《The Patch》


 0. Perspective of a player

    AWAKEN


    <hr>


    Brightening up, blinking awake I was aware that this would be a long journey through the game. The forest realm below spread to the horizon line in all its greatness. And as the wind skimmed the tops of the trees, the density had created an illusion of a green sea.


    Mind you that the very same wind is not at all weak, and being spawned upon an edge of a cliff above the wilderness, what a seemingly playful brush on the tree tops was a horrific semi gale in the higher altitude where the air is raw and rasher.


    My hair whipped back furiously, including the features of the famous full drive console, I not only hear the screeching of the wind but feel it grab hold my skin from underneath my beginner''s equipment set.


    ''Guess the game will start once I reach a certain point on this cliff.''


    The land behind me continued the heavy forest, but it was at least clear that there is a path through the trees. At least to guide new players to that ''certain point'' so the story can start.


    But instead of going on it immediately, I took a detour of ten steps into the west of the cliff. No boundary. Seems like one can just skip it until one feels like doing it later on.


    I went back at the small patch of clearing and took the path to the certain point. It was behind a tree and past a bush that the certain point has appeared. How I noticed was that there was a hooded person waiting for something as she smokes a rodent with a sharp peeled branch on a spit.


    Her head twitched to the sound of my approach and stares at me, cautiously with a predator''s intensity. Her face, despite shadowed by her outfit, it was too fair for her attitude. With an technically advance anatomical character customisation, this stands against realism.


    Is this just fan service or does she play another role than just a hooded figure? Pretty obvious that it''s both though. First impressions and interaction in MMORPG always have been important since it can affect the story.


    "What do you want?"


    Sweet her voice may be, maybe even probably have taken many hearts of innocent boy players, its clear she wanted me to go away no matter the looks, state, gender or anything.


    A few options had appeared at her dialogue. Keywords to choose what and how she would answer back.


    Mediocre as I am. I choose the mediocre keywords.


    "I am but a weary traveler. But do mind me for I am hungry."


    No response. The options were still hovering which meant she didn''t understood me.


    Or not.


    "Go scrawl away back to your ditch traveler. I have no intentions of sharing my meal with a person like you."


    No options showed yet the scene was still ongoing as her audio gave out a sight of exhaustion, as of tired of my presence. A few glances at my way to show she still acknowledges me as a threat.


    A couple moments of silence past and the scene continued.


    "Why are you still standing there. Get lost again traveler."


    Options appeared. This time, something more useful and story impactive. To continue talking to her or ask directions, to the nearest settlement which would be the beginner''s town in this game or inquire other things.


    I chose the latter.


    "I am unarmed with nothing to spare. Will you not pity me?"Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.


    "Spew your shit at the merciful. I want nothing to do with you."


    "Least something to defend myself as I go through the forest?"


    A sudden shock and she dashed forward at me, knife in hand. Inhuman speed but not fast enough to catch me unguarded. Within a second I was able to rise my arms to shield myself but not prepare with the amount of force driven on to me.


    The charge forcefully jocked my head forward, threatening to throw my conscious for a moment. But the thrill from the short hover that threw us back to the bush awaken me from weakness.


    Thrill and fear. The sense of physical contact, of heat and soft hands pushing down my chest as she bought the dagger to my throat. The light split to my eye from the polished blade, blinding me for a millisecond, but as well have me clarity of her features from under her hood.


    Beautiful, yet so strained. A face of someone who had tragedy haunt them for their life. Perhaps maybe she isn''t part of the story, the certain point.


    Who is she and why is she here?


    "So what. You can use it to stab me in the back?!"


    "You are in some trouble?" I gasped my breath as best as I could with a sharp edge at my throat. The pressing on it urge an explanation of my words.


    "Those are not hands of a hunter." Nor eyes of a stalker. But an angry, self-contained person. Was that not a stare of a predator before but a mask to hide this?


    Her eyes became complicated, unsure of what to do next, but eventually stopped pressing when a line of blood spilled from my neck. Her morality stopped her from splitting my neck as open as the rodent on the spit.


    "I am not desperate to live in this world." After all I''ll just respawn. "But why are you out here?"


    "I need no pity from a traveler who has nothing to be trusted on." But nevertheless, she had cleaned her blade from blood and sheathed it.


    She resume turning the spit. I quietly sat next to the dying fireplace. I received a deathly stare from her so I turned around.


    "The shadows are chilly." No kidding since all I had is a tunic and short.


    Leafs tussled with the wind above our heads in the silence of us. Neither of us could hear much because of it, the sizzling of the fire, the crisping skin of the rodent, each others breath. It was as if the interaction from before was but from another reality.


