Feng’s face grew grim as his mind whirled furiously to create a plan to take down the bandit chief he previously underestimated… Taking stock of his environment and the target, Feng quickly took advantage of the giant’s lax attitude and tossed a mace and axe embedded on the ground nearby at his head.

The bandit chief scoffed contemptuously at that projectiles and easily caught them by raising up his tower shield to block… only to wince as he felt a sharp jolt of pain flare in his leg.

Unnoticed by the bandit chief, Feng had stealthily drew his knife and tossed it in the wake of the other two projectiles, relying on the tower shield blocking the man’s sight to allow the knife to slip past his guard and impale itself fully into the man’s left thigh.

Growling at the sneak attack, the large man ripped out Feng’s knife with an angry roar and let it drop to the ground uncaring of the blood spilling down his thigh.

“SNEAKY COWARD! I WILL CRUSH YOUR BONES AND MAKE SURE YOU DIE IN AGONY!”

Determined to bring this fight to its conclusion swiftly, Feng paid no heed to the bandit chief’s words and was instead gathering up the scattered bandit weapons he previously used against the fleeing bandits.

Knowing it is foolhardy to challenge the hulking man head-on, Feng decided to take reference from the Bible, seeing the similarities between this match-up and that of David versus Goliath…

‘Step one, reduce his mobility – successfully. Next step, evasive maneuvers and projectile attacks to wear him down… but first to taunt him and ensure his attacks are uncontrolled and easier to dodge...’

Letting a serene smile spread across his countenance, Feng responded calmly to the giant man’s threat with a biblical quote... with some modifications.

“Persist and this day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head… But my Lord is a loving God, repent your sins, let the blood sacrifice of Christ wash your sins away and you shall be forgiven.”

“YOU INSOLENT WORM! TO DARE PREACH AT ME? I WILL STAKE YOU UP AND LET YOU DIE A SLOW PAINFUL D-!”

Not bothering to reply, Feng commenced his barrage of thrown weaponry, throwing every weapon he collected from the bandits… interspersed with random bread and cookies to distract and draw the man’s attention away from the real threats as well as to conserve his limited ammunition.

The bandit chief’s angry roar was cut off as he was forced to duck an axe spinning overhead, allowing a piece of hard bread to thump against his helmet as his shield and blade were pre-occupied with deflecting most of the flying weaponry with only a few nicks and bruises resulting from the attack.

Not waiting to see the results, Feng had hurriedly circled around to gather more fallen weapons and almost missed the brute’s sending another massive blade of air rending the ground as it sped towards him. His heart pumping double-time, Feng jumped aside dropping the weapons he was trying to retrieve in its path and felt a sharp pain in his side…

Feng held in a pained moan as he extracted the dagger which was blown away by the gales of the passing attack stabbed into his side. Fortunately, the wound was not deep due to his armor but it drained another hundred or so health points leaving Feng in a dangerous position as a single hit from the bandit chief would easily wipe out his remaining health…

‘Damn. Looks like step two is a failure with his superior ranged attacks... No choice except to move straight to step three then.’

Feng hurled all his remaining weaponry as he desperately charged towards his large foe and keeping only the steel blade in his right hand while his left kept up a stream of thrown weaponry.

Unfortunately, Feng could hardly sustain the barrage with the few weapons he managed to pick up before he was interrupted and only closed half of the distance between them as his ammunition ran dry…

Seeing the hulking bandit prepare to launch another blade of air at him, Feng panicked knowing that he could not dodge in time with his current momentum and made a snap decision to pepper the enemy with his remaining bread, launching them at the bandit chief in an unending stream.

“HA HA HA! OUT OF WEAPONS PESKY INS- GGAAKK“

His enemy guffawed at the stream of bread and did not even bother dodging them as he continued to raise his claymore… only to be cut off by a piece of bread precisely shooting into his mouth as he laughed… causing him to cough and choke as the hard bread lodged itself firmly in his throat.

With the choking bandit chief’s guard wide open, Feng barreled into him with his steel sword fully extended… driving fully into his bare torso.

*SHRRINNNGKKK*

Feng’s blade scraped the bandit’s ribs with a piercing shriek and which only ended as its tip protruded slightly out from the back of his large torso…

Feng stared wide-eyed at the dimming gaze of the huge man, shocked at his unexpected success as blood leaked out of his foe’s mouth and fell onto Feng’s face...

*Drip* *Drip*

The world seemed to pause for a moment except for the falling droplets of blood as the two combatants remained suspended in that position with Feng’s sword buried deep in the bandit chief towering over him, his large sword and shield still held up.

