Second Quest (3)

Vivian was sitting under a tree and she pressed the lid of her water pouch against her lips.

Gulp.

Gulp.

"Ah…"

Her eyes glanced at the water pouch on her hands and felt a pang in her stomach.

I forgot to eat lunch…

Well, can't help it, been so busy…

She raised her head and looked up at the sky.

The sky was still bright.

And by her estimate, it would be around 4:30 pm.

She swept her gaze around her surroundings.

"Okay, rest time is up…!"

She closed the lid of her water pouch and fastened it around her waist.

She grabbed her knife and whip and then got up before resuming to roam around the forest.

Hmm…

Where will I eat tonight…?

Should I try the eatery next to the inn I'm staying in…?

I hope it's not expensive…

She noticed a sunflower monster up ahead but didn't stop walking.

The monster turned towards her and immediately charged.

I wonder if this monster has any quest materials…

She assessed the body of the charging monster.

I guess it's head…?

Like maybe they would collect these and secrete its juice…?

The monster finally entered an appropriate distance.

Whaaack!

Thud.

Vivian swung her whip right below the monster's head, decapitating it.

And instead of continuing to walk as if nothing happened like she usually does when it comes to this monster, she decided to stop and stare at the severed head.

But what would be the number…?

I can't imagine gathering more than 10 of these for each quest…

The sunflower monster's head was basically a sunflower but bigger, almost as big as an adult's hand.

"Whatever…"

Vivian resumed walking.

I wonder what other dishes I can try…

Last time I ordered something that's befitting for an Adventurer…

At least for a poor Adventurer...

Hmm…

I wonder if there's pizza, burger, shawarma and chapati here…

Especially, chapati…

Vivian recalled a black woman she dated in her previous world who used to cook chapati for her. And as far as she was concerned, it tasted really great but it had too many calories and leaves one full right away.

I mean, since I'm an Adventurer, I don't think I'll need to worry about consuming a lot of calories…

Back in her previous world, she only ate about 2,500-3,000 calories a day to maintain 10-12% body fat all year round and had an athletic build. And given that she was natural, she had one of those sleeper builds -- doesn't look amazing with clothes on, but was a different story when naked.

She glanced at her body.

But I'm shorter now and I don't have that much muscle tissue because I'm a woman…

Will it be safe or will I get fat…?

But then again, I'm doing a lot of cardio with all this fighting after all…

So I guess it's safe…?

I also need the energy…

She scratched her head.

"Whatever…"

***

Beak!

Beak!

Beak!

Vivian stopped walking when she heard the sound. Normally, she would immediately turn to the direction of where the sound was coming from and try to locate it. But this time around, it was coming from 2 opposite directions, causing her to be confused for a moment.

Beak!

Beak!

She turned her head and spotted one.

Just as expected, it was heading towards her and was about 20ft away.

She immediately rushed to it.

Beak!

She heard the other one somewhere behind her but she didn't look back and just continued focusing on the one in front of her.

The bird flew lower to meet Vivian.

When the bird was about to enter Vivian's attack range, she suddenly ran to the left.

However, to her surprise, there was a group of tiny jumping mushrooms and they were charging at her.

Tch!

Vivian clicked her tongue as she was running and then glanced at the corner.

I can't spot the other bird and it's not making any noises…

Up ahead, she noticed another monster.

This time around, it was a Treebark.

It noticed her and began charging as well.

She suddenly stopped and turned around.

I have to get rid of those birds first…!

The Bukaroo was way ahead of the mushrooms and she ran to it.

Whaaack!

Beeeaaak!

The moment the bird entered her attack range, she immediately swung her whip, sending the bird flying to the left. And without waiting for the bird to crash to the ground, she automatically rushed to the left.

Thud.

Bam!

The bird finally crashed to the ground and it was immediately followed with a stomp.

Vivian quickly turned around.

Her eyes darted everywhere, trying to spot the location of her enemies.

She saw the mushrooms and the Treebark, but still couldn't find the other bird.

For a moment, a thought that she probably must've just imagined it crossed her mind. But she immediately dismissed it and threw it at the back of her mind.

I still have to make a move…!

She ran to the middle, between the mushrooms and Treebark, and waited for a moment for them to create a line and get a little closer.

When they finally reached a certain distance, she turned to the Treebark and rushed towards it.

The Treebark whipped its branch arms and missed as Vivian leaped over it and landed from behind.

Vivian dropped her kitchen knife and whip, moved forward, grabbed the Treebark at the bottom and top, and then lifted it up above her head.

The Treebark struggled by waving its arms as Vivian turned to face the tiny jumping mushrooms.

She moved one step forward as she threw the Treebark away at the mushrooms with all of her strength.

"HAAA!!!"

Baaam!

Ding!

'Unlocked [Body Art Mastery] (Savage Mastery] - Level 2!'

The Treebark landed and flattened a few mushrooms. Meanwhile, the mushrooms that didn't get hit or were still alive, continued to charge towards Vivian without a second thought.

Vivian turned around to pick up her knife and whip, and then rushed towards the incoming mushrooms.

Whooosh!

Whaaack!

Pah!

Ba-Squish!

She used her knife, whip and kicks as she engaged with them.

And while she was doing that, she noticed at the corner of her eye the Treebark getting up.

Whooosh!

Poink!

Whaaack!

Vivian took care of a few and then rushed towards the Treebark which was now rushing to join the fight.

Pah!

Braaak!

Vivian landed a flying kick and her kick went through the monster's body, causing her foot to get stuck.

She quickly tried to pull her foot up and was successful before turning to the mushrooms and count how many of them were left.

"Ouch!"

Vivian suddenly cried out and staggered forward.

She felt something sharp hit the back of her head and then she saw a Bukaroo flying away in front of her. 

It flapped its wings to turn around.

Seeing that bird, the realization caused her to break into a cold sweat, her face to turn pale and her eyes to become wide.

And just as she expected, she started to feel her head going numb that her neck was becoming heavy, her eyelids were slowly drooping, the sounds in her ear were getting muffled, and her lips were parting that she could feel her saliva slowly gathering up inside her mouth.

She quickly rushed forward.

Poink!

Poink!

Poink!

The mushrooms jumped and tackled her with their head but she ignored them.

The only thing she was focused on was the Bukaroo which was flying towards her to sting her once again.

Once the bird entered her attack range, she immediately activated a skill.

[Power Whip].

Whaaaack!

The bird wasn't even able to cry out as its body was shredded from the attack, leaving only bits and pieces of feathers, blood and guts.

Ding!

'Unlocked [Body Art Mastery] (Whip Mastery) - Level 1!'

Thud.

Thud.

The knife and whip on Vivian's hands fell to the ground.

Her head hung over her shoulders, she lost her hearing, she was fighting to raise her heavy eyelids to no avail, and a line of saliva fell from her mouth.

Thud.

She felt her body fall to the ground. And the next thing she knew, darkness enveloped her vision and then she lost consciousness.