ă€ŠLifeCraftă€‹ Chapter 1: Frost Alex Silver watched on with anticipation as his virtual reality capsule was installed. The two technicians had been at it for 2 hours and their work was coming to a close. Soon.....very soon, he would finally be playing LifeCraft. After its release last year, it still remained the first and the last virtual reality game in creation. Such was it''s popularity that people could even make real money from selling items online! Millions of players from across the world logged in daily, and the number of accounts being created was still growing. Unfortunately for Alex upon the games release he''d been unable to afford the capsule needed to play the game. At a grand price of ˇę10,000 for 1 capsule, combined with his very low college funds, playing the game had become a distant dream. Until now. His parents had somehow come into money, and as such were very generous is his monthly allowance. So generous in fact, that in 1 year he''d managed to save up for a capsule as well as pay off all his student loans. Movement from the technicians brought Alex''s attention back to them. They had finished the set up! The technicians offered to help him set up his account but Alex politely declined. He''d been gathering information about the game from day 1, it would be a breeze. Thanking them profusely for their work Alex all but slammed the door on their backs. Pleasantries were nice and all, but LifeCraft awaited! Alex entered the capsule .....

Weclome to LifeCraft!!!

Choose character name

"Frost!"

Choose character race: Human Elf (High,Dark,Wood) Dwarf Halfling Barbarian Orc

"Human!"

Choose character appearance

"Default!" According to the online descriptions he''d read this choice would give his character his current features. A 5ft 11inch muscular figure stood before him. Brown hair and grey eyes framing a boyish face. Locks of hair fell across the figures left eye. Broad shoulders gave the figure an intimidating presence.

Confirm appearance

"Confirm!"

Choose starting location

"Goldkeep!" Alex had put in a lot of research into good noob starting locations. Goldkeep easily trounced all other locations in his view. As a small town in the westernmost of the discovered world, it was a good place for a player to make a name for himself. It also happened to be sparsely populated due to the severe winter weather, players and npc''s being attracted to warmer climates. Confirming his starting point, all the system messages in few disappeared. Leaving Alex standing alone, anxious to begin his new life! A white flash filled his entire world, blinding him instantly. ......... Frost studied the town he now found himself in. Goldkeep. Standing in the town centre he could see several merchant stalls dotted around and a few stores. The few roads around the town centre were sparsely occupied by wooden shacks, presumably where the towns residents lived. Turning to the small water well behind him, Frost studied his reflection and noted the tattered clothing he wore. Actually that reminded him.... "Status!"

NAME	Frost
Level	1
Job	???
Titles	???
Health	10	Health regen	0.1/sec
Mana	10	Mana regen	0.1/sec
Stamina	10	Strength	1
Intelligence	1	Wisdom	1
Agility	1	Vitality	1
Stat points available	25

Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! hmmm........ Frost had the beginnings of an idea with what to do with his 25 stat points, but first he had to make sure the news forums had been accurate. Running over to the furthest store from him, Frost looked up at the book emblem carved above the door. He smiled. Opening the door he strode in. The inside of the shop was a mess. Books littered the floor, floor boards were overturned and well.....everything was broken. Slowly moving to the centre of the bookshop, Frost noted the many bloodstains that painted the walls. It looked like someone had slaughtered cattle. "So the news forum is outdated," He muttered to himself, from what he''d read this bookshop was pristinely kept by an elderly man. Supposedly the old man gave hints on how to attain certain classes, all in the past now. It was supposed to be his golden ticket! Although speaking of elderly men..... Frost spotted a pair of legs peeking out from behind an overturned table, he''d almost missed it. Cautiously approaching the body he quickly identified it as belonging to an old man. Probably the man in question. Watching the old man in his eternal rest, a sinful thought raced through Frost''s mind. Morals fought greed and lost within seconds. "I need it more than him!" Frost said to himself Reaching down to the old man, Frost began rifling through his pockets.

Acquired: Ring of The Scholar

A bit more riffling later...

Acquired: Sprite''s tear

Acquired: An Elders Journal

It was almost too much to believe. Frost had to fight back tears of joy as he attained the items. Sure it was sad that the old man had died, but his loss was Frost''s gain! "Identify"

Ring of The Scholar
Type:	Artifact	Durability:	4 / 10
+5 Intellegence +5 Wisdom

Sprite''s tear
Type:	C	Durability:	10/ 10
When consumed grants +10 to 1 stat

An Elder''s Journal
Type:	Quest Item	Durability:	2/ 10
Open Journal to start Quest

