Chapter 13: Training, Training, and Training
The sun just rose and Liam was already waiting at the plaza. Some NPC were already awake and opening their stalls. Some players were casually loitering around eating to recover their stamina.
Liam also took out an apple. Liam's stamina was full but it didn't mean that he couldn't eat one. Apple was only a light snack which could slow down the use of stamina.
Hanz arrived after 20 minutes. "Let's go."
Liam didn't have time to look what the city looked like. If he did, he would have seen that different kind of races roaming around the city.
They travelled for at least an hour before they reached a snowy mountain.
"This is Winterland Mountain. Be careful, there are strong monsters and beasts here."
They travelled another 20 minutes before they reached their destination. It was a cabin surrounded by pointy mountains.
"You will start training here. First, run for at least 2kms and kill an ice bear. Remember to stay vigilant."
[Hanz Daily Training]
Mission: Run 2kms and kill an ice bear
Reward: --
Failure: Repeat of training
Liam studied his new environment. The different mountain peaks were covered in snow. The temperature was cold but manageable.
Liam didn't know that hot and cold temperature could lead to a status ailment.
The training Hanz set for Liam was to maximize his stamina through running into a different environment. While fighting beasts would help Liam to learn different habits of the beasts depending on their environment.
"Let's get started."
While on the company there was an emergency meeting going on. The director issued an emergency meeting but the head of every department didn't know the contents of the meeting.
"Everyone is here director."
"Good. Then, start the meeting, secretary Bert."
"Yes, sir. Ladies and gentlemen, as you could see based on the data that we gathered, a lot of players were unsatisfied with the overall system."
"For example, 5,0003 players followed this post about the lack of information and description about our equipment and items."
"Next, how the amateur kept dying because of controls, lack of integrity of NPC, lack of information about hidden and unique class."
"To satisfy our customer, the director wanted everyone here to step up their efforts."
"The director expressed his willingness to give better salary for those who could solve this minimal but growing problem."
"Now, anyone who have an idea on how we will solve this arising problems?"
The meeting with the director was nerve-wracking but everyone wanted to express their willingness to solve and improve those concerns.
The planning head raise his hand "I would like to suggest having 2 different modes for different players. Automatic mode or Free mode. On automatic mode, we would bring back those old school automatic actions like chanting, gathering, smelting, forging, refining, and hitting a target. While on Free mode, like what we have now."
Murmurs of agreement were heard for the majority of people on the meeting. While some were still skeptical arising a question of "What's the advantage of Free mode?"
Another debate and suggestions were thrown by different people forgetting the initial atmosphere. The forgotten director was quite satisfied with the ongoing meeting. He observed and listened about those suggestions.
The end result of the first suggestion was exceptional for the majority. The second suggestion arose and so on. The meeting lasted a long time but the mood of the heads were quite clear. They wanted to turn this suggestions into reality.
They long forgotten to place themselves on the side of the players. Satisfaction of the customer was their goal first before their own interests.
The meeting was successful. The company once again grew leaps and bounds. This was the proof that the employees were giving their all.
The website announced an update letting the players know that their concerns were taken seriously. They were also preparing Christmas and New Year Event for the players.
While the players were having a blast with the great news, Liam was currently immersed on his training.
A week passed and tonight was Christmas Eve. While players were having fun, Liam was not.
He was not allowed to participate on those events. Hanz's training was only getting extreme. Running, accuracy training, even studying parts of different beasts, plants, duel with Hanz, and so on.
Within 22 days, Liam could feel his patience dwindle. Hanz was now Liam's master. It happened after Liam accidentally brought out the 5 Colored Divine Gem.
He said that the destiny called and Liam answered. It made Liam dumbfounded. But the development sent him into a daze.
It was a new quest. Hanz issued a new quest. What made Liam forget his worries and exhaustion was the fact; Liam got an early gift.
[Unique Quest]
Blade Master, Hanz, saw the true potential in you. He was willing to risk his all to produce a new Hero. The time were changing, the evil were lurking around, only those chosen by the God of Light could walk on this path. Gear up and stand once more against the evil. O hero chosen by those who once walked on the path of justice and salvation.
Mission: Be one with the sword
Reward: Unique Class 'Sword Master'
Failure: Hanz affection -100, Loss 5 Colored Divine Gem, Termination of Luci's quest
"Yes!"
"Are you happy now? Then be prepared!"
[Due to Class Change, experience would be unavailable.]
[Due to Class Change, Skills were unavailable.]
[Due to Class Change, Attributes were reduced to 1.]
Liam could only cry inside. This type of changing class was not only a happy experience but also depressing. He could only held back his complaints.
After that another intense training was scheduled for Liam. The wheels were turning, season changed. A lot of changes happened inside and outside of the game.
A press conference was held due to the influx of players suggestion due to the diligence of the company and its employees on the very day of Christmas.
The professional league was turned into a different tournament. The tournament would be turned into a battle between every country that accepted the challenge.
7 representative would be chosen each country and challenge each other to the glory. The prize was still a secret but they believe that they won't be disappointed.
Another getting used to were once again happening inside the game due to the changes inside the game. New arising talented individual sprouted and take root inside the game. These new arising individuals buds were the future game changer inside the world of Aelvaard.
About the unappetizing controls in which garnered a lot of negative feedback. The company answered it through the update in which it was divided into two.
Automatic mode was named Supported Mode in which the system would support the player throughout their actions like chanting, gathering, forging, concocting, and so on.
The Free mode was named Heroic Mode which was an inspiration of the game name.
It might be a small difference but that small light could change a lot of amateur players into professionals.
The equipment classification was also introduced which were divided into six namely: Common, Uncommon, Rare, Epic, Legendary, and Divine or Mythical.
Consumable items were also divided into low, mid, high, highest grade. While materials were divided like the equipment.
The company also addressed the concern of players about starvation. Cooking was improved and the buffs they gave lasted for an hour including the stamina. Stamina was also greatly improved. Staying inside an inn could give an 1 hour double experience.
Now resting wouldn't add any stamina but it wouldn't consume it. Logging out was also addressed. It was now divided into four: Combat mode, Non-Combat mode, Idle, and a special case an Emergency log out.
Combat mode couldn't log out, while non-combat mode could log out. Idle mode would forcefully log you out. Emergency log out would only be issued when there was outside interference.
Changing from combat mode to non-combat would take at least 30 seconds. Idle mode would only be issued by the system if and only if the player fell asleep. Emergency log out included power outage, and sudden accident which included the capsule and the user health.
The players were thrown into deep unknown but the update only turned the fire inside the players' heart burned brighter.
The company ended their conference in an announced that on May 3rd, they would announce which country responded to the league.
Liam, too, wanted to represent his homeland but due to his circumstances he wasn't allowed to be on the limelight.
And so, 4 months had passed since then. The league was approaching. It was after all, a calm before the storm.