    The young woman took off the pierced rodent from the forks and nibbled at it, she made an effort to quietly eat it but the little sounds of her saliva drooling getting in the way of her feast, making her reflectively slurp it back was sensational to my ears, amplified by our environment. It was awkwardly satisfying to listen.


    I waited a few minutes later when her sounds has ceased and rotated on the spot. After eating, she look like she was in a better mood.


    "Why are you still here?"


    I didn''t care to answer as she was packing up to leave. But to where and what to do is a mystery. And this NPC has caught my curiosity.


    If she isn''t the certain point, then the story should be ahead of this woman''s camp. The path was more of an obvious corridor through the trees, as if the trees couldn''t grow near each other because of an invisible line cutting to whatever. Which is probably why she set camp in it.


    It was a bit tricky following her down the slope for anyone without experiences of trekking down a untamed forest, especially one as dense as to nearly shelter the entire region. This has caused some areas to not to dry from the air humility, and or last downpour.


    With great effort, the Huntress tried to avoid hidden mud holes and pitfalls from aged and recent erosion. But that effort revealed that she was not keen about her journey.


    Minutes past, and judging by the virtual map, we where going to the dense forest below, far from the nearest town in tens of miles. Had she gone through the town on the path at the spawn?


    During the journey I tired to interact with her stats but no info or menu had actived. This is possible since it had work on her equipment, but strangely not with her.


    "Do you know where you are going?" I inquired from behind.


    Checking back on the map. The monster bar was rising, meaning the chances of an encounter of one was going to become more likely. But also indicates the amount of hostile mobs nearby.


    Is this alright? We''re entering a map for +20 and I couldn''t even see her name, much alone her level. For being a Huntress, she didn''t show an impressive amount of agility or dexterity climbing over fallen trees or traveling to here. We were pretty much equal is skill and I just started.


    "There is monsters ahead of us. I''ll make use of that bow right now before they appear."


    She stopped at her tracks, hesitating before agreeing. She wasn''t displeased nor was my advice were welcomed but in a fantasy world, with monsters and magic, being too careful is just the norm.


    "Your going to die if you keep stalking me traveller."


    I just flashed a smile in response. But I targeted her on auto-lock and set my shortcuts for my skill. Which was only one. The auto-lock was to keep track on her while I surfed through the menu and settings.


    I had doubts to whether she was a NPC at this point but she showed no characteristics of a player. No inventory usages or teleportation to another map. Lag spike or outstanding features like exotic hair and eye colour. She could''ve teleported to the middle of the forest if she was a player leaving this noob behind. But she was walking towards it, knowingly or not.


    So what happens if you die? I want to see it... Your death.

 1. The First Patch

    Character Lock


    <hr>


    The fall of myself felt like an eternity, but the first touch of the ground was to fast to remember. My vision darken all around me to a small frame of the scenery my head was directed at, it was the grasp of my hand slipping away from the sword. Soon the sword vanished.


    Revive in : 365 seconds


    311 seconds


    268


    ...


    "Kick him already. Dual wielders are all leechers."


    A shadow came approaching my vision and stepped on my senseless hand. As in spite, he twisted the heel of his golden steel sabaton upon my palm, crushing the sight of my fingers.


    True enough of his statement, it was rare for such a build to be good at anything for a party. It has no support abilities. No effective offensive skills against bosses. Is too fragile to tank and is solely focused on self-sufficiency. In a party, all one can do is just hope to stay in battle.


    But that itself is wasn''t enough to a party.


    You have been kicked from the party.


    "Fucking noob." The heavy knight brought up his great sword beyond my sight and threw it down. The opportunity to respawn blanked out, leaving to town my only option.


    Waiting for a moment, I found myself in the town square of Hi-Sciora. As of all towns, it was idle bit busy of players. Chat log spammed with advertising trades by individuals and progressing players running from quest point to quest point. But despite that, the noise was pretty moderate, people were having proper conversations in contrast of the brimming chat log.


    Recently respawned, I had no MP so I sat at a corner of a well stacked building and waited till natural regen activated. While waiting I changed my title to ''Mercenary'' and overheard conversations.


    One that particularly caught my ears was a resting party of skrewed heavy meele builds and a single mage. A full on switch-tank party.


    "Ay. Was fucking weird. Felt like the last boss raid got personal. We were both trying to kill each other. Hahaha!"


    "Hahaha. Yeah, I was watching that. I was just right there just tanking and it just stopped at that moment when you revived and aoe''d you."


    "Ye, what a cunt. And the mage wouldn''t revive me.-"


    "- the MP cost got too high. It was better FK''ing the boss."


    "Ye whatever."


    The mage saw me for a moment, reading the title then stared at the two swords at my back.


