Chapter 2 - New Recruit!

"Well, let's not burn daylight here, Recruit. There is much we have yet to do! But first and foremost, you must decide what your first weapon will be. You're able to change it later, but for a pretty high fee depending on your proficiency." She crosses her lean arms awaiting his choice. Laying across a stone table, is an array of different weapons, along with a list of the stats, and their respective passive skills:

A squire's shortsword: A balanced weapon that allows its user to hack and slash opponents efficiently.

Str - 3

Dex - 2

Int - 1

Wis - 2

Passive skill: Rage [The user is granted a 15% damage bonus when health is ā‰¤ 30%.]

A novice's grimoire: A thin leather-bound spell book containing simple spells.

Str - 2

Dex - 1

Int - 3

Wis - 2

Passive skill: Wit [The next spell casted has a 5% starting chance to do 100% more damage. The CTA (chance to activate) stacks in intervals of 5 and is reset upon skill activation.]

An old shortbow: A wooden rod bent by a single line of silk, allowing the user to attack opponents from further distances.

Str - 2

Dex - 3

Int - 2

Wis - 1

Passive skill: Eagle Eye [The user's sight is extended by an extra 50%.]

A rusty iron greatsword: A large slashing weapon that, although is very slow, compensates with destructive power.

Str - 4

Dex - 1

Int - 1

Wis - 2

Passive skill: Intimidate [Every 4 attacks, a shockwave is sent out, stunning all opponents within range for 3 seconds.]

A pair of daggers: Two short blades either used one at a time, or both at the same time, to deliver a devastating attack on its user's opponents.

Str - 2

Dex - 4

Int - 1

Wis - 1

Passive skill: Lay low [The user will reduce their visibility by 45% if they are crouching. This effect will be interrupted via dealing or receiving damage.]

The weapons were laid out conveniently, this was a pivotal moment. What he chooses would determine how he'd progress and how he'd fight the enemies ahead... "May I?" He turns to Lelan with the intention to pick up the greatsword, to which she nods. This was his moment afterall.

With a firm grip above the pommel of the rusty blade, he attempts to pick it upā€“

"Gr!ā€“" only to be met with an aching strain in his shoulders. As the pain subsided, he finds that the greatsword weighs but a fraction of what it seemed to be. Lelan interrupts to instruct him.

"You seem to be in some pain, Recruit. That is natural. The weapons will correct you according to their stats. As the greatsword has given you strength to wield it, the bow and arrow will give you sharper vision to fire with greater precision.".

"So that's how that works." With this new information, it brought a whole new reason for Maximus to pick carefully. He sets the greatsword down, leaning it against the table. "I guess I'll get a feel of every weapon, just to understand how they'll affect me." He picks up the daggers and is met with a light sense of paranoia, a bead of sweat trickles down the side of his face before he crouches and watches as his body becomes translucent. He levitates to his feet, watching his body becomes opaque again. He sets them down.

Next, the bow. He takes it by the leather grip and experiences what feels like the worst headache he's ever had. He drops to his knees and opens his eyes as the world seemingly has become a more saturated version of what it was. like if a child colored every detail of the world in with a crayon. He sets the bow down

He proceeds to the grimoire, picking it up by the spine and flipping it open. As he does this, every inch of his skin begins to tingle, his hands become extremely sensitive, and he can hear the wind whisper in his ear. He sets it back down, if he held it any longer he feels he might go insane.

Lastly, the shortsword. He grabs it by the handle and admires the blade. It was finely polished. He was actually able to see his character for the first time. Maximus looked very similar to Han in the real world, minus the hair color (being a deep navy blue) and the flair of his eyelashes.

While examining himself, he failed to notice, how heavy the air had gotten since he picked up the blade. Every breath winded him down and every exhale made him light in the head. The pressure caused by this blade was overwhelming. He hurries and sets the blade back down on the stone table.

"Now that you've seen the beginner weapons, it's about time you choose." Lelan says, her patience growing thinner and thinner by the minute.

It seemed the time to calculate was short, it was time to make a final decision... "The greatsword. I'll choose the greatsword. At least its effects subsided, I guess the unbalanced stats make for it.". He grabs the greatsword from the side of the table and is met again by the painful strain in his shoulders. He's given a leather back sling to hold his weapon as he puts it away and follows Lelan to begin training.

"You have the blade swing. Use every bit of momentum as an opportunity to strike. This blade is too heavy stop and too large to make any fancy moves. So you must let the blade do the heavy work. You, as its user, must be the one to guide it. Guide it into the enemy. Use your feet to manipulate its path and aim for vital areas." Lelan displays her expertise.

Lelan seems to be quite the artist when it comes to combat with any sort of weapon. She effortlessly swings a greatsword with such speed, precision, and grace. Every attack is flowing into the next and every bit of footwork is just as important as the weapon in hand. Maximus was sure that he was in good hands, but that accomplishing a full understanding of his blade wouldn't come without rigorous training.

A few hours was all he needed as every basic step felt like second nature to him. The exam Lelan previously mentioned was nothing but an educational spar, and questions on who she was, where they were, and the different weapons he saw on the stone table. Rather simple, but progressive nonetheless.

At last, basic training was complete...