A/N: Welcome to Sun Dancer, where characters come to git gud!
Theawesomess1: Was about to praise the Congregate, but then I saw garlic...
Den3424: Book 3 will come in due time :D
NetherOrbit: Lisbest will do just fine...it's not like this is a nightmare.
Thunderwolf: Yep, big changes to who the characters are, but gives more struggle!
bitchbot: Well one fact is that high school itself is a privilege, not a right in Japan.
Agent 94: Chapter one will be updated further along, hopefully less edgy, but we'll see.
ThisisTheGreatestUsername: Really appreciate the critique, will find something to give PoH more love :D
Thanks again to Shade the Krokorok for favoriting this fic, the support's always welcome!
Enjoy!
There is nothing more deserving of pity in this place than the humble [Rabbit]. Defenseless, scurrying about the ground, it serves merely as food. Tis not surprising indeed, that I've yet to find a soul who fears such creatures.
- Godfree, January 21, 2023
November 9th 2022
The bronze [Siege Blade] clashed, my opponent's [Arming Sword] ringing as I leaned in and punched, lifting him with my legs before sending the guy crashing with a downward throw.
"Jeez!" he groaned.
"What's your dex stat, faggot?" I grunted in an overly deep voice
Hearing him chuckle, I giggled a little. The guy was well aware of the meme I was drawing from, perhaps a man of culture.
"I should be asking you!" he smirked, getting up. "What's your dex at?"
"...Not telling." I feigned disappointment. "Okay fine, one point to dex!"
"Aw, someone's guilty!"
Heaving the seven foot Zweihander back in front of me, the weapon wobbled as I reset my stance. While thin, the polearm of a sword kept yanking me around, as if I was the toy. The lean, shorter figure stumbled back, raising his weapon again. His confidence was already breaking, shifting around and away from the blade.
"What level are you?" he blinked.
"One, remember?" I raised a brow, "Okay nearly two...first day playing."
"Damn...definitely wanna use [Siege Blades] after this." he grinned. "Surprised I haven't seen more of these, game's been out for three days."
"I know right?!" I hopped a little forward, "There're [Slaughter Mauls] too out here. Pretty sure there're others, just not as common." I swung right, the guy ducking. "Speed is pretty popular."
Seeing him slow, I attempted a kick.
"True." he stepped back, "Hey man, I was gonna main [Agility] and dex before I saw that shit, where'd ya get it?"
I stopped, pointing to the onlooking salesman, Yuri talking to a few customers.
"He offered this for five duel wins." I smiled, "Or a thousand...Cor was it?"
"Yea, Cor." he nodded, "Think he's got an extra?"
"Hope so." I cheered, "How about dueling again when you get one? Gonna have a trolling spree after this."
"Oh definitely!" he laughed, "What's his name?"
"Yuri. No, I don't think he's Russian."
Racing at him, the guy was already rattled, refusing to block as he tried sidestepping the long arm used against him. Unfortunately, a single wide swing was all it took, his own fear pinning his feet to the pale pavement. The broken duelist fell at my feet, his torso split as the [Siege Blade] crossed with a dull zoom, the bronze striking the pavement with a loud ring as I again stumbled.
"God! Would love to stop damaging it!" I groaned, "Second time today!"
Shattering to blue-green shards of glass, his weapon clattered on the ground, dully reflecting that bright sun beside a sum of [Cor].
"Hey!" I nodded to his party, letting them retrieve the fallen weapon. "Tell him good match."
One of his guys snatched the equipment, rejoining his little group immediately after. Doing all this got me going, these fights were such a rush. This VR system made it feel like I was really wrestling another, pitting my strength against his, coming out on top.
"Psh, great." the receiver rolled his eyes, "Freaking mook's telling us what a good match is. Treats his sword like a hammer too."
I shrugged, already well aware of my own ineptitude. Towering over their avatars, it felt gratifying to cast such a long shadow. The physique and height, made me feel like a king among them. Made me wonder though, why didn't they pick the same height?
"Bro, do you even [Sword Skill]?" one griped, "That was sloppy."
"What's that?" I blinked, "Oh...yea haven't checked yet."
"Casual."
"Just makes me glad I didn't face ya." I chuckled, "Oh! If you want weapons as powerful as this, message Yuri."
"Like you'd know a good source!" he laughed.
