This chapter is uploaded a day early and is dedicated to Monty. Happy birthday and it is truly sad that you weren't able to celebrate it. Thus, we shall celebrate it in your place. Rest easy.
REMNANT ONLINE
Rose opened her eyes to an unfamiliar ceiling. She brought up her menu and looked at the time. 10:46. She had been asleep for only an hour, she realized. Groaning, she got up and began equipping her stuff.
I should probably switch to a spear or rapier or something. Rose thought. I like high agility weapons but this knife just isn't doing it for me. It needs more range...
She walked out the inn and looked around the town. [Cypress Town] it was called.
It was larger than [Juniper Town] but smaller than the [Town of Beginnings]. The population was composed entirely of NPCs as it seemed she, Crocea, Milou, and Myrtenaster were the first to arrive.
The other players who were in Juniper probably didn't want to risk clearing the forest at night. It's doable, though, so Rose figured at least someone would be there. But no. The four of them were the only players in the town.
A few minutes later, she was in the town square, shopping. She asked a nearby NPC about their available weapons
The NPCs seemed to have a good stock of common weapons. She didn't expect the higher level equipment to appear in the early game shops. In the beta, she had been good at keeping ahead of the curve when it came to levels, but she hadn't been level 20 by the time she reached the third starting town. It surprised her to see equipment 10 levels higher than the level most players arrived there with.
She scrolled through the shop's selection and narrowed down her choices to two weapons. She weighed her options. On one hand, if she switched to a spear, she'd have to start working on her strength as well as her agility, since it compounded its damage with both stats. However, it'd probably work in her favor as it'd give her a more flexible stat build when it came to switching to new weapons. On the other hand, switching to the rapier allowed her to for a full agility build, and she really liked going fast. Rapiers tended to have low strength requirements as well so she could probably get by without needing to assign more skill points to strength than she normally did.
Rose frowned in frustration. This was always the part she hated the most: deliberating on skills, builds, and equipment. She sighed and gave up.
"Hey, shop keeper, why don't you choose for me. What do you think would suit me better - that rapier or that spear?"
The NPC looked thoughtful for a second before recommending the spear.
Rose blinked in surprise. She had forgotten how life-like the non-player characters were in Remnant. When talking about things pertaining to in-game events or items, one could have a lengthy dialogue with an NPC, as if it were a real person. She could even imagine getting into a fight with one while trying to haggle the price of an item - she may or may not have seen other players actually do that as well. However, the moment things stopped being about the game, they'd just stop and say they didn't understand.
With a smiled and nod, Rose selected the spear and tapped purchase. The [Hunter's Lucky Spear] now sat in her inventory, waiting to be equipped.
Better assign those stat points first, though. I can't even equip it yet without increasing my strength stat, Rose thought as she made her way to the local blacksmith. Now, let's see if I can get this cloak upgraded with the craft materials I have right now.
REMNANT ONLINE
Rose re-entered the inn, new and upgraded equipment on display. She had been wandering the town for a bit, completing some minor side quests from the NPCs, earning quite a bit of Lien and experience points. She had even leveled up, in fact. With all those changes, it was only natural that she'd catch the attention of one of the only players on her team who were already awake.
Myrtenaster stared at her from top to bottom to top once more. "Been buying new clothes" She noted boredly. "You look good"
Rose chuckled, puffing her chest with pride. "Of course I do. I look gorgeous. I'd probably look good in anything." She said confidently.
When Myrtenaster looked at her skeptically, it suddenly occurred to her that her avatar wasn't the handsome man she had slaved at in the character selection screen for hours anymore. Instead, she was the same wimpy looking teenager she was in real life.
She blinked at the realization. "Wait..."
"Self confidence certainly a good thing, but gloating is pushing it a bit too far, don't you think?" Myrtenaster said dryly. "Though your level of self esteem is enviable, I'll give you that"
Rose raised a brow at the white haired girl's statement. "Was that an insult?"
"Or a compliment. Take it how you will." With that, Myrtenaster exited the inn, leaving Rose standing awkwardly at the door.
Wait... did she just say I looked good? Like... Me me? Not handsome-man-avatar me?
REMNANT ONLINE
Crocea and Milou gave her a once over and they both agreed that, yes, her current outfit did indeed make her look good. Rose buried her face in her hands by the sheer embarrassment of it. She just wasn't used to compliments like that. At all.
"Where'd you even get those clothes?" Crocea asked.
A white long sleeve blouse, red skirt, and brown boots which made up the armor set titled [Fair Commoner]. They were simple clothes that offered fairly high stat increases which she got from completing a small quest chain from one of the local NPCs. She wore it because of the stats. She didn't really expect it to look good on her.
