A string of words appeared in the corner of the screen, revealing my progress:
----
Congratulations! Your Level has risen from 0 to 1!
Got 10 AP (Additional 3 AP due to the title's effect)
Got 10 SP
----
This subtle announcement marked my ascent to Level 1. It had taken me three Grass Lizards to achieve this milestone, a testament to the challenging path of the Versatile Class. Unlike other classes, this one demanded a grind, relying heavily on experience from quests and kills.
While I could exploit monsters' weaknesses for instant kills, it seemed unnecessary at the moment, given their low difficulty. I opted to check my stats and allocate my newly acquired AP, reserving the SP for later at the inn.
For this round, I invested 3 AP in STR, another 3 in AGI, and 2 in DEX. The lion's share of 5 AP went into INT, a priority for enhancing my magical abilities. I decided to forgo bolstering my END stat, reasoning that my current equipment already provided sufficient durability. My focus lay on speed, strength, and honing my magical skills.
The synergy of the Magician and Magic Knight classes intrigued me, offering a blend of abilities to unleash in battle. To make the most of this potential, I concentrated on elevating my mana reserves. A higher INT stat translated to greater mana capacity and regeneration, essential for sustaining my magical prowess. As for my other stats, they remained modest for now.
Name: Bladeheart
Level 1
Experience: 200/2000
Health Points (HP): 2400/2400
Mana Points (MP): 1000/1000
Attributes:
Strength (STR): Very Poor
[AP Bar: 22/100]
Agility (AGI): Very Poor
[AP Bar: 31/100]
Dexterity (DEX): Very Poor
[AP Bar: 26/100]
Endurance (END): Very Poor
[AP Bar: 28/100]
Intelligence (INT): Very Poor
[AP Bar: 23/100]
AP left to spend: 0
Title: Memento Mori
Skills: None (yet)
SP left to spend: 60
Equipment:
Head: Beginner Hood
Upper Body: Beginner Shirt
Lower Body: Beginner Pants
Shoes: Beginner Boots
Gloves: Beginner Gloves
Necklace: None
Left Arm: None
Right Arm: None
Ring: None
Weapon: Versatile Weapon
As anticipated, the Versatile class is a voracious EXP devourer, and at first glance, it's anything but beginner-friendly. Just to leap from level 1 to 2, I'm already faced with the daunting task of accumulating a staggering 2000 EXP – that's roughly the equivalent of hunting down 20 to 30 Grass Lizards. But here's the kicker: once I surpass a monster's level, the EXP reward plummets drastically. That means I can't just stick to a single creature and farm my way to higher levels; it's a significant penalty.
While your average player only needs 1000 experience points to breach the level 1 threshold, the real trouble starts to rear its head as you climb higher up the leveling ladder. Trust me; it'll become more than a mere nuisance; it'll transform into an outright grind, a looming chore I'm dreading even now.
Surveying the terrain, it's apparent that the once-plentiful monsters are dwindling in number, thanks to an influx of fellow players converging on the Grass Lizard habitat. Sooner rather than later, securing a solitary target to slay will require more time and effort. Time is of the essence, and I need to make my move.
In the distance, three Grass Lizards come into view. It's a race against time, but I have no choice but to act swiftly.
"Should I give it a shot?"
Drawing from a real-life technique I've honed, I wonder if I can employ it to dispatch all three monsters in one fell swoop, ensuring they don't get swiped by other opportunistic players.
Transforming my weapon into a katana was a bold move. Although I lacked the fancy in-game skills to make the most of it, I drew from my real-life experiences. It was a technique I'd long abandoned, dismissing it as futile. Now, as I brandished the Versatile Weapon in its katana form, hope surged within me. Maybe I had underestimated this method all along, both in real life and in the game.
My focus honed in on the trio of menacing monsters ahead. The katana, now housed snugly in its scabbard, seemed to pulse with latent energy, echoing the essence of a true samurai's weapon. I secured the katana and its scabbard to my hip, then, with a thumb's gentle nudge, released the handguard.
Time seemed to slow as I closed my eyes, my heart racing in anticipation.
SWISH
SWISH
SWISH
"SKREEEEEEEEE!"
The high-pitched cries of the Grass Lizards pierced my ears as their lives were extinguished in quick succession. My eyes snapped open, revealing the triumphant tableau behind me—three targets vanquished with one fluid motion. It was exhilarating to see that my training hadn't abandoned me completely; muscle memory still pulsed within my veins. But it was bittersweet; I couldn't help but lament that I'd lost some of the finesse that once allowed me to achieve such feats with a single swing. Although I count it as one move, that is still three swings.
