《Dimension Beta》


 Mr. Pech鈥檚 Legendary Quest: Bring me your mother and let her spend the night with me

    Inside a Small Shop


    "What the hell''s with these prices?! A basic healing potion shouldn''t cost more than ten gold apiece! Why are they listed at fifty? That''s daylight robbery!" the customer barked across the counter.


    The shopkeeper barely even blinked. With a smirk, he fired back, "If you don''t like it, then go shop somewhere else."


    The customer glared, fists clenched. "You know as well as I do that, with all the recent chaos, most shops in the city have had their potions seized. This is the fifth store I''ve tried, and their shelves were bare, too!"


    The shopkeeper shrugged. "There you go, then. Shelves are empty everywhere, as you can see, and these are my last potions. Don''t want ''em? No problem. Someone else will be here to buy them soon enough."


    Right then, a young woman with an expressionless face strolled into the shop. Without a glance at the fuming customer, she walked right up to the counter and asked, "Do you still have level 50 healing potions?"


    "Ohhh, sharp eye, miss. Yes, indeed, I have some left for a mere fifty gold a pop."


    The customer snorted, ready for her to scoff at the price. But instead, her response stunned him.


    "All right. I''ll buy the whole lot."


    The shopkeeper shot the man a smug grin as he stared at the woman, dumbfounded. "Of course, my dear lady. Step right up; I''ll pack all the potions for you."


    The man snapped out of it. "Wait a second! I wanted those potions first!"


    "Weren''t they too pricey for you? Move aside now! I''ve got a sale to make."


    "Wait! I was here first! I''ll take all of them for sixty gold each!"


    The shopkeeper raised a brow. "You sure? That''d be three thousand gold for fifty potions."


    "I''m sure!" The man didn''t give him a chance to second-guess it.


    In seconds, the man had thrown down the gold, grabbed the potions, and left in a hurry.


    The young woman and the shopkeeper were left alone. As he counted the gold with a grin, she asked, "Did I do everything right, Master?"


    Without looking up, he chuckled, "Perfect job, Marien. You really outdid yourself this time. Your timing was flawless."


    Then he pulled fifty more healing potions from behind the counter, restocking the shelf with ease. These were just a small piece of the stash he''d built up over the years.


    Just then, the door bell jingled. A sign of another customer. The shopkeeper adjusted his robe in a cracked mirror, ready to greet whoever walked in.


    Marien slipped out the back, on standby if needed.


    "Welcome, welcome to my humble little shop, gentlemen," he said as three men stepped in. But when he saw who they were, his smile faltered for just a second.


    "Well, if it isn''t the good fellows from the Black Boot. What brings you to my fine establishment?" he asked, trying to sound casual.


    "Save the act for the customers, Pech. Where''s the money you owe us?" one of them snapped.


    "Oh, that... Yes, yes, of course." Pech scratched his head. "No need to come in person for that! Unfortunately, things have been rough lately. Hard to get reagents for potions, and the army''s been seizing stock."This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.


    One of the men cut him off. "We told you to cut the crap. Do you have the money or not?"


    "Of course, of course." Pech pulled out a small pouch. "I can only pay the interest and a bit on the principal. Here, five hundred gold, gentlemen," he said, handing over the pouch.


    The man snatched it, weighing it briefly in his hand.


    "This''ll do for now, old man. But don''t forget. If you don''t start paying up soon, things will get ugly."


    "Oh, absolutely, gentlemen! I''ll do my very best to pay you back soon," he said, bowing low.


    As soon as the three men left, Pech straightened up, grinning. "Idiots. They''ll be waiting a long time for that money," he muttered, returning to his place behind the counter.


    Marien reentered the shop. "Do you still have level 50 healing potions?" she asked.


    "Stop! Sequence over. That was just the loan sharks, busting my chops again."


    Without another word, Marien stood still by his side like a puppet waiting for the strings to be pulled.


    "Those dimwits really soured my mood. We''re shutting down for the day, Marien. Go lock up," he grumbled, flipping the green "Open" sign to "Closed."


    Just then, the bell jingled again.


    "Hey! Can''t you read? We''re closed!" he shouted, digging through a box behind the counter.


    A young boy, no older than twelve, stepped in, looking nervous but determined.


    "I... I¡­"


    "Spit it out, kid! We''re closed. Say your piece or get out!"


    The boy took a deep breath, squaring his shoulders. "I heard you have a legendary quest. Please, give me a chance to complete it!"


    "Ah, this again," Pech muttered under his breath. He then fixed a bright smile on his face.


    "Ahh, only a true adventurer can handle such a quest. Tell me, boy, are you sure you want to take it on?"


    Eyes full of hope, the boy nodded. "Yes, please, let me have the chance!"


    "All right then, boy. First, I''ll need a deposit of five thousand gold. Got it on you?"


    The boy seemed prepared. Though he was young, he heaved a heavy sack onto the counter, pushing it toward Pech.


    Pech eyed the sack with barely concealed glee but kept up the charade. Clearing his throat, he handed over a slip of paper. "Well then, here is the legendary quest. Don''t come back until you''re ready to complete it."


    The boy''s eyes shone as he looked at the quest log, but then his face fell, puzzled. He looked up to question Pech, but the man had already slipped out the back door.


    Confused, the boy left the shop, hearing the lock click behind him. He wandered off, wondering if he''d made a huge mistake.


    Across the street, a group of drunks sat outside a tavern, clinking their mugs as they watched the boy''s befuddled face. One of them burst out laughing.


    "Hahaha! Another poor sap took Pech''s ''legendary quest''!" he bellowed.


    "You got it, brother. Must be a newbie. Sure, we''re not supposed to post info about legendary quests online, but every veteran knows what''s in that ''quest'' if you can even call it that."


    "All these rookies, thinking they''ll score fame and fortune. As if! There''s a reason that quest''s never been completed."


    "Haha, too right. Speaking of, you owe us a round! Didn''t you bet no one else would take the quest this year?"


    "Ah, damn... all right, boys, drinks on me!" he laughed, and the sound of their cheers filled the street.


