《One Death Forward, Ten Years Back》


 New Prologue

    The pod was sleek and smooth, shaped sort of like a futuristic seed. A series of blue-green diodes on the capsule¡¯s contour snapped to life, highlighting a ring around it. And like a seed, it split down the middle, the eggshell-white halves opening on some hidden mechanism, sprouting a human ¨C well, at least a humanoid figure. He was a bit too thin and pale.


    He stirred unsteadily as if awakening from a nightmare, or maybe just an intense dream. Then he was still.


    ¡°Just a bit more,¡± he muttered, barely audible.


    John Patterson peeled himself off the forming-fitting foam padding. His skinny body tilted forwards, resting his face in his knees; the long bangs of dark hair followed like a curtain, shading the serious eyes.


    He breathed deeply.


    ¡°Damn it!¡±


    He coughed once, paused, and gave a voice command.


    ¡°Lights on.¡±


    ¡­


    The light was brutal, pouring from the blazing August sun. It forced its way through the windows of the vehicle, and even his eyelids, lighting them a faint red. Despite the advanced climate control, John felt uncomfortable.


    ¡°At the side here.¡±


    Whatever was programed into the car chirped its customary reply and pulled over to an empty sidewalk.


    Similar to a creature long recessed in the caves, his emergence wasn¡¯t pleasant. It was too warm outside, and the sunlight was too bright. But most of all, the streets, for a Monday noon, were too empty.


    ¡®He had to pick today, didn¡¯t he?¡¯ John was sweating after seconds of exposure.


    He slammed the door behind him and squinting under the brilliant light, he crossed the street without looking for traffic. The tired man checked an address on his phone and disappeared into a restaurant.


    ¡°Reservation? A name please.¡±


    ¡°Lupe.¡±


    ¡°This way, sir.¡±


    Lupe had chosen one of the more expensive restaurants in town, close to the penthouse. His invitation to lunch had been odd: the two hadn''t met in person for months. John was brought to a small booth in the back, empty: Lupe hadn''t shown up yet. John browsed the menu lightly and checked his phone. He wasn''t hungry. The waitress soon brought water which he didn''t touch.


    The guild war wasn¡¯t going well. Hysterica was under pressure from all sides, and quickly losing territory. The fronts were severely undermanned and undersupplied. Morale was poor, exacerbated by the absence of their strongest, single player, Lupe.


    ¡®It¡¯s all falling apart.¡¯


    John finally sipped on the ice-cold water. But he didn¡¯t need the coolness, rather a burn in the back of the throat.


    He knew that Lupe was helping the guild, helping their dream in his own way. He knew a single player wasn¡¯t that helpful in a battlefield, but Lupe¡¯s lack of presence was frustrating.


    Three minutes later there was motion in the aisle. Lupe sat down across from John.


    "There you are," John said when he finally saw that familiar pale face.


    Lupe didn''t say anything. His jaw was locked tight, teeth grit ¨C words wouldn''t mean anything at this point.


    He simply produced a short, stubby pistol from his jacket. The squat opening pointing directly into John''s face was unreal. Matte black and cold, it was held by a thin wrist that looked like it would snap after a single shot.


    John looked at it, stared at it, for so long that it seemed to distort in its absurdity ¨C for less than half a second.The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.


    He immediately dashed from his seat. Lupe mustn''t have expected it because the bullet discharged a split second too late, slamming into John''s right hand and disfiguring a couple of fingers. Shrieks could be heard throughout the restaurant as nearby servers showered the floor with broken ceramics.


    The sudden shot must have hurt Lupe too, as no further rounds dug themselves into John¡¯s back.


    John quickly turned a corner, clasping his crippled hand. He forced his way through the aisles and into the blinding sun. The street was still deserted, oddly so. His weak heart pounded; his lungs wheezed uncontrollably. This was insane! Few would be as bold as to attempt murder in broad daylight.


    Behind him, the front door burst open as Lupe appeared on the sidewalk.


    At that moment, John never felt more exposed. It was like being naked in public, except with the heinous stare of the barrel which never really cared about clothing. It peered through his aspirations, his dreams, and past, his love, through his entirety. John wasn¡¯t a gamer anymore, not one of the best thieves in the world, not a man, or even a human ¨C but a lamb, helpless before the physical laws of the real world, far more complicated that any game rules, that would blast that bullet forwards.


    And that was terrifying.


    So, he ran, not fast, but as fast a sickly man could. Desperation powered those sluggish limbs even as futility and despair assaulted the mind.


    His pursuer was also slow, nervously fumbling the gun before shooting. Lupe seemed inexperienced with a firearm from both his handling and aim.


    The first shot narrowly missed John''s head, colliding with a lamppost and showering him in sparks.


    The second, just moments later, nicked the side of his abdomen, drawing a straight red line.


    The third lodged itself in his right elbow, shattering a bone or two.


    The fourth chipped the sidewalk with a small puff of dust.


    The fifth buried itself in the left shoulder, interrupting John''s sprint.


    The sixth fired half a second later and entered just above the knee, almost severing the leg.


    John forcibly came to a halt, flipping violently, and slammed face first into the concrete. He was bleeding from the nose now, and half blinded by the dust and cruel sun.


    ¡®It¡¯s different¡­¡¯


    The game supposedly mimicked the human anatomy, perfectly replicating blood¡¯s flow when the liquid exited the body. He had virtually bled innumerable times, but he knew that it was not like this. There was an uncontrollable and unfamiliar panic as the fluid spilled everywhere.


    And that was sickening.


    So, when John couldn''t run, he crawled.


    The seventh got lost in the pavement.


    The eighth found its mark in the one good leg, near the waist.


    The ninth went home in the heel, maiming the foot.


    John collapsed with an animal-like groan. His limbs were on fire and his core was in tatters. Blood welled out of the numerous puncture wounds.


    The entirety of the magazine had come one after another, relentless.


    ¡®Is it so damn easy for you to move your index finger a few centimeters?¡¯


    Each round was like a nail in the coffin, further confirming certain death. Lupe had done so over and over, not bothering to say a word. Even if he never talked during in-game duels, surely he would have something to say now.


    Did he even know what he was doing? Did the bastard know that real people die when they are shot? And what about that dream, the one that the four of them had shared? Did he forget about that too?


    Of course, John couldn¡¯t lie to himself about a self-imposed rhetorical question. He bit down on his tongue, partially unaware it was between his teeth, and it started bleeding too. Lupe, his friend of many years, was very deliberately killing him.


    And that was infuriating.


    So, when he couldn''t crawl, he dragged himself.


    The tenth through thirteenth pulls of the trigger were barely audible as Lupe realized his magazine was empty. He was breathing heavily now, as he inserted another magazine with jittery fingers and walked over.


    Fourteen to eighteen came like lightning, direct hits to the upper back in rapid succession.


    With a violent cough, John came to a halt and spun over, facing the merciless August sun. Nineteen and whatever numbers afterward came methodically, almost in slow-motion. John had lost count halfway through.


    All he saw was a face drowned off by the overbearing sunlight. He thought he heard the rapid discharge of the weapon, followed a furious clicking of another emptied mag. Maybe trigger pulls number twenty-three to thirty-some? Then there was the distorted sound of the clash of metal on asphalt as Lupe threw the useless weapon away.


    That left John alone with his wounds. Even if Lupe was there watching, John might as well have been in space. He shivered slightly.


    What was so scary about such a death?


    ¡®It¡¯s the missed opportunities and the end of passions. It¡¯s those who will be mutually missed.¡¯


    The guild war would be lost. Everything he had gained for ten years would be blown away in the wind; the game world which he loved will be gone. How much of that world was unexplored by the way? John had no idea and suddenly had the desperate urge to find out.


    He and the four-man team, bar Kevin ¨C Lupe and him too, apparently ¨C would never reach the top. John¡¯s brain sent the signals for a sad smile, unsure if the lips received them. ¡®I guess Chelsea alone will have to accomplish what we three couldn¡¯t.¡¯ His thoughts that drifted to the arcane mage in her lilac robes, her eyes pulsing with energy. Then there was that smile that he held so dear. Why didn¡¯t he ever furthered that bond?


    And that was¡­ what would that be?


    But the blood had already left the brain. He coughed once, twitched a bit, and finally relaxed. The sunlight seemed to grow brighter and desaturated, finally ending as an unnatural white.


    He let the warmth embrace him until he thought it was quite familiar.

 Old Prologue

    Lupe called John out for a lunch one day. That was odd, they hadn''t met in person for months.


    John pulled himself out of the pod, an upgrade introduced in the ninth year, for the first time in days. Equipped with nutrient solutions, the pods were rated for 36 hours, but John never took it seriously. Thin and unhealthily pale, his health had undoubtedly deteriorated.


    Lupe had chosen one of the more expensive restaurants in town, close to the apartment. It was bright outside, almost even painful to John''s sheltered eyes. He walked in a little late, asking for the reservation under Lupe''s name.


    He was brought to a small booth in the back. Lupe hadn''t shown up yet. John browsed the menu lightly and checked his phone. He wasn''t hungry. The waitress soon brought water which he didn''t drink.


    "There you are," John said when he finally saw that familiar pale face.


    Lupe didn''t say anything. His jaw was locked tight, teeth grit. Words wouldn''t mean anything at this point. He simply produced a short stubby pistol from his jacket. The squat opening pointing directly into John''s face was unreal. Matte black and cold, it was held by a thin wrist that looked like it would snap after a single shot.


    John immediately dashed from his seat. Lupe mustn''t have expected it because the bullet discharged a split second too late, slamming into John''s right hand and disfiguring a couple of fingers. Shrieks could be heard throughout the restaurant as nearby servers showered the floor with broken ceramics.


    The sudden shot must have hurt Lupe too, as no further lead dug itself into John back.


    He quickly turned a corner, clasping his crippled hand. He forced his way through the aisles and into the blinding sun.


    The street was deserted, oddly so. He weak heart pounded; his lungs wheezed uncontrollably. ''This was insane!'' Few would be as bold as to attempt murder in broad daylight.This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it


    Behind him, the front door burst open as Lupe appeared on the sidewalk.


    At that moment, John never felt more exposed. It was like being naked in public, except with the heinous stare of the barrel which never really cared about clothing.


    And so, John ran, not fast, but as fast a sickly man could. Desperation powered those sluggish limbs even as futility and despair assaulted the mind.


    His pursuer was also slow, nervously fumbling the gun before shooting. Lupe seemed inexperienced with a firearm from both his handling and aim.


    The first shot narrowly missed John''s head, colliding with a lamppost and showering him in sparks.


    The second, just moments later, nicked the side of the abdomen, drawing a straight red line.


    The third lodged itself in his right elbow, shattering a bone or two.


    The fourth chipped the sidewalk with a small puff of dust.


    The fifth buried itself in the left shoulder, interrupting John''s sprint.


    The sixth fired half a second later and entered just above the knee, almost severing the leg.


    John forcibly came to a halt, flipping uncontrollably, and slammed face first into the concrete. He was bleeding from the nose now, and half blinded by the dust and cruel sun. But when he couldn''t run he crawled.


    The seventh got lost in the pavement.


    The eighth found its mark in the one good leg, near the waist.


    The ninth went home in the heel, maiming the foot.


    John collapsed with an animal-like groan. His limbs were on fire and his core was in tatters. But when he couldn''t crawl, he dragged himself forward.


    The tenth through thirteenth were barely audible as Lupe realized his magazine was empty. He was breathing heavily now, as he inserted another magazine with jittery fingers and walked over.


    Fourteen to eighteen came like lightning, direct hits to the upper back in rapid succession.


    In a violent cough, John came to a halt and spun over, facing the relentless August sun.


    Nineteen and whatever numbers afterward came methodically, almost in slow-motion. John had lost count halfway through.


    All he saw was a face drowned off by the overbearing sunlight. He thought he heard the rapid discharge of the weapon, followed a furious clicking. Maybe twenty-three to thirty some? Then there was the distorted sound of the clash of metal on asphalt as Lupe threw the useless weapon away.


    John coughed once, twitched a bit, and finally relaxed. The sunlight seemed to grow brighter and desaturated, finally ending as an unnatural white.


    He let the warmth embrace him until he thought it was quite familiar.

 RISE

    Light ¨C that''s all he felt. It was the blinding light filling his eyes, the light-headedness tearing at his mind, and the physical lightness, almost weightlessness. It was so bright, and warm, certainly not gentle, but harsh, like a spotlight in darkness.


    And then there was an impact, bone-shattering. In the distance, was a girl''s muffled scream and distorted, frantic splashing. The lights went out and the whole world cooled, turning a blurry blue. And in his daze, he flailed and thrashed.


    Gasping for breath, he broke through the surface, sputtering, as his eyes focused. The air, heavily chlorinated, still tasted sweet as he savored its coolness. His heart was pounding in his chest, his eyes stinging from the water, his limbs feeling the once lost tactility.


    John laughed ¨C he was alive.


    ¡­


    John stared at his hands as the cold water splashed down on him. They were small, much smaller than he was used to. He bent his left fingers slightly, then the right. There was the same scar on his thumb, but fresher, maybe a few months old. And on his wrist, the watch his great-grandfather gifted him for his sixteenth birthday ¨C its watch face reading December 17th, 2024.


    John knew where he was the instant he saw his best friend swimming across the pool after his fall from the tower. Dead men don''t swim. He knew, but he couldn''t believe. Who would? However, the evidence all pointed to it, his predeveloped body, a pool demolished in his teens, a long-lost watch reading a long-past date: he was back in the days of his youth.


    ''A chance, yes, that''s what this was, a second chance,'' he thought. John clutched his fist; the shower no longer felt as cold. He had a debt to settle, people to see again, tragedies to prevent, and a lover to meet.


    "You done?" Kevin called from the changing room.


    "Yeah¡­"


    "You really scared me you know, a belly-flop like that, I''m surprised you can hold down your lunch."


    John dried, wrapped a towel around his waist and exited the cubicle. And there, seated, was the same fat kid. He bore the same ridiculously wide smile with that greasy hair and overly-large cheeks. Like his stature, Kevin''s heart was large.


    Since childhood, the two were together. They apparently were born in the same hospital, the same day, only a room and a couple of minutes apart. They attended the same schools, even having the same classes every year by some weird odds. He was the one who brought them into the game when it first came out and paved a new future. He was the one who helped when John''s last relative passed.


    But John could not help. No one could when Kevin passed.


    Almost instinctively, John examined Kevin''s back. Like magic, the gaping wounds were no more, and the pale embalmed skin once in the casket, gone.


    The memory of that night would never fade.


    Shortly after the eighth anniversary of their debut in the game, Kevin, lecherous as he was, proposed a night out. Dragging the reluctant John along, Kevin found a night club where the forever single did his best, indulging in the festivities. John, however, never one to partake, was eventually separated.


    It was not until 3 AM or so when John finally found the conspiracy. In that dark alley, Kevin''s mass of a body lay motionless, like a drunk. But the unmistakable stench gave it away. Blood has an indescribable smell, or rather an effect.


    The police report later detailed a total of 47 stabs to the back, and severe poisoning, both alcohol, and paralytic toxin. He was dead within minutes of blood loss.This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.


    "Yo, I know I''m beautiful, but I don''t swing that way."


    John snapped back to reality. He had been staring for several seconds, his eyes glossy and wet. He coughed and wiped them. "Dumbass, it''s the chlorine."


    "You were in the shower for half an hour. What chlorine?"


    John coughed again. "Never mind that, let''s get dinner," he said as he patted Kevin on the back.


    It felt as it should, solid, and wet, but with water rather than blood.


    Not in this life, never again.


    ¡­


    Being somewhat far north, in Trayin, it was getting dark when they headed to get an early dinner. It was warm for that time of year and it snowed heavily as they walked past shops selling all sorts of festive gifts along the ever-nostalgic downtown avenues. On the left, they turned into a large square just as street lights turned on.


    John checked his watch. It read 5:27 PM. ''Anytime now,'' he thought.


    "What are we waiting for? Aren''t we gonna eat?" Kevin asked.


    "It''s a surprise."


    "But what for? A bit early for a present¡­"


    No, it wasn''t Christmas, but December 17th, 2024 ¨C an equally fateful day.


    And so, the two friends stood there in the middle of the square. People streamed past them on both sides. A few couples strolled by, snapping photos. Businesses turned on Christmas lights to attract customers. The giant TV screens plastered with ads flickered here and there. And the snow came down relentless.


    Kevin shivered and rubbed his hands. "John?"


    "Watch."


    Suddenly, the largest screen on the skyscrapers went off. The crowds turned to face the sudden change. Then another followed. All the screens cascaded in sequence, finally followed by the streetlamps, leaving the square in the faint glow of cellphones and Christmas lights. There were a few screams followed by a constant murmur. All around the world, in similar plazas, advertisements and lights fell like the worst power outage in history.


    Deep organ music started playing, more synthetic than religious, and a silence fell over the crowd. The screens snapped on, bathing them in white light. The intensity grew, giving an eerily warm feeling. Then it all turned blue, the familiar watery sensation.


    The camera switched to a third person view, showing a youth swimming towards the surface of an unreasonably large fountain. He broke through in a brilliant splattering of water, drawing a gasp from the crowd. The graphics were astounding.


    "Is this a new game?" Kevin asked with a mouth wide open.


    No one gave an answer, but no one needed one. Of course, they weren''t told it was a game, but there was no doubt that it was.


    The individual collapsed in a fetal position on the steps, soaked and twitching.


    The beating of drums could be heard beating in the distance and the video jumped to a brave general making a heroic charge up a contested hill; the deafening neighs of horses and screams of men encompassed in a deathly mist.


    A warrior clad in red armor came next, fighting an imposing silhouette in a blizzard. Sounds were heard from the crowd as an enormous mass swung over the champion''s crouched figure.


    The drumming died down, making way for the sharp tone of a violin and a sharper barrage of arrows. The forest disintegrated as mages rained fire down on an elven archer.


    Similar scenes flashed by: a traveler in a desert, a dogfight between dragon riders, a rogue fleeing persecution.


    Eventually, the video came to the pieces'' climax. No one admitted it, but so did the beating in their chests.


    The general leaped from atop his horse in a final thrust.


    The warrior grappled up the giant''s back.


    The archer nocked her decisive arrow.


    Silence, complete silence, from both the crowd and video.


    And then they died. They all died. Maybe by blade or by impact or by fire or by thirst or by fall or by gunfire ¨C there was only one constant: absolute death.


    So, the great masters fell, eternal challengers. Their bodies drew the same parabolic arc, overlaid and traced by the camera. The faces aligned, some older, or of different skin color, maybe with different eyes and facial hair ¨C but really all the same.


    A soft melody played as the bloodied corpses appeared, buoyant in the depths of the fountain. Above them, the youth struggled towards the sunlight. With each stroke of his arms, the dead were pushed further into the endless blue. Breaking through the surface, he stepped off the shoulder of the general, the youth''s face both reluctant and confident.


    The image switched back to him on the steps. It zoomed in on his face, the last layer in superposition with the heroes.


    And that was the first time in the video when the faces were unclear. All the crowd saw neutral, generic features, so much so that it could be anyone and everyone.


    The character rose from the crowd and climbed up the steps towards a fantastical city. In the sky, four letters faded in from behind the clouds.


    RISE.

 You Again

    The lines were huge as all an army of students boarded the high-speed rail to return home for the winter break. A bell went off, signal an impending departure. John shivered in the stiff morning air as he boarded the train towards the capital, Kinas.


    Last night was a mistake, but still worthwhile. John still remembered Kevin''s wide smile and aspiring eyes when he saw the trailer online in the old world. John had wanted to show him the event in person, a gift. The look on Kevin''s face this time around was even better. When the character stood from the marble steps, it was heart-warming.


    However, John had nothing when Kevin asked him how he knew about the event. He could only keep it a secret. A small slip-up between friends was acceptable, but the problem could be recurring with other people. The utmost care needed to be taken. Kevin eventually stopped badgering him after the meal and the two split up around seven.


    John had returned home early after dinner, hoping to see his great-grandfather who would die in around a month. The two had been together since John''s youth. Of course, Gramps'' passing was like that of a parent, perhaps even more so: Gramps had always played both parental roles as the only guardian. But it was a Thursday, and Gramps would be at the hospital overnight for regular treatment.


    John yawned and browsed his phone, waiting for the engines to start.


    The internet was in shock following the events of the RISE''s reveal. Virtual reality consoles had been out for several years now, but they were always small in scale. The technology was somewhat unproven, leading to mostly shooters and strategy games. The development cost of open fantasy worlds was always higher, not to mention all the potential for mistakes. MMORPG''s had been gradually dying in popularity long before virtual even hit as a result. Of course, profit and risk have always gone hand-in-hand. All that was missing was a bit of ambition.


    Along with the stunning trailer came a website detailing the basics of the game. It featured everything a typical game advertised, graphics, customization, open-map, and whatnot.


    One element that excited everyone was a sleep feature where in-game time would be accelerated and accessible while asleep. That made a huge portion of the selling point: would there be anything better to do at night? Furthermore, the game looked, or rather felt, significantly better than anything before. But the introduction didn''t really say anything about mechanics, leaving most players eager and unknowing.


    Similarly, most customers didn''t know what the console would look like, maybe existing helmets would suffice or maybe they''d have to purchase a pod. They''d have to wait before the purchase was available in a little bit.


    That''s why John was heading to Kinas. The pre-release consoles would be available to the wealthy and famous players in previous games. A series of places would be open, offering the devices to those informed. The leak of this information in the past had caused a huge commotion when the game got big. A day or two of progress at the start could translate into months of advantage.


    The reported venue that John remembered was inconspicuous, just an outdated PC store in an ordinary shopping mall, run by an elderly couple. However, it would experience an influx of clients as people would enter all day to claim the device.


    Kinas was one of those capitals that were called as such but felt more like an average city. Indeed, many foreigners would label Trayin as the capital of the country, Lansbe, without prior knowledge. This meant that it was a relaxed place with few people and even fewer high-rises. The only serious thing here was the Parliament, and that place was a bigger joke than the economy those days.


    John arrived at the mall around eleven or so in the morning. He paid the cab driver and entered. It was almost deserted on the weekday. Stores had Christmas lights on and a massive tree towered in the lobby. The festive spirit was in the air. He took the escalator to the fourth floor, where the same sign shown in the articles lay: "Krill''s Computing".Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.


    It was your typical cheap electronics shop. Colorful posters were plastered all over the walls, outdated behemoths cluttered the shelves. There were enough tangled cables to make a wire fence around the building.


    A line was already forming inside the shop as people queued for the packages. They stood there impatiently as the elderly clerk slowly accepted little papers. This caused to John inwardly curse the usual incompleteness of the media. No one had mentioned that a token was required to receive the helmet.


    While RISE''s mechanics were often farfetched at best in the real world, some skills were decently applicable. John had played a thief, one of better ones at that. A thief who needs something someone else has is a fish in water ¨C simply borrowing a token couldn''t be too hard.


    A couple of minutes later and John entered the queue with a successfully purloined slip of paper. A couple more minutes later and John exited the queue with a flat package.


    It''s true that the victim might report it, but the issue would be quickly shut up. The release''s secrecy must be preserved. The risk was definitely worth it in the end.


    He walked away at a brisk pace, not looking back before the inevitable screams could be heard. He was on almost out when he hesitated.


    ''Wait, wouldn''t he be here today?''


    John purchased a light lunch and sat by the escalator between the second and third floor. And then he waited. There was only one likely path to the store, and no real gamer wakes up before noon. Patience comes naturally with great anger.


    Lupe showed up at around half past two, seemingly groggy. He was younger, of course, maybe 23 at the time, but still unforgettable. Average features, sharp eyes, close-cropped hair, poor posture, and pale skin, no one would recognize him for one of the top players of the time.


    John, however, recognized him once as his friend, a colleague, but also as a rival, and above all a traitor. Lupe appeared harmless, but he had caused John''s death.


    RISE''s growth was monstrous over the entire course its history. By the tenth year, virtual real estate became comparable to the same industries in whole countries. John''s guild, Hysterica, was only ranked 80th or so but possessed assets greater than many companies.


    Four players were the pillars of this establishment ¨C John, the guild leader; Kevin, the main tank; Lupe, the ace; Chelsea, the mage. They started as a small clearing team, quite successful too. They fooled around casually for a bit, before entering a tournament or two, later establishing the guild in the third year.


    They could be best described as innocent during their dungeon clearing days. And happy, yes, very carefree and happy.


    The guild really took off in the seventh year with new recruitment of members. At that time, Lupe was approaching the top ten in the swordsman rankings and would never be around the base. All the members were frantically leveling to advance guild standing.


    Kevin''s death had devastated the management in the eighth year, starting a visible divide between John and Lupe. At the funeral, John had met him. Nothing was spoken, but the blame, even if Lupe knew it was unreasonable, was clear in the eyes.


    During the height of the guild''s expansion, in the ninth year, Lupe had drifted further away, rarely participating in raids or battles, until ultimately, the incident occurred in the tenth.


    It was a legacy of brotherhood, competition, and ultimately, hatred.


    John approached Lupe as he arrived on the second-floor landing. In one hand he held the lunch packaging. The other''s grip tightened on a little plastic knife.


    Lupe noticed him when he was a few yards away. It was the first person he saw since he entered the mall. "Hello," he said politely with a nod.


    John returned the nod, "Afternoon." He kept walking closer though.


    Lupe seemed to want to say something but quickly shut his mouth when John brushed by and headed towards the rubbish can.


    Tempting, but it was far too soon. A traceable crime at this point would setback all John''s plans in RISE. Besides, he wasn''t the only one out for blood: many opportunities would arise soon enough.


    Lupe stood there for a moment as John dumped the garbage. "Do you know where Krill''s Computing is?" he asked.


    John paused for a moment. "Are you lost?"


    "Not quite, maybe a bit."


    "There''s a map somewhere."


    "Alright¡­ Thanks."


    John said nothing and gave a single wave.


    He waited for Lupe to reach the third floor and quickly walked down the escalator. He disappeared into the afternoon foot traffic with a mischievous smile on his face and slip of paper in his pocket.

 Im Home

    The train arrived at Trayin Central at 7 PM. An eager John disembarked and hopped on the fastest monorail home. Gramps would be home by now and a ten-year absence can churn the coldest of hearts.


    John rode the same old, shanty elevator. He felt his heat pump faster for a reason he didn''t know. The real impact of his resurrection must have finally hit him, the sheer absurdity. It was one of those in-the-moment things.


    He ran his fingers along cheap acrylic buttons coverings and pressed his index on an upside-down one: thirteen was flipped in the past by a mischievous young John and Kevin. The same pleasant light illuminated as the customary jerk of the old system shook the carriage.


    He left the package outside and fumbled the keys in place.


    The front door was still the same, solid metal, slightly scuffed. Behind it was the same home. There were the same shoe cabinet and mat that made way to the same living room. In the middle of those hardwood floors was the same table tennis table that sometimes doubled as desk despite Gramps'' scolding.


    The old man himself laid back in the same over-stuffed couch, eyes closed. Wrinkles lined his aged, but definitely not wise face. The hair was white as snow, as expected from a man in his hundreds.


    John took off his boots and placed them on the rack in the usual place, bottom row, far left. He stood there for a minute.


    "I''m home," he eventually called softly.


    Gramps awoke with a jolt. He blinked a few times and looked at the grandfather clock almost as old as him. "You''re finally home. I was waiting on you for dinner, you know."


    "I ate on the train."


    "Oh? Did you go somewhere outta town?"


    "Ah, yes¡­ A visit to a friend''s place in Kinas."


    "I didn''t know you had friends outside Trayin. Or any outside of Kevin for that matter." Gramps muttered as he headed to the kitchen.


    John gave a light laugh and watched Gramps'' arched figure disappear around the corner. He then quickly brought package inside and to his room.


    John then gave a sigh of relief. ''Everything''s the same,'' he thought. ''The past can still be changed.'' He had worked himself up for nothing. And so, the sigh became a laugh of relief, a loud one too.


    "Damn crazy¡­" he heard Gramps mutter from the kitchen.


    John couldn''t help but smile. ''Yes, the same, everything was the same.''


    He would fight to keep it so.


    RISE''s servers would be open for pre-launch at ten that night. However, John wanted to open the package immediately. Character customization would be open before the servers, and he couldn''t help but want to hold the device in his hands once more.


    He shuffled through the dirty clothes and litter, placing the package on an unmade bed. He cut open the packaging with a pair of scissors he found somewhere on the floor and made a mess of the Styrofoam padding. What remained were the helmet, a couple of cords, and a manual which was swiftly discarded.


    While called a helmet, the device was more of a collar with neurode straps that ran around the ears and over the head. With a case of aluminum, the electronics were fastened on the collar with several ports for cables. It was quite ugly in design, but it was light, adaptable and cheap, not to mention the first edition.


    He held the helmet for a moment then quickly placed the collar on his shoulders and fastened the Velcro around his neck. Familiarized hands wrapped the straps over the skull. Cables found themselves into sockets with a few swift motions. He flung the sheets off the bed and lay down.


    The power button was located on the electronics package, just below the right side of the chin. John pressed it. It was smooth and springy to the touch, having maybe a millimeter or two of give. That was a distance had taken ten years to travel.


    He was greeted by a single white line and a string of bold text.


    [Enter Username]


    And John was stumped. In the past, he had entered the game a bit after the official launch and the name he had wanted, along with all ten reasonable variations he had considered, were taken. In the end, he had chosen the respectable xXxThI3FxXx out of frustration. This earned him the scorn of all professional players when the guild had exploded.


    But now he had a chance to pick almost anything. After all, only a small number of players would have been able to pick by now.


    He brought his arms up and a keyboard appeared. ''Probably something haughty or creative.'' he shrugged and entered a few.


    He first typed Illusion.


    [Are you sure? There is no way to change once you confirm.]


    ''That''s too simple isn''t it?'' he reconsidered.


    John tried Star Tyrant and quickly shook his head: too overbearing. ''Maybe Reaper? No, no, no. Way too edgy. How about something from mythology? Ares or even Horus might be good.'' John scratched his head.Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.


    ''Or something artistic? There are plenty of good usernames like that.'' He entered some: A Petal in the Wind, Streaks of Light and One of Many. They were deleted from the line just as quickly.


    ''Maybe simple is better.'' He then typed what he had wanted in the past ¨C Thief, just Thief. The same confirmation popped up and he quickly accepted before he could change his mind.


    [Reserved class name, please enter another username]


    John cursed, and his fingers sprinted across the keyboard, entering his name, John. The confirmation was hit within milliseconds and the interface dissolved away, leaving darkness.


    [Please customize your character. Your model has been loaded. Alteration afterward cannot be made normally.]


    He then appeared, or rather an exact replica appeared. The face was nearly perfect, matching the shaggy black hair, serious eyes and rounded chin. The model was wearing a pure white outfit over the same lackluster, but at least healthy body.


    The default model had caused controversy at release. How had the perfect replica been obtained? Was the data saved? Eventually, the RISE corporation was forced to change it to a generic male and female model, with promises that any analysis function of the helmets was patched out. However, the memento of early RISE still brought a smile to John''s face.


    He chose light alterations to the brow, deepening it. He made a pinching gesture to the jaw, defining and tightening the contour. The hair could stay the same color, but the length was exaggerated, and the previous bangs were removed. The nose was brought out and the eyes were set closer. Nothing big, but more handsome and enough to conceal identity.


    The body proportions were, however, heavily modified. Most players didn''t realize it, but changes here could marginally affect the game experience, adding to the realism. Of course, there was a certain range modification could be made.


    In the past, John had made his character beefy, to appeal to his ideal figure, but size wasn''t the best for a thief. Now, he trimmed off most excess fat, making himself on the thin side to keep the available target small, but average to blend into crowds. He increased his pitiful five foot seven to make climbing a bit easier. He skipped over the tattoo section and disregarded any accessories.


    John gave a look over and with satisfaction, exited the game. Time compression hadn''t turned on yet and it was only eight thirty, plenty of time until the servers started.


    Gramps was done eating dinner when John stepped out from his room. It was leftovers from takeout, Gramps didn''t cook too often, and when he did, the taste was questionable. John had helped make meals since his early teens.


    A table tennis paddle came flying out as soon as the door open, slamming into John''s arm. He barely caught it as it tumbled down.


    "Play some," Gramps told him.


    "Sure," John mumbled, rubbing his arm.


    "Oh, I didn''t expect you to agree."


    In his childhood, the two were inseparable. After all, kids are supposed to love their parents and Gramps was both. Their way of bonding was through the ball, paddle, and table.


    It would be on late summer nights when all the other kids were out catching fireflies. Maybe it would be after school, relaxing after a stressful day. Or perhaps on those sparse snow days where the air was as crisp as the sound of the ball on the table.


    In his younger days, Gramps was a competitive table tennis player. He had apparently won a few regional championships in his early twenties. He was fated to go into nationals before his dream was cut short. This was before the rise of electronics, necessitating an antique projector in the living room for him to watch his black and white triumphs.


    After Gramps'' table tennis career was busted, he floated around a few jobs before he joined the military for a decade or two. There was nothing serious, he didn''t really go to war, maybe helped around during a few floods and earthquakes. He made a few friends and they played table tennis casually and that was about it.


    Gramps never said much about his life after that period. He always said that he never had a real job, but plenty of desk ones. He still played a bit, but really started again when he retired, frequenting a casual club for over thirty years.


    A couple of years ago, like all youths, John had grown independent. Teenagers have this weird phase where they repel their parents like water and oil. School took its toll, and work piled up with endless procrastination.


    During breaks he went out with friends on weekends or maybe cooped up beside his computer, playing games. Gramps would ask occasionally, and John would always be busy. The apartment became silent without the consistent ping and pong of the ball.


    And now Gramps was waving around that hunk of wood, with a mad look in his eye and a ball in his hand. "I''ll serve."


    He served it low with surprising speed for a man his age. It whizzed by John''s outstretched paddle: no chance.


    John quickly retrieved it and served in return. It crashed straight into the net. He grabbed it and tried again with the same result. The next was better, making it over the net, but turning right around with a single smash from Gramps.


    "It''s been a while, hasn''t it? A month now?" Gramps remarked.


    ''If only you know,'' John thought as he quickly served another.


    "So did your grades come out yet?" Gramps said as he returned lightly this time.


    "Some of them."


    "How did it go?"


    "70 Calculus, 73 Linear Algebra," John replied without even knowing the answer: it''s not like it would matter soon enough.


    "How was the semester, it wasn''t as bad as you thought, right?"


    "It''s was¡­ long."


    "But at least it was fun, right?"


    John thought for a second. "Yeah, I had a good time."


    "Tell me about it."


    "I learnt a lot this year, met a few new people."


    "Oh, friends?"


    "Yeah," John laughed as the ball flew past him. "A group one hundred thousand strong."


    "There must be a girl or two in there."


    "Eh, I guess, maybe one," John said as his serve soared past the table''s edge.


    "The one?" Gramps sent back a serve full of topspin.


    "Gramps, I''m seventeen," John said with a decent return.


    Gramps hit it back and the rally went on. "Oh well, we all miss chances. Just relax and play around for the break. Work hard for it next semester."


    "Yeah¡­"


    They played for another three minutes in silence.


    "Really can''t believe it''s almost Christmas again," Gramps said suddenly as he shot a forehand.


    The ball flew like a bullet in a dead flat arc, bouncing off the table. John nearly twisted his arm as he tried to block the shot. It missed the paddle and hit John square in the stomach.


    "Yeah, the year''s over just like that," he said.


    ¡­


    They played and really talked for the first time in a while. The two pounded the ball until around nine-thirty when the old man called it quits. "A couple more rallies until bed, John."


    Of course, most his age would be tired at this point, but John knew Gramps would have gladly gone on for another hour.


    "Alright," John said.


    John had played happily too for the first while, but as the rhythmic collisions of plastic and rubber grew comfortable, he grew distracted. Gramps had noticed this and called it a day.


    But Gramps was exactly why John was deep in thought. In the previous timeline, Gramps would fall horribly ill within a month and be hospitalized. It wasn''t anything fatal, and he would still be able to live for another ten years or so, but his mobility would be compromised. The doctors had said that it was a miracle that he was able to play as long as he did.


    Ultimately, he had opted for government euthanasia program marking the end of a 107-year-old history.

 Gyead

    John lay back on the bed at 9:55, just five minutes before the launch. The servers had opened spawn location selection and class selection an hour ago, along with some background and history. John skipped through the class introduction and immediate confirmed Thief.


    He appeared in the location selector with a three-dimensional map in front of him, like a god watching the land below. A small countdown timer reading four minutes and a regional chat appeared in the corners of his vision.


    He focused on the familiar landscape in front of him. In RISE, the servers were roughly isolated by continent or by groups of countries for most of the early progression. As such, each region''s population was similar. Later, competition would be allowed to expand globally as player factions gained strength and ambition.


    In his hands lay the vast Hiar region, twenty thousand miles long and half that wide. A peninsula surrounded by an ocean of unfathomable scale, the only link to lands unknown was the Reikg glacier in the far north. There was no other exit. On the edge of his palms ¨C the Duyaivk falls ¨C even the waters met their end with a drop into nothingness below.


    To the fertile western plains stood the great cities of the Human Empires, sheltered from the tainted central lands by the Bulwark which ran from coast to coast long before any humans settled. Down south were the desert nations, safe from the evils, but always thirsty and consumed in their internal strife.


    Where the Bulwark met the northern seas, rolling hills became a sheer wall of granite that formed the Tarvei Range. It tore through the otherwise calm earth, drawing a distinct line from north-west to a point far east. Hailed the greatest mountains in all of RISE, Tarvei was the father of the eastern coastal peaks which the Dwarves called their home.


    Fatefully, only a week''s journey on horse from the iron forges and boundless mines came the trunks of the Lavie Woodlands. A vast wooden barrier that covered thousands of square miles in the eastern corner, the Elven Commonwealth built up a formidable civilization.


    The Simak, the ocean''s inland rival, from tributaries through this forest ¨C oddly away from the ocean ¨C dominated the landscape in the region. It was the only feature that matched the taint which polluted its shores, only diluted by Simak''s great size.


    A natural and cultural beauty to explore: a new world. And Hiar in all its majesty was in his hands like he could crush it at any moment.


    John zoomed in on the edge of the human territories, where the plains met with the Bulwark in the mid-west. Here, the defensive formation jutted out like basalt from the sea floor, merging with a large butte. However large though, it could not quite contain the chaos of metal atop it.


    As the view grew closer, the skies grew murkier, a draft from the Taint. It was noticeably day, but it was dreary brown and unpleasant and on the ground, like the remains of a noxious wildfire. It was on both sides of the Bulwark, contaminating the human plains for miles before fading. Through the muck, a conglomeration of platforms and walls appeared, somehow held together atop the butte.


    This was the city of Gyead, an outpost against the taint which would periodically attack the walls. It stood a couple of hundred feet tall, above the scorched earth below and remained ever vigilant. It had a small militaristic population of a few tens of thousands, but a huge density.


    Originally, a small early warning camp, after the First Great Dissemination and the fall of the early human territories, the outpost was expanded upon with the receding Taint. Following the successive disseminations and fortifications of the Bulwark, Gyead grew in size and population. It reached its current behemoth nature in the aftermath of the recent Seventh.


    As militaries moved in so did a similar army of merchants, craftsmen, and civilians. Around the third expansion or so, the butte''s surface was completely covered, and people had turned the ramparts of the Bulwark into accommodations that stretched for miles. Eventually, though, people learnt. When you couldn''t build out, build up.


    Thirty disjoined floors of mayhem, Gyead was known as the city of dark water. Drainage could only go down and the sulfuric rains created an everlasting drip of sludge on lower levels. And it was dark, very dark. Many residents never saw sunlight for months, even if all they would have seen was a brown blur. Below, the air was so damp that torches often refused to light, making the expensive magic stones the only reliable illumination.


    If police forces could barely catch criminals in wide modern streets, then this city was undoubtedly lawless. Sanitation was non-existent at best. And education? The only lessons here were those of the harsh life.Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.


    Although crafting still had its place, Gyead was one of the best combat spawns. Quests were all for blood and there was plenty of that to go around. It was where John had first spawned and where he would first spawn again.


    John selected it as his location with seconds left to spare and the players in chat exchanged their final words of encouragement. Common and empty words. The screen went monochromatic and faded into the familiar spawn sequence.


    The fountain of Gyead was located at the summit of the disorder and could be said to hold the only clean water in town. As the uncomfortable warmth cooled, hundreds of blurs could be seen near the bottom, thrashing.


    It was the sudden panic of being unable to breathe and the coldness that punched them. Who would expect a sensation so real when playing a game? In a flurry of violent bubbles, the players rose, gasping for breath, not unlike the trailer.


    John pulled himself out of the pool, soaking wet and collapsed in the pile of cursing avatars. In RISE, the seasons matched that of the real world. The tainted lands offered no warmth and the summit, even less protection against the winter winds.


    "Cold, too damn cold," John muttered. But he still stood, exposed to the drafts, to gaze upon the endless stretch of drab land of ash-like dust. Full of craters and blackened crust, it appeared like a wasteland, although more than enough life occupied the expanse.


    The collection of players huddled their way down the icy steps and into the first room they found. There were racks containing the starting weapons and of every class for players to experiment with and in the corner, a hearth immediately attracted the weary.


    The group each picked out a few weapons for their class and gathered in front of fire expectantly, like children waiting for their teacher. Where was the tutorial NPC? Shouldn''t there be a quest now? People often got lost in unfamiliar environments.


    John wasn''t one of the crowd now. RISE had a tutorial, but it didn''t really mean much. They had tried to implement one, but it wasn''t really good. There were no controls other than the mind. New players were like toddlers. How do you teach a toddler to walk? The fastest way was to guide them with some general instruction and watch them learn the rest for themselves.


    And so, when he was dry, John disappeared down a set of stairs and back into the winter. As he went, he made a quick gesture, bringing up the familiar layout of the stat page. It was too bare, though: most stats were hidden at this moment.


    [John]


    Class: Starter Thief


    Level: 1 (0/1000)


    HP: 100/100


    Strength: 9


    Vitality: 9


    Agility: 12


    Dexterity: 12


    Intelligence: 8


    No one except a young man with the tag Helios noticed as John quietly slipped outside. He frowned and quickly followed behind. "Hey, where are you going?" Helios asked.


    John turned around, surprised. "To level."


    "What about the tutorial?"


    "You can wait with them if you''d like."


    A face with long blond hair and pleasant features, one of the few females to spawn at Gyead, popped out from the doorway at this moment. The name floating above her head read Selene. "Gram, come back, you''ll miss the tutorial."


    "Don''t bother with that: I think I''ve found a beta tester."


    "Beta tester?" Selene said and John thought simultaneously.


    "Well?" Gram asked.


    "Kinda, I guess?" John said, bemused.


    "Exactly, he can boost ¨C or teach us rather." Gram said.


    To this, John couldn''t but cough. ''Way too blunt''


    And so, one became three as two followed along. The trio climbed down the countless levels with filled with people of all facets of life. Vendors sold foods and weapons. Weaponsmiths opened up and restaurants filled the halls with warm smells. Gyead might be uncomfortable and always on alert, but the hostility made the community well-knit ¨C above the lower levels at least.


    Of course, John had plans for his debut in RISE: an assortment of skill, guides, hidden quests, exploits, and lots of little bugs here and there. But in an effort to help players adjust to the new environment, an acclimatization period, later coined assimilation, was implemented for the first few levels. Most quests and features were locked off, guiding players towards developing necessary movement, comfort, and mentality for the core gameplay.


    In these short levels, the best thing for rapid progression was to power level. Hence, John didn''t mind bringing along a group ¨C that and the fact that he missed the early game. The start of such a game was often the most enjoyable, where players innocently discovered new mechanics, moments John hadn''t really felt since the third year.


    "So, do all beta testers get early access?" Selene asked as they descended.


    John thought for a second before replying. "Can''t say, non-disclosure agreement."


    "That''s covered too? I guess yours would be even stricter. And I thought ours were bad enough."


    "They expect big things."


    Gram responded this time. "Well, it''s a big game. The detail is astounding. It not just the visuals, but the chill the air or the feeling of wet clothes on your back."


    "And how about you?" John asked Gram. "How''d you get in?"


    "I''m a streamer, and Jodie here is too."


    "Yes, we''re partners," Jodie said, sounding annoyed with Gram''s lack of association. "We have a channel: Sun and Moon Streams."


    "Sounds familiar," John said. And truly familiar it was. John could vaguely recall a famous healer-tank combo by that name.


    "We have an okay following," Jodie shrugged. "But we''ll probably have to switch to VODs. No one would watch a stream of an accelerated game in the middle of the ¨C"


    She was interrupted by a thud sound. It was at this moment when the trio came across a set of sinister sliding double doors. The had reached the bottom of the habitable levels.


    "Where are we?" she asked.


    "Didn''t you watch the way?" John smirked. "You shouldn''t blindly follow strangers."


    "Oh, shut up," Jodie said. "Gram hasn''t been watching either, have you?"


    "We¡­ Er... went down many flights of stairs... Should be near the bottom now."


    John chuckled towards the young duo''s banter. "Yes, that''s right. We are near the bottom."


    "And so, these doors?" Jodie asked.


    "That''s the Cage," he said as he sent a party invite.

 Rabbit Hunters

    Gears whirred and pulleys spun as the massive doors creaked shut like the jaws of a beast. The players were locked in now: in a box of steel surrounded by burly men dressed in metal plates, waving around sharp objects. Another deep thud of the mechanism caused the two newbies to jump.


