So here I am with the seventh installment of my story. Still in need of reviews, of course. Although I do have two from I-Am-Erk, I hope for more people to review.

I have to admit, this chapter is rather short. This is because I am lazy, and this chapter has almost nothing to do with the plot, and serves as a bridge between chapters 6 and 8. Wait, there's a plot? Sort of, I have something in mind at least.

I own no maple stuff and stuff. So, on with the show.

Ch. 7 The Road To Perion

Ininja lunged forward with his zamadar in his outstretched hand. Pushing all his weight into the thrust his dagger plunged into the stump's eye. The monster let out a yelp of pain and fell to the ground, dead. A small twig fell off the stump, still in tact. Ininja picked it up and put it in a pouch with all the other spoils left behind by monsters he slew on his way to Perion. According to his map, he still had a way to go. A few hours, he estimated. In reality the path was as long as Kerning was from the 3-Way Road Split, but without the maze-like L-Forest in the way it was much shorter.

Back at Kerning Hvonru left on his own journey, after giving Ininja clothes best suited for a rouge in training. Ininja decided to go with what Dark Lord said and hunt slimes. Due to having few mesos he decided to walk rather than use a scroll or taking a cab. Besides, he needs the training.

The path to Perion is very rocky and mountainous. Perion itself is set on a cliffside on the tallest mountain in the middle of the area. Ininja figured it would strengthen his legs to climb, rather than take the defined path made by travelers. But this proved easier said than done, and Ininja noticed is hands were bruised when he sat down to rest. He decided to take the main trail instead.

After walking a little over half an hour Ininja had run only into stumps. He'd gotten so used to fighting them he could take them out in one hit. His little luck streak would soon end when an axe stump appeared. Ininja was feeling confident about taking on the axe stump, after all it was just a beefed up stump. He knew it had all the same weaknesses, but was considerably more aggressive.

Ininja ran toward his foe and thrust his dagger at the monster's solitary eye. But the stump lunged itself forward and the dagger hit the axe lodged in the stump. The monster hit Ininja in the chest, knocking him back and sending his dagger flying. Ininja jumped to his weapon a few feet away from him. He gripped it tighter but his wounded hands made it difficult. Cringing in pain he jumped at the monster again and managed to make a small nick in the creature. This only made it angrier. The stump charged at Ininja, throwing him off the road. Luckily he landed on an outcropping with only minimal damage. The monster jumped of the road in pursuit to finish Ininja off, but the shock from landing slowed it down. Just long enough for Ininja to jump at it and get a grip on the handle of the creature's axe. Ininja put his foot on the stump and dislodged the axe from its grip. The stump stopped.

Ininja stood with the axe at his side, ready to start hacking away at his foe. But rather than attacking, the stump walked away. Puzzled, Ininja watched the stump go. He set the axe down where he was and picked his zamadar up.

Ininja jumped back up to the road and continued along the trail with only plain stumps in his way.