Civilization

"What do we do!?" - Terrance

"How is that staying calm Terrance?" - Louis

"Shut up Louis! What do you want me to do? I wasn't ready to fight whatever that is!" - Terrance

"WHAT DID YOU SAY?! GET UP TERRANCE! I'LL BEAT YOU FIRST!" - Louis

"Shut up! Pick up your weapon Terrance! Both of you get up! Sir! At your orders!" - Scott

A smirk appears on my face as I hear the small chaos behind me. Would this have been how I would have been if I started Settlement at this time? Arguing with random people, scrambling on the ground trying to get up, and panicking at the first scene of danger. What a relaxed attitude… 

"Earth Spike." - Ian

Activating Earth Spike between me and the monster, I create a small window of opportunity for myself to retreat to the three of them. Unpleased with the unfavorable situation the monster stomps its spear on the ground whilst shouting at us.

"ἰσχὺν περιεποιήσαντο χρημάτων τε προσόδῳ καὶ ἄλλων ἀρχῇ. Καὶ εἶδον οὐρανὸν καινὸν καὶ γῆν καινήν. Αὐδῶμαι δὲ παῖς Ἀχιλλέως ἀδικηθεῖτε." 

"What the hell? It can speak!?" - Terrance

"Anyone understands Lizard?" - Louis

"Never heard of this language in my life. Must be an in-game language right?" - Scott

"I'm sure it said something along the lines of Fight me. However, it won't be me fighting it, it will be you three. Its strength is similar to most other players, but its agility is quite high. Scott, focus on holding down the monster. Once that happens, Louis and Terrance attack it. Don't worry about the other monsters in the river, I'll block them if they attack." - Ian

"Understood!" - Scott, Terrance, Louis

Licking the scales along the side of its face the monster peers at our activities with great interest, but quickly lunges out at us the moment it saw Scott move forward. Dodging it by a hair, Scott grabs the body of the spear and wraps his right arm around it as he steps closer to the monster. Reacting quickly, the monster grabs its spear with both hands while kicking forward aiming at Scott's body.

In that scenario, I would have dodged with my agility or skill, but seeing Scott jump up, hand standing on the spear for a moment before falling down on the monster's head. In turn, taking them both to the ground within a couple of seconds of fighting made me want to turn back time and look at my life decisions. A clean hold around the monster's neck so fast that none of us could react until Scott yelled at us.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING, TERRANCE, LOUIS!?" - Scott

"Huh? Ah! RIGHT! RAGHHHH!" - Terrance

"How did you-? What the-? God dammit!" - Louis

Terrance and Louis both rush toward the monster that Scott was restraining, readily their weapons to contribute. However, the monster was ultimately stronger than Scott, and adding to the fact that it wasn't a human, it displayed a method to escape Scott's hold. Slamming its tail onto the ground, it lifts itself and Scott into the air, before crashing down on Scott with a loud thud. Letting go of his grip from the impact of the attack, Scott falls unconscious while Terrance and Louis back away slightly from the dust cloud created by the impact.

"Well, there's that." - Louis

"ιὰ τί οὐ μένετε; Πρὸς τὸν Μαρία Κανένας Καὶ εἶδον οὐρανὸν καινὸν καὶ γῆν καινήν!"

"Oh god, it's saying more things." - Terrance

"And this time, it's attacking us! Shit! Move, Terrance." - Louis

Pouncing toward both of them, with its spear pointing forward, the monster attempts to stab Terrance in the chest, but not before Louis shoves Terrance to the side. Stabbing into the ground the monster glances to its left as Louis strikes the monster with his makeshift spear. Splinters graze across his face as he realizes that the makeshift spear was nowhere near strong enough to penetrate the scales of this monster.

Shattering upon impact his weapon disintegrates in his hands as he looks into the monster's eyes with despair. The Lizard's tail slams into Louis's side knocking him to the ground, but I guess Terrance saw this as an opportunity, as he stabs the monster in the eye using the other makeshift spear. Drawing blood as well as a high-pitch shrill, the monster retreats quickly, pulling out its spear as it clutches its bloodied face.

Grinding its sharp teeth together, it stares daggers into Terrance's face, as blood flows through the gaps in its hand. It points its spear at Terrance and shouts loudly, and in response, I hear loud splashing from the river, as 2 more Lizardmen, fly out of the water.