    A couple of warriors chuckled. "Oi, Miss, that''s the sound of the drums. Nothing else makes a sound like that, except the beating of a femur on leather. They have to treat it right though: human skin''s too weak, you know, but I''ll spare you the details." said a bearded NPC with a crazy grin.


    This caused Jodie to take a step back and whisper. "Hey, John, that''s just lore, right? This man looks like he''s been through a world war."


    "It''s just something they tell new hunters," John reassured. "Besides, the taint doesn''t have that technology. No lion would really care for music: they just consume and devour."


    The group was silent for a moment as the Cage started up. Then the light stone in the elevator shut off, leaving them in darkness as they descended.


    "John, why''s the light off?" Gram inquired.


    "I don''t know. To save power or something."


    But the elevator seemed to work just fine, carrying the group down the rocky shaft. Halfway down, one of the rough faces opened up, letting the light and cold ash in. There, the foreboding Tainted lands made themselves known.


    "Are you sure this is a beginner zone?" Gram asked suddenly.


    "I mean, you guys read the map. You choose this spawn." John replied, laughing inside.


    "Yeah¡­ But aren''t we supposed to, like, fight a wolf or fox or something?" Jodie asked.


    "You don''t even know what you''ll be fighting yet¡­"


    When the elevator reached the bottom, the NPC adventurers all disembarked and scattered into the horizon in pairs or threes, leaving the trembling healer-tank duo at the foot of the butte. They reluctantly followed John, like conscripted soldiers, hugging the face of the Bulwark which towered above them.


    "What are you so scared of?" John teased. "It not like there are any jump scares ¨C you can see a hundred meters in every direction; even more on a clearer day."


    "Damn you," Gram exclaimed. "I bet you were just like us on your first day. It feels too real, and we couldn''t even stream desktop horror games."


    John had nothing to say to that and guided the group along for a while. But he did recall that first first day. Gyead was certainly not for the faint of heart, and the once timid teen hadn''t fared much better. Perhaps it wasn''t as obvious, but John had lost his dagger in the sand during his first fight from jellified knees and trembling fingers.


    While he was in his memories, out of the brown mist, a dark figure emerged, small and barely a foot in height. A set of tall pointy ears composed a third its height, the rest made by a plump body. Red eyes darted, looking for a place to settle its twin yellow buckteeth.


    "That''s a¡­ bunny?" Jodie said.


    "That''s a tainted rabbit," John confirmed. It came into range for identification.


    [Tainted Rabbit]


    Level: 1


    HP: 60/60


    "So now what?" Gram asked.


    "Go kill it."


    "What?"


    "You are a six foot something, two hundred-odd pound man and that is the weakest mob on this plain."


    "I mean is there a strategy?"


    "Make sure to hit it with the edge of your sword."


    "Oh, genius¡­" Gram grumbled as he hesitantly charged towards the tainted rabbit.


    In truth, John''s advice was more than just common sense. RISE classified damage into certain types based on the weapon''s method of attack. For instance, a fireball would obviously cause fire damage along with subtle explosion damage.


    The most common damage types were the physical ones: collision, slash, penetration, and scrape. The names were rather self-explanatory. Attacks weren''t limited to a single damage type either.


    Each enemy also had their respective damage resistances and weaknesses. The tainted rabbit had rough bristles which lined its soft flesh, protecting it against general collisions and scrapes, but it was weak to focused forces: slash and penetration. Hence, the greatsword, which could inflict major collision damage with a blunt side strike needed to be slash concentrated through a clean sweep.


    Additionally, enough damage, any type, on a certain body part could reduce its function. This might be in the form of pain, weakness, or even complete severance.


    The rabbit seemed to have a low detection range, as it reacted slowly to the approaching warrior. It made a high-pitched screeching noise and leaped in the air.


    Helios broke his run and planted a foot in the ground. The excess momentum went into the sword and as it came down in a heavy overhead strike.


    -27Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.


    The tiny mass of the rabbit shot to the ground like a meteor and sent dust flying.


    "How''s that?" Gram grinned back to Jodie and John, breathing heavily.


    "Good job!" Jodie praised.


    But the rabbit pulled itself off the ground, a bit dazed but with half its health remaining.


    Each damage type had a chance to develop an additional effect on the target depending on the type. The effects could be localized to the part hit or influence the whole victim. This bunny, for example, struck by the heft of the sword and the ground contact, was affected by full body blunt force trauma, the collision proc.


    "It''s still alive, you got to stab it when it''s down," John commented. But in truth, he was impressed with the streamer''s adaptivity. Helios and Selene weren''t top ranked avatars for no reason.


    "I got it." Gram said as he gave the rabbit a fierce side swing and a thrust, causing the slash proc, bleed, and the rabbit''s prompt death.


    "Not bad," John admitted. However, he knew that Gram''s exaggerated style was ill-suited for the rabbits. Larger numbers of the agile foes would undoubtedly cause trouble.


    Gram planted the sword into the ground and nervously laughed, relieved. "Haha, it''s just a beefed-up rabbit after all."


    The beefed-up rabbit ended up dropping a couple [Tainted Rabbit Bristle(s)], some [Tainted Rabbit Meat] and oddly, two [Tainted Rabbit Skull(s)]. The experience was small, around 1% of a level. John stuffed the items into his inventory and the trio continued their cautious patrol.


    The next enemies they encountered were a pair of the same monsters, but both were beefier and had a higher health total. They were proactive and immediately engaged the moment the trio entered their detection range.


    "Helios, sic ''em!" John commanded with his arms crossed.


    Gram muttered something under his breath, but still block the mobs'' advance. The first rabbit took a blow to the jaw and spiraled out of its leap, screeching. But the second used the opportunity to leap on Gram''s shoulder. The sharp teeth plunged into Gram''s neck.


    -30


    "What is that? A beginner mob just did a third of my health!" Gram shrieked, and he hastily flung the beast off.


    To comment on damage calculations in RISE, damage was a function of strength, motion, damage type, resistance, location, and more. The fast, sharp teeth had dealt major penetration and slash damage to the soft flesh of the neck, resulting in the huge damage numbers.


    At this time, the first bunny recovered and, with the majority of its health, leaped on the startled warrior. In his panic, Gram lost his balance and fell to the ground.


    -8


    The second joined the first and the two tore up the poor man. A couple more rabbits responded to the screeching of the first pair of rabbits and rushed from the mist, piled onto the armored warrior.


    -9


    -6


    "Alright, Selene, his time is up, your time is now ¨C take out your staff and heal him," John instructed.


    "I''m a starter elementalist¡­"


    That''s when John opened the party menu and noticed the abundantly clear pyromancer icon. He stared blankly at the Jodie for a moment, then at the mage''s staff she had taken out. ''Was my memory wrong?'' In truth though, knowledge of the future was not omniscience despite the overwhelming advantage.


    -8


    "Help me!" Gram called out in the background.


    "Okay, okay¡­ Selene, just use a fireball while Helios has them distracted." John informed.


    "I don''t know how to use spells in this game."


    "¡­"


    -6


    "I thought you were supposed to have taught me."


    "¡­"


    -5


    "John¡­" Gram called.


    -9


    "I can''t just kill them¡­ You''re supposed to learn how to¡­" John sighed. They were beginners after all.


    -7


    But in the end, he unholstered his two thief weapons, a pistol, and dagger. RISE was different from a lot of the fantasy world games with the prevalence of pseudo-modern technologies. This meant dwarven engines, the mechanical Cage at Gyead, and definitely guns.


    One of the most predominant ranged classes in other games, the ranger, found a new rival in RISE ¨C the gunner. Of course, firearms couldn''t be the overpowered modern tubes of death, at least not in the early game. The RISE gunner had a similar playstyle to a ranger, but dropped silence, traps, and pets, in favor of a higher ranged burst and rapid crowd control.


    Thieves too had different playstyles as a result of the gunpowder revolution. Two distinct playstyles developed in the class: the bladed thieves which relied on twin short swords and daggers, and the new gunner thieves which used pistols in conjunction with the aforementioned daggers.


    -6


    While both were equally viable, the former tended to require partial point allocation in strength to increase burst melee damage to terrifying levels, while the latter required a smaller amount to handle the small arms, focusing more so on agility and dexterity. Overall, the blades did more damage and were stealthier, but lacked in a fair fight when compared to a gun.


    Now, the gun-based thief, John, pointed the starter pistol at the largest rabbit. The round discharged with a nostalgic recoil and cloud of unburnt powder. The bullet found its mark on the tainted rabbit''s left cheek.


    -13


    It tumbled off Gram and hissed, aggroing on the pesky thief.


    -14


    -12


    Another series of shots rang out, drawing the attention of an additional pair of rabbits which grouped up and chased after John. Gram flung of the remaining one and scrambled to his feet with barely any health to spare.


    Guns had a distinct advantage over dagger against melee matchups: a mechanic called kiting, which allowed ranged characters to sustained damage dealt while avoiding the same. RISE had no specific kiting patterns due to the sheer freedom of movement, but generally, firearm users would briefly stop running before lining up a shot. The time required for each of these actions were generally a good indicator of mechanical skill and experience.


    John paired the classic gunner technique with Cripple, an advanced firing sequence developed by professional players in his past life. One shot to a center of mass, an easy hit that staggered the target to expose them to further attacks; two shots the knees to prolong their lack of motion; three scattered shots to the head and upper chest to knock down the unbalanced foe and deal critical damage. Six shots, just the right amount of ammunition in a typical magazine.


    Of course, every target was different, especially a rabbit, but that was the advanced nature of the technique. Anyone could rapidly shoot six shots, but only experts could adapt the pattern to best control every foe, while also repositioning and aiming between every shot.


    In this fashion, the tainted rabbits were led in a like a train into the stream of metal. Penetration procs, internal bleeding, tore up the rabbits constantly as they staggered and crumpled under fire. The first six-round magazine flew out of the gun almost as fast as the rounds themselves, as John reloaded a fresh one and continued fire.


    Jodie''s eyes widened up in response to the flurry of rapid movements ¨C a veritable bullet waltz ¨C and the pinpoint barrage of lead. Gram''s jaw too, dropped as he finished off the last rabbit with a comparatively lack-luster swing. And then, the tainted rabbits were dead.


    Gram dropped his sword in exhaustion. "John, what was that?" he couldn''t help but ask.


    Feeling too cool, John impulsively blew the puffs of gunpowder just like the old western movies. "It''s just some beefed-up rabbits," he said. This caused a giggle from Jodie and they both gave Gram a look. His health was barely existent, his clothes bloodied, and armor, scuffed.


    "Alright, listen, boy. Those are some rabbits straight outta hell. Say what you will, but those things vicious!"


    The John chuckled and turn off to find the next band of rabbits. Jodie gave Gram another look and followed behind.


    Gram stood there for a moment. He took a few heavy breaths and picked up his sword. Then, he realized what he himself had said and gave a hearty laugh, running to join the merry band of rabbit-hunting idiots.

 Into the Rabbit Hole

    "It''s going to snow."


    John looked up from his menu. "You''re right, Selene," he said. Indeed, the sky was overcast, even darker than the customary tint of the tainted lands. "Well, you''re almost right: it''s going to rain. We should take cover." John said, leading the group towards the distant hills.


    "Is it supposed to do that?" Jodie asked as she followed.


    "It rains even in the desert¡­ occasionally."


    "Some rain will be nice." Gram interjected. "It''ll wash off the blood. Whoever designed this game is a sadist." After slaying many tainted rabbits, Helios, the only pure melee class, was cover in their blood and stench.


    "You wouldn''t want to get wet, it must be five or ten below zero," Jodie commented. She turned to John. "How can it even rain when it''s this cold?"


    "It''s not water," John answered.


    "What is it?"


    John cleared his throat. "The locals have a tale regarding the tainted lands, one of those nonsensical stories they tell disobedient children at night," John explained, reciting a famous quest background dialogue. "Nature''s retribution ¨C her furious revenge against the unnatural who tore up the ancient earth, felled the great forests before our time and ran the rivers brown.


    "In her fury, she itched and scratched, pulling out her hair to dislodge the lice. And the once youthful, full locks were ravaged by cat-like nails. All that remains is the cratered flesh below. That''s the barren land before us¡­ But, like any girl, any person even, a scalping will bring tenderness to the eyes, to her eyes which have already long been bleed red."


    "You had that memorized?" Gram asked, cringing a bit.


    "Yeah, haha," John laughed. "I did¡­"


    "So, it''s going to rain bloody tears," Jodie said, concerned.


    "More so an acidic brine-like solution."


    And, right on cue, fat droplets started falling. The sky opened up with a trickle of a clear, reddish liquid, making a horrible sizzling sound upon contact with skin or armor, despite it being cold enough to chill to the bone.


    -1


    The first drop touched down at the base of Gram''s neck, causing him to jump with a jolt. "Shit, what''s that, it stings!" he shrieked. The trickle became a cascade as visibility dropped even further and the group was bathed in acid.


    -1


    "We need to find shelter." John grimaced, as the rain splashed liberally. "Remove your armor items or it''ll chew away the durability."


    Wearables were generally categorized into armor and cosmetics. Armor items were gear with defensive capabilities and durability, serving combat and utility purposes, also including mage robes, thief combat garments and the like. Cosmetics, as the name suggested, were worn over or below armor, serving aesthetic purposes. They were indestructible too, allowing the game to preserve legality when armor broke. However, with some age checks and disclaimers, they helped certain users experience the VR industry''s mature content.


    Of course, at the beginning of the game, most only had access to the starter armor and cosmetics, the latter of which was rags and could barely qualify as summer wear.


    "Hell no," Jodie yelled, over the splashing and sizzling. "It''s freezing! And, these clothes are¡­ thin."


    -1


    "I mean, it''s your repair cost, not mine." John shrugged.


    So, in that freezing rain, if one could look through the reddish wall of solution, they would see a trio of adventurers ¨C all seemingly half naked, and two of them screaming ¨C blindly running along the hills with periodic strings of minus ones streaming past.


    John, however, knew perfectly well where he was going. During his second or third outing into the tainted lands, he had gotten caught in a similar freak rain. He had wandered through the endless bee stings, wearing the red acidic blindfold, before tumbling into a cave.


    Now the same abrupt hole appeared below him. Just like before, the pouring crimson rain collected at the bottom, forming a bath of blood.


    Gram slid to a halt beside John, hair and face dripping red with acid and blood. "What''s down there?" he hollered over the din.


    "That''s shelter."


    "I don''t need a bath, I''m already soaked."


    -1


    "There''s a cave underneath, just follow me!" John yelled as lightning cracked in the sky above. And he promptly dove in. With no other real choice, the other two jumped in as well.


    If drops of acid were like a bed of pins, the cold sulfuric pool would be a bed of army ants. John''s body temperature immediately plummeted as early frostbite symptoms set in. He forced his stinging limbs to push through the surprisingly thick solution.


    Opening one''s eyes in chlorinated water would hurt, but the same now would mean a blindness status. Twin thuds on the surface could be heard as John blindly swam towards the passage in his memories. A couple of cold hands grasped onto his shirt, trying to find their way.Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.


    In the past, the water level hadn''t completely covered the tunnel, but now, John guided the two thrashing newbies deeper until the rocky face opened up into the fifteen-foot-long entrance.


    When the frozen, blind adventurers, finally emerged from the pool, they collapsed on a rocky beach, exhausted.


    "Start a fire," John said, spitting out the muck.


    Selene equipped her staff and chanted some gibberish through blue lips. The beginner utility fire spell, Torch splattered onto the rocky ground forming a campfire. The group huddled before the meager flames to dispel the cold status procs.


    "That''s some awful shit," Gram commented, munching on biscuits. Out of combat regeneration in RISE was accomplished by snacking. Blood dripped down his face and over the food, but Gram couldn''t care less.


    "Now I know what it feels like to melt and freeze at the same time," Jodie muttered, as she reequipped her mage robes.


    "Don''t put your armor on yet, it''ll get wet," John advised.


    Jodie shot him an angry look and kept the robes on regardless, causing a chuckle from John.


    "So where are we?" Gram asked as looked around and restored his health. "This can''t be a natural cave: it''s too regular."


    John nodded. "This the home of a rabbit, the biggest rabbit hole you''ll ever see."


    "But is it home?"


    "Probably," John shrugged. "They don''t like the rain."


    "So, is this safe¡­?"


    "C''mon, man. I thought you were over these beefed-up rabbits," John laughed. "You gotta stand resolute when your girlfriend is here," he added under his breath.


    This caused the older, but younger man''s face to turn redder than when it was cover in blood. "I''m just worried about our levels and ¨C "


    "It''s alright, don''t worry, " John interrupted with a smile. He couldn''t help but reminisce to his own past. "I''ll go scout the area."


    Without another word, John hopped to his feet and equipped the starter thief''s leather jacket and heavy trousers. The pistol''s barrel and dagger''s edge lead the way into depths of the cave.


    Truly, the cave felt unnatural, the path was straight with a complete lack of stalagmites. The occasional paw marks foreshadowed a violent encounter. As the lone thief left the firelight behind, the steps slowed as a vague memory and the occasional touch guided him.


    John somewhat recalled the path ahead. The Giant Tainted Rabbit was a cunning beast despite its dimwitted appearance. Its home would be clustered with dead ends and pitfalls. For instance, a couple of hundred feet ahead, there would be a fork.


    One of the branches would turn abruptly, and end within a couple of meters out of sight ¨C a simple distraction. The real danger would be a cunning pitfall, just before the fork. People usually thought about the consequences of a choice but were too often focused when doing so.


    But, like any RPG, thieves were those best suited and expected to deal with traps. John dropped to his knees after a couple of minutes and activated Thief''s Wit, the beginner trap locating skill. It would enhance the observation ability of the player at the cost of some stamina over time. This only made it suitable for verifying suspicions at this low level. Ultimately though, it just gave a detailed picture and the user was still required to recognize the danger.


    This pitfall, in particular, was fabricated by the saliva of the rabbit mixed with dust gravel created by rocks ground by the rabbit''s monstrous teeth. This mud brick like compound was used to enhance the rabbit''s home and as a thin layer to cover the huge pit. The color was indistinguishable from the rocky floor, but the faint residual smell was apparent under Thief''s Wit and a light touch from John was sufficient to identify the trap without setting it off.


    At this point, a faint grinding and scuffing could be detected by Thief''s Wit in the left fork. John marked the trap with a line in the mud and, deactivated his skill as he crept along the passage. The path curved upwards after a turn: this kept the Giant Tainted Rabbit''s lair dry and gave it a defensive advantage.


    At the end of the ramp, the pale blue light of a magic stone could be faintly seen, one of the things the tainted rabbit collected along with shiny objects like weapons. John activated another basic thief skill Silent Steps, which was pretty self-explanatory. The rock narrowed into a sort of archway made of rabbit mud, which he positioned himself behind.


    And there was beast itself grind its teeth against some rocks.


    [Giant Tainted Rabbit] (Elite Monster)


    Level: 2


    HP: 500/500


    John pulled up a communications chat. Chats would be restricted in some of the later regions, but for now, players could communicate freely.


    John: Come on up but be quiet.


    Helios: Is the rabbit there?


    John: Yeah, he''s holed up at the end of this tunnel and it''ll be hard to kill him in there.


    Helios: Any ideas?


    There was a plan, but an evil one. John laughed silently as he sent the message.


    John: I''ve left a mark on the ground. Position by it: Jodie behind the line, you in front. Just be ready when the big one comes down the left tunnel.


    Gram: Alright.


    Meanwhile, at the cave''s entrance, the two adventurers were toasting their hands on the fire. Gram packed away his consumables as he sent his confirmation.


    He rubbed his hands enjoying the warmth for one last time. "That feels great ¨C damn near indistinguishable, even."


    "So, what does he want us to do?" Jodie asked, dispersing the campfire with a wave of her hand.


    "The rabbit''s home. We are supposed to sneak down the passage and assume a formation at a mark on the ground."


    The duo ventured down the tunnel with a dimmed [Torch] for the three hundred or so feet when they came to the fork. Jodie noticed the line on the ground.


    "That it?" Jodie inquired softly.


    "Must be," Gram shrugged before taking a step and disappearing from view.


    ¡­


    John checked the in-game time on his menu. Five minutes had passed since Gram''s acknowledgment. He yawned: John, even playing a thief, wasn''t the most patient.


    A great rumble and crash suddenly echoed up the tunnel''s regular surface. A scream of surprise soon followed, that too, succeeded by a higher pitched scream of aggression as the mass of thick bristles in the den erupted into a dash.


    John quickly activated the beginner thief''s [Stealth], trying to conceal his laughter.


    ¡­


    The ground was suddenly gone.


    Gram''s eyes, serious moments before, widened to comical dimensions, only second to the gaping abyss below him. His body, frozen in shock, seemed to hover for a moment before accelerating faster than a missile towards the darkness below.


    ¡­


    The Giant Tainted Rabbit, clicked its tongue, emitting a clicking hiss-like sound. It charged past the concealed player and rampaged like a grizzly downhill. John doubled over in laughter as his teammate''s cries followed.


    ¡­


    Gram shrieked as he fell. Most grown men wouldn''t be able to help it. The hole didn''t seem to be too deep, only two stories or so, but the rushing air foretold Gram meeting impending pain.


    -30


    The bottom was surprisingly soft. The warrior landed on an odd mushy layer, sort of like dried mud. Feeling around, he could tell that it was once shaped like pellets.


    ¡­


    The huge elite monster reached the bottom of the ramp and immediately saw the collapsed pitfall and a confused blonde mage. It hissed, prompting Jodie to retreated, and it ran to the edge of the hole peering inside it.


    ¡­


    Gram spat out a mouthful of old rabbit stool and stood up cursing. The shit was all over him, covering his armor and bleeding into his clothes. He looked up in pain and disgust only to be greeted by a pair of crimson red eyes.


    ¡­


    John was struggling to run under heavily irregular breathing. He stumbled into the scene just in time to hear a soul-piercing howl.


    "John!!!"


    The widest smile, one of pure joy, spread across John''s face.


    Yes, this was the beginnings of RISE alright - this innocent, carefree atmosphere of friends, all idiots, but friends, nonetheless, discovering a new game. This is what John missed: laughing with everyone, adventuring, and especially pranking the vulnerable.

 Say Your Prayers, Rabbit

    The huge red eyes were unwavering. The eyes of a wild beast, begging for attention ¨C Gram didn''t dare look away. Its array of bristles shifted up and down with its violent, heavy breathing and its fur stretched as the muscles underneath tensed in anticipation. Gram didn''t move, praying the creature wouldn''t either.


    At the bottom of the ramp, John broke back into a sprint, boots slapping under the craggy floor. He reached the Giant Tainted Rabbit in seconds, taking a huge leap.


    -15


    A thief didn''t weigh much, but the momentum brought John''s knife straight through the rabbit''s pelt, sticking the monster.


    -10


    -9


    -9


    Promptly, the pistol discharged thrice in rapid succession. Ultimately, there was not much damage, but attacks were more than enough to destabilize the rabbit.


    All Gram saw was the eyes of the beast approaching as his field of view was filled by the falling mass.


    Typically, when creating these pitfalls, the Giant Tainted Rabbit would excavate the hole with its hind legs. It would dig down around twice its body length before exiting using all its limbs to pull and push itself upwards. However, the sudden impacts forced it face-first into the hole, its forepaws pressed firmly against its body, and its massive, fluffy hindquarters flailing about uselessly.


    Essentially, it was stuck ¨C its anatomy just didn''t allow it to escape rapidly from such a position. Almost as fast as Gram''s shrieks of horror, the threat of the elite monster disappeared.


    "Kill it!" John yelled.


    "Oh, right," said Jodie, who had been watching, for the second time today, in amazement. She fumbled her staff and chanted a few words.


    Previously, after the earlier encounters with the tainted monsters, John had given Jodie a quick lesson on the magic skills of RISE. Typically, in fantasy RPGs, a secondary resource bar, mana, would be used to govern the usage of magic along with cooldowns. By the lore of these games, it was supposed to be a spiritual system with effects related to concentration and the soul.


    Due to RISE''s ground-breaking innovation in the field of VR realism, many of the technologies were limited: there simply hadn''t been enough time to develop the devices to heavily support these non-physical sensations. Thus, to cast spells, the developers decided to fuse the HP and MP systems, not too dissimilar to a hemomancer, without the dark connotation.


    Simply, spells cost health in RISE. It might be percent max health, percent current health, flat health, limb functionality or more.


    A low-tier spell like Torch at low intensity didn''t really mean much, but the highest tier spell could literally cost an arm and a leg. Many people in the past had referred to mages as the masochists of RISE. Indeed, it might hurt to be an elementalist, but historically, these kinds of games bred legendary existences, the most notorious of which being AoE magic. The resource system served as an effective check to nuclear proliferation.


    Mechanics aside, Jodie clenched her teeth almost as hard her staff as some blood drained from her arm. A bright red Fireball congealed out of the blood in her staff, firing towards the rabbit''s exposed bottom.


    -20


    "Its fur''s so tough," Jodie mumbled. In previous encounters with common tainted rabbits, a Fireball could easily do upwards of 35 damage depending on proximity.


    -12


    -9


    -8


    -13


    "Well, hit it again," John replied as he stabbed and shot the fat ass repeatedly.


    Beginner elementalists typically had two main offensive skills, a larger AoE ability, like Fireball for Pyromancers, and a cheaper single target damage spell.


    The staff in Jodie''s hand glowed again as it graciously accepted the fresh health points.


    [Ember]


    A-Grade Spell


    Rank: 1


    Damage: 15-30 SDU | (Fire)


    Range: 25m


    Cooldown: 0.5s


    Cast Time: 1-1.3s Standard | (Based on Intensity)


    Cost: 2-3% Current Health; 1 Health Point Minimum | (Based on Intensity)


    Notes: A standard sustained damage spell; low chance to proc burn status.


    Ember, like most magic spells in RISE could be varied based on provided health points, 15-30 SDU (Standard Damage Units) of pure fire damage. This lowest grade spell was really more limited by the caster than the cooldown. The cast time was based off a standard user, allowing plenty of skill expression from talented mages. The variable cost also made it more efficient to take a fight with less health, incentivizing risk. One had control their health range to optimize damage and safety while focusing on complex runes and chants under intense physical stress.


    Naturally, though, decision making and skill didn''t matter against a still target, and a series of fire wisps tore into the rabbit''s hulking rear, drawing pinpricks of blood.


    -15


    -14


    "This isn''t gonna go fast, is it?" Jodie muttered. She had used maximum strength Ember wisps with a reasonable cast time for a beginner of 1.55s.


    Simultaneously, Gram found himself lying in the stool once more. He had instinctively leaned backwards in the face of the failing rabbit. It was filled with rage as the huge jaws snapped and hissed, causing Gram to wince under the powerful blows and stench.


    He carefully jabbed his greatsword upwards, testing the waters.


    -14


    Nothing happened to him, the rabbit was stuck firmly in place more than a meter above his sprawled position.Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    "C''mon," he groaned to no one. His greatsword displayed a blueish tint. For melee classes using skills, RISE had certain indicators prior to their usage.


    -18


    [Sweep]


    A - Grade Skill


    Rank: 1


    Damage: 3-6 + (110% Base Damage) SDU | (Slash, Penetration)


    AoE: 0.5m + (Weapon Reach), Radial 180-235 degrees


    Cooldown: 8s


    Notes: A sweeping attack with an increased chance to cause slash and penetration procs; works with non-sweeping motions, but loses AoE effect; reduces the interval between attacks


    This skill, Sweep, did additional damage and was usually weaved into a combo. Spells that did mixed damage did a variable amount of each type, but generally did higher percentages based on the listed order. Sweep, had a higher chance of procing slash than penetration, dealing considerably more damage as the former. Its usage was very liberal. Despite its name, a player could use it freely in combos on thrusts, smashes, anything, although it still was more effective to enhance sweep attacks.


    -13


    -14


    -25


    Gram repeated thrusted the blade upwards, eventually finding it''s mark in one of the huge crimson eyes. The rabbit gave out a roar of pain and Gram locked his jaw not daring to open his mouth as the juices rain down.


    [You have slain the Giant Tainted Rabbit (Elite)]


    [You are the first party to slay an Elite monster in the Gyeadian Outskirts]


    [You are the first party to slay an Elite monster in the Hiar region]


    [You are the first party to slay an Elite monster in all of RISE]


    [You have the option to reveal your party''s identities to the world.]


    [You have gained 360 XP]


    [You have leveled up]


    [The first level barrier has been released. Please refer to the website for further details]


    Eventually, under the combined efforts of the three, the Giant Tainted Rabbit died miserably. Incidentally, bodies didn''t despawn in RISE, leaving behind a large corpse. Through a shower of experience, drops, and fluids, John and Jodie pulled out the pale-faced Gram.


    "Why do you hate me?" Gram coughed out eventually.


    "What do you mean?" John laughed. "It was part all of the plan."


    "That was a shit plan."


    "I mean, it worked." John replied. "Didn''t it, Selene?"


    Jodie didn''t say anything, but nodded, trying not to laugh at Gram''s unsightly appearance. There''s always something appealing about the suffering of loved ones, to a certain extent, of course.


    "There''s no way you planned that pitfall shenanigan." Gram continued.


    "No, I didn''t," John admitted. "Either way, the rabbit wouldn''t have attacked you in the pit. They typically use such traps to separate groups. Those stuck at the bottom will be buried alive at the end of a fight."


    "So, you used me to lure it out of its hole. Were you confident you could 2v1 it?"


    "Yeah," John chuckled awkwardly. There was no way he could say he had planned on a 1v1. "Anyways, let this be your next lesson ¨C you too, Selene ¨C the environment is the perfect weapon; RISE is not one of those archaic competitions of stats."


    "You speak such wise words, but you commit such awful actions." Gram said, rolling his eyes.


    "Do as I say, not as I do ¨C especially not to me."


    In the end, regardless of the methods, the Giant Tainted Rabbit was dead and giant dead rabbits gave bountiful rewards. They had spent hours outside murdering common monsters, at a rate much faster than other players would have, and only managed 75% percent experience. In contrast, a single level 2 elite monster was enough to push them straight into the double-digit percentages of the next level.


    Glancing over the system notifications, Gram couldn''t help but whistle. "That''s a lot of experience."


    "It''s just the beginning. Leveling''s really just too slow in this game." John said, shaking his head.


    "Hey, what''s this?" Jodie said, reading the latest notification more carefully. "Something about reduced acclimatization handicaps?"


    "Remember the assimilation function I told you about while we were hunting? We broke through the first barrier," John replied. "The combat system will feel a bit harder and more realistic. But, you can now learn more skills and basic quests are unlocked."


    "Alright," Jodie said as she scrolled through the notifications. "But the real accomplishment has got to be this first kill."


    "Yeah, it''s not bad." John shrugged. A reincarnated should be able to do at least this much.


    "Do we reveal names?"


    "Nah, it''s a burden at this point." John was more than familiar with the consequences of announcing his presence. Top players in the past always carried its weight.


    [RISE Announcement: A party of three has defeated a Giant Tainted Rabbit, killing the first Elite Monster.]


    [Server Announcement: A lone adventurer, Thyme, has defeated a Large Swirled Wolf, killing the second Elite Monster.]


    "Oh, wow," Gram exclaimed. "Someone just defeated a similar monster alone. Minutes after us too."


    "Yeah¡­" John said. He was deep in thought.


    First of all, players were supposed to still be in the tutorial which lasted a whole in-game day. It took a lot of confidence to skip a tutorial for such a different experience like RISE.


    Secondly, RISE delayed the second announcement until after the first was made, and the first was only displayed after the anonymity option dealt with. Gram wasn''t aware of it, but Thyme could have killed his monster literally milliseconds after they did. And their party had John, a veteran of a new game, even if he didn''t seriously aim to hunt an elite monster.


    As a result, John''s mind drifted. ''Who could it be? Is it one of the previous top players? I''d definitely recognize the name.''


    In fact, the pre-release was one of the foggiest points of RISE''s history. Other than its existence, not much was known. However, the first to third kill - the only ones that were announced - of an elite monster hadn''t been recorded in the public release. Players had thought that the achievement was too small to be worth announcing.


    This simply wasn''t the case though: there was a broadcast, but only displayed during the pre-release. In the past, the first three kills must have been obtained during this period. Such an early defeat of an elite monster certainly wasn''t trivial too, the death of a relatively difficult mob could not be attributed to luck at this point, but only skill and adaptability. ''So, why haven''t I heard of them?'' Logically, John came up with two possible conclusions. ''Either it''s a hidden expert that hadn''t been known in the past or one that had quit the game early on.'' The latter held immense appeal.


    "That''s a shame," Gram commented, examining the drops. There was just a couple copper coins, some [Giant Tainted Rabbit Bristle(s)], a mound of [Giant Tainted Rabbit Meat], and oddly again, multiple [Giant Tainted Rabbit Skull(s)]. "You''d think a mob this fierce would have some gear drops."


    "This kind of animalistic mob doesn''t usually have drops other than commodities on them. We''ll have to explore its den to find the goodies." John answered.


    The cave felt eerie in the dim light of magic stones, even without the beast which once inhabited it. In a corner, the late Giant Tainted Rabbit had piled up some rabbit mud into a sort of bed. John dug into the soft material with the hilt of his dagger to keep maintain the edge durability.


    The first find was a copper coin, causing Jodie and Gram''s eyes to light up. For reference, a beginner started with five coppers and the previous rabbit hunting had only yielded three.


    "Oh, let me!" Gram exclaimed with child-like joy. The next discovery was another copper coin. And another coin. And another one. Gram pulled out six more coins in deliberate succession.


    "Hey Gram, stop pulling out these little coins one at a time," Jodie said, unamused.


    Gram laughed merrily. Still, he ran his hand over the exposed valuables, instantly adding the remaining coppers into his inventory. "Twenty-three," he announced proudly.


    "Sizeable haul," John commented.


    "We got some gear too."


    "Yeah, what did you find?" Jodie asked.


    "It''s a shield."


    "A shield?" John evaluated. "That''s too bad, warriors are an offensive tank class, they only use plate armor or lower. Consider it a bonus of ten coppers." The shield would sell for more if this were the public release where beginners could pool their funds together. The pre-release was a gathering of professionals: they each had a certain pride.


    "And a dagger."

 Dormant Time

    [Basic Dagger (Lightly Modified)]


    A-Grade Dagger


    Durability: 19/50


    Attack Power: 10 Base | 11 Modified


    Equip Requirements: Basic Dagger Mastery Level 1, Player Level 1


    Modification:


    +10% Base Attack Power


    +5% Handling


    Notes: A typical low-tier dagger lost by an adventurer in the tainted lands; modified by the previous user to suit his needs


    "Oh, not bad," John responded upon seeing the details. The attack power was higher than his beginner weapon by 5 points. "It''s an already modified dagger. That''s pretty rare."


    "Just not bad?" Gram asked. "Isn''t that almost twice your current damage?"


    "Err, not quite. Attack power doesn''t scale one-to-one with damage."


    "How much could you do now?"


    "28 or so SDU for a basic attack, compared to 20," John replied. Gram and Jodie might not be familiar with it, but such an increase was absurd for the early levels.


    Standard damage units or SDU were RISE''s method of displaying nominal damage. Due to the complexity of the damage calculations in the game, SDUs predicted the damage of the attack on a neutral area of a defenseless target.


    This meant that an SDU calculation almost always gave a lower number than the actual damage on a target unless one hit a critical location. This created another measure of skill amongst the player base. By recording damage done as a percentage of the SDU value, one could judge movement precision and hunting efficiency. Of course, one had factor in defense, while a large sample size was required to limit variability. The numbers also had to be taken during peak combat to truly represent mechanical proficiency, limiting the precision of %SDU.


    As another result of the system, an increase of 8 SDU didn''t always translate into eight more damage. By approximating a hit on a vital as 200% of SDU, this could actually be 16 more damage, around a fourth of level 1 mob''s health. It all depended on skill.


    "Alright, what else is there?" Jodie asked, hoping for a staff.


    "That''s it."


    "Really?"


    "Don''t forget that the magic stones lighting the place," John interjected.


    "Well, I guess they''re worth something," Jodie said.


    "One copper each, they are low grade. Weak and ineffective in Gyead''s damp environment."


    "Still a good profit." Gram said, enthusiastically bending to grab the stones.


    "Don''t take the ones near the door first." John cautioned. "We might miss something if we make the exit dark so early."


    The trio didn''t find anything else. The den was completely clean, missing even any rabbit stool. They only obtained the magic stones, six of them.


    "I guess that''s that," Jodie announced, scanning the area near a stone before storing it in her inventory.


    "You missed the one by its bed," John said.


    "Oh, I guess it''s the lucky seventh."


    "I got it," John said, jogging to collect it.


    "Alright, we''ll head off first."


    The light was especially faint, the stone was caught under debris from the excavation. But as he pried it from the rocky surface, the rays caught the rabbit''s bed at a low angle, causing a captivating glint.


    Enchanted, John brushed his hands through the dust. In the middle of the mound, like an oasis in the desert, emerged a pocket watch, carved with exquisite golden workmanship. The hardened mud coating its surface failed to hide the auric allure.


    John''s thumb dusted off the mud then delicately pressed the latch, revealing a spotless glass face. One must know that clear glass was a priceless technology of the era. The hands were formed in an impossibly complex shape that was equally elegant, positioned above a small window that revealed an intricate gear network.


    "John, you got it?" Gram called from down the ramp.


    "Hey, Helios," John called back. "How could you miss an item? You had one job!"


    "I swear it got it all! You might not know me well, but Jodie here can vouch that I''d never let such a profit go."


    "Really? I''m holding an -" John shut his mouth mid-sentence. He was about to call out the name of the item Gram had missed when he realized that no information box had appeared.


    In RISE, almost all items, weapons, tools, consumables, even twigs on the ground, would have item data attached to it. By picking up the item, it would display basic data like a name and durability if applicable. It was so ordinary, that occasionally, John expected the display to appear when he turned on the lights or opened a door in the real world.


    "John?"


    "I''ll be down in a moment," John answered, distracted.


    "Alright¡­"


    John kept his focus on the item. He wrapped the chain around his palm and examined the watch face, raising the magic stone. The light ran through the web of links, painting the walls like the glimmer of a crystal chandelier.Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    It was cold in the tainted lands and condensation formed with each exhalation. The fog distorted the rays and caused an azure shimmer as John turned the watch key, breathing life into the dormant timepiece.


    ¡­


    There were three knocks, three thuds, dull against the door. The thick wooden door was out of place in the environment, but the inhabitant of the room had insisted.


    "Doctor," A voice in the hallway called out.


    "Yes, please enter."


    "The preliminary report of the pre-release operation has been compiled," The speaker was a serious man in a suit. He had a medium build, brown hair and clean shave: a mundane appearance that could be a higher-up employee of any enterprise.


    "On the desk please."


    The brown-haired man hesitated for a moment, before taking long strides to the doctor''s desk. It was overcrowded, files and electronics littering its entire surface. The doctor referred to it as a desk, but it was actually several folding tables positioned together.


    "Just on top of that computer there."


    The man placed the file gently and exited the room.


    "Thank you. Please close the door behind you."


    And the man did, leaving afterward.


    The doctor, Dr. Cedar, gave a sigh, glancing at the plain yellow folder before him. He didn''t notice when the wooden door creaked open again, this time without a knock.


    "Roscoe''s a bit stiff but he''s a good worker," The new arrival said abruptly.


    "One of your minions?"


    "Of sorts," the other man, Dawson replied. He tapped the folder. His expression then changed into one of excitement. "Cedar, the pre-release is on track to be a huge success."


    "Please," Dr. Cedar said. "Dr. Cedar when we are at work."


    "You know I know when to hold my tongue. Also, what kind of PhD wears a T-shirt at work? Regardless, you should be happy; our effort is paying off."


    "I am happy."


    "Very grouchy for a happy man."


    "A bit of guilt, that''s all."


    "We are offering a new world to everyone. Pride is what you should feel, not guilt."


    "You''ve said that before."


    There was a pause. "And I''m saying it again because it''s still true," Dawson said eventually. He placed some papers on the ground to create a seat on Dr.Cedar''s desk.


    The doctor shook his head. "It''s not the same, is it? Wasn''t it supposed to be different when we designed the game? A fresh start ¨C isn''t that what we promised, a new world where everyone can pursue their dreams, where all can start equal?"


    "I was idealistic then. I believe you were too." Dawson swung his legs back and forth. He was wearing casual clothes in contrast to Roscoe''s strict appearance. "It is impossible to make a fair world. Some will join earlier and take from those who join later. You are the head designer; you''d know even better than me."


    "I always knew that. There will have to be compromises, but... I didn''t expect to have to concede so early on."


    "I''d rather have it your way too, but that''s one of their demands. Their funds are just too important. Be satisfied that we managed to include all experts in the pre-release rather than just theirs."


    "It''s already started, even I can''t change it now. But satisfaction is much harder than acceptance."


    "Here, Cedar, take a look at the file. It''ll help you feel better." Dawson said, changing the topic. He tossed the folder, miraculously not losing a single paper.


    Dr. Cedar caught the folder and frowned. "Is this supposed to make me better? Why would looking at a document of my life''s disgrace help? You are a terrible comforting friend: are you even here to comfort me?"


    "You''re virtual reality scientist, not a criminal detective. Enough questions, read the file."


    Dr. Cedar reluctantly took a look at the report.


    "Page 56, third paragraph."


    Cedar scanned the contents and laughed. "So, the first elite monster has fallen. What an interesting method! That''s not bad speed too, it''s much faster than predicted."


    "Yeah, crazy fast," Dawson said. Cedar''s wide smile was refreshing for him. It reminded Dawson of when they first embarked on the RISE project during Cedar''s doctorate studies. It was an innocent grin that Dawson saw on Cedar''s face when he played games. "Read the next paragraph."


    "Thyme killed her monster 3.63s after the first party? What misfortune!" Cedar exclaimed. "But I think she''ll be the one to watch for. The death of that Large Swirled Wolf was done by pure skill. The magic was extraordinarily well placed. Even NPC magic doesn''t usually have that precision."


    "Her skill is phenomenal, isn''t it?" Dawson commented, with a smile. "She''s part of the first batch too, with no guides to help her, even skipping the tutorial. Thyme just joining but obtained a peak 0.25 cast time of a max intensity Arcane Bullet. It has a 1s standard!"


    Cedar nodded in approval. "This John character has an excellent grasp of the physics in RISE. His usage of the environment could be considered an outstanding skill too."


    The two grown men, co-founders of the world''s future largest company discussed video games for a long time.


    ¡­


    Roscoe had been awfully nervous.


    It was around 1 in the morning and his boss had asked him to give a report to the leader of the RISE corporation. He had stiffened under exhaustion and pressure. But at least Dr. Cedar was less imposing than what the head designer and co-founder of a company at the center of the world''s attention was expected to be.


    Dr. Cedar was an eccentric man. Normally a man of his caliber would be separated from the company''s grunts by several floors, but his office was in the most ordinary hallway of the most populated floor. The striking detail was the dark wooden door in an office building of sleek glass and steel.


    As Roscoe passed by after a coffee break, he overheard voices. The thick wood muffled the sound, but he could tell it was two people discussing something in excited voices.


    Roscoe smiled. Was it odd that a game company was founded by gamers?


    He returned to his post as a director of the graphics division under head graphics designer Dawson to monitor RISE''s inaugural night.


    ¡­


    In Dr. Cedar''s office, the two men were munching on popcorn and watching the replay of John''s underground adventures. They were examining the party as they left the cave.


    "Oh, the thief is going back." Dr. Cedar said.


    "They must have left something."


    "Ah, yes, he''s prying a magic stone from the ground."


    "And there, it''s like he found something in the rabbit''s bed," Dawson noted.


    "Can''t be," Cedar said. "That Helios has pincers for hands. I don''t like the way his beady eyes follow any valuables."


    Indeed, the video showed John, excavating nothing but dirt from the mound. He then stood up and stared at his hands for a good minute.


    "Is he lagging?" Dawson asked.


    "That''s impossible." Dr. Cedar responded. "I designed the game myself. And the wired connections in the city have had a perfect track record for three years."


    John then shouted to his group, stood for another moment and left the cave.


    "Is it one of your graphical Easter eggs, Dawson?"


    "I promise you I got rid of them after testing. And I never touched the Gyead region: the aesthetic really isn''t for me."


    At that moment, a female voice was heard from the hallway. "Dr. Cedar,"


    "Yes? Come in."


    "The Dright Corporation has brought the documents. It requires your signature please."


    "These goons are so demanding, it''s two in the morning," Dr. Cedar grumbled, but still signed the paper. In all fairness, the company probably sent the papers knowing his sleep schedule was poor. The secretary was leaving when Dr. Cedar asked for something else, almost impulsively. "And Samantha, when you''ve completed your paperwork, head down to the physical sensory department. Bring the POV audiovisual records for player John: from the beginning of RISE until now."

 After the Rain

    It was damp near the water''s surface.


    "So now what?"


    "We''ll probably have to swim."


    Jodie and Gram were at back at the pool, wondering how to exit the cave. Gram dipped a finger in the water and felt it. "Still stings; still cold."


    "I wouldn''t want to swim if we can help it. Is it still raining? Wouldn''t want to go through that for nothing."


    "John should know, I wonder what''s taking him so long?"


    Jodie shrugged, and recast [Torch], expanding the small guidelight into a campfire. "I''m just grateful for this convenience."


    John emerged from the passage a few minutes later. He unwrapped the pocket watch around his hand and gave it one more look. He then tried to store it into his inventory, failing. That was expected and John fittingly placed it into his pocket.


    "Hey," Gram called out. "We leaving?"


    John checked his menu for the time. He had been tempted to use the pocket watch. "It''s almost five. It''s been an hour or two of rain. The acid storms tend to come and go pretty fast and are few and far between."


