Walking out of the sprawling forest, two figures emerged into the sunlight. Han Jingzhi, the player known as Demonic Troll, his features sharp and determined, and Lilith, his Transcendent bond partner, her beauty breathtaking, stood at the edge of the forest, their journey just beginning.
"So, have you decided where we're going next?" Han Jingzhi asked, his voice laced with curiosity.
Lilith, her gaze distant for a moment, swiped a hand through the air. "We need to level you up," she declared, her voice firm.
"Level me up?" Han Jingzhi echoed, confusion clouding his features.
"Yes," Lilith confirmed, her eyes twinkling with a mischievous glint. "But you're still too weak. We need to focus on advancing your soul."
"Advancing my soul? What does that mean?" Han Jingzhi asked, his brow furrowed.
"Listen carefully," Lilith said, her voice taking on a serious tone. "In this world, the Revolution Online world, the soul is the most important factor of all existence. Without a soul, nothing can exist, nothing can gain sentience."
"So, how strong does a soul have to become to reach the peak?" Han Jingzhi asked, his mind struggling to grasp the concept.
"Limitless," Lilith replied, her voice a whisper, a hint of awe in her tone.
"Limitless?" Han Jingzhi repeated, his mind reeling. "That sounds… logical?"
Lilith chuckled. "It's not just logical, it's true. The soul is a boundless wellspring of power, a force that can shape the world around you. And the more powerful your soul becomes, the stronger you will be in this game."
Han Jingzhi, still grappling with the implications of Lilith's words, nodded slowly. The concept of soul power, a force that transcended the boundaries of the virtual world, was both fascinating and daunting.
"So, where do we go to advance my soul?" Han Jingzhi asked, his voice tinged with a newfound sense of purpose. He looked at Lilith, his eyes searching for answers.
Lilith smiled, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "We're advancing it right here," she said, her voice full of confidence.
Han Jingzhi's brow furrowed. "Here? But... there's a bunch of goblins attacking those humans!" He gestured towards the scene unfolding before them, a group of scraggly, malicious goblins overwhelming a small group of humans.
Using the skill basic information skill on them...
[Haggard Hobo-Goblin
Rank: Iron rank (Stage 3)
Hp: 1,500
Description: The Haggard Hobo-Goblin is a type of Hobo-Goblin that gangs up on humans to rob them for money]
Lilith chuckled, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Exactly. Think of it as a training ground."
Han Jingzhi's gaze flickered back to the humans, their armor dented and their weapons dull. He could see their desperation, their fear. "But... I don't have a weapon," he said, his voice laced with uncertainty.
Lilith's smile widened. "Don't worry brother Jingzhi... I've got you covered." She opened her palm, and a red orb materialized, pulsing with an otherworldly energy. She threw it towards Han Jingzhi, who caught it with practiced ease. The orb shimmered, transforming into a black sword covered in runic symbols.
"What's this?" Han Jingzhi asked, his voice filled with curiosity.
"This," Lilith said, her voice taking on a serious tone, "Is the Shadow Sword. It's a powerful weapon, but it comes with a price."
Han Jingzhi held the sword, its cold metal sending a shiver down his spine. He could feel the curse woven into its very essence, a dark energy pulsing within its core. "A price?" he asked, his voice a little shaky, not that he was scared but it just a stimulus response to the curse on the sword.
...
[Shadow Sword
-Rank: Silver
-Durability: 5,000
-Description: A cursed sword that is usually amplified by users rage and evilness, slays anything in its way!]
After viewing the sword stat Lilith continued...
"It feeds on rage and darkness," Lilith explained. "But it also amplifies your power. It's a double-edged sword, but if you can control it, it will be a powerful tool for you."
Han Jingzhi looked at the struggling humans, then back at the Shadow Sword.
"Isn't this a bit too much Lilith"
"No... just take the sword i don't need it anyway" Lilith replied so Han Jingzhi didn't bother going further and just smiled at Lilith before clenching his fist tight on the sword.
He felt a thrill coursing through him, a mixture of fear and excitement. "Let's do this," he said, his voice resolute.
He charged into the fray, his movements a blur of speed and precision. The Shadow Sword felt like an extension of his own body, its weight balanced perfectly in his hand. He slashed through the first goblin, its flesh parting like butter. The goblin stumbled back, a look of shock and disbelief on its face, before collapsing to the ground.
