Klaus Park walked to a city fountain, filled his canteen with water, and then took a loaf of bread from his inventory.
As if starving, he devoured the whole bread in a single bite, but in reality, he was just in a hurry.
Nonetheless, at that moment, Klaus stopped for a minute and began to chew the soft bread slowly. The sensation running through his mind was definitely strange because he knew that in his mouth it was nothing more than a clump of data, but the bread tasted fantastic, and the texture of it was extremely close to reality.
"VR video games are really awesome." He spoke with his mouth full.
As Klaus was close to Holinda's exit, many users were on the streets; however, none of them even looked at Klaus, even though he didn't care. Walking to the gate in only starter's clothes, deprived of even breastplate armor, he practically showed that he was still a noob.
"We need a Healer Level 22 or above!"
"Hey, guys! We want to buy a Korra Cave map! We pay up to 5 silver coins!"
"We're heading for a raid on the Webbed Woods! Does anyone wanna join us?"
"We need an archer, no matter the level! We just want someone capable of distracting some Black Vultures!"
Klaus Park got up from the bench he was sitting on, opened the system, and equipped the bow. "I think at least today I have some luck."
In the same minute, the old bow appeared in his right hand, and a quiver with ten arrows appeared on his back. With that, Klaus finally felt that he was fully prepared to leave the city and approached the group that needed an archer; after all, a bow was his only weapon.
"Hello, I hear you need an archer. What is the purpose of the mission?" Klaus asked the man who was advertising.
The announcer was tall, strong, and wore metal armor, the only one among all four men in the group who wore such a set. Furthermore, he was the one who seemed to be the strongest as well. His nickname was Magma, and Klaus saw everything he thought was essential to see on Magma's sheet with the <Analyzing Eye>.
'Without a doubt, he is the most dangerous, and that title…' Something was bothering Klaus.
[Statistics Screen
Nickname: Magma | Class: Tank
Current Title: Killer | Profession: Group Leader
Level: 22 | Alignment: ? (Increase your relationship with this user to access this information) | Fame: 5.]
The group that wanted an archer looked ready to go into battle. All four men wore armor and weapons, but none seemed particularly dangerous except Magma. However, everyone looked at Klaus from head to toe, briefly judging him.
"What level are you at, man? Those clothes…" One of the men didn't bother to ask.
"I died recently. I lost everything I had, I'm struggling to get good items again, but if you're so curious, I'm level 14." Klaus replied.
Since the other three men were between level 15 and 16, Klaus thought it best to say he was at a lower level to not intimidate them, and he didn't want to bother Magma. If they let Klaus tag along on the mission, he would be able to kill some monsters as a group and evolve more easily than if alone.
If they let Klaus accompany him on the quest, he could hunt some monsters in a group, so he would evolve more easily than if he was alone.
"It's all right. As I said before, the level is not an issue; even if you can't kill Black Vultures with a single arrow, hitting them will be enough to intimidate them. But you really are an archer, aren't you?" Magma asked, crossing her arms.
Klaus stared at him for a second and replied, "I'm the best archer with my level in this city, I mean, for the right price, of course..."
Magma had long black hair, so his bangs partially covered the right side of his head. His face, but even that look and mannerism couldn't hold back the smile as he listened to Klaus speak with such confidence.
"I liked you!" Magma wrapped his right arm around Klaus's neck and pulled him like a little father. "We are going to the Void Forest. There are rumors of a treasure in the biggest Black Vulture nest there. Will we split the winnings evenly, one-fifth each, no matter how much." whispered Magma and then extended his right hand to Klaus.
"A treasure? I accept!" Klaus instantly shook Magma's hand. Money was all he was after anyway. "By the way, I am Kaizen."
"It's a pleasure, Kaizen. I'm Magma, and the boys are Guava, Proddy, and Lance."
*
Although in Rise Online, there is a system of Classes and Jobs, there are no restrictions on the uses of different weapons. For example, a mage can use a sword if he wants to, just as a warrior can use a bow. Undoubtedly it is a flexible system that leaves it up to the player to decide how he will play. This is one of the reasons why Rise Online is considered the most open VRMMORPG of all.
However, a genuine archer's growth potential is much greater than that of an improvised archer, since a genuine one will have Archer access to Class Abilities. In contrast, an improvised one will not have them.
Thanks to these factors, it would be normal if Klaus Park was a little nervous; after all, he had never played a bow in his life, nor did he have time to practice a little after buying the old bow, but he was confident that the idea that he had when he saw the bow would work. Klaus believed he didn't necessarily need to aim to hit his targets.