    A whisper text came to me on the chat log from the mage.


    "You a finale?"


    "No."


    Tch.


    They wore envious cosmetics that made people want to spend money for in-game currency. Made me wanted to spend money on cosmetics. But that brief interaction woken me up.


    ''So what if I look cool? Rogues are shit. Hence their name rogue.''


    I desired to change class as always but that too cost real money. In fact. It''s crazy how many things are actually paid to use in the first place. Separate cost for resetting stats. Personal trait. Skills. Cosmetics. Land. Premium skills. Guild pact. Anything that doesn''t affect a player''s adventure.


    I dropped my head behind my knees, depressed at the benefits of money.


    ''Enough, I need to grind.''


    I opened a tab from the menu and googled a leveling guide of this game. Though, because this game has yet celebrate its first year after beta, the list was organised by level, oblivious to the exp amount.


    There were many monsters around level 110, from mobs to mini bosses to raid bosses. There were even some early bosses that reached this level if their mode was above normal.


    I was familiar with all the bosses through the story quest which allowed me to reach this level at ease. But that was going through them on easy. Looking through the list, I found a boss that wasn''t in the story quest.


    ''La''elinch?''


    It was normal mode with my level. Interested, I noticed it''s location by surprise. It seems that the forest of monsters has more than one boss in it.


    The teleportation feather to Kieel city, the home of all players, tore me away from Hi-Sciora square. It was a soothing ride but the stack of feathers to Kieel city reminded me of how I lost all my starter jump gold within a week, leaving me broke for the last 50 levels or so.


    If you didn''t get the hint of stack of feathers. Then there''s no point explaining the incident.


    The world roared to life with music and chatter. The city was full enthusiasm, full of people and full of shops of every kind. From player controlled to NPC controlled. People cheered loudly over from the open bars while others ramp around from place to place, doing their own thing.


    The majority of players were mages. From pureblood to farmer, but all held a high level in society. After all, their diverse purposes makes them popular. From that the hunters and warriors was equal or lesser in majority between each other. Easy starter classes, great potential in the future. Then the brawlers, sparsely found in the crowd and has a trend of them being Chibi. But their tanking abilities as well as mobility skills are first to none.If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    The dual wield hype had died down as quickly as it has been introduced to the world. Infamously known as the slowest class despite its sonic attacking speed, but also known to miss the target because of this.


    Now, dual swordsmen players tend to be the ridicule of the game. Except those who had started as a warrior first then changed to dual wielding afterwards. Though, they aren''t any faster than before.


    I searched through my inventory, checking what gear to equip. The name of this boss had bought back some memories of discussions I''ve read on the thread board.


    I opened another tab, searching a video clip of an La''elinch battle. But it was more of an analysis video recording during a calm battle with the hidden boss. Thankfully it revealed where it was as well.


    "Hello! T.S here! Today we''re going to be fighting La''elinch, suggest by many of you viewers! I''m with my guild Order of Destiny because as usual we will be fighting this boss from easy all the way to Miasma mode!...... "


    "Finally, we are at Miasma mode. Because this is the final mode, it should be horrible. After all, it dodged and envaded about 80% of our attacks in ultimate. This is why I''m not doing it in solo."


    The host sighted in regret of accepting the request but the video cut into the battle anyways. In the middle of the clearing was a small hunched being cloaked in leafs grown on vines and wielded a long shaft spear as long as the players.


    This time, they all held different weapons. With Miasma mode, fighting it with earth or wind elemental weapons would only aid it.


    "Okay mage. This time you solely focus on supporting sinc- what the fuck-?!"


    From infront of them La''elinch suddenly vanished and a white phantom came flying at the host of the video. But besides the surprise attack, like professional gamers they continued to shout out their plans mid battle. The mage as full support. Knight change to DPS from tank and samurai from DPS to lurer. The warrior staying the same role as buffer DPS along with the brawler also being a backup lurer if the samurai tripped.


    The video was cut again to highlights, retries and finally the death of La''elinch.


    "Phew! Thanks for watching!"


    I was hesitant a bit. But it was either this or back to the realm of Hi-Sciora and get kick around all day just like a few hours ago. Or worse case scenario, resort to huntingindividual mobs just for a few or even less than one percent of exp points. Nevertheless, I already made a decision already since I came here.


    The chat log, as like all towns, was spammed with shout-out sales, bargains, and even a little bit of recruitment from upstarting guilds.


    This world was extraordinary when I first interacted with it. From my strange and slow beginning from the cliff and traveling around the world after realising how levels affects this world.... I made many mistakes here.


