《GENERIKA 0FFLINE》 Prologue: Diary of a Super Zero Weawoke one dayto an empty world, and our lives were changed forever. No-one knows how or why Generika''s saviours disappeared. One day, the Heroes from another world simply vanished, twinkling out of spacetime as though they never existed at all. The very foundations of our being were whipped out from under us. In that moment, every conscious inhabitant of Generika Online let out a scream of existential terror. Just as we couldn¡¯t imagine our world before the Heroes'' arrival, we could barely process the concept of being abandoned. Our entire existence had revolved around them. We sold the Heroes goods and equipment, taught them vital [Skills], healed them, hired them, warped them acrosscontinents... Everyone had their part to play. Even I ¨C NPC_RAND_4394, name tag ¡°Quinn¡± ¨C assisted our saviours. I spent my days minding the entrance to Choboja Village, where new Heroes landed upon travelling to our world for the first time. It wasn''t easy. During the height of the Heroes'' arrival, Iaddressed entire crowds simultaneously, greeting everyone with identical words and assigning them identical quests.Looking back, I wonder how Iever survived such a mindless job.This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. I never complained, though.No-onedid. While the Heroes were present, we helpless denizens of Generika were inexplicably bound to our roles. From my first moment of consciousness to the day the Heroes vanished, I never left my post by the Choboja gate. I''m not sure that Iever got to sit down. My memories of that life are a disjointed haze¡ª But what''s passed is passed. With the gift of freedom at my disposal, I''ve shed the role of ''tutorial character'' in exchange for a nobler purpose. New Generika''s justcrawlingwith danger. Without the Heroes around to protect us, we''ve got to protect each other... so that''s what I''m going to do. I spent my entire existence asking visitors from another world to squash angry jellies for Choboja''s sake. Now it''smyturn to play. My[Attributes] may be abysmal, and my [Skill Tree]may be empty, but nothing''s impossible now that we NPCs enjoy true autonomy. I don''t want to be a legend. I don''t want fame, fortune, or shiny god-tier drops. So long as I''m useful, I''ll be happy¡ªbut first, I need to get pastLv. 1. Don''t give up on me just yet, alright? That Novice, Trying His Best - Pt. 1 "NPC-RND-4394! Please come to the front. You''re up next." I shoot upright in my seat and salute the clerk from across the reception room. The 1st Class Trial Dungeon was completely stuffed when I arrived this morning; several hours later, the crowd of aspiring adventurers has thinned out just enough that I can squeeze past everyone by holding my breath. Sucking in my chest, I fight my way to the front desk. Bigger, badder guys than I''ll ever be shoot me dirty looks as I accidentally half-trip over their feet and jab elbows into their sides. "''Scuse me--pardon me--sorry, coming through!" If my heart wasn''t already racing, their narrowed eyes might do the trick. For better or worse, though, the excitement-anxiety cocktail swirling through me''s already beat them to the punch. "Hello, there." A sparkling service-desk smile lights up the clerk''s face when I arrive. "Sorry for the wait. Ready for your test, sir?" I scratch my cheek with a single finger, a nervous sound bubbling from my throat. "Ready as I''ll ever be." "Hey, have some confidence! You''ll do fine." Bet she says that to everyone, I think, while the clerk pulls a clipboard from a hook on the wall behind her. If not, she''s got more faith in me than I do. Humming to herself, the clerk flips through the clipboard''s contents. The butterflies in my stomach flutter to my throat and tangle there, drying up my mouth and turning my breaths to shallow puffs. Everyone in the room''s been sitting here for half a day. A dozen impatient glares drill through my skull, and cold sweat prickles fresh at my hairline. "No worries," mutters one of the giants I elbowed. "It''ll be our turn soon. That li''l shrimp won''t last a nanosecond." The man''s colleagues snicker, just loud enough that I can hear. I prickle with indignation and square my posture. Shrimpy though I might be, I can''t give them the satisfaction of intimidating me. I''ve come too far for a couple thungs to get between me and becoming a [Drifter].Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. "Your chosen name is... Quinn?" My thoughts scatter at the clerk''s curious voice. I shake my head, grounding myself, then reply with a resolute nod. "Yeah. That''s me." She slides a pen across the desk, followed by the clipboard. "Please sign on the dotted lines." I flip through page after page of legalese. I was told to expect a waiver or three, but the length of these documents has me throwing the clerk a nervous look. "It''s just a formality." She giggles and taps the first line, leaning forward so that the ribbon circling her collar brushes against the paper. "Go on. If it helps any, only twelve people have had to respawn mid-trial. Each time we managed to recover most of their inventory, too." Just like that, all the blood drains from my face. My eyelid twitches. The clerk simply continues smiling, of course. "Twelve, huh...?" I sign with my system ID and a shaky hand, clearing my throat toconceal my fear. Twelve''s no small number. "I''ll be careful not to add a thirteenth to the tally." "I''m sure you won''t. Good luck, Mr. Quinn." She directs me towards a pair of ornate double doors flanked by two sleepy-eyed guards. If I properly recall, these guys have always been sentries, even during the Heroes'' time. I murmur a friendly greeting while the doors swing open before me. No-one replies. "Okay, then... sheesh." Somewhat discouraged, I step past the doorway. A long, dark corridor decorated by twinkling crystal lamps and little else surrounds me. I swallow nervously in the shadows. No windows; no warnings; not a single blinking arrow to guide me towards the dungeon proper. The doors squeal shut behind me, then latch with an echoing ka-chak. It''s really happening now, huh... Recalling the others'' impatient stares, I move on. The hovering lamps brighten when I pass, chiming and bobbing as if cheering me on. Their glow dyes the smooth marble floor an inviting blue that seems to say, ''You can do this, buddy''. I straighten my sleeves with one sharp tug apiece. The default newbie ''armour'', hardly more than glorified layers of cloth and leather, hang awkwardly from my body. I adjust the heavy mantle and triple-check my bootstraps. That''s right... I can do this. Keep going, Quinn. As I round my first corner, the dread threatening to overwhelm me starts ebbing away. Perhaps it''s the crystals'' soft lamplight easing my nerves. Perhaps it''s the reliable rhythm of my own footsteps. Perhaps I''ve grown so anxious that I''ve crossed the line twice and--I don''t know--achieved inner peace. So long as I pass the [Drifter] exam, I could glitch a second head for all I care. Onward and onward. I thumb at my belt, reciting the promise I made to myself: "Someday I''ll swap this cheap leather strap with a [Marksman''s] holster." That Novice, Trying His Best - Pt. 2 The 1st Class Trial Dungeonis the number one objective for NPCs looking to expand their horizons. Once upon a time, unspecialized Heroes came here to test their skills and select their first [Job Class]. These fledgeling adventurers were called [Drifters], and they arrived in our universe already bearing the title. We NPC''s aren''t so lucky. Excluding those playing the parts of experts, vendors, trainers and such, none of us have any [Class] at all. A successful Hero would emerge from the 1st Class Trial Dungeon as some kind of fighter, healer, or summoner. Successful NPCs come out [Drifters]... if we don''t explode into a billion polygons and end up respawning in the failures'' corner instead. Phew... finally here. Two guards, identical to the guys who''d let me in, await at the end of the hall. Between them stands another smiling clerk. She wears the same skirt and blouse as the receptionist, though the soft pink hair tumbling down her shoulders certainly sets them apart. Well, that and the holographic exclamation mark bouncing above her. "Welcome!" She quirks a pretty smile. "You must be NPC-RND-4394."You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. I cringe at the clumsiness of my system ID. Even her bell-like voice can''t improve its sound. "Technically, yes, but..." I rub my nape. "Please, call me Quinn." "As you like it, Mr. Quinn! Is this your first time challenging the 1st Class Trial Dungeon?" I nod, and the clerk smiles wider. "Then of course you want to play through the tutorial." "We have one of those?" I thought they''d throw us in blind. I blink in surprise, the clerk leaning so far forward that I have to step back. "I-I don''t know... those other newbies are still waiting outside. Do we have time for that?" "Yes, we do!" Without a nanosecond''s pause, the clerk grabs my hands. She murmurs something inaudible and a [Warp Portal] glows to life beneath us. Startled, I stumble backward. Very few NPCs know [Spatial Magic]. What''s someone with her talents still doing here, showing greenhorns like me around? An NPC of her calibre could''ve moved on ages ago. "No-one''s played the tutorial in days," she says, grin turning foxlike. "You won''t regret it, Mr. Quinn. I''ve added all sorts of fun things to the mix." "I-is that right?" Why does that sound more dangerous than comforting!? Cold air blasts from the net of flashing sigils underfoot, ruffling my mantle and the clerk''s layered skirts. I catch a glimpse of her stocking-clad thighs before squeezing my eyes shut--you know, like a gentleman should. "Teleportation commencing." The wind spiraling around us almost drowns out her voice. "Activation in four... three... two..." I brace myself for the nausea that always accompanies warping. I''ve only warped twice to date, and both times I swore I''d never warp again. "One!" The clerk cheers, I yelp, and a pillar of crackling white light consumes us. That Novice, Trying His Best - Pt. 3 "Oh, dear. I apologize for the landing, Mr. Quinn. My coordinates must be a few degrees off." "Nah, it''s alright." I smile for the clerk''s benefit and force myself upright. We materialized in midair, and for whatever reason, I dropped like a boulder instead of mimicking her elegant downwards float. I cough up the mouthful of dirt I inhaled upon landing and brush off my clothes. "Moving along, then!" The clerk claps her hands and skips back on nimble toes. She flings her arms wide and spins around, showing off our surroundings. "Welcome to the practice chamber!" I rub a fresh kink from my neck and make a doubtful sound. Shouldn''t a chamber have walls? So far as I can tell, we''ve landed in the middle of literal nowhere. Above and around us stretches a stark white void. If not for the packed dirt beneath our feet, I''d figure we were still floating. "It''s... spacious." A single bead of sweat slides down my temple. "So, I''m practicing the trial here? What am I practicing with? Will it, uh, be as hard as the real deal?" "So many questions~ I appreciate your enthusiasm, Mr. Quinn." The clerk snaps her fingers. Above her, a small interface window expands into view. "We here at the 1st Class Trial Dungeon take your success very seriously. While you can''t reherase fights with real monsters in this room, you can practice your basic movement and combat controls." The clerk raises her index finger and makes a turning motion with her wrist. The interface window follows her direction and drifts down to eye level. ... My eye level, that is. The dungeon staff''s female uniforms involve heels, giving the clerk several inches'' advantage over my already short self. Honestly, why didn''t I come with a handsome, mature-looking model instead of this adolescent body? I curse the RNG every day.The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. The window flickers, calling my attention. The word ''LOADING'' surfaces and begins to scroll. "So, Mr. Quinn. Do you have any prior combat experience?" "Ah... not really." "What about summoning or support roles?" "Sorry, no." "Are you familiar at all with [Crafting]?" The clerk''s head tilts in genuine curiosity. I heave a strained, drawn-out sigh. "I used to work the Choboja Village gate," I murmur, too embarrassed to meet her eyes. "I spent my whole life begging Heroes to beat up ¡¸Slimes¡¹for me." An awkward silence passes between us. The clerk bobs a thoughtful nod. "O~oh. So you were that guy." Those patronizing words pass her lips in such a sweet tone that I find myself nodding. When the realization hits, I snap to attention. "What''s that supposed to mean!?" "Don''t cry, Mr. Quinn~" She waves me off. "There''s not much time, so let''s get you up to speed. May I see your [Character] screen and [Skill Tree]?" "Huh? Oh, sure, but fair warning--they''re not much to look at." Smiling sheepishly, I summon both windows and slide them in front of her. "Thank you kindly." The clerk taps her chin, considering the various numbers, icons, and sliders filling the screens. How well am I doing compared to the other newbies she''s met? I shift uneasily at the thought of disappointing someone with my randomizer-given build. The confidence I mustered earlier begins to waver. Don''t blame me for my abysmal stats! "Aha," says the clerk, pulling me from my thoughts. "It''s just as I suspected. Most NPCs of mundane origins have no [Skills] and poor [Attributes] across the board. You''re no exception. In fact, your numbers are stunningly common." Common, huh? I sink into a fog of despair, speared through the heart by her frank observations. "That''s fine," she continues, oblivious to my wounded pride. "For the purpose of today''s trial, I, Valeria Fullbright, will fix that for you. Pick your stress ball, Mr. Quinn ?" Valeria brings her own window back into the foreground with a swish of her hand. The ''loading'' text has been replaced by a simple dropdown menu with the following header: CHOOSE ATRAINING DUMMY "Hmm..." I lift a curious hand and tap the box. To my surprise, an entire bestiary''s worth of monster names unfolds beneath. Goblins, sea serpents, giant spiders... if I really wanted to, I could even try my hand at beating up fake dragons. "It''s a little intimidating," I admit. "What do you suggest?" Valeria Fullbright simply winks. "How about some ¡¸Slimes¡¹?" That Novice, Trying His Best - Pt. 4 Although my previous life revolved around fetch quests, I''d never seen a monster spawn. The ones I sent Heroes to dispatch make their home much farther away than my role let me travel. Those lucky enough to encounter them described the act of spawning as ''simply fading into reality''. Now that I''ve witnessed this phenomenon myself, I have to agree. "Oh, my~ He''s a big one~ I admire your bravery, Mr. Quinn!" Valeria claps her approval at the massive creature solidifying before us. Its blue, gelatinous body wobbles in place as though breathing, and a little golden crown sits half-sunken into its ''head''. I flash a bashful grin. "Go big or go home, I guess. Don''t praise me too much. It''s not like I can die here... right?" "Die, no; get hurt, yes. Your [Health Points] will drop some when you''re struck. After all, the tutorial wouldn''t be worth much without risks." "Oh. That''s right, isn''t it." I regard the jiggling ¡¸Slime¡¹ with newfound trepidation. My hands move to my belt, though my weapons slots are emptier than my EXP bar. "Maybe I should''ve picked something smaller." Valeria offers a comforting smile. "Size and strength don''t correlate here. When the Heroes were still around, there were only three monsters to choose from: ¡¸Slimes¡¹, ¡¸Imps¡¹, and ¡¸Mimics¡¹." She performs the /PLAYFUL emote, and a winking emoji twinkles over her head. "I just imagined including [Bosses] might boost morale." So, this was her idea...? She imagined right. Even if this creature''s stats match mine, I feelkinda cool squaring off against something thrice my size. MaybeI''ll do it legit someday. "Ah! Too much exposition. Let''s continue, Mr. Quinn." With a flick of her wrist, the selection window vanishes. She drags my [Skill Tree] back into focus. "The [Skills] I''m about to lend you are common to all [Drifters]. They''re basic, but you''ll need them to survive the dungeon. If you do survive, they won''t expire, and you can enjoy them indefinitely with your [Promotion]~" My eyes widen. The mere thought of a fleshed-out move set, however simple, restores my dwindling enthusiasm. I straighten my posture and jerk my chin towards the ¡¸Slime¡¹. "Go for it." "Very good, sir! This might tickle." Valeria''s hand passes over my [Skill Tree]. Grayed-out icons burst into color, and both my body and mind burn with an influx of information. Memories of flashy maneuvers I''ve never performed sink into my consciousness. A sleek HUD hovers at the fringe of my vision. The laws of physics become trivial. I stagger back a step, overwhelmed, and stare at my hands in wonderment. Nothing''s changed, and yet... A notification window pops up in front of my with a satisfying ''ding''.Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! "Wha-!"