Another member of his party nudged him, whispering in his ear. Prick left with his party shortly afterwards, going over to see what Yuri had. The heck was that guy I dueled doing with them? He seemed far cooler than his friends. Lowering the Zweihander, I glanced around the white stone of the Town of Beginnings.
The sun shined bright between clouds, my weapon of choice shouldered as I searched for a new opponent. Just the handle on this monster was a foot long, the blade at least six, exceeding my avatar's height. Possessing some sort of leather grip above the hand guard, I could only assume it was another way to use it. My patron watched from a few meters away, though briefly due to inbound customers. A bright green icon flashed, an unopened letter.
[From Yuri: Gg, 1 more and it's yours.]
I bobbed my head excitedly, the HUD vanishing with a swipe. Found opponent number five hanging around another group, looked like another agility build. Why was everyone obsessed with ninjas when swords the size of doors existed here? Maybe they were going with the philosophy of fast assault.
"Hey man!" I kept friendly, "Wanna duel?"
"Level?" he called, alerting me with the high pitched sound of his...no her voice.
The hell, this guy sounded like a eleven year old girl.
"Nearly two." I smiled, trying to hide my discomfort, "What's your ign?"
"Jenkins? This is my brother's account sooo..."
"Oh, gotcha." I nodded, "Wanna duel?"
"Sure." she squeaked, "What kind?"
"Full Loss." I pointed behind her. "Those your friends? Wouldn't want anyone taking your stuff."
"Yea." she glanced back, "Hey guys, mind watchin' my stuff? Don't want my brother mad for losing his gear."
They agreed, turning to watch with mild interest.
[The highlighted player has requested a duel!]
[Accept/Decline]
[Note: Receiver sets type of match]
The guy turned a bright blue, standing out sharply in the crowded plaza. Hitting accept splayed another menu.
[Choose duel parameters]
- Vs. Player -
[Training Mode]
[First Strike]
[Half Loss]
[Full Loss]
- Environment -
[Terminator]
[Chain Gang]
[Synergy]
[Slime Commander]
[Shepherd]
[A-bock-alypse]
- Other -
[Karaoke]
[Arm Wrestle]
[Race]
[Heavy Drinker]
[Hammer, Paper, Claymore]
- Team Sports (Locked) -
Just looking at the still scrolling list had me shivering a bit, was pretty extensive. Sure, it was childish, but I freaking loved it. Except [Karaoke], frack [Karaoke]. The duel started sixty seconds later, though the entire mood way less serious considering the opponent.
"Nya!" Jenkins cheered, swinging it like a TV remote at me.
It was admittedly adorable, let her get a few hits in before I lowered the Zweihander. The second she saw it though, her eyes almost shrank.
"Oh."
With this person small and uncoordinated, me being bigger and completely untrained led to hilarious results, half of them involving me trying to get control of the damn [Siege Blade]. Jenkins swung wide, laughing as she saw me jump back. Stepping in with an overhead strike readying, she tripped and fell on the floor.
"Dead." Jenkins curled up on the ground.
Smiling, I eased the Zweihander. Tapping the top of her head with the flat end, she groaned before covering her very male looking scalp. Was definitely weird, hearing a voice like that come out of what looked like a sixteen year old boy.
"Come on, no quitting." I insisted.
"But I can't win...you're stronger than me."
"Yea that does make a difference." I looked away guiltily, "Look at it this way, um...strive to fight the biggest enemies you can find. Fight and win!"
"But why would I do that?" she looked up.
"Cause they exist to be challenged!" I grinned, "It's our job as shorter creatures to win, to show them what's up!"
Jenkins kinda stared at me, as if asking me what the hell I was talking about. Might've been the fact I was walking around as a six foot six dude.
"Get it?" I kept the act.
"No. You like, went way past me."
"Okay!" I lowered to one knee, "Don't let them push you around. Get that?"
"Oh, okay." she smiled.
Jenkins leaped, grabbing the ubiquitous [Arming Sword] as she tried to stab. I backed up, helping her boost self confidence. Raising the Zweihander again, I swung wide but slow. Backpedaling, my opponent tried for another stab as the blade swept by. Angling the sword, I deflected the shot, sending Jenkins teetering to the side.
"Always be ready to move." I instructed while flanking. "Might not know squat about sword fighting, but moving's gotta be important."
"Okay!" she cheered.
Jenkins' friends started coaxing her to try harder as she practiced. Had to say, whoever her brother was, he had cool friends.