    Meanwhile, young Tom wandered aimlessly, oblivious to the racket. The only thing he focused on was the quest log in his hand. No matter how often he reread it, he couldn''t make sense of it. With a disbelieving grin, he shook his head. Now he understood why people said this quest was impossible.


    New Quest: [Mr. Pech''s Legendary Quest]


    Bring me your mother and let her spend the night with me <3.


    Quest reward ¨C 500 Favorability


    ¡­


    In the meantime, Mr. Pech had arrived at a certain establishment. Women in revealing outfits stood outside, waving to him the moment they spotted him.


    Two of the ladies immediately hooked their arms around his and escorted Mr. Pech inside. He was a regular, and the women already knew all the best ways to coax the money out of his pockets.


    "Get the best room ready for me, ladies! Tonight''s a celebration!" he hollered. Outsiders could see the gleam in the women''s eyes as they looked on, jealousy flashing at the two who had snagged him first.


    Inside a private room, dancers and musicians gathered, putting on an exclusive show just for him. Meanwhile, other young women poured him drinks and massaged his shoulders while another one fed him delicacies.


    This continued until late at night.


    The next morning, Pech woke up completely hungover. As he tried to stand, he smacked his head on the underside of the table he''d been lying under.


    "Fuck!" he yelled, rubbing the sore spot on his head.


    Looking around, he recognized the room as the one he''d spent last night in. Empty bottles littered the place, and the table was still piled with cold food. There was stuff he couldn''t even remember ordering.


    He grabbed a piece of bread from the table, already going stale, and took a big, satisfied bite as he shuffled out of the room.


    After a quick check, which confirmed that all the gold he''d earned yesterday was gone, he made his way home.


    A satisfied smile could be seen as he looked ahead. "Those bloodsuckers cleaned me out. Not surprising, heh¡­" he muttered as he strolled through the streets back toward his shop.

 Have you ever thought about getting married again?

    Back at his alchemy shop, the first thing Mr. Pech did was check his status menu:


    [Name: Pech]


    [Race: Human]


    [Class: Alchemist]


    [Level: 367]


    [Health Points: 5/10,113,050]


    [Mana: 40,601/44,140]


    [Vitality:367]


    [Strength: 367]


    [Dexterity: 367]


    [Intelligence: 2202]


    [Wisdom: 2202]


    [Level 10 Skills: Summon Water, Rock Strike...]


    ...


    [Level 360 Skills: Advanced Alchemy, Advanced Earth Magic, Golem Engineering, Mana Shield]


    [Status Effects: Minor Inconvenience Curse - sometimes you''re slightly unlucky, Baal''s Pact - lose 10 HP each day until death]


    Pech exhaled deeply. "Damn, still alive."


    Without hesitation, he grabbed a potion from behind the counter and drank it in one gulp. Like every other day, he watched his health inch up to 15/10,113,060. He thought back to the old days.


    Back when he was a young, naive traveler, he''d come across a hidden cave, filled with relics of some hellish cult. A closer look had revealed it to be a sacrificial chamber of the Hell Faction. He''d been about to leave when he tripped and accidentally pulled a lever, activating the altar in the middle of the room. The next thing he knew, he''d blacked out, as if in a dream, and had a strange encounter with a dark presence. He couldn''t recall most of what they''d discussed, but one line had stuck with him:


    "For this exchange, you pledge your soul to me."


    The first thing he''d noticed afterward was that his health points had multiplied tenfold. He assumed he''d traded his soul for some kind of longevity. But Baal''s Pact didn''t quite fit with that theory.


    At first, he''d been pleased with the Pact. But soon enough, he''d realized it came with a few... side effects. He couldn''t regain the health he lost each day through healing potions or other remedies. He even sought out powerful priests from the Order of Light, but they couldn''t help either.


    Back then, he''d realized he''d need to take drastic measures. With his health draining each day, he''d be lucky to last another twenty years. So he started learning alchemy, figuring he''d brew his own means to stay alive. It took him over a decade to create a potion that could actually boost his health points.


    The alchemy world had been in an uproar when he developed the potion, but it didn''t take long for them to dismiss it as useless. For regular people, it barely added a single point to their health, and once they took it, they couldn''t use any other healing potions for the rest of the day. This flaw made the potion worthless to adventurers, and interest faded fast.


    But Pech had noticed that, for him, the potion boosted his health by ten points each time he used it. He figured it must have something to do with the initial boost to his health points from Baal''s Pact. Apparently, he''d gained some passive buff that multiplied his health by ten.


    "Sigh... I may be tired of this life, but Baal''s not getting my soul without a fight. Every day I stay alive, it''s my way of sticking it to him. And if I die... so be it. Haha."


    Pech decided not to dwell on the past. He flipped the sign on the shop window, signaling to Marien to open up for the day.


    Marien was a homunculus that Pech had created some time ago using his Golem Engineering skill. She had her limitations, though, like barely being able to act on her own and needing a mana infusion every few days just to function.


    ¡­


    Meanwhile, across town, young Tom was sprinting to school. He''d overslept and missed the bus but couldn''t afford to be late again.


    Just as the bell rang, he stumbled into the classroom. The doors closed automatically, and a hologram of a middle-aged man with a stern expression appeared before the students. Tom quickly sat down, though his thoughts were elsewhere.Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.


    The teacher began his lesson.


    "Most of you have been waiting for this day for a long time. Now that everyone in your class is finally twelve, you all have access to Dimension Beta. Some of you have already started leveling your characters and assigning skill points. Remember, these actions are nearly irreversible. Unless you have enough money to buy a potion that resets them. In the coming weeks of our Beta curriculum, we''ll discuss the various classes and skills so that you can make an informed choice about the path you want to take."


    A large projection appeared at the front of the class. "Let''s go over the basics. Four hundred thirty-one years ago, Beta Corp. created a fully immersive game that took the world by storm. Over the last 400 years, Dimension Beta has evolved into a second world, almost indistinguishable from ours in terms of realism.


    "No one could have predicted back then that the player base of this world would eventually grow to over 95%. Only a few people in isolated communities have managed to avoid its lure.