Also, Klaus was too focused on the setting of Holinda's exterior to think about things like that.
As soon as the high city walls disappeared from the group's view, and the wheat fields were also gone, they entered this forest completely dominated by a dense creeping mist. The stillness of the forest was sinister, and the wind, which blew every few minutes high up in the bare trees, shook the branches, and the sound produced by this shaking was similar to disturbing laughter.
As the three leather-armored men in the group cowered in fear, Magma noticed that Klaus didn't look scared.
"Have you explored this region, Kaizen?" Magma asked, as not only a way to balance the heavy atmosphere, but also to meet the temporary partner.
"Not yet."
"Oh, I see. And have you ever fought Black Vultures?"
"Neither. How are they?"
Magma looked at the sky when asked, and even with much fog, he noticed the presence of a flight to the south, approximately one hundred meters away. Instantly, he pointed to the right and said,
"Kaizen, don't worry. You will soon meet your targets. Guys, let's go this way. The nest can't be far."
...
Edited by: DrHitsuji
If you want to see original illustrations of Rise Online characters, consider helping me on pa treon: Pa treon.com/NandoFalske
More character images in:
https://discord.gg/bpqq9u4gS8
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After walking for more than an hour inside the deep mist forest, Klaus Park and the rest of the group finally spotted the birds they were looking for.
Black Vultures are medium-sized scavenger creatures whose black fur and steel beaks are their main physical characteristics. These creatures can grow up to two meters in length, depending on their level and nature.
There are five natures of monsters and items: Primal, Mutant, Epic, Mythic and Sacred. This classification indicates the rarity and strength of a monster or item, respectively, from the weakest and most common to the strongest and rarest.
Upon sighting the flock, which covered part of the sky in that dark forest, Klaus, Magma, Guava, Proddy, and Lance hid behind some trees to avoid being spotted.
"What's the plan now, leader?" Lance asked Magma, already holding the hilt of his sword with his right hand, ready to take it out of the sheath.
Looking up, Magma narrowed his eyes in the direction of the birds and quickly replied, "No doubt they are Black Vultures. They are all Primal in nature, so we probably won't have any problems. The nest will surely be just below them."
Although no one could see the nest yet, because there were many trees further ahead, they felt they couldn't go any further for now. Over a hundred Black Vultures were flying in a circle over that area of the sky ahead, while there were no other birds in the forest, at least not on the path the group traveled.
"What do you think, Kaizen? Can you hit them from here?" Proddy inquired with a slightly suspecting tone.
"Yes, I can. There's just one problem." Klaus replied as he took an arrow from the quiver on his back.
"What?" asked Magma, looking at him seriously.
Looking briefly at the flock once again, Klaus continued saying:
"If I start shooting first, they will know where I am, and if I die, you will lose the back support. You will need to advance first, as bait, and then I will start shooting. After getting the aggro and rushing towards the nest, the birds will probably only focus on you. I'll be free to shoot after that. I can give the cover, don't worry."
The other men in the group looked at each other at that moment, but the only response came from their leader.
"I don't see any problems in this plan, but aren't you afraid that we will steal all the treasure and use teleportation crystals to the city?" Magma was serious and looked directly at Klaus.
'Teleportation crystals?' Klaus wondered because he didn't even know that this kind of item existed in the game, and then he waved his right hand as if he didn't care. ''Just do it. I don't care. In the end, the most important thing for me is XP."
"What if we try to kill you after we get the treasure?" Magma continued, serious.
"Go ahead and try. I will defend myself with everything I have." Klaus replied and smiled.
"I see you are confident. Well then, that's right, we'll go ahead." Magma gestured to the other group members to go ahead, and then they quickly ran toward the area overflown by the flock.
Klaus, who had already positioned an arrow on the string, raised his bow, aimed at a bird, and fired as soon as the men were spotted. The arrow went through the air with a high-pitched sound but suddenly changed course after passing through a grove of trees.
'I already didn't expect the arrow to go in the right direction, but what curve is that?' Klaus Park thought, but he didn't get carried away and used <Telekinesis>, stretching his right-hand upwards just after releasing the bowstring.
In Klaus' vision, everything continued exactly as it had before he used the Skill, only a single stimulus went through his mind, making him sure he could control the arrow, and so he did.