*THUMP* *CLLUNNNGGG*

The silence was broken by the huge tower shield falling onto the ground out of the dying giant’s grip, followed shortly after by the claymore as the hulking man’s knees buckled and he collapsed on his knees.

Pulling his sword out with an accompanying spray of blood, Feng grimly swung his blade as blood splattered all over him… and the large head of the bandit chief dyed the grassy ground red as it rolled away.

Feng stood triumphant over the dead bandit chief, cutting a terrifying figure with his body covered with the enemy’s blood… The remaining bandits looked around in confusion and disbelief at the death of their leader, and their thoughts can be clearly seen in their eyes as they wondered if Feng will come after them next…

As Feng took a single step forward, the bandits tensed collectively and readied their weapons only for Feng to surprise them with his words.

“Tis only through the grace of our Lord Jesus, the bread of life that I have triumphed this day and by that same grace, I offer all of you the chance to return to your families and repent your sins. Go.”

Watching as the confused bandits slowly broke off from the group one by one and ran away, Feng sheathed his blade with a sigh of relief.

‘... Come to think of it. Jesus… Bread of life… is literally so in this case, as that piece of bread probably saved my life.’

Sweat-dropping at the realization, Feng shot off a quick prayer of thanks and decided against looting while the remaining bandits was in sight and instead checked the massive deluge of notifications he had ignored in the past few hour or so of battle with the bandits and the chief.

Congratulations! For defeating an elite [Bandit Chief] above your level and his followers, you have leveled up seven times and earned:

Quick Draw has leveled up to Basic 1

Throwing Mastery has leveled up to Basic 3

Toughness has leveled up to Basic 1

Combat Instinct has leveled up to Basic 2

Stealth has leveled up to Basic 2

Decapitating Blow has leveled up to Novice 4

Assassinate has leveled up to Novice 4

Oratory has leveled up to Novice 7

Achievement Unlocked: Destroyed Black Forest Bandit Clan

You have slain the Black Forest Bandit Leader and his followers, stopping the bandits’ reign of terror against merchants and travelers.

+500 Fame

+10 Strength

+5 Endurance

+5 Willpower

By reaching level 50, your maximum inventory slots have been increased to 5x5.

New Title Obtained: Holy Warrior

You have triumphed against a superior foe, claiming victory in the name of your God.

ERROR 404 -Admin Note: No Holy Magic or Skills has been granted due to Chosen Deity being not of Athal origin.

Faith now increases effectiveness of Holy Magic in combat

+250 Faith

+10 Luck

New Skill Obtained: Preaching

You have learnt how to preach to a crowd… and how to piss off others with your preaching.

(Passive)

+1% chance of converting others to your religion

+3 Charisma

Sub-skill: Battle Preaching (Active)

10% chance to cause [Berserk] status on anyone not of the same religion

25% chance to buff allies with [Religious Fervor]

Feng twitched with annoyance as he realized his new title and faith stat was basically ineffective without any Holy Magic… and looked up to see all the bandits have fled and decided to start looting only to stop in his tracks as a thought struck him.

‘Wait. OH SHIT! If the bandits are all gone… Who am I supposed to ask for directions back to town!’

“Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.”

Slamming his palm into his head repeatedly, Feng berated himself for losing track of his actual goal in the midst of all the excitement and combat.

‘Well at least, I can tell that most of them went eastwards, probably towards a road. Hopefully, I can find a map of something in the camp else I would have to follow them and hope for the best…’

Feng quickly stripped down the corpse of the bandit chief and tossed the loot obtained into his inventory, not bothering to evaluate the items due to the lack of time and boss loots usually being the most valuable.

Heading into the camp, a ramshackle affair with tents set up haphazardly around the place within the wooden palisade, Feng noted only a few common areas such as the large central campfire with some log stools scattered about and a roughly-hewn table serving as their dining area judging by the food stains, a corner of the camp with a large pile of stolen commodities and an outhouse area…

Feng made a beeline for the largest tent right in front of the central campfire, presumably belonging to the bandit chief and entered it hoping to find some maps of the area and treasures… Only to find something out of his expectations or more accurately someone; a completely nude girl chained to a stake who cowered at his entrance.

Stunned for a moment, Feng blushed at the sight of the beautiful naked female form before him before snapping himself out of it and immediately removed his cloak and wrapped the naked girl with it.

However, the girl’s trembling only increased and she cried out piteously.