"Go low, Jenkins!" one of his friends called, "Mess him up!"
A good fifteen minutes passed, helping her learn how to fight. Eventually though, I had to end the fight. Chopping it up, I watched her shatter to glass before passing her weapon back to her group.
"Take care guys." I smiled, "Maybe I can join you all in a bit?"
"Sure, course we'd have to ask the real Jenkins first." the guy smiled back, "Thanks."
[Level Up!]
[1 - 2]
[Place your 10 stat points where'd you'd like!]
[Vitality: 8]
[Endurance: 7]
[Strength: 18]
[Agility: 6]
[Dexterity: 5]
[Intelligence: 6]
[Luck: 5]
Better not tell anyone I leveled [Dexterity]. Dumping a quarter into [Vitality] and the rest to [Strength], I quickly closed the menu.
"Bro, I'd beat his ass easy." one mumbled, "He doesn't even use it properly!"
Walking to the guy, I smiled proudly.
"Really, what rings ya got, bitch?" I joked, "I don't see no ring of favor..."
"Piss off." he groaned, "Freaking elitist."
"Be careful admitting you level dex, casual." I tried softening.
"What're you talkin' about, edgelord? Go back to your basement. That meme's dead."
"The legend never dies!" I shouted merrily as he walked off.
Maybe I didn't make it obvious enough that I was joking. Then again, I wasn't exactly soft on anything. That being said, everything needed to keep the Zweihander was fulfilled, just had to get his word on it. Approaching Yuri, I waited for him to finish with his current customer. Luckily this was quick, the transaction concluded moments later. The ice blue eyed merchant smiled, shaking my hand firmly.
"Gg man, netted me at least eight buyers with that." he crossed his arms.
"Was pretty fun actually." I cheered, "Why don't I see more people with these?"
"From my time in the Beta? Think it was simply too slow, the learning curve, or the damage [Dual Wielding] provides."
"Pf, this is a real weapon." I smirked, rolling the Zweihander on my shoulder, "Got an extra?"
"Actually I do, someone else looking?" he perked.
"Yea, guy named Ensign. He'll let himself be known, anyway gonna go. Got plans."
"Cool." he shrugged, "So if someone needs gear-"
"Send 'em your way?" I finished, "Can do."
I turned to leave, but stopped abruptly.
"Yuri, you remember my name right?"
"Yup, friends list."
"Good, see ya then."
Yuri waved as he turned, quickly unraveling a green carpet. I stared happily down the path leading out of the plaza. Game's been out for three days, still had four days though to enjoy the double XP opening event. Walking down the player filled street, a deep seated need arose. There'd be no rest till such was fulfilled.
Sun Dancer
November 7th, 2022 - two days ago
The red rose flowered herb came loose, granting me a gracious sum of exp with the spray of freed soil.
[Saint's Touch - Class D Herb]
[Uses: Unknown]
Another new plant to examine, my third one within the first hour. Pulling out my [Basic Alchemy Set], I went straight to [Dissolve] the new find, a small glass beaker, mortar and pestle waiting for use. The plant left my hand in a flash of blue, reforming in the glass container. As the herb slowly turned to fluid, I stared out to the horizon.
I couldn't help it, it was a dream come true. So much space, open pastures, mountains, beaches, forests. Whole islands floated above, waterfalls streaming down, providing sudden rainfall for the valley. All of it, with the peace of alone time. No mom to bug me, no cramped apartment, just me and the wilderness. A little 'ping' set my focus back, the item's utility discovered.
[Saint's Touch - Class D Herb]
[Uses: Heals Minor Wounds]
[Uses: Unknown, Alchemy Skill level 150 required]
"Ooo." I cheered quietly to myself. "Hm, wonder how long it'd take to reach that..."
Left with a bottle full of some of its juice, I knew more had to be found, these were health potion recipes. Brushing my long, snowy hair aside, I let my mind do what I never thought I could, wander.
"Excuse me?"
So much for zen. I stopped, hearing a male to my right. Slender, the red haired guy wore a bandanna of similar color, looking fairly cheerful.
"Hi." I blinked.
"What're you up to?" he asked, "I'm Klein, been kinda bored for the past few minutes."
"Dying slowly inside?" I smiled, lowering my gaze to the grass. "Just found another new plant."
"Cool!" he cheered, "For real though, what's that do?"
