When Banri and his group arrived at the capital of Grimland, they were amazed at how vast it was. Many merchants were selling a variety of products, and there were different establishments that players could visit depending on what they needed.
There was the trading center, where players could exchange their items or equipment, the skill forge building, where players could acquire and refine their skills, and the Grimland market, where players could sell their equipment. There were many other places that Banri and the group he was with had yet to explore.
"I wonder how much the equipment costs here?" Banri asked Noga, the man who invited them to come to the capital.
"That's what we don't know yet, so it's best if we head to the Grimland market now," Noga replied.
They entered the market establishment, where many players were inspecting high-quality equipment. There were touchscreen-like monitors and NPCs (Non-Playable Characters) stationed at each monitor. NPCs are characters in the game that are like robots, created by game developers. They are not real people, and no one controls their movements.
They are programmed depending on their role in the game. Here in the Grimland market, the NPCs have limited movements and capabilities related to the market system of the game and assist players in selecting and providing information about the items or equipment available and for sale in the market.
"Where are the items being sold? There's nothing here, just a bunch of monitors—it looks more like a computer shop," one of Banri's companions said, scratching his head.
The group shared the same thoughts; the Grimland market was quite puzzling to them. After a while, an NPC approached them.
"Welcome to Grimland Market, please feel free to browse on any of the monitors here. On the screen, you will see the items and equipment currently for sale and available in the market. Once you have made your choice, go to the machines at the end that will dispense the equipment you bought. If you have any additional questions, please proceed to the information desk on the second floor of the Grimland market. Have a great day!" explained the NPC before returning to its designated area.
Its voice was like that of an AI or robot, so it was easy to identify when an NPC was talking to the players due to its robotic movement and speech.
The group then split up, each heading to the monitors inside. Next to Banri was Sunade, who was also browsing through the monitor, looking at the available equipment at affordable prices.
In the end, they all left the Grimland market because they had no money to buy anything, and the items sold in the market were too expensive. Banri suddenly remembered what the player Tonio had mentioned about a black market in Grimland.
But after wandering around the capital, Banri couldn't find the black market Tonio was referring to, and they began to feel hungry.
"Ugh, it's tough here in the game. I'm hungry, but we have no money. I'm broke in real life, and now even in the game," Sunade said, holding her stomach, which was growling with hunger.
"That's how it is. This is an MMORPG game, and if you think about it, it's almost like real life. We need to level up; we all start at the bottom," Banri replied.
"Yeah, but I wish there was a way to earn money quickly here," Sunade added.
"Come over here, you two," said Noga, and Banri and Sunade quickly approached him.
"I heard from a player earlier that there is a portal here in the capital, leading to a dungeon filled with all sorts of ferocious monsters. According to what I heard, anyone who can clear the dungeon and reach the bottommost layer will receive a reward of a large sum of money, along with bonus experience points. So, it's certain that a player will level up." Noga said.
"Where is it? Let's give it a try," Banri said boldly.
"Are you out of your mind? We haven't even eaten yet, and we don't have the energy to join something like that," Sunade complained.
"But according to another player, any player who goes and tries the dungeon will be given energy bottles by an NPC at the entrance of the portal," one of their group members said.
An energy bottle can relieve a player's hunger, restore energy, and its effect lasts for twelve hours.
"That sounds like a good idea; let's go," Sunade suddenly changed her mind. So, they asked around and searched for the dungeon portal in the vast capital until they saw a blue light near a well at the far end of the city, where an NPC was standing guard.
There were also other players who had already entered the dungeon.
"This is a good opportunity for us to level up," Banri said.
Currently, Banri and his group were only at level 2. They decided to try the dungeon to level up and earn a cash reward. There were seven of them in the group, including Sunade and Banri.
They were immediately given energy bottles by the NPC—ten pieces each.
"Players, are you going to play in party mode or solo?" the NPC asked.
They thought it would be better to enter the dungeon in party mode, as they would surely encounter strong and ferocious monsters, and being in a group would give them a great advantage to succeed.
"We're going to play in party mode," Noga replied to the NPC.
He registered their names as a group or party. This meant that any experience points or rewards earned by one of them would also be given to the others since they were a party.
"The registration has been completed, players. You can now proceed to the dungeon portal. Good luck, players," the NPC said, and they all entered the dungeon portal together.
When they reached the first area of the dungeon, everyone immediately felt a chill. There was an eerie aura and atmosphere around the dungeon that was quite terrifying.
It was also dark inside, and there was no other sound to be heard; whenever they spoke, their voices echoed throughout the place. Even the sound of their footsteps was loud and clear. And still, Banri was not wearing any footwear, hoping they would encounter some type of monster in the dungeon that would drop any kind of footgear.
"Do you think we'll be able to get any legendary items here in the dungeon?" one of them asked.
"The chance of getting struck by lightning is probably higher than getting legendary items here. This seems like an ordinary dungeon, and I think you'll only find legendary items at higher-level bosses. Because the stats of legendary items are so high, the game developers will surely make it difficult for players here in Grimland to obtain them," Noga replied.
"We'll probably only find common items, especially from the mobs. If we take on the mini-bosses here, we might be able to get some rare items," Banri added.
As they continued to talk and walk, they noticed that the ground seemed to be shaking, and chunks of rock from above began to fall. They quickly became alert.
"An earthquake!" one of them exclaimed. They huddled close together, observing their surroundings.
As time went on, the tremors they felt grew stronger, until a wall on their left side collapsed, revealing a swarm of giant spiders with long legs and bright red eyes. Above the giant spiders, the words "Poisonous Arachnid Level 2" were written.
"Run, quickly!" Noga shouted.
The spiders charged at them, and in their panic, they began to run away, not yet knowing how to face the swarm of giant spiders that had attacked them.
As they ran, the spiders spewed green poison, and wherever it landed, it sizzled and seemed to melt the ground, like acid dissolving anything it touched.