Now with Grey's newfound of gaining strength, he decided to finally get out of the gate he stayed for almost a month.
It was night outside the Gate.
He walked back in the frozen plains following his map with a lot of undiscovered areas, he decided to farm more mobs as he walked back to complete the quest given by the Village Chief.
You have slain a Lvl 4 slime! +12 xp
You can't level up!
Multiple notifications appeared indicating of that Grey has slain may mobs.
Ding! You have gained 0.01 All Stats!
Ding! You have gained a total of 9.26 Unallocated Stats.
Grey was overjoyed, he now thinks of the Curse as a blessing in disguise for him to gain stats and money. He went to another area where slimes were most likely to spawn, there are several instances—where slimes would spawn just after eliminating them. Though the chances are minimal, it was there.
"Now, this is what I call Gaming and Grinding." Grey happily exclaimed, smirking while slashing the enemy slime that just spawned.
Ding! You have gained 0.01 Unallocated Stats!
While mesmerized in the grinding, there is a figure approaching him, his hair is dishelved—stressed by the area he spawned in which don't have any players, glad by seeing another player he ran towards him. This player is called Sid—having a purple hair, average height with a different charm like an idol from TV.
Grey who was busy grinding mobs, sensed something was approaching, alarmed by it he immediately lunge on him. Gripping tight on his dagger, when the figure came to view, Grey saw that it was a player and immediately pull back his dagger.
"Sorry about that!" Grey apologized sincerely.
Happy about seeing another player, Sid cast aside on what had transpired and seens to cry in tears of joy. "No, its okay! I'm just glad that I saw another player. I thought this game was fun because my friends started playing it and was always talking about it. I didn't want to left behind so I tried it. Then I spawned in this accursed place." He frowned.
There are instances that a player can spawn in an uncharted area where no players has yet to discover. It was an experience that some unfortunate players had to deal with—some has taken the opportunity of it to gain an immense advantage of monopolizing the quests and rewards from that area.
"So you're stuck in here too? Luckily, you've met me—generous and benevolent Grey." Grey joked as he chuckled.
"Do you have any tips on how to survive here, looks like you are here for a long time now." Sid asked, he looked at Grey's mask and knew it was a rare mask from its appearance.
"Sure, just go to the village chief and he will give you a quest of eliminating 100 slimes, he will give you the necessary essentials like a newbie's knife and pieces of bread as a start. You have to collect their magic stones. But since I'm generous I'll give you rare equipments but you have to be loyal to me since today." Grey informed Sid of what to do about being in the frozen plains.
"Thank you brother! From now on you are my brother, though not from blood but from by bond." Sid happily exclaimed as he made a promised.
Grey checked his inventory.
Inventory
Currency:
Gold Coins: 1 Silver Coins: 53 Copper Coins: 42 Weapons & Equipment
Tukatu's Staff (Unique) (x2)
Held by a shaman in an isolated village of goblins, it was said to be able to burn the souls of the shaman's victims and cast it. Increases: +12 Intelligence, +50 Mana, +4 Strength, +4 Agility. Can cast: Dark Fire: Fire black flames to a designated target, damaging them 3 times the user's Intelligence.
Tukatu's Necklace (Rare) (x14)
Held by a shaman in an isolated village of goblins, it was said that the souls of the shaman's victims resided here. Increases: +3 Intelligence, +1 Strength, +10 Mana, +5 Vitality, +2 Agility. Requirements: Level 10, 20 Intelligence. Effect: Summon a vengeful spirit killed by the player. Attack Damage: 2 Health: 10 Cooldown: 160 minutes
Mask of Despair (Rare) (Incomplete) (x18)
A mask discovered by a Goblin Shaman in the nearby ruins. It is said to be only a fragment of what it once was. Increases: +5 Intelligence, +5 Agility, +2% Attack Speed. Requirements: Level 1. Effects: Effect 1: Conditions have not been met. Effect 2: Conditions have not been met. Effect 3: Conditions have not been met.
Beginner's Dagger (Common) (x125)
A dagger given to adventurers starting to embark on their journey. Increases: +2 attack damage, +1% Attack Speed.
Goblin Spear (Uncommon) (x7)
A spear used by goblins. Increases: +2 Strength. Requirements: Level 7.
Goblin Knife (Uncommon) (x10)
A knife used by goblins. Increases: +2 Agility. Requirements: Level 7. Ingredients & Materials
Ogre Eye (Uncommon) (x84)
A crafting material for making equipment or weapons.
Goblin Blood (Common) (x1270)
A crafting material used to make inferior health potions.
Wild Boar Meat (Common) (x3140)
Can be cooked.
Stones (Common) (x200)
Can be thrown or used as building material.
Small Low-Quality Magic Stones (x8242)
Dropped by slain monsters.
Medium Low-Quality Magic Stones (x152)
Dropped by slain monsters. Potions
Small Health Potions (x30)
Restores 50 HP.