    "Due to automation in our world, there''s almost no work for ordinary people to do. The government provides each citizen with a minimum stipend and a login capsule. But to live in wealth... well, there''s almost no way to do that.


    "For this reason, most people seek work in Dimension Beta or try their hand as adventurers. Now, let''s talk about the history of the past 400 years and what it means today..."


    Tom was gazing out the window, lost in thought. He''d gambled all his starter gold to trigger the legendary quest, only available to players under level 10. Just like many before him, he wanted to challenge his fate. Maybe there''s a way to beat this quest? he wondered.


    The bell rang, snapping Tom out of his daydream.


    "And don''t forget to submit your essays on ''My First Skill'' by the end of the week," he heard the teacher say as his hologram faded.


    Tom had math next and began heading to his classroom. One of his classmates caught up with him and started chatting.


    "Hey, Tom, everything okay? You looked kinda zoned out back there," he asked.


    "Ah, yeah, I''m fine. So... have you decided on your specialization in Beta yet, Felix?"


    A grin spread across Felix''s face as he pointed to himself. "You''re looking at a future Banner Knight!"


    "Banner Knight? Ah, so you''re going for a leveling support class. Not a bad choice if you want to make some money."


    "And what about you? Any plans?"


    "Well, um..." The school bell rang again, signaling the start of the next class. Tom used the distraction to dart to his classroom. "I''ll tell you later!" he called as he ran off.


    The rest of the day passed without any surprises. Tom arrived home, already kicking off his shoes before he stepped inside. In the hallway, he could smell his mom''s cooking, and he headed straight to the kitchen.


    "Hey, Mom," he said as he walked in.


    His mother glanced over at him and gave him a warm smile. "Hey there, how was school?"


    "It was... okay. Hey, uh, Mom... I have a question."


    "Oh? A question? That doesn''t sound like you, Tom. What''s up?"


    "Well, umm... have you ever thought about, you know, getting married again?"


    At that, her ladle dropped from her hand, landing with a splat in the pot. She turned around, a curious expression on her face. "Where is that coming from? Did someone at school say something to you again because... you don''t have a dad?" she asked, her eyes filled with worry.


    "No, it''s just... never mind. Forget it."


    He couldn''t bring himself to say it. Even though he was only twelve, Tom had a pretty good idea of what "spending the night with a woman" meant. After all, they''d covered it in health class.


    He ate dinner with his mother, then headed straight to his room. It wasn''t anything fancy, just a desk, a bed, and a Beta Capsule tucked into one corner.


    He took off his school clothes, climbed into the Capsule, and closed his eyes. Moments later, he heard footsteps and voices around him. When he opened his eyes again, he was back in the bustling marketplace of the city, right where he''d logged out last time.


    Without hesitating, he made his way back to the alchemy shop where he''d taken the quest. Since the quest was clearly impossible, he figured he might as well try to get his money back.


    But as he stood in front of the shop, he hesitated, unsure of what to say.


    Suddenly, someone called out from behind him, "Hey, young man in front of the alchemy shop!"


    Tom looked around, left and right, searching for the source of the voice.


    "Yes, you, behind you!" the voice called again.


    Tom turned and saw a group of men already halfway through their drinks, waving him over. Curious, he decided to see what they wanted.


    "What can I do for you, sirs?" Tom asked politely.


    One of the men joked, "Fancy up, you scoundrels! Apparently, we''re ''sirs'' now, ha!"


    The whole group burst into laughter, like it was the funniest thing they''d ever heard.


    "Listen here, kid," one of them said, "if you''re thinking about trying to get your money back, you can forget it right now."


    Tom was confused about how they even knew that was what he was up to, but before he could ask, the man explained, "It''s written all over your face! Let me guess, you got swindled by old Pech just like the rest of ''em. You''re not the first, and you won''t be the last to try and get your gold back."


    "But don''t waste your time," he continued. "That old miser has never given anyone their money back."


    Tom was first surprised, then disappointed as the truth sank in. He thanked the men with a short nod for the advice but still decided to enter the alchemy shop.


    The man who''d warned him just shook his head, raising his drink. "Looks like the next round''s on me, boys!" he said, before the rest of the group burst into laughter once again.

 First we drink, then we brawl!

    As Tom entered the shop, the bell above the door chimed, announcing his arrival. As he walked up to the counter, he heard Mr. Pech''s usual sales pitch, "Welcome, welcome to my humble little... oh, it''s you." His tone shifted instantly. "What do you want?" he asked flatly.


    From the old man''s tone, Tom realized that the drunkards outside hadn''t been lying when they said it was pointless to ask for his money back. So, instead, he tried a different approach.


    "Mr. Pech¡­ is there another quest you could issue me?" he asked, his voice a bit nervous.


    Hearing the question, Pech''s face twisted in slight irritation. Above his head, Tom could see a "-5 Favorability" rating flash briefly. Pech hadn''t expected the boy to have the guts to ask for another quest. But an idea formed in his mind. He glanced over at the usual group of drunks sitting outside the tavern across the street. Grabbing a piece of paper, he quickly scrawled something down. With a smile that Tom couldn''t quite read, he handed the boy a new quest and ushered him out.


    Before Tom even knew what had happened, he found himself standing outside the shop once more, the door closing behind him. A vague sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu crept over him as he looked down at the slip of paper in his hand. His quest log updated at that exact moment:


    New Quest: [Mr. Pech''s Subsidiary Quest]


    Go to the bar across from Pech''s shop, start a brawl, and emerge as the winner.


    Quest Reward 1 ¨C 100 Favorability


    Quest Reward 2 ¨C 1000 Experience Points


    Reading the details, Tom wasn''t sure if this quest was better or worse than the previous one. But at least he could attempt this one without upsetting his mom.


    He logged out of Beta and grabbed his phone. The first thing he typed into Doogle was: How to start a bar fight.


    ...


    Meanwhile, Pech was busy restocking his potions. The low-level, tier-50 potions were no issue for him, given his stockpile of dried ingredients. Sure, they''d lost a bit of their potency over time, but he didn''t care as he had amassed plenty of them.