    "That''s a relief."


    "Yeah, but we''ll still have to swim."


    They unequipped their items and entered the pool, swimming back under the tunnel. At the exit, there was a film of sorts that solidified on the surface. At least it was the sun was out, completing the brown tint of the region. They broke through into the musty air, gasping for breath only for the scum to fill their mouths.


    Gram spat wildly. "Disgusting."


    Jodie swam to the edge, grabbing it. "It''s so slippery." Ground level was a few meters above them, and the sulfuric rain had smoothed the already steep entrance.


    "Use a weapon," John instructed. "Try to keep it out of the liquid and work quickly before the durability disappears."


    John equipped his starter dagger and stabbed it into the weakened walls, using it like an ice pick. Gram hesitantly stabbed his sword into the rock too. The acid formed a black mush as it splashed onto the metallic blade. Grams face dropped as the durability did too.


    Simultaneously, Jodie was struggling with the staff. "Wait, guys!" she said with a trace of panic. "What about me?" The staff lacked the edge to penetrate the walls, but at least it seemed to somewhat acid resistant.


    "If you can''t make it out, just wait for a bit, we''ll pull you out," John reassured.


    John was the first one out of the hole. As a person with a good amount of experience and a nimble class, the slippery slope was fairly manageable. Gram was up a minute later. Near the top, he tossed his corroded greatsword over the edge.


    "Here," John said, pulling the heavy warrior up.


    The two then turned to face the helpless, freezing, half-naked pyromancer in the hole.


    "Doesn''t this power feel great?" John laughed.


    "You''re evil," Gram replied. He laughed too though. It felt a lot better than when he was stuck in the pitfall.


    The two melee classes managed to pull out the mage after some effort. They had Jodie climb as high as possible and reach with her staff.


    At this point the was sun setting, a consequence of the winter day. Normally, a sunset composed a mural of bright colors, yellow, orange, the pinks; leading towards the purples and dark blues of the approaching night. Supposedly, the brights were the result of a long path through the air, scattering most colors.


    The same was true through the ghastly fog of the tainted lands. However, the unnatural particles scattered the light into an intense array of neon purples and reds. The three adventurers, huddled once again in of a [Torch] campfire, were caught in this supernatural phenomenon. Jodie and Gram took a deep breath as the initial brown evolved into vibrant swirls of red, like city folk gazing at the Aurora Borealis for the first time.


    "It told you that this was a great spawn." Gram said.


    "You said this was a great combat location, nothing about natural beauty." Jodie corrected.


    "Can''t it be both."


    "Sure, it can, but it doesn''t mean your choice was a good one. It just happened to turn out this way."


    "Call it intuition," Gram said with a smug face. "Didn''t I find mister expert here?"


    "That was fate at best."


    "Fate is also a skill."


    "¡­"


    "It''s just like luck."


    The streamers'' conversation continued as the tainted sunset did as well.


    The two talked for a while, and John listened quietly. He could understand why their stream had gotten a fair following. He warmed some water in his canteen and munched on the biscuits. He checked the pocket watch in his jacket. The acid had no effect on the immaculate finish, rather cleaning the remaining dust. The time was accurate too, hands ticking in perfect unison. John latched it, then took a sip and smiled with satisfaction.


    In the past, he had spent many sunsets hunting. The breaks he took were always quick, just a munch on cold biscuits. Why would any high-ranking player take the time to heat a drink and enjoy the night?Stolen story; please report.


    John wasn''t fully aware of it, but death had changed him. Of course, he knew he had changed: it was fairly obvious that anyone would change after such an experience. He acknowledged that the ambition he somewhat lost after his youth had been reignited. In the later years of RISE, after so much success, the guild had stagnated. Now with such an advantage, how could he not reclaim his position at the top, and probably obtain even higher?


    But there were also changes that he couldn''t quite perceive. The group took a while to recover their health. They were still sitting around the fire long after the HP read 100%, even neglecting to reequip their armor.


    ¡­


    The show of exotic colors eventually faded into darkness. The three adventurers were returning to Gyead. Jodie''s [Torch] burnt bright, carving a path in the darkness.


    "We need to keep pace," Gram urged Jodie. Mages didn''t have the same physical prowess as most other classes.


    "That''s easy for you to say," Jodie panted. "Isn''t this harder than it was before?"


    "That''s part of Assimilation removal level one," John answered. "You have the same endurance, but tiredness is felt more, especially at lower stamina levels."


    "Yeah, sounds about right," Jodie coughed out.


    "Anyways," John added. "We don''t need to keep going so fast."


    "Night has just fallen and we''re several miles out. Shouldn''t we hurry back?" Gram asked.


    "It''s only a bit past six, so nightfall doesn''t mean anything. Most RISE spawns aren''t based on a regulated schedule rather than solar time. When was the last time you saw a rabbit?"


    "I guess, but shouldn''t mobs come out at night?"


    "They do, but six to seven is a sort of twilight period, even if it''s not twilight right now. It just because winter days are shorter. The diurnal mobs are gone and the nocturnal ones won''t be about for another hour. It''s the safest the tainted lands are ever gonna get."


    "Alright, I guess that''s not ba-"


    "Stop," Jodie interrupted. "You almost stepped on this little mushroom here."


    There indeed was a mushroom, red with blue polka dots. It looked fake, like an object from a cartoon.


    "It''s just a mushroom," Gram muttered. "You shouldn''t be so sudden at night. You could scare someone."


    "Alright, enough," John said, smushing the shroom under his boot. "Weapons up."


    "What?" Jodie questioned. They pulled out their weapons. "Didn''t you just say there''d be no monsters?"


    "Torch, maximum intensity, into the sky," John ordered.


    Jodie understood the seriousness of John''s voice. The flame at the end of her staff devoured Jodie''s health bar and shot vigorously into the air, hovering thirty feet in the air.


    The conflagration rapidly increased in brightness and violence. The area was hit by the unstable firelight, revealing a small forest of mushrooms. The changing shadows laminated their meaty stipes, and caps, colorful like a tropical poison.


    "Mushrooms¡­ This is ridiculous," Jodie said weakly. Torch was a beginner utility spell that had a surprising intensity range. The pain had taken its toll.


    "Those are barely mushrooms," John answered. "What kind of mushroom emerges hours after a rainfall? What kind of mushroom grows in negative ten-degree weather and thrives off sulfuric acid?"


    "What kind of mushroom can move?" Gram added as one of them shifted across the earth.


    The light gave John a better idea of the field ahead of him. This was a Shroom Surge, as called by players in the past life. They only appeared after the sulfuric rain and lasted six hours or so. But they were extraordinarily rare, one of them existing per region at most. In fact, John had only seen it in videos.


    They were slow and rather easily avoided, but they encompassed a sizeable area. The fast spawn speed made it that the biggest danger was being surrounded as they grew from the ground. They were incomparably deadly though. Players wouldn''t even be able to fight it until well into the 200s but slippery classes could at least escape from its midst by level 150.


    Level two players, however, would be devastated if they even touched a shroom. Of course, they could just avoid the Surge. But that would take them well into the night with a possible ten-mile detour. Nocturnal monsters, suited for level 20 players, would chew them apart.


    Luckily, they seemed to be near the edge of a branch of the Surge. The mushrooms were neck high at worst and didn''t emit serious fumes. The fungal monstrosities at the heart of a Surge had enough poison to kill a level 200 tanker in seconds.


    "Flash them," John commanded.


    Jodie nodded and raised her staff, launching a max intensity Fireball at the Torch in the sky. She took several sharp breaths, under heavy stress after using half her health on spells.


    The dead silence of the night was immediately broken. The two fiery elements collided, producing a blinding light like the Flashbang of an optical elementalist, only longer lived and brighter. An audible shriek was heard as the shrooms shriveled and retreated.


    Torch produced very bright and concentrated flames. It was like a burning liquid, only it did no damage. By hitting a high-intensity Torch with an explosive force, it dispersed, dramatically increase the surface area and burn rate. This military-grade flare was a popular technique pioneered by pyromancers in the past.


    "Just make a run for it and stay behind me. Protect Selene, Helios." John shouted over the roar of flames. "Do not touch them! It should only be a couple of hundred meters."


    John led the group into the surge at full speed, blinding light burning against their backs. The sprint would destroy his stamina, but he could only pray the branch was as thin as expected.


    At first, the mushrooms didn''t bother with them, shrieking under the light brighter than the sun. These organisms would be hindered by the dim daylight of the tainted lands, let alone such a flash.


    But the field grew denser as they entered deeper. After the first two hundred meters, the light lost its effect due to distance, and the mushrooms displayed their sentient nature. The larger mushrooms could move, but only slowly. They instead, tended to release a small crab-like organism that would swarm after anyone.


    [Tainted Fungal Spawn]


    Level: 3


    HP: 10/10


    "John, there''s a crab." Gram shouted. "It''s level three."


    Indeed, it looked just like a crab. It had the distinct six jointed legs and sharp claws. A thick purple chitin shell protected the tainted crustacean organism''s black eyes and snapping jaws.


    "Just keep moving, we can''t get surrounded." John urged.


    A first it was only one spawn, produced by a low-level mushroom that they quickly past by, but as the mushrooms grew stronger and the darkness consumed the dwindling light, more appeared. It was one from the mushroom to the left, then two from the giant shitake look-a-like, and six from the king oyster wannabe right before them.


    The entire forest became alive with the squirming of hundreds of thousands of fungal spawn. Mushrooms for hundreds of meters around vibrated vigorously, retching up the filthy mobs.


    "Damn it," Gram muttered as a collection of the crabs obstructed his path. He gave a broad swing of the greatsword, activating Sweep. The blade easily ripped through the spawn, killing half a dozen.


    The crabs might be level three, but their health was a sixth of a common mob. Their numbers were, however, more than enough to overwhelm a level 100. And this was just a small branch at the outskirts of the surge.


    "To the left. Don''t stop moving." John ordered. He fired his first shots. The fragile fungal growths exploded under the hot lead, taking several of its brethren with them.


    Fifty meters behind them, at the epicenter of fungal of formation, the density reached absurd levels. The fungal spawn introduced into the world were crushed by their brothers and sisters. Their excited legs strained to push past the living mass, dislocating and snapping in their rabid frenzy. The individual spawn seemed to coalesce into a single wave of twitching limbs.


    "Don''t look back," John directed. "Focus on the path ahead."


    The mobs in front of them grew more concentrated as well. A pair of discharges from the pistol positioned perfectly at the swarm ahead denied the fungi''s efforts temporarily. They managed to push forwards another twenty meters before the wall became near-impenetrable.


    From a bird''s-eye view, one would have seen the teardrop shape of the fungal tsunami spearheaded by the adventurers.

 A Few Hundred Meters

    The whole sprint was a mess, a horrible miscalculation, a death run.


    The branch was thicker than expected. The light had a limited effect. The spawn rate was much higher than they had allegedly been, especially considering it was only a branch.


    Especially, John''s mind couldn''t help but wonder: ''Why did the game developers allow such a catastrophic event to occur right outside a major city on the first day of pre-release? The tutorial should have just ended too.''


    John''s voice, on the contrary, was very calm. The most important thing right now was to buy time. "Torch again, max intensity, 20 meters high."


    The drained mage raised her staff and obeyed. Another sphere of burning liquid formed from Jodie''s health points, a further fifty. The bright light suppressed the skittering spawn but couldn''t quite stop the wave.


    "Fireball, maximum,"


    "Isn''t this too much?" Gram shouted between swings of his sword. Concern was apparent on his sweaty face.


    Jodie, however, obliged, drawing the last of her health pool. A fiery orb consolidated from the individual blood drops. The tide seemed to freeze as the comparatively tiny Fireball sailed towards the floating Torch entity.


    Jodie collapsed right after, without a word. Her eyes were blank, and a thin red liquid poured from all orifices. But it wasn''t blood: there wasn''t much of that left. Magic classes couldn''t kill themselves through HP exhaustion, but they certainly wouldn''t find the consequences pleasant.


    Gram broke ranks and caught her falling body. "You did well," he whispered.


    The soft airy whoomph of the fireball of the was like the crack of a starter pistol. The entire scene exploded into spontaneous action. The dazzling light erupted into the encirclement of millions of spawn, finding it''s through the countless legs and pincers. Pairs of eyes exploded under the radiance - the tides of tainted beings retreated in their blind hysteria. The spawn were even more photosensitive than their fungal progenitors and the blinding illuminance created a huge bare area.


    The pair scooped up the jittering mage and sprinted at best speed. At least, the flare seemed to have a more potent effect than the earlier one. At the center of the branch, the radial light burned many times more shrooms. Each one they passed had hideous black spots like burns as the fungi''s shrieking grew to unbearable levels.


    Jodie seemed to have put a lot into the magic because the burning light managed to exist for a full minute or two despite the intensity. The pair managed to travel another three hundred meters, weaving between the writhing shrooms, before their stamina reached the bottom.


    Gram slowed to a jog after the three hundred and fiftieth meter, nearly dropping Jodie to the ground. As a warrior, he wore plate armor, weighing him down considerably. "We can''t." he panted.


    As a thief, John was better off but knew his limits too. No level two was expected to encounter the Surge in the first place. "We''ll have to leave her. She''s too heavy."


    "I can''t." Gram was reluctant. "But it''s probably your best choice," he acknowledged between his heaves. Now, the flare had lost most of its effectiveness. They hadn''t been swarmed just yet due to light scaring off the mobs and inhibiting spawn rate of the shrooms.


    "Then leave her too."


    "I can''t."


    "We need to go." John tried to keep the pace of the run, but Gram''s weary legs dragged on the body they were carrying. John looked around. The light was already faint, and the army of spawn was rapidly recovering. Some had already locked onto them. "We are going to die," John asserted. "It''s just a game, she won''t actually be gone."


    "You''re right it''s just a game. It''s a role-playing game, it''s not reality. All the more reason to."


    John looked back at Gram for a moment confused. ''There''s no point in this,'' John thought. ''It''s just senseless loss. She''s gone either way.'' It was illogical: there was no way Gram could save Jodie, even by staying with her. He would lose his life and levels for sure. At least by running, they had a chance.


    John put the mage down. Gram carried her alone for a bit before stopping.


    Then Gram did too. He stood still for a moment, wasting some valuable seconds.


    "Let''s go."


    "Huh?" John was surprised. He had half expected Gram to stay like a lover in some classic romantic drama. He found it hard to believe the resolute stare was from the same person terrified by the tainted rabbits earlier. "Yeah, let''s go. Can''t be far now."


    Unencumbered, their dash took them away from the majority of the mobs. In fact, the two had already left the branch, at least where the end originally was. The mushrooms had shifted to cut them off but could only manage so much distance.Stolen novel; please report.


    Behind them, the frantic waves rushed forward.


    Pyromancer Selene''s health bar was at exactly one point. The unnatural red fluid coated her otherwise clean skin and golden locks. The robes were discolored from acid exposure and the staff lay dark beside her. However, with her eyes gently closed and what seemed to be a smile on her face, it felt oddly serene.


    Under the dying light of her final spell, the outbreak enveloped her.


    [A party member has died. They have been removed from the party.]


    John noticed that as Gram ran, he never turned around.


    Interestingly, tainted fungal spawn were dependant on their parents. They were ravenous and numerous but died rapidly when removed from the Surge''s sustenance. Ahead, some of the armies of spawn was dying. It wasn''t the detrimental effects of light exposure. Their sightless rampage had led them outside the Surge.


    In the same direction, a particularly large mushroom spat out another kind of monstrosity.


    [Tainted Fungal Centipede]


    Level: 50


    HP: ????/????


    Unlike the smaller spawn, this centipede-like organism was fairly high-leveled. Its thick juicy body shook with anticipation as it breathed the tainted air. At several meters in length, this abomination was rare on branches, but at the Surge''s heart, they were as common as the crustacean spawn. It twisted its articulated neck, focusing on the two players fleeing. The jaws clicked, dripping venom on the ground. Then it turned and raced north, towards the heart of the Surge.


    John was running as fast as he could but still kept his eyes wide open. He noticed the mess of nature ahead but didn''t stop sprinting, lest the monsters behind eat him alive.


    There was a glaring flash of light, potent enough cast the skies in momentary white. This was in spite of the foggy atmosphere. A crack followed, five seconds later. It was the proper supersonic burst of a high-explosive spell, unlike the airy sound of a beginner fireball.


    Such a short exposure of light wouldn''t harm the Surge, but it would undoubtedly anger it. Most of the fungal horde charged angrily northwards as a dim yellow fireball appeared in the distance. Still, a large amount of the crab spawn pursued the two players.


    They had left most of the mushrooms behind at this point and the ground suddenly started faded, curving ahead. "The hill, we just need to make it!" John called out, unsure if Gram was still there.


    His stamina had been empty for a long time now, his virtual body driven only by adrenaline. As he pressed forward, he could feel his Achilles'' tendon tear, but he couldn''t be bothered. At the last fifty meters, his vision started to strain and all light the behind him faded. It was completely dark now, and he couldn''t quite tell where the slope began.


    His hearing was all that guided him, the sound of countless hard legs clacking behind him, telling him to keep going, and the sound of a heart pumping relentlessly, telling him to stop. His legs gave out before his lungs and he fell forward.


    From his maximum sprint to a sudden trip, John''s dampened senses told him he was flying and flipping. Indeed, he was airborne, and his body completed an odd sort of half twist before planting face first and rolling fiercely.


    -27


    -16


    -21


    Continuous collision procs shook John''s body as he bounced down the hill. Each jolt broke a bone, an elbow, a knee, then a shoulder. He could only endure as his body crashed down the unexpectedly steep hillside.


    The rollercoaster ride concluded with the vast majority of John''s health missing. His body came to a rest in a ditch, thoroughly battered. The flailing wave of crab spawns washed over him like a rock on the beach. They were all dead.


    The tainted night grew silent, except for the occasional shifting of shells, just like any other.


    ¡­


    Gram was in a worse position than John. The plate armor was clunky and heavy. He would have gladly taken the time to remove if not for the mob chasing him. The obscure thief in the night was his only hope.


    But Gram also noticed the giant centipede, and the dread bubbled up. He had wanted to call out with his parched throat, but nothing had come out. The flash in the distance was another flash of hope. Half the mob behind him peeled away, but he could only keep up the desperate speed.


    John shouted something. Gram couldn''t quite make out what John had said, something about a hill. He couldn''t worry about it as the fungal spawn crashed into his back. For an instant, it felt like he was a part of the surging mass. He expected the sting of thousands of spawn, but only lifeless shells and legs pushed him forward like a surfer and his greatest wave.


    Despite the heavy burden, the plate armor could at least protect against the little rocks that covered the slope. He bounced and rolled, and fell, and ultimately went further than John. The spawns piled up behind him, making the already harsh hill a little bit steeper.


    Thus he lay for a moment, allowing his heart rate to return to normal and his burning calves to cool. He stretched his limbs and inhaled the thick air. A third of his health was gone, but at least everything seemed to be functional other than a fractured collarbone. Serious damage like broken bones couldn''t be overcome by eating, only by medical attention from a healer. Gram could ignore the pain, but the weakening of his left arm could prove detrimental in combat.


    "John!" Gram shouted, standing up. He stuffed biscuits into his mouth like a pig, gradually recovering his health. "John!"


    He seemed completely alone. It was total blackness, but Gram would have seen himself at the center of a divide of two endless extremes: the barren tainted lands to his west and a sea of shells to his east.


    ¡­


    Sound was a finicky thing. It was so easily disrupted.


    At the bottom of a ditch, completely submerge by several meters of shells, the acoustic quality was poor. Immobilized, John could barely hear a shout, distorted and full of reverb.


    "Over here," John tried to call, but it came out as a sputter. He was crushed under a large weight and half of his ribs were broken. He could only wait until he exited a combat state to send a party message.


    "John!" Gram screamed. "Where are you?" He shouted over and over until his already dry throat went hoarse.


    John: Shut your mouth, nocturnal mobs will be spawning soon.


    Gram: Oh, you''re alive! Did you make it out?


    John: Yeah, it would have said if I died.


    John had nearly referenced Jodie''s earlier death. However, John stopped himself ¨C Gram seemed particularly affected even though his rationality had clearly told him it was just a game.


    Gram: So where are you?


    John: I''m in this ditch over here. Under the mountain of tainted fungal spawn.


    RISE''s coordinate system was only accurate to the nearest square kilometer. This was to limit the effect of long-range artillery magic.


    Gram: ¡­


    It took the pair ten minutes of Hot and Cold for Gram pull out the crippled thief.

 Return To Gyead

    Broken bones didn''t hurt as much as they did in real life, but that didn''t mean it wasn''t onerous.


    Broken nose and cheekbone, missing teeth, fractured elbow, shattered kneecap, dislocated shoulder, ruptured spleen, punctured lung, thirteen cracked ribs, just a few of many injuries - it was a miracle that Gram managed to dig through the shells before the internal bleeding procs killed the thief.


    "You look awful," Gram remarked. It was as if he uncovered a zombie.


    "Just get me out."


    It was quite a struggle to extract the injured player. Gram could only pull with one arm, and most basic movements were impossible for John. He rolled out onto the sea of shells and stuffed himself with food.


    "It''s not too far," John said after a while. "Should be about an hour. We can only hope the Surge scares off any mobs tonight."


    At least the Surge itself was gone. The shrooms seemed to have chased after the explosion that occurred in the distance. The only thing left was the hill of shells.


    It took them a bit more than an hour to return to Gyead. John could only rely on Gram because of his busted knee. Their trek was further inhibited by the dark terrain which they had to slow down to navigate.


    They could only be thankful that the land was calm. They only encountered a couple of nocturnal mobs which were easily circumvented. Every living being was instinctively wary of the nearby outbreak and didn''t bother pursuing the two wounded players.


    In the distance, the familiar Bulwark was a bastion of light. With residual acid dripping off the wall, it made quite the sight. Guards dotted its surface and shone magical spotlights down at anything that approached. They seemed to also be aware of the nearby Shroom Surge.


    The beams converged on the tired users the moment the entered the range. They looked really awful: a warrior with his armor unequipped, an arm dangling at his side; pulling along a thief even worse off with his leg dragging at an odd angle, and his face bloodied beyond recognition.


    "Adventurers," a captain called out from atop the humungous structure. "Let them in," he ordered.


    Most explorers were expected to return before sunset or camp outside for the night. Especially during such a tense situation, the guards had stored the lift. It took them a few minutes for them to release it. Finally, The Cage could be seen through the openings in the butte, descending.


    ¡­


    "The tutorial was longer than expected," an archer dressed in starter gear grumbled.


    "It was important," Lupe replied. "There was a lot to learn."


    The two were part of the hundreds of players who started at Gyead. The archer Kain and the skirmisher Infinite Lupe were part of the Thunder Guild, one of the giants of the competitive community. As star players of their guild, there were sent as part of the pre-release to pioneer the city of Gyead.


    John had always thought that Lupe''s playful username was a poor fit for his composed nature. Lupe hadn''t made it to the top of the swordsman rankings because of outstanding mechanical skill, but rather a calculated approach and excellent adaptability. The swordsman ranking was more prestigious than most rankings too: it measured all users of the ubiquitous weapon rather than users of a certain class.


    The tutorial concluded back in the first room at the peak of Gyead''s metallic madness. The flow of players exiting the tutorial spread out, descending various paths to explore the city.


    "So what do we do?" Kain asked. "There might have been a lot to learn, but I have no idea what to do now. Quests are locked and it''s night time."


    "It''s an acclimatization period, but there are no mobs to hunt. They probably want us to move around and get our bearings. Or they want us to fight each other."


    "You want to find someone to PVP?"


    "I''d rather explore. You can fight wherever, but the city is first come, first serve."


    The two first went towards the market, a huge section of the city which included a considerable chunk of the 15th to the 21st floor. The place was a maze, jammed full of vendors selling various goods. It perfectly represented Gyead with its claustrophobically low ceilings, tight corridors, and a constant dripping even if no water was visible.


    "You looking for something in particular?" Kain asked. He was distracted by the bright lights and colorful products. A bow caught his eye.


    "Just scanning. Most are rip-offs. But there''s definitely a gem or two in here." Lupe answered, moving along. "Though we should buy some medicine." The importance of potions had been highlighted in the tutorial.


    Kain put the bow down and caught up. "We''ve got ten coopers combined; a few potions should be fine. I''m not sure if there''s any gem we can afford."


    "Who knows?"


    On the nineteenth floor, the room opened up into a huge spiral staircase that was wide enough to fit ten people abreast and ran the entire height of the market. Most of the larger vendors put up their stalls around the railing. Some of them were large enough to be considered more of a store than a stand. NPC hawkers barked nonstop, advertising prices.


    Security was higher too. Armed guards patrolled the area. More rushed down the stairs, causing the customers to stand aside.


    Lupe approached one of the smaller stands, an alchemy shop that sold low-grade potions. "Mister, six A-Grade health potions, please," he told the shopkeeper.


    "Isn''t that half our money?" Kain whispered, objecting. Each potion was a copper.If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    "There''s nothing else to really buy. The weapons here aren''t worth the price." Lupe whispered back.


    "Six coppers," the quaint man told him.


    Lupe dug out the coins. "And mister, is something going on? The guards seem to be quite active."


    "It must be the earlier rainfall."


    "Mister, certainly the guards cannot be summoned each time it rains, even if it''s not that often."


    The shopkeeper gave a Lupe a look. "You''re right... It''s probably another mushroom outbreak. I''d expect the general to be quite frantic right about now."


    Kain and Lupe left with their merchandise and spent another two coppers on small useful items. They headed down the central market stairs after giving the area another scan.


    "Let''s go to the walls. This mushroom outbreak should be serious." Kain said.


    "I think we should keep looking around. The general should be in barracks. It''ll be more worthwhile to see what he''ll do."


    Their tour of the city took them out through the southern market exit on the 17th floor. This district was the largest open area of Gyead, the upper central square. The plaza went from the fifteen floor to the top, open to the sky. The air was a bit damp and there were a couple of puddles amongst the metal plate flooring and bustling crowd.


    They took the stairs down to the floor level of the square. "Barracks should be opposite us," Kain said, inspecting a city map they had bought earlier for a copper.


    ¡­


    The barracks were part of the southern wall of the plaza. In the infirmary, on the twentieth floor, a military priest was busy tending to John and Gram''s numerous wounds.


    A neat row of beds ran along the room''s length; various medicines and tools were placed on trolleys. It may seem unnecessary for most injuries as priests could cure them within minutes, but in the tainted lands, poison was a constant risk. Bedrest was required if victims didn''t purify it soon after exposure: most healing spells couldn''t rapidly cleanse them if the toxin was given time to set in.


    The lighting was soft, but the clinical feeling of the hospital and the absence of any other patients made it uncomfortable. The priest patched up Gram first, mending the clavicle fracture.


    Jodie showed up at the infirmary soon after. "You made it." she greeted with a smile.


    Gram had sent Jodie many messages during their sundown stroll. But in a game as realistic as RISE, it was different when meeting in person.


    "Yeah..." Gram said awkwardly. "Sorry, we couldn''t save you."


    "It''s not a big deal. Equipment drop rates are essentially zero at this level. Assimilation has its advantages."


    "I mean you died."


    "It''s a game, death doesn''t matter." Jodie laughed.


    "I guess it looked a lot worse for us." Gram remembered the huge waves of tainted fungal spawn.


    "I can''t recall anything after I cast that fireball."


    "Well, the flash was effective. We tried to carry you for a bit before the weight forced us to leave you. Someone fired some high-tier magic in the distance and most of the Surge went after them. We managed to make it out but fell down a hill and I broke every bone in my body." It was John that answered in a flurry of words. He was in a bed by the window, unable to move with the priest tending his wounds. However, he could tell Gram was still distraught by the previous situation.


    "Wow, what an adventure!" Jodie exclaimed. "It''s too bad I missed it."


    "It''s just some experience and monster drops."


    In RISE, when a mob was damaged by a player but killed by an NPC, they gained partial XP based on contribution. Party XP was split amongst members equally. This was all true unless a player died.


    Over the course of their trek, John and Gram had received a continuous flow of XP. The magician in the distance must have killed the mobs flashed by Jodie, giving numerous slight trickles of points. Now, with the flow of XP concluded, the two had both reached level three, 36%, breaking the second Assimilation barrier.


    Level three players received their first stat point to distribute. Level four players would receive two and so on, until capping at five per level. John had already invested into dexterity. Generally, pistol-wielding thieves would need more agility, but for the early levels, it was more important to get dexterity.


    This level of Assimilation also removed the minor movement assist feature. In the earlier levels, projectiles and spells were corrected slightly by the system to help users adapt to VR movement. It gradually decreased in potency over the earlier levels, but at level three it was completely removed.


    As for the item drops, Gram had obtained a huge amount of shells when he dug through the mountain of dead tainted fungal spawn. John had also stuffed his inventory with the drops until he reached the weight limit. Any more and the two wouldn''t have been able to return.


    Gram and Jodie talked a bit more, while John allowed the priest to finish his work. The medic finished cleaning up the missing teeth and set the nose, working on John''s arm now. John gazed out the window, watching the people pass by. The guards were frantically racing around the square, but in the lines of armor, he noticed the common leather equipment of a skirmisher and the clothes of an archer.


    He checked his pocket watch. ''It''s about time, isn''t it? The tutorial should have just ended.''


    "Turn this way, please," the priest requested. He was a kindly middle-aged man, with a soft voice that didn''t belong in such a frontier.


    John obliged, allowing the man to apply the healing magic to his ribs. Priests could heal health with a swish of their staff, but only high tier healing could restore functionality instantly.


    "You''ve suffered quite the injuries," the priest commented.


    "I fell down a hill and got buried by little fungal crabs."


    "The mushroom outbreak, right?"


    "Yeah, we got caught in it as we were heading back."


    "Nasty stuff. But you should know, the general is looking for information concerning the recent outbreak," the priest advised. "It might be valuable to tell him about your experience."


    John''s eyes lit up. These were textbook lines before a quest.


    [Essential Information]


    A ¨C Grade Difficulty


    You have survived a traumatic incident; the mushroom outbreak has devastated your party. It is close, dangerously close to Gyead. The general would like to hear about your intel.


    Rewards: (Variable based on information delivered)


    Guaranteed: 5 coppers, 5 Gyead Reputation, 500 XP | Maximum: 8 coppers, 10 Gyead Reputation, 1000XP, a weapon of choice from the recruit armory


    ''Oh, the rewards are not bad.'' Typically, A-Grade quests only gave a small amount of money. A recruit weapon wouldn''t be great, probably weaker than the Basic Dagger (Lightly Modified) but would definitely outclass a starter weapon.


    "Alright you''re all done," the priest announced. He ate a dried apricot to restore his health. Such low-level injuries barely cost any HP for the C-Grade healer. "You can find the general at the highest level of the barracks. But you''ll need to pay for the medical fees. At the front desk downstairs, please." He had them a paper detailing the applied procedure with his signature attached.


    John nodded. He knew the desk was on the fifteenth floor, right by the exit from the square. It would be a popular location to get quests when the main player base broke through that part of Assimilation.


    "You both got the quest too?" Gram asked as they left the infirmary.


    "Yeah," Jodie nodded.


    "I triggered the quest. Of course, I would receive it," John answered. "Let''s go to the general after the payment."


    The front desk was full of activity. Soldiers were rushing around. A large amount of them disappeared into the depths of barracks, heading towards wall level.


    John waited in line before handing over the slip and a pair of coins. The fee was only a copper each. "The payment," he said.


    The officer manning the station seemed to be strained. Papers covered his desk as he dealt with a mountain of logistics. He barely glanced at the slip before stamping it and stowing the coins. He gave a quick wave of his hand, calling for the solider in line behind John.


    "Let''s go meet the general," John said, returning to the party who had been waiting to the side.


    "There are other players here," Gram remarked. He gestured towards an archer and skirmisher in another line. Players had a different style of nametag from NPCs.


    "It''s just other players. The tutorial''s over and they should be spread out in the city by now," John dismissed, uninterested. He didn''t bother giving the players a look.


    Gram and Jodie shrugged, and they climbed back the stairs to hand in the quest.

 The General

    Other than a security check at the bottom of the stairwell, the surveillance was fairly relaxed on the lower levels of the barracks. The guards here recognized the three from earlier and them pass.


    However, a checkpoint was set up on the twenty-seventh floor. The guards manning the station halted the trio''s climb.


    "This is a restricted area," the military police officer at the checkpoint announced. He frowned at the trio''s appearance. Their clothes and armor were cheap, and in poor condition: certainly unfitting for the strict military environment. "State your business."


    "I have intelligence for General Bradley," John declared.


    This caused the officer to frown even deeper. The general was known for not only his reliable leadership but also amongst the upper echelons for his morally questionable intelligence and black ops programs. But the officer kept his tone professional. "Members of the general''s intelligence operations? Even so, I cannot let you pass without proper documentation."


    "Not spies, but adventurers who experienced the outbreak. I have a shell from the tainted fungal spawn as proof."


    The sergeant softened his expression. "I do not have the authority to make this decision." However, he gave an order to one of the security staff. The soldier climbed up the stairs with the sample.


    "You''ll have to wait here, but you can get searched in the meantime."


    "Please," John said respectfully.


    John remained stoic, but he was thrilled that this particular military police officer, Sergeant First Class Kriens, was still here.


    Gyead was a military outpost established by the joint effort of the western human civilizations. This made its leadership awfully fragile. General Bradley was the current military leader, a representative of the largest human state, the Greight Republic. The other leaders included two brigadier generals and several colonels from the other states.


    These nations could never completely be at peace. In previous treaties, they had agreed to keep Gyead out of any conflict, but even professional soldiers can have a difficult time remaining calm towards soldiers of an enemy state under the same roof.


    Thus, as part of these agreements, a neutral military police force was established to ensure the cooperation of the internal factions. These impartial enforcers were already used to regulate diplomatic negotiations, but the Gyead outpost seemed to be the perfect fit. They were the ones who guarded the command sector and the officers'' quarters on the highest three floors of the barracks.


    SFC Kriens was the leader of this small force. Players had been always annoyed by his team''s presence, blocking them from the upper floors of the barracks, but when they had managed to analyze his stats, they were shocked by his E-Grade and by his huge growth rate stat. He was a highly skilled spear-based skirmisher that focused on a swift oppressive style, one of the top NPCs at that time. However, Kriens was righteous ¨C all military police were expected to be ¨C only he was tragically so.


    In the end, the MPs were effective, but the small contingent of military police would never be enough to stop an outright rebellion. When the Greight Republic shattered the agreements, marching on the outpost, General Bradley''s betrayal couldn''t be prevented.


    At the worst time, the Eighth Great Dissemination flooded into the weakened Bulwark, crushing its lines. At this point, the military police of Gyead had been all but eradicated.


    Players would eventually be able to take NPCs as retainers and when a high-level user revealed that he had recruited Kriens, the whole server had turned into an affinity grind where players rushed to recruit the best NPC. This was because of a viral video that displayed the terrifying might of the E-grade skirmisher.


    Eventually, Kriens'' master had committed a terrible act. This was all too common in RISE, even the most benevolent would make a mistake in such a realistic and harsh world. Due to Kriens'' character, they had a falling out and that was that.


    The military police efficiently conducted a body search. They performed a thorough pat-down, which caused Jodie to blush, and an inventory check. The soldiers'' stoic expression couldn''t help but slightly twist when they fished out the endless pile of smelly fungal shells.


    A police officer with an appraisal skill analyzed it before reporting the results to Kriens. He nodded and gave an order. The security personnel hurriedly returned the items to their owners.


    "All clear," Kriens announced. "You may proceed when the general grants permission."


    The soldier soon returned with written orders from his superior.


    "You''re free to go," Kriens said, verifying the orders. "Also, between us, you should trade in your shells before they go bad. There''s a great alchemy vendor in the market on the nineteenth floor by the main stairwell. Can''t miss it," he added with a smile. The military police stepped aside.


    "Thank you," John said, satisfied. Sergeant Kriens was exactly as the stories claimed.


    General Bradley was exactly the same as the allegations too. He was a large man, brimming with muscle rather than fat, with a mustache groomed to regulation. His face was as strict as his appearance and conduct that refused to ever crack a smile in contrast to the stern but friendly Kriens. An oppressive aura emanated from him: any NPC of such importance would have one, but Bradley''s seemed to match his ironclad character exceptionally.


    The general had the adventurers meet him in one of his meeting rooms: a room bare, but well lit and functional, in contrast to certain other officers. Bradley always emphasized efficiency and cost.


    He wasn''t alone though, there were several other commanding officers, notably Brigadier General Banks of the Jaurum Kingdom and Colonel Autumn of Ironriver City. They were gathered around a map and seemed to be discussing the Surge.


    "I understand you have information regarding the mushroom outbreak?" General Bradley said, looking away from his peers.


    "Yes, my team and I were caught it at around six fifteen and five miles east. It was a branch of the infestation, with only minor spawns and a centipede. A high-tier mage, at least D-grade, detonated large scale AoE magic a mile north of us. There was a flash of light, then a fireball and the horde converged on the caster," John reported. General Bradley appreciated concise and direct conversation.


    One of the officers at the table adjusted a string on the table that represented the boundaries of the Shroom Surge.


    "It must be Rowan," General Banks speculated. "There''s no D-Grade magic that can be witnessed a mile away."


    "Agreed," a colonel added. "Based on other reports, he''ll have moved west by now." Another figure on the map was adjusted.


    "Isn''t that one of his ultimate spells? That was two hours ago, he''ll be exhausted by now."Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    The officers discussed a bit longer before one of them dismissed the adventurers standing awfully straight at the doorway. "You can claim your rewards at the front desk." he handed them another signed order.


    [Quest, Essential Information, has been completed]


    [Perfect Clear Rating Achieved]


    [You have gained 1000 XP and 10 Gyead Reputation]


    [Please check in the written order to determine your other rewards]


    The trio then left, a bit shaken ¨C Gram and Jodie hadn''t said anything since the checkpoint. "These NPCs are just like monsters; it''s the weight of their gaze." Gram said.


    "It was like the room temperature dropped, but not really. Weird stuff." Jodie added. "How were you not affected?" she then asked John.


    "The aura system is a proprietary sensation formula, one of the first developments by RISE co-founder Theodore Cedar. It''s a famous work known for its unnerving coldness." John answered. "But it''s just sensations in the end. Everyone adjusts to it eventually."


    They swiftly returned to the front desk and claimed the reward with the same overworked worker.


    [You have gained 7 coppers and a Recruit Armory Weapon Order]


    That was curious, they obtained the maximum possible XP and reputation reward, but only 7 coppers. The perfect clear rating was simply the highest rating, but not necessarily flawless. They must have missed some information. ''It probably concerned Rowan,'' John concluded after replaying the commanding officers'' earlier conversation.


    The mage Rowan was one of the most fearsome presences at Gyead. As a level 300+, F-Tier, Arcane Magician, he had been the stuff of legends - an independent mage that could force the armies of nations to yield. His wide-scale AoE magic and tenacity to be able to repeatedly cast them had given him the reputation of a potential nuclear weapon.


    However, there was just one problem: he didn''t exist - in the previous timeline at least.


    John hadn''t played during the very beginning of the mass release, but he was familiar with the state of Gyead at that time. The Great Magician Rowan had been declared missing in action only days before. Players had tried to learn more about the cause of the disappearance, hoping to obtain a quest, but the whole thing was kept under wraps by the military.


    Now, with more knowledge, John could only speculate that Rowan had been submerged by the Surge. The Surge could only be dealt with players when they were in the mid to late 200s. But this was assuming an army of tens of thousands.


    John remembered the third great subjugation attempt led by a few of the largest guilds in the past. This player force was an average level of 190, numbering a hundred thousand. The recorded video was uncomfortable to say the least. The heart of the Surge was significantly stronger than any branch. The waves of tainted fungal organisms had buried the player army that itself was large enough to bury any normal army. They lasted a couple of hours before decimation.


    A single high-tier mage would be far more suited to the Surge than that attempt, but the odds were certainly not favorable. Rowan could only endure until the Shroom Surge disappeared with the evaporating sulfuric rain or escape. Though, no one would call an Arcane Mage a slippery class as it was impossible to complete a Teleport channel under a mountain of mobs.


    The trio arrived at the armory while John was consumed in his theories. They handed their Recruit Armory Weapon Orders to the average soldier on guard. The military police would only be assigned to strategic locations like the elite armory, penitentiary, or magic tower.


    The private inspected the order and stepped aside, opening the door. "One item each, please," he instructed.


    "What are you guys looking for?" Jodie asked as they entered.


    "Pistol."


    "Greatsword, of course," Gram declared, giving his oxidized mess of a weapon a look.


    "Alright, I''ll go look for a staff, then we can see who has the better haul."


    The recruit armory, although the weakest one, was well-organized with rows of weapons sorted by type. Racks, up to ceiling height, held weapons in numerous perfect lines.


    This also meant Jodie''s little game was disappointing. All the weapons were standardized with only a few variants per weapon type. There were no outstanding pieces to speak of.


    John immediately went to the firearms section, the pistol shelves. Hundreds of identical weapons lay in sequence. He rested his eyes on the larger caliber handguns on the end of the row. Particularly, he decided on one with high muzzle velocity and grain, at the cost of a heavier build, smaller magazine, and lower fire rate.


    [Heavy Recruit Pistol]


    A-Grade Pistol


    Durability: 40/40


    Attack Power: 10 Base


    Fire Rate: 0.75 shots/s Standard (Bolt Action)


    Magazine Size: 4


    Accuracy: 87/100


    Effective Range: 50m


    Equip Requirements: Basic Pistol Mastery Level 1, Player Level 2


    Modification: None


    Notes: A standard recruit firearm; low fire rate, and magazine; good penetrating power and damage.


    This kind of heavy weapon suited John''s playstyle better. He preferred to combine occasion precision shots between dagger strikes. The four-round magazine and abysmal fire rate would definitely limit his available firing options, but firing sequences were more important for gunner players. Moreover, with a manual system, a skilled thief could increase the fire rate from the standard.


    As for ammunition, the pistol came with 500 rounds of standard-issue heavy pistol ammunition and 20 rounds of specialty ammunition of choice. John chose a standard complement: 15 black-tips, enhanced for penetration; and 5 red-tips, incendiary rounds that used an alchemical solution to ignite enemies.


    ¡­


    In the conference room, the leaders'' discussion was concluding.


    "We need to send reinforcements," Colonel Autumn advised.


    "And whose troops do you propose to embark on this expedition?" another colonel, Deftane of the Lushiane Kingdom, asked. "With all due respect," he continued with very little respect in his tone. "But I believe that there is a certain bias towards your own countrymen."


    It was well known Rowan had originated from Ironriver city, which, in spite of its name, produced countless outstanding magicians. Everyone also knew that Colonel Deftane''s allegations held some truth: everyone would be biased towards their own people, if only in their hearts. Still, Autumn was a respectable member of the Gyead coalition army, and no such professional let national bias influence these kinds of decisions.


    "Colonel Deftane," Colonel Autumn started. "This is a serious situation. Please refrain from such blatant defamation," she said. "I''m convinced that my artillery regiment will be more than enough to ensure the survival of Master Rowan, especially against an enemy that relies on numbers."


    General Bradley had wanted to call out Deftane''s behavior too but Deftane wasn''t really one of his men. That was one of the problems the military alliance at Gyead, the leadership of factions would always butt heads. The military police that always gave Bradley a nightmare wouldn''t act on such a provocation either.


    Bradley, who had kept quiet at this point sighed quietly and voiced his opinion. "And who will defend the walls against the dangerously close outbreak?" Bradley was too proud to admit it, but Ironriver City''s artillery battalions were essential for Gyead''s siege defense. "Don''t waste your men''s efforts on such a fruitless endeavor."


    "General Bradley, I cannot agree with such a statement," Autumn insisted. "You know just as well as me, or anyone, how invaluable Master Rowan''s magic is against tainted invasions. He''s a strategic asset."


    "Colonel Autumn, I understand, but I cannot weaken the defenses, and risk the lives of the citizens and soldiers of the outpost for a strategic asset that may be long gone."


    "I know he''s still alive," Autumn asserted with absolute confidence in her eyes. Her professionalism had disappeared for a moment. "We need to send troops, fast."


    The general opened his mouth as if comment on Autumn''s questionable words, but closed shut. "The best I can do is a compromise," he finally said. "Keep your troops on the walls, and I''ll send three of my battalions and one of Deftane''s to investigate. His thieves will be imperative for a nighttime search and rescue mission."


    Lushiane was the most forested area of the western plains. In its lush greenery, the Lushians developed a formidable archery and thief style comparable to the famous elves of the Lavie Woodlands far east.


    Colonel Deftane''s face soured slightly, but he couldn''t help the situation. There was no denying the Lushian thieves were the best suited for Bradley''s proposal. "Of course, general, my men are with you." Still, no commander would want his troops to potentially enter melee combat with a force like the Surge.


    Colonel Autumn, of Ironriver, stood up straight and gave a respectful salute of the Ironriver people to both contributors of the expedition. It a three-fingered tap to solar plexus, a place the people of Ironriver believed to be the center of health-magic conversion.


    Strictly speaking, it wasn''t required by regulations and in the multiple factions of Gyead, these regulations were already quite loose. Essentially, the gesture was a bit stiff, but General Bradley appreciated the woman''s resolve.


    After the meeting''s dismissal, the general enjoyed a moment of silence in the empty conference room. He had pushed back the rowdy Colonel Deftane a few notches and set up an effective plan for a mushroom infestation that might not even come. Moreover, his special programs reported good progress.