"Well they do. They suit you quite well, actually" Milou said encouragingly.
Rose's blush deepened. "B-but I'm wearing armor over it. Doesn't that make me look less good or something?" She argued. "Like, don't you think a [Soft Leather Curiass] and a [Fair Commoner Skirt] clash a bit?"
Milou disagreed "No, you manage to make it fit. I don't see why you dislike the thought of yourself looking attractive so much."
"B-but..."
Crocea sighed. "Alright, how about we stop talking about it for now? A change of topic will probably help our party leader clear her head," He said helpfully.
Rose glanced at Crocea, giving him a look of thanks. I owe you one. The boy nodded as if to agree that, yes, she did owe him one. She looked away, wincing. Dammit, I owe him another favor...
Once the fun stuff was out of the way and Myrtenaster returned from shopping, the four of them got to working on future plans.
Inevitably, the had to wait a couple of days, perhaps a week, for more players to arrive at the third starting city. In that time, they'd continued grinding the field mobs just outside the city for experience points, all the while gathering information about what was going on. Some news about what was going on in the [Town of Beginnings] was certainly welcome. Some insight on the whole trapped in the game situation was even more desirable.
However, as it were, there wasn't much they could do that day. At only noon, the players who had arrived at [Juniper Town] the previous evening would still be in the process of clearing the forest. Without a doubt in their minds, new payers would arrive by the end of the day, but until then, they had very little to do but kill some mobs to kill some time.
They all sighed at the prospect of grinding all afternoon. It was going to be a boring day, they felt.
REMNANT ONLINE
Using her [Detection] skill, Rose saw a party of two emerge from the forest from across the plains. Amazing what the skill could with a perfectly clear field of view a sunny day. She ran to meet them.
They were a boy and girl, wearing green and pink, and wielding a knife and axe respectively. Once she got close enough to bring up their status screen, she learned that the boy was [Stormflower], Level 11, and the girl was [Magnhild], Level 13.
"Hey, you're part of that group that left [Juniper Town] last night!" The girl in pink, Magnhild exclaimed. She then began streaming sentences faster than Rose was capable of understanding. "Wow, I never though you'd survive. I mean, not that I wanted you to lose but those things are scary powerful, like we tried to get through last night but there are just so many of them that we had to head back to town. We almost died last night. We had to wait til this morning to try and take on the forest. But you, you managed to survive going though it at night. That's amazing. Oh, you're level 21, that explains it. Hello Crescent Rose, I am Magnhild - that's Ma-gn-high-ld. But you can call me Maggy if that's too hard for you. Nice to meet you" Maggy held out her hand for a friendly hand shake.
Rose blinked, still trying to process what the girl had just said. "Uh... Hi." She reluctantly shook the outstretched hand.
Turning to the boy, Stormflower, he also held out his hand. "Stormflower." he said curtly. "Please excuse Maggy's over enthusiasm. She recently got last-hit on the forest's area boss. She's still a bit giddy."
Rose nodded, smiling. She knew the feeling. "By the way, how were things in [Juniper Town] this morning? I wasn't able to ask around much yesterday but I got that most of them left [The Town of Beginnings] early in the morning because of some sort of mass panic. Anything new?"
Stormflower shook his head. "Actually, no one new showed up to [Juniper Town] this morning. I'm guessing they either died from all the Grimm, or were scared off by them. More would probably arrive there later this afternoon, though." He looked around, until he saw Maggy fighting a group of six [Wild Boars] some distance away. "Oh dear." He winced and began jogging towards her. "Sorry, I gotta go."
Rose nodded and waved goodbye "Sure. Remember, the city's straight north. You can't miss it."
"Thanks" Stormflower waved back before breaking into a sprint towards the girl in pink.
Rose tilted her head curiously before shugging. They seem nice. She began running in the opposite direction. Hoping to fight a couple more mobs before returning to town.
REMNANT ONLINE
The sun setting in the distance showered the world with orange light. Similarly orange was the hair of one player who had just emerged from the forest. Bangs covering half of his face, and a white cloak billowing in the wind, [Torchlight] was a level 14 beta tester who knew Rose - and whom Rose knew in return.
"Well well well, Red. I never thought you were just a little girl" He said with a dark chuckle. "I take it that you were waiting for me?"
"You could say that. And you look exactly like your avatar. Though I'm guessing you don't have orange hair in real life." Rose smiled and shook her head. "Anyway, you got any new info for me?" She asked.
"Yeah I do. You know the drill. Cough up the Lien and I'll tell you everything you need to know"
"Always the business man, I see," Rose said with a sigh. "Can't I get some for free?"
