Outside Forest of Beast's Dungeon Entrance…
A large, growing crowd formed outside the area as their jaws dropped upon reading the announcement sent out to all of the nearby villages in the Beginner Zone.
Although every village was somewhat unique, they followed the same base structure, including dungeons.
This growing crowd also consisted of the players who vowed to express their grievances.
"No shot! Are you telling me they received extra rewards in addition to the dungeon loot? Their haul must be disgusting! That's so unfair. I hate this shit," someone shouted in the crowd.
Another followed up with a seemingly jealous tone, "Damn! That's insane. I wonder what level they've reached. I've heard rumors that the hardest difficulty gives an insane bonus. Their average level should be around Lv.12!"
Upon listening to the remark, everyone sucked in a sharp breath.
Considering the game went live less than 10 hours ago, this leveling speed was simply ridiculous. It was a known fact that the EXP slope steepened with each successive level-up.
Players speculated how much EXP was required to surpass Lv.15, which the guides mentioned experienced a slight change.
If Kieran could hear their conversation, he would most likely wonder about their reaction toward his current level.
Meanwhile, before exiting the dungeon, Kieran unequipped his items and disabled his player status bar, which was a feature unlocked after reaching Lv.15.
A few seconds later, the dungeon entrance released a glorious crescendo that called everyone's attention.
However, apart from Kieran and the others walking outside the dungeon, another party appeared beside them.
Kieran looked to the side and noticed it was the same party he had run into not too long ago. Their expressions seemed worn and defeated. Evidently, they had just failed their run, and judging by the condition, it had to be the most challenging dungeon setting.
"It's… you," Bastion commented, slightly out of breath.
Kieran nodded faintly after examining the party. "Not much luck, huh?"
"No," Bastion grimaced. The pain in his eyes increased after recalling the announcement moments ago. "The same can't be said about you. You've gotten damn lucky, completing the dungeon before anyone else."
"Lucky?" Kieran raised his brow. "Or skill? Don't confuse the two."
All of a sudden, Kieran noticed a commotion not too far away.
"Hey! You there! You lot just came out of the dungeon, yeah? Say, how about you spill the beans about clearing the dungeon, eh?" A slender man said within the crowd. They approached Altair and the others with two daggers strapped behind their waist.
Evidently, this individual was a Thief like Altair. They went by the name of Despot. What's more, they weren't just some unknown passerby.
This individual belonged to a gaming organization known as the Shadow Cartel.
The conversation made Kieran pause momentarily and turn around while standing beside Bastion. Many people overlooked him since he had unequipped his items and disabled his information.
Kieran's eyes narrowed as he scrutinized Despot's appearance.
"How about no? Because I don't possess such information," Altair replied with an emotionless expression.
The disregard in Altair's gaze made Despot click his tongue in annoyance before scowling at Altair.
"So, you mean to say you cleared the dungeon but don't know how to clear it? Do you think my Shadow Cartel will believe that half-assed excuse?"
"Did I ever ask if you believed it? Or did I ever mention that I cared?" Altair scoffed, conveying how foolish he felt this person before him was.
The comment naturally infuriated Despot, leading him to move his hand to one of his daggers subtly. But this action made Altair chuckle.
'Heh, the Shadow Cartel. Merely a small-time tyrant attempting to wreak havoc to no avail. Trying to pry information from Altair is like pulling teeth. Not to mention, Altair should possess skills surpassing a Ranker,' Kieran thought.
A Ranker referred to how the Gamer Republic Corporation judged players.
To be called a Ranker meant the player was skilled enough to make it on the Exemplar Records, which was a compilation of several players with worldwide renown.
A piece of general, known knowledge, the Exemplar Records first appeared during the first generation of VRMMORPGs.
Despot was a player at the bottom of the Exemplar Records, but Kieran felt their skills didn't match up. This opinion was further reinforced by Altair's superior attributes. If Despot attacked him, it could only be called a suicidal act.
