The cat turned translucent and started to fade.

“Wait a minute there! You just made me kill a bunch of evil rabbits, harvest them to make an evil poison dagger, and now are leaving me to look like some sort of villain?” Pissed, he swiped at the creature’s fading form, only to have his hand grasp at nothingness.

The tiny orange cat disappeared.

Around him was a massive forest, the trees stood hundreds of feet high, and their trunks nearly ten feet at their greatest girth. Looking at himself, dagger in hand a screen popped up before his eyes, nearly translucent he could slightly see through it.

Name: Ren

Race: Human

Alignment: N/N

Class: N/A

Skill: N/A

Lvl: 0

Marks: Gate-Walker

HP:25/25 SP:40/40 MP:0/0

Attributes:

Str: 6

Vit: 5

End: 8

Dex: 8

Wil: 4

Int:6

Free Points: 0

Abilities:

Combat:

Skill:

Misc:

-Analyze: The ability given to gate-walkers in areas new to the greater inter-gate collective. Analyzes applicable materials, items, and creatures.

-Systemic Itemization: The ability to have information such as data, communication, crafting, combat, and miscellaneous extras to be rerouted through more efficient methods of communication.

With a mental trigger, the screen vanished. Taking a few steps forward a prompt came again.

Quest: Establish Magical Attributes

Become level one 0/1 task(s) complete

“Oh, so now I have to go around and murder more things?”

Walking through the forest his head swiveled constantly, ready for another attack by seemingly innocent creatures. The trees opened up to reveal a peaceful meadow full of deer. Upon walking into the clearing several of the creatures peered at him right away. With his revolver at the ready, they began to charge his way. Shit...

Crimson Eyed Doe lvl. 1

Crimson Eyed Doe lvl. 1

Crimson Eyed Doe lvl. 2

Crimson Eyed Buck lvl. 2

He opened fire first on the two low-leveled does, each bullet taking them down. The third, level two, took three of his last four bullets.

“What the hell…”

The buck rammed straight towards him as he fired his final shot. Dropping to the ground he smashed into the grassy earth as one of its hooves stuck his back. Turning around its eyes caused him to stop for a moment. Crimson, just as the namesake.

Pulling free his knife he readied himself as the buck tossed its head at him, dodging to the side his arm was gashed by an unnaturally sharp antler. His fang blade was lodged into its shoulder as he slammed it home. The animal thrashed for a moment before stumbling. The poison started coursing through it as Ren stood watching while warily backing off.

Before the poison could overwhelm the animal, it charged at him again. Throwing himself to the ground he dodged past the spikes ready to impale him. The buck stumbled to the ground, attempting to pull itself back up, it failed, falling to the earth and going still.

Walking over he removed the fang blade, on its shoulder the skin was darkened, already starting to rot.

"That’s disgusting…” He whispered to himself. Looking at the dagger in his hand he saw there was still some of the green venom remaining on the blade. Putting the blade back in his double sheath, he took out his ammo for the revolver slowly putting in the six new cartridges.

Walking back to the meadow he sighed, five more deer remained further to the other side that he could at least see.

Crimson Eyed Doe lvl. 2

Crimson Eyed Buck lvl. 1

Crimson Eyed Doe lvl. 1

Crimson Eyed Doe lvl. 1

Crimson Eyed Buck lvl. 3

Shifting through tall grasses he tried to get an optimal spot to begin the fight. Looking up he saw a massive tree with relatively low hanging branches. Pulling himself up slowly he hanged onto the large cracks in the bark with all his life. Reaching the first branch he climbed up it. Overhanging the tall grasses, he pulled out the ammo box ready to reload as soon as possible. Pulling back the hammer he sighted the first doe, level two. Missing once he fired four shots, the deer dying shortly after on the final blow.

The insane deer ran to the trunk as if waiting for him to come down. In this world of killing, there were no running cowards. Climbing closer to the trunk he saw foaming mouths. The level three buck slammed into the tree hard enough to rattle the branch he was on. Refilling on bullets he expended all six to kill off two does and a buck, all level one. The last one remaining was the level three buck. Its blood-red eyes stared at him as it rammed its massive antlers into the great tree.

Just above the deer, he unloaded four shots, falling to the earth the deer struggled up. Ren looked again at his revolver and sighed. The box of ammo was empty. He never expected to use the bullets like this.

“Damn deer, how the hell are you so strong? It’s a bullet.”

As it was recovering, he took the opportunity of advantage. Dropping from nearly ten feet, he plunged downwards with his blade. The poisoned fang dug into the back of the buck. Going limp it collapsed. The spine cut through, it died quickly with the poison adding to the mess.

Inspecting the fang dagger the venom was nearly all gone, a faint green line still appeared but the venom’s toxin was almost all used up. His brow furrowed as he got an idea. Mentally activating the ability to analyze he studied the blade.

Gate-Walker Blade (Uncommon)

Murder Rabbit Fang Upgrade Lvl. 1

Murder Rabbit Toxin Usage ⅓

Description: This blade came from another dimensional space through a gate. Belonging to a gate-walker through inheritance it has the Legend of a Great War behind it.

Huh. So, the blade has a leveling mechanic and a rarity score. His curiosity was taken by a notification popping up before him.

Level Up!

Quest Completed

Reward Available: Class Itemization

A class? Now this is where things might get a little complicated. A choice that might continue ever onward.

