Over the next few days, about a week, I spent more time with Luna.
It wasn''t as if I had much choice? As I said, I needed at least one player who could be a medium for protection, connection, and learning if I wanted to survive while gathering answers regarding my VR:Scanner in this game. But that was my justification, to be honest.
Actually, it was more than that.
I couldn''t help but feel Luna had the answers to the questions that plagued me. I wanted to know if she understood anything about what had happened to me? About this world? About that letter about "I can''t run"? Because I wasn''t sure how to begin looking into what, where, and how.
But Luna didn''t mention anything about what I suspected she knew. Not once. Instead, as a pro player who mentors beginners, we battled side by side, explored hidden areas of the Academy (she showed me places important to players), and progressed from Quest to Quest. Or, sometimes, we shared quiet moments where she''d comment on the scenery or joke (sarcasm) about other players struggling in battle.
Even now, we made our way through the deeper eastern section of the forest surrounding Vaughan to work on my Side Quest. It was simple: kill monsters, take their drop items, and hand them to the relevant NPC. Still, no oddities in the game. At all.
What did I want to point out, exactly? Everything seemed perfectly normal! Too "normal," which I found annoying. The server functioned smoothly, NPCs responded as expected, Events played out without any errors or irregularities, and other players we encountered were just like any other players in any game.
Where were the cracks in the game? The glitches? The signs that something was wrong? Any evidence so that I could progress my investigation? That was why I said I wasn''t sure how to begin looking into what, where, and how.
I clenched my fists as we stopped by a stream. Luna knelt by the water, examining a herb with tall, large-leafed blue weeds. I didn''t know why she stopped and took that instead; perhaps it was for her raw material needs? That said, it was quite practical. While exploring the forest, she might as well restock AND help me complete the Quest. Whatever. All my thoughts were overtaken by the frustration in my chest; it was even worse when I looked at the flowing water below, revealing my avatar (which had the same appearance as me in the real world) staring back.
''Why does everything feel so ordinary?''
The memory of the letter resurfaced—the warning, the sense that I couldn''t run; my family might be dragged into my problem as there would be a shortcut to bring someone down by targeting their loved ones. The fact that I forgot something...
Was it possible I had imagined it?
That after I''d been through, my mind made up all these issues?
I dismissed that line of thought with a shake of my head. No. There must be something wrong here, even though I couldn''t see it now. I had to believe that. I needed to believe that. Otherwise, what was I even doing here? In this game?
"Hey, you seem distracted. Everything alright?"
The words, although coming out very softly from Luna, successfully startled me. I quickly lifted my face from looking at the water stream to her. She was already standing, patting her short black skirt. Probably finished with her raw material gathering?
I replied to her with a smile... even though I had to force it. "Yeah, just thinking about the Quest; didn''t want to miss anything important."
Luna raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced about what I said, but she let it go. She turned her attention to the forest and led me to continue exploring. I let out a sigh of relief as I followed her, glad she didn''t push further. Her asking too many questions was the last thing I needed. Because it felt unfair, I diligently answered her, while her answer was ambiguous or even another answer instead.
Sigh...
When we continued walking, I reassessed my mind again.
Three days ago, I had investigated a suspicious area that seemed out of place—an abandoned tower deep in the forest. I had heard about it from an NPC, a student who loved gossiping, claiming that the tower held "the lost secrets of the first explorers" and "answers to those who dare seek." I was curious, so I went there, hoping for something big. But it was just a heavy lore event for a newbie to encourage [Open World] exploration. How disappointing.
Maybe I was approaching this wrongly? Like... I had been expecting blatant signs? And the more I thought about it, the more I realized that such things might be too easy. Well, I mean, the "answer" itself was information. And there were no such things as free-and-easy information, no?
Moreover, up to this point, the Quests I had completed were just basic ones for newbies since my Main Quest was still stuck until I reached level 15. Though, this made me think of one thing.
''What about Luna? She must have reached the end game.''
Ah, but... it would be useless to ask Luna directly. Remember how she was always ambiguous?