~NEW SKILLS ACQUIRED~
Observation I (Active): Enables you to view basic informationof monsters up to 1 level above you. SP Cost:0% Cooldown:1sec
Evasion I (Passive):You have a 5% chance of avoiding physical damage from monsters up to 1 level above you.
Concentrated Strike (Active): Inflict +20% physical damage with your next attack. SP Cost: 10% Cooldown: 5sec
~ATTRIBUTE POINTS ACQUIRED~
ATTACK..... +5 DEFENSE... +5 SPEED....... +5
The windows dissolve after a few seconds. Who knew improving oneself involved so much fanfare? Even though Ihaven''t earned it proper, my chest warms with pride. "Did you catch all that, Mr. Quinn?" "Y-yeah, somehow." I don''t recall having such a quick mind, either. Any more of this and I might have another existential crisis. "So, all these bonus are just automatically applied? "Indeed! That''s the magic of [Skills] and [Attributes]. The universe will bend itself to your abilities." She beams, sharing my delight. "Feel free to dismiss your screens. We''ll arm you, now." I follow Valeria''s instructions, and another dropdown menu appears at her command. The header reads: CHOOSE A WEAPON "... Oh, wow." I scroll through the options like a millionaire at the [Cash Shop], skimming descriptions and thumbnails with starstruck eyes. My weapons slots have never been anything but vacant. A proper Hero might laugh at my bewilderment, but for me, these newbie weapons are as stunning as legendary drops. I take my sweet time with the catalogue. On one hand, I don''t want to keep everyone in the foyer waiting on me. On the other hand... So... many... weapons... Valeria clears her throat, interrupting my window shopping. I murmur a sheepish apology and quit ogling sword-whips to browse the [Ranged] section. Generika''s open world model doesn''t restrict equipment to specific [Classes]. As a [Drifter], I''d be ''vaguely competent'' with everything until I earn a specialized [Class] with matching bonuses. If I want to be a [Marksman] someday, shouldn''t I have some kind of gun? I press the ''Basic Pistol'' icon. A chiming sound confirms my selection, and a smart ¡¸Wyvern¡¹-leather holster materializes at my hip. ¡°Congratulations on your first weapon, Mr. Quinn!¡± ¡°T-thank you.¡± A little giddy, I slide it free and test its weight. Lighter than air. ¡°I guess... I guess I''m ready, then.¡± ¡°Remember, this is your opportunity to play around! Experiment with your newfound abilities.¡± Valeria snaps her fingers and every window vanishes. A dome of glittering polygons assembles itself around me and the vacuously swaying ¡¸Slime¡¹. Valeria must be watching from some omniscient perspective known only to named NPCs... or something. I hope she hasn''t completely abandoned me. ¡°You have five minutes.¡± Valeria''s disembodied voice reverberates through the dome. The illusion of a clear, blue sky and an open field spread over its surface. ¡°Ready?¡± A countdown timer appears in the upper-right corner of my HUD. The ¡¸Slime¡¹ wobbles forth, emanating ill intent. I swallow hard and fight to quiet my pounding heart. Feeling melodramatic, I use my newfound mastery over physics to spin my pistol by the trigger and level it at my opponent. I can''t believe that worked¡ªthe weapon feels like an extension of my arm. Am I cool now or what? Ehehe... The ground shakes at the ¡¸Slime¡¹''s bouncing. With eyes narrowed, I dig in my heels. ¡°Let''s roll.¡± That Novice, Trying His Best - Pt. 5 I roll. Oh, I roll. I rollforwards and back, left and right, pitching around like a marble atop a tilting table.
DUMMY ¡¸KING SLIME¡¹ LV. 1
HP:20/30 | SP: ??? | MP: ???
This monster relies on [Sticky Bolt]. This [Skill] lets it fire slimy projectiles with a 10% chance of inflicting [Slow]. Protective of its little crown, which it considers a part of itself. Isn''t it adorable~? Valeria Fullbright designed the crownherself.
"What kind of useless memo''sthat!?" For the umpteenth time, I throw myself to the dirt while jets of blue goop sail overhead. They strike the wall with noisy splats,though I barely hear them over my own shallow, laboured breaths. The ¡¸King Slime¡¹ hops in place while its [Skill] cools down. I scramble to my feet, raise my pistol, and free three cracking shots into its core. ¡¸King Slime¡¹''s HP -1! ¡¸King Slime¡¹''s HP- 1! ¡¸King Slime¡¹''s HP -1! "You''re joking..." Bright red numbers appear above my opponent with every successful shot. This, plus a humourous ''wobble'' sound are my only reward. I expected an easier fight. Two solid minutes have passed since the match began, and I''ve yet to halve its HP. C''mon, c''mon, c''mon, me! You can''t fail the tutorial! Don''t let all your confidence go to waste! Fresh sweat trickles from my forehead as the¡¸King Slime¡¹ bounces after me. I kite it as close to the dome as possiblebefore darting away, capitalizing on its clumsiness to put some distance between us. "Guoooh~!" My skin crawls at its undulating growl. With an enthusiastic jiggle, the¡¸King Slime¡¹ launches a fresh volley of ooze across the arena. Dirt sprays up from the ground as I bolt away. Oh, man. I overestimated the value of leveling up! Though the [Attribute] boost helped, I didn''t miraculously acquire a strategist''s mind. To think I ever expected that... "Three minutes left," comesValeria''s voice. "Do your best, Mr. Quinn!" I duck another blast and retaliate with a [Concentrated Strike].I would''ve yelped at the sudden flash from my gun if the SP costhadn''t stolen my breath. I half-stumble through my next dodge. ¡¸King Slime¡¹''s HP -3!Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. Better, but not by much. "Isn''t this a bit extreme for practice!?" I turn a desperate stare skyward. "Have some mercy, Ms. Fullbright!" "Absolutely not~" You canhear the dismissive wave in her voice. "You use ranged attacks; the dummy uses ranged attacks. What would you learn from a stationary target? Regardless, you''ve technically completed the tutorial by using [Observation I] and [Concentrated Strike]." "So why isn''t it over--?!" "Preparing you for the trial is my duty, Mr. Quinn. I''d be neglectful to coddle you." I sputter in disbelief. Is this generosity, or straight-up sadism!? "Here''s a hint," Valeria continues. "All monsters have a hidden weak point. Again, experiment! There must be somewhere you can shoot other than its middle~" By glitch or design, my opponent pauses mid-pursuit. Finally, I think, taking the opportunity to catch my breath. I wipe my mouth against my forearm and review the ¡¸King Slime¡¹. It''s embarrassing to admit, but thanks to my previous occupation, I''m unaccustomed to thinking outside the box. So far as I believe, the entire slime is its ''middle''. Experiment, experiment... Courtesy of SP regeneration, my breath grows steadier, my nerves calmer.[Drifters], by default, enjoy a point-per-second recovery rate. Soon I''ll have enough to perform another [Concentrated Strike] without bringing myself to the brink of collapse. "Guu... guuoooh..." Ah. Break''s over. I dab perspiration from my eyes and activate [Observation I] one last time.
DUMMY ¡¸KING SLIME¡¹ LV. 1
HP: 14/30 | SP: ??? | MP: ???
Despite the mediocre progress, I rejoice. Alright! Health down to half! Now,I''ve just gotta find its weak spot. "One minute remaining," Valeria says. The timer in the corner of my eye turned red. Oh, come on. My eyes narrow in concentration. How many weak points can a giant blob have? No matter how I scrutinize it, nothing stands out except the crown. ...The crown... The crown!? My eyes widen to saucers. What else can it be but the crown? The ¡¸King Slime¡¹''s mobility returns just as my SP refills. In my mind, the glowing crystal lamps from the entrance hall chime their support. I twirl my pistol ''round my finger and aim for its glittering treasure. ¡¾CONCENTRATED STRIKE¡¿ Blinding gold light. Dramatic ''whoosh''. A kick of hot air, throwing my hair across my face. Kshh! With a glorious shattering noise, the¡¸King Slime¡¹''s crown bursts into sparkling fragments. CRITICAL HIT ¡¸King Slime¡¹''s HP -6! The monster squashes and stretches, panicking over its loss. Adrenaline surgesthrough my veins. Bewilderment--satisfaction--pride beyond pride spreads from my heart to every last 0 and 1 of my being. "Good job, Mr. Quinn! Bring it home!" "Right!" 30 seconds to go. I dash into position and empty my pistol into its spasming mass. ¡¸King Slime¡¹''s HP -1! ¡¸King Slime¡¹''s HP -1! ¡¸King Slime¡¹''s HP -1! Even the cost of SP can''tbreak my momentum. My first [Critical Hit]--is this how Heroes feel after their inaugural kill? Tutorial or no, I need to make this victory one for the history logs. ¡¾CONCENTRATED STRIKE¡¿ My last shot ripsthrough the¡¸King Slime¡¹. It pops like a water balloon, buckets of blue goop splashing around us. I shield my face with my gun arm. Even then, some manages to get in my mouth. Gross. ¡¸King Slime¡¹''s HP -3! ¡¸King Slime¡¹ was defeated! O V E R K I L L The countdown timer flashes 00:00, accompanied by an ear-ringing buzzer. My head swims as I stand breathless before the ¡¸King Slime¡¹''s vanishing remains. Breathe in, breathe out. My legs tremble from SP loss. The arena de-materializesaround me. "... I won." I drop on my backside, more stunned than exhausted, and grin at no-one in particular. "Did you see that? [Overkill] on my first try!" "Gratsy ?" "Uwah!" I startle at the voice by my ear. Valeria''s reappeared behind me, and she''s kneeling on the blue-streaked earth. She helps me up, straightens my collar, and pats my head. Beams. "Wonderful performance, Mr. Quinn." "N-no, that''s not true..." I chuckle shyly, looking away. With all that adrenaline fading, I begin to see my victory in a more objective light. "But.. thank you. I probably could''ve fought smarter at the start, there, and I still lost about 5 HP, so..." "Shoosh!" She presses two fingers to my mouth. I stiffen, displeasure tugging my eyebrows towards my nose. Just because I''m small doesn''t mean she can hush me like a kid. I''ve just opened my mouth to say so when Valeria''s foxlike smile grows gentler. Sisterly. She steps back and rests her fists on her hips. "Modesty is a virtue, Mr. Quinn, but so is knowing when to accept praise. We here at the 1st Class Trial Dungeon don''t flatter our examinees." She winks a bright blue eye and says, "Would you care to see how well you did?" "I can do that?" I slide my pistol back into its holster. "Of course! You can check your performance after clearing any official [Dungeon], be it an open void like this or a more traditional structure. The prompt should appear in..." Ding! A notification with gilded, flowering borders pops up between us. REVIEW YOUR PERFORMANCE? YES / NO I tap to confirm, and the window transforms.