"Ἐγὼ ὀκνοίην ἄν εἰς τὰ πλοῖα ἐμβαίνειν. Ἀδελφὼ δύο μόρον κοινὸν κατειργάσαντο. Ὁ ἐλήρ μου ἐν τοῖς ἀγροῖς οἰκεῖ. ἀρχήθει μάθος.!"

"Oh, no you don't. This was meant to be a test to see what the three of them are capable of. You can't just add more enemies for them to face." - Ian

Bursting out my spider legs, I stab forward at the two new Lizardmen, with only 1 of them reacting in time. The other unfortunately was too slow, receiving a direct stab to the forehead. Glancing at its already dead brethren, the monster screams loudly as it tries to stab me in the stomach with its spear. Without giving it a chance, my spider legs stab it several more times before it collapses into a small pool of blood.

Weak. They were weaker than I thought they would be. Then again… The last few battles were all 'boss' fights, that progressed the story. How long has it been since I just fought random mobs? Even though I was lost in thought the monster didn't even try to attack me, instead scrambling away to the river, as the other monsters could be seen already swimming downstream.

"Oh no, you don't." - Scott

Scott who had regained consciousness, grabs onto the monster's ankles desperately, tripping it to the ground. A smirk can be seen on his face as Scott reaches further with his other hand, grabbing the monster calf. Stepping forward slowly, I look down on the monster as I see it desperately trying to shake off Scott. Even though it was hitting Scott with its tail, it couldn't break free from a desperate man's struggle.

"So, Lizardman. Can you speak the common tongue or not?" - Ian

"..."

"I guess not? Terrance, how's Louis?" - Ian

Turning my head back I see Terrance helping Louis up from the ground, the makeshift armor he was wearing crumbles as he stands. Fortunately, it did its job and Louis survived this fight but with him wobbling forward even with Terrance's help, I doubt there is any more fight in him. 

"I'm… Fine. Just a little bruised." - Louis

"Fine is kind of an understatement." - Terrance

"Sigh… Shut up, Terrance. I know my body best. I'm fi- ARGH!" - Louis

Gripping his side, Louis kneels down as his whole body trembles in pain.

"Here. Take this potion. It will help, and Terrance, find some vines or something. We need to tie up this monster." - Ian

"On it." - Terrance

"Thank you…" - Louis

I toss the potion to Louis, before bending down and releasing Scott of his duty as I grab the Lizardman's arms. Making sure he wouldn't be able to escape I pierce his feet and tail with my spider legs while holding onto his arms from behind. Not before long, Terrance comes back with a bundle of vines.

"Let me." - Scott

Scott presides to tie the monster's wrists and ankles together, making sure to do a couple of layers since the monster can potentially break free. Even with the vines holding him down, I made sure to keep a hold of the monster. During this whole time, it seemed it had accepted its situation and kept quiet. Maybe it is planning an escape later or maybe it has just given up but regardless, it was now our prisoner.

"Umm, Ian. I was wondering… But while did we tie this monster up? Shouldn't we just have killed it? Like the other 2?" - Terrance

"Uhh, well I wasn't planning to kill the other two Lizardmen, it just happened like that. As for why I'm keeping this one alive, I think it might prove to be useful. After all, it might respond to another race, or to some persuasion. Plus, I hope to find out why they were so close." - Ian

"A little torture should suffice." - Scott

"Torture? To a monster? Hilarious." - Louis

"Regardless, we go back. Oh! As for your test, you all pass. I'll help you, even though the 3 of you couldn't kill 1 Lizardman. I see some potential. Come. Follow me." - Ian

With a prisoner in the form of a monster in my grasp and 3 potentially strong new players, I smile to myself as I look forward to the future. There is still so much more to do, and who knows how much time we really have. We could all die by some world-ending event by tomorrow for all we know. 

It didn't take long for us to retrace our steps and make it back to Everbloom. There I sought out a goblin scout to signal for Stellar and Noah, while also telling Scott, Louis, and Terrance to get some rest. For them, it would have been an intense time, especially during the fight and the best thing for them right now is time to adjust and think. Training, questing, fighting, and more can be done later. Right now, let's find out more about this Lizardman.