James opened his eyes to the vibrant world of the game, finding himself standing outside the Fighters Arena, the profession building dedicated to the Fighters class. His gaze lingered on the imposing structure, and a smile crept onto his face as he remembered the events of his last visit.
"That was a great start, if I say so myself," he murmured, recalling the challenging yet exhilarating battle with Veskya.
The memory of the reward he received after completing the quest nudged his curiosity. His eyes swept over his figure, searching for the supposed legendary item. Seeing nothing out of the ordinary, he decided to try accessing his inventory the way most VR games worked.
"If nothing's changed, this should work,"bhe thought, and sure enough, a transparent interface materialized before him.
Inside the inventory, a single item glimmered: a shrunken-down version of a fist fighter's gauntlet. Intrigued, James selected the icon, and with a soft hum, the gauntlet materialized onto his hands.
It was unassuming at first glance worn, scuffed, and weathered like an artifact left to decay in some forgotten armory. Yet, an otherworldly aura radiated from it, giving James a sense of both awe and power.
"What if a palm user or a monk completed the quest first? Is this the default weapon?"* he mused aloud.
Curiosity drove him to bring up the item's status menu. The details on the interface made his jaw drop.
---
◇◆ WEAPON STATUS ◆◇
Name: Veskya's Gauntlet
Type: Fist Fighter Gauntlet
Rank: Legendary (Growth)
---
Strength: +10 (Active)
Agility:*? +8 (Active)
Will: ??? (Dormant)
---
◆ SPECIAL ABILITIES
Might of a Hero: Increases raw physical power proportionate to the user's strength when attacking.
Echoing Resolve: Grants immunity to fear or mind-controlling effects when the hidden Will attribute is unlocked.
---
◆ REMARKS
Once wielded by Veskya in his mortal days, this gauntlet embodies his unmatched determination and unyielding willpower.
---
"Isn't this too OP?" James whispered, his excitement barely contained. "So much for a balanced legendary item. What if this isn't broken?!"
The gauntlet felt snug on his hand, its weight surprisingly light for something so powerful. He caressed the surface absentmindedly, in his mind he was marveling at the intricate designs etched into the metal. The faint glow emanating from the runes seemed alive, pulsing in rhythm with his heartbeat.
"Doesn't this feel like some main-character treatment? If only this were a novel," he chuckled.
His interface pinged, drawing his attention to a pending notification. It was time to name the breathing technique he had developed during his trials. Without hesitation, he input the name he had been considering all along: James Flowforge
A follow-up notification flashed across his vision.
---
Ding!
You've created an Ascendant Skill named: James Flowforge
- Legend +1
For being the first player to create an Ascendant Skill:
- Reputation +1
---
James blinked in surprise. The significance of Legend and Reputation still eluded him, but he decided to shelve the questions for later. For now, he wanted to see how these developments reflected in his status.
---
Ding!
◇◆ STATUS ◆◇
[Name]: Lord Alexander
[Race]: Human
[Rank]: Knight
[Level]: 1
[Exp]: 0/200
[Class]: None
[Sub-Class]: Adventurer
---
◆ ATTRIBUTES
- Strength: 6 +10
- Agility:** 7 +8
- Endurance: 5
- Intelligence: 20
- Charm: 8
- Luck: 10
---
◆ PHYSIQUE
- Type: Chaos Physique (3% Unlocked)
---
◆ TALENTS
- Insight – Exceptional analytical skills, perceives hidden details.
- Lucid Memory – Retains and recalls information effortlessly.
- Super Learning – Absorbs and applies knowledge at an extraordinary pace.
---
◆ SKILLS
- Appraisal – Analyzes objects, creatures, or systems to reveal details.
- Universal Tongue – Understands and communicates in all known languages.
---
◆ ASCENDANT SKILLS
- James Flowforge
---
◆ REPUTATION & LEGEND
- Reputation: 1 (Unknown)
- Legend: 3
---
◆ EQUIPMENT
- Basic Knight's Tunic
- Veskya's Gauntlet
---
◆ REMARKS
You really should find your way to the library.
---
James paused, studying the updated status page. The numbers and changes fascinated him, but what surprised him the most was the Physique which has been unlocked to 3% what's the cause , he didn't seem to know "this is all seriously confusing, can't you all just make it simple and easy to understand at least add a note!!!", he sighed and shook his head as he gazed at his status page once more without fully understanding the mechanics, he decided not to overthink it.
He closed the interface and looked around. Something was different.
Where there had once been just five buildings representing the core professions, a sprawling medieval cityscape had sprung to life. The Fighters Arena, which once stood in the middle of a bareeb field with spaces all around was now one structure among many. Wide streets stretched between the buildings, villas lined the edges, and the entire layout showed the essence of careful planning.
At the city's heart, a colossal building towered above the rest, its design resembling a grand town hall. James even spotted a handful of other players wandering the streets, hinting that some had successfully completed their own profession quests.
Tempted to explore, James reminded himself of unfinished business at the Fighters Arena. He turned back to the massive doors and pushed them open, stepping into the familiar interior.
This time, the scene felt different. The once filled arena floor that was teeming with players with not much space for movement now looked almost empty with almost no activity. A handful of players still stood outside the arena floor discussing amongst themselves.
James's gaze shifted to a far corner where a grand desk stood. Behind it sat an NPC, a hulking figure with the physique of a Greek statue, his chiseled muscles on full display.
The NPC's bored expression shifted to one of interest as James approached, his eyes locking onto the gauntlet.
"Well, well, look who's back. You're the one who went toe-to-toe with Lord Veskya, aren't you? Quite the feat."
James offered a sheepish grin. "I guess you could say that. What's next?, James asked really wanting to know as he looked clueless"
The NPC leaned back, folding his arms. "What's next?, haha, whatever the fuck you wish to do it is, you're an Adventurer, so go on Adventures, complete quests, kill monsters and get stronger and increase your rank, do you really need it spelled for you?"
James glanced at the NPC for awhile not knowing how to reply as it was obvious that that's what should be don't but the feeling the game gave out could be misleading as he thought that maybe this would be different from most VR games as nothing he's seen since the beginning felt like other games he's played then he looked at the arena's center, where a player was cautiously approaching Veskya's towering figure. He frowned. "Wait, is he going to face every challenger personally?"
The NPC burst into laughter, shaking his head. "You think that's the real Lord Veskya? That's just a fragment a clone, if you will. The real one wouldn't waste his time with a bunch of greenhorns from another world, did you really thought you fought Lord Veskya, don't be ridiculous."
James froze at a phrase as he disregarded everything else "Another world?" he repeated, how did you know that, his tone sharp.
The NPC raised an eyebrow, his expression a mix of amusement and pity. "Of course. Everyone knows you unkillable adventurers hail from some distant realm. You're here for the Tower of Apotheosis, aren't you?"
James stared at the NPC, speechless. The revelation opened up a cascade of questions he wasn't sure he was ready to face.