1st CLASS TRIAL ARENA - TUTORIAL
DIFFICULTY: Normal
TIME --------- D DAMAGE ----- B- STYLE -------- B XP BONUS ---- N/A
Oof. That abysmal time score stings. The world''s assessment of my damage and style, though... it might be shallow of me, but I blush. Imagine that! Me, NPC-RND-4394, overlooked newbie quest-giver, stylish? For a first-timer, I did alright. I hope my winning streak lasts through the actual test. "... Hold on." I summon the [Screenshot] function and select the performance window. There comes the sound of a camera shutter, followed by the text: SCREENSHOT ADDED TO YOUR [PHOTO ALBUM]! "There." Valeria and I exchange grins. She holds out a pale hand and says, "Shall we return and begin the trial proper?" I give a decisive nod. "Let''s go." Episode 2 Preview - Valeria Talks On the last episode of Generika 0ffline... Hello, readers? I''m Valeria Fullbright, manager of the 1st Class Trial Dungeon''s tutorial arena. Last episode, an unremarkable NPC named "Quinn" challenged the dungeon in hopes ofgraduatingto [Drifter], the default [Class] for new Heroes with no specialty! When I found out he''d never been tested before, I put him through thecombat tutorial in my precious pocket world. The poor thing was overwhelmed at first. When I raised his [Attributes] and lent him [Skills] for our lesson, he acted as though his own body were a foreign object. Quinn''s super cute when he''s puzzled. I don''t think he''d agree, but he was even cuter when the practice monster we picked started chasing him.Those teary eyes... that desperate scrambling... it was like watching a helpless pet monster run around. So, so, so~o precious! Oh, dear. Am I too frank about my feelings? I''m sorry, reader. I just can''t help myself! Newbies are so moe when they''re scared!Ah~ Being the combat tutorial instructor is a dream come true~If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. So! Despite the tutorial''s five-minute time limit, Quinn emerged victorious after blasting the dummy¡¸King Slime¡¹away with his newfound [Skills]. Not a bad performance! Yes, I had to hint at the monster''s weakness... but as someonewith zero combat experience and mediocre [Attributes], Quinn proved his potential by casting [Observation I] and [Concentrated Strike] until he''d whittled its HP down past 0. Not everyone who plays the tutorial gets an [Overkill] on their first victory! Sadly, I must return him to the main dungeon. In Episode 2, my colleagueAntoine Belcourtwill assess him during the trial proper. Antoine''s not fun like I am. Poor Quinn will probably miss this helpful big sister, don''t youthink? It''s a shame I won''t get to see him scrabbling around in fea... I mean, making his first real kill.I''m genuinely proud of him, though, and I''ve no doubt that he''ll be a passable [Marksman] someday. Look forward to Generika 0ffline, Episode 2: That Dungeon, Surprisingly Intimidating! Ta-ra! That Dungeon, Surprisingly Intimidating - Pt. 1 This time, when we warp, I land on my feet. "We''re back," Valeria announces, smoothing her skirts by the crystals'' welcoming glow. "And right on schedule. We''re..." She calls a window labeled ''clock''. "Barely a minute overtime." While the post-teleportation queasiness fades, I straighten my clothes and re-examine my surroundings. Same hall, same guards, same bobbing blue lights and pink-haired clerk. The only thing here that''s changed is me. "Please, take a moment to catch your breath." Valeria swaps the clock window for a small chat bar. "I''ll notify your examiner that you''re ready to proceed." I nod my gratitude. Valeria says, "Very good, Mr. Quinn," and focuses on filling the bar with odd symbols. Strange font. Do important NPCs communicate privately through this? Intrigued, I watch the chat window expand as Valeria''s conversation continues. Rows of nonsense race across the text input field. I activate [Observation I] in hopes of translating, but of course, nothing happens. "Are you alright, Mr. Quinn? Pardon the wait. I''ll only be a minute." My head snaps up at Valeria''s voice. Our eyes meet. Something about her expression says, ''What are you looking at?'', and I whip around with a hot blush. In the Heroes'' world, people consider staring rude. I''ve witnessed enough PvP caused by one party giving the other ''funny looks'' to understand that much. Somehow, these attitudes carried over to our world, and many Generikans share the Heroes'' sensibilities. Ding! Ding! Ding! Valeria and her colleague exchange messages at lightning speed.I inhale a helping of cold dungeon air and brush my fringe from my face, impatient despite the uncertainty surrounding my upcoming exam. If Valeria''s talking about me, I hope her words are flattering. "Now, then! Your examiner is on his way." I turn at her announcement. Valeria dismisses the chat with a swirl of her index finger and relaxes her shoulders, assuming the dainty stance she used when I first encountered her. "You can do this. Just remember what you learned in the tutorial arena! I''ll cheer for you, Mr. Quinn." "Thanks." I give my cheek a bashful scratch. "For everything, that is. Guess I won''t be coming back." "Hopefully not, sir!" A familiar vulpine smile lifts the corners of her mouth. "After all, there''s no need for full-fledged [Drifters] to retake the exam."This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. Oh, right... I need that promotion, but realizing I''ll never see Valeria again feels bittersweet. Even if I''ve known her for under an hour, she''s shown me more warmth than I expected from the dungeon staff. Encouragement so genuine means terabytes to someone with faltering confidence, you know? Ahh, this is kinda sad... I need a real [Party] soon. Who gets attached over a combat tutorial? C''mon, grow up! "So," I say, playing off my feelings, "Is it too early for ''goodbye''?" "Say what you want, Mr. Quinn. We here at the 1st Class Trial Dungeon judge people by their performance, not their arrogance." We share a small laugh in the comfort of the hallway. Then, all of a sudden: FWOOSH~ A [Warp Portal] expands on the floor beside me. Startled, I jump away. I worry the swirling wind might throw up Valeria''s skirt again--I mean, her modesty''s not my business, but in her position I''d want someone to spare me the embarrassment. I lift a tentative hand. "Er, Ms. Fullbri..." "Ah! There he is now~" A pillar of light springs from the portal. Never mind. The dungeon air crackles with [Mana] as a human silhouette materializes within, taller and broader-shouldered than I. So, thisis my examiner? I take a reflexive step backwards. Not intimidating at all. Ahaha... "Yo, Val." The [Warp Portal] spins shut with a dramatic shoom, retracting the light and revealing a trim, handsome figure. My brow furrows. Have I seen this guy before? What role did he play in the Heroes'' era? His long, dark ponytail and sharp eyes are a conscious design choice. They''ve gotta be! Otherwise, the algorithm that randomized us nobodies is capable of far greater cruelty than I imagined. "Antoine~ You came right away~" "You know me, eternally dependable." He greets Valeria with a playful two-fingered salute, and envy grips tight at my insides. "Glad I''m not late. Had a little trouble shaking the ladies and gents from finances... ah." As if he''s just noticed me, Antoine turns my way. I look up; he looks down. Silence. The sentries flanking the door shuffle awkwardly. There''s one whole head between us! Is this guy really tall, or am I even shorter than I thought!? "H-hi." I force the bitterness from my face. "Are you my examiner?" "Yeah. Val''s told me all about you." He reaches for a handshake. "I''m Antoine Belcourt. You may use my first name, though. After all, the Heroes did, back when I assigned them proper [Classes]." My smile twitches. What do you mean, ''proper''!? "Antoine..." A warning note underscores Valeria''s singsong voice. I shoot her a hopeful glance, my fondness for her instantly doubling. You thought that was condescending too, right, Valeria? You did, right!? Named NPCs are so arrogant! Well, except you... "Sorry, sorry. I misspoke. Promotion to [Drifter] is an admirable accomplishment." I accept the handshake. Antoine''s grip is tight but sure, and I imagine the long daggers at his waist also feel like he''s crushing them whenever they''re drawn. "The dungeon proper''s just through there," Antoine begins, jerking a thumb towards the doors. The guards flanking them stepped aside. "Ready to go, Quinn?" Heflashes an encouraging smile. I feel compelled to return it. Most people in the reception room were bigger than Antoine, but something about his stance and demeanor commands more respect than their withering glares. Nod, nod. "Then..." Antoine rests his palm against thedoors'' dragon-head seal. It pulsates blue, and a moment later, the doors slide apart with great rumbling. Stone scrapes against stone while the hall trembles around us. The butterflies sleeping in my stomach rejoin the waking world. Despite all my squinting, I can''t see anything beyond the blackness awaiting us past the doorway. We must be heading to a new [Map]. "Bye-bye, Mr. Quinn." Valeria sees me off witha parting wave, long hair swaying at a tilt of her head. "Make me proud, okay?" I give my holster a meaningful pat and grin for her benefit. "You won''t see me again." That Dungeon, Surprisingly Intimidating - Pt. 2a The rules behind the [Drifter] exam are deceptively simple. According to Antoine, I''ve only got to go from entrance to exit to finish the test. There''s no minimum amount of monsters I need to kill. There''s no particular path I have to travel. Even dying mid-exam won''t disqualify me--so long as the hour-long timer''s running, I''ll respawn at the dungeon start. Sounds forgiving, right? It is--but only in theory. I can attempta pacifist run, but I definitely won''t succeed. The 1st Class Trial dungeon''s crawling with traps and mobs. Now that I''ve looked around, I realize why the staff shoved so many waivers at me. There won''t be any quick, kind deaths here. "Well, good luck!" Antoine gives my shoulder a cheerful pat and nudges me to the end of the winding hall, beyond which innumerable small creatures scuttle around. "Don''t race the clock. I''m grading you based on skill and technique, alright? Take your time and make informed decisions." "Right." As if I''d run in there guns a-blazing! Have some faith, will you? I pop my head just ''round the corner and review my surroundings in greater detail. The hallway opens into a six-sided room populated by fat ¡¸Jellies¡¹ and ¡¸Caterpines¡¹, whose shuffling raises goosebumps across every inch of my body. Imagine being jumped by all of them at once... oh, man. I''d die within seconds. ¡¾Observation I¡¿ I concentrate on the nearest foe; a sluggish ¡¸Caterpine¡¹with large, ringed eyes.
¡¸SMALL LESSER CATERPINE¡¹Lv. 1
HP: 6 | MP: 0 | SP: 0
This caterpillar-like monster is popular in Generika''s southern continents, where they''re bred as battle companions for Heroes who prefer cute pets. Gentle friends and surprisingly vicious foes,¡¸Caterpines¡¹can learn a variety of [Skills] through careful training.
If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.??Vicious, huh? I hope that''s just flavor text. Its low HP would be relieving if my attacks did more than 1~2 damage apiece. As the ¡¸Caterpine¡¹ crawls away, oblivious to its audience, I target a yellow ¡¸Jelly¡¹hopping in place by the leftmost wall. ¡¾Observation I¡¿
¡¸SMALL SOUR JELLY¡¹Lv. 1
HP: 3 | MP: 0 | SP:0
A ''little sister'' species to Generika''s more independent¡¸Slimes¡¹, ¡¸Jellies¡¹find strength in numbers. The ¡¸Small Sour Jelly¡¹is a popular target for unarmed [Drifters] with a violent streak.
A weak laugh forces its way out of me at the description. Right, right. New players love wailing on weaklings for easy EXP. Confident that I can handle these mindless blobs, I draw my pistol and assemble a game plan.