"It boosts alchemy." I shrugged, looking up at him occasionally. "Enjoying brief peace before the storm."
"Yea I getcha, got my employee evaluation in two days." he nodded, "So um, can we work together a bit?"
I grimaced. Just when I thought I could enjoy alone time.
"I mean you're after plants, right?"
"Yea?" I kept hesitant.
"I've seen the [Frenzy Boar] eat those."
"Really?" I fretted, looking down the plains. "Thought they only ate grass..."
"Maybe I can help." he leaned back, fists at his hips. "I earn exp from killin' em' and you get to gather herbs in peace."
That actually didn't sound too bad, course this guy's definitely a bit awkward. Then again, it's not permanent.
"Um, okay." I regathered my alchemy supplies. "So a party request's needed?"
"Yea." he smiled, "Wait, have you ever played an MMO?"
"Does it look like I'd stoop that low normally?" I lashed.
"No?" he stepped back.
"Yes I'm new, how do I start one?"
"I'll take care of that." he opened his menu.
"No, tell me how. I don't want you leading." I protested.
"Ugh, fine." he groaned, "So you open this."
[Stats]
[Items]
[Social]
[Settings]
"Then you go [Social]."
[Friends]
[Party]
[Guild]
"Oh, there it is." I nodded, "Cool."
Selecting [Party], the red guy suddenly flashed a green outline.
[Look at the person you'd like to invite and hit Confirm]
[Confirm]
[Cancel]
Inviting the dude showed his name, his HP gauge nestled just above mine. Huh, whoever this Klein was, he was already level four. Found myself hoping this wasn't some weird new pickup method.
"Haru, nice." he nodded, drawing a sword from his hip, "Only level one...got a weapon?"
"Yea, just a [Dagger]." I looked around the grass.
"You should try the [Katana] class then, cuts these Boar up like fruit!" he cheered.
"Maybe later." I dismissed, "I don't like fighting much."
"That's cool, more for me!" Klein glanced away.
I nodded, leading the way through the tall grass. Without herbs in sight, however, it left me at the mercy of Klein's rambling.
"So have you bought the season pass?"
"Huh?"
"You know." he hacked a few blades of green. "For the expansion packs?"
"Wait, I've already spent seven thousand yen on this!" I panicked, "They're really pushing that?"
"You've clearly not seen gaming for the past decade." he laughed weakly, "But hey, least they're making one of them worthwhile."
"Oh?"
"Yea man, they're gonna be putting a whole magic system in the game." he exclaimed, smiling as he paced me. "Apparently they modify your character's appearance too, depending on which you choose. Since I'm going with a Samurai build though-"
Klein suddenly paused, his gaze elsewhere.
"Think that's a herb, to your left?"
Looking past the guy, turned out he was right. A yellow flowered herb rested among a shorter patch of grass...with a pack of [Frenzy Boar] waddling nearby.
"Take your time, I've got this!" Klein leaped forward, [Katana] deployed.
As interesting as another new herb was, I focused instead on my newest party member. The bandanna wearing clown wasn't a klutz either, in fact he was handling himself pretty well. Sidestepping and stabbing these dark blue furred pigs, Klein cut the beasts down in fairly short order, each shattering shortly after contact. While one or two got the jump on him, Klein was quick to rebound. As the last [Frenzy Boar] fell, Klein kicked his straight red hair back before sheathing the weapon in an overly dramatic fashion.
"Liked the show? I've done better."
"Yea." I smiled a little. "Maybe you could teach me a little? Not like I'm gonna fight any time soon, it's just...you seem to know your stuff."
"Sure!" he exclaimed, stepping to face me. "All I wanna know is your stat investment. Where you wanna go, all that."
Wanting to invest in [Intelligence], it was pretty clear to him that I was going for a more research heavy build. According to him though, that kind of build's really good for pinpointing weak spots in enemies, especially nice for bosses. A mob's drop could give me tips on how to defeat them quicker and easier, yay brain power!
"Had a Beta Tester help me out too." Klein rubbed his head, standing beside me. "Guy was a freaking emo, but knew his stuff. Hell, he's probably level sixteen by now. Prolly hasn't slept either..."
"Oh." I knelt to collect the herb, "Well thanks for the help, Klein. Now I know I'm not completely messing it up."
"Sure thing! Yea, you should probably invest in [Luck] too. It has a chance of negating [Critical Hits]."