    Out of a massive cauldron, he filled about 500 vials. After drawing the first 100, he topped off the cauldron with water to stretch it to another 100 vials. Some would call it a scam, but Pech couldn''t care less. If his customers had a problem with his goods, they were free to shop elsewhere.


    "Master, was it really wise to give that boy this quest?" Marien asked. "What if he ends up getting implicated in a crime?"


    "So what? No one forced him to take the quest. If a murderer gave you a quest to kill someone, would you do it just because it was in the quest log?" Pech replied. "He can take it as a free lesson."


    "And hey, if he actually manages to complete it, he''ll get enough experience to hit Level 10 straight away. So don''t act like I''m some heartless villain," he added, feigning offense.


    Marien only looked at him, expressionless as always. Considering that Marien only acted on Pech''s commands, it was almost like he was talking to himself.


    The rest of the day passed uneventfully, and dusk began to settle over the city. Pech sighed as he sat by the counter. "Not a single customer," he muttered as he closed up shop.


    Stepping outside, he spotted Tom making his way toward the tavern across the street. A smirk spread across his face as he let out a chuckle.


    "Looks like we''re in for a show tonight, Marien. Go brew some tea. This is going to be fun to watch."


    ¡­


    Tom made his way into the bar across the street. The place was packed, and he had to elbow through the crowd just to get in. Suddenly, he found himself face-to-face with a massive guy.


    "Hey, kid, ain''t you a bit young to be in here?" the guy grunted.


    The man had a long scar slashed across his face and was shirtless, his biceps about as big as Tom''s head. His scowl was enough to make Tom''s stomach twist. Tom did the only thing he could think of and lied: "I-I''m looking for my dad¡­ my mom wants me to tell him to come home¡­"


    "Oh yeah? That''s the story, huh?"


    "Uh¡­ yeah¡­"


    "Well then, let''s get everyone''s attention." The man stuck two fingers in his mouth and whistled loud enough to shut down the whole bar. All eyes turned as he grabbed Tom by the collar, hoisting him in the air so everyone could see. "Hey, listen up, you drunk idiots! Anyone claim this little brat?"The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    Silence.


    Everyone in the bar stared, but not a soul spoke up.


    "Looks like your dad''s not here," he muttered, setting Tom back down.


    The noise of the bar picked up again, and Tom''s face went red with embarrassment. He stared at the floor, hoping no one would notice.


    Suddenly, someone nearby yelled out, "Hey, kid!"


    Tom looked up and spotted the same drunks who''d warned him earlier about trying to get his money back from Pech. He headed toward them, the massive man following him closely.


    "Does this little one belong to you, Dicksen?" the guy asked with a scowl.


    "Guess you could say that," Dicksen chuckled.


    "Keep an eye on your kid, then. This place ain''t for young''uns."


    Without waiting for an answer, the big guy turned and walked off. The guys at the table started laughing, poking fun at Dicksen.


    "Hey, Dick, didn''t know you had a kid! And such a puny one! What were you, still in diapers when you made him?" one of them jeered, and the whole table burst out laughing, even Dicksen.


    Dicksen dragged a stool over and motioned for Tom to sit down. "So, kid, what''re you doing here? And don''t feed me that crap about looking for ''dear old dad,''" he laughed, and the rest joined in, making Tom''s face burn even redder.


    "Here, take a sip," Dicksen said, shoving his mug over to Tom.


    Tom hesitated. He was underage, but he''d always wondered what alcohol tasted like.


    Dicksen hadn''t expected him to take it seriously, so he was shocked when Tom lifted the mug and took three big gulps.


    "Whoa there, kid, you nuts?" Dicksen said, yanking the mug back.


    Tom coughed, sputtering, the taste was bitter and disgusting. He felt a little woozy, his face going even redder than before.


    "Like father, like son!" one of the others howled, and the table erupted in laughter.


    Dicksen leaned back. "So what are you really doing here?" He didn''t offer him any more to drink, clearly worried the kid might actually try it again.


    Maybe it was the alcohol, or maybe it was just the pressure, but Tom ended up spilling everything, including why he''d come to the bar in the first place. The guys listened, nodding sympathetically. They''d all been young once, chasing dreams just like he was.


    Dicksen stood up on his barstool, stomped his boot on the table, and downed a mug of ale in one go. With a wild grin, he raised his voice to the rest of the table. "You heard him, boys! Let''s help the kid get his brawl!"


    A party invite popped up in front of Tom, and before he could even react, Dicksen was yelling across the bar.


    "Hey, Dunken, you overstuffed Donut! I''ve had to look at your ugly face all night, but no wait, scratch that, it''s just your fat ass hanging out of your pants!" His buddies broke into laughter, pounding on the table.


    Through the noise, Dunken,a hulking man, caught the insult and spun around, face twisted in anger. "You dumb, two-bit drunk! You looking to start something?"


    "Start something? I don''t think you''d even understand if I did, with that walnut sized brain of yours!"


    Dunken''s fists clenched, and the bar went dead silent.


    He looked like he might back down, muttering, "You''re lucky¡­"


    Then, out of nowhere, a bottle smashed over his head, drenching him in beer and glass shards. He turned and saw Dicksen with another bottle in hand, ready to throw it.


    "You asked for it! Get ''em, boys!"


    The whole bar erupted. Fists flew as everyone dove into the brawl. Tom quickly accepted the party invite and ducked under the nearest table, squeezing his eyes shut and bracing himself. Suddenly, a rush of wind went by as the table he''d been hiding under flew across the room.


    Tom scurried to a corner to catch his breath, but a chair suddenly came hurtling toward him. Knowing he couldn''t dodge, he crossed his arms to shield himself. The impact was brutal, and his health bar dropped from 100/100 to 50/100. His arms stung from the blow.


    Before he could catch his breath, he saw a massive shadow moving fast toward him. He ducked just in time, watching as the wall next to him shattered. Glancing up, he realized it was Dunken, who''d apparently been thrown by Dicksen.


    Tom tried to keep his head down, but then he noticed one of Dicksen''s friends was in trouble. The other guy had pulled a knife, and Dicksen''s friend hadn''t seen it. Acting on impulse, Tom grabbed a bottle off the floor and ran at them.