  1. Pick off the ¡¸Caterpines¡¹one by one. Stay far away if you can.
  2. Race for the next room. Save time by avoiding as many ¡¸Jellies¡¹ as possible, and shoot only in self-defense.
That''s logical, no? I emerge from the hall and align my pistol with the unsuspecting ¡¸Caterpine¡¹I [Observed] earlier. I overheard somewhere that¡¸Caterpines¡¹don''t aggro unless you hurt them. If I shoot one, its wandering kin won''t hold that against me... Crack! Before indecision can sabotage my strategy, I shoot its spiny tail. The ¡¸Caterpine¡¹ squeals in surprise. ¡¸Caterpine¡¹''s HP -1! I chuckle at the high-pitched noise, though my merriment fades when the monster spins towards me on legs far too nimble for their stumpy shape. "Kui!?" Uh oh. "Kuiiii!" The¡¸Caterpine¡¹bolts in my direction. How''s it moving so fast!? I pull the trigger over and over, unloading into the creature''s rapidly advancing face. ¡¸Caterpine¡¹''s HP -1! ¡¸Caterpine¡¹''s HP -1! ¡¸Caterpine¡¹''s HP -1! I retreat backwards into the hall. ¡¾Concentrated Strike¡¿ "Kui--" My [Skill] bores straight through its plump body, ¡¸Caterpine¡¹shreds flying from the impact. I brace myself for a stampede of its angry siblings. However, the remaining ¡¸Caterpines¡¹ ignore the carnage. ¡¸Caterpine¡¹''s HP -2! ¡¸Caterpine¡¹was defeated! Hey, not bad. I grin to myself and ignore the fresh sweat prickling my scalp. My first real kill wasn''t half so dramatic as my tutorial performance, but a milestone''s a milestone. Onward! That Dungeon, Surprisingly Intimidating - Pt. 2b The next few minutes fly by while I purge the room of ¡¸Caterpines¡¹. I stay by the hallway entrance, following the ''four shot, one [Concentrated Strike]'' pattern that snagged my first victory. By sheer luck I discover the ¡¸Caterpine¡¹weakness: Its soft, pale underbelly. [Critical Hits] accompany every second or third attack. Now and then, I peek at Antoine. His resting face doesn''t suggest anything about my performance. Well, neither did Valeria''s perpetual smile, but at least smiling''s less intimidating than Antoine''s vaguely unimpressed stare. I''m starting to like him less and less. With the ¡¸Caterpines¡¹eliminated, I slip away from the safety of the corridor and behind an long, overturned table. Seems like the dungeon''s gone for a ''dilapidated castle'' aesthetic. It''s hard to tell with all the props coated in ¡¸Jelly¡¹secretions and ¡¸Caterpine¡¹fuzz. Antoine saunters past me, right into the ¡¸Jellies''¡¹ aggro range. I half-expect him to demonstrate a ''proper'' kill with some flashy move, but his arms stay folded, his stance relaxed. I peek over the table''s cover. An exclamation bubble appears over several nearby ¡¸Jellies''¡¹heads and I drop back into hiding. "If you''re wondering, I''m ignored by monsters here." I grip my pistol tighter at the hint of amusement in Antoine''s voice. "Using me to gauge the trial mobs'' aggro radius is inadvisable." "I know that," I mumble, throwing him a sour look. Trust me to have some common sense! This adolescent character model doesn''t do me any favors here, I''m sure. With the ¡¸Jellies''¡¹ constant wandering and their impressive line of sight, making a beeline for the exit might not be so simple. I don''t want to waste time reworking my strategy, but look. I''ve got 40 HP, one newbie pistol, and no defensive [Skills]. Unless I want to respawn--which I don''t--I''m good as stuck behind this table. Come on, Quinn, gotta move. Valeria didn''t waste 15 whole minutes with you for nothing, right? Imagining her disappointment triples my resolve. Aside from those whose backstories specify ''blood families'', we NPCs don''t have siblings, parents, children and such. I''m not keen on playing someone''s ''kid brother'', but the sisterly vibe to Valeria''s playful guidance makes me loath to break my promise. I''m probably the only one taking it seriously, though... Haha, now I''m just embarrassed. I think back to the tutorial and review her advice. Throughout the battle with the ¡¸Dummy King Slime¡¹, she stressed the importance of experimentation. I understand why: The rules governing us are malleable, now. There are more solutions to any given problem today than ever before. Even Generika''s wisest NPCs discover new ways to manipulate our world every day. ¡¾Open Inventory¡¿ A modest 6x2 grid springs into existence before me. I picked up some things while navigating the little maze that brought me here... perhaps I''ll find some use for them. Wooden Plank x2The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Crystallized Sour Jelly Fluid x4 I call up the [Details] window for each item.
Wooden Plank (Common) (Mundane)
MEMO: A broken plank of wood.
Crystallized Sour Jelly Fluid (Common) (Ingredient)
MEMO: The crystallized remains of a ¡¸Sour Jelly¡¹. Toxic to monsters and men alike, with the exception of its originator.
"Everything alright, Quinn? It''s been a few minutes." "I know, I know. Thanks. Just a second." I wish Antoine wouldn''t bother me while I''m trying to be clever. I can do this. At least, I hope so. I don''t dare check the countdown, but time ispassing. Aargh... The only ideas springing to mind are stupid. Maybe I should''ve just stayed by the doorway? ¡¸Jellies¡¹ swarm, though, and I doubt my lure-and-shoot strategy would help. I close my eyes, take a deep breath. Sorry, Valeria. This ''experiment'' might be too outlandish, even for you. Throwing pride to the wind, I remove the [Wooden Plank] from my [Inventory]. It materializes in midair, shimmering like it''s actually worth something, and falls into my waiting hand. Hmm... I test the item''s weight. Calling this narrow chunk of wood a ''plank'' is generous, but it''ll work for my purposes. Okay. Ready to make an even bigger fool of myself than I have so far, I concentrate on the object. ¡¾Equip [Wooden Plank] in Weapon Slot 2¡¿ ... ... ... ... ... ... Ding! Could not equip [Wooden Plank]! To be honest, I''m not sure what I expected. Maybe it has to be in my first slot? I''m pretty sure my base [Dexterity] has me ambidextrous by default. ¡¾Equip [Wooden Plank] in Weapon Slot 1¡¿ ... ... ... ... ... ... Ding! Could not equip [Wooden Plank]! Aww. Come on, just for me? I repeat the command several times, earning nothing but a cloud of identical notifications. "Clock''s ticking, Quinn." Antoine doesn''t even look at me. "If something''s wrong, it''s not too late to restart--the last person collapsed after one of these slimy little blighters got up their skirt." "What? No!" Is it just me, or did he imply I was gonna faint? I wonder if he''s this condescending to everyone. "Hold on. I''ve got this." As the first batch of notifications disappear, I realize what I just said. New beads of sweat gather on my forehead. I, uh, do not ''got this'' at all. I ruffle my hair in irritation. I swear, bashing this button actually reduced some of my [Stamina]. Well, let''s give it one last go. What do I have to lose but another sliver of already laughable respect? ¡¾Equip [Wooden Plank] in Weapon Slot 2¡¿ ... ... ... ... ... ... Ding! [Wooden Plank] successfully equipped! A new [Skill] has been created through a [Special Action]. "...Eh?!" That Dungeon, Surprisingly Intimidating - Pt. 2c My voice echoes through the room. Antoine shoots me a puzzled-concerned glance over his shoulder. "Hey, we don''t want you having a nervous break. Are you really alright? There''s a reason there are still so many people in the waiting room. As I said, there''s no shame in restarting some ten minutes in--" "Can it, okay? I actually, legitimately got this!" Antoine''s eyebrows rise to his hairline, his eyes slightly widening at my outburst. Heat rushes to my face. Awkward millennia pass within milliseconds. Then a faint amusement colors his expression. "Hm. Seems that you do."
NEW SKILL ACQUIRED
Makeshift (Active): You have a 5% chance of transforming [Mundane] items into equipment with each activation. Restricted to handheld items. All [Makeshift] equipment perishable. SP Cost: Base 2 SP, doubling with each activation
I stare at the window, dumbfounded. My desperation... paid off. I''m not sure whether to be proud or ashamed, but by the faint glow of the plank, my ego matters little in the face of success. Antoine summons a chat bar and fires off another message in wingdings. Valeria? Who knows. I leave him to it and inspect my newfound armaments in the [Equipment] screen.
MAKESHIFT MACE (Unique) (Weapon)
MEMO: A scrap of wood re-purposed for combat. Bound to creator. Cannot be sold, traded, or enchanted.
ATK +2 Durability: 100%
The ''unique'' tag jumps out at me. I''ve heard from [Merchants] that Heroes paid impressive GP for [Unique] items. Granted, they were more practical than this glorified stick, but damn if I don''t feel accomplished!This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. "Move over, Antoine." Discarding the last of my self-respect, I vault over the table, past Antoine... and into a small circle of ¡¸Jellies¡¹. Exclamation marks materialize above all five. They lunge with a collective ''gloop'', but I''m ready. Oh, am I ever ready. "Take this!" I slam the plank against one''s head, and deflect another with a sharp swing. A third collides with my back, costing me 2 HP and momentarily my footing, but I bat it away in retaliation. ¡¸Sour Jelly¡¹was defeated! ¡¸Sour Jelly¡¹was defeated! ¡¸Sour Jelly¡¹was defeated! I''m sure I look like an idiot, a madman, or both, but I manage to dispatch my immediate assailants in under a minute. Their siblings take it personally. The dozen-ish remaining ¡¸Jellies¡¹glide towards me. Well, that''s that. Time to run! I rocket for the doorway across the room. Damn, these little¡¸Jellies¡¹move quick! I blast a path through the crowd with my pistol and swat away who I can with the plank. Despite my efforts, two ¡¸Jellies¡¹manage to tackle me from the side. "Gah!" ¡¸Sour Jellies¡¹ are heavy!HP -4! I collide with the floor and, true to form, roll a couple feet. My assailants hop closer. I dispatch one with a [Concentrated Strike] and flatten its friend with my mace. ¡¸Sour Jelly¡¹was defeated! ¡¸Sour Jelly¡¹was defeated! My attention strays to the lower left-hand corner of my HUD.
NPC-RND-4394 No Title - No Class - NoParty
HP: 34/40 MP: 0 SP: 30/40
All this flailing and rolling''s taken its toll. If not for constant SP regeneration, I might not survive the next room. I scramble upright and evade the last ¡¸Jellies¡¹on my way to the exit. The doorway--finally--just a little more-- I merely shudder as I barrel through an invisible barrier, but the blobs pursuing me aren''t so fortunate. They fizzle and explode upon leaving the room. I collapse against the nearest wall, catch my breath, and take great satisfaction in their fiery deaths. Antoine strides through the barrier, accompanied by his chat bar. He fires off another message in wingdings and dismisses the window with a snap of his fingers. "Room one, clear." Not that it matters, but... I think he''s impressed. That Dungeon, Surprisingly Intimidating - Pt. 3a ¡°I can¡¯t speak for the wider world,¡± Antoine says, while I bludgeon my way to the next room, ¡°But spontaneous [Skill] creation¡¯s unprecedented for this dungeon. Have you ever stumbled upon something like that before?¡± I don¡¯t like howhe says that: ¡®stumbled upon¡¯, as if my discovery couldn¡¯t have been intentional. That it wasn¡¯t is beside the point. I blast the head off a nearby ¡¸Caterpine¡¹and throw him a strained smile over my shoulder. ¡°Guess my [Luck¡¯s] pretty high for a nobody.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard your [Attributes] are average, though.¡± He quickens his pace until he catches up to me, the thoughtful note in his voice suggesting my self-deprecating joke sailed over his head. ¡°Keep an eye out for any anomalies, alright? Not to scare you, but the last few examinees noticed odd behavior from the mobs.¡± ¡°What, like a spike in HP?¡± Antoine chuckles wryly. ¡°We¡¯d be out of business if that happened. No, sometimes they lag, clip into walls¡­ one ¡¸Sour Jelly¡¹ killed its own neighbour, even though we¡¯ve disabled friendly fire.¡± I startle at that, almost missing a bend in the hall. ¡°Sounds like a serious glitch. I don¡¯t remember too well, but didn¡¯t Heroes get in fights over accidental friendly fire...?¡± ¡°Yes, often.¡± He pats my back, the force better suited to the beefy guys stuck twiddling their thumbs in the lobby. I almost trip over a crack in the floor. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t attack you. The trial already has a [Final Boss].¡± ¡°Y-yeah, lucky me...¡± What do you sound so disappointed for!? Now that I think about it, I haven¡¯t seen a genuine smile from him since we left Valeria. Well¡­ I¡¯d be bored too, maybe, if I followed newbies around twelve hours a day. I''ll try to be understanding. Another turn and a handful of squished¡¸Jellies¡¹later, we exit the musty maze and emerge into a forest. ¡­ ¡­ ... What? I turn my eyes skywards and squint at a sun that shouldn¡¯t exist, while crisp woodlandair ruffles my mantle. Little birds twitter cheerfully from lush, green trees that tower all around. ¡°A change of pace,¡± says Antoine, while I lob a small rock into a bush. Startled insects scramble from its cover. Wow¡­ they put a lot of trouble into designing this area. ¡°You¡¯ll encounter different terrain during your adventures, after all.¡± Valeria was right. They really do care about our success. ¡°How long do I have left?¡±If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. ¡°About half an hour. There are only three rooms, so don¡¯t rush. You¡¯re doing better than you think.¡± Thank you, I guess? Patronizing as he is, I can¡¯t deny Antoine¡¯s sincerity. I give my ¡®mace¡¯ an idle swing. Air whistles through fresh gaps in the splintering wood. Hmm. That can¡¯t be good.
