Artificial Fantasy

Chapter 16: Stunned Efforts

<<As I said, calm down. As long we can remain in our hiding spot, we should be safe. So don't worry about it. Besides, I doubt Arthur will be [Stunned] for long.>>

<<How can you tell?>>

I asked myself the same question. That is until I heard Arthur's scream. When I looked around, I saw him running out of the smoke with his long sword in hand. I could tell he got a few wounds and scraps on his face, but he didn't seem to care much about it.

<<Let's just say the game has some ways to teach you it's mechanics.>>

I'll say. We're still in a virtual world, yet I hadn't seen him that angry since last year's Sports Day at school. Before I could even try to move my legs, I saw him swung his sword even more times than I could count. What was even more surprising was how fast he struck with his sword, and how he was able to dodge the bear's attacks so quickly. Was this the effect of one of his skills?

"Hah! Is that all you got? I've seen complete slowpokes like you and they could even outrun me in a marathon!" Arthur shouted as he continued to dodge the [Wild Bear's] claws. "I give you props for how you stunned me for a moment there. But even so, you're still just a big ol' teddy bear!"

Well, that's one way to get its attention, though I didn't know if he was taunting them or if it was just another way for him to bust out his lame jokes. Still, I was impressed with how Arthur was able to recover after that one crazy attack. Even more so, as I watched everything that transpired, I slowly realized that I was now able to move my arms and legs again. I guessed that the [Stunned] effect had disappeared from my body.

<<H-Hey! I can move my arms again!>> I could hear Kaz happily announced this, at which I cracked a smile, glad that he and Mari had recovered as well.

<<Great! Let's strike back while the iron is hot!>> Mari declared, which I nodded in agreement.

<<I couldn't say it better than myself.>>

With my mobility restored, I readied my bow and begun firing several arrows at the bear. Like before, I could see Mari and Kaz casting offensive spells towards the monster. Once they did, I could see it's [HP] dwindle even more.

[HP: 309/580]

<<Alright! It's working! We might actually defeat this beast!>> I mentally screamed while avoiding breaking my focus towards the [Wild Bear].

<<But what about the [Wild Bear's] roar? How can we avoid being [Stunned] again?>>

Kaz had a point. We needed to find a way to prevent from being incapacitated again. Otherwise, Arthur might end up enduring more hits than he would have been prepared for, and we still didn't have a healer in our party. Then I realized something.

<<What if we back away from the battlefield so we can avoid hearing the bear's roar?>>

I could hear Mari's voice humming through my ears. <<That might be a good idea. It might be an Area of Effect attack and I doubt it can reach a long distance of the forest. But one of us should go while the rest continue attacking the bear. Otherwise, it could try to rest and recover it's [HP].>>

<<Okay, that's a good idea. But who should leave the battlefield?>> Kaz asked in a worried tone. <<Arthur is busy distracting the bear while we have to stay and continue attacking.>>

He's got a point. Arthur and Mari were the strongest and most experienced of us, and I didn't want to volunteer Kaz for obvious reasons. So all that's left was...

<<Looks like it's me then. Mari, take care of Kaz for me.>>

Well, I seriously didn't want to leave everyone. But this is our ticket to defeating this beast.

----

Current Quest: Subjugate a Wild Bear **

Status: In Progress

Party Members:

[Wind]

[Kaz]

[Arthur]

[Mari]

----

Wind's Masteries

[Archery] Level 6

[Woodcrafting] Level 1

[Swordsmanship] Level 6

[Cooking] Level 1

[Wind] Level 5

[Physical Enhancement] Level 1

[Hunting] Level 4

----

Kazu's Masteries

[Arcana] Level 6

[Thunder] Level 6

[Wind] Level 5

[Alchemy] Level 7

[Magecrafting] Level 1

[Magical Affinity] Level 5

[Scribe] Level 1