Classes:

Rogue: The use of ranged weapons, and daggers are your go-to. You prefer to remain in the shadows and strike when the time is right, a true scoundrel!

Archer: Ranged weapons are the ideal form of combat. A good crossbow or longbow and your enemies are dead.

Fighter: The option of a multitude of weapons is in your hands. No powerful warrior goes to battle without powerful armor possibly even a shield.

Barbarian: You are very, very angry. You hit things when angry, they die.

Spellblade: The applications of magic are best paired with a blade. Utilizing light armor while casting spells is the best way to surely come out alive.

Paladin: The power of an oath shines on your weapons. Channel the oath to bestow the strength to overcome great evils.

Cleric/Warlock: The power of your divine patron bestows you great strength in their name. Healing, or harming others through the power of your divine inspiration through worship or a pact.

Wizard: The study of magic and its attributes just lightens your day. Who needs blades when you can blow people up with magic?

Magic? Wizards? Nah. With a mental cue, he selected rogue without hesitation.

Congratulations! Class: Rogue has been selected.

Rogue: Level 1 Tier 0

Stats: +1 Dexterity/ level, +2 Free Points/ level

Abilities:

Stealth: The ability to cloak oneself and travel through darkness unseen. Effectiveness is based on the user's Dex.

Sneak Attack: Damage dealt to unaware targets is significantly increased.

Tracking: The ability to track one’s target, effectiveness based on intellect and minimally, based on dexterity.

Ah, the classic. He smiled to himself. But there was one problem, he still didn’t have more bullets.

Well, I guess I have no choice. When in doubt, keep stabbing.

Ren went back to the only thing he knew how to do. So far, it'd been his only hobby in this odd new world. So, why not just keep killing?

Moving through the underbrush of the surrounding woods he crossed the trail of several more of the deer from before. With a mental prompt, the tracking ability came forth. As if highlighted in a faint whiteness the tracks came alive. As he moved along, following the trail, he noticed movement in the distance. Squinting he saw four deer.

Crimson Eyed Doe lvl. 3

Crimson Eyed Doe lvl. 2

Crimson Eyed Doe lvl. 2

In conjunction with his tracking, he allowed his stealth ability to naturally guide him. He moved with the curvature of the land, and in between shadows to mask himself.

With a cat’s grace, he moved through tall grass swiftly getting in position. Creeping close to the first of the does, he slammed forward, driving the blade into its neck. Falling, the animal almost immediately went limp. Red eyes stared blankly at him as he dodged back into the brush. The bonus damage allotted to his stealth was insanely high.

Damn, I’m starting to feel bad about all this killing. Not like any of this could be real. Forgiving himself for the needless murder he looked at the three remaining deer, the buck tossed its head, seeming to notice something was wrong. Taking quick steps over to the doe dead on the ground, the buck's head bucked up and it began to look around for the murderer. Just as a call of alarm came from it, the sound stopped as Ren’s blade came into its neck just as it had struck the doe’s.

The final two turned to look directly at him and charged. Shit.

Diving beside the first he slashed along its flank, gashing a thick red wound across its hind leg. The second whipped around and cracked its head against his back. The first falling and struggling to stand was occupied as the second came at him again. This time he was gasping for breath after having the air knocked from him. Its hooves slammed into the earth beside him as he spun to the side and slammed home the bone blade, its length buried more than half deep into the beast’s side. It fell back, the blade coming free as he yanked it.

The first doe was now recovered, lowering itself it charged though slowed greatly by its wound. With aching ribs, he dashed to the side and sliced its neck. Falling to the ground it died Within moments of the death, the final doe attempted to slam its hooves down on him again. Coming into the attack he went under it stabbing forwards, ending its life.

He sat on the ground, his breath coming raggedly, “No… more… groups… without a gun…” He struggled for air as his ribs cried out in pain, but then, he smiled feeling alive.

The sun was setting and yet it felt like he should have been to bed hours ago. Bloodbaths seemed to have that effect on him. Sighing he slammed the bone blade into a log beside him. With a mental prompt, he looked at the odd screen that came into his mind.

Rouge Itemization:

Cloak (Common): Small effectiveness increase to the stealth ability.

Rouge’s Quiver (Common): Through the expenditure of mana the user may create various ammunition for chosen ranged weaponry.

With an odd feeling, he prompted the items to appear. In his excitement to begin the murder spree, he ignored the options on his menu. Now, exhausted, he had nothing better to do.

Donning the cape, he soon began inspecting the oddly small quiver he was given. Imagining an arrow he felt a mental strain. His mana began to lower, from twenty down to twelve. Placing his hand into the quiver he felt the end of an arrow, pulling it free it seemed far too large to come from the small quiver he held. Feeling the tip, it was razor sharp, enough to cause a tiny bead of blood to well on the tip of his finger. Damn, not bad. With a small smirk, he imagined a single bullet. Placing his hand within the quiver he felt the mental strain but stronger this time. Feeling a small object at the bottom he smiled, pulling it before his face. It was a perfect bullet.

Glancing at his mana, he saw the pool had lowered to zero. His mind felt fuzzy and so he closed his eyes, feeling for the revolver as he placed the single bullet inside. The mental strain of depleting his mana rendered him unable to even open his eyes as if his mind was entirely numb.

In the fog of sleep, he remembered a face, that of someone beloved, and yet, his heart only ached at it. Longing to forget, his dreams turned to bloodshed, pain, and adrenaline.