From what Kieran remembered, the Shadow Cartel was a third-class guild that wasn't worth mentioning. Although it could be considered a force to be reckoned with inside Gena Village, their presence was inconsequential on a grand scale.
Kieran didn't bother to interfere in this exchange because the odds of Altair losing a fight were practically zero.
"Tch, so that's how it will be? Good, I've understood your message loud and clear," Despot smirked, glancing over at the other party members.
However, it dawned upon him then that they were missing one.
'Where is that damned Warrior that acted as their Party Leader?' Despot thought.
Despot had caught a glimpse of the stream's end after the buzz it generated within the village. So, he was privy to the fact one party member was missing, which was the warrior responsible for the uproar.
When he failed to locate Kieran in the mass of players, Despot committed Altair and the others to memory before withdrawing from the area.
'There are too many eyes, and they hold the equipment advantage. But watch how the viper strikes later at an opportune time. Blame yourselves for being so foolish,' Despot thought.
Once Despot disappeared, Kieran smiled helplessly while watching the indicator on his screen flash nonstop. Countless friend and message requests were flooding his user interface. It soon reached a volume that forced him to disable most functions, including public friend and party invitations.
Though he disabled the function, he noticed a few messages that sparked an idea in his mind. 'I see some large names. Perhaps it'll be beneficial.'
Most of the requests from third and second-class guilds mentioned insider information. Because Kieran sometimes manipulated the video feed, many crucial gimmicks were omitted from the stream.
The only information they understood was the party composition. However, even that was tricky because they didn't understand how it worked.
Since the many guilds continued to request information, it was the best time to make an offer they couldn't refuse, especially with an unknown factor like Nightingale.
Before executing his plan, Kieran sifted through the names of several guilds that reached out to him. Once he acquired their details, he sent an identical message.
The contents were vague, so it didn't apply to any guild in particular. However, Kieran didn't mince his words, making his stance crystal clear.
In the reply, he first mentioned that he wasn't dispensing any exclusive information. It'd be accessible to only those who could afford it. Whether or not they could make any considerable impression in their region depended on their individual skill.
Next, Kieran divided the amount of information into three different packages—Basic, Standard, and Premium.
The Basic Version only mentioned the class combinations that worked well in beginner dungeons and what skills to focus on.
The Standard Version addressed the party synergy in deeper detail and hinted that the dungeon could be cleared if all members were above average.
If Kieran could have found a more talented Mage, the run wouldn't have been nearly as long.
Lastly, the Premium Version vaguely mentioned the dungeons' gimmicks and what class was best when attempting to tackle them. Kieran didn't delve into Attribute Allocation because that was a personal preference.
These packages weren't available on Zenith Online's official forum. After compiling and organizing the information, Kieran added the special link under his recently ended stream.
This increased the chances of the individuals viewing the stream's recording and allowed the funds to travel through the hub's secure payment platform.
With the platform dealing with the payment, Kieran wasn't worried about his real identity being exposed. There was no link to be made.
After all, he was unknown in the real world—a nobody.
The information's price ranged from $1,000 to $5,000.
The expensive price tag existed because Kieran tailored the information to the guilds that could afford the expenditure.
Moreover, he catered to guilds' herd-leading mentality.
Everyone sought to be at the head of the pack to gloat about their success, and this was something Kieran could take advantage of.
Kieran also attached a steep price to control the circulation of information. Who would expose such costly information? Of course, with the targeted system, Kieran could quickly launch an IDMCA strike and have the info nuked from the internet.
After making the necessary preparations, Kieran declined every friend request and began his journey back to Gena Village to hand in his quest.
Make sure to point out any spelling errors, grammar errors, or numbers/information that wasn't properly updated so I can immediately rectify those issues.
Thank you, guys!
P.S: A LOT of game terminology will appear in the novel, because well, I'm a gamer. :shrug:
Due to his condition, Kieran took his time returning to Gena Village, resting when he needed to. It would take quite a lot of time and effort for people to reach his level, so Kieran earned the right to rest.