    It was unfortunate that Colonel Autumn had managed to push a compromise. Her important regiment gave her more leverage than Bradley would have liked. Still, General Bradley always believed that strength was born through struggle. His troops might suffer some losses, but the survivors would become stronger with a bit of luck.


    It was some good work today.


    ''Oh yes, and there were those adventurers that seemed to have good potential even if they were a bit low-leveled,'' the countless lines of code that simulated General Bradley thought.

 Encounter

    "Greight Republic, Gyead Division, 3rd Brigade, 3rd - 5th battalions; Lushiane Thieves, Gyead Brigade 1st Battalion, assemble at the ground floor¡­"


    "Looks like the general''s making his move," Kain remarked at the emotionless voice that blared over the magical auditory formation system in the barracks. "An attack?"


    "I wouldn''t think so," Lupe replied. "There''s no point, it''s not like a tainted enemy would have any siege capability. The Bulwark''s walls are shielded against them too. Additionally, who would only send a few thousand men, a fair number of them thieves, into this kind of war?"


    "So, probably a strategic objective," Kain speculated.


    "Likely, a sabotage mission of sorts. Maybe recon, but they wouldn''t take so many other battalions. Search and rescue is also a possibility."


    "Maybe we should follow behind them, it could be a good opportunity."


    "That would be good, but nighttime mobs will chew us apart or the army will discover us."


    "Then we go in the morning, maybe we can find some scraps."


    Lupe nodded in agreement.


    "Let''s keep exploring," Kain said, turning towards the exit towards the square. In the corner of his eye, he noticed a trio of familiar players descend down a stairwell, one that Lupe and Kain had been barred from entering. "Hey, it''s those guys again."


    Lupe gave them a look. He immediately noticed Gram''s shiny greatsword, Jodie''s staff, and John''s abnormally large pistol. "They have new gear."


    "They must have gotten a reward." Kain hadn''t been paying attention earlier, but he didn''t doubt Lupe''s sharp eyes. "Aren''t quests locked though?"


    "Supposedly," Lupe answered, still examining the three. He considered some options. "We should follow them."


    "Sure," Kain said, shrugging.


    At the same time, the trio was appreciating their new weapons. They arrived at the ground floor and headed out the entrance.


    "What did you get?" Gram asked.


    "Fire staff," Jodie answered, sharing the details.


    [Recruit Fire Staff]


    A-Grade Staff


    Durability: 40/40


    Attack Power: 8 Base


    Equip Requirements: Basic Magic Mastery Level 1, Player Level 2


    Modification: None


    Options:


    - Enhances Fire Damage by 10% (Capped after 5 additional damage)


    Notes: A standard recruit staff suitable for beginner pyromancer


    John nodded. The staff was a good find. The option was pretty rare at such a low level, but the cap on it made the staff only suitable for a few levels.


    "And you, John?" Gram asked.


    John displayed his [Heavy Recruit Pistol], letting the pair examine it. They nodded too.


    "Your turn," Jodie said to Gram.


    "Take a look at this."


    [Hefty Recruit Greatsword]


    A-Grade Greatsword


    Durability: 50/50


    Attack Power: 12 Base


    Equip Requirements: Basic Greatsword Mastery Level 1, Player Level 2


    Modification: None


    Notes: A standard recruit greatsword; large but somewhat unwieldy; does higher than average collision damage; very heavy


    "Yeah, that''s a good amount of damage," John commented. He wasn''t surprised that Gram had picked a lumbering behemoth of a sword. To be fair, though, such a weapon was a good choice. It used an impractical amount of material and would definitely cost a lot: the free weapon order was put to good use.


    "So, who do you think won?" Gram asked.


    "It''s all about the same, isn''t it?" Jodie replied after some thought.


    "It''s the recruit armory, you can''t expect anything to be much better," John answered.


    "Perhaps it would be good to test that," Gram proposed. "We can fight some of the newbies."


    The three were now entering the square. In the more open area, John noticed the presence of two players tailing behind discreetly. They were doing a good job, for beginners, keeping a safe distance and acting inconspicuously. Of course, before John''s wealth of experience, their unique newbie appearance and constant presence gave them away in a flash. But to prevent alerting them, John couldn''t get a good look at their faces or names.


    ''Someone''s tailing us,'' he thought. ''Do they know that we are level three? Maybe they know that we''ve met the general?'' But that wasn''t possible, John had already instructed his party to hide their levels and the followers wouldn''t have been able to pass security.


    ''It must be the gear,'' John concluded after dismissing a few more possibilities. Their starter equipment was fairly badly damaged and Gram''s greatsword was very noticeable. ''But how to draw them out?'' The best John would be able to do in a city is get a glimpse of their names and faces before they disappeared. The city guard would apprehend him if he tried to take more direct action. ''And what are their intentions?''


    Originally, John had planned to split up with Gram and Jodie after returning to Gyead. He had broken through the first barrier of Assimilation, clearing the requirement for the hidden quests he planned on completing. But now, he decided to stick together a bit longer to find an opportunity to uncover the stalkers. Any people with the foresight to follow John at this point wouldn''t be ordinary.


    "Alright," John agreed to Gram''s proposal. "We do something about the rest of our gear and head to the arenas."


    They first crossed the square to the market. On the lowest floor of the establishment, the fifteen floor, a huge isolated area was dedicated to the smithies. This was probably because of the immense heat that was generated.


    Huge forges cast the area in a dim orange. The sound was huge, with the pounding of hammers even though it was getting late in the evening. Sparks flew everywhere as blacksmiths pounded at slabs of glowing steel and massive bellows breathed upon dancing flames of endless greed.


    They quickly dropped off Gram''s plate armor for repair at a random vendor. In RISE, armor repair took time as well as money. At least they didn''t have to queue up because of the emptiness of the pre-release. They headed to the tailors in the meantime.The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    The tailors were mostly located on the western end of the sixteenth and seventeen floors. But John brought them to a famous tailor in a previous life in an obscure corner of the twentieth floor of the market. It had been popular among beginners for the fantastic prices. In the past, the ridiculous number of repair orders had made the place inaccessible for most.


    "They''re just running errands," Kain yawned. The two were hiding in a nearby trinkets shop.


    "But why are they running errands?" Lupe asked. "The tutorial just ended, but they already need to repair their gear."


    "I don''t know, maybe they skipped it."


    "But why would they?"


    "Maybe they''ll beta testers," Kain shrugged, coming up with the same conclusion as Gram.


    "Seems like it," Lupe said. "This tailor seems to be special too."


    "Good for them," Kain answered, bored.


    "Have patience, they''ll probably give us even more information."


    Kain and Lupe continued to watch as John purchased new leather armor rather than repairing his old set. Lupe found it worth noting but didn''t comment on it. The trio then visited a magician''s shop on the twenty-fifth floor to buy a set of magician''s robes for Jodie.


    Finally, before they returned to the forges, they stopped on the nineteenth floor to sell off the tainted fungal spawn. It was the quaint old man by the central stairwell. His name was Chem and he was actually a special NPC that gave out great alchemy related quests and sold exotic goods when enough affinity was acquired. John was grateful that Kriens had given them such a tip even if he had known beforehand.


    "It''s the old man again," Kain muttered.


    "He must be another special NPC."


    "Did you know earlier?"


    "A bit of intuition; a bit of luck."


    Inside the shop, out of view of the two spies, John and Gram placed their mountains of shells. The old man, hidden behind the huge pile, didn''t seem surprised by the trade volume. "Selling?"


    "Yes please, there are 374 shells between us," John said. It was convenient the inventory kept count for players.


    The old man closed his eyes, using an advanced mass-appraisal skill. "Unfortunately, your tainted fungal shells have died of sustenance loss, decreasing the quality. Still, the mushroom outbreaks are rare and with this freshness, I can offer half a copper each. There are 238 whole shells and 58 lightly damaged ones which I will offer half price for. The rest are too heavily damaged, likely by impact, which I can only offer a tenth of the price for."


    Gram''s eyes went wider than when he had fallen into the pitfall. "That''s¡­" His mind calculated at superhuman speeds, coming up with a surprisingly accurate figure in less than a second. "140 coppers."


    "That''s 137.4 coppers," the old man corrected.


    "That''s a rip-off," John further corrected.


    The old man frowned. He was well aware that it was a rip-off, only he expected the players to sell it. Chem might be a great NPC, but he tended to deceive players. They could simply ask around for a better price but Chem knew not many did.


    "One copper each," John demanded. "And that''s quite generous of me already."


    Values of commodities fluctuated constantly in RISE but based on the values during the time John was familiar with, he extrapolated that 1 copper was currently below the market value by a fair amount.


    "Deal," Chem replied immediately. He knew that the shell was worth around 1.5 coppers each and judging from John''s confidence, he could tell that John knew too. But he could also understand John wanted to further a relationship. "The total is 274.8 coppers."


    [You have gained 2 silvers, 74 coppers, 80 irons]


    [You have gained 10 Affinity with Chem]


    Jodie and John dragged away the awestruck Gram and returned to the forges to grab his repaired armors. The group finished their errands and headed towards the arenas on the third basement floor to the tenth floor in an area directly below, but larger than the upper and lower central squares.


    The main entrance to the arenas was through the central lower square stairwell. It descended right over the main arena and arrived at a transparent platform where players could look down on the spectacles. A bridge allowed visitors to access the other facilities.


    "That''s a long way down," Gram admired. The main arena spanned a huge surface area and ten floors of empty space. Magic floodlights illuminated the large expanse and compact stands lined the walls, capable of holding thousands of spectators.


    "The fights must be breathtaking," Jodie remarked.


    "Sure, but they don''t use it enough," John said. "And we definitely won''t be using it."


    John led the team across the bridge to the side of the main arena where they took a lift, one of the few non-military lifts in Gyead, to the ground floor. They gave the main arena one more look before disappearing down a passageway.


    Elevators were a pain for stalkers. There was no way they could enter the same little metal room as their targets and the relatively simple machines at Gyead didn''t display the location of the elevator. The frustrated duo called the lift a few minutes after their targets.


    "What floor?" Kain asked, looking at the column of buttons for each of the levels.


    "First floor," Lupe answered. "I can''t see them visiting the stands."


    "The training arenas," Kain read.


    "Looks like you might get your wish to PVP."


    Kain nodded. He had never voiced his desire but Lupe must have found it fairly obvious.


    John, Jodie, and Gram emerged into another well-lit area. The three subterranean levels were much taller than the normal floors of Gyead and housed over a hundred smaller arenas and practice rooms between them. Most of them were used exclusively by the military as training grounds, but some were available to the players.


    On the third underground floor, fifty or so users were gathered around a few of these facilities, participating in fights. The arenas sunk into the ground here, creating a rocky square where contestants could duke it out to the cheers of the spectators above. John''s party entered and waited around what seemed to be the most competitive ring.


    In the arena, a burly guardian knocked out a gunner out of the duel. The guardian was the defensive equivalent of the warrior, boasting a huge shield, mace, and stature. This guardian, Tristan, roared in triumph, riling up the crowd. "Who''s next?"


    In response, a ranger, with a short bow and sword burst into action, landing in the arena with an elegant roll. Rangers were a crossbreed of an archer and skirmisher, dabbling in the two unique playstyles. They also used pets and various traps to outplay opponents. The two entered the dueling mode and circled each other, anticipating a savage battle.


    The crowd called for a fight but John didn''t pay attention to the enthusiastic fighters. Rather he eyes were locked on the entrance. This was his planned opportunity. The vertical design of the arenas would create distance and the bright open area would allow them to examine the spies favorably. John would then bait them, possibly into the arena, to determine their intentions.


    ''If they''re anything like me, they''ll join the fight.''


    John planned to use his companions to probe the pursuers first. "Gram, over there," John instructed, pointing to a vacant arena.


    "There''s no one there," Gram said.


    "There will be soon."


    ...


    It took Kain and Lupe a bit of time to find the right passageway. The arenas were numerous, but after a bit of searching, a set of dark stairs led them towards the distant cheering of a player crowd.


    "I don''t like this," Kain whispered.


    "I don''t either," Lupe agreed. The passage ahead seemed to be an open area, and the crowd seemed to be far away. It was brightly lit and unwelcoming: they would be very visible the moment the entered the room.


    "Still go?"


    "Yes," Lupe answered.


    It was possible that they had been discovered, but that was unlikely. There should be no harm to getting spotted at this point. Even if they were exposed, what were the consequences? It was the start of the game and they had the support of the Thunder guild.


    ...


    John spotted motion at the entrance. He immediately determined their classes by their footwear and pants. ''Archer and skirmisher.'' This conclusion made his heart skip a beat. He should have known the moment he spotted the same outfits in the square, maybe at least felt somewhat paranoid about it.


    Then, the floodlights of the arena brought a face into view. It bore even more familiarity than the clothes. It was the flat nose, thin eyebrows, deep brow, and observant eyes that darted around rapidly like it could uncover any secret you had. The skin was less pale and the cheeks less thin, but the appearance invoked in John the same heinous feelings as its deceptively innocent cousin in reality.


    Behind John''s still figure, Tristan smashed his mace into the ranger''s face. It caved in with little resistance, slathering the ground with an unpleasant mixture.


    The crowd shouted in approval after the beautiful match. It really had been a display of skill but somehow for John, it appeared to be a cry for blood, echoing, no, paling before, his own vengeful desire.

 Thank you for the Game

    Lupe was always the most reserved of Hysterica''s core members.


    He never really talked about his family, nothing about his origins. John didn''t know if he was married, what food he liked, what other hobbies he had: nothing. John didn''t even remember his last name, its possible Lupe never even mentioned it.


    He wasn''t cold, nor impolite - Lupe was simply quiet. He kept his friendship and the guild separate from his personal life.


    Still, there are some things that can''t be separated so easily. John learned Lupe was from Trayin when the RISE corporation was organizing transportation for the guild for a tournament. He also knew Lupe''s age and his professional past in other RPGs and the Thunder Guild.


    He sometimes revealed strictly game related parts of his past. Lupe had mentioned that he had been part of the pre-release and that he had started in Gyead. He was once the leader of Thunder''s Gyead operations along with an archer. He had gathered a decent reputation before eventually leaving the Thunder Guild and moving West towards the Greight Republic.


    Little quirks, playstyles, and personality cannot be hidden too. Lupe played carefully, took every fight seriously, and committed himself to constant growth. He preferred to let others take leadership and he was always conscious of his shortcomings.


    Of course, he had never disclosed anything regarding his murderous intentions.


    Overall, Lupe was a closed book ¨C one could get a clue from the cover, from the publishing date and synopsis, but never know the whole story.


    But now, the Thunder Guild duo was opened under the floodlights and a stare. Every fiber of John''s virtual being was wholly focused on them. It wasn''t the same as in the mall - Lupe''s virtual face drew out a different kind of anger just like how RISE drew out infinite possibilities.


    "They knew," Lupe muttered. Lupe and Kain were instantly aware of John''s eyes staring directly at them.


    "So what if they know?" Kain growled lowly. He could feel the power behind the thief''s clenched expression and dark eyes.


    Thunder hadn''t been limited to VRMMORPG''s. In fact, Kain had been a champion in VR fighting games, renown for his greedy solo playstyle that feature overwhelming aggression. On stage, he bore a silent arrogance that emanated from the body.


    When the Thunder Guild realized the potential of RISE early on, all assets were planned to be allocated to the new game, eventually pairing the star, Kain, with the reticent Lupe. But against all expectations, the fiery Kain was quieted.


    Kain never said anything, but when he was around Lupe he felt a sort of unease, not quite fear, but apprehensiveness.


    It was the ones who were quiet, who hid their abilities, that scared Kain. This was all because of an incident in his childhood. Lupe never really restrained his abilities, however, a weaker version of the feeling developed nonetheless. Maybe that was why he choose a ranged class instead of a melee fighter.


    Now, back into his natural habitat, the arena, Kain felt a resonance with John, sparking his violent tendencies. "He''s begging for a fight."


    Lupe approached then situation more calmly. A quick scan of the area revealed that one of the other members was in a vacant ring. "There''s another one in the arena."


    "Is that so? You take him, I want the thief."


    "Alright."


    Kain''s excitement decreased, just a bit, from surprise. He hadn''t expected Lupe to agree: it didn''t fit Kain''s view of Lupe.


    Lupe walked forward very calmly, taking the stairs rather than jumping or sliding like the previous participants. Simultaneously, John''s fist clenched. He was tempted, so very tempted to enter the fight. But he didn''t.


    Gram released his greatsword from his back and planted in the ground before him. "Infinite Lupe," he said reading the name. "You wanna duel?"


    "Just Lupe please," Lupe replied. That was another odd thing about him. The playful pun of a username never suited his demeanor. "And yes, I would like a duel."


    Gram sent the duel invite and brought his weapon into a combat position. The dueling mode in RISE was only available in an arena. It would prevent the death of the participants, ejecting them from the mode and restoring their prior condition. It could be considered a separate instance where most cooldowns would be refreshed at the beginning.


    A countdown timer visible to everyone appeared between the two players. They would be frozen at a set distance before the duel started.


    "Good luck," Lupe said as the countdown ticked down from ten.


    "Oh," Gram had been tense, gripping the weapon tightly. "Yes. Err. Likewise."


    The changing numbers hit zero, giving a satisfactory flash before fading.


    But before they could completely vanish, Gram initiated with a charge. He swung his greatsword in a distorted figure-8 pattern. This was one of the warrior techniques popular in the early stages that John had shared with Gram.


    Lupe immediately backed up as the sweeping strokes of the massive greatsword bore down on him. The blade might not have made contact, but the imposing heft was enough to force a retreat.This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    Gram continued with the rampant advance. The warrior might not be an agile class compared to the balanced skirmisher, but Gram''s frontal assault was certainly faster than backpedaling.


    At the point where the strokes were to overlap with Lupe, Lupe raised his longsword, deflecting the greatsword upwards with a clean two-handed block.


    [The durability of the Starter Longsword has dropped by 5]


    [The overwhelming impact has caused a minor collision proc in your wrists]


    The impact was far greater than Lupe expected, the comparatively overwhelming strength of a level three warrior causing a numbing pain in both wrists.


    Lupe had no time to recover as Gram''s shiny greatsword exhibited a blueish tint. Sweep broke the pattern as it came downwards in a diagonal cut that was difficult to block.


    With his numbed arms, Lupe could only fall backward, avoiding the vicious blow at the cost of stability.


    -13


    Still, he lost a small portion of health as the greatsword glanced his left forearm.


    Gram pushed forward again. The greatsword was in a poor position after the weighty swing and he gave a Lupe a kick that connected with the left shoulder.


    -7


    [Your left shoulder has been numbed by a collision proc]


    Collision was the most easily activated effect but also usually the least pivotal one. Lupe suffered another numbing effect, this time inhibiting his shoulder and causing him to fall flat on his back.


    Gram recovered his greatsword and slammed it down in an overhead smash. This was the problem with warriors that used such an exaggerated style. After breaking their greatsword pattern and exhausting their combo skills, their low attack rate gave the opponent an opportunity.


    Lupe traced the falling mass with his eyes and rolled to the side. There was no way for him to block such a blow from that position.


    He managed to jump to his feet during the intermediate period between Gram''s swings.


    At the same time, Gram lifted up the heavy blade. "You have some skill," he said and advanced again with his dominating swing pattern. The relentless style was almost uncharacteristic of the otherwise easygoing Gram.


    Lupe didn''t reply ¨C that was another one of his quirks ¨C he never said anything during a duel. Instead, his teeth were grit as he formed his stance again.


    He didn''t retreat as the warrior accelerated his blitz. Instead, he focused on reading the timing of the greatsword. That was an additional flaw of Gram''s playstyle: it could be very predictable at times.


    Just before impact, Lupe stepped aside and simultaneously diverted Gram''s swing, minimizing motion and pushing closer, beyond the effective range of the greatsword.


    A grin could be seen forming on Gram''s face as if he was expecting it. The predictive motions were a trap; Lupe had noticed it when his blade brushed with Gram''s. The blow carried far less strength than expected.


    "Gotcha."


    The greatsword was coming back downwards with renewed vigor.


    In response, Lupe''s sword glowed as he used his first skill of the battle.


    [Stab]


    A - Grade Skill


    Rank:1


    Damage: 4-8 + (120% Base Damage) SDU (Penetration)


    Cooldown: 16s


    Notes: Lunges forward suddenly in a stabbing motion, dealing massive single target damage; very high chance of causing a penetration proc.


    Instead of pointing the ability directly towards Gram''s core, Lupe directed it towards Gram''s left knee. This caused Lupe to dash to the side, avoiding Gram''s swing. Lupe was cautious of a potential collision proc from Gram''s earlier collision chain.


    The longsword skillfully found its way into one of the chinks between the plates.


    -26


    [You have suffered a penetration proc in the left knee.]


    Gram groaned after experiencing a surge of pain. Penetration procs did heavy damage to functionality and could also cause internal bleeding, slowing the warrior''s movements.


    -7


    -8


    -9


    Lupe seized the moment, delivering a quick series of blows to Gram''s upper-body and swiftly retreated before Gram could retaliate. Lupe didn''t show it, but he was unsatisfied with the damage: plate armor''s defense was just too good against slices.


    Gram panted for a second, creating a lull in the battle. "You''re good, actually," he admitted with a laugh that shook his heaving shoulder plates. "Really good."


    Lupe didn''t say anything but went on offense this time, abusing the poor sustainability of the warrior. Instead of a two-handed grip, he kept his right hand on the handle and clasped the longsword with his left hand halfway down the blade.


    Gram gave another swing. This time, Lupe blocked the greatsword with the section between his hands. The additional leverage allowed the skirmisher to push aside the larger weapon with relative ease.


    With Gram''s sword out of the way, Lupe stepped into Gram''s personal region. The forward position of the left hand allowed Lupe to deliver swift, accurate jabs as if the meter-long steel plate were a short spear.


    -7


    -10


    -6


    -20


    The sharp tip of the half-sword darted around before finding a weakness under the arm. Starter warriors'' plate armor didn''t have the standard chain mail that covered this weak point. Blood splashed as the steel cut through the soft fabric of Gram''s garments.


    [You have suffered a stab to the right underarm, causing bleeding and weakening of the arm]


    While Lupe unleashed the torrent of stabs, Gram was desperate to bring the unwieldy greatsword into a defensive position but the same strength ¨C the sword''s fantastic reach ¨C was a fatal weakness. Peppered by Lupe''s well-aimed thrusts, he had no choice but to let go of his weapon with one hand and interrupt Lupe''s combo.


    -6


    [A collision to the face had briefly stunned you]


    The warrior''s high-strength fist bashed Lupe''s face. The nose smooshed under the impact and Lupe suffered a minor blunt force trauma proc that gave Gram some breathing room.


    Still, a little bloody nose was nothing compared to the fountain spurting from the exhausted Gram. Bleed ticks started chewing at his dwindling health pool.


    -1


    -1


    Lupe wiped his face and spat out a tooth, then promptly pressed the attack.


    Gram gave a huge swing which Lupe deflected with a bit of strength. The greatsword lost the monstrous momentum it demonstrated earlier with the weakening of the plate armored fighter.


    Gram immediately followed up with Sweep which just came off cooldown. He was hoping that the unknown cooldown and attack interval reduction would be enough to catch Lupe off guard, but the blade hit nothing but air: Lupe was actively improving his reaction to Gram''s tactics.


    By ducking under the sweeping attack, Lupe was behind Gram. His right hand skillfully shifted its position to near the tip of the blade. The longsword instantly became a surprisingly formidable blunt weapon.


    The pommel plummeted down in an overhead swing, striking Gram''s helmet at the top of the skull. One must know that to properly balance the sword, the pommel was surprisingly heavy.


    -12


    [You have suffered a traumatic head injury]


    The helmet protected the skull, but Gram virtual brain crashed around inside it. The health point damage wasn''t that great although Lupe was well aware of the viciousness of a well-placed collision proc. Gram was stunned as his eyes temporarily lost vision.


    Abusing the opportunity, Lupe plunged the actual striking end of the longsword deep through the gap between the helmet and chest piece.


    -70


    Gram immediately collapsed.


    And the duel ended.


    Fights in RISE, especially the ones in the early game, weren''t elegant. It wasn''t gentlemanly, a player didn''t fight clean, and trickery was the universal key to victory. They were fast - this one was less than half a minute - and bloody with death possible in any instant.


    Lupe stood for a moment and wiped the blood from his face, both his and Gram''s. Then he displayed another one of his eccentricities.


    "Thank you for the game."

 The First Fight

    There was some vibrant applause from a small number of enthusiastic spectators. The duel had attracted several with the clangs of metal, compelling them to stay with the intense fighting.


    However, they didn''t know just how impressive Lupe''s feat was. Gram was three times his level, and a warrior, a difficult matchup for a longsword-based skirmisher. Moreover, Gram was armed with a far superior weapon and passed through two barriers of Assimilation.


    In the past timeline, low-level players were colloquially referred to as the Assimilated and the Assimilates: those who passed Assimilation and those who did not. They distinguished players by their level of integration because of the substantial difference in movement fluidity and overall experience.


    Players could adapt faster than the assimilation system, but the barriers were tied to level, causing those who assimilated slower to break through the barriers slower. Assimilated and Assimilates were thus an accurate evaluation of the vast majority of players.


    Then there was Lupe. He was the lowest Assimilate but he exercised a greater control, one that even seemed to grow in real-time, than Gram.


    Gram''s virtual corpse dissolved into particles, and it''s breathing virtual counterpart precipitated from them. He seemed pacified compared to the earlier onslaught. "Damn," he chuckled awkwardly. "Forget what I said ¨C you''re exceptional."


    "Thank you," Lupe replied. "It was an enjoyable fight. You played admirably."


    Around them, the applause died down except for one pair of hands that rather seemed to hasten. Kain could feel the blood surging through his veins. He normally didn''t talk during tournaments but now he was free to act as he liked. "Yes, it was," he clamored. "A spectacle!"


    The contestants broke their concentration, noticing the spectators and the fervent archer. "Would you like to duel now?" Lupe asked. "I''m sure Gram will be a wonderful opponent."


    "Yeah, su-"


    "Thank you for your consideration," Kain replied to Lupe, interrupting Gram. "But the defeated should not remain in the ring." He pointed his bow around point at a thief that had watched the fight silently with his arms crossed. The bow showed a certain sharpness that one might expect from a sword. "You, doesn''t the fight excite you ¨C ignite the fire in your eyes, the fighting spirit in your heart, the powder in your gun?"


    Jodie, who had been standing beside John, felt the firmness of Kain''s provocation even when it wasn''t really directed at her. She turned to face John.


    And then the thief moved.


    "Excellent!" Kain exclaimed. "Let''s have a fight!" He slid down into another vacant arena.


    He waited for his opponent to appear over the edge of the sunken ring but nothing happened. Kain waited for ten seconds as his flames rapidly consumed the remaining fuel.


    Back in the other arena, John leaped off the edge, landing with a roll.


    "You want to fight him?" Gram asked as he approached. He was back to his casual nature.


    "Yes."


    "Oh..." Gram had been about to warn John about Lupe''s formidable skills but shut his mouth. It was the seriousness that dwarfed John''s expression during the Surge run. "I see."


    Gram climbed back up the arena''s stairs, leaving John and Lupe to their duel.


    Jodie rushed over to him. "That was a great fight."


    "It wasn''t even close; I couldn''t even really damage him."


    "Maybe his remaining health was good but you pressured him the whole fight," Jodie encouraged. It had looked like Gram had the upper hand from the audience''s perspective.


    Gram shook his head. "Only at the beginning. It was like he didn''t even need to try after that. His movements felt too smooth. He''s probably experienced with the sword in another game. As soon as he understood my weapon, the match was over."


    "Do you think John can beat him?"


    "John''s a beta tester but I wouldn''t be surprised if Lupe is too. It''ll be hard."


    Meanwhile, the subjects of the conversation were preparing for a fight.


    Lupe sent the duel request. In truth, he hadn''t planned on participating in another fight. It was supposed to be just one duel but he could tell John was in a determined mode. Lupe silently respected that.


    John instantly accepted and the giant numbers started counting down.


    "Good luck."


    John readied his weapons. The heavy recruit pistol was bolt action with immense recoil. He held the hand with the basic dagger beside it to increase stability. His right index finger rested against the trigger in excitement.


    But despite his fury, John never lost his rationality. He had watched the earlier battle with an analyzing eye. Lupe seemed to be familiar with swordplay before he entered RISE. John doubted it was a different game: there were only two good VR games that featured swords before the release of RISE. Swordsmanship in those games was also very flashy and elegant, nothing like Lupe''s practical swings.


    Lupe''s style was a well-developed one that emphasized efficiency. He seemed to be experienced too. His blocks never stopped Gram''s swings but redirected the massive force with the lowest possible energy. The half-sword and inverted hammer swing were specialized tactics against armored foes, suggesting the medieval origins of Lupe''s technique.


    But in the twenty-first century, who learned swordsmanship? This only enhanced the mystery of Lupe''s history.


    Then timer hit zero.This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work.


    Lupe immediately dashed to the side, trying to avoid incoming fire. This would become common against gun-based classes that had limited shots before a reload.


    However, the commonness also meant John was more than practiced with moving targets. He smiled as the first step to revenge exploded out of the heavy pistol''s barrel. The massive bullet hurtled forward at supersonic speed with a precise spin from the rifling.


    And then it missed by more than a meter. The bullet flew wide, disintegrating against the rocky slope.


    [Your wrist has become sore from poorly handling a powerful firearm.]


    The recoil was humongous, far more than John remembered, and it felt as if his wrist was dislocated. The surprise was evident on his face as a shot that he had hit thousands of times before, missed.


    Lupe frowned. He had hoped the shot would miss, but this accuracy was unexpected. Still, he pressured John, advancing with a weave motion.


    John looked confused but quickly regained his focus and expertly cycled the bolt on his unconventional hand cannon.


    Lupe managed to close another five meters when John aimed again. The gun barrel swayed as the arm shook uncontrollably. Frustration developed on John''s face as his index rattled against the trigger and the tendons in his forearms lost their strength. It wasn''t the numbing effect; he had made plenty of shots before under far worse collision procs.


    John''s breathing intensified as he struggled to point the weapon at the weaving swordsman. The shot was held for a long time.


    Lupe was quickly approaching the danger zone. Any closer and he could threaten John with the longsword but at the same time, even a first-time shooter could hit a target at this range.


    Bang!


    The anxious bullet finally discharged.


    -3


    It clipped Lupe in the left earlobe and side of the head, drawing the first, but insignificant drops of blood.


    John dropped the [Heavy Recruit Pistol] as his arm twitched uncontrollably. He laughed hysterically, and his head drooped, covering his face in the darkness.


    Half a second later, Lupe was in range. He noticed John''s questionable state but didn''t drop his guard. Lupe always fought every duel seriously. He began with a cleaving stroke towards the thief''s midsection.


    The basic dagger moved like a flash, deflecting the blade''s trajectory.


    Lupe was prepared and urgently withdrew the sword. However, the block was beautiful, borrowing the longsword''s speed to place it into a poor position.


    -18


    Like a serpent, John''s dagger snaked upwards drawing a bloody line across Lupe''s dominant arm.


    [Severe muscle damage has led you to lose grip in your right hand]


    Lupe''s sword lost its power and the shock allowed John to continue his lethal combo. Thieves were known for their ability to cripple enemies and deliver severe burst damage before the victim could respond.


    The dagger went towards the eye.


    -10


    Lupe caught it with his right hand and the blade penetrated all the way through the palm. He had already resolved to sacrifice his right side.


    The dagger burst towards the neck.


    -15


    Lupe blocked with the right upper arm.


    The dagger went towards the stomach.


    -14


    Lupe''s right forearm ate the attack this time.


    Lupe finally retaliated with Stab. Melee skills did damage based on a percentage of base damage, the amount of damage that was to be done if the same attack hit the enemy without using the skill. This meant that the left-handed thrust would do significantly less damage that Lupe''s earlier Stab on Gram.


    Regardless of the math, Stab had to actually hit to do damage.


    Lupe felt the same amazement as Gram when John easily dodged the skill. The movement was almost leisurely like the thief was playing with him.


    The barrage of stabs continued.


    Stab towards the liver.


    -18


    [Massive bleeding has developed; death will result if untreated]


    The leather armor could only offer a bit of protection.


    Stab towards the shoulder.


    -17


    [A puncture in the left shoulder will inhibit its motion and cause bleeding]


    Lupe had tried to block with a left-handed sword swing, but the dagger was too agile.


    Stab towards the lower intestines.


    -4


    Lupe managed to push the blade aside and it skimmed his side, causing a minor flesh wound.


    Stab towards the heart.


    -38


    The skirmisher looked like the victim of a London City gang stabbing. Wounds dotted his torso and arm - a lawn sprinkler that sprayed pretty streams of crimson water.


    The sword clanged to the ground. Lupe fell backward, watering the rocky surface with blood.


    It was another example of a duel in RISE: a fight of opportunities. It was even more abrupt than the previous fight, ending several seconds after John and Lupe came into melee range.


    John dropped his weapon too. He gave another neurotic laugh, howling to the world in frustration. His right arm shuddered, not in pain but with a sort of insatiable itch. The left hand gripped the wrist, trying to calm the shaking to no avail.


    John tumbled forward as the convulsion numbed his entire being. His legs weakened and he fell to his knees with his face upwards like a prayer to the arena light, bright as the sun.


    Calmly, Lupe reappeared through the dissolution particles of his corpse. He approached the fallen thief. "You won."


    "Why is it that the loser stares down on the winner?" John sneered, not quite asking Lupe, but no one in particular.


    "You are a victor. That fight was¡­ Not even close. I didn''t get a single hit in. But you are unwell, you should disconnect and file a report to the admins. There''s probably something wrong with your unit."


    John didn''t reply, but curled forward, clenching his head in agony. It was as if all the blood in his body pooled there.


    "Why did you use the gun?" Lupe asked, somewhat insensitively. He was the most confused about two things. Why did John suddenly descend into madness? Why did he even shoot the gun? John''s dagger skills seemed phenomenal compared to his shooting.


    "That''s a good question¡­. Why did you use the gun?" John repeated, croaking. Spittle flew from between his trembling lips. "You give me an answer¡­"


    The thief vanished into particles.


    "He logged out¡­" Lupe muttered.


    The crowd, which had grown in size again, had watched with commotion, critiquing John''s abysmal marksmanship. But they fell silent in front of the vicious knifing. They were somehow even quieter now.


    "Thank you for the game."


    ¡­


    Sweat coated John''s body as his vision left the brightness of the arena and returned to the darkness of the night. His heart rate, although unmeasured by the primitive device, was through the roof. His eyes were bloodshot and breathing, heavily irregular. He found himself on the ground, in a pile of covers, his right arm still spasming.


    As his consciousness grew firmer, so did his sense of sickness. His stomach was rolling. He felt a huge headache and nausea as dinner rose upwards.


    John stumbled through his room''s door, and lurched towards the washroom, crashing against a table and knocking down a potted plant. He turned on the spot for a moment, forgetting which way the washroom was.


    Eventually, John managed to bumble his way to the toilet, where he retched. Nothing came up, only saliva.


    The tap was turned on with jittery fingers. John washed his face, splashing the cool liquid everywhere. The water cooled his skin, but not the heat in his skull that seemed to pulse with the heartbeat he heard in his ears. The bathroom light somehow felt exceedingly bright, irritating his eyes. John rubbed them and took a look in the mirror. His reflection showed a youth that was drenched in water and illness.


    But this image was thankfully accurate, he saw exactly what he should have.


    John''s condition wasn''t a result of the game. RISE VR technology had never had an issue with healthy users, not once, over its previous ten-year history. Sensations were cut off the moment one disconnected from the game. There was no way an irritation could be transferred to the actual body.


    Even so, John looked down to his unsteady, clammy palms.


    But it didn''t mean it was impossible. It was a trauma. No, a deeper inhibition, a sickness rooted in the soul, a by-product of the hateful resurrection. But the symptoms weren''t only directly from this, also indirectly from sheer frustration that evolved. At a moment of revenge, he hadn''t been able to do something he had done countless times, something he depended on ¨C something that his rival could even do the real world.


    John looked back into the mirror. He saw his reflection again.


    That was the problem - that''s exactly what he had seen when he fired that pistol - a pale, weak human, struggling under the blinding light to survive.


    ''How did you do it so easily?''

 On the Grind

    Kain felt unjustly neglected.


    He was left alone in that arena ring like a smoldering coal. Kain waited another twenty seconds, hoping to see the thief join him in the ring when a gunshot fired in the adjacent arena. It broke his awkward unsureness.


    "That bastard," Kain cursed. It was fairly simple to tell he had been played for the fool. He scrambled up the uneven steps as a second shot was fired. He made it to the top and noticed Lupe and John fighting. "Hey!" he shouted. "What kind of person are you? Leaving your opponent like tha-"


    And like the audience that had laughed at the miserable gunfire, Kain shut up. His head was completely cooled as he witnessed Lupe getting shanked.


    Kain remembered that incident, it was frighteningly similar to what was before him now - a man who seemed to have the advantage, only to be mercilessly ravaged by his supposedly weak opponent.


    He now understood the fire in John''s eyes. It was nothing like his own competitive enthusiasm.


    The rest of the scene quickly unfolded, and John logged out.


    Gram and Jodie rushed down with the conclusion of the duel. Lupe could be found standing solemnly, watching the dust that had once been his opponent scatter into nothing.


    "Hey," Jodie whispered.


    Lupe snapped his focus to them. "He''s your friend, right?" he asked.


    "Err, yes. We hunted together," Jodie responded.


    "You should call him, see if he''s alright."


    "Yes, we will," Jodie said instinctively. Then she remembered that John was just a random player Gram and she had latched onto. From just their one adventure, it already felt like they were friends. She opened her mouth to correct herself then stopped.


    "That''s good." Lupe wiped his boots against the ground and climbed out of the arena. The blood in the environment was one of the few things that didn''t reset immediately at the end of a duel. "You still want to fight?" he asked the wide-mouthed Kain.


    "Let''s go."


    The pair left.


    Along with the parting of The Thunder representatives, the spectators dispersed, spreading among the other fights. They were discussing the duel and John''s hysteria; none of the other fights seemed exciting in comparison.


    The warrior and pyromancer were left alone in the center of the arena.


    "You think he''s alright?" Gram asked after a moment.


    "He looked sick to the mind."


    "He should fine. We both read the game specifications when we accepted the pre-release, the technology is new but well-tested. Any VR system has to be certified for safety before sale."


    "I don''t know; I don''t trust it. He looked like he may have suffered real-world damage."


    Gram didn''t reply to that. The spasms had indeed been crazy.


    "So, what do we do?" Jodie asked. They were like little chicks without their mother.


    "No idea."


    "Let''s take a break. That ruined the mood."


    "Yeah, this VR helmet doesn''t feel so comfortable anymore."


    ¡­


    John was in the shower. It was one-thirty in the morning in the real world.


    RISE used time compression to ensure players could accomplish more, an average ratio of 1:2 real-time to virtual. The compression wasn''t constant, changing to allow players to enjoy the virtual world as much as possible but also keep the availability of the virtual world fairly equal amongst all users.


    During the real night, from 10 PM to 6 AM, the temporal factor was four, corresponding to a 32-hour period in the virtual world that started at 11 AM and ended at 7 PM the next day. This was the largest chunk of time that made it so those with daytime responsibilities could enjoy RISE.


    During the real day, from 6 AM to 10 PM, there was no compression. This was the virtual 7 PM to 11 AM, a 16-hour timeslot that allowed the truly dedicated to have a slight edge. However, this contained in the entire virtual night, limiting leveling at some points of the game.


    Thusly, 9:30 PM at Gyead, the time of the logout, coincided with around half past twelve. John had sat, curled up under the hot, splashing water for a whole hour.


    The warm droplets that hit his arm had seemed to soothe the twitching. But that was a while ago. The strain had stopped five minutes after the disconnect. He was rather trying to soothe the chaotic thoughts. John liked how the loud splashing helped drown out the noise he felt.


    He finally stopped and dried himself off after the water stopped feeling as warm.


    In hindsight, the whole thing made no sense. Questions that weren''t asked under the vengeful focus emerged now.The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    How had Lupe joined the pre-release after he lost his slip? Did he pickpocket another one like John? Had the Thunder Guild procured another one for him somehow? Even if they could, Lupe and Kain were only commanding members of a small region of a single server. Why did the guild attach such importance to Lupe?


    Why had Thunder Guild members followed them? Did Thunder somehow obtain information regarding John? Was it the first elite monster kill?


    The latter series could be attributed to a coincidence but the Thunder Guild still seemed to play a role with Lupe''s presence at the arena.


    John sat in the kitchen for a while and drank some water. Outside, light snowfall painted the window white. And there was his image again, the same person, still helplessly weak. He hung his head and drank some more, wishing it had the burning touch of alcohol.


    His journey into the past thus far hadn''t gone as planned. Wasn''t the knowledge of the future supposed to help? Sure, he had made incredible progress into the game, but the death seemed to have regressed him.


    John eventually got up and cleaned up, washing the glass and sweeping up the remains of the potted plant. It had been fortunate that Gramps was a very heavy sleeper.


    He could only resolve to try harder this time. He would complete the quests he had planned and abuse the empty hunting grounds. During the pre-release, the daytime cycle wouldn''t be activated, serving as a diagnostic and maintenance period. In the morning, he would run some real-world errands that he needed to finish.


    He would try to reach the highest level he could and break completely through Assimilation. During that time, he would also try to increase his Gyead reputation and set the groundwork to acquire some properties. He would take advantage of his market knowledge to stock up on resources for the first Gyeadian instance dungeon, the Tainted Tunnels.


    John lay back down, strapping the device back around his neck.


    ''Let''s go again.''


    [User Helios has sent you a friend request. (5h 33m ago)]


    [Attached Message: Hey, man, hope you''re alright. Nasty stuff you must have gone through. I''ve sent a report to the devs. Take it slow for a bit.]


    [User Selene has sent you a friend request. (5h 32m ago)]


    [Attached Message: Let us know if there''s something wrong. You might not be able to tell anyone about the events of the pre-release but we''re here. Also, there''s no need to refer us by our usernames, we''re friends, aren''t we?]


    John chuckled. It was true that he had referred to them by their in-game names, a habit of his ten years in RISE. Usernames eventually gained the same relevance as their real counterparts. Moreover, RISE was a separate world from reality, and many didn''t want the association. It felt weird finding a pair like them.


    "Excuse me."


    John realized he was back in the ring. A pair that were dueling was interrupted by his sudden appearance.


    "Could you clear the ring?" a confused warrior asked. Why had a random player logged on during the middle of his fight?


    "Yeah, sure." John left the ring.


    The huge room was far noisier than before: the in-game time was 3 AM and more players had discovered the arena. The spectators of this fight were focused on the weird thief. Their gazes followed John as he disappeared back up the dark staircase.


    He accepted Gram and Jodie''s requests only for their little availability lights to appear on his friends list, grey. They were offline. John sent a message for them to see when they came online and continued along.


    Rather than taking the elevator back to the glass spectators'' platform, John stopped on the fifth floor, taking another exit into the residential streets of Gyead.


    Due to the disorganized nature of Gyead, it was a bit weird to use a standard floor numbering system. It worked for the presentable areas like the central squares, barracks, arenas, and the market but broke when considering the informal areas. How would you number a floor that was really many platforms and paths at different elevations? After all, this city was a building on top of a building on top of many more. Builders never required licenses and ceiling heights were never standardized. Appropriately, the city was stabilized by magic formations or it never could have been erected.


    Thus, on the various street levels, narrow paths connected short buildings on each side. It could be thought of as a normal cramped street, only with another street or building atop it, repeated many times to the equivalent height of a thirty-story office building. However, the streets were never level. They sloped and turned untidily.


    The lower city, especially, was a mess for players to navigate. Even with plentiful experience of living at Gyead, John could only navigate places he had frequented or read a guide about.


    The goal was an NPC that stood in an obscure corner of Gyead at the equivalent height of the third floor. She was supposedly a cute little thing, around twelve years of age, that suffered from a disability, and lived with a hard-working single mother. John remembered her name was Anne but that could be either the mother or the child.


    The scenario was something you''d generally find in other RPG games and it would be fair for one to expect the same normalcy from the quest itself: something like a medicine retrieval quest or a donation. But Anne required the player to hunt and bring the bodies of thirty tainted rats ¨C the first quest of a chain. This wasn''t anything atypical for Gyead but weird given Anne''s backstory.


    The user, Jade Cookies, who had completed the quest and posted it on the forums in the past, never expected that this quest could deeply affect the Gyead''s early story. However, much to her surprise, it catapulted her to the head of the rankings and spearheaded her debut in Keeno Gaming, a giant of the international RISE community.


    John arrived at a public fountain somewhere on the western side at a level equivalent to the fourth floor. It was purified by an aquamancer somewhere, who also pressurized the pipes. The fountain was the light source of clearing, illuminating because of a light stone faucet which helped with cleanliness and cast weird upwards shadows.


    This was the general area; Jade Cookies never provided the specific directions to Anne''s house. But John could simply ask around. That was the beauty of a living, changing world: the NPCs would respond to John''s questions.


    It was early in the morning and there was only a homeless orphan that was drinking directly from the fountain. But that was fine, it was often the lower class that knew a lot of little secrets of their area.


    "Hey, kid," John said, crouching so their eye levels matched. "Why you out so late?"


    The girl, a redhead in tattered clothes with the nametag Chelan, paused her drink and gave John a cynical look. However, she still answered earnestly. "Everyone sleeps at night."


    John could understand what Chelan implied and hung his head in disbelief. Were NPCs always so shameless? "It''s wrong to steal," he finally said.


