The golden rule of being a newbie: If you can't fight, you run.
Blame it on the plain white robes he was wearing. It was as good as telling the world he was a NEWBIE. And what do newbies always get? They get thrashed by bullies who were hungry for kills. Lucas knew that some players in Dream Heroes Clan were infamous for randomly killing players and creating havoc in DOJ. Many newbies and low-level players died in their hands. The Safe Zones were regions in the map fights were disabled. They were usually situated near teleportation points but the nearest one was still far away from him.
Was he about to die again? A level zero newbie is no match against two veterans. Wait, what happens if he dies in this world? He had no time to think about that, he needed to reach the Safe Zone fast.
Lucas was sure that being a newbie didn't mean he would run any slower than the other players. He turned around and to his dismay, the two men chasing him had switched to riding horses. Damn! Why wasn't there a horse in his [Newbie Package]?
The two players from Dream Heroes had caught up with Lucas. They were both mages from Xuan Tian Temple. One was called Lord Basher, the other was called Master Basher. They didn't have to tell the whole world they were out to bash players, their names did the job.
This was one of the ugly sides of DOJ. Instead of helping others, like a real hero in the martial arts world would, some players prefer to bully the weak. Being the famed Ash Knight, he didn't encounter any of these incidents but now he was a mere newbie who could be beaten into a pulp easily. Lord Basher and Master Basher were circling around him. Lucas felt like he was fresh meat for the zombies.
[Public Chat Channel]
Lord Basher: Been a while since we had a newbie on our server! Which lost sheep is this?
Master Basher: No idea but seems delicious.
Lucas had seen similar conversations on the public chat channels before. Players like these two Bashers would always type nonsense to show how proud they were to gain another kill. They had done it so many times that everybody knew they were just doing it to seek attention. Lucas knew no one would come to his aid even if he asked for help as nobody would risk dying trying to save him. Neither would they want to be marked as enemies by these two bullies.
There was only one thing he could do - fight his way out with his Basic Sword and Blue Potion. His HP wouldn't last long and his damage was low but if he was to die, he'd at least die trying. He'd die a more honorable death this time. With his sword drawn, he was ready to attack. He hadn't acquired any skills so all he had was one technique - Basic Attack. The once holy lord of DOJ was now reduced to this state...
The Bashers held their staff and pounced on their prey. Lucas was able to dodge their attacks, he was familiar with how mages would take down their enemies in a Player vs Player (PVP) fight. He had, after all, been the champion in the PVP competitions in DOJ.
He had to buy time to wear them out and try to find a way to escape. The Bashers were impatient players who threw tantrums and swear words when they couldn't nail him. They knew what he was trying to do so he had to act fast. Ash Knight never had to run away from a fight but now, Lucien Cavalier must do so to save his life.
Alas, he was stunned by an attack that he couldn't avoid and felt a jerk in his body. So this was what being attacked felt like, he thought. Besides being unable to move, he had no visible injuries.
The tigers had caught their prey and it was time to devour it. They were casting another spell. Had they known he was Ash Knight, they'd be laughing their asses off. Lucas closed his eyes as he watched his HP decrease, flashbacks of him drowning in the sea revisited him, and then a white flash appeared...
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[Lucien Cavalier, Jianghu is dangerous. Rest well before you continue on your journey again.]
When Lucas opened his eyes again, he found himself lying on a bed in Dong Yang Sect. He heaved a sigh of relief. In the gameplay of DOJ, when players died during a mission or were killed by others, they would be transported back to their sect or a Revival Point. So these rules applied to him too, which means he could die countless times here.
[Public Chat Channel]
Lord Basher: Hahaha, another one bites the dust. Which dumb newbie chose this server?Master Basher: Dumb newbies are just dumb…
FlyingStar67: Newbie? Are you sure it's not one of those bots you just killed?
Paladinnnn: LOL, he must have chosen the wrong server.
Lucas felt a rage growing inside him. He'd love to teach those stupid Bashers a lesson. And he's not some dumb newbie. He was a legendary player stuck in the body of a newbie and he didn't choose this server, he was sent here! Trying to hunt them down again would do him no good. He was too weak. One day, he'll kick their asses and show them who the real boss is.
Dying a second time wasn't as painful as he thought. Maybe if he died a few more times, he would even forget about his first death. Recovering his HP, Lucas resumed his newbie missions. However, he deliberately skipped the one where he had to clear the bandits first because the two Bashers might still be lurking around Dong Yang Village. For fear of being attacked again, he decided to learn the Qing Gong technique. It could help him escape a little faster if he was ever chased by crazy players like them.
To acquire the Qing Gong technique, the skill of 'flying' swiftly so he could become as light as a swallow and glide water surfaces, scale high walls and trees, he needed to visit one of his elders in Dong Yang Sect. He remember exactly where the NPC was located and went right to him.
"Young one, I'll teach you the secret to becoming a Qing Gong master." said the NPC.
Lucas remembered that learning Qing Gong in the game was easy. After tapping on several buttons, one would acquire the skill and be able to use it whenever they needed. He was afraid yet excited about being able to fly in this virtual land of DOJ.
[To complete the Qing Gong tutorial, tap the buttons according to the sequence they appear.]
As he tapped on the buttons, Lucas was elevated into mid-air. He wasn't quite used to 'floating' in the air and standing on nothing. He finished tapping the buttons that appeared and voila, a new Qing Gong master was born! He could do somersaults in the air and leaped from one place to another.
[Congratulations on acquiring the Qing Gong technique! The skill has now been added to your Skills List. Start exploring the world with your new skill!]
Activating the skill, he took a small leap, then used slightly more strength to test how it worked. The key to mastering this skill was controlling the amount of energy for his jumps. Too much energy would bring him too high, and too little energy got him nowhere. He knew he needed more practice to perfect his Qing Gong but he was eager to try out his flying abilities.
His first 'flight' in DOJ was amazing. Like one of the heroes in martial arts movies, he leaped across rooftops and jumped from tree to tree. He could even run on top of the water! Taking a gigantic leap, he sent himself above the clouds. It was the first time he had a bird's-eye view of the world beneath him. The panoramic view was mesmerizing. He had never seen the lands of DOJ in this manner before.
Gliding through the clouds, he saw lush green fields, majestic mountains, and beautiful pagodas…he never imagined he'd have a chance to experience his favorite game this way. The breathtaking view invigorated him, he finally felt that he was alive in this virtual world.
Even if he wasn't kidnapped and didn't die, he'd still be that kid who locked himself up in his bedroom with his gaming laptop. For many years, that was the life he led. He never went out exploring the world when he had the chance to. Now he had a second chance to live a completely new life and see the world from above. Although things would be challenging as a newbie, this was a blessing he should treasure. He descended back to the ground after admiring the stunning views and returned to completing his tasks.
It was dark by the time he completed all his newbie missions. He spotted a waning crescent and tiny stars illuminating the skies. For once, the skies above him weren't pitched black. Maybe it was a sign that things were about to get brighter.
This marked the first day of his new life as Lucien Cavalier. And tomorrow will be a better day.