I poked the yellow flowered herb, looking for the name. Felt a bit easier with him, being he hasn't hit on me the second he spoke.
[Candle Top - D Class Herb]
[Uses: Unknown]
Eager to see the results, I tugged the plant from the ground. This was a mistake, aggravating to put it lightly. The second I pulled the main body, some sort of fluid gushed out, smoking as soon as it left the herb.
"Um." Klein stepped back. "Haru?"
"I've got this!" I panicked.
I lifted the plant, only to drop it frantically, realizing it was already burning. Other blades of grass quickly immolated, the area around us catching fire as flames spread like bad news...not to mention one notable fact.
"Oh, bad!" I jeered, "Oh crap, I'm on fire!"
"Run, dammit!" Klein laughed, "Who the hell stands in fire?!"
"Shut up!" I whined, racing out of the spot flailing my arms.
I shrieked, running wildly through the grass, my HP dropping quickly as the flames consumed.
[You are now on fire!]
Thank you, game. I kept slapping my body, trying to put it out. Unfortunately, everything went black.
[You are dead]
[-40% EXP]
[-5% Cor]
[Respawning at last visited town]
This had to be a joke. Seriously, I was just killed by a goddamn, fucking magnesium snorting dandelion. Accepting my fate, I was quickly warped back to the Town of Beginnings. All that money, cause I pulled the wrong herb, that's when I felt my hip.
[From Klein: Hey Haru, I got your stuff. North gate?]
I sighed with relief. Least the guy was nice enough to not jack my stuff. Heaven forbid, I ever met a goddamn troll.
Sun Dancer
November 9th - present time - Garr
I reached down, snagging more [Pebbles] from a rocky patch of Floor One's southern beach. Stuffing my pockets full, I couldn't hide my grin. Watching a guy aggro herd a metric crap ton o' [Beach Geese], inspiration had struck. Dark blue waters lapped against the shore, the tides sounding authentic with their whishing churn.
"Excuse me?" someone approached, its very fake female voice notable. "Can I have some money? You look really strong so..."
Turning alone felt gratifying, the Zweihander arcing as I shouldered that beast of a sword. Looking at the player, the first warning I got was the appearance. Pale, mega-boobed, red hair, and the exaggerated hips of a goddess? Nope, definitely a scam.
"Pffffff." I shook my head, "Get good, son."
"Excuse me?!" it squeaked, already sounding like a guy.
"Did I hurt your feelings?" I blinked. "Come on, just takes a few swings. The geese should suffice."
"You intolerant dick!" he tantrum'd, "You just assumed my gender!"
I splayed a hand, unsure exactly what to say.
"I just said dude. Okay and son."
"What would you say if I was a girl, huh?" he gnashed.
"Get good?" I repeated.
"Bullshit, you'd be all nice." he dropped his arms, looking away.
"I don't know man, gender doesn't mean anything in a game. Girl could get double my strength stats and that'd be that."
"Least I'm not compensating..."
"What are you on about?" I raised a brow.
"Dude, you picked the tallest and largest body type available. And you wield one of the biggest weapon classes around! Bet you're some five one munchkin of a male, taking your anger out on the res-"
Taking one hand, I shoved the fraud aside like a thin wooden door, the bitch flying right into an oncoming wave with a dull splash. That thing's whining pissed me off faster than a splinter.
"Get good." I chuckled, searching for more pebbles.
"Fucking trailer trash! Go back to shagging your cousin!"
Haven't heard that a thousand times before, wondered what he'd think of my Latina mother. I brushed my hair back, still unused to the fact it was blonde, long enough to see without a mirror, or softer than a buffalo's backside.
"Compensating, whatever." I grumbled.
Hearing the dull draw of a sword I whipped around, the boy missing my neck by mere inches on first slash. Out of shock I grabbed him by the wrists, yanking the punk around before lifting and tossing him back in the water.
"Wanna go again?!" I roared, laughing shortly after.
Judging by how passive he floated in the water, the answer was a yes. [Pebble] number ninety five was mine, my mission ready to commence. Running back to the grassland, I stuffed the Zweihander back to that magic pocket dimension called player storage, where it'd easily take the space of a sofa. First [Frenzy Boar] in sight, phase one of my diabolical scheme. Drawing a rock from storage, I lobbed it with a grin, only to watch it hit grass.
"Dammit!"