    "You''re a thief¡­"


    "And you''re an annoying kid. No one likes that."


    "¡­"


    "There you go, that''s better. Don''t talk when you have nothing nice to say." It was effective to fight fire with fire.


    "Mister¡­ What do you want?" Chelan said, exasperated.


    "I might not sound like it but I''m serious about not stealing. Offer a service for some money. Do you know an Anne?" John asked, twirling a copper coin on his finger. "She''s either a little disabled girl, a bit younger than you; blonde hair; blue eyes, or the same girl''s mother," he described, remembering one of Jade Cookies'' in-game photos.


    "One copper''s not much, is it?"


    "There''s more."


    The orphan eyed the copper for a moment, then quickly examined John, recognizing the weapon as one from the Gyead armory by its forger''s mark. He seemed to have a slight relationship with the military, but the clothes indicated that he wasn''t a soldier. He wouldn''t report her or do anything too dangerous.


    "Okay, follow me," Chelan submitted. "And, Anne''s the mother. The daughter''s name is Angelina."

 Hunting Tainted Rats

    Incidentally, Chelan knew Angelina fairly well.


    The military wasn''t the best at improving the lives of the common people: in the end, they were guarding at the edge of a possible war zone. The administration couldn''t worry much about hygiene, economy, education, none of that, as evidenced by the questionable residential zones.


    But they couldn''t just let people die by wandering into the tainted lands. So, they held public safety and news seminars for the civilian population. These heavily recommended sessions, mandatory for children, in fact, updated citizens regarding the current state of the tainted lands, precautions, and whatnot. Organized by informal districts, Angelina and Chelan attended the same PSAs, at this very fountain.


    Angelina suffered from a genetic deformity that resulted in twin bony protrusions from the shoulder blades. Additionally, the sickness distorted the kneecaps, making walking difficult. This wouldn''t be all bad except for the magical, surgical removal of these growths by religious believers, leaving the young girl thoroughly handicapped.


    In a way, Chelan and Angelina had suffered difficult lives thus far, and as the child population in their area was sparse, the two girls, both mature beyond their years, became friends - or perhaps more appropriately, acquaintances.


    Was it odd that she found it so easy to sell her friend out to a stranger? Chelan didn''t agree - that''s exactly what Gyead required of them to survive. Besides, was there was no certainty John had any cruel intentions.


    And so, Chelan led the strange thief to one of the small streets on the third floor.


    But Chelan never fully considered the exact reason why John was seeking Angelina. Chelan would never have guessed the secret that the poor family had.


    Angelina wasn''t actually completely human but rather a weird mixed breed of the human and something else. Angelina wasn''t her real name either: that''s why John couldn''t remember it. Her given name at birth was Rylai and the tale of Rylai and Anne was the story of an adopted motherly love that transcended race - one of tragedy. But at this point in the quest, Jade Cookies had described it such that it seemed that Rylai wasn''t quite aware of her own identity.


    John and Chelan soon reached their destination, an alley between two buildings. It was barely an alley, less than half a meter wide. It caused John to frown: an able-bodied person would have to navigate it sideways, and it was known that Angelina used makeshift crutches.


    "Through here," Chelan instructed, leading the way. "You might be too fat though."


    "Kid, you need to clean up your mouth," John scolded. "I''m technically your boss."


    Chelan snickered.


    John pulled out one of the magic stones from the rabbit''s den, using it as a lantern. He followed the little rascal into the narrow opening.


    They came to the space behind the two buildings. There was a sheet of metal that blocked the alley, serving as a sort of door if only for privacy.


    "Go ahead, knock," John said.


    Chelan tapped the metal three times, holding on to the sheet so it wouldn''t fall over. "Angelina, it''s me," her little voice called into the darkness.


    There was no response.


    "Again."


    Another three knocks. "Angelina, are you there? Anne?" Chelan turned to her employer. "There''s no one home."


    "Here''s a trick you''ll learn if you become a proper thief," John said. "With enough concentration, you can notice the little things." He had activated Thief''s Wit and the light breathing behind the door became audible for John.


    This was part of Angelina''s identity. How did Angelina know not to answer the door? She should have thought it was Chelan. Her powers unconsciously warned her of the thief.


    John pushed down the metal sheet, making a loud clang. The light stone revealed a wider passage that continued forward then turned right. Around the corner, a soft little gasp could be heard.


    John walked past Chelan. Frantic scrabbling was then heard as Angelina tried to back up. He turned the corner.


    She was exactly like Jade''s photos: she had surprisingly long, blonde hair tied up into childish braids; sky blue eyes; a weak body, skinny and dirty. The clothes were messy and thin for the cold winter, consisting of wool and rags. The legs, exposed up to the knee, were the worst ¨C fairly normal, only with prominent surgical scars running along their length. They had the right form but none of the function, supported by braces and crutches made of scaffolding.


    There was a terrified look on her face that made one want to give her a great bear hug.


    "It''s alright, it''s alright," John reassured.


    Angelina backed up against a wall and seemed ready to fight, raising her crutch in defense. The bottom cap was removed, revealing a sharp piece of debris.


    "Here, just relax," John said. "I''m here to help."


    Angelina waved the crutch spear around like a person trying to fend off a wild animal.


    John sighed, he had never been the best with quests and NPCs, especially children. On second thought, it was probably a bad idea to visit someone so early in the morning. Moreover, he was a stranger in a city that always feared strangers. A little girl''s DIY spear wasn''t really threatening but John couldn''t seize it by force and still hope to receive the quest.


    "Alright, Angelina," John said. "Put down the - err, crutch."


    "How do you know my name? Is it her?" Angelina instead turned the point towards Chelan. "Why did you bring him here?" she cried.Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators!


    Chelan didn''t speak the truth. "Don''t worry, he''s here to help."


    "Yes, that''s all I want," John added, trying to defuse the situation. "I just want to help."


    "Didn''t I say I didn''t need help? I told you to keep quiet!" Angelina exclaimed. Angelina''s mother must have warned about strangers, fearing Angelina might unknowingly expose her anomaly.


    "He''s trustworthy," Chelan insisted. Her tone was confident, but her words were empty.


    "What, does he look trustworthy?" Angelina asked angrily. She then noticed the heavy recruit pistol and the Gyead imprint. Anne''s warning must have been doubly true for the authorities. "You-You brought a soldier?"


    "He''s not a soldier. He just has ties with them¡­"


    "Yeah, I''m a not a soldi-"


    "Shut up!"


    "Angelina, calm down, I can help. I really can," John tried softly, approaching.


    -2


    She swung the weapon, grazing John on the cheek. A drop of blood ran down his face.


    Mirroring the blood, the first tear of Angelina''s traced the same path on her pale cheeks.


    "I-I-I''m¡­ I''m-I''m sorry... I didn''t mean to," she stammered. "Just¡­ Enough," Angelina finally said, defeated, dropping her makeshift weapon. The slums of Gyead weren''t suitable for the development of a young girl.


    Chelan was silent. She knew it and Angelina knew it ¨C it was just another everyday occurrence in Gyead. The lower floors were a struggle for everyone. People snapped all the time. But that didn''t make it feel any better.


    "Here, get off the ground," John comforted. "It''s cold." He was gentle, but in his heart, he was cursing. Hadn''t Jade Cookies described it as a simple hunting quest?


    John carried the shivering girl under the legs and behind the back, bringing her towards the bed. He couldn''t help but be conscious of the horrifying remnants of the scapel''s work. Her weight was surprising, barely anything.


    This was when he got a clear look at Angelina''s home.


    It was a little box near the western edge, around the size of a walk-in closet. The accommodations were bare. A small elevated area with some rags could be considered the bed for the family. At the edge of the city, they could at least get some sunlight through a hole in the walls that were currently covered up to limit drafts. A large bucket under the opening could cook food and provide warmth on the days they could get firewood. They did have belongings, but they were sparse and secondhand at best.


    John placed Angelina gently on the bed. He broke up a biscuit from his inventory and sat cross-legged on the floor. "It''s not much but eat up."


    "Th-thank you," the girl whispered. She nibbled on it slowly.


    [Affinity with Angelina has slightly increased]


    Affinity with NPCs usually jumped by large chunks with quest completions or gifts, but small acts could also increase it by small amounts (less than one point). It could become a considerable amount due to the ease of these slight increases, but the higher levels of affinity weren''t affected by small acts.


    While affinity was one of the final goals, it would much easier to obtain large amounts by completing the quest. Jade Cookies had said that Angelina gave the quest even though Angelina didn''t seem to know anything or was to shy to talk about it. It would be much easier to ask Anne.


    "Where''s your mother?" John asked.


    Angelina was very quiet. "She''s not home."


    "Is she busy? Doesn''t she need to work in the morning? Surely she needs to sleep doesn''t she?" John asked patiently.


    "She doesn''t sleep at home anymore."


    "Oh¡­ I see."


    [Affinity with Angelina has slightly decreased.]


    John cursed inwardly again. This damn quest background was really too depressing. Wasn''t Gyead famous for its combat? Why had one of its main story quests turned out like this?


    John took a deep breath. He could only try to coax the quest out of the shy Angelina or wait for Anne to return in the morning.


    ¡­


    It took John a while to finally receive the quest by persistently questioning the little girl. It felt bad asking so many personal questions, but by consistently feeding her, John was able to get five affinity points at the same time.


    In classic games, it would just be a quick linear dialogue and the quest would be obtained. RISE, in its pursuit of immersion, dropped this, opting for realistic conversation. It was well done but John really hated these kinds of quests when the player had to deal with such sob stories. It really invoked feelings of pity that he didn''t appreciate.


    [Hunting Tainted Rats]


    A¨CGrade Difficulty


    Angelina is suffering because of a genetic disconformity. Anne, her hardworking mother is struggling to make ends meet for the family.


    Slay and retrieve 50 Tainted Rats to help their situation.


    Tainted Rats Carcasses: 0/50


    Rewards: Variable affinity with both members of the family


    At least he did get the quest in the end. The number of rats wasn''t the same as Jade Cookies had described but that could be blamed on memory. Even though he had seen the description before, it still made John shake his head. It was really too misleading, starting normal, then taking a huge turn. He could only imagine confusion Jade must have experienced upon first receiving it.


    John''s foot landed on an unstable stair and he nearly tripped. He quickly closed the quest window and focused on the dark descent before him.


    Tainted Rats were native to the underground of Gyead. In truth, the giant butte upon which the city stood was an abnormality: the Bulwark extended out from its otherwise straight path meeting with the rocky protrusion. The caused all sorts of complications.


    Consider the life of the inhabitants of the city: it was kind of miserable, but they didn''t have to deal with pests. Normally, in such a mess, one could expect a massive population of flies but there were none. Even if it was winter now, shouldn''t there be abundant rodent life?


    John was currently descending into the depths of the city, traveling along one of many accessways into its black underbelly. That''s where the Tainted Rats were.


    The Tainted Lands were enough to repel most inferior organisms, and the Bulwark was enough to repel most tainted organisms. Gyead was weird, repelling normal pests. But it was also a break in the Bulwark. Only in the deep underground of the butte could one find tainted monstrosities within the confines of a human settlement.


    The indescribable odor of the cumulative filth of tens of thousands ¨C no, it felt like a hundred thousand ¨C filled John''s nostrils. This was the unkempt sewage of the city. Public defecation was huge problem in the lower levels of Gyead, and ultimately, gravity pulls downwards, causing the stuff to enter the sewers from everywhere. John could only be thankful the olfactory settings of RISE were adjustable.


    John reached the bottom of the metal spiral staircase, something out of a church. He took a look around in familiar displeasure.


    It was a dark sewage tunnel. The walls were stone, heavily eroded and stained by previously varied heights of flow. There was a stream of fast-moving effluent that rose to the ankle. John was thankful he purchased a pair of magically sealed boots beforehand as he stepped into the water. Most players, his past self included, hadn''t been able to afford the luxury.


    He went against the current, the speed seemed to indicate a fall in the opposite direction. There wouldn''t be rats there. With the light of the stone, the way ahead was exposed, revealing an intersection of tunnels. ''Two lefts, then a right,'' John recalled.


    RISE wouldn''t leave players completely without beginner mobs to fight at night. Players would discover the two main options sooner or later: the inside of the Bulwark where the taint was weak, and the sewers. The latter became a great option for players from level 1 to 10, and also contained Gyead''s first instance dungeon. Still, not all players, even many of the bold adventurers of Gyead, could bear the realistic, sickening environment.


    John soon arrived at his favorite spot during his low-level grinding. In the past, when Gyead''s surroundings were full of players, leveling speed was far lower. John had spent a good amount of time hunting the rabbits in the day and coming down here with Kevin at night.


    It was an old place, probably part of the long history of Gyead. The room featured tired stone arches, vaulted ceilings, uniform stone brick flooring, and a huge tile mural on one of the walls. John wanted to run over and brush off the grime - inspect the weathered image recorded there, caked with the dust of time ¨C just like he once had with his friends. The dim blue light of John''s stone completed the mystical feeling, drawing rays through the chalky air.


    Out of one of the four doorways in the room, a pair of eyes could be seen reflecting the magic stone

 Another Rat

    A tainted rodent emerged from the tunnels, revealing its ugly snout. It was smaller than the rabbits at twenty or so centimeters in height, composed of a fat body and short legs with sharp claws. The fur was short bristles, like the rabbits, and was a dark grey. The rats were also squishier than a rabbit of the same level but dealt more damage and were far quicker.


    [Tainted Rat]


    Level: 5


    HP 98/98


    This spot had been John''s favorite because of these little pests. They spawned at the perfect rate for party hunting for level threes or fours, and the open area gave users of larger, swinging weapons more room to work with. Not to mention, the chamber smelled a bit less and was drier than fighting in a sewer tunnel.


    John might be alone, and his level might only be three, but his gear was good, and his mechanics were far better than his past self. Furthermore, as long as he didn''t shoot the pistol, the rats would come out at a manageable pace.


    The rat engaged, darting around the pillars and between debris to close the distance safely. It was well aware of the little boomsticks that humans sometimes carried, even if this concern was misplaced.


    Relying on its night vision, small size and fantastic speed, the rat attacked from an unpredictable angle. It attached to the back of the thief''s heel and scurried up the tough material, aiming for the soft innards of the stomach region.


    -70


    [You have done a deadly blow to the Tainted Rat''s head, causing major bleed damage and limiting its senses.]


    John''s basic dagger immediately stabbed in the head. The blow was so well-placed, to an observer it would have seemed like the rat intentionally ran face-first into the blade.


    The Tainted Rat fell off the thief, laying on the floor when the dagger stuck it to the ground through its entrails.


    -40


    [You have slain a Tainted Rat]


    [You have gained 57 XP.]


    It was dead, just like that. It was far easier than John remembered. However, the XP reward was just good. He gathered the [Tainted Rat Carcass] that dropped. Normally, the body would yield some commodities and money, but John could directly store the body into his inventory as a quest item.


    "One down," John muttered.


    He hit a stone against one of the doorways, creating a reverbing smash sound. The scampering sound of claws on stone echoed in return.


    These newcomers numbered three, advancing as a spread group. They had good a plan, applying a wait and destroy tactic. The first two utilized the tainted rats'' spider-like climbing skills to disappear into the vaults of the ceiling, while the third melted into shadows of the floor-level rubble. The room was calm again as the beasts waited for the thief to make a mistake. John sighed - he admitted that RISE''s AI for tainted beings was great, but that didn''t mean he liked it - these hiding tactics took too long to deal with.


    He squatted down, picking up a flat stone from the ground. The unseen eyes tensed for a moment as the thief showed vulnerability, then hesitated, aware of the possibility of a trap.


    But none the Tainted Rats expected a projectile to fly into one of their peers. It wasn''t the work of Thief''s Wit: the skill wasn''t available during combat. Rather it was the result of bountiful experience with throwing knives, a thief''s weapons, and with similar situations, a thief''s specialty.


    -13


    [You target has been struck by a blunt object in hindquarters, temporarily losing control.]


    The massive rat fell from the rafters, right onto the dagger awaiting it.


    -46


    The point didn''t puncture a vital point but the combined velocities of the point and the rat, pierced through it.


    With a hiss, the rat at ground level made its move. It couldn''t wait any longer: the situation was rapidly becoming a 2v1, but at least his comrade was buying time with his life. The target was the magic light stone in John''s free hand ¨C the loss of the light source would surely disorient the foe. Furthermore, the stone, albeit dim, was uncomfortable for the tunnel dwellers.


    -17


    -18


    -20


    [You have slain a Tainted Rat]


    [You have gained 59 XP.]


    John grabbed the first rat by the neck and shanked it three times at lightning speed, before throwing the corpse, hitting the remaining rat in the ceiling.


    At the same time, the ground rat took a flying leap, aiming for the light stone and possibly John''s soft neck afterward. Normal rats can jump up to more than a meter, to say nothing of the tainted heavyweight.


    -10


    But with the same remarkable momentum the rat came with, it left, suffering a sewage-dripping boot to the face.


    Taking advantage of John''s split focus and the frenzy of events, the ceiling rat made a clean landing. It hissed and attached itself to the thief, before madly scrabbling for the delicious organs under the leather jacket.


    -34


    It soon found out the meaning of a nimble blade as it suffered a dagger to the side of the face. Just like its ally, it tumbled to the ground.


    -23


    [The Tainted Rat is suffering irreparable bleeding.]


    -13


    -21


    [The serious stab causes serve muscle damage and bleeding in the target.]


    -12If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    Before it''s remaining friend could return to the fight, John''s dagger drew a series of stab wounds all over its fur.


    -3


    -5


    [You have slain a Tainted Rat]


    [You have gained 62XP.]


    The executing blow wasn''t even delivered as the bleed ticks killed it.


    The last tainted rodent''s survival instincts kicked in. The poor creature had just witnessed two of its brethren brutally murdered in front of it. Their blood ¨C John might not have smelt it over the overpowering sewage ¨C but the rat sure as hell did.


    Its once aggressive claws carried it into the tunnel from whence it came. It could only take comfort in the fact that human seemed incapable to match its speed in the sewers.


    But the rat would never have expected to have to outrun a bullet.


    -27


    [Your shot has destroyed the tainted rat''s limb, crippling it.]


    The force of the oversized slug disintegrated the left hind leg, interrupting the rodent''s dash.


    John methodically cycled the bolt.


    -30


    -40


    [You have slain a Tainted Rat]


    [You have gained 57 XP.]


    In truth the rats were disappointing. They were weak and died in one flurry of his dagger. His memories depicted vivid scenes of the party struggling with three of the critters at the beginning, a real challenge. ''This just shows how exaggerated memories are.''


    Maybe that''s why he shot the gun, to recreate the same feelings. Maybe the speed was just too slow. Maybe, like many leading rank players, he had entered a bloodthirsty mode when he was hunting mobs.


    The screeching of a large number of rats rang through the tunnels and into John''s ears.


    ¡­


    [John]


    Class: Starter Thief


    Level: 3 (6290/9000)


    HP: 79/124


    Strength: 9


    Vitality: 9


    Agility: 12


    Dexterity: 13


    Intelligence: 8


    The fifty rats were very quickly dealt with and the solo killing of higher-level foes brought abundant experience. The killing speed was comparable to a whole team but by obtaining all the experience, John was able to gain nearly 3000 XP points in less than an hour. He was previously at 36% (3240XP).


    John only sustained very slight injuries by the increased rate. Given that a class could increase its total hit points by increasing vitality or simply leveling up, he could shrug off many of rats'' attacks with his superior health bar.


    The slowest part about hunting was waiting for health and stamina to replenish after a wave. Health might be able to be replenished by healers or potions, but generally, stamina had to be done out of combat. Thus, John had to stop using the firearm occasionally to give himself a lull to recuperate.


    That''s where most of the solo hunters in the past had the freest time. They would usually eat some biscuits, sit alone in the hunting ground, and contemplate their life decisions.


    As for John, he was considering whether to turn in the quest. It could wait and the next quest might not actually be doable at his current level. Alternatively, he could hunt until level four and break through the next level of Assimilation, unlocking RISE''s modification system.


    John examined his blood-soaked dagger and a rune he had obtained as a drop from the rats.


    [Basic Dagger (Lightly Modified)]


    A-Grade Dagger


    Durability: 37/50


    Attack Power: 10 Base | 11 Modified


    Equip Requirements: Basic Dagger Mastery Level 1, Player Level 1


    Modification:


    +10% Base Attack Power


    +5% Handling


    Notes: A typical low-tier dagger lost by an adventurer in the tainted lands; modified by the previous user to suit his needs.


    [Rune of Pistol Muzzle Velocity]


    A-Grade Pistol Rune


    Maximum Stack Size: 3 * Rune Mastery Level


    +10% Base Damage


    The rune system allowed players to customize the weapons to suit their needs, just like this dagger. Runes were items and could be applied to the weapon they were meant for. The modifications a rune could apply got pretty strong and unique: in the future, he would be able to put water damage on a fire staff, poison damage on a bow, durability on his throwing knives ¨C almost anything, as long as one could get the required runes or the materials to craft them. The crazier ones would fall under RISE''s enchantment system. However, that would take a while for players to truly develop.


    For instance, the most ubiquitous dagger modification increased base attack power by a percentage. It could be stacked to a maximum amount based on the grade of the rune and a player''s rune mastery, a universal mastery all classes had. Users could only use weapons with a certain number of unique runes installed based on their rune mastery. This mastery was notoriously hard to level, with no way clear-cut method to progression like dagger or longsword mastery, but eventually, the entire user base would be seen with huge stacks of runes on all their gear.


    Runes rarely dropped by mobs and the weapon of which the rune was for was influenced by the members of the party. Additionally, they could be acquired as quest rewards and from treasure chests.


    It just so happened that John was in a place that spawned treasure chests. Moreover, the first opening of these chests was guaranteed to give something good. On top of that, John knew the location of a few A-Grade chests and one B-Grade chest that had been taken by someone else in the past.


    ''I guess it''s treasure time.''


    ¡­


    ''These damn rats are everywhere.''


    The sewage seeped into Retzal''s boots, slimy on his sore feet. It splashed everywhere, staining his pants and created a stench so thick he could barely run without the urge to puke. He could feel and hear the waves of effluent but he could he couldn''t see anything ¨C he had lost the magic stone he bought. He stumbled forward like a blind man.


    Another gunshot fired somewhere in the tunnels.


    "Which dumbass keeps shooting?" he muttered angrily. Didn''t they know the gunfire agitated the rats?


    Retzal, a gun-based thief, had witnessed it firsthand when he had fired his pistol earlier. He had entered through one of the main entrances outside the low-leveled sections of the sewers. He had been pleased when level one rats died in a few hits. He farmed them fairly safely right at the entrance. He passed level two, also progressing a bit towards level three when some other players showed up. He then purchased some supplies and disappeared into the depths of the sewers.


    But he didn''t know the rats were scared of the surface and wouldn''t approached the guarded main entrance en masse. Retzal had bravely ventured forward before his gunfire attracted an army.


    Retzal was a self-proclaimed treasure hunter, explorer, and lockpicker extraordinaire. His adventurous feats in other games had earned him a spot in the pre-release. When he first read of the long history of Gyead, Retzal instantly knew there''d be something good underneath the city.


    But now, he was having doubts about the excursion. He was lost well below ground level with a manic who seemed to want to kill himself. Hundreds of rats, each over level four, must have been on Retzal''s tail in the endless tunnels.


    Another gunshot discharged, ringing through the sewers. It was louder and seemed closer than ever. At the same time, the hissing of the sewer rats seemed reinvigorated.


    "Bastard!" Retzal swore.


    -4


    Like karma had heard that, he then ran face-first into a wall, and fell backward into the sewage. It was unfortunate that the water level was considerable, briefly but completely, submerging the treasure hunter. Retzal leaped to his feet, spitting uncontrollably. He was bleeding from the face but couldn''t tell due to the viscous liquid coating his face.


    Retzal had no time to rest, and realizing it was a fork, he turned right. After a few more turns, he could see a faint blue light. The tunnel floor was deeper here and Retzal was forced to wade-run.


    Retzal soon recognized the source of illumination as a magic stone, not dissimilar to the one he lost. The light flickered a bit as a humanoid silhouette shifted in front of it. He seemed to be on a raised platform, completing a delicate task.


    "Hey!" Retzal shouted. "What are you doing!" Was this guy really just sitting in the middle of a high-level hunting ground nonchalantly?


    The figure didn''t reply but rather focused on his task.


    Retzal got closer and noticed the shape of a humongous handgun. Anger boiled up as he recalled his disastrous foray. "Are you the trigger-happy, suicidal dumbass who''s firing rounds left, right and center?" he hollered in indignation.


    That''s when Retzal learned it was probably a bad idea to scream at a possibly insane gunman. A round zinged passed Retzal''s cheek before he could even flinch. Milliseconds later, the supersonic crack of the bullet punched his ears, amplified by the enclosed space.


    -117


    Behind him, the extraordinarily well-placed shot hit a rat. It dug through the left eye and shattered the upper jaw, sending skull fragments into the brain. It continued through the brain itself, causing a nasty exit wound on the back of the neck.


    The single, near instantaneous action, had silenced both the rat and Retzal.

 Deeper Underground

    [You have successfully picked the A-Grade treasure chest]


    [Your lockpicking experience has increased by 4.5%]


    [You have obtained 11 coppers]


    [You have obtained an A-Grade Rune of Magic Staff Potency]


    [You have obtained an A-Grade Rune of Spear Pointiness]


    [You have obtained an A-Grade Rune of Greatsword Sharpness]


    [You have obtained a Gunner/Thief Skill Book: Rapid-Fire]


    ''Wow, lucky me,'' John thought as he stowed the goods with the rest of his booty. John then immediately fired his pistol. ''Now what''s with this guy? Looks like some fun.''


    -117


    [You have slain a Tainted Rat]


    [You have gained 54 XP]


    "Okay, okay¡­" the other player said, terrified. John''s level was hidden, but Retzal could tell he was hopelessly outmatched. "I''m sorry," Retzal read John''s nametag. "John. I didn''t mean any harm."


    John squatted and squinted, examining the weary arrival. The player seemed to be another gun-based thief and was in a miserable condition. "Retzal, huh? You sure sounded like you meant harm."


    "I was just a bit - err - annoyed¡­"


    "Your ''annoyance'' disappeared pretty quickly. Why were you even annoyed? Why can''t a man shoot his own firearm? Isn''t that one of your amendments or something?" John spouted.


    Retzal couldn''t believe this guy. Was he really talking about gun laws in a fantasy virtual game?


    Well, it was almost one the amendments of Retzal''s home country. It really concerned more of the possession and carrying of arms rather than the usage. The Hiar server didn''t only include players from Kinas and Trayin but also from the rest of Lansbe, as well as the United States.


    "Sure¡­" Retzal conceded. "But aren''t you afraid of the shots attracting the rats?"


    "Like this?" Another thundering gunshot fired.


    Retzal winced. "Yes!" he shouted then instantly quieted his voice. He concluded the player before him was insane. "Now stop! We need to run before the rats overwhelm us."


    "I don''t see any problem." Another massive bullet discharged. "Seems like good XP if you ask me."


    -50


    The shot hit a stray rat. John''s aim was getting terrifyingly accurate with practice on the rats. He was at least hitting moderately important parts of the rat every time. John very deliberately readied another shot to finish the crippled tainted rodent.


    "Please¡­" Retzal could feel an aneurysm developing.


    Bang!


    -63


    [You have slain a Tainted Rat]


    [You have gained 57XP]


    A huge mass of rats appeared at the end of the tunnel where Retzal had emerged from. The angry level four mobs quickly rushed the two players'' position.


    "I mean you can run if you''d like," John said calmly. "I won''t shoot you in the back, pinky promise," John added with a smile.


    Retzal''s left eye twitched. He didn''t move.


    John burst out laughing. ''I''ve really got fix this habit,'' he thought.


    John''s trolling since he was resurrected was getting out of hand. It was just that the newbies were so vulnerable and he hadn''t been able to indulge in so long.


    John pushed aside the treasure chest. Behind it was a vertical passage and an old ladder heading upwards, just like he remembered. It led to the surface - Retzal could use it to escape if he wanted to.


    Instead of taking the ladder, John reached down and lifted up a hidden trapdoor. Below, was another ladder, this time heading downwards. There were similar hidden passages all over the Gyeadian underground, remnants of the old days. John had used this ladder many times before to travel between the near-surface sewers and the deeper ruins below.


    John jammed the trapdoor shut behind him. ''Why was that Retzal guy even here?'' John thought as he climbed downwards. Retzal hadn''t hidden his level. It didn''t make sense that a level two would come into a hunting zone suitable for level five teams, and aggro every mob in sight.


    Retzal had never one of the famous players of RISE. He had been moderately popular in older games, but he had faded into obscurity with the advent of RISE. However, unknown to the player base and John, he was even more active than before.


    ''Well, he probably got the underground treasure chests'' first openings last time.'' John reasoned. Even if one couldn''t see it from John''s little pranks, John respected Retzal''s courage. It took a lot of strength and persistence to explore the sewers and obtain the treasure within. John was certain that Retzal had the ability to get the first openings. But why that still didn''t answer why such a good treasure hunter lacked so much discreteness, having so many rats after him in the first place.


    ''Oh, well.'' John shrugged and continued down the ladder.


    The B-Grade treasure chest was around two hundred meters below the butte''s ground level. John had just obtained the last of the A-Grade chests and he was 6% of the way to level five. This would be his last stop of the subterranean trip.


    John''s spoils from the six A-Grade chests could be considered excellent. Particularly:Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.


    [You have obtained Gunner/Thief Skill Book: Rapid-Fire]


    [You have obtained 2 A-Grade Runes of Dagger Sharpness]


    [You have obtained an A-Grade Runes of Pistol Muzzle Velocity]


    These were the directly usable resources he had obtained. Additionally, there was a total of 89 coppers.


    John smiled and learned Rapid-Fire.


    [Rapid-Fire]


    A¨CGrade Skill


    Rank: 1


    Damage: 65% of base damage


    Fire Rate Increase: 100%


    Accuracy Decrease: 50%


    Recoil Dampening: 30%


    Duration: 3s


    Cooldown: 60s


    Notes: Enter a rapid-fire state, dramatically increasing fire rate, reducing recoil, but limiting per shot damage and accuracy; bottomless magazine and no ammo usage during use; each shot is a normal round.


    Thieves in RISE could boast incredible stealth capabilities and burst damage with a dexterous dagger. They also had Thief''s Wit, which gave them a lot of utility. As a result, for balance, they didn''t have any offensive skills to start with. Despite John''s phenomenal successes, thieves were considered very weak at the beginning of the game. Their rise to relevance arrived when they learned their first offensive skill.


    Rapid-Fire was one of the essential skills of any DPS gun-based player. It allowed players to inflict massive damage during its activation period and also conserve ammunition. However, it was exceptionally rare for an A-Grade skill, with many players not obtaining it until their first tier advancement. Rapid-Fire was great but it was more suitable for most thieves to get a low-cooldown melee attack skill similar to Sweep or Stab. However, Rapid-Fire was perfect for John''s purposes.


    In addition to these items, John obtained a plethora of assorted runes and two other skills books.


    [You have obtained Optical Elementalist Skill Book: Focus]


    [You have obtained Arcane Magician Skill Book: Guide]


    These two were fairly common but strong spells.


    Focus, like the name implied, converged the rays of wide-range photonic spells of the optical elementalist, reducing the AoE in exchange for increased potency. John could sell the spell for quite a few coppers or hold on to it to barter with someone.


    As for Guide, it was a spell that allowed arcane mages to influence the trajectory of their spells to a certain extent. It was a low-tier spell, but it had relevance throughout the entire progression of the game because of the brilliant maneuvers a skilled magician could manage.


    In fact, it was Hysterica''s core mage''s specialty. Chelsea was known not only for her skillful manipulation of the skill but also for her creative applications. For example, she used Guide to time the trajectories of many different spells for simultaneous impact like no other player. Another remarkable thing was the feints she employed using the peerless mobility of her spells.


    John had always had her in his mind during his hectic adventure so far. The book further reminded him of her - he could only hold onto the skill book for when she joined. Chelsea entered RISE at the very beginning of the official release.


    The ladder ended at around the 150th meter. He had left behind the reeking sewage behind and now entered the top levels of the main ruins of Gyead. It would take a while for the players to find the few secret passages that would lead down here.


    One might expect NPCs to have thoroughly explored the lower ruins by now as Gyead was a historical military outpost. But there was a taboo around excavating near the Bulwark. The fear was that the magic formation could be damaged, or a tunnel could be exposed and let the taint in. NPCs also thought the same regarding the base of the butte.


    Of course, a taboo was just another reason for players to explore. It turned out that the Bulwark was essentially invulnerable and extended indefinitely underground, leaving only Gyead.


    John finally reached the end.


    There was another trapdoor at the bottom of the ladder. The exit was on the ceiling, near a wall. John kicked it open and hung upside down from the last rung, examining the area with the light of the magic stone.


    [Skeleton]


    Level: 37


    HP: ???/???


    John saw a skeleton and quickly hid the light into his fist.


    It was an undead. Like many of its computer game predecessors, RISE also had undead. They were generally very rare, only appearing in ancient areas or shortly after mass bloodshed. Their levels varied, but in the Gyeadian ruins, it was enough to make their health values unknown.


    The skeleton seemed to be the remains of an ancient worker. It was unarmed, and the bone structure was poor with a hunched back. The bones themselves were discolored as if the tissues had been stripped of flesh yesterday, rather than the dry brittleness of many years of burial. It was unmoving, in a relaxed position against the wall below him, but John knew it would act when it was awoken.


    He activated Stealth and Silent Steps. He dropped onto the ground like a cat in the night. The covert skills were useless in the watery passages of the sewage system, but the stealth was sufficient for the sedated skeletons who thankfully didn''t have a sense of smell.


    John split his fingers slightly and used the slim ray to navigate the absolute blackness. His memories were refreshed as he got a better view.


    The room was a wreckage of bunk beds, collapsed and wooden, but not decayed. There were covers and pillows, dusty, torn and stained red, but still intact. He waved the makeshift flashlight around. There appeared to be rows and rows of bunks which covered the entire room that was so large, the weak stone didn''t reach the far wall.


    It was an impossibly well-preserved bunkroom of the perished.


    John had only visited the ruins after the preliminary Gyeadian player expedition team, lead by a medium guild, had cleaned it out. These skeletons that didn''t respawn were long gone when he had passed through.


    John would have never have imagined how many there were.


    Leaned against their bunks, sprawled against the floor, in their bed in sleep made eternal, the remains of hundreds, maybe thousands, of laborers furnished the way before him. John instinctively held his breath as he stepped over their comatose femurs.


    The exit doorway was located across the room and the silent John managed to somehow cross the expanse of bones safely.


    There was a long empty hallway, with similar doorways on both sides. John glanced in each one even he knew that there would be the same as the first.


    The beam of light surveyed the next room. It was another bunkroom, just like the first. It was full of skeletons. The next room was just as packed. And the next.


    John could feel a headache arising. He had been planning on raiding the ruins with some other players. He was fairly confident that if he got Jodie, the pyromancer, maybe a few others to around level forty-five, he would be able to clear it through a slow advance and AoE magic. But he could now understand why an entire level 40+ guild had been required in the past.


    This also meant that the moment he was detected, he was dead. Keeping that fact in mind, John crept to the next section of the ruins. He entered from the hall onto a structurally unsound balcony that overlooked a production area.


    This was a huge open space, comparable to size with the main arena of Gyead although not as tall. It was like a factory, with huge cranes and massive vats of dried liquid. At ground level, networks of pipes ran around leading to and from industrial-sized furnaces. The light of John''s stone was lost by the crazy mess of catwalks and magic conduits that powered the magic machinery.


    And again, there was an army of latent skeletons, on a shift they will never clock out of.


    John descended a ladder into the manufacturing graveyard. He cautiously circumvented the densest skeleton populations and approached a huge magic formation at the center of the room. It was a colossal circle that powered the synthesis process of the factory. Alluring patterns and runes composed a beautiful melody of magic. Atop it was a humongous magic stone that was still shining brilliantly regardless of the uncounted years that had passed.


    John walked towards it, admiring the enigmatic marvel. And then he dived head-first in a chute, disappearing further into the Gyeadian underground.

 Treasure Hunting

    There were no twists or turns.


    The sides were smooth to ensure no material got stuck, however, the metallic surface, even if coated with years of dusty offered little resistance to John''s rapid descent. He felt the rushing air, full of dust, hitting his closed eyelids. His dry lips were shut the whole way, for fear that a mouthful of the stuff might enter his lungs.


    After a very brief descent, the chute leveled off like the side of a bell curve. John went straight into the side of a mound of light particles, probably ashes or flaky fuel. He climbed to his feet and dusted himself off.


    The chute might be unpleasant, but it was a fantastic shortcut.


    The magic stone quickly unveiled the brown color of the surroundings. The room was a combustion chamber of sorts, shaped like the inside of a vase, with walls made of firebrick. There must have a huge blaze here before. John slid down the pile of spent fuel and out one of the air intakes that lined the side walls.


    There was a large circular area that surrounded the furnace. Huge billows and pedestals for wind elementalists covered the air intakes. These laborers that manned the area were still in the room, scattered from their positions after what seemed to be a frantic but impossible escape.


    The room was far enough underground to remain at a normal temperature year-round, and the furnace was long dead, but there was an uncomfortable warmth.


    The heat of the fire must have been unimaginable at peak operation.


    John slipped out of the room hastily.


    His destination was one of the manager''s office. When the medium guild had swept through, that''s where they had found the B-Grade treasure chest, the first the entire Gyead region.


    Treasure chest tiers were weird. B-grade didn''t necessarily mean that B-grade items were inside, or that a B-grade boss was guarding it. The items inside weren''t game-changing. The biggest treasure for the medium guild had been the area itself. But B-grade was outstanding for an individual at this point.


    In the previous timeline, they encountered Manager Bressh, a B-grade field undead boss. In RISE, after common and elite monster, there were bosses, ranked by the standard alphabetic tiers.


    B-Grade field bosses usually required large teams of players to raid successfully, assuming their levels were similar to the boss and their tactics were effective. Additionally, most bosses had skills, weak points, and strengths that needed to be discovered to facilitate the raid.


    Manager Bressh was a large warrior type skeleton which wielded a battle ax. He had an absurd defense to physical damage types other than collision. However, his damage was very low for a monster of his tier and his combat skills were very weak. His key characteristic was his ability to summon waves of skeleton workers to assault invaders. Moreover, provoking him meant provoking every monster in the ruins. This didn''t matter for the past-life expedition which had cleared the ruins, dealing with the boss last, but would be horrifying for a sneaky thief.


    In short, it was impossible for John to do anything to Bressh whose battle regeneration would easily out heal anything a level four could do. Moreover, level suppression was a very real thing in RISE.


    But John had a plan.


    Bressh''s office was big for an office. Still, no matter how big an office was, an enclosed space was unsuitable for a fight involving many players. That was another challenge of the raid: Bressh could only be attacked by a relatively small number of players. It was crucial to pull him out into an open area like the factory or into the giant furnace.


    That was how players defeat him in the past: by pulling him into the furnace and roasted him. The B-grade undead boss, weak to ocular, fire, and holy magic was killed by sub-level 50 players under the flames'' suppression.


    However, when the raid team baited out the boss, none of them had the idea to search the office. They would have found the B-Grade treasure chest far easier otherwise.


    John theorized that he might be able to sneak past Manager Bressh, considering that he hadn''t woken a single soul. The previous players had killed every monster in the ruins before finding the boss awake and guarding his wares. Perhaps, like the other skeletons, he would still be sedated at this moment. It was a bit optimistic, but then again, no game would expect a player to be exploring the ruins so early and know the way well enough to arrive quietly.


    Besides, what did he have to lose? Maybe some experience, but Assimilation barriers weren''t revoked. He might drop items too, but it would be most likely a cheap equipped item. It was well worth the risk.


    The office was in a hallway near the furnace room. John avoided the skeletons that lay on the floors fairly easily. The intact wooden door, distinguished by a large number and nameplate, was ajar.


    John poked his head through the open office door.


    Manager Bressh''s office had a sort of waiting room before the office itself. This room had basic chairs, a low-table, very typical. The curious rays of the magic stone looked around, and confirming it was safe, John entered. He stowed the light source and took a deep breath.


    The next door was the crucial one, shut firmly.This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work.


    It made an awfully loud sound as John pushed it open. He winced with every creak. He opened it a quarter of the way and held it there.


    Nothing.


    John relaxed a bit and gradually reequipped the light stone, suppressing the full light, and peered around the door.


    Bressh''s room was completely empty. Well, the furniture was exactly where it was supposed to be. Bressh''s desk was the same and there was the chair reminiscent of any executive''s office. It just that it didn''t have the occupant.


    ''Huh?''


    John entered the office, closing the door behind him. He deactivated his stealth skills and uncovered the magic stone.


    The shadows were not playing tricks, the boss really wasn''t there.


    John activated Thief''s Wit. There were no traps, not even a single suspicious thing rather than the lack thereof.


    John checked for the treasure chest, allegedly hidden inside the drawers of the desk. At least that was still there. B-Grade treasure chests were different from the plain wooden crates of A-Grade. It was a proper metal box coated with anti-picking magic formations and massive lock.


    John considered his options for a moment, then went to pick up the chest. Treasure chests were items in RISE and as such, could be stored in the inventory and transported around. However, their weight values were usually absurd and required a long time to store. Moreover, chests were guaranteed to drop upon death.


    A little progress bar appeared as John began stowing the treasure.


    ...


    Manager Bressh was a diligent supervisor in life and even more so in death. Rather than the expected slumber, he was patrolling the halls, ensuring the dead workers did their jobs they hadn''t done for countless years. As a higher-tiered undead, he was somewhat bound by the quirks of his life and he liked to make morning rounds of the factory ¨C it was coincidentally around 8 AM.


    Another weird trait of Bressh''s was the addition of a supernatural instinct. The instant John laid his hands on the treasure chest, Bressh felt an electrical signal run down a dead spine. Actually, some other bosses could remotely detect robbers, but this ability was inconsistent amongst B-Grade and was previously undocumented for the skeleton warrior. His oversized ax dragged along the stone ground until sparks flew up. The large skeleton warrior let out a howl and rushed towards his office.


    ...


    Meanwhile, John was stealthily exiting the office as the skeletons in the hall started to stir. One might assume that it was because the boss'' chest awoke them, but John knew otherwise. Their behavior was telltale of command by a superior monster, something far more fearful.


    John immediately dropped his stealth skills that limited his speed. As soon as the skeletons were awake, the quiet approach was a dead one. Even with the poor detection skills of skeletons, the level difference would catch him within a second at this range.


    ''The boss is home.''


    As the lethargic collection of workers woke from their daze, John ran as fast as he could. He adopted the workers'' hunched posture as the huge weight of the chest dragged him down. The first skeletons were on their feet now, chasing John at their best speed. They were, fortunately, common undead, and very slow.


    It was a snail race. But as more and more undead arose, it became a race of one against many.


    John didn''t have far to go though. His haven was right ahead - the washroom. That was his plan. There were many entrances and exits from the lower ruins, and this was one of them.


    The skeletons definitely seemed to get faster as the chase continued. More came from other hallways and rooms, flooding in from all directions. Clearly, no worker, dead or alive, wanted to get on Bressh''s bad side.


    John made it into the washroom by some means. He equipped his starter dagger and jammed it into the handle of the wooden door behind him.


    The room was a normal but ancient bathroom. There was a line wooden toilet seats, the kind that didn''t flip up, with a hole shaped like a perfect circle, and a disposal system that was essentially a giant tank underneath.


    John hacked at an intact wooden toilet seat with his dagger, trying to expand the hole large enough to fit a human. The sound of break wood was incredibly loud, not only with the scraping of John''s weapon but also the hundreds of bony fingers scratching against the bathroom door.


    Players had already destroyed the seats when he had visited last life - John had no idea how hard it would be to cut through hardwood several centimeters thick with a dagger. He swore as he switched to the pistol and activated Rapid-Fire, spraying the huge rounds.


    Explosive bangs resonated through the room, the last of which being the skeletons knocking the door down. The door had held on for a very long time. Undead were unusually dimwitted for RISE AI and the skeleton workers normally used scratch or grab attacks that were ineffective on hard materials.


    John split open the weakened toilet seat with his dagger and leaped feet-first into the tank below. The fit was tight and the splinters dug into his coat, but he couldn''t care less.


    -18


    [You have strained your ankles; you will feel temporary difficulty walking.]


    John fell like a rock and nearly broke his ankles on the landing. He had rolled to lessen the fall, but still injured himself.


    John urgently raised the magic stone upwards, revealing the skeletons crowding around the small hole and jamming themselves. He was safe.


    ''Phew.''


    It occurred to him that he might have dealt with too much sewage today. At least, the tank was fairly dry after a long time of disuse. He caught his breath and ate a biscuit while waiting out the numbness in his joints.


    Players would eventually be able to purchase return scrolls to go back to the fountain instantly but that cost too money for a relatively short distance. The pipes were a great shortcut for players trying to exit from the bottom floors of the ruins and return to Gyead, just like the chute was a great shortcut for the opposite. Normal players would be able to kill Bressh on respawn or farm certain areas where skeletons could respawn, and return to Gyead without any distractions.


    John had farmed skeletons in one of the warehouses and would come through here at daybreak to return to the main ladder. He would then sell items and repair gear at Gyead.


    But rather than returning to the main ladder, John followed the pipes all the way to the other side of the complex. It was likely that most of the skeletons assembled near Bressh''s office and the washrooms when he had been discovered. He would take an alternative exit.


