บท 27: Reylar’s temple
Liam reappeared in the town square of Prento. Excited chatter reached his ears as more and more players entered the game.
From the platform not far away a constant stream of new players walked down. After the news spread yesterday, everyone did their best to get their hands on a console.
Those noobs mostly looked around in wonder, only a few walking with purpose.
Some of the veteran players also gathered on the town square. They flaunted their achievements to enjoy the admiring gazes of others.
"Hey, you, look. I played the entire day yesterday, already reaching level three! Do you know what this means? Level three is the highest level right now!"
"Don't listen to him! Level three is nothing if you just farm lame monsters! But I was among the first to kill the elite monster 'Huge Red-eyed Rabbit'! That's something no one can replicate!"
"Tzz. Amateurs!"
"What?"
"I said amateurs! I already discovered the first dungeon yesterday while you were still playing around in the newbie village!"
The last person grinned under his hood as many came to eagerly talk to him.
Liam overheard the discussion. He couldn't help but feel a pinch of annoyance as he realized someone had overtaken him.
His competitive streak reared itself. Obviously, Liam wasn't as unperturbed as he wished to believe.
Being at the top is boring but getting there might still offer some challenges.
At this moment a notification suddenly popped up before Liam.
[Congratulations! [Double Slash] reached rank 2!]
[Congratulations! [Sidestep] reached rank 2!]
Liam stared at the empty air in shock and confusion. He couldn't comprehend how his skills suddenly leveled up.
Usually this took hundreds of uses at lower ranks and thousands at higher ranks.
Liam only believed it as he checked his skill's information.
[Double Slash (rank 2)
Cost: 6 Fury
Effect: Slash out two times in quick succession, dealing 85% (PATK) and 135%(PATK) physical damage.
Cooldown: 6 seconds]
Liam tried to understand the reason but ultimately, he could only ask C.
C? What's going on with my skills?
[Your skills rose through repeated training, Player Liam.]
But I didn't… wait.
Are you talking about training in real life?
[Indeed, player Liam.]
Liam's thoughts were chaotic as he processed the information. Something like this never happened in his past life.
Is this something everyone can do?
[Indeed, player Liam.]
Liam stood frozen for a while. But eventually he pushed the matter to the back of his mind. His situation wouldn't change much.
Subsequently Liam left the town square, his thoughts back on the first dungeon.
Reylar's curse…
However, the dungeon was only accessible from level 5-10, so the players would most likely be able to enter sometime tomorrow.
Liam pondered for a bit as he formed plans in his mind.
I need to make some preparations. I can earn money from the dungeon and fight some bosses soon.
The veteran gamer realized that his schedule was densely packed. Thus, he hurried up and left the novice village.
Cyclone invited him to play but Liam declined, urging her to level up and meet later that day.
At this point he had already left through the western gate, walking deep into the outer forest.
Liam had a clear path in his mind as he tried to avoid most fights.
Soon, the area turned more hilly as Liam advanced in the direction of the volcano. The flaming giant appeared big in his view, but Liam knew that it was still quite a distance away.
He followed a narrow path through the dense forest. Fortunately, most of the obvious paths in Crunaboul were free from monsters, allowing Liam to reach his target soon.
Withered, dark steles lined the path, most of them broken, their surfaces covered in cracks.
The surrounding temperature dropped, the light dimming.
A notification appeared before Liam's eyes.
[Discovered Reylar's temple. Reward: 15EXP]
[EXP: 90/500]
Liam took a last turn as an old temple appeared in his vision. It was heavily damaged, its once pristinely white wall darkened and broken in many places.
A few smaller structures once surrounded the temple, but only some walls and rubble were left.
A player could be seen lingering at the temple's entrance.
Liam wasn't surprised about the man's presence as the first dungeon, Reylar's curse, was located here.
Suddenly a monster walked out form behind a pile of rubble, its narrow eyes focused on Liam.
The veteran kept his calm, using [Inspect].
[Cursed Wolf
Rank: Common
Level: 4
HP: 120/120]
Liam didn't back down as the wolf clad in pitch-black fur rushed towards him.
