I'm Groot (3)
As far as I remembered, Soul World was never a hopeful game. It was packed with murky stories as grimy as its clunky controls, and even the endings were bad or sad if you didn't meet the conditions.
First off, characters dropped dead if you let your guard down—even in the blink of an eye. No exaggeration; one wrong glance, and they were gone. The memory that hit hardest was heading into the forest with a companion to gather herbs. She was a pretty character, which made her stick in my mind. There was a choice: stick together or split up. Newbies usually picked the latter, figuring they'd be fine even if it was risky.
And that turned out to be the worst choice. If I'd been even a little late, she would've been monkey chow. Watching someone turn to pulp right in front of you? Total shock therapy. Pick "stick together," though, and you save her—and she becomes a huge help. Stats for other characters even go up. It's these elements that make people realize Soul World is anything but a "friendly" game.
That's tolerable enough, but then there's that damn combat. Control matters way more than stats.
"What do we do? Think he can't understand us?"
"Who knows."
Ellie—who'd nearly been monkey food—and the woman who'd introduced herself as Luna chatted away. Their outfits differed, but both carried small bags. Probably for gathering herbs.
I eyed the one called Luna intently. That look was familiar.
Pale blonde hair, sky-blue eyes. Yeah, that's her.
Soul World had no customization. You picked male or female. Good modeling saved it; without that, even maniacs would've trashed it. So this Luna chick? She's the protagonist of this world.
Memories I'd nearly lost came flooding back.
Job... Knight?
Her look screamed basic job: knight. The standard-length sword sealed it halfway. Knights were efficient no matter the tech tree—why newbies flocked to them. Lore said she learned swordsmanship from a "wanderer." Official canon, same for any job. Everyone started with a sword anyway.
Oh, and you meet that wanderer later. Total weirdo—players freak. Solid story too.
Tough road ahead.
Knowing her future vaguely, I just felt pity. One wrong choice, and you lose a precious ally—or get betrayed by them.
But future or not, meeting people mattered more right now. I wanted out. Sure, I was used to the forest, but I never forgot my longing for civilization. Had to find a way back to my old world too. Start with whoever dumped me here. Suspect already in mind.
"How about we check where he lives first? There might be more survivors."
Ellie spoke calmly—the start of this unfriendly game. Hard to believe she'd just cheated death.
Come to think of it, she's pretty solid too.
I dredged up fading memories. So many quirky characters; details were fuzzy. But Ellie? I knew her. Shoulder-length light brown hair, neat bangs. Round eyes, golden irises. Smaller than Luna, but her chest stood out. Standing side by side, the contrast was stark.
Most Soul World characters had great modeling, but Ellie turned heads. I recalled praise for her "potion pouch." If that meant those, it tracked.
She's a goldmine. Lucky break.
Save Ellie, and no potion worries mid-to-late game. Alchemy-related, from what I remembered. Save her early, story gets easy. But grind quests to level her up first. She earns her keep. Problem: she's a damsel magnet, crises galore. Saving her balances it—no potion stress. Users still called her a liability, though.
"Be serious. You saw how dangerous this is. We need to get out now."
"Leaving him here?"
"Well..."
Luna glanced at me under Ellie's sharp point. I just stood there blankly, watching. Wanted to yell I understood them. But all I could do was grunt "sibal." Timing sucked too. They already saw me as some primal savage beyond barbarian.
Honestly, it helped me, so I kept my mouth shut.
"So let's find where he lives. Okay?"
"...What if he turns on us? You saw—he blocked that monkey's attack easy. I couldn't handle him."
"Pfft. If that was it, he'd have killed us already. Maybe he instinctively knows we're kin?"
Ellie patted Luna's shoulder. Her sunny optimism rang a bell. Luna looked convinced, eyeing me with a mixed expression. I kept my lips sealed.
"...How do we even get to his place? He doesn't speak our language."
Allow me to guide you.
I turned and walked. They hesitated behind me.
"...Better follow?"
"...For now. Special compass okay?"
"Working fine."
Special compass, huh? Meant we could escape this dumpy forest. Oh, but first—monkey corpse.
I dragged the monkey's body—head and brains blown out—behind me. They froze at the sight of me hauling a 5-meter gorilla like luggage. No wonder; protagonist couldn't even try at her level.