    He dodged two people who went flying past, his small size making it easy. Using an overturned barrel as a boost, he launched himself at the two men, swinging the bottle down as hard as he could.


    He didn''t do much damage, but he got a "0.5-second Stun" pop-up over the guy''s head, giving Dicksen''s friend just enough time to land a solid roundhouse kick to the guy''s chin.


    "Not bad, kid," the friend said, already turning to take on the next guy.


    Tom exhaled, feeling relieved, but then a guttural roar cut through the noise, making his skin crawl. In the center of the bar, the scarred giant from earlier was laying people out left and right.


    Tom had no clue whose side he was on, but the guy''s sheer size and rage were terrifying.


    The giant''s skin started turning a faint red, and he grew even bigger, close to four meters tall. Like a human wrecking ball, he cleared the middle of the tavern. At one point, he ripped a support beam straight out of the floor and swung it like a club. Within minutes, anyone not in Dicksen''s or Dunken''s crew was either out cold or had bolted out the door.


    Eventually, even Dicksen and Dunken stopped fighting, realizing they were outmatched.


    "Dicksen, Dunken, you dumbasses! Look at what you''ve done to my bar!" the giant bellowed, clearly pissed off.


    Dunken tried to defend himself. "Hey, it wasn''t even¡­"


    "Shut up!" the giant snapped. "You''re both paying for the damage! And, like usual, you''re banned for a week!"


    "Tch¡­" Dicksen muttered under his breath.


    The giant''s eyes narrowed. He was definitely not amused.


    Dicksen just started whistling, pretending he hadn''t said anything.


    Both groups were put to work cleaning up the mess. Even Tom pitched in, though his small build meant he could only handle the lighter stuff scattered around.


    Once they''d finished, they all headed toward the exit. Just as Tom was about to slip out, the giant called out, "Hey, boy! You''re staying here."


    Tom froze, his blood running cold. Dicksen looked like he was about to speak up, but the giant''s glare silenced him instantly.


    "My condolences¡­" Dicksen muttered with a half-smile before slipping out, leaving Tom alone with the giant. The door clicked shut, and Tom was left standing, all alone with the towering figure.

 Getting level boosted

    Tom stood before the giant, alone. He could feel the man sizing him up, examining him from head to toe. Did he figure out I''m the one who started the fight? What''s he gonna do to me? Thoughts raced through Tom''s head.


    "Not bad, kid," the man suddenly said, giving him a solid pat on the shoulder.


    Tom froze, unsure if he''d heard right.


    The man walked behind the bar, poured himself a beer, then pulled out another glass and filled it with a green liquid. "Don''t just stand there. Come over here."


    Tom moved to the bar and sat down in front of him. He hesitated at the glass, unsure what was in it, but under the man''s intense gaze, he quickly picked it up and drank. A sweet, fruity flavor slid down his throat, tasting better with each sip.


    "Ahhh," Tom sighed, setting the empty glass down.


    Satisfied with Tom''s reaction, the big man took a drink from his own mug. "So, kid. Who are you?" he asked.


    Deciding to be honest, Tom got off his stool and gave a slight bow. "My name is Tom Jackson, and I owe you an apology! I was the one who convinced Dicksen to start the fight."


    Tom braced himself for a scolding, but it never came. Instead, the giant just smiled. "I''m Pablo Rent, but you can just call me Pab."


    He paused to take another drink and continued, "Don''t worry about the fight, kid. Happens here at least once a month. Trust me, if Dicksen wasn''t itching to start something, he wouldn''t have gotten into it so fast."


    Pab gave Tom a thoughtful look. "I watched you during the brawl. At first, I thought you were a scared little kitten, but when your friends were in trouble, you jumped right in without a second thought. Not bad, kid!" he said, clapping Tom on the shoulder.


    "So, tell me, kid, what class did you pick?"


    "Class?" Tom asked, surprised. "I''m only level two¡­I haven''t unlocked any class requirements yet."


    Pab''s grin widened. "Then, kid, how''d you like to learn under me?"


    Just then, a window popped up in front of Tom.


    [Pablo offers to train you. Uncommon Class Quest detected.]


    Tom''s eyes went wide with excitement. Class ranks were: Normal, Uncommon, Rare, Epic, Legendary. Even though Uncommon was only the second rank, it was a huge step up from the Normal classes that 90% of the population ended up with. In his class at school, only two kids had managed to secure Uncommon classes, thanks to family connections.


    Plus, at the next class upgrade, he could switch to another class as long as it had enough overlap with his starting one.


    Tom hesitated. He''d already made a lot of impulsive choices. But this might be his one chance to turn his luck around. Finally, he couldn''t hold back and shouted, "Please train me, Master!"


    "Haha, I''m no master. Just call me Big Brother," Pab laughed, clapping Tom on the back so hard that Tom could swear he lost a few health points.


    "Come back here tomorrow, and we''ll start your training. The bar''s closed for a few days anyway."


    After a few more words of encouragement, Tom left the bar. He noticed his quest log glowing as he stepped out.


    [Mr. Pech''s Subsidiary Quest (Completed)]


    New Quest: [Pablo''s Training]


    Return to Pablo''s bar tomorrow and seek him out.


    Quest Reward ¨C Chance to unlock an Uncommon Class


    Tom logged out right after checking his quest log. Exhausted, he collapsed into bed. The only thought running through his mind as he drifted off was, What just happened today?


    The next day started just as fast as the last had ended. Tom was still half-asleep as he stumbled into the bathroom to freshen up. Midway through brushing his teeth, he glanced at the clock on the wall and realized he was already running late. He quickly got dressed, grabbed his school bag from where he''d left it the afternoon before, and headed out.


    This time, though, he was prepared. Instead of trying to catch the bus, he took his mom''s bike from the basement and rode casually to school. He even managed to get there five minutes early. When Felix saw him, he walked over with a big grin.The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    "Yo, Tom! You good?"


    "Yeah, you?"


    "Good? Nah, I''m awesome, dude. You''re not gonna believe this!"


    "What''s up?" Tom asked, curious.