Magma and the rest of the group saw the first arrow shot by Klaus Park turn to the right and then back to the left, in a strange movement that they never imagined an arrow could do. Seeing the arrow follow a totally unexpected path, Magma, and his companions could only stare wide-eyed until the arrow hit a Black Vulture, eliciting a loud groan of pain.
It was just a whimper, but it was enough to get the other birds' attention. The Black Vultures began to fly towards the running group.
Magma and the others reacted quickly and dodged some of the birds flying at them in anger.
Although most of the birds were not as fast as the players, they were extremely strong and could easily do a lot of damage with their sharp beaks and claws.
As Magma dodged an attack, he shouted: "Kaizen! Fuck, shoot!"
Klaus Park, who had already prepared a second arrow, fired again.
This time, the arrow did not change course, but suddenly accelerated, passing through the trees like lightning. Magma looked back and saw the arrow aimed at a Black Vulture, which was flying towards him, and then the arrow hit the bird directly in the eye, causing it to fall to the ground with a groan.
[You have killed a Black Vulture. You have gained +200 XP.]
The message appeared to Klaus. Excited by the huge experience gained, he smiled.
"Nice one, archer!" Magma exclaimed. His thunderous voice echoed through the forest.
Klaus Park, still positioned behind the trees, fired a third arrow, but he did not use <Telekinesis> this time. It flew straight toward a Black Vulture, but suddenly changed course and missed its target.
'There really is something wrong with that bow!' Klaus thought, remembering the description of the Old Bow. 'Anyway, I can't use <Telekinesis> consecutively, that would use up all my MP.'
Meanwhile, Magma and the others made their way through the more enclosed region of the woods, where the flock flew over and came across a natural decline. However, they noticed that the Black Vultures suddenly stopped attacking them and flew into the sky again.
"What's happening?" Lance asked Magma after all four attackers had gathered near where they believed the nest to be.
"I don't know. Let's just take advantage that those things have stopped attacking us, and let's move on." The group leader replied with a gasping breath. 'Those pieces of shit get scared very easily. I can't wait to cut their heads off.' Magma thought, but there was not a shred of psychopathy in his face.
So Magma and his followers walked down that natural slope and soon came to an open space dominated by dense fog. The mist was so dense that they couldn't even see their own feet. It was as if the world around them had been swallowed by the fog.
Magma signaled for them to go a little further, and a few seconds later, they heard a frequent tearing noise of flesh, which made their hearts speed up in the same instant.
"What was that?" Proddy whispered, looking around with a face of terror.
"It sounds like the noise of a creature eating..." Lance replied.
At that moment, Magma remembered the main characteristic of Black Vultures: following larger predators to eat the remains left by them.
"Damn... Guys, let's back off." Magma ordered and started walking backward. 'There wasn't supposed to be anything here...'
Unexpectedly, an arrow passed from the side of Magma's neck at that moment, making him feel a shiver simultaneously. The arrow hit the ground, and only the sound produced by the swinging wooden shaft was enough to completely terrify Magma.
The whole group realized that the sound of tearing flesh ceased, and heavy footsteps began to approach them. Magma and the others held their breath and expected the worst, but nothing happened instantly.
'What's happening?' Magma thought, but soon the sound of heavy footsteps became louder, and then a gigantic creature appeared in the open space.
Magma and the others looked wide-eyed at the creature that had appeared, and their hearts stopped beating for a moment.
It was a creature at least ten feet tall, with dark, black fur covering its body, and a face similar to a cat's, though much larger. The creature's mouth was covered with sharp teeth, and as they looked down from where they were standing, they realized that the creature had a long, thin tail.
[You have started a Battle against the optional Boss of the Misty Woods, Shadowcat].
Magma and the others froze for a moment until Magma looked back and shouted, "Kaizen, shoot!"
If it was an optional Boss, the game would let them flee the area, so it would be enough if Kaizen got a few seconds for them. However, no arrows flew toward the monster to distract it.
"Son of a bitch..." Magma uttered as he realized that the archer had no intention of helping them.
*
[Boss: Shadowcat
Level: 30 | Attribute: Shadow | Nature: Mutant
HP: 3.000 | MP: 100
Attack: 85 | Defense: 30 | Speed: 40
Strength: 35 | Wisdom: 25 | Endurance: 35
Resistance to Spells of Shadow and Ice].
...
Edited by: DrHitsuji
If you want to see original illustrations of Rise Online characters, consider helping me on pa treon: Pa treon.com/NandoFalske
More character images in:
https://discord.gg/bpqq9u4gS8
Like it? Add to library!
Don't forget to vote with Powerstone to support the book if you like it...