Samuel left the pod and got to the game's site. He was curious about the update, after all...
"I'm actually first... in the world. But I'm only a casual player. I'll be overtaken easily so I shouldn't forget my purpose. For fun."
At the game's website, there was a special post. The more he read, the more he felt like he did something amazing.
[Update "Insurgence of the Fallen" - First episode "Calm Before the Storm"]
[ As the first player got to level 5, we believe everyone has started to get used to the game by now. Players will need to wait 2 hours to get back in the game.
Features:
Increase in monsters spawn rates near villages. Also, monster areas no longer will spawn a specific level, but a range. In other words, there will be no longer an area with just level 1 bunnies monsters, but also foxes and boars. So the village surroundings will be a level 1-5 area for beginners.
This will create a more realistic ecosystem. Areas can have different ranges so players will have to be careful even at relatively easy places.
Increased number in quests. NPCs are the pride of our company development team and have human like interactions. The rise I difficulty affect NPCs as much as Players so more quests will appear.
The main quest has been started. Players will need some time to be able to participate in it, but this the main world quest. Every episode will be released with the activation of the next main quest. The current one will need at least a year to be completed by our system calculations.
The hunger meter has been added together with many other status afflictions possible. Players shall discover all possibilities on your own.
The rankings have been opened. The level ranking, guild ranking and mount ranking are currently open.
Lastly, the guild creation token can now be dropped from bosses level 15 or higher.
We hope everyone enjoys the second world we prepared for you.
*Note: We have analyzed every players combat and reworked some areas to not allow easy leveling.
New Virtual Eletronics and Games. ]
"This looks good. The single enemy maps were a little boring. So they just intended to use it as some kind of tutorial. And I feel like the note at the end its warning me specifically."
He couldn't log into the game for now so he took a shower and went to the kitchen to grab something to eat. He found his mother watching series in their living room.
Human's technology advanced by leaps every century, but since 2020s, there haven't big changes to everyday life. The biggest change is the comfort brought by AIs that control mostly everything and the difficulty at getting a job.
"What? You're not playing your new game?"
"I missed you and your cooking."
"I see. The is offline so you came to eat and kill time, right?"
"Bullseye. Pass me the ketchup, please."
After almost 2 hours watching series with his mother, she went to sleep and he went back to the game.
[As the first player at level 5 and triggering the first main update. You have received the title:
"Small Pioneer".]
[Title: Small Pioneer]
The first to achieve level 5. Although it was a small step, you beat all competition and was the first to take it.
Slightly increased reputation among NPCs.
[Status]
Name: Windbow
Title: Small Pioneer
Rank: Civilian
Guild: None
Level: 5 (31%)
Class: Archer
HP: 70 / 70
MP: 30 / 30
[Attributes]
Strength: 1
Vitality: 1
Agility: 5
Dexterity: 5
Intelligence: 1
Will: 1
Free Attribute Points: 2
[ Bow Mastery - Apprentice 1/10 - 78%]
[ Double Shot - Apprentice 2/10 - 4%]
"This looks like a title to help me get special quests easier, but.... I'm scared to think what kind of quest I'll receive next. I'll sooner have to face a dragon or something like that if this keeps up."
Although Samuel has liking for quest, he was already feeling dread for his next one. His luck for quest could be considered both good and bad. Luckily he was able to complete them until now.
Samuel shook those bad feelings and opened his inventory. He received a skill book when he completed the quest.
[ Improved Vision ]
Increases user's sight range.
Increased perception of stealth.
Increased dynamic vision.
"Hum, this skill does look good, but.. After fighting that mini-boss I hoped for a burst damage or a controlling skill. Still, that stealth detection will be very useful on the new maps."
After learning the skill, he searched for the armory shop. Although he couldn't learn blacksmithing, he probably had clues about mining skill. Samuel personal quest to unlock all sub skills was still on going.
On the way his friend George and Moon Reflection both came online and congratulated him.
"Congratulations, brother WindBow."
"Bro, you're awesome! You're first! Even if it's just level 5, I never thought I'd know someone who is "best in the world" at anything! Conquering the world is really possible! I'll work hard not to drag you down."
He was surprised at Moon's message. That "brother" she used to call him should be a cultural thing from her country. Remembering her aloofness, he never thought she would come herself to congratulate him.
George is always blowing things out of proportion so he's used to it now. He sent his thanks to both. His enthusiasm the complete opposite of George's. In fact, he didn't think much about his achievement. He was a little luckier, just that.
On the way he was checking the new feature, the rankings. At the level rankings, his name was first in big gold letters, followed by two in silver and bronze letter respectively. The others were plain black text. He didn't feel proud, but he did feel a little giddy inside. He never played a game in a competitive way, like a professional. So he never thought he might one day occupy that spot.