Small Mana Potions (x30)
Restores 20 Mana.
Medium Health Potions (x10)
Restores 100 HP.
Medium Mana Potions (x10)
Restores 40 Mana
Grey handed over 2 Beginner's Dagger, and 1 Tukatu's Necklace to Sid. They added each other friends to keep in contact.
"I have to get back to the Village to hand over the quest materials to the Village Chief and get the rewards so that I can go to the Kingdom after this." Grey said.
"Let's go together brother, I'll be accompanying you." Sid proclaimed.
After 10 minutes of walk and eliminating slimes from the path they are taking, they saw the village.
Sid excitedly ran around and got ahead of Grey as it was the first time he saw a village, on the way Sid has leveled up to 12 as Grey was gave him the last hit thus sharing XP. Since, Grey can't gain XP, he leveled up fast.
"Come with me, I'll lead you to the village chief." Grey commanded.
Something was different in the Village, it was quieter than the first time he got there, it was as if there were no villagers that could be seen. They hurried up to where the Village Chief was but no one was there, they decided to split up to find any villagers and meet up again at the village chief's house.
A notification appeared.
Quest has changed.
Details: An adventurer was tasked by the Village Chief, hoping that the Village will replenish its barrier using the magic stone that will be given by the adventurer to him he didn't ordered the warriors from the village to do the task but several days later, the adventurer didn't came back and a mysterious black fog sweeps the village, leaving nothing behind.
Eliminate 100 slimes. → Find the missing Village Chief and the Villagers
Give 100 small low-quality magic stones to the Chief that came from Slimes. → Eliminate 1 Lvl 60 Necromancer.
Rewards: ???
"F*ck, it was my fault." Grey cursed as he now know the reason of the Village being isolated.
Grey waited for 20 minutes but Sid seems to be not coming back so he went to find him. He went around the village but he only found a footstep going towards the INN.
Worried by the sudden change in situation, he immediately summoned 2 Beginner's dagger to his hands. As he walks slowly toward the entrance, he saw a figure sitting at the INN, eating A freshly baked Apple Pie.
"Oh hey bro!" Sid said as he munched on a piece of Apple Pie.
Grey who was worried sick lets his guard down, he throw 1 dagger at the side barely hitting Sid.
"You got me worried there, next time use the chat to inform me." Grey angrily said as he pulled out the dagger stuck in a barrel.
"Okay bro!" Sid agreed, terrified of what happened.
He learned his lesson.
They went outside, a silhouette could be seen snooping around the Village.
Sensing the danger, Grey immediately pushed Sid barely avoiding an arrow. Followed by a series of arrow firing at them, he gracefully block each one.
"Let me deal with him" A knight clad in armor said pulling his sword around his waist.
Both was alerted and aware of each other. One wrong move and they'll die.
"For a Newbie Adventurer, you looks strong." The knight named Oberon said, praising Grey, he added. "I am Oberon, Knight from Indra Estate. What about you?"
"I have no name to say for someone who sneaks attack." Grey, frustrated by the sudden ambushed said.
Grey was the first one to move, with his agile movements, the knight followed suit.
Clash of metals could be heard around the state, a soldier holding a bow was about to shoot at Grey got stopped by Knight Oberon.
"Don't meddle in a Knight's Sacred Duel!" Knight Oberon shouted—angrily.
Grey adjusted his position as he dodge an incoming attack, he kicked Knight Oberon's sword using it as a springboard. He landed in a snow, he run around the Knight waiting for a chance to strike.
The duel came to a standstill.
This time it was the Knight's turn to make his move. His sword glowed with a blue color. Grey was wary and knows that if the sword cuts him—he will be cut in halves. He now knows it's time to use that particular skill, although cringy and long—he has to do it.
"Ignite from the desire to win, form from the essence of arrow, flames within our sorrow, greatness from this handsome face as my front. Fire Arrow! Gerry casted a spell
A flame started to form in front of Grey, starting to materialize in form of an arrow.
Greji's Handsome Adventure: A spellbook in learning fireball is a book with many uses, it was stated in the book that as long as he learned the fireball spell, he can manipulate its shape and power depending on the Player's intent but he have to always include the praising his own self's handsomeness.
Knight Oberon startled by the sudden change in temperature became wary but no danger was detected. As the Fire Arrow gets nearer, he prepared a slash with his sword releasing an energy.
Boom! Both the energy and the fire arrow clashed forming an explosion.
Grey which was near the explosion stumbled but immediately got up. He doesn't to experience dying again in the game so he used his Unallocated Stats to increase his Agility and Strength. Now, boosted with the his new stats got stronger.
"He used a forbidden potion!" A mage who was watching sensed the sudden change in Grey.
"Don't interfere!" Knight Oberon interrupted as the soldiers and mages preparing to attack.
They run towards each other clashing from swords to dagger one after another.
Grey, using his agile movements jumped and roll around the Knight taking advantage of the difference in speed, the Knight used his an energy again covering his whole body.