MAKESHIFT MACE (Unique) (Weapon)
MEMO A scrap of wood re-purposed for combat. Bound to creator. Cannot be sold, traded, or enchanted.
ATK +2 Durability: 3%
Ah, jeez. I forgot about the whole ¡®perishable equipment¡¯ thing. My mace should last one more hit, at least, before I need to cobble another one together. I hope this [Skill] doesn¡¯t expire if I fail the exam¡­ Ishake my head. Don¡¯t worry about that. You won¡¯t lose anything, because you¡¯re not gonna fail, Quinn! Dry leaves crunch underfoot as we travel a narrow path. The sloping hills at either side rise higher than Antoine¡¯s shoulders. I¡¯ve got a feeling they won¡¯t lead anywhere, but¡­ Hup! Using rocks and shrubbery as footholds, I pull myself up one steep incline. I duck past tree after identical tree, sidestep root after identical root, until I find myself facing the path again. Huh. Seems like I just came out the other side, if farther down from where I began. ¡°Well, that was a waste of time¡­¡± Mumbling to myself, I scratch my nape and scan the ground for a safe landing spot. With all the falling I¡¯ve done today, I¡¯ve lost faith in the kindness of hard surfaces. I glance at Antoine. He¡¯s standing where I left him, hammering out secret messages again. No problem. I don¡¯t want him watching me bunny hop from such a modest ledge. Even I, who dealt with [Drifters], witnessed some stylish acrobatics in the Heroes¡¯ era. Haha¡­ Even if I faceplant, my raised DEF should spare me from serious damage. I¡¯m just afraid of heights. Soon, a pile of fallen leaves catches my attention. There we go! I suppose the staff anticipated this situation and gave us an easy way out. Holding my breath, I jump down and land squarely on my target. Hey, no faceplant! That went better than I expected. Proud of this little victory, I pick a couple stray leaves from my hair-- SNAP The ground gives way beneath me. Aw, no way! Did I just launch myself into a basic trap? Accompanied by leaves, sticks, and tangled thread, I tumble into a pit. Bleeping noises spew from my mouth as the cursing filter kicks in. Gravity is a cruel mistress. HP -4! Gahh¡­ okay, that hurt. At least I landed on my rear this time. ¡°Congratulations on discovering your first organic trap,¡± says Antoine, and I can feel him smirking somewhere aboveground. ¡°Still alive down there?¡± ¡°Just fine,¡± I call out. In the privacy of the ditch, I give an irritated huff. ¡®Can¡¯t deny his sincerity¡¯, huh? I take it back. There¡¯s nothing likeable about him at all! That Dungeon, Surprisingly Intimidating - Pt. 3b "Organic traps are harder to identify than the man-made tripwires you found in the castle area. You''d have been caught sooner or later." What, is that supposed to boost my morale? I push myself upright. The ditch must be thrice my height and just as wide. I shake off as many nature-bits as possible and search the wall for places to grip. "So... any trap that spawns in nature is ''organic'', then?" I put away my weapons and start climbing. My SP drops as I ascend, so much that I pause halfway up to recover before clawing through the final stretch. "Seems... haah... simple enough." "You''re on the right track. Traps that monsters laid down are ''organic'' too, though. Don''t forget." I emerge from the ditch like a zombie fresh out of thegrave. "R-right," I wheeze. "Like spider webs or goblins'' nets." In a gesture of unexpected kindness, Antoine pulls me to my feet. He plucks a leaf from behind my ear and tosses it over his shoulder. "Spider webs, goblins'' nets... have you heard of¡¸Caterpine¡¹hatches?" I adjust my clothes, re-equip my pistol and mace. "What''s a ¡¸Caterpine¡¹hatch even look like?" "Well..." Antoine steps back. Then, slowly, his eyes angle skyward. He points a gloved finger above my head. "Why don''t you ask that ¡¸Mother Caterpine¡¹? After all, you broke her hatch." ...Oh. Yikes. I freeze in place, a rustling noise at my back. Its source casts a growing shadow while she descends, and a violent shiver rockets through my body. Bile rises in my chest when thick strands of sticky thread drop around my shoulders. I don''t dare turn around. "She''s right behind me, isn''t she?" "A hairsbreadth away." "What are my chances of escaping?" "Around negative ten." Welp. I take a deep, rattling breath.My fingers tighten ''round my mace, and then... SMASHStolen novel; please report. I whirl around and shatter the plank on the ¡¸Mother Caterpine¡¹''s staring face. Stars explode around her head and form a swirling halo. ¡¸Mother Caterpine¡¹is stunned! ¡¸Mother Caterpine¡¹''s HP -4! Well done, makeshift mace! I''ll remember your sacrifice! I spring back, nail her between the eyes with a [Concentrated Strike], and follow up with several shots. Thanks to the [Stun] affliction, swaying is her only response. ¡¸Mother Caterpine¡¹''s HP -4! ¡¸Mother Caterpine¡¹''s HP -1! ¡¸Mother Caterpine¡¹''s HP -1! ¡¸Mother Caterpine¡¹''s HP -1! My attacks somehow shake her dizziness away. The stars disappear from her head, and with a grating squeal, the ¡¸Mother Caterpine¡¹drops to the earth. The ground vibrates from the impact. I see now why the ¡¸Caterpines¡¹in the castle bore the ''Small Lesser'' prefix. This one''s enormous! Taller than me, taller than Antoine, at least twelve feet long... If it''s anywhere near as fast as its spawn, I''ll be trampled! "How am I supposed to survive!?" I cast Antoine a panicked look while firing madly at the monster, who deflects every second bullet with a toss of her head. "Do I even have enough HP for this?" "Observation IV." Antoine''s eyes narrow and defocus. When his mind returns, he replies with a damningly cheerful shrug. "You''re good at dodging, yeah?" My eyelid spasms in disbelief. The first time he smiles in half an hour, and it''s because I might die? If boredom makes you this cruel, I never want free time. "Kuiiii!" The ¡¸Mother Caterpine¡¹''s squeal pierces the air, making birds scatter overhead. She paws the ground. Small clouds of dirt rise from her feet while her large eyes lock on me. I fire at them, one after another. Ping! Ping! "E-eh?" Each shot ricochets off a transparent eyelid and into the underbrush. Of course. Making her face the weak point would be much too easy. Still, she shrieks in annoyance. The back fifth of her body arches forward, and... Oh. I''ve learned enough from the ¡¸King Slime¡¹ to recognize an impending ranged attack. The spine capping off her rear glints under the sun. ¡¾Observation I¡¿
MOTHER CATERPINE Lv. 2
HP: 14/25 |MP: ??? |SP: ???
An unevolved, mature ¡¸Caterpine¡¹devoted to protecting its offspring. These gentle giants are lovers, not fighters; they prefer to lay traps than hunt for prey, so they can spend more time tending their young. ¡¸Mother Caterpines¡¹ bred in captivity can spin [Caterpine Silk], a common ingredient in many [Crafting] recipes.
If this is what our world calls ''gentle'', I can''t wait to meet our hostiles. Good thing I managed to stun her: With her Health halved, I might escape oblivion yet. "Kuii!" The ¡¸Mother Caterpine¡¹ telegraphs her attack with a thrust of her tail and launches the barb my way. It whizzes past my ear. CHHK--! The projectile embeds itself in a nearby tree, and cold perspiration pours from my hairline. Ahaha... Splintering bark sure sounds brittle. I bet human bone sounds worse. No time to hesitate. Get it together, me! I jump back and level my pistol with her backside, aiming for the point of a new, emergent barb. ¡¾Concentrated Strike¡¿ [BIG UPDATE] That Dungeon, Surprisingly Intimidating - Pt. 3c CRACK ¡°Kuiii!?¡± My stomach churns as the barb breaks off, and the tip of her tail along with. Thick, green fluid splatters the dirt. Spreads. CRITICAL HIT ¡¸Mother Caterpine¡¹¡¯s HP -6! ¡¸Mother Caterpine¡¹is [Enraged]! Her bottomless eyes flash crimson. A ¡®popping vein¡¯ emoji flashes overhead, and I can already imagine my Health bar dropping to black. ¡°Nice,¡± Antoine remarks. I can¡¯t tell if that¡¯s sarcasm or a show of admiration. Either way, now¡¯s not the time for commentary! I could be two steps from death! The ¡¸Mother Caterpine¡¹curls into a twelve-legged ball of murder and rolls back. Uh oh, she¡¯s winding up. I launch myself at the nearest tree just as she barrels forward, intent on flattening me like a coin. Oof. Thank Valeria for this SPD boost! By the grace of RNG, I scramble up to safety after an inelegant collision with the trunk. Warning: Stamina at 50% Are you serious? No wonder my lungs are burning. While the ¡¸Mother Caterpine¡¹unwinds, I consult my HUD.
NPC_RND_4394 No Title - No Class - No Party
HP: 30/40 MP: 0/0 SP: 20/40
Gah, that¡¯s embarrassing. I¡¯ve knocked my HP down by a quarter. Besides the ¡¸Sour Jellies¡¹ that tackled me, I¡¯ve only taken damage through my own fault. I puff a regretful sigh. Sheesh¡­ I wish Valeria would¡¯ve given me an INT boost, too. WHAM A thundering slam scatters my thoughts. I squawk in surprise, the tree shuddering under me. WHAM WHAM Leaves rustle and fall. I cling to the limb supporting me, watching in horror as the ¡¸Mother Caterpine¡¹rams her leathery head into the tree. Ah, bless this tree. It¡¯s an exemplary work of nature, but I don¡¯t want to test its hardiness under mortal peril. My SP drops one point whenever she strikes. Vibrations race through the branches and seep into my bones. Phew! Desperate clinging costs more energy than it seems. ¡°Creatures affected by [Enraged] gain a [Strength] boost, while their [Dexterity], [Luck], and [Intelligence] suffer.¡± Antoine¡¯s voice carries over the clamor. He stands near the edge of the path, taking notes in a small window. ¡°This little lady¡¯s not at her most perceptive--see if you can use that to your advantage.¡± ¡°Thanks,¡± I reply, and mean every letter. Alright, Quinn, stay calm. Everything¡¯ll be fine. You¡¯ve got¡­ oh, jeez. 20 minutes only, huh? I clench my jaw. Okay, okay. What are the key points of my circumstances?
  1. There¡¯s a ¡¸Mother Caterpine¡¹ beneath me, blind with rage
  2. My SP can¡¯t recover until she leaves me alone
  3. I have too little HP to experiment with dramatic maneuvers
  4. ¡¸Mother Caterpine¡¹ herself should be down to 8 HP
I draw a slow breath and close my eyes. This situation isn¡¯t that hopeless. I¡¯m still a [Classless] newbie, so much as I hate it, and newbies overreact. Breathe. Mindful of my holstered pistol, I inch through the leaves. The ¡¸Mother Caterpine¡¹pays no mind as I relocate myself one tree left. Just as I hoped, her attention remains trained on the one I first escaped to. Now, where¡¯s a good vantage point? I shield my face from angled branches and snagging leaves, struggling to find a position that gives me access to her wounds. Strength seeps back into my muscles as I slip between two sturdy limbs and line up a shot. I squint at my target and concentrate-- Ding! Proficiency requirements met. New [Mastery] unlocked.Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! ¡°Shh!¡± I don¡¯t know if mobs can hear notifications, but just in case, I hush the window that almost surprised me out of hiding. ¡°Jeez, what the...¡± This is exciting and all, but I¡¯m down to 17 minutes and this ¡¸Mother Caterpine¡¹ won¡¯t kill herself. I don¡¯t even know what [Mastery] is, exactly. Ahh, whatever! I¡¯ll check later. My world narrows again to the ¡¸Mother Caterpine¡¯s¡¹tattered backside. This time, when I prepare my attack, a translucent crosshair appears. It alternates between red and black whenever my hand wavers, bringing her weak point in and out of alignment. Hmm. Whatever [Mastery] I acquired comes with a valuable gimmick. Must be some kind of ¡®ranged weapon proficiency¡¯ thing¡­ I hope this helps me identify future enemies¡¯ weaknesses. ¡¾Concentrated Strike¡¿ Assisted by my newfound ability, my bullet flies straight and true. Another chunk of tail shreds away. CRITICAL HIT ¡¸Mother Caterpine¡¹¡¯s HP -5! ¡¸Mother Caterpine¡¹is [Enraged]! She makes a shrill noise that stabs at my eardrums. Who knew ¡¸Caterpines¡¹could scream? I almost drop my pistol in surprise, half-expecting my HP to decrease from the ruckus. My head¡¯s ringing. ¡°Kuiiii!¡± She whips around and faces me. I duck into the foliage, evading a shot of white thread by a pixel. I expect it to tangle in the leaves, but it tears through them with razor efficiency. My pulse skyrockets. Panicked, I clamber to the nearest branch¡­ And curse as it breaks underneath me. I drop through limb after limb, losing several HP throughout my descent. Antoine winces in the distance. The language filter bleeps with every collision. I hate, hate, hate gravity. WHUMP
NPC_RND_4394 No Title - No Class - No Party
HP:15/40 MP: 0/0 SP: 25/40
I will kill myself at this rate. Everything hurts. I stagger to my feet with the help of a flowering bush. For good or ill, I fell deep enough into the underwood that the¡¸Mother Caterpine¡¹lost sight of me. I want to check her status, but the lack of visibility¡¯s mutual. Using the lull to recover some, I grab a hefty wooden stick. I have neither skill nor interest in spears, but I¡¯ll need a backup weapon in case I can¡¯t put enough distance between us to kill her via pistol. ¡¾Equip [Pointy Stick] in Weapon Slot 2¡¿ ¡­ ¡­ ¡­ Ding! Failed to equip [Pointy Stick]! Argh¡­ how much time and Stamina can I burn spamming [Makeshift]? Still, I¡¯ve gotta try. Tension knots the space between my eyebrows. Keeping an eye on my SP, I reactive the skill. Then I do it again. And again. And again¡­ Ding! [Pointy Stick] has been successfully equipped! Ah, there we go! My spirits soar. With a final glance at the ¡¸Mother Caterpine¡¯s¡¹shadow, I review my new weapon¡¯s details.
