Five Tries... Five deaths, that's what it took for me to finally defeat that thing. I tried to evade it after the third time, I really did, but it just kept finding me. How? I didn't know, probably heard my footsteps even when I tried to be quiet.
As devastating as that fight was for my body's durability and my mental health, it was eye-opening, to say the least.
Contrary to what I was told, some things worked exactly the same as in the game: I-frames when rolling were there, Parry mechanics, and riposte mechanics.
Which were easier to pull off than they were in the game, since I managed one parry and riposte during my third try at the beast.
However, finding that out cost me, I was hollowed a lot more now, the maximum amount I could be, which wasn't a good thing since I only had one Human Effigy. I would have to save that until I found a sustainable source or learned how to use a sword.
My winnings after that battle? A mere three thousand souls. Sure, I could level up multiple times, but it felt rather... Underwhelming.
Nevertheless, I opened the menu and put three whole levels into strength.
My sword scaled with strength, so it would be beneficial in the long run, more so if I could find a Greatsword.
Though, in hindsight, maybe putting it in vigor would be better for more health, since I technically only had half of what I usually would.
But all would come with time, and since I technically could not die, I had all the time in the world.
I looked up to the sky, watching the sun's position for a moment. I had no idea how to tell the time with the sun, but I could guesstimate. Time didn't reset when I died, it seemed it passed normally.
Which meant it would be night soon... and me, being the city boy that I was, had no idea how to make a tent... or how to survive in the forest, however, I had all the advantages I needed.
Like not being able to die...
"That's forshadowing, by the way..."
I muttered, dragging a hand down my face. I was going to fail a lot until I succeeded in the end, and the cycle would repeat again and again.
In the end, being able to do nothing about my situation, I just walked forward, since that was the only thing I could do.
The forest seemed to stretch on forever, the trees being my only companion as my stroll through them continued until the sun finally set and the moon made its entrance...
"Why is the moon broken?"
That was my question, and it was a good question, honestly, who the fuck broke the moon?
I could only stare, watching the fragments of the world's natural satellite seem broken off, floating in place in space.
More importantly, how would the broken moon affect the Earth? The questions were still coming, and I had no answers to any of them.
What kind of fucked up world was I sent to? Were there any humans still around? Hell, I haven't even seen or heard any animals since I came here, except for the one that wanted to rip out my throat for some apparent reason after seeing me.
I looked down from the sky, only to come face to face with something heading right for me, and I felt my body tense, and I took a step back, letting whatever it was pass through me. I moved back, startled, only to stare up at the hulking body of what looked like a black bear, its white skull-like covering on the face glowed with red markings, along with the red eyes that bore down at me.
Was I too distracted to notice this giant coming up to me?
Its mouth opened as it surged forward, trying to bite my head off, only for me to roll right into it.
I was panicking, but I didn't hear my heart beating in my ears like I did the first time I got into an altercation with one of these things.
As soon as I got to my feet, I swung my sword forward, cutting into its side. It didn't roar in pain, just growled and came at me again, and in turn, I moved back, behind the trees that were around us.
I thought I could buy myself some time to plan something, only for the tree to break apart at the bear's swipe of its paw.
I stared, dumbfounded. Bears weren't this strong from what I remembered. Could I have whatever this thing was being fed?
The answer wouldn't come, apparently, since the bear wanted my flesh, seeing as it was coming at me again, making me do the only sensible thing and run away, trying to lose it in the forest.
My feet carried me into the forest, dodging the trees so they wouldn't cause my immediate demise.
The bear was coming after me, I could hear it, and the trees it was breaking by chasing after me.
A loud growl reached my ears, but not from behind me. I looked to my right, seeing the same beast I killed jumping at me. This one looked smaller, with fewer spikes, but not any less dangerous.
I could tell because it was already jumping on me.
The impact knocked me off my feet, the beast on top of me, the stop was sudden, and the blur that the world was from the sudden motion stilled, only for me to stare up at the jaws that were coming down around my head.
The sword that was still clutched in my hand came up, stabbing the beast in the chest as it slumped down on top of me, slowly turning into dust.
I took a deep breath to calm myself down, but that didn't last for long, since the bear that was chasing after me was still there. still alive, as its paw was coming down right on my chest.