He shrugged. "I'm an info broker. It's what I do. As for free info, well, let's see what I have. Walk with me."
REMNANT ONLINE
Rose and Torchlight arrived at town, chatting all the way. Once they entered the gate, the man shut his mouth and ushered Rose into a dark alley.
"Okay, that's all I can give you for free" Torchlight said. He grinned "Anything more's gonna cost you."
"This looks awfully like one of those scenes in movies where the rapist tries to have their way with you" Rose said, smiling mischievously.
Torchlight raised his eyebrow. "How old are you? You shouldn't watch movies like that." Rose giggled. He sighed and shook his head. "Whatever. So what do you wanna know? Tell me and I'll name my price"
"How about we make a deal? I have information that can be useful to you."
Torchlight looked at her skeptically. "How useful?"
"It's about the Grimm. Something I noticed last night while fighting them."
"You were fighting them? Well, no surprise there. You're ten levels over the recommended level for this place. So, what about them?"
Rose put a finger on her lips, smiling. "Ah, Torchlight, this is a trade, remember? What do you have to offer?"
He chuckled "Ah, there's the Rose I knew from the beta."
"Well then, how about information on the whereabouts of two individuals that happen to be important to one of your party members?" Rose's smile twitched. "Oh yes, I know about her. Myrtenaster is her name, I believe. Female; white hair; fair skin; scar on left eye; level 13 while she was in [Juniper Town]; wields a rapier-type weapon with her left hand - a [Training Saber] when she arrived at town and a [Wind Fleuret] when she left with you; silent and reserved, possibly due to the whole trapped in a game situation; and absolutely lost without the two friends who were accompanying her before they were separated due to a Grimm attack"
Rose frowned. He was right about all those points and his smug grin felt exceedingly fun to punch. "You're really an asshole, you know that?"
Torchlight grinned. "Yes, Red, I am very much aware." He leaned forward. "Now, what was it about those Grimm that you were going to tell me?"
"I don't want to be swindled." Rose snapped. "We know they're alive and we know they're eventually going to arrive in this town soon. We don't need info from you" She smirked. "Don't you have something better?"
Now it was he who was frowning. "I'm not inclined to present you with my info right now. Frankly, I get the feeling most of it you are already aware of." He said dryly. "I am however willing to pay you 1000 Lien right now for the information you carry" he added with a small smile.
Rose laughed. "Please, I've got over 4k stored from all the grinding I've been doing. I doubt even you would be able to match up the the money I have right now"
For the first time, Torchlight's face showed surprise. The amount of satisfaction Rose gained from knowing she had more money than Torchlight left her undeniably satisfied.
"Okay, how about this: You owe me a favor." Rose said.
Torchlight's eyes narrowed. "What kind of favor?" He asked skeptically
"You know what kind." Rose answered, confident that he'd understand.
He looked away, scratching his cheek. "I don't know, Red. Debts like that are hard to pay, and even harder to keep. They can equal the weight of a life if necessary. It's what makes them so valuable."
Rose walked deeper into the alley, hands behind her back. She turned back to look at Torchlight, eyes smiling. "Then how about a discount for all future pieces of information I buy of you? That's fair, right?"
Torchlight smiled back. "Ah, now that is a very fair deal. Since 1k is still small for you, how about a discount of 4k, equaling the amount of money you currently have on you?" He took a step forward.
"That's not good enough. Since 1k is a quarter of my total Lien, why not a 25% discount?"
He walked closer, frowning. "Work with me here, Red"
"15% discount."
"Why is it that you're the one making an offer? 10%. That's the highest I'll go. It's practically criminal, the discount I'm giving you, Red."
Rose stepped nearer and whispered. "The Grimm are all double the level of the local mobs that they replace in a dungeon."
Torchlight glared at Rose. "That's your info?" He asked in outrage
"Okay, wait, hear me out," Rose said quickly. "The Grimm will replace literally every single mob in an area - even the boss mobs - and they are double that mob's level. They'll even replace a mob you're currently in combat with - and they'll be at full health"
He frowned. "Okay, I'm listening..."
"I heard from the NPCs that they only show up in dungeons and places with little to no sunlight. Torchlight, Region 2 is the [Emerald Forest]. Every single mob field down there is shaded with giant trees. Nowhere but the towns are safe once midnight strikes."
He nodded. "This is real interesting, Red, but this isn't worth a 10% discount on all future purchases." He began.
"Wait, wait, there's still the clincher" Rose leaned in. "Doesn't it have to be 6pm before you can enter the region's [Gate Dungeon]?" Torchlight's eyes widened.