Ended up wasting another four rocks before one finally hit. Man, the second that pebble met a hip, the pig was on my ass, mad as hell as it raced after me. It screeched and squealed rabidly, rushing me like a damn car.
"Oh jeez!" I turned north, sprinting away.
Didn't realize they moved this fast, was forced to improvise the plan. Running into more [Frenzy Boar], I slapped them right in the glutes before continuing my sprint, listening as they raged. In minutes, I had my own angry mob ready, dozens of tusked troops. I set direction to town, noticing players on my way there. Most traveled in groups, satisfied with simply exploring. Meeting such squads, I did what a proper gentleman would do, and guide my angry horde straight into them.
"The fu-!?"
I giggled loudly, hearing the mob of [Frenzy Boar] plow through at least two. Oh God, some of them actually died from that too, their friends looked so pissed.
"Hey!"
No way was I sticking around for that, was too busy laughing. Thankfully they didn't chase me, were too focused on the dropped loot and nettled pigs. With over fifty [Frenzy Boar] chasing me, nobody would expect such a bold attack. Three groups of players later, I had haters.
"Dickhead! Gonna spawn camp your ass after this!"
"Not unless I log!" I shouted back.
My target was in sight, the north gate to the Town of Beginnings. Sprinting north of it, I angled my horde of boar, punching any new ones in sight before turning south. Spotting that entrance, I kept up my brisk pace, smiling wider as a group of players amassed, joined by the angry shouts of my previous encounters.
Seeing the enraged mob behind me, some players freaked out, running from the avalanche of converging blue fur. Local [Town Guards] yelled out, raising shields as they confronted the rampaging pigs, sadly only able to stop so many at a time. The sound of breaking glass was heard, multiple.
Unadulterated carnage ensued, security rushing in to dispatch the rampaging swines, civilization combating the forces of nature, the wild and chaotic world outside their stone walls flooding inside like a howling tide. Hauling myself up a one story building, I sat to watch the trolling at work, giggling as others struggled.
God, some players were actually dying to these pigs. Then again, while they were basic monsters, sheer numbers set such limitations aside. What their deaths brought, however, only escalated the issue. With only a few guards present, the dropping of gear only spurred further chaos, some of the more combative players turning on each other just for loot. By how frantic it got, it seemed like they were ready to kill each other for merely looking at the fallen loot.
Other classy people stood back, tossing money in the mosh pit, smiling at the chaosdisplayed for meager sums. The look on their faces, oh God. They gazed at the shrieking horde with meme worthy expressions, soiling either recently or in the near future. Stalls were knocked aside, players trampled, some struck for trying to snatch a weapon, others still reacting to the assaulting. Slapping my knee, my chuckles were easy to hear.
"You think you're freaking funny?!"
"Just a little!" I giggled.
Next thing I knew, I was being pelted with arrows, one managing to stick right into my ribs.
[HP: 68%]
Forced to hide on the roof, I snickered while tugging the round out.
"Stop!" I heard a guard, "Assault!"
Whistles were blown, [Town Guards] funneling in and snatching players from the gate wide mosh pit.
"He brought the pigs here, you dumb shit!" the archer roared.
"Pay the town a fine or serve your sentence, scoundrel!"
Another guy climbed over the roof, [Dagger] in hand and fury in his eyes.
"You's a bitch!"
"I is literate!" I cheered.
Instead of letting me escape, the guy leaped forward, clearly another [Agility] build. Lunging as I turned, I felt a push, realizing I had just been stabbed.
[HP: 43%]
Looking down, the location had me displeased. The dude stabbed me in the dick, seriously. Like a true gentleman, he touched me so properly, leaving me violated as he withdrew.
[Sexual Misconduct Detected!]
[Would you like to jail the offender?]
[Y/N]
That was a thing, apparently. The guy was frozen on the spot, looking just as confused as I was. I stepped back, keeping watch of him. He couldn't move, oh lord.
"Why the hell's sexual...oh yea, Japan."
"Dude!" he roared.
"Okay!" I splayed hands, looking past him, "Was gonna compliment your aim, sheesh."
Hitting [No], I immediately pushed him off the building, my [Strength] stats sending him right back to the chaos below.
"Whoever brought these pigs is an asshole!" someone yelled, "Fuck that guy!"
Couldn't hold back the chuckle, their rage and salt was delicious. The guards swarmed my recent assailant, weapons drawn. Buying me time to jump back down, letting me walk off before downing a [Saint's Aid] potion.
