Sharp

Moving at night was a lot different than during the day. I had to be more careful on the roofs. A fall would be fatal. Instead of jumping gaps that I would have during the day, I went down walls and up the other side. Some moonlight would have been better.

On the other hand, using Hunters Step on the ground was easier, as I could dart across gaps without being seen. Except for that one gap where the undead occupied the shadow I was arriving in, and I totally missed sensing it. I had to head and heart it really quick, and now I have to wash my hands again.

I was getting close to the gate when I saw some light a few buildings over. My heart sank. I climbed a tall building where I could see, and my worst fears were confirmed. The area that was lit up was the gate to the astral space. The gates were open, and there was high-level undead there. As I watched, an undead monster stepped into view.

They had gone into astral space and were converting monsters into undead monsters. Whoever was in charge must be gold-rank, and there was about to be an army of undead monsters to accompany the high-level undead. We won’t just need gold rankers. We will need teams of gold rankers.

I need to get out of here and get my family out of here. I was extra careful and holding my emotions in check. There was high-levelled undead around, and as you got up to silver-rank, you no longer had vulnerable things like a brain or heart. You become a magic construct, and it takes a lot to damage you, and your recovery attribute is powerful. I had no chance. Bronze -rank is somewhere between normal human and magic construct. A team of iron rankers should be able to take out a bronze if the skills match up is favourable. Bronze up to silver is harder still.

I was not yet even iron rank.

My vulnerability was suddenly very clear to me. I also realised I was about to make the worst and last mistake of my short life. There was no way I was getting past a gate with high-level undead and at least one controller.

I veered off and headed directly to the wall away from the gate. The bottom part of the wall was stone. The upper part was wood. It was designed so defenders could fight from the top during the monster surges. This meant that periodically, there were stairs for those adventures without flight or teleport powers.

There were high-level undead on each of the stairs. I checked two. I couldn’t detect any controllers, but it was dark. I needed to get out before the first light, and I was running out of time. I was also running out of steam. I had little sleep the previous night, and now I had been up for nearly twenty hours. I was exhausted and starting not to think straight. Should I find a place to hide for the day and try again tomorrow night?

The trouble was that the number of undead was only growing. I didn’t know what their objective was, but the city would only get increasingly crowded with undead.

I would try and scale the wall. The stonework was only about three times my height, and then I could use my claws. I started about equidistant from two stairs. My pack was feeling very heavy.

There were handholds. The inside was not the part that needed to stop monsters. I got to the top fine and hid in the shadow while my arms stopped shaking. Why couldn’t … I shouldn’t keep complaining about my attributes. I can’t do anything about them.

The next bit was going to be trickier. The walls were designed to stop monsters from climbing them. I felt the outer edge, and it was very smooth; my claws couldn’t scratch it. It was coated in something that would stop silver-rank monsters.

I was feeling a lot of despair. I would break something with that fall, and Hunter's Step would not stop that.

Gods, I am tired. I am not thinking straight. I rummaged in my pack and pulled out the rope I had packed. I tied it to the parapet and let it drop over the wall. I would have to leave it behind, but I was past caring.

I checked the bottom for movement and sound. The forest had been cleared about half a kilometre back from the wall to allow a killing field. As far as I could tell, there was no undead there. The air was refreshingly clear of the stink of rot and death. I half climbed, and half slid down the rope and then used Hunters Step to dash for the tree line.

I couldn’t rest yet. I had left evidence of where I had gone over the wall. I don’t know if it would be found or if they would care, but now was not the time to make assumptions. They were going to have an army of undead monsters, some of whom were good hunters and trackers like the silver-ranked tree panther the last expedition ran into. I kept going, straining my perception skills. Normal monster manifestations did not stop just because the city had an undead army occupying it.

I moved lightly, switching Hunters Step on in spurts and changing direction several times. I found a stream, took off my pack, and washed myself as best I could. If I could track with scent, so could others. It also woke me up.

I carried on for a while, and as the sun was rising, I was searching for somewhere to sleep. Up in the trees was probably safer than on the ground. Yes, there are flying monsters, tree panthers and other things, but I couldn’t find anywhere safe on the ground. My mind was getting foggy, and I was making mistakes.

I found a strong tree that looked like there were branches that would be OK, so I climbed it. My arms were done, and I had to rest halfway up. When I got to a suitable branch, I took off my backpack and stuffed it against the trunk. I sat on the branch and leaned against the pack and realised I didn’t have my rope to tie myself to the branch.

I just sat for a while with my mind blank. Then I undid a couple of my belts that passed for my clothes and used them, one on my legs and one on my chest. I hope I don’t snore.

I was half surprised when I woke up. I sort of didn’t expect to. Then I moved and wished I hadn't. Every muscle was sore, even ones I didn’t have. Why couldn’t the recovery… no, stop wishing for things you can't change.

I did some limited stretches on the branch and then unstrapped myself. Then I stretched again and fished in the pack for some jerky to eat. The sun was well past the zenith. I didn’t really feel rested. I reluctantly put the pack back on and climbed down the tree.

I paused and did some more experimental stretches. I got my drink bottle out and took a long drink. I should have filled it at the stream. I looked at it. It was a wooden drink bottle, probably made out of Weeping Willow. It will self-fill over time. I put the lid back on and put it in the pack.

I took a deep breath. There were hints of rot and death on the wind. There were undead in the forest.

I would have to take it slow today. I only had half a day of daylight left anyway. That was a good amount of time, and I could find somewhere better to sleep and get to the village late tomorrow. I was scared I was already too late. This was only the second day of the undead in the city, but they had to come from somewhere.

I set off at a brisk walk, keeping alert. The first undead I saw was a bear. From what I could see, it was an ordinary bear, but It was obviously dead. I made a wide detour around it and kept going.

I picked berries and other edible plants and nibbled as I walked. I would not be eating meat for a long while. What I also did was chop likely-looking branches for short spears and javelins.

It was only late afternoon when I found a hollow with an overhanging rock that was not quite a cave. I decided to stop here for the night, put my pack down, and did some stretches.

Then, I got out my axes and went through the forms for the skill book. I found some of the stances awkward and wondered if I was doing it right. I persisted as that was all I could do.

Before the light faded, I got out the spear skill book. I used the book, and then I realised that what I had cut were not spears but sharpened sticks. Spears didn’t just have a point; they had a blade that you could use for slashing moves. They also normally had a crossguard, so you could keep the creature on the end at a distance from you or pin it to the ground. I grabbed one of the sticks and used it to go through the moves anyway. You do what you can with what you have.

I woke with the sun. I was still alive. That was good. I was feeling a bit better today. I was running out of food, though. I should get to the village late this afternoon, so there should be food there. I hoped there would also be people there.

I spent an hour on my axes, then an hour with my sticks, pretending they were spears. Then, I sat with the skill book on knives and learned about them. I spent an hour going through the forms with them. I knew this wasn’t the way it should be done, but what choice did I have?

I set out on a brisk walk. I might not get there before dusk now, but I was as prepared as I could be.