[System Message: Killed Iron rank stage 2 Haggard Hobo-Goblin. Obtained 1,500 Soul Power. +5 VIT]
[You've leveled up]
[Player Demonic Troll has entered evolution stage...]
[System updated... Experience points (Exp) is now canceled replaced by soul power...]
[Player Demonic Troll is now Iron rank (Stage 1). You got 2 status points to distribute freely!]
As the multiple notifications flashed past, Han Jingzhi felt a surge of power coursing through him. He was stronger, faster, more agile. The Shadow Sword hummed in his hand, its dark energy resonating with his newfound power.
The other goblins, taken aback by his sudden display of strength, hesitated for a moment. But their greed and malice quickly overcame their fear. They charged forward, their weapons raised, their eyes burning with a primal rage.
Han Jingzhi, however, was not intimidated. He moved with a grace and agility that belied his strength, weaving through the goblins' attacks, his Shadow Sword flashing like a black lightning bolt. Each swing of the blade was precise, each strike deadly. The goblins, overwhelmed by his speed and power, began to fall one by one.
[System Message: Killed Iron rank stage 4 Haggard Hobo-Goblin. Obtained 2,254 Soul Power. +2 STR]
[System Message: Killed Iron rank stage 5 Haggard Hobo-Goblin. Obtained 2,592 Soul Power. + 3 AGI]
The battle raged on, Han Jingzhi's movements becoming more fluid, his strikes more powerful. He felt a strange exhilaration, a sense of purpose he had never experienced before. He was advancing his soul, one goblin at a time.
The remaining goblins, their numbers dwindling, began to panic. They scattered, their attacks becoming more desperate and less effective. Han Jingzhi, however, was relentless. He pursued them, his Shadow Sword singing a song of death and destruction.
Finally, the last goblin fell, its body crumpling to the ground, its eyes wide with terror. Han Jingzhi stood over it, his breathing heavy, his heart pounding. He had won the battle, but he knew this was just the beginning.
[System Message: Killed Iron rank stage 6 Haggard Hobo-Goblin. Obtained 3,070 Soul Power. +2 INT]
[Player Demonic Troll is now Iron rank (Stage 2). You got 2 status points to distribute freely!]
The humans he had just saved, still trembling from the encounter, cautiously approached him. A young woman with a sword strapped to her back stepped forward, her eyes wide with gratitude. "Thank you," she said, her voice barely a whisper. "You saved our lives."
The others echoed her sentiment, their faces a mix of relief and awe. One man, his armor dented and his face grimy, also bowed towards Han Jingzhi "You're a real hero, stranger!... thank you" he exclaimed, his voice thick with admiration.
Han Jingzhi, still holding the Shadow Sword, smiled a little. He wasn't used to being called a hero. "It was nothing," he said, trying to sound nonchalant.
"Just doing what I had to do."
He felt a little awkward with all the praise, but he couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction. He had saved these humans, and he had gained Soul Power in the process. He was on the right track to advancing his soul.
The humans, however, were not done with him yet. One of them, a burly man with a scarred face, stepped forward. "Excuse me, sir," he said, his voice a little hesitant. "We were wondering if we could purchase the bodies of these goblins? We could use them for... other purposes."
Han Jingzhi looked at the goblins' bodies, scattered across the ground. He didn't really have any use for them. "Sure," he said, shrugging. "I don't need them. How much are you willing to pay?"
The burly man's eyes lit up. "We'd be happy to pay you a handsome sum, sir. Five hundred gold for each body."
Han Jingzhi raised an eyebrow, surprised by the offer that quite a lot more than the price pasted at the forum. "Five hundred gold? That's a lot. I'll take it."
The humans cheered, their voices filled with excitement. They quickly gathered the goblin bodies, their faces filled with a mixture of relief and anticipation. They were going to make a lot of money from these goblins, and they were grateful to Han Jingzhi for giving them the opportunity.
Han Jingzhi watched them go, a small smile playing on his lips. He had gained Soul Power and reached the stage of evolution, saved some lives, and made a tidy profit. It was a good day. He turned to Lilith, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "Let's keep going," he said. "There's more to learn, more to achieve."
Lilith smiled, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Of course, Brother Jingzhi. Our journey is just beginning."
Thus, they continued their path slaughtering every monster that crossed their path or precisely every monster that was unfortunate to be in their path.
A new announcement reverberated throughout Revolution Online server...