However, this feeling made Kieran recall why he needed to prepare ample funds. 'VR Helmets are considered basic VR equipment. I need to set funds aside for when the more perfected cabins are released.'
It was announced some time ago that more refined VR devices were in production, but when interviewers questioned the release date, the Gamer Republic and its partners merely answered with a single term—undecided.
Many players didn't like this answer, but Kieran knew those devices would become available within the next two months. So, that was his timeline—two months to build all of his foundations and acquire the connections he needed.
Some may say two months wasn't enough time for Kieran to cause significant waves, but that wasn't true. After all, he possessed information that no one else had access to. As long as he executed his plan with minimal deviations, two months was ample enough time.
Aside from the VR equipment's release date, Kieran also needed to secure a solution to his H-COS. For that, he would have to rely upon the Private Sector, which was admittedly a shaky decision.
The Private Sector didn't operate within the same guidelines as the public society, which made it infamous for bending the rules according to its whims, and it usually entered illegal and immoral territories.
If his presence wasn't menacing enough, the odds of Kieran getting trampled over were high.
'If I'm giving myself two months to unleash hell, that means I have approximately four months within Zenith Online,' Kieran thought.
With a time dilation equal to twice that of Earth, Zenith Online was perfect for "getting more things done in the same amount of time," many players called it.
It was for this reason many players loved the game.
Even casual players were bound to enjoy the game if it wasn't their goal to compete with people who played for a living.
…
Not too long after…
Kieran returned to Gena Village and approached the Warrior Hall directly.
The moment he arrived inside the Warrior Hall, Scar lifted his head and gazed at Kieran with a faint smile. A crimson glow danced within his pupils as he stood from his throne-like chair and walked towards Kieran while applauding deliberately.
"I can sense it—you have completed that task I've given you," Scar remarked. After reaching Kieran, he stopped and inhaled softly.
A proud smirk appeared on his face as Scar nodded contentedly.
"I smell the blood of a strong beast in your possession."
Kieran was shocked that Scar's nose was so keen, but he nodded nonetheless.
"That's because there is some," Kieran said before revealing a small vial.
Although the quest didn't mention anything regarding a quest item, this still appeared within his inventory after Kieran cleared the dungeon. It was a small vial containing a liquid oddly similar to blood.
「 Blood Essence (Quest Item)
Item Rank: Rare
Item Grade: Exceptional (54)
Description: The condensed essence of a monster. The essence holds all of the properties of its previous owner. It can be used in multiple ways, but alchemy and forging are the most common. 」
Scar gestured his hand, which made the vial float above Kieran's palm.
At the same time, Kieran received a series of notifications.
〈System: You have completed the quest «A Warrior's Task»!〉
〈System: You have received 5 Silver Coins.〉
〈System: Your favorability with Scar has increased by 50 points! [Status: Friendly]〉
〈System: Congratulations, you have leveled up! [Lv.17 → Lv.18]〉
〈System: You have received 5 Unassigned Attribute Points and 2 Skill Points.〉
"You mentioned that you should be rewarded for your efforts, no?" Scar asked, sparing Kieran a cursory glance.
"Naturally," Kieran answered matter-of-factly.
"Very well, young fool. Stand still," Scar instructed.
Once Kieran obliged, the vial floating above Kieran's palm shattered, revealing a glob of bright-colored blood. The look in Scar's eyes changed as one of the symbols on his hand released a faint glow.
Snap!
Following a snap, Scar flicked his finger, which prompted a reaction from the glob of blood suspended in the air.
The essence penetrated Kieran's chest, but he shockingly felt no pain. On the contrary, a pleasant feeling sprouted in his body. Once the sensation subsided, Kieran received a few notifications.
A few notifications appeared before Kieran's view in exchange for the disappearance of the pleasant feeling.
〈System: Strength has risen from 75 to 85.〉
〈System: Vitality has risen from 33 to 45.〉
〈System: Endurance has risen from 33 to 40.〉
Kieran's eyes widened in surprise.