    It took a little while to find the right pipes that led to the other side. The areas closer to Bressh''s office were better for leveling and John had only briefly leveled here, never taking the pipes between the two areas either.


    The thief poked his head through the toilet seat, looking like a monster. It was washroom identical to the one before.


    John only needed to cross a production area and climb a few flights of stairs. He crept to the large section and lurked in the hall, surveying the room.


    This production area was dedicated to materials refinement. Rows and rows of magic formations spread out the whole football-sized area, like workstations in a huge sewing factory. Magic formations were optically variable and the grid layout of them on the floor cast interesting patterns with the bouncing of the blue rays of the magic stone.


    The room was completely devoid of skeletons. However, the open sight lines would make any thief uncomfortable.


    But what else could he do?


    John reactivated his Stealth and Silent Steps and stuck against the wall, progressing slowly.

 To the Light

    Bressh arrived at the washroom shortly after the thief disappeared into the pipes.


    Undead workers pressed against each other to make way for the angry ax. They quickly evacuated the tight quarters of the washroom to allow the manager to examine the escape.


    Bressh''s spine was still tingling, screaming that the thief had his chest, somewhere. The eyeless sockets stared at the tiny hole where the thief must have escaped. He gave the wooden seat a cleaving blow, splitting it open.


    The manager issued a voiceless order.


    The undead workers poured into the system and flooded the pipes. They had no idea where the thief would be and had insufficient intelligence for tracking but merely searched every possible path with their numbers.


    More mobs rushed through the halls of the facility, determined to surround every washroom and flush the rat out.


    ¡­


    John was mostly across the materials refinement area when he heard an awful rumbling in the walls and from below, like an earthquake but without the shaking.


    He hesitated for a moment and canceled his stealth. The sound spread throughout the entire room, loudest from the washroom he just escaped from. John ran as fast as possible under the weight of the chest, going for the stairs.


    The was an explosion as a huge hole appeared in one of the far walls. A shrapnel storm of stone and metal pipe fragments rained down on that half of the room.


    It was the magic used by skeleton workers. Like the giant furnace and refinement areas, magic was required for the factory to function. It was done by workers with higher than average intelligence drafted into basic magic classes that only taught them one spell. It was weak, but many wind blasts and fireballs could create a magnificent expansion of gases.


    Rushing over their colleagues downed by the explosion, the melee workers oozed out of the pipes, chasing the light of the magic stone.


    But for some reason, the light was soaring towards them.


    The dimwitted assortment of bones piled over the stone like birds fighting for food.


    With each attack, the stone glowed brighter and brighter until it reached its critical threshold. Magic stones were, after all, not only limited to light sources but could also serve as energy carriers. They were durable but under the overwhelming damage of the skeleton army, it erupted in a brilliant arcane burst.


    Amplified by the magic formation beneath it, a purple energy burst burnt within the skeleton mob, briefly distracting everything.


    John quickly fished another magic stone out of his inventory - the second of three he had found in the rabbit''s hole - and held it tightly in his hand as he continued his dash.


    The purple light rapidly cooled into pink then black. Regaining their night vision, the skeletons noticed the thief across the room with his little bobbing light.


    Another horde of skeletons workers rushed through an entrance at the side of the room near John. They slipped and tumbled as they tried to turn to madly chase after the thief.


    John interrupted his sprint and turned. The magic stone left his hand.


    The blue stone was like a magnet, drawing the skeletons like paper clips. Some continued to chase after John, but it was enough. The light completely disappeared under the yellow, ugly bones, casting the room in a momentary veil. Another intense arcane combustion occupied John''s pursuers.


    The room ended at the stairs, metal and open to the room, something out of a fire escape. John took the stairs five at a time, rushing towards the third floor.


    Behind, recovering from their daze, the skeleton army advanced up the staircase, climbing up the sides, stumbling up the steps, piling atop each other, anything to kill the pesky thief.


    As John raced upwards, the steps, clear moments before, were engulfed by the monster horde. The metal staircase was never meant to hold so much. The steel groaned under the immense weight.


    At ground level, Manager Bressh could be seen emerging from another hallway. The undead skull instantly locked eyes with John, and he let out a roar, riling up the skeleton army. He pushed through the waves of mobs, chasing after the intruder.


    The wave of skeletons was right behind him, grabbing at the thief that always seemed to be one step ahead. A source of dim but provocative light froze them for a moment as the last magic stone appeared from John''s inventory.


    The thief was now at the landing between the second floor and third floor. The stone was in his hand.


    John slid to a stop against the textured metal platform. His upper body twisted, and the momentum transferred to the arm.


    The stone flew with admirable speed, making a beautiful arc in the dusty workshop air.


    John could have sworn that he felt the wind of the rushing skeletons on his back. They leaped off the platform, through the thin railing, and over the edge. Not all of them fell for it, some rather turning to chase the thief, but the crowd was enough to drag the stragglers into the calcium tsunami. On the ground, the myriad skulls traced the stone, shoving over their peers in an effort to pursue it. The army in the air and the army on the ground closed on the lone light like the jaws of a beast.Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.


    The stairs finally had enough, collapsing as the bony overgrowth pulled it laterally. As John completed the last steps, the whole thing was wrenched off the wall, falling like a giant domino.


    A skeleton that had made it up the stairs, accelerated to leap the gap. John brought up the heavy recruit pistol.


    The round would do little or no damage, but the momentum was more than enough to slow the skeleton down. The shot hit it in the skull and the impulse made its head jolt backward. It smashed into the edge of the hallway where the stairs used to attach and bounced into the horde below.


    Meanwhile, the metal stairs twisted as they fell, the supports failing under forces it was never meant to handle. It hit ground at the same time as the magic formations exploded, making a satisfying boom.


    But the thief didn''t watch it, he was long gone.


    ¡­


    [RISE Announcement: A lone adventurer has acquired the first B-Grade chest]


    A lively discussion erupted on the pre-release forums in response to this message that had appeared before every player in the world. A humongous stream of comments appeared on the threads considering the tiny player base on the pre-release.


    The most popular of these threads was started by Solidus, the guild leader of Heritage, a huge European gaming organization. He was also huge in the online community because of his large number of posts and online presence. Solidus was typically very instructive, making guides to help beginners, but now, the tone of his text was astonishment.


    Solidus: B-Grade chest already? The first two Elite monster kills are early enough. Then this¡­


    John wasn''t aware of this thread ¨C he was busy running from the mobs ¨C but he didn''t even yet know there were pre-release forums. It was written in the pre-release agreement, the one John had never read.


    Chrystocrene: Isn''t this great for him? I mean, it''ll put him on top. That''s why we''re here, isn''t it?


    Bumpkin: Sure, it''s good for him but what about the rest of us? Elite monster first kills are fine, someone will probably get the third one soon, but I doubt that we players can get two more B-Grade chests before the official release. What will players say if their first chest is announced as the second?


    Leafeas: Some really people don''t consider their actions and ruin it for us all.


    But John was always considering the game. He was well aware of the future. While the pre-release was a commotion when it was revealed, the anger didn''t affect the game at all. People were dependent on RISE by that time. John was fairly certain that by the time players got legitimate B-grade chests, the same would be true. The RISE team might also do something about the record.


    Third August: Surely the devs will do something about this. Everyone knows the pre-release will be leaked at some point, but they can''t let it be this easy, right?


    Reaper: They''ll probably just reset the counter: easiest course of action.


    Raithene: Agreed.


    ¡­


    The secret passageway was located in a cupboard. It had been well-hidden, and the total darkness didn''t help. It took a few minutes, but some memory and Thief''s Wit was sufficient.


    This ladder had once been a nice shortcut for players looking to directly enter Gyead without passing through sewers first. Its only disadvantage was the distance from desirable spawn points. But now it was securely jammed.


    John had quite the climb ahead of him, in darkness too.


    It would be a bit difficult to navigate the passages above without a magic stone, but the three charges had undoubtedly saved his life.


    The damage of the stones, when amplified by the magical formation had been greater than expected. It was only unfortunate that it wasn''t enough to kill a single skeleton. They might be clumsy, but in the end, they had the durability of a level 37 mob. The real damage resulted from the crowding and falling stairs which wouldn''t give John any experience.


    After the entire ruins, John had gained no experience at all. But he smiled, knowing the heavy chest was weighing him down.


    The B-Grade chest wasn''t worth that much. It might have been Manager Bressh''s personal belongings in life, but B-Grade wasn''t amazingly valuable. It would be incomparable to the drops of the boss himself; the chest was just a little bonus. The real valuable part of the ruins were the mobs themselves which could be easily farmed. Other B-Grade bosses in RISE could be guarding higher tiered chests but that would mean the value would be lost in the farming.


    As for how to access these goodies, John''s level one lock picking mastery would be wholly insufficient. Of course, he could pay to have an expert NPC thief open it. That, however, carried the risk of it being seized. He could go to a locksmith, but locksmiths were unlikely to open it without gained some affinity or reputation first. The price for either might be exorbitant at this point too. John could only put it off for now.


    John would return to Gyead, fix up his gear, store the heavy chest, sell off the excess tainted rat and rabbit parts he forgot earlier, before turning in the quest. John wanted to purchase some magic stones too; he was reminded of how useful they were in the darkness of early RISE. He had planned on visiting the runesmith, but changed his mind. He would go when he got a better weapon. Small percentages weren''t very important when the base damage was still low.


    ¡­


    The cover on the window was replaced with a transparent sheet of sorts. It let the drab light into the room. It wasn''t pleasant, but it was better than being in darkness. Under the window, Angelina''s golden locks were bright, even in the brown atmosphere.


    John tapped the open metal sheet. She was curled in a ball on the bed. "Angelina," he whispered.


    She awoke with a cute jolt. But she immediately pinched her nose. "You smell bad."


    "Tainted rats live in the sewers. What else would you expect?"


    "You got them all though, right?" Angelina asked quietly. It was as if she was embarrassed to be imposing on a stranger. "Fifty carcasses?"


    "Yes, I do," John answered, retrieving the fifty rat bodies from his inventory.


    Angelina accepted them gratefully. "Thank you. By that wall please."


    [Quest, Hunting Tainted Rats, has been completed]


    [Good clear rating achieved]


    [You have gained 10 affinity with Angelina.]


    [You will gain affinity with Anne when she returns.]


    The affinity was good, but the clear rating was only good. That was probably because John had taken a lot of time to hand in the quest. This was acceptable because of the chests he had gained.


    But the last notification prompted John to ask a question. "Where''s your mother?" John asked. "Shouldn''t she be back?"


    "She has a job in the morning. She''ll be back in the afternoon."


    John sighed. ''Back to this game.'' It would probably be easier because of the affinity that he had gained, but Angelina still annoyingly introverted. "Is there anything else you need me to do?"


    Jade Cookies had written that the next quest was suitable for level nines. She found the first quest when she was level thirteen, so it didn''t matter for her, but John wasn''t sure about it. Angelina was supposed to ask the player to venture into an area of the tainted lands for another hunting quest.


    This time would be to kill an elite tainted deer.

 The Children and Their Games

    "Actually, there is something¡­"


    "Yes, what is it?" John was elated, finally getting somewhere after another while of comforting and feeding.


    "It''s just ¨C I-I." Angelina didn''t seem to want to say it aloud. She had done the same when she asked John to kill the fifty tainted rats. Her voice dipped into nearly inaudible levels. "I need you to kill again."


    "There''s no shame in that," John comforted. "They''re only monsters."


    "Yeah¡­"


    "So, what do you need me to kill?" John asked impatiently. He knew the answer, but Angelina needed to say it for the quest to activate.


    "In the northern Yessif crater," she whispered. "There''s a monster that roams near the edge¡­"


    "Miss, there''s a lot of monsters in the tainted lands."


    "I need a big one... Deer."


    [Hunting Elite Tainted Deer]


    A ¨C Grade Difficulty


    Angelina is grateful for your help in hunting the tainted rats. Although regretful to bother you, she requests your help once more.


    Slay three Tainted Elite Deer, level 10 or over, to help Angelina. Return the heads before she feels abandoned.


    Elite Tainted Deer Heads: 0/3


    Time Limit: 2 days


    Rewards: Variable affinity with both members of the family


    That was interesting. John was positive about this part of the chain quest ¨C Jade Cookies had specified it was one elite monster, not two, and certainly not three. The quest line was changing. It was nothing big at the moment, but that too might change. Each quest was harder than Jade Cookies'' quests as well. Was there something that was causing this? What was so different from Jade''s playthrough of the storyline? John had no idea.


    But in the end, be it one or three, killing any elite tainted deer was hard at this point in the game. Three would just spend a few more resources and time.


    The elite tainted deer, like most tainted organisms, was larger than its traditional version. But they were aggressive and had several quirks like poisonous antlers on male deer. Their hide had the usual toughness associated with the taint and their hooves were far nimbler and sharper. They were at least level 7, which was good for level 9 teams. However, Angelina wanted level 10s, within a time limit too.


    Essentially, the quest was impossible at the moment.


    John gave a regretful smile. "I''m afraid that might be too difficult at the moment. I will need more time."


    "No, no, no. It''s alright. That''s quite alright." Angelina quickly said. "Don''t bother, I''m asking too much."


    [Quest, Hunting Elite Tainted Deer, is on hold.]


    John could see the quest slipping away. He had lost a quest in the past before because of a similar reason. "I know I can do it. I just need some time, a bit more strength," he asserted.


    "I can''t impose on you; I really can''t," Angelina insisted. She bushed a bit and returned to her quiet self. "I mean, you''re a stranger, aren''t you? You''ve helped so much already. It''s wrong for me to be so dependant on someone I just met..."


    John then pulled out some of the cheesiest stuff he ever said. In the past, he was really inexperienced with these kinds of story quests and he was even more so with children.


    It was a line straight out of the movie with slight adjustments.


    John recited, trying his best to keep a serious face and tone. "Is it wrong that I bring you food? It means that I share your hunger. Is it wrong that I speak with you? It means that I want to learn." He took a breath, trying to be dramatic, just like in the film. "Is it wrong to guide you, to help you, to kill you ¨C err ¨C to kill for you? It means that I ¨C" He froze. The original line was ''I love you'', but John couldn''t say that without any negative connotation. He stammered in hesitation. " I-I-I¡­ care."


    John clenched his teeth, hope his false sincerity was enough. ''Please¡­''


    Angelina fell silent and her vibrant, blue, little eyes shimmered with the purest color. It was the result of the refraction of a tear, the translucence in the rumpled, but beautiful hair, and the tainted sunlight that somehow felt clean. Then she quickly hid her face, turning away from the thief.


    [You have gained 15 affinity with Angelina.]


    ''Yes!'' John exclaimed in his mind. That line was more difficult that any monster he had ever fought. ''Also, isn''t this affinity stupid easy to get?''


    Angelina suddenly gave John a hug. She seemed to forget that he smelled like shit, that she might later get the bed dirty. The shoulder was extremely firm ¨C well it might have been the leather armor; low-leveled players weren''t that buff ¨C and it had a certain warmth, even if it was smelly. Such was the power of a newfound fatherly figure in a distraught girl. They might have met recently, but Angelina found John''s awkward affection very genuine.


    "Um¡­" John felt weird. He might have been old enough to be a father in the past, but surely not for a ten-year-old daughter. Moreover, his character was only seventeen, just like his real body. "Angelina¡­" he mumbled.


    "I''m-I''m-mm ¨C sorry," she wailed, snot dribbling on John''s coat. "It''s just been¡­ And mother... I can''t ¨C can''t be weak¡­"Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.


    Then John gave up. He had guaranteed the obtainment of the quest and pretty much every chain quest after that. This would be an immense profit in the long run and John was certain he could make it to the top through the rewards. It wouldn''t hurt to let her have her way for a bit. He wiped Angelina''s nose and awkwardly put his arms around her tiny back and disfigured shoulders.


    "Trust me," John added, almost forgetting the last line of the film''s monologue.


    He immediately realized that that might have been a mistake. Hadn''t Angelina reached her breaking point exactly because she trusted someone? John looked down at the little mess of blonde hair in his arms who was sobbing with an uncharacteristic loudness. ''Thank god she didn''t hear that.''


    "Well¡­" John made it out of the embrace eventually. "I should get going."


    "Alright," Angelina said, retreating knowing what she had been a little odd and also a little forceful. She wiped her face and lay back on the bed, forgetting about the smell.


    "And, the deer ¨C I''ll kill them."


    "Please."


    [Quest has been updated.]


    [Hunting Elite Tainted Deer]


    A ¨C Grade Difficulty


    Angelina is grateful for your help in hunting the tainted rats. Although regretful to bother you, she requests your help once more.


    Slay three Tainted Elite Deer, level 10 or over, to help Angelina. Return the heads before she feels abandoned.


    Elite Tainted Deer Heads: 0/3


    Time Limit: 15 days


    Rewards: Variable affinity with both members of the family


    "I''ll get it done as soon as I can," John said, masking the glee in his voice.


    [Quest has been accepted.]


    "Thank you."


    John almost danced out into the alleyway, humming a tune. He put the metal sheet back where it belonged and skipped into the street.


    "Damn you Jade Cookies!" he hollered when out of earshot. Laughing, John shouted again. "Damn you and your depressing, ill-explained, quests!"


    The NPCs on the street all stared at him, like an idiot or maybe someone to mug, but he didn''t care. In the dimly lit lower levels, he was like a ray of sunshine.


    ''Still, isn''t it amazing I got so much from one line?''


    Indeed, 15 affinity and a 13-day extension from a couple of dozen of words was unheard of during John''s time. A few words might give a few affinity at best but nothing of this scale.


    ''Did I do something else?'' John couldn''t help but wonder.


    He shrugged and dismissed it. Unknown situations weren''t at all uncommon in RISE. It was possible that Jade Cookies had received or would have received something similar. She hadn''t detailed any of her conversations with the family which made sense. From the nature of his talks, John judged that Jade had likely also found the quests endearing and personal.


    Yes, John did find the story captivating, despite his negative opinion of it. It''s because captivation wasn''t exactly what he was looking for. John had been given another chance to reach the top. It would be fine if he made relationships along the way, but he couldn''t let an NPC distract him from his goal.


    That was one of the most common things that prevented star players from climbing the ladder. NPCs, even if users considered the artificial intelligences as what they were: virtual, intangible, became nearly indistinguishable from human. It was difficult to call them anything other than living. Many a good player had lost their lead due to this.


    But John wasn''t climbing the ranks for the first time and he wasn''t climbing it alone. Fate had given him another chance, not only for himself, but for Chelsea, for Kevin, and even to some extent, for Lupe.


    "Hey, mister, aren''t you awfully chipper?"


    John realized he had strolled back to the fountain. His mood instantly went placid, hearing that youthful, but filthy voice. "Kid¡­"


    "Yes, mister?" Chelan asked.


    "Why are you here? I gave you the money didn''t I?"


    "Yes, five coppers. And I thank you for that."


    "Then we have no business."


    "Well, I was looking for you for another reason," Chelan admitted. She was upfront about it, unlike Angelina, which John would have appreciated if he actually wanted to talk.


    "What, did you grow a conscience?" John asked, resuming his walk.


    "Well, I thought about what you said," Chelan said, keeping up with John. "And I want your help."


    "Kid, you don''t gain a conscience from a stranger helping you," John said annoyed. "Maybe by helping a stranger."


    "No, about being a thief. I want to learn how to be a real thief. And I can help you, I can."


    John stopped for a moment. This sounded exactly like someone wanting to be a follower. Of course, John didn''t meet the requirements to take a retainer, but that didn''t mean he couldn''t better a relationship for later. However, would a hungry orphan be worth anything?


    Generally, good followers like Sergeant Kriens were hard to come by and certain conditions needed to be met before they would accept a master. But to fill the demand for retainers, there were other options. Most players would find it easier to recruit weaker servants and build them up. However, it was easy to pick a man off the streets and give him a sword, but hard to make him a swordsman. You could dedicate them many resources, but they might still be capped by their potential and never ascend the tiers.


    John squatted down to Chelan''s eye level. He squinted into her eyes, examining her. "Why do you attempt night-time burglary rather than, say, pickpocketing or theft?" John pointed towards some other parentless kids at the fountain. "That''s what most of them resort to if they have the guts to even try."


    Chelan stared back at the almost closed black eyes. "Is this a test?"


    "Genius!"


    "Oh, shut up."


    "Then answer. My lips are closed, and my ears wide are open."


    Chelan pondered hard for a few seconds like it was a decision of a lifetime, which it probably was. "People are smart. They keep their copper coins in their pocket. They keep their silver coins in their purse. They keep their gold coins in their homes."


    "¡­"


    John couldn''t keep the serious eye contact anymore. He thought he had misheard the oddly poetic declaration. Wasn''t she just blatantly admitting to overwhelming avarice?


    "So, do I pass the test?" Chelan asked with expectant eyes.


    "Have you ever succeeded with your little games before?"


    "No..."


    "Look, kid, I don''t want an apprentice," John finally said, leaving Chelan behind.


    Her bright eyes died a little. "Wait, mister, wait!" she called, chasing after John. She tugged at his hand.


    "Just forget it, you''re too wet behind the ears."


    "What does that even mean?" Chelan said.


    John kept moving.


    "Wait! No, please, I don''t want to be stealing forever, I want to be a thief."


    John was astounded. Did that ugly little mouth even hear what it was saying?


    "C''mon mister, you helped Angelina. I know you can help me, and I know I can help you."


    The little orphan was getting annoying. John turned around and placed his hands on Chelan''s small, ordinary shoulders. "Alright, here''s the deal. You still have those five coppers?"


    Chelan nodded.


    "There''s an organization on the twentieth floor, southeastern corner. It''s a branch of the Thieves'' Association and it''s five coppers to join as a beginner. Register there and prove yourself."


    Chelan didn''t reply.


    So, John turned her shoulders and pushed her off in the direction of the stairs. "Off you go, kid."


    Chelan walked forward, her legs moving repeatedly like a robot. When she realized what she was doing and turned to face the thief, he had disappeared into the mess of people and twisting streets.


    ¡­


    "Done with that train wreck," John said in satisfaction. He really didn''t want to deal with the little orphan. Without the retainer management tools, he couldn''t check Chelan''s potential, so he could only let Thieves'' Association deal with the rascal. If fate brought them together again, he would be happy to deal with her.


    ''Now, how to kill some elite tainted deer?''

 Preperation

    The shop was packed, not with people but stuff: a mountain of trash.


    There were weapons, there were armors, there was ammunition. There were also parts and tools, gears, pulleys, wrenches, everything. Most were barely usable. It was not a place for the accident prone.


    "Hello!" John called into the mess. "Anyone in there?"


    The place was located in the depths of the lower floors, far from the market. John had spent a long time trying to find this shop that he had only heard of. No NPCs seemed to even know about it. It would be quite unfortunate if the shopkeeper wasn''t present in the middle of the day.


    "Hey, little dwarf, you home?"


    The shopkeeper was a dwarf. They were rare in the west, but Gyead had a small contingent of dwarven engineers to maintain vital systems like the Cage and arena lift.


    This dwarf wasn''t one of those respected technicians but rather an outcast among his people. Drunnel was a chronic alcoholic ¨C all dwarves were to some degree, but he was beyond help at times. Still, he had the same hands as his outstanding peers, lacking mostly technical prowess, drive, and a lot of organization.


    This made his products cheap and good for beginners. He also resold a lot of products he didn''t manufacture for a good price. This place had become enormous, but John had already passed the level of the items by the time it was discovered.


    Nothing seemed to be happening. "C''mon," John muttered as carefully entered the shop.


    The light from the street quickly vanished as John invaded the fort of junk.


    "Drunnel," John called, somewhat expecting a metallic avalanche to set off.


    John found the fat dwarf hidden at the innermost area of the shop. He was a sorry thing, with a belly larger than an exercise ball, and a mouth that could probably fit a watermelon, like a hippo. Drunnel was in a daze, drooling onto a long, unkempt beard.


    "Wake up, you have a customer," John said, slapping Drunnel across the face. He immediately regretted it. There was a weird, oily liquid excreted by the skin.


    Drunnel''s eyes snapped open quickly and he sat up. "A customer?"


    "Yes, I want to view your merchandise," John confirmed, wiping his hand on the dwarf''s work clothes.


    "By all means," Drunnel said courteously.


    John frowned. Drunnel didn''t act like he was drunk. He had looked like he was hungover, but his demeanour was calm, and his voice was clear.


    "May I ask what you are looking for in particular?"


    "Show me what A-Grade rounds you have. In this caliber," John requested, showing the heavy recruit pistol.


    "Of course," Drunnel answered, quickly digging through a pile of shells. "A new recruit of the army? Looking for some fun?" he asked while digging. Drunnel recognized the mark and the good condition of the firearm.


    "No. I have more experience than that."


    "A veteran thief then, with a new weapon," Drunnel said. He presented some rounds with different coloured tips. John was surprised by the supposedly intoxicated dwarf''s speed. "Normal, penetration, shrapnel, incendiary, shock, ice, anything you see here."


    John picked up the ice round. "30 blue tips." He picked up the shrapnel and penetration round. "30 orange tips, and 75 black tips." He finally tossed the undecorated round, playing with it. "How many of these can you find?" John asked, looking at the cluttered shop.


    "Ice x 30, 15 coppers. Shrapnel x 30, 7.5 coppers. Penetration x 75, 25 coppers." Drunnel had been jotting down the order, muttering numbers under his breath. He looked up. "Normal rounds? As many as you''d like."


    "Give me three thousand."


    "Sure¡­" The fat dwarf scrambled like a squirrel, pulling individual rounds and boxes of them out of every nook and cranny. He chatted with John, as he searched. "Might I interest you in a new firearm then?" he tried. "A recruit weapon is unfitting for such a luxurious armament."


    "No," John rejected. Buying weapons from NPCs was generally a bad idea. The value just wasn''t worth it. Drunnel''s ammunition was at a great price, but his weapons followed the trend. It would be much better to find a weapon in the field like John''s dagger.


    It took a while, but Drunnel finally gave John several large boxes. Thankfully, the weight value of ammunition was very low.


    "The total is 90 coppers for three thousand normal rounds, 137.5 overall."


    "Also, 10 durability repair kits, A-Grade."


    "Yes. That will be an additional ten coppers," the dwarf said.


    "Give me some extra magazines too, I believe the bulk purchase is enough for a little favour." Thieves got some magazines when they received a new weapon, but the small number wasn''t enough for John''s purposes.


    "For such a customer, of course." Drunnel bowed, causing the oily excretion to drip from the nose. He pulled out 30 4-round heavy caliber pistol magazines. They wouldn''t have cost much, but free was always better.Stolen novel; please report.


    John had received half of the money from the tainted shells. Combined with the miscellaneous money gained from the rabbit''s den and selling monster drops and chests, he could afford that with almost a silver to spare. The new players of the pre-release would be stunned if they heard that someone was spending an entire silver on ammunition while they were struggling to earn pennies.


    "Thank you, for your purchase."


    "Thank you too." John said, and he fled the shop as fast as possible. Drunnel was really too physically repulsive.


    He headed for the Cage. He now had the tools to kill a deer, but he still needed the levels. A six-level suppression at this point would be nearly impossible to overcome.


    [Server Announcement: A lone adventurer, Rosemary, has defeated a Grey Wolf, killing the third Elite Monster.]


    That stopped John in his tracks. It was another unknown name, but that was not the shocking part. John already knew that the first three elite monsters would be gone during the pre-release. It was the association between the second and third elite monster kills.


    ''Another herb?'' John rifled through his memory, but nothing, nothing at all.


    Rosemary and Thyme were part of the Hiar server, clearly, judging from the announcement. The first clear of the whole game was announced across all servers, but the second and third were only announced within the region. It was the second and third in the whole game too. If it was only second and third in the server, it would have specified in the announcement.


    That made things even more confusing. Instead of an outstanding player that eventually disappeared from the rankings, it was two, and probably more. There were more than just two kinds of herbs, but not thousands: this was probably an elite organization. But just what kind of small group of experts had the clout to enter the pre-release? And why disappear from the public eye right after?


    Moreover, the two members both killed wolves for their elite monsters. The swirled wolf was common in many of the lands of the western kingdoms.


    But the grey wolf was only a popular beginner monster in the capital of the Greight Republic, Enpras. As part of the defensive geography of Enpras, there was a nearby ridge system, Wolf''s Ridge, which encircled the northern side of the city and separate many wolf tribes, including the grey and swirled variants. It was also the region with the highest concentration of beginners. In fact, that''s why it came to mind, that''s where Chelsea had started, and she always told John of her days hunting on the ridge.


    It''s likely that Rosemary and Thyme are both from the region and are hunting wolves, but not directly together. The announcement stated a lone adventurer for both instances. Enpras had many of the best players, but nothing about two experts talented enough to set these early records.


    ''The pre-release is just shrouded in mystery.''


    It was the only murky part of RISE''s history: there were hidden experts popping out of nowhere, a great NPC dying, a Surge so close to the city.


    While in his thoughts, John made it back to where he was a day ago. He entered the Cage. The metal room rumbled and disappeared into the butte.


    A cold draft ran across John''s face as he emerged into the tainted lands. He checked his character page.


    [John]


    Class: Starter Thief


    Level: 4 (873/14500)


    HP: 139/139


    Strength: 9


    Vitality: 9


    Agility: 13


    Dexterity: 14


    He had distributed a point into agility and a point in dexterity when he reached level four, hunting in the sewers. It was a long way until level five; It was time to get back to leveling.


    The best hunting grounds within a reasonable distance of Gyead were an hour southeast. There was particularly large hill here, nameless, but perfect for daytime hunting for level fives or sixes. It had been monopolized by one of Gyead''s larger guilds in the past which had limited Kevin and John''s access.


    Killing rabbits as he went, John made it to the bottom of the hill at around 2 PM. It was odd, just a dramatic change in elevation out of nowhere and surrounded by nothing.


    In front of him was a rocky sedimentary cliff, with layers of multi-colored sandstones, topped with the taint. The hill had a weird topography, sort of like a staircase. On the southwestern side, it rose gradually, in small landings a few meters between each other, the mob difficulty rising too. It went to a good height, the top barely visible in the tainted air.


    John spent ten minutes circling to the other side.


    There was an assortment of mobs here, but the cannon fodder consisted of the familiar tainted rabbits at level four. There were also a few tainted raccoons at level five, which were known by those who played at the hill for their nimble fingers.


    The hill was wide enough to for the guild to monopolize for all of their higher-tier members. This also meant John had plenty of room to slowly deal with the mobs a few at a time.


    He started with a group of three rabbits a couple of dozen of meters away.


    [Tainted Rabbit]


    Level: 4


    HP: 132/132


    He took aim at the first one which had a white tuff on its forehead. It made quite a nice target.


    ''Rapid-Fire''


    -23


    -17


    The first two shots hit the rabbit, but at such a range, with the spread of the heavy recruit pistol, it was hard to apply any sequence. Moreover, the damage per shot was low, a result of the defense of the rabbit and Rapid-Fire''s damage reduction.


    -13


    The third shot was unlucky, only nicking the rabbit. It managed to dodge the fourth and immediately counterattacked.


    -23


    -15


    -18


    Bullets streamed out of John''s barrel, tearing the rabbit apart. Such was the power of Rapid-Fire.


    -17


    -24


    [You have slain a Tainted Rabbit]


    [You have gained 47 XP]


    Then it died, achieving nothing other than being a lead sponge.


    But as white tuff passed on, the other two monsters which aggroed alongside it advanced. With a smooth swing, the pistol was pointed at the next rabbit. John could manage four rounds a second during the three-second duration of Rapid-Fire. There were 3 rounds left.


    -24


    -26


    -35


    The next three shots hit the second rabbit in the foot, the side of the chest, and the cheek. The tainted mob staggered. John'' accuracy was improving as the distance decreased.


    With the bottomless ammo used up, John still had his four normal rounds, but he switched to the dagger. He needed every round possible for the deer.


    The third rabbit went for the leap. But it flew over its target as John ducked under it.


    -7


    John focused the already weakened foe. He stomped on it, applying a large collision proc.


    -45


    While stunned, John gave it a stab to the neck, killing it.


    [You have slain a Tainted Rabbit]


    [You have slain gained 49 XP]


    Unlike the rats, rabbits fought to the death, something thankful, considering how annoying the rats were to deal with. The last tainted rabbit gave attacked again. Like a rabid dog, it gave a hiss that was sort of like barking and went for the legs.


    The teeth tried to sink into the pants but got a kick and a dagger strike instead.


    -4


    -23


    [The target has started bleeding.]


    -3


    The dagger didn''t damage anything vital but did must have hit a large artery or something because it caused a significant bleed effect.


    John went for another stab.


    -24


    The rabbit hissed again and tried to bite the forearm, which caused John to pull back quickly, but the dagger went forward again just as quickly. He repeated this a few times.


    -3


    -35


    -23


    -37


    -3


    -26


    [You have slain a Tainted Rabbit]


    [You have slain gained 49 XP]


    The individual experience points might have been lower than the rats, but there were many more rabbits to fight than there were rats. They were easier to kill too, fighting boorishly rather than applying any tactics or running. Moreover, John was level four now and in RISE, players gained bonus XP for hunting beyond their level, which contributed to the difference in per unit XP.


    John took a breath, visible in the cold tainted lands. He gathered the loot and went to find the next group of mobs.

 Suspicion

    Dr. Cedar was having a headache. He rubbed his temples.


    The pre-release had been going so smoothly. Even if Cedar was against the idea in the first place, he was happy that two players were stars and broke every expected record for the elite monster first kills.


    ''It''s great if you just kill an elite monster or two, but you both had to go ahead and do that shit,'' Cedar complained in his mind.


    Management had been torn because of the achievements and items of these players. The two founders had discussed for a length of time already.


    "We should have added a clause to the agreement: to not take any first clears other than elite monster kills," Dawson muttered. He was sitting on one of the folding tables, just like before.


    "How were we to know a player would get that far? It''s supposed to be a hard game." Cedar justified.


    There was a pause.


    "So, what do we do now?"


    "What can we do?" Cedar replied with another question.


    "I don''t know, I''m the virtual graphics director!" Dawson exclaimed. He ran his hand on his jaw, thinking. "Just reset the achievement. Let the boy keep his chest, it''s only B-grade."


    "That''s the obvious move, but what about his accomplishment? He''s the best of the supposed best. Do we just take it from him? Is that fair to him?"


    "Enough with the fairness advocation. It better to be fair, but that''s not always possible." Dawson said. "I thought you were okay with compromise too," he pointed out. "Besides, the guy did even want his name announced; he won''t care."


    "And what about Thyme? We can''t just take away her ring. She found it, she worked for it."


    "Just let it be, it''s fine," Dawson advised. "I designed it myself: I know its finite potential."


    "You say that, but I''m not sure. Her actions tell me she''ll do more than you believe."


    "It''s an A-grade rin-"


    "It''s a poorly graded ring," Cedar interrupted.


    "Don''t worry. Its effects will be limited, very limited, in the grand scope of the game, I guarantee you. Besides, she did well, isn''t it only fair for her to get ahead?"


    Cedar didn''t reply. Equal opportunity was exactly what he wanted, but at this rate, the pre-release would set the experts too far ahead of everyone else.


    The doctor sighed. It might be unfair to give the pre-release players a lead but wasn''t it also unfair to take what the experts worked hard for and earned? Then there was also an increased probability of a premature discovery of the pre-release: a nightmarish dilemma for any developer.


    "Just let it be, Cedar," Dawson said, softening his tone. "There''s no better answer, don''t stress over it too much."


    Cedar sighed again, deeper this time. Dawson was right, but it just didn''t feel as such.


    "I need to go back and prepare to start the graphics diagnostic: server''s going down in half an hour."


    "Go," Cedar replied. "I need to fix the helmet."


    "Alright, good luck."


    Dawson left the office, shutting the thick, wooden door and the lights behind him.


    Dr. Cedar was left in darkness, but he didn''t mind it, rather appreciating Dawson''s action. It was soothing ¨C it always calmed him, and Dawson knew that very well.


    With the blubs dark, a faint light was visible outside the window, maybe the first traces of sunrise.


    ''Now, the helmet.''


    Two reports had come in from users, the only two reports yet actually, detailing a player''s neurotic breakdown. This was serious: an issue that could plague the core of the game, the VR helmet. How would players feel if a device that they would strap onto their head for more than eight hours daily had a chance to render them insane?


    The news would not proliferate due to the pre-release non-disclosure agreements but that wouldn''t prevent the issue from possibly occurring again, maybe during the official release. At least the effects seemed to be temporary as John logged in shortly after.


    ''It''s John again.''


    He was the source of Cedar''s greatest joy and agony of the pre-release thus far. He was a skilled player, using unique solutions and proficient virtual movement like no other. He had unbelievable foresight, successfully invading a high-level map and getting the elite monster kill. Moreover, he shared Cedar''s own enjoyment of trolling.


    Cedar watched the clip sent by a user who sent one of the reports, Helios.


    "Is there something wrong with motor functions?" Cedar wondered aloud. He pulled up a few diagrams on the computer and did some examination of the helmet model. Motor response had been the hardest thing to flesh out in the helmet''s development.


    ''But he doesn''t seem to be in physical pain, at least not too much,'' Cedar surmised from the clip. ''If only I could use the audiovisual files.''


    POV Audiovisual records were physical drives that displayed exactly what the player had seen, heard, and felt. It was the only way to truly experience what a player experienced. It was played at eight times temporal compression, allowing developers to quickly scan for problems in the helmet. Appropriately, it was at the top of the privacy clearance, only freely accessible by Cedar and a few others for testing, exclusively during the pre-release.


    But there was a risk that John''s issue could reoccur with greater consequences at higher time compression.


    Cedar analyzed the problem for five more minutes then quickly packaged up his thoughts and the clip. He added a note, explaining that it was likely something related to mental stability. But all pre-release participants were screened for this before admittance. It was illogical, however, it was Cedar''s best guess.Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.


    He sent the documents to the lab. There was no sense trying to completely break apart such a complex problem by himself.


    The doctor closed the programs, waved his mouse pointer around on the messy desktop, and tapped his foot.


    ''Maybe there''s a clue after he logged back in," Cedar thought after a moment. It was possible there might have been a hint regarding the breakdown within a few hours after the incident.


    Cedar opened up the server archives and entered the spectator''s perspective. He skimmed through most of it, finally replayed the scenes of John''s discovery of Angelina.


    The RISE corporation took privacy very seriously. This was a realistic game where players could copulate with others. No one would want the RISE corporation to omnisciently watch their every move. The system could be used to replay big events or resolve disputes, but generally, no one had the ability to use the systems to spy. This was all public knowledge.


    But resignation of privacy during the pre-release was part of the agreement ¨C the one John had never read ¨C to help the company test the servers. It was clearly written to the point that sexual behavior had been explicitly advised against.


    However, not all employees had power. Only the company''s highest authorities could follow players with great detail. And no head developer would bother watching hours of a player''s adventure, right?


    The records revealed something, but not a clue to John''s madness.


    Cedar watched vigilantly as John asked the orphan for Anne''s home. How did he know that name?


    Cedar watched as John pushed aside the treasure chest. Cedar watched as John slid down the chute, as he entered Bressh''s office, reluctant, but when the boss was gone. Cedar watched as John went straight to the toilets and as John threw the magic stones onto the magic formation.


    John was so practiced, so knowledgeable. Furthermore, he was so flamboyant, not even bothering to hide the fact he was probably cheating.


    It could only be insider knowledge, right? But how did so much information escape? The RISE project was under extraordinarily tight watch: there was no way a leak could occur. That didn''t explain the fluidity of his gameplay either ¨C this kind of combat skill was practiced, not read about. Also, if he had so much skill and knowledge, why did he not hide it during the pre-release at least?


    Dr. Cedar thought for a moment and typed an email, orders to ban the account.


    It wouldn''t permanently prevent John from accessing RISE: he could still return during the official release. Players needed to bind an ID to purchase an official helmet, but the pre-release used a token-retrieval system. The RISE corporation only knew who was in the pre-release, not whose username was whose. Still, it would be a painful blow to John''s ambitions.


    Cedar''s pointer hovered a few pixels beside the send icon, and his finger, a few millimeters above the left mouse button.


    He thought for a moment and turned his head, bringing eyes upon a virtual helmet and John''s audiovisual records, the ones Samantha had brought. They detailed John''s perspective from the start of the server to a bit after the elite rabbit fight.


    The doctor moved the pointer aside, clicking on the delete draft button.


    "Here I am, arguing for fairness, while letting this go," Cedar chuckled to himself.


    Earlier, Cedar had undergone the same adventure John had. It felt fresh, something fun and relatable. It was exactly how he played games in his youth, skillfully, but also enjoyable.


    Of course, Cedar had checked what John had seen in the rabbit''s cave, what allure had been within those rocky walls.


    Cedar had seen nothing.


    ¡­


    John crunched down on the biscuit, hard and tasteless. At least the feeling was familiar. He tossed a pebble off the edge, watching it fall and break on the ground thirty meters below. The pocket watch was in his other hand, playing with the latch.


    The tainted sunset in the distance was the same as always, but appealing.


    He finally checked his pocket watch: 5:07 PM. John stood up from his seat on the edge of the hillside and equipped his weapons. It was time to farm again.


    This fight was a tainted raccoon, just one, standing near a rocky face. Most of the rabbits had retreated into their dens by this time, leaving the raccoons which would go to sleep soon too.


    It was oddly diurnal but only slightly bigger than a normal coon. But it was smarter and faster and stronger. These little mobs liked to use their nimble paws to grab the loose articles of players, even going for the weapon in the victim''s hand. They like to also coordinate with other mobs, using their superior intelligence to communicate.


    That made the single raccoon weak.


    [Tainted Raccoon]


    Level: 5


    HP: 170/170


    It was a bit beefier than a rabbit, but John had killed plenty of both before.


    The coon aggroed on the thief as it entered the heavy pistol''s attack range. It shrieked, recognizing the danger of a firearm and ducked for cover behind a tainted overgrowth.


    -13


    John''s first shot grazed the body, nothing major.


    The coon climbed on top of the next rocky step in the staircase hill. It ran, using the rocky side to shield itself against bullets as it approached.


    John backed up quickly to establish line of sight. The coon managed to close the distance to less than twenty meters before John could fire. Even humans could sprint that in less than two seconds.


    ''Rapid-Fire.''


    -26


    -27


    -8


    Three shots discharged, hit the raccoon in the edge of the core, and passing through. It maintained its stride and reached melee range just before the third shot.


    It went for the gun, trying to go for a wrestle on the firearm. It would have been a great tactic against a gunner using Rapid-Fire, but a thief had other options.


    John let the raccoon go for it. It stuck its dirty paws on the pistol and struggled to dislodge it from John''s hand. The teeth blared and bit on his wrist, penetrating the coat and gloves.


    -15


    John attacked it in response.


    -23


    -14


    Two stabs hit it in the body, nothing vital, doing a bit of damage against the tainted fur. It lost its grip, falling to the ground.


    There were still a bit more than a second of Rapid-Fire left, and it wouldn''t be good to waste any experience.


    Skills could be leveled up in RISE, but at this point, no players would be near possessing a rank two skill. Skills rank-ups were done by gaining experience from hunting or NPCs. Skill vials of various grades could also be found which increased the percentage XP of the skill. The effects of these items were lower on higher-tier skills.


    John shot three times before the skill ended.


    -28


    -27


    -12


    [You have slain a Tainted Raccoon.]


    [You have gained 67 XP.]


    It collapsed, leaving a corpse on the ground near the edge of the cliff where John was recovering stamina earlier. John collected the drops and kicked the body over the edge of the cliff. The carcass followed the same path as the pebble.


    John glanced at his progress from a few hours of hunting.


    [John]


    Class: Starter Thief


    Level: 4 (10500/14500)


    HP: 124/139


    Strength: 9


    Vitality: 9


    Agility: 13


    Dexterity: 14


    "Next," John muttered, watching the body splatter on the ground far below. He wanted to farm as much as possible before finding a safe spot to log off.


    ¡­


    "Hey, did you see something fall out there?"


    "Where?"


    "That weird hill," the first player, an optical elementalist answered.


    "It''s a cliff, rocks fall all the time," the second player, a priest, remarked.


    "Didn''t look like a rock."


    "The sun has essentially set: how the hell would you see it at this distance?"


    "There was a silhouette."


    "Yes, a rock has a silhouette, so what?"


    "It was like a star, four small points and a large one, spinning as it fell."


    "Nice, you found a star-shaped boulder! Now, forget it. We need to find a safe place to hide. The server''s gonna go down soon," the priest said. He knew they could probably make it back to Gyead before then, but he was anxious about possible nocturnal mobs. The rabbits were gone and that only foreshadowed impending doom.


    "Then why not the hill?" the optical elementalist suggested. "It''s close and it''s better than being in the open."


    The priest expected his colleague''s recommendation. He had considered the option himself. But the hill gave off a bad feeling. It was just too prominent in its form: an abrupt protrusion in a relatively fat wasteland.


    "Why not?" the optical mage asked.


    "Doesn''t feel right," the priest said. "Just log off right here."


    "Really? We''re gonna log off right here?" The logoff sequence in a combat zone required the player to immobilize themselves. This also revealed their presence.


    "Just do it," the priest ordered. It was clear he had more authority than the mage.


    "Okay¡­"


    If any player had watched them logged out, they would have noticed a beacon of sorts, illuminating their presence. Mobs didn''t see the same beacon but would still be alert within a certain radius.


    None came.


    After around half a minute, the pair dissolved into particles with a flash of light.

 To Change the Past

    [Server shutdown in four minutes.]