The [Gate Dungeon] was the dungeon they had to beat in order unlock the next playable region. It required multiple raid teams of six players that met the minimum level requirements to clear it safely. At the very end of the dungeon awaited a boss mob that was more powerful than any of the mobs faced prior to it. However, gaining entrance to the [Gate Dungeon] was only possible between 6pm and 6am, spanning an entire night.
A look of dread was on his face. "You're telling me that [Gate Dungeons] have to be beaten in six hours or else they become nigh unclearable?" Rose nodded. "Even the boss?" Rose nodded again.
Rose grimaced. She could only imagine how much harder the later [Gate Dungeons] would be if they took too long. A mob twice the level of a level 50 mob is one that's level 100. The exponential increase was terrifying. What made it worse was the fact that a Boss could turn into a Grimm in the middle of a battle and all the efforts made to damage it were effectively meaningless.
Looking pale, Torchlight leaned on the wall for support. "This is insane..." He breathed. "Some of these [Gate Bosses] take literal hours to defeat..."
Rose sighed. "Yeah. Never expected any of this from the beta." She then smiled sadly. "But, there is something I noticed. It's not anything confirmed, just a theory-"
Torchlight smiled wryly. "Which is why you're telling me for free?"
She nodded "Yeah. Anyway, these Grimm are really powerful and stuff, but I noticed that the bosses get less smart the more health they lose. Their patterns become easier to deal with."
He tilted his head curiously. "Interesting. Where'd you learn this?"
"I fought the forest area boss while it was a Grimm." Rose shook her head. "Like I said, it's just a theory. Maybe it's only true for just that boss, maybe it's true for every other boss. I don't know."
"Don't tell me you plan on taking on more Grimm bosses. Red, that would be suicide."
Rose laughed. "What? Can't bear to lose your best source for info about the front lines?"
He looked away uncomfortably. "Well, there's that... But I was mostly thinking about how you're just a little girl." Rose's laughter died inside her throat. "I may be an asshole, but I am not particularly fond of children dying."
She frowned. "I'm not a kid anymore..."
Torchlight shook his head. "No, you're not." He turned towards the street and gave Rose a lazy wave. "Well, Red, I'll be taking my leave. I was just presented with a lot of food for thought and I can't say much in terms of my appetite. See you around, kid"
With that. Rose was left in the shadow of an alleyway, in the brief twilight after the sun disappeared over the horizon.
REMNANT ONLINE
It was a quarter past midnight when Rose saw two players emerge from the forest. It was night and her detection skill still wasn't very high leveled yet so she couldn't bring up their status screens yet. Instead of running to meet them, she stayed where she was, in the open hands raised. In the white moonlight, she called out to them.
"Hey, are you guys okay!? Can I come closer!?"
The two dark figures seemed to look at each other before a gruff voice responded. "Is the town nearby!?"
"An hour's walk from here!"
They looked at each other once more before another yell was addressed to Rose. "Wait there! We'll come to you!"
And they did. They walked closer until yet entered the range of Rose's detection skill. She activated and and checked their screens. One of them was a very tall man, most likely the gruff voice who had replied to her. [Wilting Blush] Level 19. The other was a woman, significantly shorter. [Gambol Shroud] Level 17.
Rose's eyes widened when she read those names. They were those friends Myrtenaster had been worrying about.
REMNANT ONLINE
So, I introduced a whole bunch of characters to this story just now. Just in case you don't know who they are, refer to this chart of all the characters so far and what their usernames are in Remnant Online (in order of appearance):
Ruby Rose - Crescent Rose
Jaune Arc - Crocea Mors
Weiss Shnee - Myrtenaster
Pyrrha Nikos - Milou Akouo
Lie Ren - Stormflower
Nora Valkyrie - Magnhild
Roman Torchwick - Torchlight
Adam Taurus - Wilting Blush
Blake Belladonna - Gambol Shroud
Not much to comment on these characters except for Roman's.
Roman is the info broker: basically, this story's counter part to Argo (the info broker from the original SAO). He's still witty and sarcastic like his canon self, but he's no longer evil (though he's still very greedy). His arrival was the perfect way for me to explain Gate Bosses and Regions a bit earlier in the story. It also serves as a way to further explain how I incorporated Grimm into the story. Basically, I just made the game several times more difficult than in SAO. Good luck, guys
The characters still don't know if it's a death game or not. Most believe it is but some still refuse to believe. All of you guys know the truth though.
Anyway, that was a nice break from the action we had last chapter, now wasn't it? I hope you guys enjoyed it. Until the next one, then!