With a swift motion, I swung my gleaming katana to the side, the crimson droplets of blood splattering across the battlefield. My heart sank as I wiped the sticky residue from the blade, a tangible reminder of the mistakes that haunted my past.
Regret clung to me like a shadow, whispering of opportunities lost and choices made. It was clear that I had abandoned this path before, a decision that had led to a grim outcome. But what if I could rewrite my history? What if things could turn out differently this time?
The katana morphed into a sleek, deadly knife in my hands, a testament to its versatile nature. My gaze shifted to the lifeless bodies of the fallen monsters that littered the ground. Though they were no longer a threat, they still held value. Every drop of blood, every piece of their otherworldly essence could be turned into a coin, a way to make a living in this unforgiving world both in digital and real life.
Leaving these precious resources behind would be a colossal waste, and I couldn't afford such extravagance. So, I set to work, collecting what I needed from the remains of these vanquished foes. Hopefully, they are not too damaged.
As I delved into the gruesome task of carving up the monstrous carcasses, it was as though my blade had become a dance partner, effortlessly gliding through flesh and bone. The Versatile Weapon was living up to its name, making the whole process feel oddly satisfying.
Once the dismantling was complete, the fruits of my labor appeared on my screen in a cascading string of rewards. It was like unwrapping a treasure chest after a hard-fought battle. Here's what I gained:
-Got Sticky Tongue - Perhaps a grotesque trophy or a bizarre ingredient for future concoctions.
-Got Green Armor- A prized find, this armor would surely offer protection and style in equal measure.
-Got 3 copper (Additional 3 copper for performing Instant Kill)
-Got 100 EXP (Additional 100 EXP for performing Instant Kill)(Title effects activated, 200 Bonus EXP earned)
-Got 5 Samurai Class SP(Title Effects activated, 5 Bonus Samurai Class SP earned)
- Got...
...
Regrettably, the pelt proved utterly unusable due to my precise but unfortunate choice to cleave the monstrous Grass Lizard neatly in half. Had I skillfully beheaded the creature, I might have boasted a pristine and complete pelt for sale. Alas, my efforts yielded only one valuable item - the sticky tongue, a coveted ingredient coveted for crafting potent throwable potions.
With the spoils collected, I couldn't resist the urge to inspect the newly acquired armor. Yet, my initial excitement quickly turned to a weary sigh. It offered no remarkable advantages over my existing gear. While it may not be the stuff of legends, it would serve as a fitting, if unexciting, replacement for the time being.
----
Witness the unveiling of the enigmatic [Green Armor], a revelation destined to captivate your adventurous spirit:
-----
[Green Armor]
Type: Armor Equipment
Rarity: Normal Tier
Equippable at level 2
Equippable by: All Classes
Stats
END: 7
AGI: 2
Note: Used by adventurers who preferred crawling in the grass to catch monsters off guard.
----
After an arduous half-hour of relentless Grass Lizard hunting, I finally ascended to level 2. The challenge had grown exponentially, now that eager players swarmed the hunting grounds, making it a fierce competition for any remaining prey. With no more foes in sight, I decided it was time to make my way back to town, laden with the spoils of my adventure.
As I ventured back, my stomach rebelled with a loud growl. It was still mind-boggling how the game replicated real-life sensations, especially hunger. I couldn't fathom the mechanics behind it, but my rumbling belly demanded attention. With a few precious coins jingling in my virtual purse, I eagerly sought refuge in the welcoming embrace of an inn.
In this alternate reality, the line between the game and the real world blurred; hunger in one world translated into hunger in the other. Logging out to grab a bite was the prudent choice, even though the game offered a temporary in-game nourishment option. A sense of balance prevailed; a reminder that the virtual realm mirrored reality in surprising ways.
I had a go-to inn, my steadfast companion for many in-game years. These seemingly artificial NPCs had become more than mere lines of code to me. They had provided solace during the darkest moments of my life, almost like genuine friends from a past life.
Speaking of NPCs in Alternate World, they weren't mere automatons. Each NPC exhibited lifelike characteristics, capable of conversing and reasoning like actual people. They transcended the typical AI, embodying the essence of the game's world. One might even argue that players were the invaders, trespassing on a realm that these sentient beings called home.