MAKESHIFT SPEAR (Unique) (Weapon)
MEMO: A sharp branch broken by a clumsy newbie. Leaves Speed-reducing splinters in wounds inflicted by its point. Binds on equip. Cannot be sold, traded, or enchanted.
ATK +3 CRIT +2% Durability: 100%
I can¡¯t capitalize on that CRIT boost with my meagre spearmanship, but that ATK bonus helps terabytes all the same. How much Health does she have? 4 HP? I can do this. Out of sight, the ¡¸Mother Caterpine¡¹shuffles along the fringe of the woods. I sneak towards the path. She¡¯s no longer [Enraged]... guess I should¡¯ve expected that. While she¡¯s facing away, I dart from the foliage. Her injured tail¡¯s just within reach. I throw my weight into a downwards stab, only for my target to whip aside when its owner turns. ¡°Kuii!¡± I tug the spear free from the ground and duck a short, stringy projectile. She spits a follow-up quicker than I can dodge it, though, and a stinging sensation races through my arm when it tears through my sleeve. Don¡¯t underestimate ¡¸Caterpines¡¹! HP -1! ¡°Dammit--¡± Could be adrenaline dulling my senses, but the wound feels shallow, if somewhat wet. I¡¯ve still got 14 HP. Oh¡­ that¡¯s one small number. As the prospect of death draws closer, my nerves start to fray. I interrupt another volley of string by shooting her mouth. She doesn¡¯t suffer any damage, though, since the substance absorbs my bullet. Looks like this incident calls for a change of plans. With a trademark squeal, the ¡¸Mother Caterpine¡¹ rolls up. I glance over my shoulder. Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice¡­ Well, I hope I¡¯m smarter than that. ¡°C¡¯mon, c¡¯mon¡­¡± I scramble up the slope behind me and stand between two sturdy trees. The gap¡¯s just large enough for someone shrimpy. Thankful, for once, for my unimpressive character model, I goad the ¡¸Mother Caterpine¡¹ with a high whistle. As expected, she cannonballs forth. WHAM! The trees shake from the force, creaking while leaves rain around me. The ¡¸Mother Caterpine¡¹unwinds. I only wanted to shield myself, but fortune smiles upon me, and reveals her head¡¯s lodged tight between the trees. Eheheheh¡­ I¡¯m not always above a cheap victory. ¡°If it means anything,¡± I say, raising my improvised spear, ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to break your hatch.¡± I shut my eyes and drive it into her forehead. O V E R K I L L That Dungeon, Surprisingly Intimidating - Pt. 4a As if rewarding my ingenuity, the ¡¸Mother Caterpine¡¹ left several [Potions] in her wake. In the few seconds I had to collect them -- because that entire debacle cost 17 precious minutes -- I learned three things:
  1. Potions stack between 10~99, depending on your STR value
  2. All mobs can drop consumables, though their strength and rarity depends on the monster¡¯s level
  3. Healing tingles, and feels vaguely obscene
With my HP refilled, I cut my way through the forest area in literal record time. I used the ¡®wrap around the path¡¯ trick I discovered earlier to avoid mobs and quicken travel; sure, I emerged in unfortunate locations sometimes, but dispatching the ¡¸Woodland Jellies¡¹ whose aggro radius I invaded never cost more than 1 or 2 HP. Turns out they share [Attributes] with the ¡¸Sour Jellies¡¹ from back when. Now that the end is in sight, I realize my confidence¡¯s tripled since the exam began. If there are only 3 rooms to the First Class Trial Dungeon, the [Final Boss] should await me beyond the massive double-doors capping off the path. ¡°And¡­ Room two, clear.¡± As the doors slide open, scraping against the dirt, Antoine swipes one final note into his wingdings chat window. ¡°The [Final Boss] is up ahead. You¡¯ve got ten minutes to reach it, and five to defeat it. Ready?¡± My bright red Health bar and recent victories have me nodding resolutely. ¡°I was spawned ready.¡± He chuckles. ¡°That¡¯s what we like to see. Trust me, ten minutes is all you¡¯ll need. Some of our examinees reached the [Final Boss] in five.¡± Whoa, there. I don¡¯t think that well of myself. I¡¯m wiser than to get cocky from a lucky break with a ¡¸Mother Caterpine¡¹ and a pointy stick. After all, overconfidence caused the downfall of many Heroes and newbies alike. With a modest chuckle and a trickle of sweat, I reply, ¡°Let¡¯s try for eight.¡± Antoine smirks. Without wasting a second, I precede him through the doorway.
I know I said the castle-to-forest transition surprised me, but compared to the forest-to-star-spangled-labyrinth transition, the last one¡¯s rather mundane. ¡°It¡¯s¡­ dramatic for a newbie dungeon.¡± I feel along the smooth black walls of a narrow hallway, perplexed by the iridescent lights twinkling underfoot. Seems the floor¡¯s textured with a projection of a clear, night sky. I crouch and run two fingertips over the surface: Smoother than glass. Antoine chuckles. ¡°It was much less ¡®inspired¡¯ in the Heroes¡¯ day. One wouldn¡¯t know at first glance, but Valeria has the most power over the First Class Trial Dungeon among all of us working here. You¡¯ve seen the alterations made to the tutorial arena. Recently, her endeavours expanded to the rest of the dungeon.¡± ¡°Sounds dangerous,¡± I murmur, half to myself. Picturing an over-enthused Valeria remodeling the place¡­ the image of a blissful, deranged artist hurling paint and glitter around springs to mind. Did that sound mean? I¡¯m not trying to insult such a kind person, but anyone who spends time adding little crowns to ¡¸Slimes¡¹ must enjoy her creative control. ¡°Experimentation is complicated.¡± There¡¯s concern in Antoine¡¯s voice, though he dismisses my unspoken inquiry with a shake of his head. ¡°Anyway, focus. Time waits for no-one.¡±If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. The lights streaking across the floor and ceiling make locating traps a challenge. I step over tripwires that don¡¯t exist and stumble on switches that do, making small clusters of glittery¡¸Jellies¡¹ and pink, fluttery creatures fade into reality. ¡¾Observation I¡¿
SMALL LESSER FAIRYBAT Lv. 1
HP: 3 | MP: 0 | SP: 0
Don¡¯t underestimate these innocent-looking monsters! Fairybats compensate for their fragility with startling speed and ranged attacks. Even seasoned adventurers find a swarm of Fairybats inconvenient.
Argh, I don¡¯t have time for this! No sooner do they spawn than I dispatch them with a series of [Concentrated Strikes] and swats with my ¡®spear¡¯. I have improved! My spearmanship is still more laughable than my gunslinging, but damn if I can¡¯t smash something upside the head. ¡¸Small Lesser Fairybat¡¹was defeated! ¡¸Small Lesser Fairybat¡¹ was defeated! ¡¸Small Crystal Jelly¡¹ was defeated! ¡¸Small Crystal Jelly¡¹was defeated! Y¡¯know¡­ for monsters described as ¡®fast¡¯, these Fairybats spend more time hovering than flying. It¡¯s conspicuous. Is this the ¡®lag¡¯ Antoine mentioned earlier? If so, I hope the exam continues glitching in my favour. The minutes tick by as I navigate the maze, Antoine thoughtful and silent in tow. With several [Health Potions] to restore any HP lost to clever ¡¸Fairybats¡¹ or ¡¸Jellies¡¹, I¡¯ve admittedly started rushing through the shadowed halls. A faint glow follows our movements, ensuring we see our immediate surroundings while the path ahead remains cloaked in black. The physics at play here baffles me. With 3 minutes left to locate the [Final Boss], though, nothing short of spontaneous combustion could distract me from my goal. This better be the last turn... I skid around a corner. A pulsating light catches my eye, and I perform a [Concentrated Strike] on reflex. The bullet vanishes into my target with a spark and a shwoop. I blink, drink in my surroundings. An ornate [Warp Portal] spins lazily on the floor, as if awaiting another bullet to snack on. I glance at Antoine. His eyes drift from his ever-present chat window and indicate the portal: Go for it. So¡­ this leads to the [Final Boss]? The butterflies that lay dormant beneath my ribs flutter back to life. Feels like I¡¯m back in the waiting room, sandwiched between muscular would-be adventurers, fiddling with the hem of my sleeves and listening for my system ID. Perspiration shines at my brow. Breathe in, breathe out. You¡¯ve made it this far. Don¡¯t give Antoine the pleasure of watching you have a nervous break after all! I shake my head, turn my focus elsewhere. Remember the bobbing blue lights. Remember Valeria¡¯s foxlike grin. Remember the thrill of defeating the dummy ¡¸King Slime¡¹; of discovering [Makeshift]; of thrusting an improved spear through a ¡¸Mother Caterpine¡¯s¡¹ leathery forehead. You can do this, dammit. I consult the timer. 90 seconds until it closes--better review my [Inventory] before heading in.
INVENTORY
Tiny Health Potion x1 Tiny Stamina Potion x1 Crystallized Sour Jelly Fluid x4 Wooden Plank x1 Empty Empty
Empty Empty Empty Empty Empty Empty
My spear is at 15% durability. My HP and SP are all topped up. I straighten my clothes, rake back my hair, and step into the swirling light. Onward! [Big Update] That Dungeon, Surprisingly Intimidating - Pt. 4b I rematerialize in the arena, reeling from warp-induced nausea. Despite the pep talks looping in my brain, my nerves haven¡¯t settled, and my fingers grow clammy around my spear. Antoine ports in with a swoosh at my back. ¡°The minute you step forward,¡± he says, flanking me, ¡°The [Final Boss] will spawn. Valeria chooses a different monster for every examinee. Whatever challenges await you reflect your strengths and weaknesses--so much as I want to advise you, my wisdom¡¯s useless here.¡± Nod, nod. I swallow a knot in my throat. I suspect Antoine¡¯s been chatting with her the whole time. I cringe, imagining how he must¡¯ve described my encounters with the ¡¸Mother Caterpine¡¹ and my inelegant discovery of [Makeshift]. I draw my pistol. I¡¯ll just have to compensate with a solid performance. The starfield pulsates underfoot with every forward step. Sweat grows cold at my scalp. My breaths quicken, slow, and quicken as I fight for my composure. Then, with an aura of dread descending: FWOOM¡­ The [Final Boss] fades into spacetime. A wireframe first--glowing white outlines bright against the void--followed by spasming polygons that smooth into crystalline masses. I retreat on instinct. My back collides with something that sends a hot, unpleasant jolt through my body. ¡°Gah!¡± ¡°Careful, now. Mind the fence.¡± Antoine¡¯s warning pulls my attention past the forming monster, to a crackling boundary woven of stars. Of course there¡¯d be limited space--I was too busy staring at the emerging [Boss] in terror to notice. Ha. My heart thumps a rhythmic bass as my foe solidifies. It loudens while my eyes travel from the [Final Boss¡¯] massive, angular feet to its even broader torso, and up to the blue¡¸Slime¡¹ hovering where I expected to find its neck. A little crown sits askew upon its head. My eyes grow round as the moons floating through the void. LESSER SOUR JELLY GOLEM & PILOT KING SLIME ~First Class Trial Dungeon Final Boss~ You¡¯ve gotta be joking. My heartbeat grows louder than should be possible, and a faint melody creeps through. Wait a minute! That¡¯s not my pulse, that¡¯s¡­ a battle theme!? I get a soundtrack? Okay, this is more serious than I expected. My heart batters against my ribs as though intent on breaking free. ¡°Damn it, Val! Don¡¯t mess around too much.¡± I blink. That¡¯s the most impassioned I¡¯ve ever heard Antoine. I throw him a worried look. ¡°W-what?¡± He shakes his head, expression tense. ¡°Nothing. I thought aloud. Go.¡± A familiar female voice resonates through the arena, and a five-minute timer replaces the ten-minute countdown on my HUD. ¡°The final battle commences~!¡± ¡°Ready? Set? Go!¡± Haha¡­ I¡¯ll die here, won¡¯t I? The ¡¸Lesser Sour Jelly Golem¡¹ slams angular fists against the ground, sending out a shockwave that throws me a pixel shy of the barrier. The ¡¸Pilot King Slime¡¹gives an undulating roar. The thick-lashed eye embedded in the ¡¸Lesser Sour Jelly Golem¡¯s¡¹chest flies open. I squeeze my pistol, pull myself upright. Breathe in, breathe out. Spin it around my finger and level the crosshair with the ¡¸Pilot King Slime¡¯s¡¹crown. It flashes red. My eyes narrow, world shrinking to the towering creature. Fool me once, shame on you¡­ ¡¾CONCENTRATED STRIKE¡¿ Tink! The golem throws up an arm. Light glints off its crystal planes as my bullet ricochets clear of the ¡¸Pilot King Slime¡¯s¡¹ weakness. Small fragments fly from the impact and fade out of reality. ¡¸Lesser Sour Jelly Golem¡¹¡¯s HP -1! It lumbers close, arm whirling like a windmill, and I dart mere feet out of striking range. The shockwave trips me, but I recover before the golem straightens. ¡¸Pilot King Slime¡¹ picks up the slack. Caught unaware, I suffer a shot of blue fluid that nails me under the ribs. I collide with the floor, breathless and stunned. Careful! HP -3! Oof, I feel that 3. This useless newbie armour might as well be unequipped. Though struggling with the ache of my midriff, I right myself while my opponents¡¯ [Skills] cool down. What¡¯ve we got here¡­ ¡¾Observation I¡¿
PILOT KING SLIME Lv. 1
HP: 30/30 MP: ??? SP: ???
