Mike's wrists burned from the vine ropes as the warriors dragged him into the clearing. The tribe surrounded him in a tight circle, their faces painted with ochre and charcoal. Torches flickered, casting long shadows across the packed sand.
At the center stood Marpe, the tribe's champion.
» MARPE – LV.34
» TITLE: "BLOODCLAW"
» SKILLS: BERSERKER'S FURY, BONE CRUSHER
The man was a mountain of muscle, his chest crisscrossed with scars. A necklace of finger bones rattled as he cracked his knuckles. His grin was all teeth.
"First blood, outsider," Marpe sneered. "If you can."
» NEW QUEST: FIRST BLOOD DUEL
» OBJECTIVE: DRAW MARPE'S BLOOD (NON-LETHAL)
» REWARD: 500 XP, "TRIBE'S FAVOR" BUFF
» FAILURE: EXILED (DEATH BY JUNGLE)
Mike swallowed hard.
The shaman, Elder Moko, raised a gnarled hand.
"Begin!"
Marpe charged.
Mike barely dodged—the warrior's fist grazed his cheek, sending a shockwave of pain through his skull.
» HP: 28/100 (-5)
Too fast!
Marpe lunged again, his knee driving toward Mike's ribs. Mike twisted, but the impact still sent him sprawling.
» HP: 19/100 (-9)
The crowd roared.
Mike spat blood. I need an advantage.
» SKILL UNLOCKED: IMPROVISED COMBAT (LV.1)
» EFFECT: +10% DAMAGE WITH NON-STANDARD WEAPONS
His eyes darted—rocks, sand, the torch—
Marpe swung again.
Mike ducked, grabbed a handful of dirt, and threw it into Marpe's eyes.
» CRITICAL HIT! MARPE BLINDED (3 SECONDS)
The champion howled, clawing his face.
Now!
Mike rammed his shoulder into Marpe's gut, driving him backward.
» MARPE STUMBLES!
The crowd gasped.
Marpe wiped his eyes, snarling.
"Cheating worm!"
He activated Berserker's Fury, veins bulging along his arms.
» MARPE'S STRENGTH INCREASED BY 30%
» MARPE'S DEFENSE DECREASED BY 20%
Mike barely dodged the next punch—it shattered a wooden post behind him.
One hit will kill me.
He needed a weapon.
His fingers closed around a broken boar tusk at the edge of the ring.
» ITEM ACQUIRED: SHARPENED TUSK (DMG: 8-12)
Marpe charged again.
Mike sidestepped, slashing upward.
The tusk ripped across Marpe's bicep.
» FIRST BLOOD DRAWN!
» QUEST COMPLETE!
The crowd erupted.
Marpe stared at the crimson streak on his arm, disbelief twisting his face.
Then—rage.
"I'LL KILL YOU—"
Abby's dagger flashed, pressing against Marpe's throat.
"Enough," she hissed. "The trial is over."
Silence fell.
Elder Moko stepped forward, his voice booming.
"The outsider has proven himself. By the law of First Blood, he is granted shelter."
Marpe spat at Mike's feet. "This isn't over."
Mike's vision flickered.
» REWARD CLAIMED: 500 XP
» LEVEL UP! LV.2 → LV.3
» NEW STATS: STR +1, AGI +1
» "TRIBE'S FAVOR" BUFF ACTIVE (REPUTATION +20)
Abby leaned in; her breath warm against his ear.
"You fight dirty. I like that."
» KINSHIP WITH ABBY: 35/100 (NEUTRAL → INTERESTED)
Mike exhaled, his body aching.
I survived. For now.
But as he watched Marpe stalk away, he knew-
The real battle was just beginning.