“Please don’t kill! I’ll do anything you want. Just spare me please…”

Taken aback by the girl’s reaction, Feng hesitated and looked around bewildered only to realize why when he caught a glimpse of his blood-soaked form in an ornate glass mirror…

Kneeling down next to the girl, Feng gently patted her back and reassured her.

“Be at peace, lady. I’m here to free you, the bandits are already gone.”

Soft honey brown eyes peered up at him from beneath long indigo tresses and held his gaze for a long moment, before a look of wonder crossed her face and the girl repeated his words with a tone of incredulous disbelief.

“… I’m free?”

She dissolved into a sobbing mess at the sudden realization of her freedom and Feng looked at her awkwardly before deciding to spend his time productively till the girl recovers by freeing her with the ring of keys he found on the bandit chief’s corpse and ransacking the tent.

Feng managed to open a chest using the keys and beamed as the dazing yellow light reflected across his face, but beyond that chest of gold, he did not manage to find anything else of use in the tent.

“There’s a hidden lock-box beneath the chest…”

Feng jumped at the sudden words from the female who seemed to have recovered and nodded appreciatively before pushing aside the heavy chest to reveal a small lock-box buried in the ground. Opening it revealed a small fortune worth of gemstones and caused a massive grin to spread across Feng’s cheeks.

“Here, catch.”

Taking some of the clothes he found belonging the woman, Feng gestured for her to get dressed as he turned his back.

“… I don’t suppose you also happen to know how to get to Tyward do you?”

Tossing out the main problem he was facing, Feng hoped that he would finally be provided with an easy solution especially with the clock ticking and him having about a day and half left…

“I do… He often discussed about heading over to sell the stolen goods to some contact in Tyward, it should be directly south-east out of the forest and then south following the road… about half a day’s journey away. Could you, um… bring me with you too?”

Nodding reassuringly at the dressed girl, Feng smiled and passed her a small pouch as he replied.

“Of course, but I must warn you that I am in a hurry. Here take this too, the gold won’t be able to wipe away your sufferings… but at least you will have some funds to make a new start.”

Not waiting for her reply, Feng scooped her up onto his back and made his way back out of the bandit camp to the bloody battleground and retrieved the few quality weapons he spotted before turning towards Tyward and bursting into a long loping run, ignoring the weak protests of the girl insisting she can walk.

After a few hours of running, Feng sustaining his current pace easily with his high endurance, they soon neared the forest exit with the trees getting visibly thinner allowing them a glimpse of the road through grassy plains.

“Thank you…”

The girl murmured softly as the notion of freedom strengthened as they put the Black Forest behind them. Feng stiffened suddenly as he felt the girl leaning into his back as she said that… with the soft feeling of her impressive “assets” flushed against him.

Feng only got more flustered as he felt soft lips touching the back of his neck… and stumbled in his stride, catching his foot on a tangle of roots sending the pair lurching forward uncontrollably.

Twisting in mid-air, Feng secured the girl and tried to control his body to prepare for the impact only to freeze up as his wounded side protested the sudden movement… and caused Feng to land head first with their combined weight.

*THUD*

Feng slammed his temple into a knot of hardwood roots with a loud thud… and his vision dimmed as he felt faintly the girl shaking him and inaudible sounds as her mouth moved…

*DING*

You have died.

Congratulations on your first death in Athal, we honor you who managed to fight through unbelievable odds against monsters and humans alike only to die a most embarrassing death from tripping due to womanly charms.

Admin Note: In case you didn’t catch the sarcasm, we are all laughing our asses off at you!

Time till re-spawn: 23:59:42

Levels Lost: 3

Items Dropped: Heavy Claymore, Salamander Claws (x17), Comodon Lizard Meat (x14), Large Tower Shield, Black Wolf Fur Pants

Money Dropped: 171 Gold 23 Silvers 6 Coppers

Feng blinked at the sudden blackness around him, broken only by the bright blue notification box before him and swore loudly after reading it.

“F***”

---

AN: To clear up any confusion you may have, Feng dies because of the "simple fall" despite his advanced stats because of several factors.

First of all, he was caught off-guard and it slammed his head, which is both deadly in real life as well as a critical hit in-game. As the game is meant to be realistic and demonstrated over the course of many enemy deaths, a fatal blow in real life will always be a fatal blow in-game as well. Toughness might mitigate some damage but only to the extent as allowed by physics and physiology.

Secondly, he was already wounded which was also the reason why he was unable to react in time and landed badly. This also means in terms of in-game terminology, he was low on hp and hence susceptible to death through a single critical hit.