[HP: 83%]
Minutes later the chaos died down, the situation back under control as the boar were slaughtered by the sheer volume of players. Downside of a calculated five hundred thousand player population, you could only do so much. First time playing the game, havin' a freaking blast. Hundreds gathered on the streets, some forming groups to spout memes at each other, some asking for specific items, others still begging to see boobs. Looking around, I spotted a guy by himself, face buried in the menu. Smirking, I rushed towards him, grabbing and hauling him over my shoulder.
"Hey!" the guy shouted, "The hell're you doing?!"
Sounded like an older man, ten years older than me? With myself at twenty one, this left him around his thirties.
"I'm taking ya around town!" I cheered, running with him slung over. "Leroy!"
[You have committed Battery!]
[-1 Reputation]
"Put me down! I'm working!"
[You are committing a kidnapping!]
[Cease or be punished harshly!]
[0:09 seconds]
Mas no bueno! Tossing him back to the ground, the guy bounced off the pavement like a half inflated beach ball. His scowl was easy to see, watching him jump to his feet.
"You like your game, don't you?" he growled, eyes spearing at me. "Thinking you can bully cause you're big here?"
"Uh, no?" I leaned right. "Was just messing around."
"Don't play innocent, you tried hurting me!"
"How can I hurt you, it's a video game."
"See? Right there's the problem with this place!" he pointed out. "So much of this escapist fantasy, you're all pathetic!"
I glanced around. Where're the guards when you needed them, getting arrested's starting to sound more appealing.
"Dude, I was kidding." I frowned. "I must've messed up that part."
"No." he glared, "All of you hide in places like this, you refuse to fix problems back in the real world. No, you abandon the rest of us, hoping we'll clean it up for you!"
"Or...I'm just enjoying myself?" I splayed hands.
"Yea, I know." he nodded, looking down at something.
A stray bucket suddenly fell from the sky, rebounding as it crashed on the pavement. Glancing up, an eyebrow was raised, questioning its origin. There be witchcraft in town, and it wasn't me doing it, unacceptable!
"Look man, I was just messing around." I looked back, "I didn't mean anything."
"Uh huh, we'll see..."
With that, the guy walked off. Holy crap, was everyone here this anal about everything? I mean if it was at least ten to twenty percent, then it was still better than home, but come on. Reminded me why I dropped online stuff.
The [Town Guards] haven't showed up, so I figured I'd vent. Running into the nearest crowd, I started shoving, socking, and throwing people around. Guys all around shrieked, gasped, even spasmed as I flailed them around, each weighing about as much as a sock puppet to me. What was the jail system even like in this game, I mean implementing internal laws in an MMO?
[You have committed Battery!]
[-1 Reputation]
"Western trash." one grumbled.
[Total Reputation: -20]
"Savage."
"Internationalizing this was a mistake!" another shouted.
"Stop raising your dex, casuals!" I shouted.
Man, physical contact seemed to be just...barren. These guys wouldn't even punch back for God's sake, they'd just scowl or talk behind your back. I was being indiscriminate too, just flooring whoever I felt like. Then again, why wasn't anyone as tall as I was, they had a choice too right? Halfway down the street the public started gasping, looking my direction. A man of great flab was running through, streaking.
"Dost thou enjoyeth a good stroll?!" he called, running through with his belly jiggling the whole way.
Rubbing my eyes, I had to blink repeatedly. They allowed nudity in this game, yet apparently no blood. Maybe I'm forgetting something. Then again, how come these guys all spoke English? Had to keep moving before my head exploded. Another punch, another cheap insult. A throw, a dark look, where's the testosterone out here?
[Total Reputation: -55]
"Stop that man!" I heard.
Finally, some guards. Running ahead, I found the most punchable face in town. A guy that was just as tall as me, lanky and blonde too. Sprinting ahead, I drove a fist into his shoulder, sending the bystander into a wall with a dull thud.
"Wanker!" the guy huffed in a British accent, looking back up to me.
To my surprise, the guy actually walked up and punched me back. Striking me in the shoulder, I recoiled slightly.
"My man." I cheered.
"Oh you're a yank...why's this not surprising."
British accent, calling me a Yank, finally someone with sass and class. Sadly I was stopped shortly after by a fairly armored [Town Guard].