"Yes!" Frost screamed. At his current level 1 the ring alone was a game changer. But the tear as well?! Such a reward with so little action.....It brought a tear to his eye. Equipping the ring and placing the journal in his inventory Frost was left staring at the tear. "What to do, what to do?" Chapter 2: Extreme Conditioning Intently staring at the Sprite''s tear, Frost found himself at a loss with what to do. He could activate it now and gain 10 stat points, but where to put them? Or he could save the tear for later use. The problem with that being Frost''s unwillingness to spend his 25 available stat points without a plan for a class. It wouldn''t do to be a warrior with stats in intelligence, or a mage with stats in strength. That was one of the worse paths a user could take, reducing the power of their class to create versatility. Why be a jack of all trades when you can be a powerhouse? Frost decided that he''d only use the tear once he had a clear Class objective. Until then, using it would be a waste. The same went for the available stat points, he would just have to grind what he had and tolerate being weaker than average for the time being. With his plan set for the future, Frost took a last look around the store. Aside from several books that looked like they could fetch a decent price, everything else was miscellaneous. Junk. It was a shame, he''d hoped to make some money on this failed adventure. But such was luck. Closing the door behind him, Frost left the store and immediately started shivering. In the short time he''d been inside the weather had turned for the worst, gales of wind and heavy snowfall assaulting him. His poor clothing did little to protect from the cold.

Status Alert

You have caught a cold! -Health regeneration: 50% -Movement speed: 50% -Continued exposure to cold with begin to harm health!

"Damn." Frost muttered. With that notification, grinding went off the table. Fighting creatures for xp and loot would be difficult for any level 1, let alone at half strength. But a sudden inspiration struck him. A player could gain stat points by performing difficult tasks and pushing their bodies natural limits. Wouldn''t a harsh environment allow just for that opportunity? Maybe grinding wasn''t completely impossible... Beginning a slow jog to the outskirts of the town, Frost proceeded to increase his pace every few minutes until he was running at a full pelt. Though with his movement restriction, that wasn''t saying much. Choosing a path that would circle him around the town he began his first lap. Almost immediately notifications began to pop up:

+1 Agility

+2 Agility

+1 Strength

This continued for a while.. The rate at which Frost earned stats was astonishing. Running in the harsh winter conditions was speeding the process of gaining stats by hours! Unfortunately though, during his 4th lap of the town a notification appeared. And as all good things must, his progress came to an end.

Status Alert

Cold has entered advanced stages! -Health regeneration: 0% -Movement speed: 10%% - -2 health

"No!" Frost yelled, "No No No!" He was roughly a mile from town and his movement was now limited to a slow walk. On top of that, his health was now at 8/10 and would most likely continue to fall. Frost estimated he only had 10 minutes of life before the cold killed him, trouble was the town was 10 minutes away. Surviving would be a miracle by itself! If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. Setting off towards the town, Frost fought back a cough that threatened to rack through his body. In hindsight, perhaps running in the snow hadn''t been the best course of action, but the results he''d gained quickly banished such thoughts. In just a few laps of the village he''d gained: -8 agility -3 Strength and all in an hours work! Unable to fight it back, a cough racked through his body. A raw pain began to grow in the back of his throat, feeling like he''d just swallowed sawdust. Feeling slightly woozy at this point, Frost was grateful to see the town finally come into view. But a check of his health sent his heart racing. 2/10 hp remained! Picking up his speed as much as he was able to, Frost approached the nearest building he could see. A small wooden shack lying on the outskirts of town. Feet trudging through the heavy snow, Frost had to dig deep within himself to find the strength to keep moving. His limbs felt heavy and dull, and his head throbbed. For every step he took closer to the shack, the distance between them seemed to grow. 10 feet away!

-1hp

Frost pushed on. 5 feet away! A sudden gust of wind unbalanced his body, but stabilising himself he continued to move forwards. 1 foot away! Barging through the door Frost collapsed into the shack, grateful for the sudden burst of warmth. Raising his leg weakly off the floor, he used it to gently press the door shut, cutting himself off from the outside world.

Cold has stabilised, continued exposure to warmth will reverse the effects suffered

Yes! He was safe! Taking in a deep sigh, Frost loudly exhaled. It was good to be alive. "Well aren''t you a sorry state for sore eyes." A voice came from behind. Unable to muster the strength to stand, Frost could only tilt his head from the floor to see the source. An ageing woman stood before him, dark brunette hair with streaks of white showing from the roots. She was rather skinny and stood with a slight hunch, she had not aged well. "S.....sorry for the intrusion," Frost barely managed to make out, "Needed....shel....shelter." Another shiver racked his body, sending him into a mini convulsion. Followed swiftly by a violent cough, causing his already aching throat to scream out in agony. Seeing his predicament, the elderly woman quickly walked off to retrieve something from another room. Soon returning with an orange potion in hand. Pulling Frost''s head into her lap, she quickly began to administer the potion.