    [You have logged off.]


    John opened his eyes.


    5:59 AM, Saturday, December 19th, 2024.


    He unfastened the virtual device from his head. He ran his hand through his hair and wiped his face, both lined with slight perspiration, nothing like his earlier awakening.


    Last night had been good, he was nearly level five by the time he had logged off. John rolled off the bed and flicked on the lights.


    There was a sound in the kitchen. Gramps must be up. He always woke up early when he could and would eat something simple before going off to the table tennis club.


    John yawned and left his room. Many players liked to sleep for another hour after logging out unless they had responsibilities early in the morning.


    The teenage John was one of these players. On Saturday and Sunday, he had a part-time job at a local candy store, managed by one of Gramps'' club members. Gramps had always thought it was important to get some experience in the world, even if the money was unnecessary.


    Young John had never been interested in the work, and the current John shared this view. Still, he couldn''t simply just leave the place without letting them know. He had worked there for a few years and still held a fond memory of the sweets shop, even if the work was ill-suited for him. John wanted to go for one last weekend before leaving the past in the past.


    John entered the kitchen. "Morning."


    Gramps looked up from his breakfast: a bowl of sweet cereal and a donut. "Morning. Off to work soon?"


    "Some breakfast first, then yes."


    "Have some cereal," Gramps said, passing over the box.


    "Thank you," John said, searching for a bowl from the cupboard. He opened cabinets of glasses, plates, then finally the bowls.


    "Can''t remember where the dishes are?" Gramps chuckled.


    "Just tired," John laughed.


    "Just don''t go breaking them. They''re not that cheap, kind of like my plant."


    "Yeah¡­" John mumbled, remembering his body crashing into the pot under the uncontrollable weakness. It was the visions, the feeble, unhealthy body on the streets. He hated it. "You, know, I don''t think I''ll have cereal."


    "Huh?" Gramps was confused, John had never really cared about what he ate.


    "It''s not the best for you, is it?"


    "I''ve eaten it every day for decades and I''m just fine." Gramps'' constitution could be considered a scientific marvel.


    "Gramps, you''re special."


    "So, what are you gonna eat?


    "I think I''ll make some eggs."


    It took ten minutes and too much effort, but John eventually got his eggs, stuck to the bottom of the pan. He scraped them off and ate them under Gramps'' watching eye.


    He had done so in silence.


    It wasn''t because of the slight embarrassment, but for the same reason as last night. It seemed that when he stayed around Gramps, silence would eventually follow.


    There was something stuck in John''s throat and it wasn''t burnt eggs. He had something to tell Gramps: the impending illness. The same had been true yesterday evening, but how do you tell someone they''re going to be sick, that their passions might soon be limited to the past. Hadn''t the illness indirectly caused Gramps'' untimely passing in the last life? How would he react this time?


    ''After I shower and change,'' John told himself.


    But John also knew it was just cowardice, calculated procrastination. If he had the heart, he would have done so last night.


    After he cleaned up, showered quickly, and dressed up, Gramps was long gone, well on his way towards the club.


    John stood for a moment, watching the empty chair, and left too.


    ¡­


    The snowbanks were up to the waist as the plows struggled to push through the road. Salt was applied liberally, which would wreak havoc on the already worn asphalt. The snow must have been worsened overnight.


    After hopping off the monorail system, it was a brief walk through the snow-covered sidewalks to the downtown candy store. It was the morning, but the city was empty. It was Saturday; it was quiet.


    Sunrise was moments away and the streetlights were the main illumination. Well, other than the huge RISE advertisements that were posted on every possible location. The bright billboards, set up during the night, depicted huge pictures of the game and a sequence of numbers: 20/12/24. That was tomorrow and that also the night of the main release.


    The door was unlocked when John got there. Inside the dark windows, there was someone wiping their boots on the mat.


    John entered, doing the same. "Morning,"


    "Oh, good morning, John," the person said with a smile.


    The candy shop had two employees that arrived during the early morning to prepare the store before the main morning shift. They had to ready store for customers by the official opening time, seven-thirty, and run it as a pair for thirty minutes.


    One was obviously John, and his colleague''s name was Kirsten. She was just another person with a part-time job during their university studies. But like John, she had also got a job through a contact in the table tennis club.


    She had pretty, soft features: round cheeks, hazel eyes, and a silky, chocolate brown hair that ran down to the lower back. It was usually tied in a bun, but John remembered the length from a time when she adjusted it. She wore a fragrance, not strong, but always noticeable.


    Overall, Kirsten was just a normal, attractive person who should have been forgotten in the wealth of time but was not.


    "How was your week?" Kirsten asked politely.


    "It was good." Like Gramps'' question the night before, the answer was meaningless: John didn''t remember anything about this week other than RISE. "And yours?"Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.


    "There''s that new game that I''m excited for. Looks fun."


    "Yeah, it is," John said as he turned on the lights and disappeared into the back.


    "Huh?" she asked with a puzzled smile.


    Then it was time to work.


    Pearson''s Sweets purchased candies from suppliers, while also manufacturing certain chocolates and gummies in the back. The two employees brought out the candies made by the night staff and restocked the other products, making note of the accounting and ingredient usages.


    Located in downtown, on weekdays, the candy shop typically dealt with underpaid office workers during the day, passing tourists after five, and drunk couples right before closing.


    However, the weekends were somehow special when the brilliant lights illuminated rows upon rows of the sucrose spectacle. Various colors and shapes jumped into the eyes of pedestrians, especially the greedy pupils of the short ones. There was something about the plastic wall paneling, the overflowing jars, and the bins with those tacky, metal spades, that invoked a feeling of adventure.


    In the center of it all was Kirsten, dressed in a red and white striped uniform, skirt with frills three fingers above the knee.


    The first customers were a mother with a child, running around, eyeing the sweets. John watched from behind the register as his colleague laughed and kindly helped the kid with what he wanted. He watched as her slim figure bent down to help the kid scoop in his candies.


    Indeed, Kirsten had been one of John''s past crushes, not the first, but the most memorable. There was something inexplicable about it: she was older, by around four years; she was nothing but respectful; never particularly suggestive, only friendly. It had been one of those things that just happened. Maybe it was the propinquity, or simply the drive of a growing boy, but it was definitely very real.


    However, the current John''s eyes were those considering the past: they weren''t those considering a belated confession. He had someone else in his 27-year-old heart: Chelsea.


    "Are you distracted?" Kirsten asked.


    John had been lost in the past, not realizing until the gold and green features of her eyes were right in front of his.


    "Yes?" John mumbled. "I mean no. I meant, ''yes'' as in what do you need?"


    Kirsten giggled, the kind that of sound that girls always made, but a rich sound that John remembered clearly. "Just a small purchase," she said, placing down several cheap bags full of the customer''s candy.


    "Yeah, sure."


    John confirmed the transaction and Kirsten bagged the individual bags together, handing it to the kid.


    "Take care, now," she said, opening the door for the two. "And be careful of any ice," she added, waving to the child as they left.


    The two staff were left in the empty store. Kirsten walked into the rows, examining some of the products and waiting for more customers.


    "I need to tell you something," John said suddenly. "Well, ask you something first."


    Kirsten faced John with a twirl. "Yeah?" she asked expectantly.


    "You never told us or wrote it on the wall. What''s your favorite candy?"


    That was one of the questions that Pearson requested the employees to answer on the staff wall. It was supposed to help the child patrons of the store relate or something. Considering it was unimportant, John had written something randomly, white chocolate, but Kirsten hadn''t written anything at all.


    "That''s my secret, and it always will be," she answered with a playful smile. "But take a guess. You won''t get it; it''s very specific."


    John had expected that answer. He had asked before and Kirsten had said the same. It hadn''t been until Kirsten quit the shop that she had revealed it.


    "Those assorted dark chocolate berries," John said, pointing at a nearby bin. "The ones that have a bitter exterior, but a sweet, fruity core." John had said her exact words to the best of his memory.


    Kirsten gave him a look, tilting her head in curiosity. She opened her mouth then closed it, thinking. Finally, "Did-did I tell you without remembering it?" she giggled, clearly out of confusion. "Or do you just know me better than I think?"


    "It''s been many years."


    "What, three? It''s not unusual to be coworkers for many more years and still not even know each other''s last names."


    "Well, our time as coworkers will only be three years: I''m quitting soon."


    "Oh," Kirsten said. Her expression of confusion evolved a tinge of sadness. She open and closed her mouth a few times. That was something she always did when she was confused. "May I ask why?"


    "I''m moving on to pursue my passion."


    "Did you get a university acceptance? That''s quite early."


    "No."


    "Then why?" Kirsten asked, frowning.


    "I''d rather not share."


    "Oh¡­ Then can I know when you are leaving?"


    "Tomorrow will be the last day."


    "I see."


    "It''s abrupt, but I wanted you to know."


    The exchange was short and had quickly become impersonal.


    Then the candy store was quiet, both from additional customers and from interaction between the staff.


    But that was exactly how the exchange flowed when Kirsten left the shop in the past life. Her parting had been just as abrupt, a family issue. It would occur in a few months.


    After John had lost Gramps, he locked himself in the game. But when he eventually came back into the real world, he kept working at the candy shop. It wasn''t for the money; John never had any momentary issues. He had returned because of her and the hole in his heart.


    When Kirsten had left, he had soon departed too.


    John had always found her resignation odd, and not because of the one-sided affection. She was mostly through her last year of school and suddenly went home. Sure, it was a family issue, but Kirsten never came back, not to finish her degree, and never visiting the colorful candy shop again.


    Like Gramps'' death, John had eventually moved on. Unlike Gramps'' death though, when given a chance to do it again, he didn''t. Chelsea had claimed that tender position.


    At eight, the rest of the candy store morning staff arrived to man the majority of the store. Pearson also arrived, and John presented his resignation.


    Pearson was understanding and didn''t hold John back. He didn''t even cut pay because of the sudden severance even though John had insisted the money didn''t matter.


    And that was that.


    ¡­


    John arrived at the hospital at two twenty.


    His shift had ended at two in the afternoon and the hospital was only a quick transit ride away. It was a typical medical building, sort of like the one in the Gyead barracks, but bustling and more sterile.


    Due to Gramps'' time in the hospital, John became acquainted with the receptionist on duty. But today was a Saturday, with a different shift. However, they still let John in to meet the doctor. Thankfully, Dr, Fuller wasn''t occupied at the moment.


    They met in Fuller''s office, where the doctor was browsing through something on his computer. John stood in the doorway and knocked on the glass panel.


    The doctor looked up. "Hello, John."


    "Dr. Fuller, help me with something."


    "Is it about Owen?" That was Gramps'' first name.


    "Yes, he is going to get sick." It was at this point that John finally considered how he would explain everything to the doctor. How would a seventeen-year-old be able to diagnose a rare illness?


    The doctor frowned. It was weird to have a patient''s relative come in, claiming something so adamantly. "Is he? He was here on Thursday, like always. And like always, everything seemed fine."


    There was no good way to prove it: John could only say it. "He''s suffering from the early stages of Jenkins'' disease."


    This deepened Fuller''s frown. A person with no medical background was claiming to recognize the subtle symptoms of early-stage Jenkins''. "Jenkins'' is a very rare, age-related disease, how do you even know about that?"


    How could John not know about the disease that ruined Gramps'' life? "It''s a disease that partially paralyses, and it''s treatable, until a point. So treat him while we can."


    "But how do you know that he has it? There are no exterior symptoms until the partial paralysis."


    "Don''t believe me? Screen him." John was realizing there was no good, persuasive way to do this.


    "Look, there is a process for screening, but it isn''t pleasant, and it''s expensive. We don''t screen unless necessary."


    "It is necessary." John''s tone was rising into one of anger. Hadn''t Gramps died because of the lack of diagnosis and treatment? Rationally, John knew that it wasn''t because of Fuller, it wasn''t because of anything other than fate, but there grew a subconscious fire.


    "John, listen, it''s irrational. These tests carry a certain risk. There''s a procedure to this and it''s not worth the ri-"


    "Just screen him, doc."


    "But these things aren''t that simple," Fuller tried to reason. "And even if we do it, we need to take our time. Bring Owen in, and we can talk again. Maybe during his next regular visit, and if the screening is determined necessary, we can make another appointment for la-"


    But Gramps'' sickness would reach the point of no return within two weeks. Time was not kind.


    "Just fucking screen him, doctor," John interrupted, dropping a rare swear word.


    The office was silent enough to hear a pin drop.


    "We''ll come by tomorrow morning," John added.


    The door closed on the astounded Fuller.


    ''What kind of shameless guy does something like that?''


    This was a hospital and he was a doctor! Fuller rested his face in his palm and rubbed his eyelids. It had been a conversation that lasted a minute but stressed him like it was an hour.


    What would he do if the lunatic actually returned tomorrow, with Owen too? Fuller would have to refuse the screening. How could a doctor allow an unnecessary procedure that was more likely to hurt than help the patient? But he would have to deal with John again.


    ''Was he always like this?'' Fuller thought. He hadn''t seen him in a while and now he was up to these shenanigans.

 Recessive Genetics

    ¡°I¡¯m home,¡± Gramps called, opening the front door. ¡°You there?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m making dinner,¡± John called back from the kitchen.


    ¡°You¡¯re cooking,¡± Gramps said.


    ¡°I cook sometimes.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, but it¡¯s not great.¡±


    John shrugged. While he did not really cook since RISE released in the past, he could still do it, somewhat. ¡°I need to practice.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, sure do,¡± Gramps said, removing his coat and boots. He strolled over to the kitchen. ¡°What are you making?¡±


    ¡°Pork slivers and pepper stir-fry. I¡¯ve already set the rice cooker.¡±


    Gramps popped open the rice cooker. Inside was a wet mess. ¡°Too much water.¡± He looked at John who was cutting the pork. ¡°And that knife technique,¡± he scolded. ¡°You¡¯re going to kill someone with that thing.¡±


    Gramps didn¡¯t like to cook, but he sort of could. He could at least tell that John¡¯s technique had regressed since he last saw it.


    ¡°Err,¡± John laughed.


    ¡°Here,¡± Gramps said, washing his hands. ¡°Like this.¡±


    Ten minutes later, the two were seated at the dinner table, munching on soggy rice, stir-fry, and reheated leftovers. Outside, the sky was mostly dark, showing the pair¡¯s reflection and the single light source hanging over the dinner table.


    John watched the boy who stared back for a moment. They both sighed, the tangible one cursing his weakness.


    John took a breath and firmed himself. He needed to tell his guardian about two things: his resignation and his new path, but the worst of all, Jenkins'' disease.


    ¡°Gramps¡­¡±


    ¡°Yeah, what is it?¡± Gramps asked.


    He was already looking at John weirdly. John would typically be in his room and eat by himself.


    John swallowed his mouthful of food. ¡°I asked Pearson to resign.¡±


    ¡°Oh, what?¡± Gramps was surprised to hear that. John had worked at Pearson¡¯s Sweets for three years with no issue.


    ¡°Tomorrow is my last day,¡±


    ¡°I mean, you just resigned?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s done.¡±


    ¡°But why?¡± Gramps inquired. ¡°Pearson¡¯s never treated you wrong, I know him. And, he always praises you and that Rayne girl when I talk to him.¡± Rayne was Kirsten¡¯s family name.


    ¡°He¡¯s a great person. It¡¯s not him, or the job, it¡¯s about what I want to do.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I guess that¡¯s fine,¡± Gramps said. He thought for a moment and placed the cutlery down. He took a drink of water. ¡°It was always temporary. Just to get some experience, help you learn about the world before you''re older.¡±


    ¡°I am older now, I¡¯ve found my path.¡±


    ¡°A path?¡± Gramps was confused. John was far more mature and resolute that he was familiar with. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you''re joining a cult.¡±


    ¡°No, Gramps, it¡¯s nothing like that,¡±


    ¡°What, did you get an acceptance letter?¡± he said, scratching his stubble. ¡°But your grades aren¡¯t good enough¡­ And you wouldn''t resign so fast,¡± he mumbled.


    ¡°No, Gramps, it¡¯s not about school.¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± Gramps, frowned. This was very unlike John. He would have normally had a reaction to Gramps¡¯ light-hearted comments. Gramps¡¯ expression finally settled on an uncharacteristic seriousness. ¡°It¡¯s about your future right, your passion?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s my¡­ Table tennis.¡±


    That quieted Gramps. He firmed eye contact with John.


    ¡°There¡¯s a new game coming out, it¡¯s called RISE.¡±


    Gramps stared.


    ¡°It¡¯s a VR game, one like never before ¨C more than a game, really ¨C a new beginning.¡±


    Still silence.


    ¡°A whole new world, where I can become someone.¡± John paused for a second. ¡°Where I will become someone, reach a height I¡¯ve never been able to.¡±


    Gramps gave John a weird look. ¡°I¡¯ve never known that you had such an ambition.¡±


    ¡°Gramps, this game is different.¡±


    ¡°Shut up with your preaching,¡± Gramps snapped, putting aside his good nature, something extraordinarily rare. ¡°I¡¯ve seen the ads, they¡¯re everywhere. I know what this game promises.¡±Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    John bit his lip in frustration. Gramps didn¡¯t understand. He didn¡¯t understand what John had, what an advantage he possessed. The ambition was only natural at this point.


    But what could John say? The truth? Even if RISE¡¯s technology were advanced to the point legend, even that was still firmly based in science. Reincarnation, however, was in the game, in a computer, not the real world ¨C everyone knew that.


    John¡¯s brow tensed as he realized his explanations were futile. ¡°Listen, Gramps, I can¡¯t explain, but I know I can do it. I¡¯m asking for trust.¡±


    ¡°Damn,¡± Gramps cursed. ¡°This is really your table tennis.¡±


    ¡°Yes, exactly. And I have the skill, just like you did. I can make that last step.¡±


    ¡°But this game, it isn¡¯t even released yet.¡±


    This was what John didn¡¯t have an answer to. He hesitated for a moment. ¡°Here, I have something to show you.¡± He hadn¡¯t wanted to do this, but John didn¡¯t have any other ideas.


    ¡°What, are you going to show me one of those ads?¡±


    ¡°No, come here,¡± John said, beckoning Gramps into his bedroom.


    Gramps stood up and followed John across the living room. Gramps turned on the lights.


    ¡°This place is a mess.¡±


    ¡°That''s irrelevant.¡±


    ¡°Alright, what is it?¡±


    John dug through his tangled covers and pulled out the device into the stale air.


    ¡°What is that?¡±


    ¡°Here, hold it,¡± John requested, passing it to Gramps. He pulled his phone out of his pocket.


    ¡°What is this thing?¡± Gramps held the VR helmet by the straps and examined it from every angle. The first-edition RISE helmet had a very experimental look. He felt the aluminum electronics housing and the finger landed on a button.


    ¡°Don¡¯t touch that button please,¡± John said, focused on his phone. ¡°It won¡¯t work if you not wearing it.¡±


    ¡°You wear this?¡±


    ¡°Here,¡± John said, holding up the screen. There was an official image by the RISE corporation, a picture of a woman with the device strapped on. ¡°Well, I said that it wasn¡¯t going to show you an ad, but here you go.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s one of those helmets.¡±


    ¡°Exactly.¡± John swiped the image, showing several more advertisements depicting users in helmets and visuals of the game. But as he browsed, his face suddenly dropped.


    Gramps didn¡¯t seem to notice John¡¯s reaction and was watching the official documents. ¡°Wait, pause that,¡± Gramps said, examining the advertisements. ¡°20/12/24?¡±


    ¡°What?¡± John put aside that worry and changed his focus back to his conversation with Gramps. ¡°Oh, that¡¯s the release date of the game.¡±


    ¡°Then why do you have this.¡±


    John bit his lip. He wanted to keep as much of the supernatural and what resulted of it hidden, even from Gramps. ¡°Look, Gramps, I can¡¯t tell you anymore, but I hope this is enough for you to understand. This is my chance,¡± John picked up the helmet. ¡°What I didn¡¯t have before.¡±


    Gramps stared at him.


    ¡°A chance, but I can¡¯t just do it without you.¡±


    And then Gramps laughed, nice and heartily, like a skinny Santa. ¡°John, you are just like me when I was your age, well maybe a bit younger..¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°You see with my parents, they always wanted me to go to school, get a job, a house, get married, obtain the American Dream, expect in Lansbe ¨C but I¡¯ve told you this before, right?¡±


    John nodded.


    ¡°However, all kids your age, my age back then, want to pursue their passion, never opportunity. It was during the depression, when it was my time.¡±


    ¡°Your family was well off, but not enough to be so leisurely.¡±


    Gramps nodded this time. ¡°Exactly, but something happened,¡±


    ¡°You decided to play table tennis.¡±


    ¡°Boy, I know that I¡¯m a shit parent, but I¡¯ve at least taught you not to interrupt an old man and his ramblings,¡± Gramps scolded. He sat down on John¡¯s bed, shifting some covers. ¡°I never told you ¨C partly because I¡¯m afraid you might follow my tracks, partly because it¡¯s a very pivotal moment for me...


    ¡°But, you see, I didn¡¯t just tell them my choice, I declared it, I showed it. It was with my parents in my bedroom one night, a brand-new table tennis paddle, the best, something the professionals would use.¡±


    ¡°The old one hanging in the living room, right?¡±


    Gramps nodded again, ¡°I wanted them to know I was serious, that this game was the next step for me, that I also had the tools, that I had a chance to reach my dreams and be someone.¡± Gramps took a breath and looked John in the eye. ¡°I suppose it runs in the family, these compulsive commitments. Well, except your dad and grandfather.¡±


    John smiled. ¡°Must be a recessive gene.¡±


    Gramps smiled too. ¡°Yes, exactly. Now go back to the kitchen, I¡¯m suffocating in here, and the food¡¯s cold.¡±


    The two returned to the dinning table to finish the meal.


    ¡°But Gramps,¡± John asked as they sat down, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you want me to follow this path? You never told me about that moment before.¡±


    ¡°Shit, John, you¡¯re begging for a monologue, a cheesy mess that will cling on my throat and hurt to come out,¡± Gramps muttered between mouthfuls of rice. He washed it down with a gulp of water.


    ¡°My parents weren¡¯t wrong to attempt to dissuade me from my dream. I did fail, and no amount of confidence or passion could help me in the end. It''s just life, the majority are fated to fail: real second chances are mostly a myth.And no person wants their kid to suffer; I don¡¯t want you to fail in the same way as I did.


    ¡°It¡¯s usually a choice ¨C passion or opportunity ¨C but it¡¯s often just best to follow opportunity and try to drag your passion with you.


    ¡°However, I will never agree with those that say it¡¯s just a game, either just a game of hitting a ball or just a game of pioneering a virtual world. Passion is a choice, not often the right choice, but it¡¯s one that I respect: it takes a lot of strength to follow the heart, knowing the high possibility of failure.


    ¡°But of course, if your passion follows the right opportunity, jump on it, and consider yourself a child of fate.¡±


    ¡°I understand,¡± John answered firmly, resolute within.


    ¡°Now, your eighteen soon, so I can¡¯t really say anything about your choices, but considering our shared flaw, I probably never did.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I guess.¡±


    ¡°Anyways, just go for it; if you fail, it¡¯s fine, you¡¯re still young. I mean, I turned out alright in the end.¡± Gramps thought for a moment. ¡°Well, mostly.¡± He coughed and drank some water. ¡°Point is, if it¡¯s your choice, take the shot. You probably have a better chance with your whatever secret you¡¯ve got than I ever did.¡±


    ¡°Gramps, thank you.¡±


    ¡°Now shut your mouth and only open it to eat, it¡¯s bad to talk so much at the table.¡±


    ¡°Wait, Gramps, one more thing.¡±


    ¡°Yes, last thing.¡±


    But John''s mouth was agape in hesitation. ¡°Gramps, there¡¯s something you need to know.¡±


    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s what has been going on all night.¡±


    Unwillingness was piling up. This was the time to say it, John had already finished one of the two objectives and now there was just the second. But simultaneously, how could he just tell him after a conversation like that. Both of them had just shared something so genuine, and now John had to tell Gramps that he was sick, that illness was festering.


    John¡¯s mind was sending mixed signals to his mouth. There was a visible vibration of dread on his lips.


    ¡°Gramps.¡±


    ¡°Yeah?¡±


    ¡°Come with me to the candy shop tomorrow morning, six o¡¯ clock.


    ¡­


    John slammed the bedroom door behind him.


    His lip was bleeding. Biting it in frustration was becoming a bad habit.


    He jumped into the bed and screamed into the pillow.


    Gramps had simply nodded, thinking it had to do with John¡¯s secret, and kept on eating. But John couldn¡¯t elaborate, his jaw was locked into a simple chewing motion, and the rest of the meal had been in silence.

 Up the Hill

    The room was dark and calm. The was some illumination from the busy street outside, traces of light dotting an unkempt floor and a curled up figure through the blinds.


    A song played, an original soundtrack from an anime, cheery and bright. Then the figure stirred, and a hand shot out, blindly reaching for the source ¨C a cellphone. It viciously pressed the side buttons until the alarm, with a sound set ten years ago, cut off.


    John got up with a groan and checked the time: 9:53 PM. He had already snoozed three times, but any more and he would be late.


    It was moments before the second and last day of the RISE pre-release.


    There was a string of notifications plastered all over the glass screen. He tapped open the first thread, a chat from Kevin.


    Kevin Huang (19:01): Hey did you see the news?


    Kevin Huang(19:07): You there?


    Kevin Huang(19:08): It¡¯s RISE, they announced the retail of the helmets, six in the morning.


    Kevin Huang(19:08): We should wait in line. With a release like this, the lines will be huge if we don''t get there early.


    Kevin Huang(19:20): Anyways, I¡¯m heading to the William Street distribution center. Come and find me when you check your messages.


    The line would be huge and getting there the day before wouldn¡¯t be uncommon. The biggest problem would be the bitter cold. Also, John already had a helmet and he needed to play tonight.


    John Patterson (21:54): Hey. Just woke up.


    There was an instant reply like Kevin had already been on his phone, waiting for this moment.


    Kevin Huang (21:54): Really? You missed such an important moment. It¡¯s crazy out here. The line is already endless.


    John Patterson(21:54): Yeah, I can imagine.


    But John didn¡¯t have to: he could simply remember. He joined the game RISE late, but he still witnessed the unending queue when he passed by. And this night was the coldest yet this winter.


    Kevin Huang(21:54): These people are prepared. Half of them are dressed like Eskimos and the other half have chairs or tents.


    John nodded. The line had been like a sidewalk refuge camp. The freezing queue dwellers would soon resort to the teachings of Prometheus.


    JohnPatterson (21:55): But they can¡¯t compete with you. You have the all-natural blubber.


    Kevin Huang (21:55):


    John Patterson(21:55): Anyways, don¡¯t bother waiting for me. I¡¯ll be a while.


    Kevin Huang (21:55): Okay, I¡¯ll be here, just let me know if you''re coming.


    John quickly dealt with the other messages, mostly other classmates excited about the same thing. He switched off the phone and tossed it on his bed.


    With the three remaining minutes, he popped into the washroom to empty his bladder. He brushed his teeth, mostly just coating them in the minty paste before spitting it out. He finally filled a glass of cold water from the kitchen tap, hydrating his dry throat before returning to the bed.


    Excitement coursed through his veins. John would always get a slight exhilaration before logging in, but this time, he had more strength, someone who trusted him, and a real-world problem to procrastinate from.


    With half a minute left, he placed the neurode straps over the top of his skull and tightened the collar around his neck. The button was pressed once again.


    There was the black screen and a line of white text.


    [Server opening in 17 seconds.]


    [¡­]


    [You have logged in.]


    John opened his eyes, these ones virtual, to the musty, tainted sunlight. He took a breath and stabilized himself against the rocky face around him as the neural link solidified.


    He was in a depression in the eleventh stair of the hill, a crack the geological wafer. It¡¯s where he had logged off last night right before the nocturnal mobs would have flooded the crooked landscape.


    John pulled himself out. It was time to progress again.


    ¡®But there¡¯s that.¡¯


    Last real night, in the middle of his heartfelt conversation, John had scrolled through numerous RISE ads. But he had seen more than he had asked for.


    It was a video like any other RISE commercial, the story of a player making a heroic escape, running from hopeless odds¨C the kind of thing that inspires you to believe that you could be that guy, a legend.


    It started in a dark room with a single light source. Well, it was hard to tell exactly if it was a room as the dim illumination couldn¡¯t reach the walls, possibly a cavern. There was a man in a rough coat, and thick trousers, running. The image was shaky, like an action movie, and the adventurer¡¯s face was in shadows, hidden from the bouncing light.


    The perspective shifted to a distant observer, where one could only see the azure luminance and the resulting lens flare. The view was suddenly covered by an army of mobs.


    Then the light, a magic stone ¨C his magic stone ¨C sailed into the tide of monsters ¨C a tide of bones.


    The rest is predictable, obvious.


    The stone skidded across the bones, sinking into a cavity made of ribs and hips. The RISE team¡¯s omniscient cinematography ghosted the stone¡¯s path, empathizing the interaction with the magic formations and the resulting detonation.


    Like the explosion would have confused the horde, it did John.


    ¡®Didn¡¯t RISE have a good privacy policy?¡¯


    Surely, the soon-to-be multi-billion dollar company wouldn¡¯t violate their privacy agreements. Moreover, VR might be in a shady legal area, but no company should be able to create an advertisement using a player¡¯s triumphs, at least not without permission.The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    ¡®No, they wouldn¡¯t do that to normal players... But we aren¡¯t normal players.¡¯


    This was the pre-release, no player here was normal, and the terms of service would likely follow that trend.


    ¡®The one time I should have actually read the ToS, I didn¡¯t even have the option.¡¯


    John had carefully considered the direct consequences of stealing his way into the pre-release but hadn''t thought enough about the later consequences. He had been completely ignorant of the possibility of the RISE corporation¡¯s direct monitoring.


    But that begged the question: where were the consequences? It would be fairly obvious to any observer that he had an unfair advantage ¨C but there was no ban. And that sparked another even more intriguing proposition. Was someone turning a blind eye, deliberating let his advantage go unimpeded?


    This was an advertisement for him, a very evident warning. But it was hard to interpret. Why do it in such a roundabout way? It might be to keep it subtle, off the direct system notifications and any records. It was likely a single person, one with authority, maybe in the advertising department, that wanted John to keep succeeding, and do so consistently for the long-term. As for the motives, John could only guess.


    But whatever the reason, John got the message: nothing that might suggest prior knowledge, at least until the pre-release was over. Fighting proficiency and mob killing should be fine, just mostly stay away from special locations and NPCs.


    Moreover, it would probably be a good idea to avoid exposing his high-level and skills immediately after the official release. It was probably true that there were additional terms that the other experts had to follow regarding this.


    He checked his weapons and character status.


    [John]


    Class: Starter Thief


    Level: 4 (13713/14500)


    HP: 139/139


    Strength: 9


    Vitality: 9


    Agility: 13


    Dexterity: 14


    His dagger and pistol had a durability of 24/50 and 36/40, respectively. The durability didn¡¯t drop too much on these little mobs but when John started stabbing the thick, leathery hide of the elite tainted deer and shooting exotic munitions, the digits would change rapidly. As for his armor, the damage was negligible as John rarely got hit during normal hunting.


    He poked his head out, and, making sure the coast was clear, pulled himself out of the crack. He brushed the dust out of his eyes and equipped his weapons.


    His current goal was to climb higher up the hill. He could have done so early, but it hadn¡¯t been as efficient. When John hit level five, the amount of experience he would be getting from these rabbits would drop significantly and the experience gained by the higher mobs would become worth the time it took to kill them.


    To travel between levels of the hill, players could climb, but it was easier to take a ramp ¨C the one to the next level was just ahead. John brandished his weapons and aimed at a pack of five rabbits blocking the way. They had been at fairly close range, right outside the hole.


    They immediately aggroed on him, but at this range, John could hit every shot on a vital spot on the level five rabbits.


    ¡®Rapid-Fire¡¯


    John¡¯s hand blurred in repetitive bolt cycling, a mix between the methodical motion of a professional sniper and speed of a revolver sharpshooter.


    -37


    -22


    -47


    [A shot nicking the heart has ruptured the target¡¯s aorta, causing massive bleeding.]


    -46


    [You have slain a Tainted Rabbit]


    [You have gained 54 XP]


    The bullets perfectly hit the rabbit¨C in the left eye, neck, heart, and spinal cord ¨C in around a second. The damage was astounding given the 35% damage reduction of Rapid-Fire shots. But then again, the low-intelligence mob hadn¡¯t bothered to dodge against John''s practiced aim.


    As the first fell, the second reached melee range. This was the skill¡¯s fatal flaw, the long usage time, and vulnerability. It was hard enough to kite with most weapons let alone with twice the fire rate.


    -37


    -48


    [A shot to the left lung and shoulder blade has weakened the target¡¯s stamina recovery and mobility.]


    John managed to get two shots, one of them debilitating, before they got too close. As the second rabbit tumbled over, squealing in high-pitched agony, the third, a beast with a red stripe on its back, and the fourth, with huge teeth, engaged.


    Red Stripe went for a waist-height leap, which John promptly sidestepped, while Big Teeth went for a thigh bite.


    -26


    [The target has been winded.]


    John stabbed the hurtling, tainted furball in the back, and Big Teeth dropped to the ground. The stab wasn¡¯t very deep, but it was enough to buy time.


    John raised the pistol, using the last two shots available in Rapid-Fire¡¯s duration.


    The first shot was swallowed by Old Fives ¨C it had been going for delayed sprint, attempting to use its peers¡¯ assault as a distraction ¨C burying itself in the esophagus.


    -48


    [Severe bleeding has developed in the target''s mouth.]


    The second shot put down the writhing rabbit that had its lung blown out earlier. There was a momentary blossom of tainted bits.


    -67


    [You have slain a Tainted Rabbit]


    [You have gained 57 XP]


    Red Stripe landed, and with swift paws, engaged while the thief was dealing with Fives. With its hops that were ¨C well, like a rabbit ¨C it managed to get on the thief¡¯s back, clawing and biting.


    -15


    -17


    It was difficult for most melee classes to deal with a small foe on their backs due to the swinging and stabbing nature of melee weapons, but gun-based thieves had a good option.


    Red Stripe¡¯s crimson eyes seemed to widen as it¡¯s right eye¡¯s field of view was filled by a silver barrel.


    -135


    [You have done a devastating shot to the enemy, causing severe bleeding and brain damage.]


    -1


    [Temporary hearing damage due to proximity to firearm discharge has occurred.]


    John ignored the ringing in his ears from the shot. He clenched his dagger firmly and prepared to clean up Big Teeth. Meanwhile, Red Stripe was bleeding copiously.


    -7


    -7


    -7


    [You have slain a Tainted Rabbit]


    [You have gained 54 XP]


    As its friend bled to death, Big Teeth went for another vicious bite, this time towards the guts.


    -16


    John blocked it with his gun arm, taking a bit of damage, but limiting it to a superficial wound. He rapidly shanked the rabbit in return.


    -27


    -23


    -45


    The last stab got the monster really good in the head and the jaw loosened, Big Teeth falling to the ground. John quickly shot it before it could scurry away.


    -37


    [You have slain a Tainted Rabbit]


    [You have gained 57 XP]


    As for Old Fives, it was bleeding profusely from the mouth, but it managed to stand up and try to attack. John could only thankful that the RISE corporation designed these mobs devoid of survival instinct.


    -13


    John kicked Fives and held the weakened rabbit by the throat.


    -34


    -32


    [The target has started bleeding]


    -37


    [Lethal bleeding is developing.]


    -36


    [You have slain a Tainted Rabbit]


    [You have gained 58 XP]


    It was simple enough to score good stabs on an immobilized target.


    John quickly gathered the drops and stuffed them in his inventory. He wiped his knife on Red-Stripes pelt, darkening the color. He munched on a few crumbs and inserted two more bullets into his magazine before climbing up the ramp.


    ¡­


    ¡°Hey.


    ¡°What do you see?


    ¡°C¡¯mon, I want to know too.


    ¡°Open your mouth, tell me.


    ¡°¡­


    ¡°No, close it, your expression of shock is kind of unattractive.


    ¡°You know I don¡¯t have those magic binoculars, don¡¯t be selfish.


    ¡°Tell me what you seeeeeeee!¡±


    The priest was getting peeved. He was supposed to be in charge, and this supposed subordinate wasn¡¯t sharing.


    ¡°Shut up,¡± the optical elementalist finally lightly snapped, clear insubordination. She was focused with her hands in a triangular shape in front of her face. There were circles of magic runes outlining a path from her squinted right eye to the center of the gesture.


    The priest sighed. The optical magician was lucky that their relationship was casual in private. The guild master would have chewed them out for such behavior. ¡°Fine, let me know when you''re done. Just don¡¯t tease me with that exaggerated shock.¡±


    After a few moments, the optical mage deactivated the spell, Zoom, and grit her teeth in pain. She placed her hands on her knees and hunched over.


    The priest topped off her health bar and patiently waited for her to catch her breath. ¡°So?¡±


    ¡°My expression is genuine,¡± she said between gulps of air.


    ¡°So?¡±


    ¡°You know those level three and four rabbits in this area? The ones that we struggled to deal with?¡±


    ¡°Yeah?¡±


    The optical mage looked up and gave a weird look that screamed amazement and hesitation. ¡°He solo-killed five of them.¡±


    ¡°What is his level?¡± the priest exclaimed in surprise. The pair could only deal with two to three, maybe four, at a time.


    ¡°Can''t tell from this range. Though, it''s certainly higher than ours, but so are the levels of those bunnies.¡±


    ¡°So, it¡¯s skill then.¡±


    The mage nodded her head. ¡°His reactions are unnaturally fast, his motions are too precise, and each blow uses his strength to its fullest.¡±


    The priest closed his eyes and thought. ¡°Can you describe the fight in more detail?¡±


    The optical mage did.


    The healer considered again and nodded, making a decision. ¡°Do you still want to go to the hill?

 Cooperation

    Helios: Hey, you¡¯re back!


    John checked his pocket watch. It had been thirty minutes since the start of the pre-release.


    John: Yeah, you too. Where¡¯d you two go?


    Helios: We filed a report and went to bed. But where did you go? What was that, John? It was scary, we thought you might have died.


    John quickly thought up an excuse to push aside Gram''s concerns.


    John: Don¡¯t worry about that, it''s not the helmet, it¡¯s a personal thing.


    Helios: Oh, okay...


    He was clearly still confused but didn''t further the matter.


    Helios: Also, you¡¯re level four. When did you get back?


    John was thankful that the friends list didn¡¯t show the exact experience level of players. Otherwise, he would have to immediately make another excuse.


    John: Around five or six hours after you left last night. I just farmed a few mobs. I still am.


    Helios: Oh, can Jodie and I join you? We¡¯re both a bit behind from missing half a night of progress.


    John: Yeah, sure.


    He sent his coordinates.


    John: I¡¯m in this general area, it¡¯s a hill. Just come over and grind the bottom of the hill.


    Helios: Acknowledged.


    John closed the chat and continued the climb.


    He decided to settle in on the fifteenth landing of the stepped hillside area. At around this height, the vertical distance between landings increased to nearly a dozen meters, creating a sharpening of the hill''s contour.


    The rabbits were mostly gone at this point, the remaining ones reaching level six. Instead, level six raccoons were common with the occasional level seven tainted lizards.


    [Tainted Lizard]


    Level: 7


    HP: 263/263


    These weren¡¯t the simple little reptiles that were kind of annoying but cute at the same time. They rather resembled the mighty Komodo dragon, with huge serrated teeth and rugged scales. They had an improved venomous bite and possessed an overwhelmingly aggressive behavior, along with a four-meter length.


    And there was one ¨C right in front of John¨C on the steep ramp to the fifteenth landing, rested into the clastic hillside.


    The Komodo wannabe gave John a nasty look like the player had killed its mother. A three-pronged tongue¨C probably anatomically incorrect ¨C slithered out, causing a puff of condensation in the winter air.


    It felt surreal, a cold-blooded predator in an arid winter wasteland.


    John raised his pistol and shot it.


    -15


    ¡®This gun¡¯s too weak¡­¡¯


    It hadn¡¯t hit anywhere particularly vital, but the damage was very poor. The scales were indeed, tough.


    The Komodo look-a-like snarled, dripping venom, and charged downhill, using its elevation and mass to build huge momentum.


    John fired another shot.


    -14


    It nicked the lizard near the left shoulder. The huge bullet merely cracked the tainted lizard¡¯s scales and it shrugged off the damage. John fired a second bullet.


    -26


    It perfectly hit the monster in the same spot, pushing aside broken scales and digging into the flesh.


    That got the monster¡¯s concern. The sudden stress on the joint while its shoulder muscles contracted caused damage to the musculature, nearly flipping the downhill runner over its front feet.


    Its massive kinetic energy that had been a weapon now also became a liability as the body lunged uncontrollably.


    John jumped to the side, but the lizard still nicked him in the shin as he jumped.


    -13


    He spun laterally and landed on his stomach. There was a gust of wind like a train had just passed by. John coughed up dust and recovered his bearings


    The Komodo was in a heap five meters away. It had taken the worst of the exchange.


    John pushed off the ground and immediately raised his pistol, shoot the last round of the magazine before the beast could recover.


    -20


    The shot landed near its mouth where the scales were weaker, and the lizard groaned.


    John quickly reloaded his pistol, pulling out one of his reserve magazines. He had loaded the tips as such: black, normal, black, orange. He hadn¡¯t wanted to break out the special ammunition, but solo killing a level seven mob like the tainted lizard would difficult otherwise.


    As the reptilian tank recovered and went after John, he aimed again. The heavy recruit pistol shook with an immense recoil.


    Penetration rounds used a denser material and had a sharper tip. To compensate for the weight, a different alchemical propellant was used. This summed up to a faster round that sliced through low-level mobs¡¯ hides like butter.


    -56


    The super-effective penetration damage of the black tip tore off the left side of the lizard''s face, ripping the left jaw muscles and rupturing a venom salivary gland.


    ¡®That¡¯s more like it.¡¯


    The lizard roared in pain but maintained its advance. It got to John before he could shoot another shot. John hastily leaped to the side ¨C this time successfully ¨C and stabbed the monster in the back, hard.Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.


    -18


    The dagger barely entered the flesh, but the impact vibrated up John¡¯s shoulder, almost causing a collision proc.


    The Komodo brought its giant serrated mouth about face and lopsidedly snapped its venomous daggers at John.


    He could not afford to get hit by that. Venom and broken bones were why most Gyead players would eventually hunt in teams, with at least a priest. But John didn¡¯t carry any antidotes, relying on prevention rather than treatment.


    The thief narrowly avoided the first two passes of chomping jaws and the fountain of venom. As the third time came around, he fell onto his back, ducking under the violent dentition.


    ¡®Rapid-Fire¡¯


    John dropped his dagger and stuffed the pistol with both hands into the dragon¡¯s wound. There was a muffled discharge of flash and smoke.


    -32


    The monster reeled backward from the shot, just as another liberation of gunpowder filled its oral cavity.


    -34


    John worked the bloodied bolt again as the lizard¡¯s front foot went down, trying to stomp and claw the thief¡¯s chest flat.


    -36


    Another damage number appeared on the lizard as the third Rapid-Fire round exploded out of the smoking barrel.


    With the disorientation of the mob, John managed to pull the gun out and roll away, barely escaping the crushing force.


    He worked the bolt again, trying not to slip with his wet hands. He pulled the trigger.


    -15


    It hit the Komodo in the neck, barely breaking through the scales. It had been a normal round because of Rapid-Fire, and it hadn¡¯t been particularly well aimed, but it was enough.


    [You have slain a Tainted Lizard]


    [You have gained 238 XP.]


    [You have leveled up.]


    [The fourth level barrier has been removed.]


    With the life expelled from its body, the tainted lizard corpse fell downwards.


    -7


    ¡°Oooooof,¡± John exhaled as the weight pushed the breath out of his lungs.


    He lay there for a moment and sighed. ¡®I was a bit greedy. Should have just used more special ammo.¡¯


    Indeed, that fight had been sloppy. John hadn¡¯t taken much damage ¨C but that didn¡¯t mean he did a good job ¨C one solid hit and he would have taken semi-permanent damage. Well, by normal standards his fight had been good, exceptional even.


    He had killed a very hard, higher-level common mob, bordering on elite status, alone. Even amongst experts in the past, they would have struggled to do the same. It showed the brutalness of early game skirmishes: even a ten-year veteran couldn¡¯t overcome a two-level difference so easily. It required skill and lots of it.


    John pushed the corpse off himself and wiped the lizard¡¯s various fluid off his face. He collected the drops, 6 [Tainted Lizard Scale(s)], five chunks of [Tainted Lizard Meat], and one [Tainted Lizard Eye] ¨C the other had been blown off under the consecutive blasts.


    Replacing the black tip in the magazine and inserting another one with fresh rounds into his gun, John started lumbering up the ramp.


    And there was that level-up too. He distributed the points into his core stats, 2 in dexterity, 1 in agility.


    [John]


    Class: Starter Thief


    Level: 5 (35/21860)


    HP: 153/158


    Strength: 9


    Vitality: 9


    Agility: 14


    Dexterity: 16


    John looked at the notification feed.


    [Choose a basic skill.]


    This barrier of Assimilation modified XP values for party hunting, further encouraging players to group up.


    But at level five, rather than just a gameplay change, the fourth assimilation barrier also gave players a basic skill for their class and chosen playstyle. This was really a bone for normal players in a dog-eat-dog world where drop rates were painful at best.


    For John, it represented a big choice. He glanced at his options.


