Chapter 3: First Steps in a New World
Liam awoke the next morning—or at least, what passed for morning in the Eternal Realm. A soft, golden light filtered through the windows of the small wooden inn where he had rented a room for the night. The starter village was quiet, with only the distant sounds of merchants setting up their stalls and birds chirping to break the silence.
The previous day had been overwhelming. From discovering his hidden class to drawing talents and skills that defied all odds, everything felt surreal. Yet, the reality of the game world was undeniable. The aches in his muscles from training, the faint chill of the inn's stone floor, and the comforting weight of his sword at his side—all of it felt far too real to dismiss.
Liam stretched, a notification popping up in the corner of his vision.
[Rest Bonus: Well-Rested]
• Gain +10% EXP from all activities for the next 12 hours.
A small smile crossed his face. Even something as simple as sleeping could offer advantages in this game. "Guess it's time to get started," he muttered, equipping his beginner gear: a worn leather tunic, plain trousers, and a rusty sword. He looked like every other new player in the starter village, and that was exactly how he wanted it to be—for now.
He descended the narrow staircase to the inn's common room, where a few players were chatting and eating. Most were visibly excited, boasting about their first quests or complaining about their poor talent draws. Liam paid them little mind and stepped out into the village square.
The village bustled with activity. NPC merchants called out to passing players, hawking wares like bread, simple potions, and low-tier weapons. Villagers milled about, their chatter creating a lively ambiance. In the distance, Liam could see other players grouping up, preparing to venture out into the surrounding forests and fields for their first hunts.
Opening his game panel, Liam checked his stats and quests again.
Name: Liam
Class: Primordial Sovereign (Hidden)
Level: 1
Stats:
• Strength: 80
• Dexterity: 90
• Intelligence: 100
• Endurance: 70
• Luck: ???
• Free Attribute Points: 0
Quests:
• [Basic Combat Training: Complete (Reward Claimed)]
• [Explore the Starter Forest: Incomplete]
His eyes fell on the forest quest. "Perfect place to start," he thought, closing the panel. The starter forest was one of the first areas most players visited. It was known for its weak monsters like goblins and wild boars, making it an ideal place to grind experience and gather materials.
Before heading out, Liam stopped by a nearby merchant stall. The NPC, an elderly woman with a kind smile, greeted him warmly.
"Good day, young adventurer! Are you in need of supplies for your journey?"
"Yes," Liam replied. "What do you have for beginners?"
The merchant gestured to her table, which displayed a modest selection of goods: basic healing potions, stamina-restoring bread, and a few low-tier arrows and daggers. Liam examined the prices carefully.
Healing Potion (Small): Restores 50 HP – 10 Bronze
Stamina Bread: Restores 30 Stamina – 5 Bronze
His inventory showed a meager sum of 50 Bronze, the standard starting amount for new players. After some deliberation, he purchased three potions and two pieces of bread, leaving him with 15 Bronze.
"Thank you, dear," the merchant said, her tone warm. "May the winds guide you."
Liam nodded politely and made his way toward the forest.
The starter forest loomed on the outskirts of the village, its towering trees casting long shadows over the dirt path leading inside. A few other players were visible in the distance, either battling low-level monsters or harvesting herbs and other materials. Liam ventured deeper, wanting to avoid crowded areas.
The first creature he encountered was a Forest Boar—a plump, aggressive beast with small tusks. It wasn't particularly dangerous, but its charge attack could deal significant damage to unprepared players.
Liam tightened his grip on his sword. "Let's see how this works," he muttered, activating Phantom Strike for the first time in combat.
His vision blurred, and in an instant, three shadowy forms of himself materialized. The boar squealed in confusion as the forms attacked in unison, their strikes leaving deep gashes in its side. When the skill ended, the boar collapsed, disappearing into motes of light that left behind a small pile of loot.
[You have defeated a Forest Boar.]
EXP gained: 50 (x1000 multiplier applied: 50,000 EXP)
[Level Up!]
[You have reached Level 2.]
The sudden notification startled Liam. The EXP multiplier from his Sovereign's Fortune talent was absurd. At this rate, he could outpace most players in mere hours.
Opening his stats panel, he saw that he'd gained 40 Free Attribute Points and 5 Skill Points thanks to his hidden class perks. After some thought, he distributed 20 points into Strength and 20 into Intelligence, deciding to balance physical and magical prowess for now.
Stats Updated:
• Strength: 100
• Dexterity: 90
• Intelligence: 120
• Endurance: 70
For his skill points, he leveled up Phantom Strike, increasing its damage and reducing its cooldown.
Satisfied, he continued deeper into the forest, encountering more monsters along the way: goblins armed with crude clubs, wild foxes with sharp fangs, and even a rare Silver Wolf. Each battle ended quickly, his overpowered skills leaving no room for error.
By the time the sun began to set, Liam had reached Level 5 and accumulated a small fortune in loot. His inventory was filled with materials like Boar Tusks, Wolf Pelts, and even a few rare items dropped by elite monsters. The most notable among them was a shimmering dagger with intricate engravings.
[Rare Item: Moonlit Fang]
• Attack Power: 25
• Effect: +10% Critical Damage
"This is better than anything the beginner shops sell," Liam thought, equipping the dagger in his off-hand.
As he prepared to head back to the village, a rustling sound caught his attention. Turning, he saw a group of goblins approaching—five in total, each armed and snarling. Unlike the ones he'd fought earlier, these goblins had a faint red aura surrounding them, indicating they were Elite Monsters.
"Perfect," Liam said, smirking.
He activated Chaos Manifest, feeling a surge of power as his stats temporarily doubled. The goblins rushed at him, but they were no match. Liam moved like a blur, cutting through them with precision. His Phantom Strike ended the fight in a matter of seconds.
When the dust settled, the goblins were gone, leaving behind a small treasure chest.
[You have defeated a group of Elite Goblins.]
EXP gained: 500 (x1000 multiplier applied: 500,000 EXP)
[Level Up!]
[You have reached Level 6.]
Loot Obtained:
• Elite Goblin Fang (Crafting Material)
• 50 Bronze Coins
• Skill Book: Basic Dual Wielding
Liam's eyes lit up at the sight of the skill book. Skills could be learned from these rare items, and Dual Wielding was a perfect fit for his new dagger. He used the book immediately, unlocking the skill at Rank F.
Satisfied with his progress, Liam began his journey back to the village. The path was darker now, illuminated by the faint glow of fireflies. As he walked, he couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation. He was only scratching the surface of the game, but the potential was limitless.
"This world is mine to conquer," he thought, a determined smile on his face.
And with that, the moonlit forest faded behind him as the village lights came into view.