The Warped came out again, this can only mean that I got close enough to the tree for it to think I'm a threat, it confirms my initial theory that it's more like an artificially created guardian rather than a natural Warped.

  The Mender has messing with magic to the point that she's able to create Warps has been a possibility I have been toying with for a while now, I mean, it's the only real answer I can come up with when I think about how she's able to get a Warped to stay close to her cloak.

  Why she wanted to protect her cloak so badly is another question, sadly, I haven't found an answer to it yet and my best guess is that it's somehow more special than I initially expected. The flavor text in the game didn't give any clues to this, however.

  Even the effects of the full set doesn't show it, I mean, all it does is increase the effectiveness of healing and plant magic while also possessing one of the best defensive stats for mages and clerics in the entire game.

  Getting the entire set means that I basically have armor that will last me until level 125, which is a lot considering that it's obtainable around level 50 or so, and in my case, I'm getting it while I'm only level twenty.

  So yeah, it's pretty good.

  Good enough for a Warped to protect it though?.. Yeah, no, that doesn't make sense. But since the mender went and did it then it probably is, she knows the value of her own set better than I do.

  I glided through the forest, my movements completely unlike the messy and outright chaotic way I have done it in the past, the only thing left unchanged would be me heading straight for the tree.

  Last time, I was scared, right now? The heart gripping fear that had taken over my sense of reason is no longer here, even if the Warped is staring directly at me, I wasn't scared, I kept moving, heading straight for what most people would consider to be certain death.

  That is blatantly untrue, I mean, I've survived an attack from this thing once didn't I? Sure I ran away just as it was preparing to strike and it wasn't a direct hit but with the level difference between us, surviving it is nothing short of a miracle. I wouldn't call what happened back then luck though, since my own efforts helped me out.

  My prosthetic whirred to life just as the Warped raised its foot, despite only wearing a single boot, my system considered my gear as a full set. I'm guessing it's either because I'm the one who made all of it or it has something to do with my pants.

  Regardless, it's a welcome effect.

  Full sets usually give the wearer extra stats, and on top of that, they also boost the existing effects of the items that are part of that set.

  Currently, I'm around level 25 or so? Maybe more? That difference may seem small in the face of my current opponent but not so much when I'm running.

  Speed is my biggest advantage, I tell myself mentally as I watch the hoof disappear into the misty sky. Given that it's winter, visibility is outright low, pair that with the sheer size of this thing and it's like I'm in a boss fight.

  Actually, I am in a boss fight. There's no denying that.

  I breathe out, my body temperature is high enough that mist forms despite my mask.

  Everything is fine, even if the hoof comes crashing down and breaks the earth for the second time, I will be able to survive. I have prepared for this, planned it even, all that's left is for me to execute it.

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  The world suddenly stopped and I felt my heart clench in fear, my instincts screamed at me to run. In the game, it was said that when a Warped attacks, even the world feels fear. And I guess that's not inaccurate?

  My breathing slows down, the shaking becomes inaudible, I start to focus.

  The attack should come any second now.

  When lifting something so heavy as a giant deer's hoof, gravity would naturally go against the action, making it harder. When it's brought down though? Then the opposite happens.

  Like lightning made manifest, the hoof came down at a speed that made it impossible to see with the naked eye. For normal people, it would be nothing but a blur, it's the same for me, unlike most people though, I was prepared for this to happen.

  My knees bent and in a split second, I jumped, the momentum I've built up from running didn't die and instead carried me further upwards.

  Flying through the air like this and finally realizing that I have become superhuman thanks to my system should have been enjoyable, I've always wanted to do this. Sadly, I couldn't savor it and had to focus on catching myself.

  My hand shot out and the tip of my dagger pierced through tree bark, I held onto it, gathering myself as I prepared for another jump. My feet pressed against the trunk, one hand reached for the branches and latched on tight.

  Scanning for the skies now...

  The hoof crashes down, the earth cracks, and the forest becomes a ruin. Trees start to fall, I watch as a wave of them slowly travel towards me, my focus is at an all time high, my body working overtime.

  Just one more... Just a few more... The wave of falling trees and rising earth reaches me and I react immediately.

  My legs, which have been tense, straighten, like a coiled spring that finally got released.

  I jumped away and hit the ground moments later, pain actually shot through my broken leg when I landed and I tried not to scream as my legs took on more pressure.

  I raise my hand and wipe the beads of sweat on my forehead, my body feels cold, my broken leg is even worse. I was shaking, pale, and I still have to run through the now ruined forest.

  Jumping around will hurt my leg even more and I did it anyway, there's no time for me to wallow in pain or consider the kind of damage being done to my body by doing this. If I stop now, the Warped will be able to attack again and I'd be forced to jump up another tree.

  The land is now a mess of cracks and raised earth, mounds of dirt have risen from the ground and are actively hindering my movements.

  My eyes barely registered the corpses that I pass as I continue running, occasionally, I would look up and see the deer glaring down at me. The pressure from its stare has become worse, is it mad? I hope so. God I hope so.

  Seeing that only inspired me to keep moving, my leg somehow stops feeling like it's burning and I start to move with the kind of sharpness I didn't have before.

  Darting from one tree to the next while breathing heavily and a racing heart was thrilling, fighting a Warped adds to the feeling.

  A multi-layered boss fight, if this was a game I'd probably be in a quick time event right now, forced to start pressing buttons rapidly whenever the Warped attacks.

  Running became a stretch, the Warp attacked for the second time, the ground split again, but I was far enough that all I had to do was jump forward and I dodge it.

  It noticed this as well and I see it begin to move closer. It crosses the distance between us in as short as two steps, hundreds of meters is nothing to it. If it wasn't moving so slowly, I probably would have died already.

  Reality made it so that it obeyed the laws of physics and that's the monster's biggest weakness, with its own weight fighting it every time it moves, I can technically out speed it, all I need to do is just break my leg in exchange!

  Which is something I'm more than willing to do, the burn in my leg comes back and is that smoke coming out of my prosthetic? What?! How'd that happen?!

  Fuck— No. I turn away, I can repair whatever damage it has later, once I'm in the safety of the giant tree, I'll be able to see what's the problem and then fix it.

  The Warped attacks for the third time, but we were so close to the giant tree that the ground here has become compact thanks to the roots, making it harder for the giant to break it apart.

  I start circling the tree, come on, where is it... Where is it...

  "THERE!" I scream reflexively, telling myself where the entrance is just as I see it. My body catches up with my words and my legs stop, I turn and bolt for the hole on the bottom of the tree trunk.

  Once I'm inside, the presence of the Warped outside becomes dull, nonexistent.

  With one last shaky breath, I collapse.