    [Pounce]


    A - Grade Skill


    Rank: Not yet Learned


    Damage: 2-3 + (65% Base Damage) SDU (Slash; Penetration) / 4-7 + (135% Base Damage) SDU (Dark; Slash)


    Cooldown: 23s


    Pounce Distance: Up to 1m + 0.2 Agility / Up to 1.5m +0.3 Agility


    Notes: Pounces forwards, stabbing a target; deals increased damage and has bigger range when cast from stealth.


    Pounce was an essential skill for dagger-based thieves, allowing them to close distance. Dark damage had a chance of applying an umbra proc which generally slowed the speed of the affected part and applied a modified version of fear aura on the target. This would be great for John if he wanted to start assassinating the competition.


    [Double Shot]


    A ¨C Grade Skill


    Rank: Not yet Learned


    Second shot base damage: 80% of first shot/ 50% of first shot¡¯s damage and 35% of effect for special rounds


    Recoil Reduction: 25%


    Cooldown: 19s


    Delay: 0.15s


    Notes: Fires a mirror of the last round from the firearm with a slight delay and less recoil; less effective with special munitions; second shot deals more % damage with high fire rate weapons; does not use ammo for the second shot.


    Double Shot was the standard firearm damage skill for thieves and gunners, the former having a watered-down version. It would be great for John when he went to kill the elite deer, mostly for the effect duplication on blue tips, ice rounds.


    [Pressure Strike]


    A - Grade Skill


    Rank: Not yet Learned


    Damage: (35% Base Damage) SDU (Collision) / 2-4 (115% Base Damage) SDU (Collision)


    Non-stun knockback: (250% Base Knockback)


    Cooldown: 10s


    Stun Duration: 1.25s Standard


    Notes: Hit the target with a blunt impact, applying a guaranteed collision proc; stuns if applied in a certain region of the target; enhanced damage and knockback if hit outside of the region.


    Pressure Strike would be the first crowd control skill that most thief players could get. Starter thieves would normally use the skill after pouncing on a target during assassinations, getting a fairly easy stun. Veterans also liked to use the skill to disengage an exchange or weaken a target¡¯s footing.


    Upon first glance, the best choice for John would certainly be Double shot, a pure damage skill. John didn¡¯t have any plans to assassinate players, except maybe an old rival, and death was the best crowd control.


    He hovered over the choice, about to select it.


    Then he considered again.


    Did he really want to keep spec¡¯ing into pistols? If he wanted to keep raiding, questing, and hunting, the answer would most definitely be yes. Range classes had an inherent advantage in kiting, and John knew plenty of positions where the tactic was unintendedly strong.


    But could he rely only on PvE? There was still the problem of Lupe: what would he do about Lupe? After the murderous anger of last night, and the prompt trauma attack, the will for revenge had dimmed. No, it hadn¡¯t dimmed ¨C changed, evolved, maybe ¨C but certainly not dissipated.


    Still, John knew that he wouldn¡¯t be able to pull that trigger.


    He flexed his right arm and tensed the tendons in his forearm, gripping the heavy recruit pistol. He held the weapon motionless.


    Would he be able to even pull the trigger on a player ¨C any player?


    The still of his hand wavered as he selected his choice.


    [Are you sure you want to select Pounce?]


    [You have learned Pounce, Rank 1.]


    He chuckled as he continued up the hill.


    He would be more than happy to jump Lupe in the night, afflict him with umbra, cut him into tiny little slivers until he was more than dead ¨C but no, John couldn¡¯t shoot him.


    ¡­


    ¡°Bit higher, to the left.


    ¡°Yeah, around there.


    ¡°Hit him in the eyes.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m trying,¡± the optical mage said, attempting to stabilize her spell, Beam. Optical elementalists had the longest range out of any class in RISE. The A-Grade spell, Beam, could reach John, but it was well beyond the focal point of the laser-like spell.


    ¡­


    As he climbed up the ramp, John felt an uncomfortable brightness from in his eye, like a pesky child with a laser pointer.


    John turned around and spotted two small players near the third floor of the hill. It was far, but still with shouting range. From in-game experience, the normal range of a player shout was over two hundred meters.


    ¡°Oi, you dimwits, I can hear you from here!¡± he shouted. ¡°Put down the laser pointer, you¡¯ll give someone retinal cancer!¡±


    The voice was faint but clear enough for the two get the message: one, the speaker was rude, and two, they really were within range and just didn¡¯t know it.


    ¡°Hello,¡± the priest shouted back. ¡°We are from the Skarl guild. You may have heard of us before.¡±


    John had. Skarl was a medium-large sized guild in the past that had grown into a huge presence. John was surprised they had managed to enter the pre-release given their current size. He suspected that all, or most of their allotted devices and players were in Gyead. ¡°Yes, I know you.¡±


    The shouting gave the priest¡¯s voice a slow and grand quality. ¡°Then, you¡¯ll have heard of our honesty ¨C ¡±


    John hadn¡¯t.


    ¡° ¨C and goodwill ¨C ¡±


    John hadn¡¯t.


    ¡°My name is Dedication, and this is my colleague, EM Radiation: the Skarl Gyead representatives for the pre-release. Could I ask who you are, and what organization you represent?¡±


    ¡°John,¡± John shouted curtly.


    ¡°Yes?¡± Dedication replied, slightly puzzled. That sounded like an everyday real name rather than a big identity in the gaming world.


    ¡°I do not represent an organization.¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± the priest mumbled to EM. It was weird finding individuals rather than representatives in the pre-release. ¡°Let¡¯s ask him to party. Maybe we can befriend and eventually recruit him.¡±


    Radiation shouted this time. ¡°Perhaps we could cooperate.¡±


    John had expected such an answer. He knew he had been spied on the moment EM Radiation revealed herself as an optical elementalist. And he knew how attractive a lone expert of his caliber was.


    But it wasn¡¯t a bad suggestion. John could gain more ties with the big names and challenge the elite monsters higher up the hill. He hadn¡¯t planned on doing so, even with Jodie and Gram, but gaining more good allies, especially with some healing, could make it a possibility.

 Recruitment

    ¡°Kill it, kill it!¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t do enough damage! My spells are still on cooldown!¡±


    The two were having a hard time making it up to where John was.


    Death at this point would be horrible. As a bonus of Assimilation, the time, gear, and experience penalties were negligible until around level five, but the long trek back to the hill was undesirable. The Skarl pair struggled under the over-leveled mobs.


    ¡°Blast it!¡± Dedication screamed as the level five tainted rabbit jumped to attack him.


    -32


    A point-blank Beam engulfed the tainted critter¡¯s head, covering it in another layer of laser burns.


    [Your teammate has slain a Tainted Rabbit]


    [You have gained 45XP]


    They had killed for half an hour to get here, but Dedication was still pleased by the experience, very high for a single mob, split between the two players too. But then again, the Skarl representatives were level three, fighting against a level five mob.


    ¡°Heal me,¡± EM requested, eyeing the last foe, a scorched tainted raccoon.


    [Tainted Raccoon]


    Level: 5


    HP: 139/168


    Her health pool, displayed in bright red in the party combat window, was at 67/129. ¡°Floodlight¡¯s almost ready.¡±


    ¡°Sure, but¡­¡±


    \12


    Dedication grimaced as he used another chunk of his health bar, setting his health to 45/127.


    +18


    The heal wasn¡¯t quite as much as Radiation had hoped for.


    As a result of the unified resource system of RISE, priests gained more relevance than simple healing ¨C they became the lifeline of a party ¨C a resource for damage and survivability. They allowed warriors to tank more, and mages to cast more.


    Logically, they should also allow priests to heal more, but that created a problem of infinite circular healing as spells mostly cost less their effects.


    As such, there were different healing effectivenesses on classes. It was one hundred percent effectiveness on tank classes, a bit less on physical ranged classes and DPS melee classes. Mages had anywhere from 70% to 50% based on the type and other priests had near zero.


    Additionally, to prevent over-prolongation of fights, there were diminishing returns on consecutive magic class healing that were introduced with the second Assimilation barrier.


    Still, the 18 health heal really wasn¡¯t much.


    The raccoon didn¡¯t seem to care about mechanics, and continued, reaching around 15 meters in distance.


    EM Radiation was chanting her spell now, not Beam, but something stronger.


    [Floodlight]


    A - Grade Spell


    Rank: 1


    Total Maximum Damage: 14 + (315% Intelligence) + (285% Equipment Stats) SDU | (Light; Fire)


    Total Minimum Damage: 5 + (125% Intelligence) + (110% Equipment Stats) SDU | (Light; Fire)


    Duration: 3s


    Effective Radius: 15m


    AoE Arc: 55 degrees cone


    Cooldown: 1min 35s


    Cast Time: 1.25s Second Standard


    Total Cost: 18% Current Health; 15 HP Minimum.


    Notes: Burst of light for a duration in a cone; deals more damage with closer range; angle cannot be changed mid-cast; cannot move during use; does not penetrate through solids; invariable damage per tick but can be canceled mid-cast, refunding the unused cost.


    Floodlight was a versatile skill that applied a decent AoE in a cone in front of the target. Mages could also use it as a sort of shotgun, but that greatly reduced the AoE as the spell didn¡¯t penetrate mobs. Of course, the immobilization made this tactic a humongous risk.


    Radiation finished the chanting for the spell, completing it in 1.073s. The raccoon was a mere three meters away at this time.


    \15


    In front of her hands, a beam of light opened, overpoweringly bright, like the sun gracing a group of mere mortals. It was a stream, the sum of the individual photons carrying enough energy to visibly push back the raccoon.


    ~5


    ~17


    ~33


    A cumulative damage number started collecting over the tainted raccoon¡¯s head. There was a shrill squeal as the raccoon started roasting. It was burning ¨C burning alive, consumed by an overwhelming light. It struggled to escape the AoE, turning its body and running to the left.


    ~49


    ~65


    Light damage, the next best thing to holy damage against the tainted, chewed through the raccoon¡¯s fur, leaving it scorched black and sizzling as the flesh underneath boiled away.


    [The target has been partially blinded].


    ~87


    The tainted raccoon finally made it out of the beam, losing the majority of its health and eyesight on the left side.


    EM tried to cancel the spell and react to the raccoon¡¯s escape but its nimbleness was beyond the starter optical elementalist.


    Out of the horrifying effects of Floodlight, the raccoon leaped on Radiation¡¯s chest, ravaging the neck area.


    -25


    -18


    -20


    ¡®Devotion.¡¯


    \30


    The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. +40


    Dedication quickly used an emergency healing spell. It had a very poor exchange ratio of cost to healing, but Radiation would have almost died otherwise.


    However, it was only a temporary fix, as the sharp claws continued to rip into Radiation¡¯s robes and the supple flesh beneath. She tried to defend herself with her arms, but that only resulted in those getting torn up.


    -18


    -17


    ¡®Holy Strike.¡¯


    \5


    [Your health has nearly been depleted from magic overuse. Visibility and weariness symptoms have evolved.]


    Priests weren¡¯t completely defenseless. The blood of in his wrist welled up into the staff, shooting a lustrous bolt of holy magic.


    -26


    The lance-shaped charge stuck the tainted raccoon in the hindquarters, ripping the mob off the mage.


    There was a moment of respite and Dedication knew they had to finish it here: they had nothing left.


    ¡°Hit it!¡± Dedication screamed, not sure who he was shouting to.


    He was barely aware of what he was doing, but under the dazing effects of magic overuse, he lumbered over. He staggered to a stop before the monster, almost falling over. He gasped and gave the raccoon a blunt-sided smack with his staff.


    -6


    Due to his pitiful stats, the overhead blow didn¡¯t do much, but it was enough to hurt the critter. He raised the staff and brought it down with whatever force he could muster.


    -5


    And again.


    -5


    [The durability of your Starter Staff has decreased by 1]


    The depleted priest bludgeoned the raccoon over and over until it was immobile. The holy image was wholly absent.


    [You have slain a Tainted Raccoon]


    [You have gained 69XP]


    Then Dedication dropped in exhaustion right beside his colleague. He gasped for more breath and shoved biscuits in his mouth, almost choking on it. And he lay there, recovering health.


    In the corner of his eye, melded into the thirteenth cliffside, a boulder shimmered. The anomaly formed a silhouette ¨C a human silhouette ¨C squatted on a rock, squinting at them like a game analyst watching the most questionable game of his career.


    ¡°Hey, buddy,¡± John finally called, waving his hand dramatically.


    Dedication didn¡¯t reply ¨C he couldn¡¯t reply ¨C his mouth was full of gluten and sobs.


    ¡°How was the trip? I hope the walk didn¡¯t take too long.¡±


    Dedication cursed the cooperation offer in his head. He cursed the fact he had claimed goodwill. He swallowed, painful on his dry throat. ¡°How long were you watching?¡±


    ¡°The whole of that last fight. It was a good one.¡±


    Radiation moved her head with crumbs tumbling down her face. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say that you were farming while waiting for us?¡± she panted.


    ¡°I got bored. Thought I¡¯d lend you a hand.¡±


    ¡°Yes, about that helping hand,¡± Radiation mumbled.


    John shrugged. ¡°It¡¯s good to struggle once in a while, you know. You¡¯ll grow faster.¡±


    ¡°Struggle is right, maybe not even enough to describe that ¨C that was almost death,¡± Radiation retorted.


    EM was acting unprofessionally again. Dedication had cautioned her earlier to watch her tongue, but he was too exhausted to apologize on her behalf.


    ¡°I¡¯ve always been more a safety net rather than a harness.¡±


    ¡°No one sets a safety net millimeters about the ground¡­¡±


    John shrugged again and hopped off the rock, landing in front of the sprawled Skarl members. ¡°Well, you¡¯re here in one piece. That¡¯s good enough.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, we¡¯re here,¡± EM grumbled. ¡°But you haven¡¯t even told us what you want to do.¡±


    John pointed to the peak of the hill. ¡°That¡¯s the plan: to kill a few elite monsters of this hill, maybe catch us a glimpse of a boss.¡±


    ¡­


    The path from the thirteenth landing to the fifteenth landing was scattered with bodies. It might not have been the a lot of the landing, just a bloody line, but it was still terrifying. They were varied in size and race, location and level, but all brutally bloodied and very dead.


    As his companions examined the mobs, John examined them.


    Dedication was young, younger than his fairly clean behavior made him out to be. From the beneath the burgundy robes, he appeared to be seventeen with a fresh boyish face and a fit body. He wielded his staff with tired confidence that was also apparent in his dark observing eyes.


    EM Radiation¡¯s appearance, however suited her demeanour. The perfect single word would be hot: as in her fiery temper, streaky red hair, and admittedly, appearance. Seemingly five or so years older than John, she had a pale-ish complexion that somehow matched her grimy cloak and bloodied, cream-white robes beneath.


    Dedication finally glanced away from John¡¯s carnage and looked at the man himself. John: that¡¯s what his nametag said, he hadn¡¯t lied. Dedication then looked at the various carcasses again. ¡°So, John, could I ask what level you are?¡±


    ¡°Five.¡±


    Dedication had expected something similar, but that didn¡¯t stop his jaw from dropping. ¡°If you don¡¯t mind me asking, could you confirm your lack of affiliation?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t have a guild¡­¡± John answered. He looked at Dedication and added: ¡°I don¡¯t plan on joining one either.¡±


    The Skarl representative wasn¡¯t surprised: such a player was probably beyond their guild. ¡°But would you be willing to consider further cooperation? A bit after the official release opens, the agreement stipulates we can run the starter dungeon. I¡¯d like to snatch the first clear from the larger guilds.¡±


    John considered. The Tainted Tunnels must have recently been uncovered from beneath Gyead. The dungeon was a five-man dungeon, and most teams would be able to clear it at level four. It dropped a certain item on first clear too.


    Dedication had also confirmed John''s suspicions of the pre-release restrictions. He tucked that into the back of his mind.


    ¡°That sounds good. But it won¡¯t be for free,¡± John answered.


    ¡°Of course, you can have drop priority: we¡¯d just like to get our name out there.¡±


    John nodded.


    They continued until John stopped them at the fifteenth landing. This stair in the cliffside was populated except for the small area where John had previously hunted.


    He pointed at a collection of mobs. ¡°Go kill them, you need to level up first.¡±


    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we enter as a party?¡± Radiation asked.


    ¡°Nah, just go by yourselves,¡± John answered. ¡°It¡¯s not efficient enough.¡±


    There was a certain point where the killing speed of a party was outweighed by its size. Prior to the level five changes to party XP, this limitation was around three or four for normal players, depending on the strength of the members. But for the current level of John, this optimal range would probably be alone or with just a priest.


    With the thief clearing out the stronger mobs and luring away the tainted lizards, the pair had an easier time leveling. Even with the level six raccoons, they had decent time as long as John gave them a shot or two.


    Overall, the thief was very pleased with his new companions. They seemed to be of a decent skill level. He had thought as much during their earlier struggle, but this simply confirmed it.


    But why did John accept the offer for Skarl when he could have partnered with any goliath of the RISE pre-release? As he fought off the mobs in front of him, he further considered the pair.


    Particularly, Dedication was interesting. Why was he in Skarl? John had examined it carefully, the implications puzzling him. That was not Dedication, John knew that player.


    He had met the same player in the past, under the same appearance, but a different name and banner.


    Previously, it had been Lark of the Night. He was a star healer, one of the best in the Hiar region, one of the key members of the King¡¯s Men. That troop, like the historic actors of England, brought great tales to the players of RISE, only their stories ¨C anecdotes and recordings ¨C were exclusively of their countless encounters with Nike.


    But there was no way to change a username in RISE, nothing other than to reset.


    ¡®So why did he reset?¡¯


    John had no clue, but regardless, it would be a good idea for him to befriend such a valuable player. If he stayed in the Skarl guild, then John would have relations with formidable power. However, if Lark of the Night, or Dedication rather, left, then John would be more than happy to take him under his wing.


    And there was EM Radiation too. John hadn¡¯t heard anything about her. Her skills and adaptability seemed to be good amongst the pre-release players, but it was too early to make more speculation based solely off that.


    He still had the Focus skillbook, which might be worthwhile to give Radiation in exchange for a better relationship. John played with the thought and decided to hold onto it for a bit. He might give it after a bit more judgment.


    ¡®This pre-release is a mystery, but at least it¡¯s a mystery full of gems.¡¯


    He aside the thoughts of recruitment and focused on the mobs ahead of him.


    ¡®Pounce¡¯

 Elite Monster

    ¡°Say, John,¡±


    John closed his water canteen and wiped his hand on the back of his mouth. ¡°Yeah what¡¯s up?¡±


    ¡°How did you get so good at this game, so fast?¡± Radiation asked.


    ¡°EM¡­¡± Dedication mumbled. It was awfully rude to just ask an expert for their secret. But then gave up on it: he wanted to know too, and John didn¡¯t seem bothered by her remarks.


    ¡°It¡¯s alright,¡± John said to Dedication. He reached back for another pebble and chucked it off the edge from his sitting position. ¡°Well, it¡¯s alright for you to ask, I mean. But I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t answer that.¡±


    Radiation nodded and watched the falling stone. ¡°Yeah, I figured. Worth a shot.¡±


    ¡°Ah, don¡¯t worry about that. You¡¯re good enough right now: and it takes time to improve." He put a hand on his chin, as if thinking, then dropped it back down to waist level. "Who knows? You might be better than me someday, both of you.¡± In the past, Dedication certainly had been.


    ¡°It¡¯ll be a long time until that day.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s just time; there¡¯s plenty of that.¡±


    "Some have more."


    "You aren¡¯t in a rush are you?" John laughed. "It''s the pre-release, of course, you''re shit."


    The Skarl team didn¡¯t respond and continued recovering their stamina and health. A cold draft ran down the hill, but they ignore that too. They let their tired limbs savor the break and watched the tainted lands below them.


    John did too until a message popped up.


    Helios: We¡¯ve arrived at the hill. It¡¯s the strangest hill I¡¯ve ever seen.


    John: Took you long enough.


    Helios: We are level three and two. It¡¯s tough, pushing through these stronger rabbits.


    John: Your level is too low, but you won¡¯t have to push anymore. Just hold position and farm the level four rabbits until Selene¡¯s level three. Be careful of the raccoons and take the rabbits in small groups.


    Helios: Alright.


    John: Come up to the fifteenth landing when you are done.


    John closed the chat and hopped to his feet. ¡°Well, back to leveling,¡± he said, checking his watch. He wound it up and slipped into back into his pocket. ¡°How far are you two to level four?¡±


    ¡°About three-quarters of the way. That¡¯s nearly forty percentage points more than last night,¡± Dedication replied. ¡°Less than an hour at this crazy rate.¡±


    The level five player nodded in acknowledgment. ¡°Hit four, then we can hunt an elite monster.¡± John reckoned it wouldn''t be too bad, even without his other allies.


    The fifteenth floor was soon filled with dazzling bursts of light, gunshots, and magic chants. With John thinning out the mobs and luring the difficult ones, the two''s experience bars flooded upwards.


    ¡­


    ¡°Shit, more of these little bastards?¡±


    Gram nodded. ¡°You need level three before we go up.¡±


    She was 58% to level three.


    Jodie sighed, annoyed, and raised her staff, ready to cast magic. An angry warmth ran over her blonde hair and carmine-red robes. ¡°Alright, sure, that¡¯s fine." She took a breath. "But you need to talk to him about that when we do go up. Take the time to consider it again."


    He thought for a moment and raised his weapon too. ¡°I will.¡±


    The sound of flames, sword strikes, and the occasional fireball detonation rang out along the foot of the hill.


    ¡­


    ¡®Floodlight¡¯


    ~3


    ~7


    ~11


    The oppressive cone of light swallowed the tainted lizard in the worst sunburn it ever experienced. Unfortunately, it appeared that scales were quite resistant to light.


    ¡®Holy Strike.¡¯


    The lance-shaped holy bolt entered the Komodo¡¯s trunk of a knee.


    -9


    It further injured the giant lizard''s already shot kneecap. Its legs buckled and it collapsed, leaving it immobile against the fountain of light damage.


    ~16


    ~20


    ~24


    ~27


    The damage wasn¡¯t the best due to the thick scales of the beast and the four-level difference, but it was enough. Moreover, Radiation had managed to get fairly up close before casting the spell.


    [You have slain a Tainted Lizard.]


    [You have gained 367XP]


    [You have leveled up.]


    [The third level barrier has been removed.]


    Radiation and Dedication caught their breath, the former dropping forward in pain from the powerful spell. The priest quickly cast a spell to dispel the poison and relieve his partner.


    ¡®Cleanse¡¯


    [Your poisoned status has been removed.]


    The two rested while John watched.


    ¡°Jerk,¡± Radiation was breathing heavily, hands on her knees. ¡°I thought we weren¡¯t supposed to fight the lizards,¡± she muttered somewhat annoyed.


    ¡°I¡¯ve just been luring those away earlier. There was never a verbal agreement.¡± John answered. "Plus, I did most of the damage." He quickly collected the drops.


    Radiation didn''t say anything, restricted by stamina and John''s shameless remarks.


    ¡°It¡¯s good to practice on something stronger. I mean, that how you become stronger yourself," John added. "And that¡¯s what you want, right?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s good and all, but I¡¯d at least like to be prepared,¡± she spat out.


    Dedication opened his mouth and closed it. He had wanted to say something to Radiation but just let it be. If this partnership was to go on for a while, there wouldn¡¯t be any point in restricting her much longer.Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.


    ¡°Well, you should be prepared now, for a bigger monster that is. You¡¯re level four,¡± John said. ¡°We can go kill an elite coon.¡±


    ¡°Sure¡­¡±


    ¡°Also,¡± John added, pulling out a skill book. He had seen enough of the mage¡¯s talent and determination. ¡°You might have some use for this.¡±


    Dedication received the leather-binded skill book first. ¡°Focus,¡± he read. He passed the item to Radiation.


    She quickly rifled through it, her eyes popping in excitement. She closed it eagerly, pressing it to her generous chest to learn it.


    The priest had to stop her impulsive action. ¡°There¡¯s a price, right?¡± Dedication asked. ¡°We¡¯re the ones in a guild, we are the ones that should be recruiting. You shouldn¡¯t be giving us a gift, rather we should have. Why? Did you want to trade?¡±


    John shrugged. ¡°It can be a trade or a gift. It¡¯s up to you.¡±


    Dedication looked at John with uncertainty, but not quite unease. He scanned those casual eyes for a hint but found nothing.


    ¡°A trade then,¡± he concluded. ¡°We have a skill book too, but not for thieves.¡± He fished a similar leather hardback out of his inventory.


    John glanced at it. The faded golden words read Hunker Down. It was a defensive skill for guardians that dropped off low-level mobs on the tainted lands. It wasn¡¯t the rarest skill, but John could make some use out of it.


    ¡°Alright sure, a trade. A book for a book.¡±


    ¡°And favor, I suppose. The values don¡¯t quite match up.¡±


    John nodded.


    With the confirmation, EM quickly closed her eyes and used the skill book, learning Focus. There was a little sparkle of light that twirled around and entered her head. Her pretty face cracked into a smile, keen to use it.


    "Alright, up the hill," John directed.


    The pair followed John up the ramp to the next floors. There couldn''t, however, help but feel uncomfortable. Around them, the mobs were becoming spread out, but the difficulty became beyond the strength of just duo.


    Elite Tainted Raccoons spawned on the seventeenth landing of the hill, usually one at a time at level five.


    ¡°John,¡± Dedication muttered when they arrived. ¡°Are you sure that¡¯s a raccoon?¡±


    [Elite Tainted Raccoon]


    Level: 5


    HP: 650/650


    The monster didn¡¯t really look like one ¨C it was like more like a masked bear.


    The nimble claws became giant maces that would smash on a player like they were a little crab-apple on a playground. The teeth became fangs, and the breath, noxious gas that spewed out periodically. The originally beady, red eyes evolved into tennis balls that locked onto targets, exerting the mob''s cruel intentions.


    The silver lining to the horrific challenge ahead was the monster¡¯s health. Elite monsters in RISE weren¡¯t always elite in the same way. The giant rabbit earlier had evolved beefiness, but the damage it would have done, if it could have done any at all, was relatively small.


    This raccoon was squishier for its level but had damage and poison. There it was, fifty meters away, looking quite comfortable, nestled into a little dent in the sandstone cliffside. That¡¯s where the good drops would be too.


    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s a raccoon,¡± John responded.


    ¡°John, get your eyes checked, that¡¯s clearly a bear, a bigass bear,¡± Radiation mumbled.


    ¡°It¡¯d be easier if that were the case,¡± John sighed and initiated the fight by diving into stealth.


    This was a weird tactic. Gun-based thieves didn¡¯t normally gain anything from starting directly with melee combat. Stealth ensured surprise and guaranteed the first hit, but this target would definitely survive and retaliate.


    ¡°Mage, stay back here, a distance of at least thirty meters,¡± John advised. ¡°Wait until I jump him and just Beam him in the eyes at will. Priest, follow behind and just cleanse whenever I¡¯m poisoned.¡±


    Beam was a spell that could be effective in a huge range.


    [Beam]


    A - Grade Spell


    Rank: 1


    Total Focal Damage: 8 + (430% Intelligence) + (320% Equipment Stats) SDU | (Light; Fire)


    Duration: 8s


    Maximum Focal Distance: 15m


    Cooldown: 14s


    Cast Time: 0.75s Second Standard


    Total Cost: 5% Current Health; 7 HP Minimum.


    Notes: Beam of light that does continuous damage to target; Most damage at the variable focal point; channeled, can be canceled; full cost at the beginning, unused time refund on cancel.


    Beam was a great DPS spell for optical magicians who possessed good control that did immense damage at the focal point. Its effective range could be considered more than fifty meters. Like most of the optical elementalist spells, it was channeled, the intensity varying with duration rather than pure damage. There might be no immobilization, but it was hard to move and aim while casting in pain.


    But when combined with Focus, the spell really shone.


    [Focus]


    A - Grade Spell


    Rank: 1


    Cooldown: 20s


    Cast Time: 35% in addition to selected spell


    Cost: 50% of selected spell


    Notes: Concentrates the photons of spells; increases range for some spells; increases damage for some spells; increases accuracy for some spells; decrease AoE.


    Focus varied on a per spell basis, but for Beam, it allowed the focal point damage to extend to more than forty meters.


    Although eager to test out the combination, EM couldn¡¯t help but feel neglected. ¡°What, that¡¯s it?¡± Radiation asked. ¡°Isn¡¯t there supposed to be a tactic or something?¡±


    John didn¡¯t answer, creeping forward at fair speed with his dagger and pistol in hand. Actually, John didn¡¯t even need the optical mage. As long as he had healing and cleansing, the plan would be viable.


    He reached a distance of ten meters and he slowed his advance to a crawl. Silent steps was activated, and the movement was further slowed to a near standstill as the leather boots cautiously tread across the tainted terrain. He approached the beast¡¯s unguarded rear.


    Around five meters was the critical point where, due to the mob''s elite status, the raccoon would be able to detect him even in his practiced stealth. John paused and seven and took a deep breath.


    He broke into a sprint, gaining speed as fast as possible. The raccoon noticed at six due to the sudden movement, but John reached the acceleration he needed at five.


    ¡®Pounce.¡¯


    The notes for this ability were somewhat misleading. The advertised leap distance wasn¡¯t actually the maximum distance, but rather additional to the jump of the player. But not many thieves would have the ability to sprint without breaking stealth to use this effect.


    The long jump brought the thief pouncing into the air. The raccoon¡¯s giant paw swung over thief as he flew, but he made it, the dagger¡¯s tip straight and thrusting towards the raccoon¡¯s hide.


    -18


    [The target has resisted umbra.]


    The dagger shuddered as it pierced the bristles. John crashed into the raccoon¡¯s side, knocking the breath out of him. There was no umbra proc, but the blade stuck, giving him a place to leverage his strength.


    The raccoon rolled and lurched, trying to eject the thief. During its violent fury, a beam of light blasted it in the face, on the side of the snout.


    EM Radiation clenched her jaw as her combined spell continued discharging. Beam had an adjustable focal point up to fifteen meters, but with the help of Focus, photons concentrated on the fur.


    ~3


    ~8


    Thermal damage of any kind was always excruciatingly painful, and the raccoon reeled. The beam of light traced a path upwards, aiming for the left eye where it eventually passed over.


    ~23


    ~29


    It was momentary but the laser boiled the surficial intraocular liquid, temporarily blinding the beast¡¯s eye. In response, it belched out a thick cloud of poison.


    ~35


    ~46


    Seizing the opportunity, John managed to scrabble up the ursine like back. He stabbed down viciously with the basic dagger.


    -15


    [The durability of your Basic Dagger has decreased by 1]


    It wasn¡¯t a deep wound, but it was directly above the raccoon¡¯s right leg, and it was meant to be a channel. The thief twisted and pried, trying to expand the wound. The raccoon quivered in response.


    Meanwhile, the thick smoke-like substance engulfed the face of the critter, billowing over the shoulders and paws.


    ~47


    ~48


    ¡°Shit,¡± EM muttered as her Beam¡¯s damage dwindled into nothingness. The particles of the poison shielded the monster by scattering the light entirely. Moreover, the poison crept backward. John was now barely visible on the monster¡¯s back, wreathed in noxious fumes.


    Under the movements of the coon and the wafting of the airborne toxin, John locked his legs down. He took one last gasp of fresh air and he jammed his pistol into the gap. It had been widened enough to snugly hold pistol barrel.


    And behind that barrel, in front of the hammer mechanism and bolt, four various, colored tips laid. Encased in another of John¡¯s special magazines, a rainbow of hurt ¨C orange, blue, red, black ¨C itched for action.


    -34


    The shrapnel round, a holo-point designed with alchemically modified shards, expanded inside the tough tissue of the raccoon. The damage was low because of the strength of the musculature, but the metallic bits scattered, further embedding itself into the meat with each movement of the coon.


    With a clack, the bolt slid back and forth smoothly.


    -12


    The ice round entered next. The damage was even lower, the round shattering on impact. But instantly, the liquid within the shell bloated into fifty times its volume, filling the shrapnel cavity. The flesh flash froze under the bizarre cryogenic mixture, turning a frosty white.


    The coon, finally managed to react, rolling and shaking. The ground rumbled as the huge mass squirmed to get the thief off its aching wound.


    And it was successful. Shooken left and right, John was forced to let go or risk being crushed.


    -6


    [A shock has winded your body.]


    He skidded across the floor and bounced once before he could twist and reorient himself, landing on his feet.


    [You have been poisoned.]


    He must have taken in a breath as he was flung.


    John saw the message but ignored it as the beast before him suppressed its pain-induced spasms. It made a weird sound ¨C like a roar and screech simultaneously ¨C and stared down the thief angrily.

 Down the Hill

    In the boreal forest of John¡¯s home country, Lansbe, one could find bears.


    Actually, in most of the central part of the country that contained the capital and the economic hubs, one could find bears. There were black bears along the Great Lakes, roaming the southwestern border with the US, and Grizzlies, a bit further north. Hell, one could even find polar bears at the banks of Hudson Bay at the northern coast of the province where the arctic ice brought them down south.


    Appropriately, there was plentiful knowledge on how to deal with these natural behemoths. In bear country, hikers often brought deterrents like sprays or made noise to keep the timid beasts away. Upon contact, travelers were advised to stay calm and back away slowly, trying to be gentle, and never running or provoking.


    If all else failed and one got chased ¨C other than praying, becoming devout if necessary ¨C one was supposed to run downhill. Allegedly, the powerful hind legs of bears, longer than the forelegs, made running at on a decline nigh impossible because of the resulting forward center of mass.


    Of course, the Elite Tainted Raccoon wasn¡¯t a bear ¨C no member of the Ursidae family was venomous, or so aggressive, for that matter ¨C but it was close enough. It had been enough for some forum posters in the past life who had hunted other mobs of similar anatomy.


    With the roaring of the elite raccoon behind him, John sprinted towards the ramp, coughing out some purple fumes. Luckily, he was on a hill, and probably the largest hill for a hundred kilometers around.


    ¡®Cleanse¡¯


    /23


    [The target has been cleansed of their poisoned status]


    Dedication took a strained breath. That cleanse had cost far more than normal: the elite status and higher level of raccoon had made it difficult. If he had still been level three, the cleanse would likely have not cast.


    The ground rumbled as the elite monster chased after John. It roared under the pain of it¡¯s wounded hind leg and dorsal hump. Still, its immense natural speed made it that even with the wound, it could keep up with John.


    ¡°Where¡¯s he going?¡± Radiation mumbled. The pair, monster and man, was running towards the edge of the landing.


    ¡°Man, I don¡¯t know,¡± Dedication replied hastily. But he was already moving after them. ¡°Follow him, though!¡±


    John reached the ramp to the sixteenth floor, a bit more than two hundred meters in 17 seconds flat. Fortunately, the other mobs were scarce along the path. He slowed down his aching calves and disappeared from view.


    The tainted raccoon was still after the player, reaching the edge moments after him. If it hadn¡¯t be injured, he would have been meat by now.


    But its horrible advance slowed the instant it reached the steep ramp, set at forty-five degrees. It ground to a halt, slowly negotiating the slope. This was especially because of the huge wound in it¡¯s back and legs muscles.


    John smiled and raised the barrel of his gun upwards, the crimson-red tip within sharing his brimming excitement.


    -23


    The bullet smashed itself against the raccoon¡¯s snout, opposite the previous laser burns. The hypergolic contents within expanded and mixed upon impact, splashing burning-hot liquid across the raccoon¡¯s face.


    -2


    -2


    -2


    A series of flame damage ticks roast the snout and blackened the fur, causing it to roar in response.


    John shot the next round as soon as he could, a penetration round.


    -44


    The bullet dug into the elite monster¡¯s cheekbone, fracturing it and causing a huge flesh wound to the surrounding structures. The alchemical mixture dribbled into the wound amplifying the fire''s damage.


    -4


    -4


    [The target has ignited and is receiving serious burns]


    The two Skarl members appeared from over the edge of the seventeenth cliff. ¡°God!¡± Radiation exclaimed as she witnessed the flames and roasting flesh of the raccoon. ¡°How did he do that? To a monster like that¡­¡± She raised her arms ready to cast another Beam.


    ¡°Stay, back,¡± John shouted, watching the mage in the corner of his eye. The mob could possibly aggro on her due to its inability to run downhill.


    The raccoon roared and frantically waved its paws, trying to beat out the fire on its snout. But the self-contained fuel-oxidizer solution couldn¡¯t be smothered. It shrieked again and leaned forward with its head cocked sideways to shield its vulnerable face.


    ¡®Rapid-Fire¡¯


    A flurry of rounds exploded out of John¡¯s pistol as he backed up.


    -12


    -14


    -13


    The ursine monster advanced bent over, its head nearly touching the sloped ground to brave the incoming gunfire.


    -15


    -13


    -12


    The shots weren¡¯t very well-placed, but there were so many of them. With John¡¯s higher dexterity and practice, he was able to pump out a bit over four rounds per second, a total of fourteen in the spell''s duration.


    -11


    -16


    -9


    The beast was getting close, the bullets doing little against its thick bristles. It bellowed deeply in annoyance.


    -12


    -11


    -9


    The spent bullet casings ran down like raindrops, rolling beside the thief¡¯s methodically backpedaling boots.If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    -7


    -8


    As the seconds ticked down, Rapid-Fire ended and the plumbic fountain dried up. John immediately discarded the magazine and turned tail down the hill at best speed.


    The same instant the suppressive fire ended, the Elite Tainted Raccoon rushed forwards, doing its best to catch that damn annoying thief.


    ¡°Beam him!¡±


    EM Radiation, watching in astonishment, snapped to attention and chanted. Magic power gathered in bright pinpoints within her hands, condensing into the Focus Beam. At the same time, the thief completed an extremely practiced running reload.


    \8


    ~3


    ~9


    ~16


    The noxious fumes trailing from the raccoon¡¯s mouth were dispersed by its mad dash, allowing a clear shot on the behemoth¡¯s back.


    ~18


    ~22


    The raccoon ignored the light and continued after the thief. It could resist the spell¡¯s pain as long it wasn¡¯t on a sensitive place like the eye. It lunged after John when they neared the sixteenth landing.


    ¡®Pounce.¡¯


    Using the refreshed skill, John pounced off the slope, landing with an elegant roll on the craggy landing. Behind him, the raccoon missed it¡¯s swiping blow and nearly lost its balance, only stabilizing itself on the flat ground. It would have certainly rolled if the slope had been any longer.


    [You have been poisoned.]


    However, he had engulfed another whiff of poison. An unpleasant feeling arose in his lungs and he coughed uncontrollably.


    -3


    It really would be near impossible to deal with the Elite monster without a priest or an abundance of antidotes. ¡°Shit,¡± John cursed, spitting out some blood. Dedication was out of range for an immediate cleanse.


    The raccoon was aggroed back on him. It approached and swung, broad strokes at the thief¡¯s core.


    John dodged and ducked and sidestepped the huge strikes as best as he could. Any of those blows on an unarmored class like a thief would be enough to shatter the bones and cripple his mobility. Years of experience with larger foes kicked in as he expertly avoided the blows.


    -3


    John spat out more blood as the venom withered the lining of his alveoli. Between the exhaustion of the movements and the necrotizing poison in his lungs, his stamina plummeted. He somehow kept up the dodging game, even returning several sweeping blows with a stab or pistol shot until Dedication made it down the ramp.


    ¡®Cleanse.¡¯


    /30


    Dedication immediately dropped to his knees, gasping. That cleanse had cost even more health due to the time taken before treatment.


    John ducked underneath the next swing, noticing an opening. He held his breath and, with renewed vigor, stabbed the raccoon in the eye, just above the burnt flesh.


    -34


    The critical damage to the eye permanently blinded it, spilling the fluids outwards copiously. The monster swung wildly in rage, hitting nothing. The thief was long gone by that time, high tailing it to the next ramp.


    ¡®This is going to take a while,¡¯ John thought as he ran, tired but confident.


    The Elite Tainted Raccoon, after the barrage of attacks, was still at more than half health, chasing him furiously. They just didn¡¯t have enough DPS to kill it in a short period of time.


    Indeed, it took another four minutes, three ramps, three cleanses, and two rotations of Rapid-Fire, before the massive monster eventually swayed and collapsed. It had had enough of the constant burning, the hurting of its wounds, the sting of the pistol, and the non-stop laser scorching.


    In the last slivers of its health bar, it had made a furious offensive. It knew that even if it survived the direct fight, the wounds would cripple its ability to survive.


    However, John, over the course of the fight, became accustomed to this specific monster¡¯s attack patterns. Even after the mad sprints and vicious fighting, he managed to evade the raccoon¡¯s ultimate tantrum.


    -25


    A final shot to the right between the eyes concluded the raccoon¡¯s miserable life of eternal kiting.


    [You have slain an Elite Tainted Raccoon]


    [You have gained 2160XP]


    The fighting didn¡¯t end immediately though, the skirmish having aggroed a few fodder mobs over its duration. Heavy combat ensued, tearing at the party¡¯s resources.


    Finally, as the last mobs fell to the ground, so did Dedication and EM Radiation, panting.


    ¡°Damn, it,¡± she cursed between heavy breaths. ¡°These fights are exhausting.¡±


    ¡°Yes, they are,¡± Dedication panted, putting his formality on pause. ¡°Damn exhausting.¡±


    Radiation gave Dedication a look, but he shrugged it off. She had already broken the supposed formality barrier ages ago.


    ¡°By the way, John,¡± EMasked quizzically after panting for a few seconds. ¡°How did you know that it couldn¡¯t run downhill.¡±


    John, who had been recovering sat on a rock nearby, took a swig of his canteen and looked up. ¡°You¡¯re wrong about a lot of things ¨C¡±


    That garnered a look from Radiation.


    ¡°¨C but at least you can tell a bear from a raccoon.¡±


    There a brief silence.


    ¡°John¡­¡± Dedication muttered awkwardly. He was from Lansbe too, more experienced with the outdoors than the city-bound thief. ¡°Bears can run downhill just as fast as on any terrain. That¡¯s one of the worst myths to tell someone about bear country.¡±


    John squinted at Dedication, analyzing in confusion. ¡°Is that so?¡± he finally coughed out, inwardly cursing the validity of random forum posters. ¡°Clearly, it can¡¯t run downhill with a crippled leg.¡±


    ¡°Well¡­ I believe most quadrupeds would struggle with that,¡± Dedication pointed out.


    John squinted harder as if seriously considering the proposition. He gave it up. ¡°Ah, it¡¯s dead ¨C that¡¯s what matters.¡±


    And dead elite monsters gave a lot upon death. John and the Skarl pair pillaged the corpse, collecting a mound of monster commodities. The most interesting single article was an [Elite Tainted Raccoon Heart] that would fetch a pretty sum in the market, a very lucky drop.


    John stashed the item in his inventory and rose from the ground dusting himself of.


    Boom!


    A nearby explosion caught his attention. A plume of hot gases expanded upwards, over the edge of the thirteenth landing.


    ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Radiation exclaimed. "Players?"


    John knew what it was, the animation and the sound, but hadn¡¯t expected it, at least not so early. ¡°Friends...¡± he muttered.


    ¡­


    ¡®Fireball¡¯


    \13


    The pyromancer Selene grimaced the mighty spell feasted on her blood cells. In return, her recruit fire staff congealed a powerful ball of swirling gases. It was a medium intensity fireball.


    ¡°Die!¡±


    -45


    [The target has been burnt in the head, injuring its senses.]


    The explosion detonated in direct proximity of the Tainted Raccoon¡¯s head. Blast procs staggered it as fire procs set the poor critter ablaze, crippling its sensory organs.


    -2


    -2


    Warrior Helios swooped in from the side, seizing the moment. Fully armored, with just an exposed face, the offensive melee class engaged. His humongous greatsword was like a vehicle as it swung down on the little tainted mob.


    -23


    ¡®Sweep¡¯


    His blade glowed with the customary blue tint and rocketed forward again, a horizontal spin this time.


    -36


    [Your target, the tainted raccoon has started bleeding.]


    -43


    The broad stroke cut into not only the first raccoon but also sliced another foe, a tainted rabbit nearby.


    -3


    [You have slain a Tainted Raccoon.]


    [You have gained 68XP]


    The first tick of the bleed killed the raccoon and Gram immediately switched targets to the rabbit. His blade heaved forwards, cutting it without retaliation.


    Meanwhile, Jodie¡¯s straw-blonde locks seemed to hover under the effects of her intense magic casting. Her target was another tainted rabbit, readying to attack twenty meters away.


    ¡®Ember.¡¯


    /3


    The maximum intensity wisp of fire shot forward in 1.136s, compared to the 1.3s Standard of the maximum intensity of the spell.


    -23


    /3


    -25


    [The target had been ignited by your Ember.]


    /3


    -23


    A string of maximum intensity basic spells pelted the rabbit like a hailstorm, dealing massive fire damage. Starter Pyromancers skilled enough to really spam Ember had some of the highest sustained damage of any ranged class.


    Jodie¡¯s typically pleasant features twisted into an odd sort of smile as the critter turned into a dancing torch. Pyromancer, while a magic class that hurt a lot to use, also had the highest thermal damage of any class, and thus hurt to most to fight.


    [You have slain a Tainted Rabbit.]


    [You have gained 45XP]


    [You have slain a Tainted Rabbit.]


    [You have gained 47XP]


    Gram and Jodie finished their respective mobs near simultaneously, the tainted bristles tumbling to the rough tainted landing. They continued onto the next mobs.


    On the battlefield that was the twelfth landing of the nameless hill, two players fought waves of higher-level mobs. The flames rose up, casting her carmine robes even redder and amplifying the pure color of the blood across his armor.