NOTE: My husband and I were so ecstatic to see such positive feedback on chapter 2 that we've decided to post at least one more of the series. If you enjoy, please leave a comment and feel free to suggest what monsters, kinks, & adventures you'd be interested to see.
Ciao ~ Venera
CHAPTER 3:
Renji felt as if his face might stay flush till nightfall. He couldn't believe what had just happened. Now that the Slyph was gone, he felt exposed all over again. He was sitting completely nude in a place where other players could show up at any time. He was sure everyone had been teleported in and around the city, so people would surely venture further out soon.
Renji turned his attention to the handful of items left in Sylphy's place. He picked up the pouch of gold and opened his inventory to stash it away. VRMMOs typically had some sort of storage system to keep things practical. It was a small blessing that UwU Online retained its inventory system after orientation.
Next, Renji picked up a small blue crystal that thrummed electrically at his touch.
Ability - Air Sylph's Blessing
Gain 10 max HP.
Renji sighed in relief as he crushed the crystal in his palm. A rush of invigoration akin to Sylphy's kiss surged through him. His posture corrected itself, his muscles untensed, and the hot feeling in his cheeks subsided.
Renji Caldwell
HP:
11/20
Block:
0
Heat:
0/20
Statuses:
Exposed
Renji picked up the two Monster Cards next. The card back was the same dark red as his others, but the front was entirely different. Renji blushed all over again as he looked over the card. Like any trading card, there was text beneath a picture. The first image depicted a steamy, anime-style photo of Renji frenching the Air Sylph with their arms wrapped around each other.
The second was so scandelous Renji reflexively checked over his shoulder to see if anyone was watching, before remembering that he was naked and covered in Sylph juice. Renji shook the thoughts away. The second image was likewise an anime still. It showed three light blue, conjured air hands working over his nethers, which was drawn with exaggerated throbbing veins and a dollop of precum dripping from his tip.
"I'm so cooked if anyone asks to see my deck," Renji muttered, rubbing his temple. He looked over the text before deciding whether to add the cards to his deck. Once added, cards couldn't be removed easily.
Skill - Breath of Life
UNCOMMON
Heal target 5 HP or inflict 4 heat.
~
Attack - Hand of Air Sylph
RARE
Raise target's heat by 2, or by 4 if exposed. Target must have at least 15% heat.
Persists until dispelled.
Renji whistled and promptly shuffled both new cards into his deck. Starter cards were usually bad enough to cycle out completely. It looked like even with higher stakes, UwU Online would function the same as any other deckbuilder.
He picked up the Class Card Draft last. It was a thin, sealed card pack shaded red like his card back. Renji selected the option to open it, then reclined back on his forearms as he watched the animation play out. A golden light, laced with hints of pink, crackled across the pack's surface before it burst apart, revealing three cards backs floading in front of him.
Renji tapped them one after another. A draft was different than a pack. He would only be able to add one of the three cards.
Attack - Streak
COMMON
Unequip a valid armor. Disrupt a target and raise its heat by 5.
~
Attack - Vampire's Kiss
EPIC
Raise exposed melee target's heat by 6 and heal for 6. Exhaust.
~
Skill - Pinch
UNCOMMON
Raise an appropriate melee target's heat by 8 if target is above 50% heat.
Renji scratched his chin in thought. Exhaust cards could only be used once per battle. They were helpful to keep your deck thin and predictable, but might not contribute to an overall archetype. Streak was interesting, but would be a dead card until he found armor to wear. Even then, it seemed too dangerous. Pinch had really caught his attention, though. It would have KO'd the Air Sylph one he had her top off, but he wasn't entirely sure what an appropriate target was. Some of his cards had been extra effective against the Sylph, so it was reasonable to think the game had a hidden resistance and vulnerability system.
Renji opted for Vampire's Kiss. It was the most obvious choice and would be great until he found synergies to make his weaker cards better. The card flew into his deck, then its image faded from his UI.
Renji stood and thought about his next steps. First, he had to find some clothes. He could try to fashion something from the starter forest's foliage, but realistically that seemed unlikely. Renji sighed and a knot of anxiety formed in his chest. He would probably have to just walk to the city. Another player might even be able to help--
Crunch.
Snap!
Shit. Someone--or something--was approaching him.
Renji tip-toed quickly toward a jumble of smooth-leafed bushes and forced his way into it. If any of the twigs poked into him, he didn't feel them with adrenalin fueling Berserker's Body. Renji stilled as another player came into view.
Wearing studded leather armor and carrying two swords, the girl who entered the clearing where Renji fought the Sylph looked to be around his age. She had short, curly brown hair and a kind, freckled face. Renji thought his heart might burst from his chest as the rather attractive player narrowed her eyes and sniffed the air.
She approached the spot where Renji had bested the Air Sylph, then, to his absolute mortification, she knelt to investigate the sticky puddle of turquoise they had left behind.
Renji's mind was moving at a thousand miles a second. No. No. No. Don't do it. Just shrug and move on.
The attractive girl cocked her head to the side, then dipped a bare finger into the puddle and lifted a slimy glob of turquoise up between her eyes.
When she moved the finer under her nose Renji simply couldn't take it anymore.
"NO!" He shouted out, shooting up before instantly remembering his nudity. He fell right back down into the bushes and landed hard on a protruding stick.
Renji Caldwell
HP:
10/20
Block:
0
Heat:
3/20
Statuses:
Exposed
The girl spun and drew her swords, eyes tracking the sound of his voice to Renji's hiding spot.
"Who's there!?" the player shouted, her deck materializing to her left. Her card back was two crossed swords over a black flame.
"Hold on! I'm friendly! I'm another player!" Renji called out, clamping his arms down over his crotch even with the mound of bushes obscuring him.
The girl relaxed slightly and lowered her weapons when she heard his voice. Almost all the enemies in UwU online were female, afterall, but the right move from her position was to remain on guard. An enemy could be luring her with an illusion or other trickery.
"I- uh. I was attacked by a Sylph and barely managed to defeat her. I lost all my equipment in the battle," Renji quickly explained.