"You can do this brother!" Sid was hoping that Grey could win.
The Knight after covering his body with energy became more stronger, and more agile too.
"Surrender now, criminal!" Knight Oberon proclaimed accusing Grey.
Grey who was accussed abruptly stopped his movements and asked. " What do you mean criminal?"
The knight sees that Grey suddenly stopped as he ponders upon the situation.
30 minutes ago, Knight Oberon with his soldiers are making an exploration of finding a criminal that is terrorizing in the Outskirts of Indra State. He was tasked of capturing the criminal. They went to an abandoned Village that got wiped by a stampede of monster 3 years ago hoping to rest there for the night. Then a priest suddenly said to him that a dark aura was recently used indicating a dark mage or equivalent of it was lurking the area and used a skill.
A dark mage is a mage who uses dark mana from the sacrificed humans they've killed—the higher the mana the sacrificed one is, the higher the rewards to them. There also like the nercomancers using the corpses of its victims as puppets or summoning demons from the depths of hell. There are other dark entities that terrorizes the whole continent.
They observed a man entering the INN so he ordered one of his men to investigate but suddenly when the man was about the walk towards the INN, the man panicked and head back to them, and that was when they saw two men walking outside it. Suspecting the two men as the culprits, he ordered his men to fire them arrows.
Knight Oberon thought that he wanted to test the man if they are really the culprit or not, he also wants to know if this man has a potential to learn his techniques but he was not taking disciples.
Knight Oberon became overwhelmed by the feeling of the battle, forgot about the test—it was a long time that he felt joy in fighting freely as he became busy teaching squires and signing documents as the Chief Knight of the Indra Estate.
Knight Oberon's Level is Level 350 which is a lot. He went easy on fighting with this man that he met in this abandoned village.
Grey knows to himself that the Knight was getting easy on him as if testing him in something. Now, he was about to give his all in this attack when he got stopped by the Knight.
"Stop! I know that we suddenly attacked you but we had found a trace here about someone here who uses dark mana, and coincidentally you two are here. So I decided to test you. And you passed!" Knight Oberon proclaimed, with a wide smile in his face.
Ding! Knight Oberon has acknowledged you!
Affection increased by 10!
Reputation increased by 150!
"You might learn a new skill but certain conditions must be met." said the system.
Grey overjoyed by the sudden revelation started to introduce himself. "I'm Grey, a player. We are from here and the Village Chief here tasked me to slay slimes at the frozen plains, It took me a month because of personal reasons to came back and here we are wondering where the Villagers had gone."
"The Village was destroyed 3 years ago by Monster Stampede, there should be no people around here unless..." Knight Oberon suspected that the Village Chief was the culprit they are finding.
"It seems the necromancer was the Village Chief himself!" Grey thought to himself.
"It looks like we came to the right place to investigate. Priest go purify the place, we will rest here tonight!" Knight Oberon commanded.
"Yes sir!" the priest saluted then went on his way.
"You two, come with me." Knight Oberon pointed at Grey and Sid as he asked the two to come with him.
They went to the house next to the Inn as Knight Oberon's place to sleep, he commanded the others to pick their quarters.
As they ate dinner, the Knight Oberon seems to apologized to them for suddenly attacking and whatnot.
"I'm sorry for earlier, it seems I became excited because its been years since I had a duel with others." Knight Oberon explained apologetically.
"It...It's...It's okay sire!" Sid suddenly became respectful as if admiring the knight as he stuttered.
The Knight looked at Grey with a serious look and asked. "Do you want to learn aura? but you have to pass my condition first to learn it. It seems your body can endure the process of learning aura."
"What's an aura?" Grey asked.
"Aura, a manifestation of a swordsmaster's inner energy that enhances their combat prowess. While every swordsman has the potential to awaken Aura, its attributes and effects vary from individual to individual. Learning Aura often begins by training under a Swordmaster, though success is never guaranteed—only those with talent or sheer perseverance can truly master it. Countless hours of rigorous physical training, mental discipline, and focused meditation are required to harness and control this energy. For many, the key lies in achieving a state of enlightenment, where the swordsman gains a profound understanding of their own essence, purpose, and connection to the world around them. This enlightenment aligns their body and mind, unlocking the path to channel their Aura effectively. Those naturally attuned to Aura may learn faster, but the journey is always arduous, demanding both determination and unwavering focus. Though there are others, geniuses that can learn it alone without anyone's teaching or inheritance.—countless training are required if you aren't that talented. But it seems your body is built to learn aura so I want you to learn it." The knight explained. "So, are up to the challenge or not?"
Quest has appeared.
Details: Knight Oberon impressed by a certain player wants to teach his techniques to him. He issued a challenge that will test if the players is qualified to learn it or not.
Eliminate the necromancer alone. 0/1
Reward: Obtain "Thunderheart Technique" Book, Advice from Knight Oberon "The Thunder flash".
Accept/Decline