Advanced Health Potion used

Health is completely restored. Cold effects fully reversed +2 hp

What?! A health potion that could completely heal someone?! And raise their health stat permanently?! Who was this woman. Chapter 3: Hidden Class [Sorry in advance for the short chapter. Not much progression in the story occurs but it''s necessary in order to build some background to the hidden class.] After consuming the health potion, a growing warmth filled Frost''s body. Banishing away the last of the cold and removing the chill that had set in his bones. Within seconds he was able to stand by his own strength. But for all the help the woman had given him, Frost had to wonder how she had done it. "How did you....?" "My class lets me do a great deal of things," The woman gently replied. Hope raced through Frost''s heart, maybe he could get an awesome class out of this whole ordeal! The deceased old man had been his free meal ticket, but perhaps this woman had something better. "What''s your class?" He excitedly asked. The woman smiled and shook her head. "All in due time dear, you''re not ready to hear of it." So this was a hidden class! His determination to find out what it was grew even stronger. Frost gave the woman another look over, perhaps he had been hasty in his assessment of her. Her stooped posture and age made him think witch? Or maybe some other form of magic user? But he somehow doubted it. A caster able to permanently boost stats wouldn''t choose to live out their lives in a frontier town like this. In any case, pursuing the matter would only lead to the woman becoming more distant. Hidden quests were notoriously difficult to discover. "So what''s your name?" "Esmeralda" "What a beautiful name, I''m Frost. Thank you for saving my life." Hearing his words, Esmeralda''s smile grew. If outright asking didn''t work, flattery was always the way to go! "Why thank you Frost, I was named after my mother." A forlorn look passed over her face, but was quickly replaced by a smile once again. Curious as to what Esmeralda was thinking, Frost pushed the topic. "She must have been a lovely woman," Frost politely said, "To have raised someone so hospitable to a stranger." "I couldn''t very well leave you out in the cold!" Esmeralda sighed, "Yes, she was......amazing."

You''re Intimacy with Esmeralda has raised

"I''d actually just finished preparing dinner before you stumbled in, would you care to join me?" Frost smiled. Everything he said was calculated to bring him one step closer to the hidden quest. And it looked like it was working! Esmeralda led him into a small kitchen like area, a round table situated at the centre of the room. Ushering him into a seat, she placed a bowl in front of him and pouring in soup from a pan. Doing the same for herself, she sat opposite him. Frost stared at the meal before him, it looked vaguely like tomato soup, yet smelled unlike anything he had encountered before. Eagerly dipping his spoon in he raised the soup to his lips.

Advanced Soup Recipe

You are full Health Regeneration increases by 20% for 10 hours Mana Regeneration increases by 20% for 10 hours +2hp

She had done it again! What was this woman''s class?! Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.Those bonuses....... Time to push for more information. "This is the best meal I''ve ever tasted!" Frost animatedly declared. And was pleased to see Esmeralda light up at the comment. "Why thank you!"

Your intimacy with Esmeralda has raised You are now friends with Esmeralda

It was time. "How are you able to make items with such amazing stats?" Frost asked. Esmeralda sat still, chewing on her bottom lift. For a moment Frost feared that he''d asked too early, maybe he should of built up more intimacy? But his doubts were soon put to rest. "My class is quite versatile in what it allows me to do, this isn''t even it''s main feature!" Esmeralda finally said, "Why do you ask?" "I was wondering if I could gain such a class, to be able to create such stats........it would help me change lives!" Hmm....had he laid it on a bit thick? Frost wanted Esmeralda to trust him with the amazing class, and revealing his true intentions would certainly piss her off. Hearing that someone wanted to use their life''s work as a get rich quick scheme would piss off anyone. "Would you be interested in attaining the class?" She asked, "Our group generally doesn''t make invitations, but you seem like the perfect fit!" Like he''d thought, flattery had won the way to her heart. "If it''s possible then I''d be honoured to learn more about the class." "Great! There are of course some challenges you need to complete before you can be invited into the organisation, they''ll be a mere hindrance to someone that made it here from the Major cities!" Wait....Hold on. Did she think he''d travelled all the way from the capital?! The route between the two destinations was said to be fraught with terrors, it was why no one chose to spawn at the frontier! She''d overestimated him!

Quest: To find a Hidden Class
Requirements
Prove your worth through: An act of heroism Kill a level 30+ creature Personal Sacrifice
Reward	Hidden Class XP
If you fail Intimacy with Esmeralda will fall

Frost''s heart sank. There was no way he''d be able to fill the requirements! At a meagre level 1, the second requirement was impossible. And who new what the other two meant. "I accept." He said. Might as well give it a shot. There was no time limit imposed so it would just take a while. "The weather has died down, good luck on your mission." Esmeralda said. Taking the hint, Frost made his goodbyes and left. Closing the door behind him, he felt a chill course through his body. Though the wind had died down, the temperature was still cold enough to make one want to cosy up next to a fire. But he was a man on a mission. And the sooner he got that hidden class, the sooner he could catch up to the rest of the gaming world.