    "My dad took me power-leveling yesterday, man. I hit level 10, and now I''m set to pick my class!"


    Tom wasn''t shocked since he already knew Felix''s parents were Banner Knights, and all they did was help people level up. But he grinned for his friend''s sake. They''d been buddies since forever, after all.


    Felix suddenly got a mischievous look. "And guess what else?"


    "What? Spit it out!" Tom demanded.


    "My dad''s gonna help you hit level 10, too! Come on, tell me I''m the best friend ever!" Felix struck a goofy pose, flipping his hair back with his hand and staring off dramatically.


    "Heh, yeah, you''re a legend, alright. I bow before the mighty Felix, future Legendary Banner Knight!"


    They both burst out laughing, but Tom couldn''t help feeling a little touched that his friend wanted to help him out. He wondered how Felix would react if he knew he had a shot at an Uncommon class. Still, Tom kept quiet. He didn''t want to jinx it or get laughed at if it all went south.


    The school day went by fast, and they got out early. Felix invited Tom over, and after a quick call to his mom to let her know he''d be home late, they headed to Felix''s place.


    Felix''s house was way bigger than Tom''s, but that wasn''t a shock since his parents made good money in Beta. Both of Felix''s parents were still logged in, so after a few taps on his phone, Felix turned to Tom. "Alright, my father sayed to log in and meet him outside the city gates. You can use the guest capsule in the spare room."


    om did exactly that, and a few minutes later, he was standing outside the city gates.


    While he waited, something cold and hard pressed into his back. "Hand over all your gold, or I''ll gut you," a voice growled.


    "Oh, bite me," Tom snickered, turning around. Behind him stood Felix, holding a giant one-meter banner.


    "Check it out! Once I pick my class, this bad boy''ll actually do something."


    Tom grinned and nodded. He''d watched videos of Felix''s parents in action and knew exactly how their class worked. Today, he''d finally get to see it up close.


    The two of them joked around for a bit until a party invite popped up. It was from Felix''s dad, saying he''d be there in a few seconds.


    Before they knew it, a man came crashing out of the sky, making a small crater where he landed. In a blink, he grabbed both of them by the wrists and launched back into the air. It happened so fast that if it weren''t totally normal in Beta, they might''ve thought they were getting kidnapped.


    Wind whipped at Tom''s face as he looked down, seeing the ground rush by. He was a little freaked out, but he trusted they''d be fine. Felix''s dad bounced along like it was nothing, bringing them along for the ride. After a couple of minutes, he finally stopped in the middle of a forest.


    He let go of their hands, stretching his back. "So, how was school, boys?"


    Tom was still a bit dizzy, but he answered, "All good, Mr. Hogen. Thanks for asking."


    Felix, who was used to his dad''s antics, shrugged it off. "Yeah, same old same old."


    Mr. Hogen nodded at them. "Alright, let''s get going. I''ve only got an hour for lunch, and I already burned 15 minutes picking you two up."


    In the next second, he was gone, leaving them in silence.


    A few minutes later, they heard him shout, "You can come over. I''ve lured the monsters!"


    When they found him, Tom finally got to see in person what he''d only seen in videos before. A massive banner stretched up over the forest, over 10 meters tall and towering above the trees. Around it, about 200 wolves were snapping and scratching at the banner, but it had so many health points that it just kept regenerating whatever damage they did.


    Mr. Hogen left the party and said, "Alright, knock yourselves out."


    Tom hesitated for a second, but when he saw Felix wailing on a wolf from behind and the wolf just ignoring him, he got up the nerve to join in.


    He didn''t have a weapon since he''d blown all his cash on the legendary quest, but he''d always been decent with his fists. He started pounding on the nearest wolf, which barely noticed him. With each punch, he watched the wolf''s health points tick down.


    -2


    -4


    -3


    -2


    Finally, the wolf dropped. Tom''s experience bar filled up, and he leveled up. Since these wolves were level 9-11, about ten levels above him, he was raking in the experience.


    With every wolf they took down, their experience points shot up. After about half an hour, all the wolves were dead. Tom hit level 10, and Felix hit level 13.


    Mr. Hogen channeled the banner, shrinking it back into his hand. "Alright, boys, gotta run. Get yourselves back to town."


    With that, he leapt into the sky and disappeared.


    Tom and Felix were left standing there, surrounded by about 200 wolf corpses.


    "I''m heading to town to pick my class, you wanna come?" Felix asked.


    Tom thought about it but had a different idea. "Hey, got a skinning knife?"


    Felix grinned, figuring out what Tom was planning, and tossed him a knife along with a big sack. "Go nuts," he said, pulling out a scroll.


    He ripped it in half and vanished on the spot. Tom knew it was a return scroll, which would teleport him back to the last city. They only worked within a 500-km radius.


    Tom knew a bit about skinning from class. He had paid attention when they talked about monster parts and recycling. He started on the first wolf, cutting down the chest to the back. The knife didn''t slide as smoothly as he wanted, so he had to keep jabbing, and when he tried to pull the pelt off, it tore in half, sending him tumbling backward.


    With a ruined pelt, he moved on to the next wolf. He''d noticed a soft spot above the ribs where the knife slid in more easily, though the pelt still got snagged on the head and tore a bit. He kept at it, and after many tries, he finally ended up with about 35 usable pelts.


    Holding the bag in one hand, he bit down on a teleport scroll. The next moment, he reappeared with his sack of pelts right in front of the city gates.

 New class unlocked

    Tom dragged the bag behind him; it was way too heavy to carry, so he just scraped it along the ground. This wasn''t unusual in the city, but it sure got him some looks. A few people teased him, asking if he needed help, but no one actually offered, each too busy with their own errands.


    Eventually, he reached a small leatherworking shop and dragged the bag inside. A few tanners were busy at work, but one came up to the counter. "Here to sell?" he asked.


    Tom nodded, the bag in his hand speaking for itself. The man took the sack and inspected each pelt, one by one.


    "Not bad did you skin these yourself?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.


    Tom nodded again.