    I pushed onwards, leaving the regret in this town and headed out the gates. The soldiers with spears, looking alive on duty for the sake of appearances, but really would be the most lax people in town since monster never got near the walls.


    A few bot accounts spamming in chat on the map outside the gate. As if that wasn''t enough, newbies had to venture here and struggle to do so with these fucking bots blocking the way to some farming areas. To bad all the maps surrounding the town is PvP free so these bot account couldn''t be killed.


    It''s fucking trollers. Nothing more nothing less.


    I phantom step pass the barricades in cost of 2/3 of my MP. Quite a dearly toll just to travel but it was fast. There were also other players traveling through, more or less powerful than me.


    The forest hasn''t much change, well at least not the terrain. But there was camping sites along side the once corridor now a sparsely gravel road. A few carriages and steeds tied up at posts by the trees. It had change greatly from the beta world due to the interaction of players and NPC''s alike.


    Surprisingly there was a Traven out here as well and is more popular than the bars in the town. The small open barn was full of ponies and horses, some with grand armor and many with basic covering. Guess that''s why there was a few steeds tied up at the trees from before.


    I had no intention to do stop bys while going to La''elinch but I guess I envied the company of companions as well. I entered the Traven for a while, bought myself a mug with a few copper coins and leaned by the chore board.


    Chores for gathering items, from plants to materials from rodents. Upcoming events like an expedition through the silver spine pass the forest of monsters. More guild recruitment which for some reason is on a chore board. Who the hell does that?


    ''I guess I should go now-''


    On the chat log there was a group looking for one more member for La''elinch primary mode. Tracking down the requester username to a huntsman player with another three players sitting about, another marksman, a Samurai and a warrior.


    The feeling of rejection from before still sunk deep inside but this world values cooperation over lone wolves. And only fools would try to go solo.


    Approaching their table, I held my hand out, catching one of their attention, eventually gain all of their interest. A couple chuckled from their previous talk than glared at me with a smile.


    "What do you want." He sneered.


    A ping of regret stabbed me. But my own pride gave me confidence. ''This fucking kid..'' I didn''t like his way of addressing me. ''Suck it up, this is worth a try.''


    "I''m looking for a party for La''elinch primary mode."


    They looked at each other, muttering into silence, probably switching their conversation to party chat mode. It didn''t last long and ended with them grinning.


    You received an party invitation from DRAG0NS1AY3R


    "You''ll be switch tank." The warrior exclaimed.


    They packed up, leaving their mugs on the table. Outside they went towards the steeds, at this moment I realized they''ll just leave me behind and I started to go first.


    ...


    "Huh your pretty fast! Haha"


    I brushed the twigs stuck on my clothing from my off road shortcut. While they tied their steeds again I rested, gaining back my money lost during the chase.


    ''Not the first time I''ve been ditch you cunts.''


    The others were just disappointed that I caught up within half a minute when they arrive at La''elinch''s area.


    There was already a handful of parties here, disappearing to fight La''elinch or were disbanding.


    "Ready up!"


    We interacted with the orb of light, entering a mini lobby. After everyone readied, we were transported to back of the area, but this time the orb of light was replaced by La''elinch figure.


    "Go." The huntsman pushed me forward as they glared, unmoving from the path to the area exit.


    "Hey! What about you guys?!"


    It was already too late. The marksman shot an arrow at La''elinch and immediately ran to the exit. Being the closes to La''elinch, the aggro fell upon me.


    The rest left except the sneering samurai who kept the exit block.


    You have been kicked from the party.


    ''What-?!''


    The Samurai dashed forward, his named katana slashing forward. Samurai build. Moves slow but attacks fast, but this one being over level 100, hadShukuchi.


    "Don''t run away coward." He spitted.


    The ground his katana hitted splitted to waves bursting to the sides.


    I had phantom stepped away from his strike but I became a step closer to the enraged La''elinch. But before I could dodge again, La''elinch swung his spear from behind. It''s blade of the spear skrewed through me, entertaining the Samurai.


    "Buhahaha! That''s what you get for running away."


    The chat log was full of comments from the other members of the party. All replying the same as the Samurai.


    "LOL. what an idiot."


    "Noobs are so funny."


    "Get out already Josh. I found a finale player."


    The Samurai left battle as I was left stunned by the attack. The spear was pulled out again and pierced through the back of my throat. The last bit of HP vanished.


    You have been defeated. No other members are alive. Cannot revive.


    To town?


    . . .


    I respawned at town and went to menu. My finger hovered over the log out button. Intentions swarming in frustration.


    ''I had enough of this shit.''


    New patch updated. 1.2.24A(Character lock)


    Please be patient for the next patch to be updated during maintenance.


    Maintenance in : 0:1


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