It was as if she wanted me to figure it out myself. Or maybe she knew the truth could only be understood through firsthand experience (and I, strangely enough, get tongue-tied every time I want to be blunt with her about this matter; was it because I wasn''t ready or just my stupid trust issue?).
There was also the possibility that she was just an ordinary player who knew nothing. But based on what she said to me a few days ago about "freedom," I suspect she knows something while keeping it to herself.
This made me realize there was no shortcut, no easy answer, just the path ahead of me; Luna''s ambiguity only strengthened my belief: it was best to solve the issue myself. And rushing things wasn''t a good option.
''I should get a social network in this game...''
Because a game the size of the World: The Origin must be flooded with rumors, red herrings, half-truths, and real truths. A single perspective—my own—might be too narrow to catch subtle hints. Especially with the biggest reveals about a world''s lore. That was why I had to take a different approach.
Enjoyed the game.
I had to pretend that I wasn''t searching for anything but a simple Quest reward, even if that meant suppressing my doubts and playing along as if everything were... truly "alright." Blending in often helped one learn more than if they stand out as an obvious investigator. And this was also for my own sanity! If I concentrated solely on these problems 24/7, I risked burnout and tunnel vision.
"Looks like we found it. Or rather, it found us. Get ready, Luo."
When Luna said that, I knew it was time to switch off my autopilot of trail behind her and start looking forward; I realized we had reached an overgrown clearing with tall trees covered in vines, their branches intertwining above to create a canopy, giving the area a dim, with a low growl resonating through the foliage.
"This is a high-level monster."
The "monster" Luna was referring to emerged from the shadows behind the towering trees twelve meters before us—a combination of what appeared to be a wolf (body and size) with a serpent (skins and features). But looking at its status...
<table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 90%; background-color: rgba(255, 238, 140, 1); border-color: rgba(230, 126, 35, 1); border-style: double" border="1">
<tbody>
<tr style="border-color: rgba(230, 126, 35, 1); border-style: double">
<td style="width: 100%; text-align: center" colspan="4">Pawn type F-105, Serpentwolf</td>
</tr>
<tr style="border-color: rgba(230, 126, 35, 1); border-style: double">
<td style="width: 50.0813%; text-align: center" colspan="2">Level: </td>
<td style="width: 49.9187%; text-align: center" colspan="2">13</td>
</tr>
<tr style="border-color: rgba(230, 126, 35, 1); border-style: double">
<td style="width: 25.0407%; text-align: center">HP</td>
<td style="width: 25.0407%; text-align: center">495/495</td>
<td style="width: 24.9593%; text-align: center">DP</td>
<td style="width: 24.9593%; text-align: center">15/15</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
"You sure this is a high-level one?" Compared to Luna, who was already level 70, this one, with her normal attack only, sure would die.
"Well... this is a high level for you, isn''t it? You are just leveled to 10. Even its status bar should be yellow for you."
It was true, though, what Luna said. That yellow screen was because the monster was three levels above me. But based on what she said, I knew Luna wouldn''t get involved and leave the Serpentwolf entirely up to me. I giggled while having a sweet drop, but as soon as the monster charged, I positioned myself to form a stance so that it had to back off.
When it started to retreat, I prepared to activate the Floating Hourglass by taking a Heart Core from the [Inventory]. My hovering weapon was ready at my side, with my hand stretched underneath it.
"You seem to be acutely aware of your situation." Was that a compliment? But Luna had already shifted, leaping atop a tree behind me. To prevent the agro from moving to her, apparently? While she could still give me directions. "Alright, Luo. Time to put your Catalyst to the test. Remember the combos I taught you."
''Catalyst... magic, then rely on time.''
I started preparing to cast [Ice Lancer]; I raised my arm, and ice formed around my hand, creating a chilly mist as three lances appeared above my palm. And I flung them one after the other, each lance rushing to the monster. Each blow reverberated with a crunch of ice as they struck.
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<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; text-align: center">20</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
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<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; text-align: center">22</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
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<td style="width: 100%; text-align: center">41!</td>
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</table>
''Critical!''