    "The way you''ve handled these shows skill, like you''ve skinned hundreds of these before. Plus, you''ve even got an Uncommon pelt in here. You want to sell the whole lot? I''ll give you a good price," he offered, enthusiastic.


    "Is it alright if I only sell the normal pelts?" Tom asked.


    "Trust me, no one''s gonna pay you better than I will; I''ll even throw in 10% above market price. So, what do you say?"


    Tom thought for a moment before shaking his head. "Sorry, but I want to gift the Uncommon pelt to someone."


    The man nodded, understanding. "Alright, here''s 340 gold. And don''t forget to stop by again if you''ve got more good pelts."


    Tom thanked him and made his way back to the tavern from the day before. He slung the pelt over his shoulder and, once at the tavern, spotted some workers patching up the hole in the wall.


    He greeted them and went inside, where Pablo was busy hammering together a new table, holding the pieces with one hand and nailing with the other. When he heard Tom come in, he turned around, looking annoyed at first, but then broke into a smile when he saw who it was.


    "There you are, boy!" He gave Tom a hearty slap on the shoulder. "Looks like you''re getting stronger. I was planning to train you the next few days, but looks like you''re already high enough level to pick your class. So, what do you say? You ready?"


    A message popped up in front of Tom.


    [Class Change Available]


    [Accept/Decline]


    With barely-contained excitement, Tom hit Accept.


    [Class Successfully Changed]


    Full of anticipation, he opened his character menu:


    [Name: Tom Stein]


    [Race: Human]


    [Class: Brawler]


    [Level: 10]


    [Health Points: 200/200]


    [Mana: 200/200]


    [Vitality: 10]


    [Strength: 10]


    [Dexterity: 10]


    [Intelligence: 10]


    [Wisdom: 10]


    [Level 10 Skills: None]


    Free Stat Points: 100


    Seeing his new class, Tom didn''t know whether to laugh or cry. He wanted to yell at Pablo, What kind of dumb class is "Brawler"? But then it hit him that you could only grant classes you already had or once had yourself. That meant, at some point, Pablo himself was a Brawler.


    Seeing the genuine smile on Pablo''s face, Tom knew he wasn''t messing with him.


    "Well done, boy! But what''s a class without skills? Come on, let''s head to the back. I''ll teach you a thing or two."


    As they walked to the back, Pablo started explaining. "We Brawlers are a subclass of the Bruisers and Berserkers. When you start putting your Stat points in, do it in a two-to-one ratio: two points in Strength and Vitality for every one in Dexterity. Forget Wisdom and Intelligence. We don''t bother with spells."


    Tom followed Pablo''s advice and allocated his points.


    By the end, his stats looked like this:


    [Health Points: 600/600]


    The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.[Vitality: 50]


    [Strength: 50]


    [Dexterity: 30]


    As they stepped into the back room, Tom''s eyes went wide. Among some dusty old weights stood a boxing ring right in the middle of the room.


    Pablo climbed into the ring and put on a pair of boxing gloves. The funny thing was, they were bright pink and had little rabbits printed on them. Another pair lay on the floor beside him, and when Tom picked them up, he saw why Pablo was wearing them.


    [Extra-Cute Bunny Punchers]


    Too cute to deal any real damage while worn.


    Tom was about to put them on when Pablo stopped him. "No need for those. Or do you really think you can hurt me?" he said with a smirk.


    Tom stepped into the ring and took a fighting stance. Pablo sized him up and then adjusted his stance to something that looked like boxing but had a raw, wild edge to it.


    "Remember this stance, and try to dodge my punches," Pablo instructed.


    Without another word, he unleashed a barrage of punches. Most of them landed, but Tom held his ground in the stance Pablo had shown him. After a while, a notification popped up:


    [New Skill Learned]


    Pablo said, "Now, try hitting me back!" while still landing blows on Tom.


    Tom tried counter-attacking, but every time he swung, Pablo nailed him with a flurry of hits. They didn''t do any real damage, but they hurt enough to sting.


    Eventually, Tom got frustrated after taking what felt like the hundredth punch to the nose. He began swinging wildly, trying to hit back, all while staying in the stance Pablo had shown him.


    "Yeah! Just like that! Keep it up!" Pablo shouted.


    After just a few minutes, Tom was already exhausted. He slumped in the corner, gasping for air, and took a moment to check his new skills.


    [Level 10 Skills: Beginner Brawler''s Stance, Punching Fury]


    He clicked on the skills to read more.


    Beginner Brawler''s Stance ¨C While in this stance, stamina consumption for bare-handed combat is halved.


    Punching Fury ¨C Gain 1% attack speed with each consecutive punch until you stop (up to 20 stacks).


    Tom was impressed. These skills weren''t bad at all.


    "We''re not done yet," Pablo said.


    He tossed a chair to Tom. "Attack me with that chair."


    "What?!" Tom wasn''t sure he''d heard right.


    "Go on, hit me with the chair. And keep that stance!"


    Pablo blocked each strike, but Tom noticed something, his stamina consumption was still halved. He glanced at Pablo, who gave him a knowing grin.


    "That''s the beauty of us Brawlers. We might not use ''real'' weapons, but using stuff like chairs and bottles counts as "environmental weapons" so they don''t break the skill."


    They trained for a bit longer until Tom decided to call it a day. He still had to bike home, and he could always come back to train more later if he wanted. But just as he was about to leave, something came to mind.


    "Hey, Pab, this is for you," he said, handing him the Uncommon pelt he hadn''t sold.


    As Tom gave him the pelt, he could''ve sworn he saw the glint of a tear in Pablo''s eye. But Pablo quickly turned around, inspecting the pelt with exaggerated interest.


    "What a fine gift, and you can still smell the wolf on it, like it was freshly skinned," he muttered.


    "Thanks, kid," he said, his voice gruff, as he left the room.


    Tom watched him go, a little taken aback by Pablo''s reaction. Could the giant, who looked so intimidating on the outside, be soft-hearted on the inside?


    As Tom stepped outside, something else came to mind. Didn''t he still have a quest he needed to turn in?


    ¡­


    Mr. Pech sat at his counter in the alchemy shop, propping his head up with one hand as he drifted toward sleep. Another day, another empty shop, not that it was surprising. Customers were a rarity, almost mythical, in his establishment.