The agile monster had a high movement speed. Ordinary players might get overwhelmed, but Liam reacted leisurely.
As a large maw with disgusting black teeth bit at him, Liam took a step to the side, retaliating in kind.
[Stance -6]
[-24!]
The wolf howled angrily, its voice sounding like the weeping of ghosts.
Another attack followed but Liam blocked quickly.
[Double Slash]!
[Stance -8]
[-20! -36!]
The wolf lost more than half its HP. A real animal might run away now but in the game the monster naturally kept attacking.
A short while later the wolf's HP bottomed out. Liam received a generous 17EXP. But just as he wanted to carry on, another monster attacked from his back.
Liam frowned as he dodged to the side.
[Stance -6]
With a grim face Liam realized that his stance was used up. The wolves had given him no time to recover between fights.
Although stance recovered during fights as well, it only did so slowly. From Liam's calculations he had to take at least two hits until he could dodge again.
The veteran focused his mind as he started with another [Double Slash]
[-19! -36!]
The wolf fletched its teeth, sending a claw attack.
[-47!]
Liam drew a sharp breath as a huge number appeared, sending him close to critical health immediately.
Without the Nephilim's resistance against dark damage, it would've been even worse.
Stronger than I thought. Why?
Despite his doubts he wasn't distracted, attacking again.
[-24!]
The wolf swung its claw, difficult to detect in the dim light, but Liam hastily used [Sidestep].
I have to save my fury. But it might still not be enough.
The pattern repeated twice more but eventually Liam had no fury left and the wolf was only at half HP.
Just as he planned to use his barely recovered stance to disengage the fight and recover, a deep voice reached his ears.
"Don't worry friend! Radiant Shield is here!"
Liam was taken aback, missing the perfect timing to get away from the monster.
But a tall man with broad shoulders suddenly jumped in front of him blocking the wolf's attack with his shield.
"What are you waiting for, let's kill this beast and bring peace to its cursed soul!"
"Right…"
Liam hid his amusement as he attacked quickly. Together with the newly appeared tank he easily took the wolf down, even landing the last hit.
But the two men didn't have much time to celebrate as more and more wolves appeared in the vicinity.
"You choose a bad time, my friend! Those cursed beasts are respawning in droves. Let's enter the once sacred temple. It's divine might sill keeps the monsters outside."
Liam was almost questioning whether he talked to an NPC or a player. But he held back, not wanting to antagonize the kind tank.
"Thanks for your help. I'm Bleary Mirage."
"You are welcome, warrior! My name is Radiant Shield, future hero of the nephilim!"
"Maybe you should have chosen the human race.", murmured Liam inaudibly.
"What?"
"Nothing."
A moment later the two men walked up some stairs, entering the large temple.
Liam spotted a few other players lingering around a large, closed gate. Some NPCs prevented the players from getting too close, protecting a male nephilim who apparently prepared some kind of ritual.
"My friend, did you come to assist these righteous priests as well?"
Radiant Shield spoke while pointing at the NPCs.
Liam naturally knew that these NPCs would only interact with players when the dungeon opened.
"Well, I'm just taking a look."
"Oh, I understand, another curious soul drawn by the tales of the first dungeon."
"Sorry bro, he just likes to roleplay. Don't take it seriously. I'm Sun's knight. Nice to meet you."
A tall man with red makeup around his eyes approached with a wry smile.
"Bleary Mirage."
Liam shook hands with the tall man while Radiant Shield rolled his eyes.
"How often do I have to tell you? Someone who doesn't roleplay doesn't love the game!
Oh, I mean. He who doesn't stay true to himself, will be forsaken by the world."
Liam and Sun's Knight both had to chuckle.
"Bleary Mirage, did you come for a quest? I'm afraid there isn't much to get here. We also thought about going back just now."
"Well, I came to fetch something for a different quest."
"Oh! If you need help, just speak my name, friend!"
Liam pondered for a second. Although the two men didn't appear as if they wanted to steal from him, he could only feel relieved when the item was in his hands.
"Thanks for the offer but I'm alright. I will just grind slowly."
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