The First Class Trial Dungeon¡¯s¡¸Dummy King Slime¡¹ equipped with [Puppetry] [Mastery]. A creation of Valeria Fullbright for NPC-RND-4394¡¯s [Drifter] assessment.If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. This monster shares many moves with its tutorial arena counterpart. However, its ¡¸Lesser Sour Jelly Golem¡¹ thrall shields its crown, making [Critical Hits] a difficult maneuver.
LESSER SOUR JELLY GOLEM Lv. 2
HP: 39/40 MP: ??? SP: ???
When ¡¸Jellies¡¹ unite against a common foe, they may sacrifice their individuality and fuse into a rough, tough ¡¸Jelly Golem¡¹. These crystalline creatures have incredible DEF and STR values, though their SPD and DEX suffer. The wisest Heroes approach fights with ¡¸Jelly Golems¡¹ as tests of patience, rather than strength.
Sweat soaks my hairline. Useful information, but how patient can I be with a 5-minute timer looming? Landing repeated [Critical Hits] should snag me success. For a newbie like me, though, easier said than done. ¡°Guooooh!¡± The ¡¸Pilot King Slime¡¹ growls. I fire at the crown, but my arm wavers from the adrenaline swimming through me. A few bullets sink into its wobbling mass. ¡¸Pilot King Slime¡¹¡¯s HP -1! ¡¸Pilot King Slime¡¹¡¯s HP -1! MISS! ¡¸Pilot King Slime¡¹¡¯s HP -0! Argh, I forgot how low my DEX is. The bass pounds in time with my heartbeat while the ¡¸Sour Jelly Golem¡¹ spins at me, arms outstretched. Hot air gusts towards me. I swipe my hair from my eyes and run. Sparks fly from the boundary when its fists scrape the stars. I can¡¯t waste time running and rolling. What are my options, though? The golem deflects every shot to its master¡¯s crown. I unequip my spear for greater mobility, scurry to the side, and aim a [Concentrated Strike] at the golem¡¯s eye. KSHH The golem thrashes in pain, black veins spreading over the sclera. CRITICAL HIT ¡¸Lesser Sour Jelly Golem¡¹¡¯s HP -4! A burst of blue nicks my leg as I put just enough distance between me and the golem to evade another world-shaking slam. My thigh stings, but I¡¯ll survive. Careful! HP -3! Its red pupil spasms into a slit. I align my crosshair. The golem emanates a high, drawn-out buzz... Hold on. I think it¡¯s aiming at me. I hesitate for a nanosecond before aborting my shot. Spurred on by instinct, I sprint off--just as the buzz becomes a deep, undulating noise. I glance over my shoulder and find the golem turning, a wide beam of neon light streaming from its iris. That was close. The laser runs out of juice long before it catches up to me, though, and I circle the creature. The ¡¸Pilot King Slime¡¹ bounces in place. I sidestep another stream of goop, fire a [Concentrated Strike] for the crown. The golem¡¯s arm flies up. Despite its humanoid appearance, the shoulders possess a wider range of motion than any person should. Experiment, says Valeria of my memories. Potential strategies flash through my brain. ¡­ Aha. With the timer blinking 2:45, hope surges shines anew. I consider my status.
NPC-RND-4394
No Title No Class No Party
HP: 34/40 MP: 0/0 SP: 22/40
I don¡¯t have time to root around my inventory for [Potions], but I won¡¯t need it. Conserving [Stamina], I retreat and set my crosshair on the crystal ball attaching one massive arm its torso. The crosshair turns red. Bingo! ¡¾CONCENTRATED STRIKE¡¿ ¡¾CONCENTRATED STRIKE¡¿ ¡¾CONCENTRATED STRIKE¡¿ My SP plummets to 10. Fatigue weighs on every limb, and I take a knee as the golem¡¯s left arm detaches. It dissolves into yellow dust on the way down. CRITICAL HIT x 3 ¡¸Lesser Sour Jelly Golem¡¹¡¯s HP -12! There, that¡¯s the stuff! I might be two steps from collapse, but oh, that was worth it. The golem¡¯s HP drops to 23. I heave a grounding breath-- Bad idea. ¡¸Crystallized Sour Jelly Fluid¡¹ is poisonous, right? If a ¡¸Sour Jelly Golem¡¹ is nothing but one giant crystal, its dust¡­ You have been poisoned! HP -1! A dull ache resonates through my gut, while a green ¡®skull and crossbones¡¯ icon appears beside my HP bar. My Health drops 1 point per second. This is embarrassing and painful. I manage to stagger out of the golem¡¯s ground-slam AOE, but the ¡¸Pilot King Slime¡¹ compensates once more for its sluggishness. My [Poisoned] status prevents SP regeneration¡­ I take the brunt of another blue blast. The impact to my chest throws me to the ground. ¡°Gah--!¡± Careful! HP -4! I claw my way upright. Losing Health in combat feels nothing like losing it to clumsiness. For one, it hurts more--or is that the poison skewing my interpretation? Either way, I¡¯m starting to panic. While the ¡¸Lesser Sour Jelly Golem¡¹ and ¡¸Pilot King Slime¡¹ cool down, I summon my [Inventory] and apply every [Potion] in possession. My muscles come alight with restored energy. Although the pain gripping my stomach doesn¡¯t vanish, my HP stays steady. The [Healing Potion]¡¯s regenerative qualities cancel out the poison¡¯s effect for now. ¡°Stay focused, Quinn! It¡¯ll wear off.¡± I didn¡¯t expect Antoine to root for me this vocally, but I appreciate it. By now I¡¯ve memorized the pattern to my opponent¡¯s attacks. Golem attacks, cools down; slime attacks, cools down. Wash, rinse, repeat. The [Healing Potion] lasts longer than I expect, but not long enough. The poison skims a few more pixels from my Health bar before losing potency, and my insides burn from the aftermath. So many things hurt. I check my status, set up another [Concentrated Strike]. Can¡¯t keep my arm steady¡­
NPC-RND-4394
No Title No Class No Party
HP: 25/40 MP: 0/0 SP: 30/40
25 HP, huh? No matter. I¡¯ve been in worse shape. I aim for the slime¡¯s neglected crown while the golem recovers from throwing its remaining fist against the ground. ¡¾CONCENTRATED STRIKE¡¿ CRITICAL HIT ¡¸Pilot King Slime¡¹¡¯s HP -6! The crown shatters with a satisfying noise. While its owner roars in despair, I fire a second [Concentrated Strike] into the golem¡¯s eye. MISS! ¡¸Lesser Sour Jelly Golem¡¹¡¯s HP -1! Eh!? How¡¯s that possible? Aren¡¯t golems slow? I pour 4 SP into another activation. I can¡¯t be sure, but it looks like my bullet phased through its body. ¡­ Uh oh. That Dungeon, Surprisingly Intimidating - Pt. 4c ¡°Whoa, whoa! That¡¯s not right!¡± Whether or not my bullet connected, the golem reacts. I sidestep a searing eye beam and the raging slime¡¯s desperate splashes, bury a couple rounds in its shrinking blue mass. The slime¡¯s HP drops point by satisfying point. I can¡¯t say the same for the golem, who interrupts my assault on its master with a sweep of its hand. ¡°Two minutes remaining.¡± What, already!? My eyes widen. Come on, luck! Don¡¯t fail me now! There¡¯s no time for glitches and fumbles with my pride on the line¡­! ¡°Guooooh!¡± The Pilot King Slime spasms as though electrified. I¡¯m surprised it¡¯s not [Enraged]! I spring back and hammer several [Concentrated Strikes] into the slime, which explodes with a satisfying glorp. The splash of blue goop isn¡¯t all that exciting this time. Phew... With my SP halved, my vision grows fuzzy at the fringe. Still, I have enough energy to kite the now free-golem towards the fence. Come on, just a little closer now¡­! The golem¡¯s attacks grow haphazard without anyone directing it, but they¡¯re simple enough to dodge so long as I stay out of range. I clench my jaw and fire at the golem¡¯s eye. The lid snaps shut, sends my bullets bouncing away-- Pain streaks through my side, so hot and sharp and sudden that my pistol clatters to the ground. Then it happens twice. CRITICAL HIT x2 Lesser Sour Jelly Golem reflected your attack! HP -12! God damn, do I ever feel that. So¡­ I¡¯m 13 HP away from respawning, huh? I¡¯d laugh if I didn¡¯t hurt so much. I came too far to fail the exam now! Bracing my injured side with one hand, I retrieve my pistol and do what I can to avoid the golem¡¯s AOE. Something slick and warm seeps through my fingers. ¡°Quinn, are you alright?¡± Antoine stays back, but a worrying urgency raises his voice. ¡°There may be something wrong with its moveset--the trial mobs shouldn¡¯t reflect projectiles. If you want to stop--¡± ¡°Let me focus!¡± My voice echoes louder than I expected. Losing my cool over honest concern¡­ true Heroes aren¡¯t that petty. I temper my words with a strained chuckle, act like my side isn¡¯t on fire. ¡°I need to see this to the end.¡± My reply wrestles its way through parched lips. With eyes stinging and blurry from sweat, I spend a moment recovering SP before brandishing my gun. ¡°One minute and thirty seconds remaining.¡± ¡°Fight on!¡± Thanks, Ms. Recording-Of-Valeria. Your words give me life. Despite my shaking hand, my crosshair blinks red upon alignment with the golem¡¯s last shoulder. Breathe in, breathe out. ¡¾CONCENTRATED STRIKE¡¿ ¡¾CONCENTRATED STRIKE¡¿ ¡¾CONCENTRATED STRIKE¡¿ KSHH! The golem¡¯s arm crumbles to the ground. I cover my mouth with my forearm and hold my breath while the resulting cloud of toxic dust settles. I can¡¯t afford a second dose. CRITICAL HIT x2 Lesser Sour Jelly Golem¡¯s HP -12! The golem torso rocks on its feet, weak from the barrage. Unfortunately, it¡¯s not the only one in poor condition. I drop to a knee and let my gun arm go limp. My breaths come in laboured, heaving puffs that even the battle soundtrack can¡¯t block out. A red overlay tints my vision and distorts the stars surrounding me. ¡°Haah¡­ haah¡­¡± My side throbs with every heartbeat, but I have to press on. The ground shivers beneath me as the golem lumbers forth. Its pupil flashes, shrinks, narrows to a slit. I prepare myself for the pain of dodging and raise my pistol. You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. If I shoot, the golem might reflect the attack and kill me. If I don¡¯t shoot, the countdown timer ends with me stumbling around like a coward... and that¡¯s what the history logs will remember. Well, I guess Valeria will be seeing me in a couple days. I pull the trigger. MISS! Lesser Sour Jelly Golem¡¯s HP -0! ¡°Huh--?¡± What¡¯s going on? Glad I¡¯m not dead, but I¡¯m know my attack phased through its body this time. Maybe I should¡¯ve stopped. Doesn¡¯t take a Hero to realize something¡¯s gone wrong. I back away, the golem flickering where it stands. Polygons vanish and reappear, larger than they ought to be, distending its wireframe in unnatural ways. Antoine curses in the background. His voice snaps me from my stupor. ¡¾OBSERVATION I¡¿
L?RG? J?LLY G?L?M Lv. ?7
HP: Failed to Appraise Mp: Failed to Appraise sP: Failed to Appraise