He didn't know that Blood Essence had such an effect. It was like consuming a one-time consumption elixir from an Apprentice Alchemist, perhaps even slightly better.
The amount of stats he received was equivalent to leveling up five times. This result made Kieran skeptical.
"Does all Blood Essence have this kind of effect?"
"Nope. Only those familiar with the intricate benefits of manipulating vitality can accomplish this. It's part of my expertise. However, I'm intrigued by how receptive your body was."
〈System: Scar's favorability towards you has increased to «Intrigued»!〉
"I see," Kieran nodded before ultimately taking a seat.
He looked at his stats before softly shaking his head with a difficult-to-read expression.
┌───────────────────
Name: Aatrox
Lv.18 (Experience: 0/30,000)
Class: Warrior
Title(s): None
----------------------------
[«Stats»]-
Health: 535/535 (0.2 HP regen/sec)
Mana: 155/155 (0.16 MP regen/sec)
Stamina: 150 (0.15 Stamina regen/sec)
Attack Power: 202
Defense: 127
-----------------------------
[«Attributes»]-
»Strength: 85 (54 + 31 + 0)
»Intelligence: 25 (25 + 0 + 0)
»Agility: 55 (47 + 8 + 0)
»Endurance: 40 (20 + 20 + 0)
»Control: 40 (40 + 0 + 0)
»Vitality: 45 (30 + 15 + 0)
»Perception: 50 (50 + 0 + 0)
[Unassigned Stat Point: 10]
[Skill Points: 4]
└───────────────────
Kieran was satisfied with the current condition of his attributes.
However, the fact his EXP progress was erased somewhat bothered Kieran. Because of how long it had been, he forgot the catch of quest reward level-ups.
All EXP Bar progress was erased, meaning the next level started at 0 rather than the user's previous value.
While Kieran was lost in thought, Scar continued to analyze the young man, rubbing his chin in thought. 'The boy is quickly approaching a level where he must accomplish a promotion to continue growing. He's not a bad choice, but I wonder what path he intends to follow.'
"Aatrox," Scar suddenly called out.
"Hm?" Kieran looked toward Scar, pushing his current thoughts regarding his condition to the back of his mind.
"Are you aware of a Warrior's many paths?" Scar questioned, crossing his arms.
"I am aware of them."
Like most of the basic classes, a Warrior could follow one of four paths.
The first path was a Swordsman, who relinquished the unruly ways of a Warrior to take up the path of the sword. This class specialized in wielding slender swords with a decent balance of speed and power.
The second path was a Lancer, which was admittedly one of the Warrior's more disciplined paths. It specialized in close to mid-range fighting and wielded various types of polearms.
The third path was a Shield Warrior, which was a Warrior's defensive path. Its tanking capabilities were sub-par compared to a Knight's promotion into a Guardian Knight. However, it was more mobile and could provide adequate support damage.
The fourth and final regular path was the Berserker, which Kieran had chosen in the past. It was the Warrior's most destructive path, but it could be wielded differently.
Kieran was an oddball because he frequently switched the way he fought, sometimes indulging in several one vs. ones or sometimes going against many at once.
A Berserker specialized in heavy weapons and Heavy Armor but could somehow still muster adequate speed.
"I see. And if you had to choose, what path would you choose?" Scar asked.
Kieran didn't hesitate or consider the question before answering. "A Berserker."
An imperceptible grin formed across Scar's face as he asked an additional question.
"How exciting. But I have a question for you, boy. Do you know what a Berserker is?"
Ding!
〈System: You have triggered a hidden questline! You may continue with the questline depending on your response and action.〉
Kieran's eyes sparkled with excitement upon reading this message despite his exhausted condition. The prompt may have been vague, but he knew where this questioning would lead.
It was undoubtedly the trigger to accepting the hidden class change Kieran sought!
Make sure to point out any spelling errors, grammar errors, or numbers/information that wasn't properly updated so I can immediately rectify those issues.
Thank you, guys!
P.S: A LOT of game terminology will appear in the novel, because well, I'm a gamer. :shrug:
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