The critical indicated that I had struck its weak point: its head—more specifically, at the center of its eyes. What a coincidence! I aimed for its eyes but missed them, while the other hit its body and chest. [CD 5s]. I could feel the Skill Cooldown ticking in my mind, the slight pause before I could summon the lances again while the creature staggered.
But the staggered, of course, didn''t last long, and it wasn''t even as effective as it should have been because my Grade was still low. Shaking its head to clear the ice lance from its body and head, its crimson eyes glared at me. It charged. The air was a blur of speed as its claws swept through it.
I swung sideways, barely escaping the blow. Its claws tore into the ground, sending dirt flying up.
"Good dodge!" Luna said, still perching on the trunk of a large tree. "Now, use [Phase Bomb]! It can give you breathing room."
Concentrating on the creature''s jumps, which seemed to be trying to make a dent after its missed attack, I focused on its movement. Aim. I hurled my weapon at the target after that. Floating Hourglass dashed before dropping down and detonating with a shockwave. The explosion blasted, making the smoke plume soar. I seized the opportunity to reposition, gaining a better vantage point.
"Now is your chance, Luo. Use [Azure Circle]!"
And that was my rhythm in dealing with the monster while Luna continued to give instructions.
For distance, I delivered a long attack using [Ice Lancer]. During Cooldown, I used other attacks, such as [Azure Circle], especially after [Phase Bomb], its smoke soaring through the air, which caused the enemy to stumble and lose focus when delivering unexpected AoE attacks. If I was hit because the enemy''s HP was depleted to 25%, entering "enraged mode" that drove it more aggressively, I made sure to use [Recall Illumination] to recover my health.
This continued as I chipped its HP.
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<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 49.0658%; text-align: center">HP</td>
<td style="width: 49.0658%; text-align: center">225/495</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 60%; border-color: rgba(35, 111, 161, 1); border-style: double" border="1">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 49.0658%; text-align: center">HP</td>
<td style="width: 49.0658%; text-align: center">164/495</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 60%; border-color: rgba(35, 111, 161, 1); border-style: double" border="1">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 49.0658%; text-align: center">HP</td>
<td style="width: 49.0658%; text-align: center">35/495</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
At last, a single attack from [Ice Lancer] that stabbed right at its weak point—at the monster''s forehead—created a guttural growl before Serpentwolf collapsed. Its body shattered into a digital particle that faded into the forest floor.
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<tr style="border-color: rgba(35, 111, 161, 1); border-style: double">
<td style="text-align: center" colspan="2">Serpentwolf Defeated!</td>
</tr>
<tr style="border-color: rgba(35, 111, 161, 1); border-style: double">
<td style="text-align: center" colspan="2"> </td>
</tr>
<tr style="border-color: rgba(35, 111, 161, 1); border-style: double">
<td style="width: 49.9555%; text-align: center">EXP Gained:</td>
<td style="width: 50.046%; text-align: center">55</td>
</tr>
<tr style="border-color: rgba(35, 111, 161, 1); border-style: double">
<td style="width: 49.9555%; text-align: center">Loot Dropped:</td>
<td style="width: 50.046%; text-align: center">Serpentwolf Claw x2, Hardened Serpent Scale x3, Minor Restoration Potion x1</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Ding!
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<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 99.0252%; text-align: center">Hunting Material Collected!</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
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<tbody>
<tr style="border-color: rgba(35, 111, 161, 1); border-style: double">
<td style="text-align: center; width: 99.8646%" colspan="2">Quest Updated!</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 99.8646%; text-align: center" colspan="2"> </td>
</tr>
<tr style="border-color: rgba(35, 111, 161, 1); border-style: double">
<td style="text-align: center; width: 99.8646%" colspan="2">Running for the Hunt</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center; width: 99.8646%" colspan="2">Talk to Rata at Vaughan Cafeteria</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Luna jumped down from the tree, landing beside me. "Well done! And now, it looks like you have everything you need for the Quest."
"Guess I am ready to move on then?"
"Hahaha, yeah?" Luna smiled. "Let''s go back to Academy; shall we?"