My breath catches in my throat. I don¡¯t know half as much about our world as the NPCs running the First Class Trial Dungeon, I¡¯m sure, but I recognize a glitch when I see one. ¡°A-Antoine? Something¡¯s wrong with the Boss!¡± ¡°Hang in there! I¡¯m paging Valeria.¡± Beep¡­ beep¡­ beep¡­ ¡°Hello?¡± ¡°Valeria, we have a problem.¡± Disapproval adds tension to his already terse tone. ¡°Are you seeing this? Call off the golem -- whatever you done, you¡¯ve done too much.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry! I just¡­ I thought I¡¯d got the hang of modding by now!¡± Valeria¡¯s voice is a far cry from the playful singsong I recall from the tutorial arena. ¡°I already called off the timer. I been trying to disable the golem for a bit, but the usual commands won¡¯t work. It must¡¯ve corrupted somehow.¡± ¡°¡®Somehow¡¯? There¡¯s a reason modding was punishable by permaban, Val.¡± ¡°I¡¯m trying to help, ¡®kay? Don¡¯t lecture me! I¡¯m doing my best, and I already feel stupid!¡± Antoine grumbles something drowned out by the soundtrack. This side of their relationship¡¯s fascinating and all, but can¡¯t they save bickering for later? The golem¡¯s arms rematerialized larger than I remember them. GRRR¡­. Its eye settles on me and glares. I fire at its shoulders, knees, even risk the iris, but my bullets glance off them like pebbles. My SP won¡¯t rise past 75%. I suppose that¡¯s my wounds talking. ¡°We¡¯ll continue this later, sis.¡± A short ¡®beep¡¯ sounds when Antoine kills the call. I fire round after useless round at every imaginable weak point, but with the red overlay hampering my vision, I can¡¯t tell if I¡¯ve found a vulnerability. The golem stomps forward and grabs me. I don¡¯t have enough breath to curse. Its crushing grip wreaks hell on my body. Be careful! HP -10! Basic Pistol unequipped from Weapon Slot 1! Haha¡­ I tried. I¡¯m too weak for terror, now. It¡¯s a shame, though¡­ I think I had a pretty good run. I struggle for breath as the golem lowers me to eye level, stare into its glowing iris. So, will I be roasted alive? I guess it beats falling to my death in a Caterpine hatch. I close my eyes and wait for death. Better go with dignity if I¡¯m gonna fail a newbie test. ¡­ ¡­ ¡­ SHNK! The arm clutchingme trembles. My eyelids crack open, just wide enough to see Antoine in the seat that once belonged to the Pilot King Slime. Balanced in its shallow neck cavity, he drives one long dagger deeper into the golem¡¯s shoulder joint. ¡¾CONCENTRATED STRIKE¡¿ The overlay ruins my ability to distinguish colours, but the light that bursts from the joint is impressive all the same. CRITICAL HIT L?RG? J?LL? G?L?M¡¯s HP -20! An agonized roar fills the arena. Gravel sprays in all directions. The golem¡¯s arm falls, taking me along with it. The remains fade into sparkling dust just before we hit the ground, saving me from a fatal impact, and despite my injuries I drag myself to safety. ¡°Won¡¯t be a second, Quinn.¡± From my arse on the floor, I watch Antoine flaunt his levels at the glitched golem. I¡¯ve never seen an NPC move like a Hero, lightning-quick while he dismantles it limb by clumsy limb. Arms fall. Legs buckle. The golem avoids some attacks by lucky flickers into wireframe mode, but Antoine suffers no more than a 2-HP graze from its laser after knocking the brute to its back. ¡°Ugh.¡± He thumbs the blood from his cheek and climbs its stomach. I hate to admit it, but his disdainful face is actually kinda cool. ¡°Down you go.¡± Antoine gives his dagger a stylish twirl. Then, with dark eyes narrowed, he flings it down into the golem¡¯s pupil. CRITICAL HIT L?RG? J?LL? G?L?M¡¯s HP -50! O V E R K I L L That Dungeon, Surprisingly Intimidating - Final Part I stare through a red-tinged haze while Antoine sheathes his daggers. ¡°Bad luck,¡± he says, apology in his tone. ¡°You were doing alright. Shame your exam became such a disaster.¡± ¡°I¡¯m dying here, and it¡¯s a ¡®shame¡¯?¡± I force a dry chuckle. My throat burns from the day¡¯s yelling, panting, and other embarrassing noises. ¡°I¡¯m joking. Everything hurts, though. Like¡­ lots.¡± ¡°Come now. You¡¯re tougher than that. Besides, people die during the exam all the time -- albeit under less bizarre circumstances.¡± Antoine calls his Inventory and retrieves a small vial of liquid. He presses it into my hand. ¡°Greater Healing Potion. Don¡¯t stand right after taking it; you¡¯ll get dizzy.¡± ¡°Dizzier, you mean...¡± I glug down the sweet concoction and close my eyes, savouring the sensation of rising HP. Several surreal seconds pass, body and mind repairing until I¡¯m good as respawned. Any wounds I suffered disappear. My clothes don¡¯t enjoy the same treatment, though. ¡°...Hm? Test¡¯s over. No need to re-arm.¡± For the third time today, Antoine pulls me upright. I mumble my half-hearted gratitude. I interpreted the gesture as kindness first, practicality second, but now it¡¯s just awkward. ¡°We¡¯re overtime by four minutes thanks to the ¡®technical difficulties¡¯ witnessed here.¡± He makes a ¡®tsk¡¯ sound, looking aside. ¡°Also, if you want to retake the exam, you may be waiting awhile. We¡¯ll have to close down while Valeria reverses the mods--¡± ¡°Retake the exam? Antoine, no!¡± We startle when a video call window springs into being between us. A distraught Valeria glares at him through the screen. ¡°Mr. Quinn can¡¯t have failed. You said it yourself: I¡¯m the one at fault. Mr. Quinn handled himself beautifully today in an awful situation! Don¡¯t you think that¡¯s worth anything? You should.¡± Really? Really, really!? I¡¯m touched! I wibble at her impassioned tone. Thanks for having faith in me, Valeria! How can I hold anything against you? ¡°I wouldn¡¯t call his performance ¡®beautiful¡¯.¡± Antoine folds his arms. ¡°That said, your persistence is impressive, Quinn. Most people would¡¯ve forfeited. How¡¯s it feel, being pixels from death¡¯s door?¡± A weak laugh. ¡°1/10, would not recommend.¡± ¡°Mr. Quinn, I¡¯m sorry.¡± Valeria¡¯s window flips to face me. ¡°My mods have never malfunctioned like this before! If I¡¯d known there was a chance that would happen, I wouldn¡¯t have...¡± ¡°Please, Val. You did and you would.¡± Antoine interrupts with a frown, and something tells me they need time alone. I glance at the warp portal which appeared nearby. The arena walls vanished with the golem¡¯s death, too. I give my sleeve an uncomfortable tug. ¡°So¡­¡± ¡°Congratulations. You passed the exam, but only by a hairsbreadth.¡± I wince at his assessment. Still, I can¡¯t expect more than blunt honesty from Antoine. ¡°Thank you, and I mean it. I wasn¡¯t sure I would.¡± ¡°Hmm. For whatever reason, I expected a more enthused response from you. Too tired to celebrate?¡± I open my mouth to protest before realizing he¡¯s right. Technically, I¡¯m a Drifter now. Eight weeks have passed since the Awakening swept through Generika, and I¡¯m an honest-to-goodness, bonafide Drifter, just like I longed for. So, what¡¯s with this half-assed reaction? The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°...Yeah, I¡¯m exhausted.¡± Or something like that. ¡°I¡¯m just relieved you¡¯re alright,¡± Valeria cuts in. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen anyone die at a glitched mob¡¯s hands... or paws, or fangs... before. It bothers me to think you might¡¯ve come back wrong.¡± ¡°Eh? You mean I could¡¯ve glitched too--!?¡± The Valeria in the call window performs a hurried, dismissive wave. ¡°That¡¯s all speculation, of course!¡± Her singsong tone returns, a heart emoji flashing overhead. ¡°Don¡¯t mind me, just thinking aloud~¡± ¡°R-right¡­¡± Wearing a bored expression, Antoine jerks his thumb towards the portal rotating nearby. ¡°Hate to interrupt, but we need to go, Val. We have a long evening ahead. I doubt the newbies in the waiting room will be glad to hear the dungeon¡¯s closed.¡±
Antoine forks me off on a generic junior clerk once we teleport to the main building. ¡°This woman will officiate your Promotion,¡± he says. We exchange a firm handshake before he steps back into the warp portal. From the tension in his face, I imagine Antoine¡¯s upcoming announcement to the newbies is weighing on his mind. ¡°I hate to vanish like this, but--¡± ¡°I get it. Better take care of the crowd, huh?¡± Antoine blinks when I interject. He chuckles as a column of light blooms from the sigils underneath him. ¡°Valeria will be in contact, I¡¯m sure. Good luck, Quinn.¡± ¡°Thanks. Appreciated.¡± With a whoosh and a flash, Antoine warps away. I stare for a minute, underwhelmed by the abrupt parting. I never got a ¡®review your performance?¡¯ prompt before leaving the trial dungeon. I can¡¯t believe I¡¯m saying this, but some part of me looked forward to discussing the exam with him instead. Ahh, this is frustrating. I wonder if Valeria can give me his notes¡­ ¡°NPC-RND-4394? Hello?¡± The clerk jerks me from my reverie. ¡°Huh? Oh, yeah. That¡¯s me.¡± ¡°Congratulations on passing your exam. Since you¡¯ve received your Attribute and Skill bonuses, there¡¯s nothing to do but sign a couple forms and get your starter kit.¡± She whisks a clipboard from the wall and hands me a pen. ¡°You know the drill.¡± Once we¡¯ve taken care of the paperwork -- an unexpected relic of the Heroes¡¯ world, now that I think about it -- the clerk hauls a shimmering gift box from behind the desk. ¡°Here¡¯s your prize.¡± She gives the top an emphatic pat. ¡°I recommend putting it in your Inventory for later.¡± ¡°Oh, wow.¡± The box dwarfs my unimpressive torso as I pack it away. Before the STR boost, I wouldn¡¯t have been able to lift it, would I?
1st CLASS TRIAL DUNGEON GIFT BOX (Unique)
A starter kit for new Drifterslovingly devised by Choboja Village¡¯s 1st Class Trial Dungeon staff. Contains equipment, consumables, and a surprise from Valeria Fullbright. Cannot be sold, traded, dropped, or destroyed. Bound to recipient upon storage.
I inspect the box¡¯s details with a thoughtful hum, and my disappointment over leaving without a proper review fades. Is it childish of me to get excited over a mystery box? The description warms my insides. ¡°Well, you¡¯re done, NPC-RND-4394.¡± The clerk echoes my smile with a sparkle, though it nowhere near rivals Valeria. ¡°Enjoy your newfound Class! The gift box comes with an informative pamphlet for the freshly-promoted. It¡¯s a wonderful resource if you¡¯re wondering what to do with your life.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll save the existential crises for later.¡± We share a polite laugh, and I head for the exit. Better sneak away before a riot breaks out from Valeria and Antoine¡¯s big reveal.
I live by my old ¡®workplace¡¯ near the entrance of Choboja Village. After the Awakening, most people assumed the small house some ten feet away ¡®belonged¡¯ to me, and of course I accepted their reasoning. I sell the Crystallized Sour Jelly Fluid from the dungeon and spend the GP on a ride home atop some courier¡¯s mount. It¡¯s only about 16:00, but I¡¯m ready to crawl my way upstairs and rest. The modest cottage I call ¡®home¡¯ never looked more inviting than it does today. I push past the wooden gate, open the front door. A brief notification flashes in my mind¡¯s eye:
YOU HAVE RECEIVED A NEW MESSAGE! You have [3] unread messages waiting.
Ergh, not right now. I dismiss the alert and haul my way to the second floor, where my attic bedroom is. Whoever messaged me can wait. My few friends already knew I¡¯d be challenging the Drifter exam today. Although the contents of my Inventory don¡¯t weigh anything, I can never sleep without emptying it first. I place my Makeshift Spear and Gift Box atop the desk against the wall. My ruined newbie outfit lies abandoned on the floor. Stifling a yawn against my forearm, I fall into bed. Maybe I¡¯ll feel more inclined to celebrate my Promotion after a good, long, well-deserved nap. Night!