"Survivor for sure?"
"Maybe born here. No recent missing persons. Last was 20 years ago."
"So he's lived here 20 years?"
"Gotta see his face... But looks at least 40."
Nope. Even if I'd been here years, not 40.
They chattered, assuming I couldn't understand. My hair and beard were the culprits. Chest-length beard aged anyone. Plus, bangs hid my face—others couldn't see it, but I could peek out.
Shaving'd be a waste, though.
Hair aside, this beard was a rarity. Could trim with mana, but nah. Probably gave up on leaving around then. No one to see me anyway.
They stabbed my heart unwittingly, but I kept walking. Glancing back made them flinch—funny.
"...Why's he keep looking?"
"Never seen people before us?"
Think what you want. I hear everything.
Ignoring their whispers, I dragged the monkey to my hideout. Not without incident.
Squelch.
"Huh? Oh, shit—"
"What, Luna?"
We'd been cruising when Luna cursed and stopped. I halted too. She grimaced at the brown clump on her shoe sole. Pure disgust.
"Stepped in shit."
"What?"
"Shit. Should've watched out with all these beasts."
Luna had stepped in my turd. Near hideout, territory mark. Beasts had keen noses; had to leave signs. Wanted a toilet, but only cubs around—beast methods it was.
Take this to the grave.
Couldn't talk anyway; no risk. She scraped it off with twigs, face still sour. Might ruin her pretty features. Understandable—shit luck.
Low luck stat?
Silly thought. Low luck meant constant mishaps. Attacks miss when they should hit. Folks thought it affected monster patterns, but pure luck—unpredictable. Also hit item drops.
No luck, no life.
"Whoa... This his place? Wait—is that a bear?"
"...Yeah. Size says Giant Bear."
Hideout reached. Luna and Ellie whispered over the skinned bear pelts strewn about—still rough, intimidating.
I tossed the monkey corpse aside and eyed them. They gawked everywhere.
Time for meat.
Smoked bear meat handy. Smoky, golden perfection. Delicious—no gamey smell, juicy right. Special herb fuel did it. Would devour soon.
Offer food to win favor?
Can't talk, so gestures it was. I looked at them—Luna gone, probably cave. Ellie alone.
Whoosh.
"Huh?"
Ellie eyed the bear pelt curiously; I silently offered meat. Her golden eyes widened at the skewered chunk.
Close up, she was cute. She glanced between meat and me, puzzled.
"For me?"
"..."
She pointed at herself. I nodded.
Seeing I understood, she blinked, muttering.
"Hm... Not totally clueless. Body language work?"
"..."
"Thanks anyway. Looks yummy."
She took it, her guess spot-on. Skewered on twig—not hand, too filthy from recent butchering. Washed in stream often, but still.
She's rural like protagonist?
Protagonist had village vibes; Ellie from bumfuck nowhere. Gathered herbs young—no qualms here. Good.
"Wow, tasty! Bears always this good?"
She exclaimed, eyes round and adorable. Wild game usually gamey—I'd gagged once. Herbs fixed that—scent swapped for herbal aroma. Guaranteed flavor.
Why raw organs then? Cooked or not, same taste. Organs for calories; meat for emergency and palate.
"Definitely sees us as kin. Sharing food and all."
"Sibal."
Who you calling non-sentient? Outrage slipped. She wouldn't get it. When fix this speech impediment?
"Where's Luna?"
Cave-bound earlier. Nothing special there—crude murals for story recall, time logs, trophy heads, spare weapons.
Check on her.
I headed in. Why so long? Ellie hurried after, chewing.
"Wait up, Sivar!"
I froze.
What'd she call me? I turned to her. She flinched under my gaze.
No way Sivar meant me. I pointed at myself.
"Sibal (Me)?"
She blinked big eyes, then beamed sunnily. Cute smile distracted—till her next words floored me.
"Yeah! You keep going 'Sivar-sivar,' so I made it your name. Cool, right?"
"..."
Whatever. Forgot my real name anyway. I trudged on, deflated.
"You get me or not?"
"..."
"Nah. Special meaning? Sivar!"
"Sibal."
"Knew it!"
Knew what? It's a swear, idiot.