"Stop right there!" it shouted, standing shorter than me.
I simply turned.
"You have committed heinous acts in my town. Multiple accounts of battery, someone's also accusing you of murder."
"What?" I blinked.
[Choose option]
[Pay fine: 25,000 Cor (55,000 if proven guilty of murder)]
[Go to Jail]
[Resist Arrest]
The guy who punched me back examined the notice.
"Bro, you serious?" he laughed, "How many people DID you punch? It's only five hundred Cor per charge!"
"I...kinda lost count after the third." I giggled.
He just shook his head, walking off.
"You sure it was me?" I smiled, looking back to the NPC.
"I'm certain." the guard growled.
"Good."
I leaned down, straight up dick punching the guy with a hard right.
[You have committed Battery on a Town Guard!]
[-5 Reputation]
"Bastard!" it roared, "Jail, pay, or your life!"
[Fine increased: 26,000 Cor]
I chuckled, hitting [Go to Jail]. A bright blue aura enveloped me, vanishing shortly after. The sound of the outside world was gone. I was in a dark place, stripped of my items, including my [Siege Blade].
[Jail time remaining: 299:59 sec]
Five hours? Frack sake, gave pretty stern incentives not to break laws. Sighing, I figured it was time to log off...catch up on studying for a bit.
[Settings]
[Volume Options]
[Gameplay Options]
[HUD Options]
[ERROR]
Good to see good ole' Q&A's still as popular as a Taco Bell enema.
"Really guys?" I groaned, "Jeez, this is 2022!"
Not a sound echoed off the dungeon walls besides my own. The dimly lit stone and overflowing moss were all to be seen.
[Skills will drain while you're in jail, or increase depending on experience.]
Joke's on them, my skills were all pretty much garbage tier. Course the idea of spending this long in a jail cell was as appealing as a DMV trip without appointment, so I did what came natural, drop for a push up. The second I lifted, however, a notice appeared.
[Strength Training Minigame Initiated]
[Please select your exercise]
My eyes widened with delight, realizing what I could be doing in real life right then. Bench press, dips, squats, lunges, they had it all. Dumbbells, barbells, kettle bells, and rope instead of cable.
[From Yuri: Yo Garr, you having log out issues?]
I grunted, going for a quick round of bicep curls, it could wait.
[Threshold met: 10%]
Turned out the heavier the weight I lifted or the more times I lifted moderately heavy, it raised the [Threshold]. Lifting really light stuff over and over seemed to boost [Endurance], though I wasn't sure how they programmed what would be considered light to different people. Hitting a hundred would result in a permanent reward to my actual [Strength] stat, though slight.
I was so surprised by the authentic feel, the system even emulating the burn it'd leave behind. Reps, sets, they all counted. Ended up spending time testing the various techniques, like negatives, or isometrics. They all worked, much to my surprise. Putting down a forty pounder, I opened the menu.
[To Yuri: You too?]
[From: Yep. Seems like everyone's having this problem. Some even say their friends haven't respawned.]
Man, was gonna lose study time, time I needed to figure out how the urinary system worked. Lifting these weights had me wishing I was out again, the leg day special was up and I didn't wanna miss. First hour and a half passed really quick, again thanks to the weight lifting simulator. When were the devs gonna fix this, I couldn't even remember what time it was back home.
[You've played for over 4 hours, you should take a break.]
"Thank you." I jeered, "Jeez, should be happy I tried this on a weekend."
[Forced Warp Initiated]
"Eh?"
I must've done something, cause next thing I knew I was warped right out of jail.
The [Olympic Furnace] was only one of Lord Forge Uriel's inventions in his attempt to steal the power the Great Old Ones possessed. Enchanting his furnace with the soul of an unborn [Dragon], its blood embedded in the housing, allowing for the addition of [Element Stones], and through it came the first [Elemental Weapons].
Adding an element applies a permanent visual affect to the weapon, such as the fissures and fire enshrouding a sword with [Flame] attribute. Applying to armor, however, will result in it glowing a color depending on what's added.
Forgotten Steel, first discovered in March 3rd, 2023
A/N: Garr being a troublemaker? Send copious amounts of bad memes, crushing him from the inside.
Once again guys, thanks for reading the chapter. Reviews are where it's at for me, bad and good. Favorites and follows are also very appreciated, be sure to hit that button!
Next chapter's in a week, hope to hear from you all soon!