"Is it because the information about me was detected by my old Nerve Headset? Or was it because I chose the Martial Artist again, which caused this skill to be transferred to me?"
Lin Tian was confused and disoriented, but the other side of him felt elated to have this skill back. It was a unique talent that he himself had crafted in Dragon Mountain under the master whose name he had forgotten. He wondered if the old man still had the spirit to come back again.
"Are you alright?" the woman interrupted, breaking Lin Tian's reverie.
Jolted back to his senses, he was awkward as he rubbed his neck. "Ah, everything is fine. I was curious about my statistics, so I checked them."
"We had started the class introduction," she said, her smile not even fading as she tried to suppress her laughter. "There's not much in it."
Her words bear the truth. Adventurers will see their stats revealed after completing the trials, whether the results are poor or excellent. This will allow them to recognize their weaknesses and understand what needs improvement. In this game, experience is vital for reaching the top.
The trials themselves weren't difficult since they were designed for beginners, focusing on testing strength, agility, and endurance. When they reached the arena, numerous wooden dummies scattered around, and the adventurers had to withstand attacks and deal damage simultaneously.
"Wow, this place is massive!" she exclaimed, marveling at all the facilities around them.
Lin Tian didn't show much reaction, though a strong sense of nostalgia washed over him. For six years, he had pushed himself to the limit as a martial artist, dedicating all his skills to this class. Now, that burning passion was rekindled.
"Shall we move on?" the woman asked, turning to him with a cheerful expression. She seemed excited, as shown by the way she hurriedly entered the area.
Lin Tian also went down to the arena, which was alive with the sound of adventurers' shouts, showing off their strength. Some of them were terrible at avoiding counterattacks and only knew how to land a hit, while others focused on dodging the attack. Few, at least there is someone who can demonstrate both techniques.
His eyes then caught the energetic woman there. To his surprise, she was somehow skilled in her movements. She delivered a kick, dodged a counterattack, and then delivered a strike. She did all of this in one fluid action.
He hadn't anticipated her to be so skilled in this aspect, which was beyond Lin Tian's expectations. Not wanting to annoy her, he chose one of the wooden tools that no one was using and stretched his muscles for a second.
He threw a punch and another branch hit him in response. Since the force was high enough, the counterattack was also fast. However, Lin Tian skillfully parried it with his left hand.
"Oh, this technique, I remember now," he murmured, his lips forming a faint smile as he regained his confidence. "It's not much, but it's useful enough to prevent some damage."
He continued, each of his movements like a harmony that complemented each other between defense and attack. Thus, even though his damage is not that lethal, he manages to balance it with a solid block that does not even reduce his HP bar.
This may seem trivial, but as a tank, it is feasible and essential, as they are not meant to deal significant blows to enemies. Somehow, many adventurers didn't even understand their character and didn't care about their role function.
[Master Verda: Time is over, disciples. Now, with the results I have collected, you can check your stats on this scroll. Come here.]
Everyone drew closer to the master to see what they were made of, including Lin Tian. The scroll in the image was only one, but when he reached it, it materialized in his hand.
[Please insert your name]
His former username was Shadowbreak, but he was uncertain that the same username on different servers would work. Furthermore, that username would merely resurface wounds. "In that case, how about Feilian?"
[Name available. Are you sure about it?]
[Yes]
[Character Statistics
Name: Feilian
Race: Human
Class: Martial Artists
Level: 1
Alignment: True Neutral
HP: 1000
SP: 100
MP: 30
Attack: 50
Defense: 150
Agility: 100
Dexterity: 100
Endurance: 150
Intelligent: 30
Wisdom: 100
Magic Resistance: 5%
Poison Resistance: 5%
Physical Resistance: 10%
Stamina Recovery: 5/second]
"Not bad for a beginner," he thought and rolled the scroll again. "Now, we have to level things up!"
[Congratulations on your trials, adventurer! You may now select one of the weapons to arm yourself with.
(Gauntlets) (Bo Staff) (Nunchaku)]
Each had a different aspect. The Gauntlets is a melee weapon, robust in defense and also deals medium damage. Bo Staff is more mid-range, excellent damage output, but the defense is moderate. Nunchaku, on the other hand, has a low defense but the highest damage.
Since he curious about other weapons besides the Gauntlets, he decided to take the Bo Staff. However, when the weapon was stored in his inventory, a message filled his mail, causing him to gasp in shock with his eyes wide open.
[Happy Ninth Anniversary, Martial Spirit! Here's the reward for the new server and the other bonuses for veterans who have transferred all their EXP.]
All of these are categorized as S-SSS items. Materials for forging equipment, lots of coins, and some boxes of Epic Gear. For a novice to acquire such things is so spoiled by the developer. They could even reach another three-level continent by relying solely on these Epic Gears.
But for Lin Tian himself, there was no need to use them right now. Besides, using epic equipment in the beginner's realm would be very ineffective and a loss, as the weapons and armors that were used frequently would degrade, reducing their damage or protective capabilities. However, they can still be restored with certain special stones.
After the official ceremony that had to be done at the end of the trials, the main quest began to be less strict, allowing them to do various side quests. This town hadn't changed much since Lin Tian's last visit, and the NPCs were the same as well, knowing a mission that would give adventurers a lot of experience.
Not wanting to waste any time, he ran through the crowd, taking several intersections as if he knew his destination. Until he reached an open area, a hill with a wide rice field. In front of the forest, however, stood a lonely house, a building he didn't believe still existed.
Even when he approached the NPC, the man was still clad in the same outfit he had been wearing for nine years, and his wrinkled face still filled his face as if he had never aged. Well, although this was a common occurrence in the game world, Martial Spirit, which was known to be realistic, tended to ignore it.
[Marhan: Who are you? Were you sent here by the Duxa? Thank God! Help me kill some wolves in the forest! They have taken all my sheep! Please, would you be so kind as to lend me a hand?]
[Quest: Hunt Ash Wolves (0/10)
Reward:
EXP: 1000
Coins: 1000
Elixir of Marhan (Non stackable)
Uncommon Chest]
Lin Tian smiled and followed the directions, making his way into the forest behind the house. Though the sun was shining, the dense canopy overhead blocked most of the light, casting the forest in a dim, almost eerie shadow. A chilling cold seeped through the air, biting at his skin. It was then that he heard the distant howl of a wolf.
True to their name, the Ash Wolves emerged with fur as silver as ash, their eyes entirely black, locked on Lin Tian. Unfazed by their existence, he readied himself, widening his stance and gripping his staff, ready for whatever came next.
"Let's do this!"