Idan found himself back in the village square, his mind buzzing with plans for his next move. Completing his first quest had left him with a renewed sense of purpose, the subtle satisfaction that came with making progress in this strange, virtual world. He pulled up his status screen to assess where he stood.
[Status Screen]
Character: Idan
Class: Medic
Sub-Class: None
Level: 1
Stats:
Strength: 2
Dexterity: 3
Intelligence: 4
Physique: 2
Awareness: 3
Charisma: 2
Health: 100/100
Energy: 50/50
Attributes:
Defense: 3
Attack: 2
Attack Speed: 3
Resilience: 2
Magic Resistance: 0
Focus: 6
Healing Potency: 1
Movement Speed: 5 (Weight Modifier 0)
Skill Slot: Healing Touch (Medic Starter Ability)
Unlocked Skills: Cognitive Shield (Medic Class Ability), Identify
Medic Trait 1: Increased Effectiveness of Healing Skills
Medic Trait 2: Reduced Threat Generation When Healing Allies
Human Trait: Increases Intelligence by +2 every three levels
Medic Masteries: Beginner Healing Touch; Beginner Field Medicine (Increases out-of-combat healing speed)
Satisfied with his progress, Idan looked over to a group of players sparring in a makeshift arena, trying out weapons and new abilities. His gaze lingered on a naginata displayed at a vendor's stand nearby, its long blade glinting in the light. A traditional Medic might scoff at the idea of using a polearm, but the naginata's reach and versatility made it an enticing option for him.
The vendor, an older man with a grizzled beard, caught his eye. "You've got the look of a healer," he said with a knowing grin. "Not often I see Medics take up polearms. That naginata's better suited for warriors or hunters."
Idan gave a faint smile. "Maybe I'm not a typical Medic."
The vendor chuckled and handed him the weapon after he paid twenty silver coins. "Fair enough. Mind the penalties, though. Straying from your class will come with a cost."
As soon as Idan gripped the weapon, a system prompt flashed in front of him.
[Warning: Weapon Penalty]
Class Restriction: Due to your Medic class, using a non-staff weapon will incur the following penalties:
Reduced Attack Speed
Reduced Accuracy
Increased Stamina Drain
Proceed?
He acknowledged the penalties and hefted the naginata, feeling the weapon's weight and balance. It would be a challenge to wield, but the potential was worth it. Determined to make it work despite the restrictions, he entered the sparring ring, where players engaged in mock battles. A lean rogue with a pair of wickedly curved daggers stepped forward, eyeing the naginata with a smirk.
"A Medic with a naginata?" The rogue raised an eyebrow. "This'll be interesting. Hope you can keep up."
Idan took a stance, spreading his feet slightly to accommodate the naginata's length. "I'll do my best."
The rogue gave a quick nod before lunging, his daggers flashing as he aimed a quick strike at Idan's midsection. Idan swept the naginata horizontally to intercept, but the class penalties became apparent immediately. His strike felt sluggish, and the impact reverberated through his arms, leaving him with a slight sting from the rogue's speed. The rogue took advantage of his delay, closing in and landing a glancing blow on Idan's side.
Wincing slightly, Idan activated Cognitive Shield, allowing the skill's focus-enhancing properties to settle over his mind. His awareness heightened, Idan watched the rogue closely, observing each twitch and shift in his stance. As the rogue darted forward again, Idan adjusted his grip and deflected the blow, keeping the rogue at a distance with a cautious sweep of the naginata.
The rogue's smirk faded as Idan held his ground, each movement becoming more deliberate. Despite the penalties, Idan found that the naginata's reach allowed him to control the space between them, forcing the rogue to close in for each attack. Each time the rogue lunged, Idan met him with a quick sweep or jab, staying just out of reach.
The rogue, growing impatient, made a hasty move, overextending slightly in an attempt to break Idan's defences. Idan seized the moment, bringing the naginata down in a controlled arc that grazed the rogue's arm. The blow was light, hardly damaging, but it was enough to throw the rogue off balance. With a swift pivot, Idan followed through with a jab, forcing the rogue back.
Breathing heavily, the rogue raised a hand in surrender, a grudging respect in his eyes. "Not bad. Didn't think a Medic could put up that much of a fight."
Idan nodded, lowering the naginata as the match ended. The penalties had taken their toll, leaving him winded, but the experience had been invaluable. He'd learned to work within his restrictions, using the naginata's reach and timing his strikes to offset the class limitations. As he left the ring, a new message appeared.
[Combat Proficiency Update]
Skill Progression: Your adaptability in combat has improved. Small adjustments to weapon penalties have been made based on performance. Continue training for further proficiency increases.
Encouraged, Idan returned to the quest board by the square. His attention was caught by a task suited to his Medic class.
[Quest: Gather Herbs for the Medic]
Objective: Use Identify to collect five rare herbs from the outskirts of the village.
Reward: Herbology Skill (Increases healing potency of all health-restorative items by 10%)
The quest was an ideal way to test Identify, a basic skill that all players possessed but that scaled with experience and class-related training. Idan accepted the quest and ventured out of the village, activating Identify as he walked along the forest path. A faint overlay appeared on his HUD, highlighting certain plants in his field of vision.
His limited knowledge allowed him to identify only basic herbs, but after a few minutes, a small icon appeared over a leafy plant nearby. The HUD identified it as Common Healroot, a staple for beginner-level healing.
[Identify: Common Healroot]
Description: A basic medicinal herb known for its mild healing properties. Often used in beginner-level healing potions.
Effectiveness: 60% (Medic class benefits)
He noted its properties and stored it in his inventory, continuing his search. As he ventured deeper, his HUD highlighted another plant, this one shimmering faintly to indicate its rarity. He focused on it, activating Identify.
[Identify: Lesser Manafern]
Description: A rare fern that can enhance the potency of mana-restorative items. Requires Herbology or Alchemy skills to process.
Effectiveness: 50% (Untrained)
Though he couldn't fully utilise it without the proper skills, the Manafern's rarity made it worth collecting. He added it to his inventory, noting the subtle effects of his Medic class on the Identify skill. Even though the skill allowed all players to recognise basic items, his Medic background enhanced his knowledge of herbs, allowing him to identify healing-related plants with greater detail.
By the time he returned to the village, he had gathered enough herbs to complete the quest.
[Quest Complete: Gather Herbs for the Medic]
Reward Unlocked: Herbology Skill (Increases healing potency of all health-restorative items by 10%)
With Herbology now active, his status screen reflected a minor boost to healing potency. The experience showed him that even small skills could enhance his Medic abilities, especially as he grew more proficient in the game's systems.
Idan returned to the village square, the naginata still at his side—a reminder of the unconventional path he was forging. He was beginning to understand how each skill and choice contributed to his survival, and he was determined to push the limits of his Medic class, no matter the challenges.
For now, Isaac—Idan—would focus on honing his role in this strange, complex world. With skills like Cognitive Shield, Identify, and his newfound Herbology bonus, he felt ready to face whatever lay ahead, quietly building his strength.