The other two rankings were open, but empty. No guilds have been created neither have any mounts been found.
At the armory, he asked about mining. Learning from his last interaction, he didn't promise anything and was very cautious with the word used. The blacksmith didn't know about mining since he bought his ores from the next village.
Postponing his acquisition of the mining sub skill, he searched for his next objective: Fishing. He wanted dismantling, for monster materials. The villagers knew how to skin monsters, but couldn't collect monster parts without ruining them. The monster around didn't bring much benefits besides their skins so they didn't feel like trying harder either.
Besides the lakes inside the forest, there was a river just next to the west walls. It was the village main source of water.
Samuel found an old man fishing leisurely at the river's shore. The man looked experienced, his movements were precise and efficient. He got close to the old man, but didn't call. Fishing spots usually require quietness so the fish aren't scared. After 10 minutes waiting, the old man took the initiative to talk:
"Young man, do you fish? Your patience is very suitable for fishing. At your age, that's a rare trait."
"Thank you, mister. I don't know how to fish yet. I'm looking for someone to learn from."
"Good. Grab a fishing rod. I have a few spare ones. I'll teach you."
[Favorability with Shen +10]
[Shen is now Friendly]
Samuel spent an hour getting instructions by the old man Shen. He even received a normal quest for once to catch five fishes using his new knowledge. Samuel caught 5 fishes and his fishing got to 45% proficiency with the quest reward.
"Guess this is the most gathering skills this village can offer."
He headed back to Grind. Grind thought highly of him, but he asked for small quests for now. He wanted to calm down a little. So he received another wolf extermination quest. It was a repeatable quest.
Killing wolves now was a lot easier so he just prepared the necessaries consumables. After the update, wolves become slightly harder to kill, but he could still cope with it.
His friend George received all skins and got his Leather Working to level 3. Also, because he was the first selling useful equips, he started reeling some money and leveling up.
George and Samuel just spent the night grinding their skills like that. Samuel brought herb and skins and George manufactured and sold everything. Samuel was almost level 7. Though he was still first place in the rankings, there were seven other level 6 already.
"George, I'm going to move to another village soon. Get a blacksmithing and tailoring skills while I'm gone. I'll be back with more gathering skills.
"Bro, you're going to lose your first place in the level rankings like that!"
"I'm playing for fun. I like fighting, but I'm not a fighting maniac. I can't compete with crazy gamers."
"Alright, bro. Even if you get last in the rankings, fear not. Your brother here will brave through hell together with you. I'll go with you to the other village too!"
"You've been watching too many animes again..."
Samuel got a quest from Grind. He had to find his son, Grom, and see if he needed anything. His son married a girl from the other village and moved there. George got quests from the shop's NPCs to transport goods.
The Stone Village was to the west of Seregard. Villages in Grandaia receive names either by who founded them or by some characteristics important to its identity. Stone village was founded to mine the nearby mountains. The strange names are usually honored people's names in the past, like Lyan Ult who founded Ult Kingdom.
The way to Stone village was not very dangerous. There was barely any monsters on the way besides some low level ones like bunnies and other small herbivores.
"So this is another village! I'm gonna explore the prices here and look for local specialties. I can trade between villagges now! See you later, bro!"
George got to work on his business quests immediately. Samuel sighed in relief. Though he's his best friend, he could barely put up with his endless talking. Samuel can barely keep conversations for 5 minutes. So listening to George the whole trip tired him more than fighting monsters for hours.
Samuel found Grom's house after asking around a little. After completing the quest of meeting Grom and receiving some exp, he found the village blacksmith. There was a burly old man of brown skin. He looked grumpy, he was probably hard to get along. His title made the old man slightly easier to talk to so he got a quest to mine 30 bronze ores. The mining skill could be taught by the village's miner. As he was leaving town he found Grom searching for him. By his face, Samuel had a bad feeling.
"WindBow, finally found you. People saw you going to the blacksmith so I thought you would be asked to go mine. That man is always using people for his things."
"That's exactly what happened. So, why were looking for me?"
"My father said that although you look weak, you can actually complete difficult missions. Is that true?"
('As I thought ... I'm cursed!'). Samuel was already cursing his own luck. Even Grom himself said it was hard.
"I try my best. Do you need anything?"
"A miner went missing inside the mines a few days ago. The others said he went too deep and never came back, since then the miners avoided going too deep to mine, but the ores mined there are this village's lifeline. We'll soon need to explore and look for any possible dangers inside. Could you take that task? Just knowing if there are monsters there shall be enough."
[Mine Exploration]
Stone Village depends on its mine to survive, but that same mine hides some kind of danger. Discover what that is and report back to Grom.
Mission: Explore the deeper reaches of Stone Village's Mine.
Rank: E+
Time Limit: 5 Days
"This is a joke, right?"