Tailpin crossed the gate threshold and stopped while his perception based skills activated. It took a second or two longer than he though it would. The designers included temporary blindness in this game. That was thoroughly done, and dangerous. They would have to watch where they looked. Any source of light could make them blind for up to five seconds or so. The dark was not as absolute now that his skills were active but absolute darkness descended all too quickly at the limit of his spot range. He equipped his bow and both quivers. The system allowed both a back quiver and a hip quiver but the hip quiver replaced his sword. He would have no hand-to-hand defense but he had the option of using his unlimited training arrows for most battles and his upgraded arrows if a stronger target presented itself.
"You're right, Emp. Stay between Re and me unless I give you a direction and watch for targets of opportunity." Tailpin said as he swept his gaze from one side to another before proceeding along the road. It headed east as far as he could see but they weren't going for distance tonight. "Re, keep an eye on our six and keep us from being surprised. I'll focus on pulling the monsters near our path. Though... it doesn't look like anything is close to the road. Let's keep an eye on that. If all monsters on this Floor avoid the road at night then all the players need to know that."
He pulled a training arrow from his back quiver and nocked it to the string but kept it pointed into the dirt of the road. The walk along the road was dull, though creepy. The night was quiet but the breeze continued to caress the plains. It seemed like the wind never stopped in the flying castle of Aincrad and it seemed to whisper sometimes, but he couldn't pick out any words. At last, after carefully following the road and neither seeing nor hearing anything dangerous, they reached the place where they had planned on beginning their rough country trek. Looking at his companions he found himself a little envious. They only had to really watch the small area around them. But, Tailpin had to notice enemies when they were far enough away for him to make a difference with a bow. He swallowed that feeling down deep inside and held it tightly.
"Here we go." He said softly. There was no telling how nightfall would change the monsters and he was still only level two. Though, that would change tonight.
Tailpin stepped off the packed dirt of the road and onto the grass of the rolling plains. There were many low hills and shallow depressions. They weren't much of a problem but they created blind spots that could hide dangerous monsters. He kept his body low and his bow up with his eyes sweeping over everything and jumping to examine any movement that stood out. They had covered almost a hundred feet of plain before Tailpin suddenly stopped and clicked his tongue once, sharply. There was something up ahead in a depression.
"Wolves. Two... three... no, five." He whispered softly as he counted.
He raised his bow and pulled the arrow back to full draw, setting his sites on the wolf farthest away from them. He steadied his breath and prayed that the AI was just smart enough for this to work. Then he loosed the arrow. He pulled another, managing to nock it without looking just as the first arrow hit its target. The wolf's health dropped into the yellow. The other wolves turned to look at the wounded one. He pulled the next arrow back and loosed it at the same wolf, dropping it into the red. The whole pack was running in their direction by the time the third arrow hit, reducing the wolf to azure shards.
"Four incoming, three shots each, two at 12 one at 10 and one angling for 3." Tailpin said, speaking as sharply as he jerked the next arrow back. Three arrows per wolf meant that he had to fire fast. The distance between them wouldn't last long. He aimed at the two that were approaching from 12 o'clock and fired as fast as he could. He only managed two more arrows before the wolves closed the distance.
Red Gypsy