(Samuel's POV)
I walked down the stairs as I buttoned up my shirt, "Man...." I said, "That was quite the sleep....."
As I reached the bottom, I noticed that Mick the Bartender was looking at me while wiping the counter with his rag. It was already morning of the following day and Marissa had told me to head downstairs and ask for something to eat. I did feel a bit hungry and she offered to pay for my meal.
I was planning on exploring the town a bit after eating. Hopefully, I can get better clothes than I am currently wearing.
"I suppose you got busy." He said, "Not just anyone can spend a night with Marissa. Seems that the Crystal Egg falling in your hands was a stroke of luck."
"I wouldn't say that." I said as I reached the counter, "The circumstances I got it from were not ideal. I could have died."
"Yet you didn't." He said, "I take it Marissa sent you down for something to eat? She pays?"
I nodded, "Yes, something like that."
"Hm" He said
I raised an eyebrow, "What?"
"She typically does that to any man who satisfies her enough." He said as he walked to the side, "I suppose you are skilled in that manner."
I cleared my throat, shaking my head, "Y-Yea, well...."
"I'll tell you one thing, son." He said seriously, "Don't get attached to these girls. If you do, you'll develop an unhealthy obsession. If it comes that you even think of laying a hand on them when they don't want you to, I will have to do something about it."
"I really don't think that would be a problem." I said
"We got biscuits and gravy this morning. It should be ready in a few minutes if you can wait." He said as he grabbed a glass and poured some water in it, "In half an hour, the ruffians will arrive, and they will not need to find out about you and Marissa. So keep that quiet. They have come back from a night shift in the Mines."
"I see...." I said, "Well, I will keep that in mind then."
As he gave me the glass, I heard some distant shouting from outside. I took the glass and began to take a sip from it as I looked to the front of the saloon, seeing that through the window, some people were running from something.
"What in the hell?" Mick said, "What's going on?"
I set the glass down and walked over to the door, walking outside and saw that there were people scattering about in a panic.
I frowned, "What's the deal?"
I heard Mick walk outside behind me and he smacked his lips, "Dammit." He said, "We got a stray one."
"A stray what?" I asked
"Terror Bird." He said
I looked at him, "What?!"
He pointed to the side, over to the entrance of the town, "There it is, don't you see it?" He said, "It seems to be roaming about, had gotten close to it."
I looked to where he was pointing and saw that outside the town, the large figure of a Terror Bird was seen. It was casually walking near the town, facing to the side. It didn't seem to be as large as the one that I had encountered. In fact, it seemed to be a bit thinner and smaller. My guess is that it was a younger one than the one I saw.
It also seemed to be a bright white with a black beak, which was a bit unusual and unsettling to see.
Mick smacked his lips again, "They haven't kept up with the Warding Roots?" He said with annoyance, "They should keep them watered every week!"
"The what?" I asked him
"The Warding Roots. It's a plant that emits a scent that repels dangerous animals. The plant developed that in order to keep them from eating its insides, which provides good nutrients, but it immediately kills the plant." He said, "We have several clutches planted along the perimeter of the Town, and it keeps any Terror Bird and Death Condor away. But they need to be maintained or the odor is going to wane."
"If it wanes, then the beasts will wander inside." i said
"That's right." He said, "Right now, I think that it's waning. But not completely. If a Terror Bird notices the Town, it could wander inside and attract more attention. Then the whole flock will come, which will not be good for anyone."
Before I could say anything, the Screen appeared and a message was shown.
[Field Boss Has Appeared: Juvenile Terror Bird]
- Defeat it to gain 2 points and an Item
A field boss?
2 points and an Item?
I already have three points. I get two more and I have five. I haven't even checked out what I could spend with these three points. Do I even have enough time for that?
No. I don't.
Mick is right. If this Terror Bird wanders inside, which I believe it could with no physical restrictions, then it won't be good for anyone. I don't have enough time to scroll through the skills and abilities. I have to do this for now and struggle.
If I do have a difficult time, I might have to do one of those skillful level ups that some top-tier gamers do but I doubt I can during combat.
We'll find out.
I pulled out the smaller revolver, the one that belonged to Lenny, "Alright....." I said as I opened the chamber and checked the bullets, "I think I will handle this."
"Are you a fool?" He asked, "We need the Terror Rifle. Only Ralphie has it and the imbecile is asleep by now. I will go and get him."
"Well, do that." I said as I closed the chamber, "I'll keep it occupied until that is available."
"Son, listen to me." He said seriously, "Do not think you can walk up to a Terror Bird and just shoot it until it dies. It will kill you, I have seen them rip even the biggest men apart. That thing is no joke."
"Someone has to do something." I said as I stepped onto the street, "I won't sit around like a jackass and watch this thing kill people."
I then began to make my way to the entrance of the town as I saw the figure of the Terror Bird just standing there, its right leg raised as it was unmoving. It was very unsettling, not even going to lie, the way it just looked away, it's face turned to the left.
The moment I stepped past the Town's sign, the bird's face immediately faced me, it's bright orange eyes piercing right through me as it didn't make a single sound.
I stopped and looked at it, holding Lenny's revolver.
"....Okay...." I let out an exhale
I had six small-caliber bullets for Lenny's revolver, which only meant I had two full chamber of firing. I only had six large caliber runepowder bullets for my own Revolver, which meant I could only fire one full chamber. This was not a good situation I was in; this was a Field Boss, which meant that it is not an easy enemy to fight.
The right move was to hang back and level up, but something told me that if I did that, it would mean trouble. I couldn't ignore that feeling, even if it was the cost of my own safety.
The Terror Bird slowly placed its foot down on the ground as it lowered its head towards me, opening its beak as it let out a low hiss.
"Alright...." I said with a serious look,
"Let's do this."