    To say one or two people stumbled into his shop per month would be overly optimistic. His shady practices and poorly crafted products had earned him a terrible reputation throughout the city. Nobody wanted to do business with him. His name was whispered as a warning among locals: "Stay away from Pech''s potions unless you want more problems than you started with."


    As Mr. Pech teetered on the edge of unconsciousness, the shop bell suddenly rang, jolting him awake. A customer? He straightened his robe and prepared his usual sales pitch, only for his enthusiasm to fade when he saw who it was. The same kid he''d swindled out of 5,000 gold just a few days prior.


    Still, his interest was piqued. He remembered the quest he''d given the boy and recalled watching the chaos unfold from the safety of his shop. The kid had done a remarkable job stirring up trouble, and as the quest giver, Pech could sense that it had been successfully completed.


    A sly grin spread across his face. "Well, well, what can I do for you, boy?" he asked, feigning politeness.


    Tom kept his uncertainty hidden, his expression calm. "I''m here to turn in my quest," he replied.


    The moment the words left his mouth, Tom felt a surge of experience flood through him. His level shot up to 13, and he immediately allocated his stat points according to Pablo''s earlier advice. With each point distributed, Tom could feel himself growing stronger, his confidence increasing.


    Pech''s grin widened. "I have to say, I''m impressed. You''ve done well, kid. Tell me, interested in taking another quest?"


    Tom hesitated. He wasn''t sure if he should trust the man again, but then again, quests rarely carried any major downsides for failing or declining. What was there to lose?


    "What''s the task?" he asked cautiously.


    Pech gestured grandly at the shelves of dusty potions behind him. "As you can see, my fine products are of exceptional quality," he said, his grin dripping with sarcasm, "but attracting new customers can be... challenging. I have a simple repeating quest for you. For every customer you bring who spends at least 3,000 gold, I''ll give you 300 gold as a referral fee. What do you say?"


    A familiar prompt appeared before Tom:


    [Would you like to accept Pech''s quest?]


    [Accept/Decline]


    Tom glanced at the text, weighing his options.

 Is it a scam to scam a scamer?

    Tom accepted the quest, and more details popped up in front of him:


    [Pech¡¯s Repeatable Quest]


    Find customers for Pech¡¯s shop and earn gold as a reward.


    Reward 1: 300 gold for each customer who spends at least 3,000 gold (max: 3 customers per day).


    Reward 2: 50 favorability per customer.


    Pech wasn¡¯t done yet. He handed Tom a sack of 100 potions. ¡°Here, take these samples. But don¡¯t go throwing them around like candy. If you can¡¯t manage to get at least three buyers with these, don¡¯t even bother coming back.¡±


    [Quest condition applied.]


    Tom didn¡¯t flinch. He inspected the potions, and everything seemed fine. Just to be sure, he logged out of Beta to dig up some information about Pech. He wasn¡¯t about to make enemies without knowing exactly what he was dealing with.


    When he left the guest room, he saw Felix and his parents sitting around the dining table, enjoying a warm meal.


    ¡°Want to join us?¡± Felix¡¯s mom asked with a smile, already standing to grab him a plate.


    Tom hesitated, his mom was waiting at home with dinner. ¡°I¡¯ll have to pass today,¡± he replied.


    ¡°What?!¡± Felix gasped, feigning outrage. ¡°You saying my mom¡¯s cooking ain¡¯t good enough for you?¡±


    Even Felix¡¯s mom joined in, pretending to wipe away crocodile tears.


    With no way out, Tom sighed in defeat. ¡°Alright, alright, I¡¯ll have a little.¡±


    Fifteen minutes later, Tom was pedaling home with a stomach so full it felt like it might burst. Every time he finished his plate, Felix¡¯s mom piled on more food, insisting he eat up.


    When he got home, he kicked off his shoes and dropped his bag. His mom poked her head out of the kitchen.


    ¡°Perfect timing! Dinner¡¯s just ready. I made your favorite!¡±


    Tom couldn¡¯t help but smile, but his gut sank a little. How could he tell her he was already stuffed when she¡¯d gone to the trouble of making his favorite meal? He made his way to the kitchen and sat at the table, taking small, slow bites.


    ¡°Not good?¡± his mom asked, noticing his pace.


    ¡°No, it¡¯s great!¡± Tom said quickly, shoveling down a few spoonfuls to prove his point.


    When he finished, she reached for the pot to give him seconds, but he stopped her with a startled shout. ¡°Wait!¡±


    She frowned. ¡°You always go for two plates when it¡¯s your favorite. What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    Tom decided to deflect, mixing a little truth with a bit of a lie. ¡°I just¡­ wanted to talk about my class change.¡±


    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s right! It¡¯s about time,¡± she said with a smile. ¡°I got an email from your teacher saying parents should support you kids with your choices.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, uh¡­ I gotta admit, I already picked my class,¡± he said, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly.


    His mom¡¯s smile grew warmer. ¡°You¡¯ve always been so independent. I¡¯m sure you made the right choice, and I¡¯m proud of you.¡±


    Tom felt his throat tighten a little hearing her words. His mom had always been his biggest supporter, no matter what.


    ¡°I¡¯ve got some awesome news,¡± he said, his voice swelling with pride. ¡°I managed to get an Uncommon class.¡±Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.


    Her eyes went wide. ¡°Really?! That¡¯s amazing, sweety!¡± She hugged him tightly.


    Tom told her about his new class and his ¡°big brother,¡± Pablo. Of course, he left out the parts about starting a barfight, drinking beer and hanging out in a tavern.


    ¡°You¡¯ve got to introduce me to this Pablo someday. I need to thank him personally.¡±


    ¡°Mom, that¡¯s so embarrassing,¡± he groaned, though he couldn¡¯t help grinning.


    After talking with her for a while, Tom went to his room. It was Thursday, so he had three days off from school. He decided to spend a few hours digging up more info on Pech¡¯s shop.


    He logged into the Beta forums and searched for ¡°Pech.¡± Hundreds of posts popped up, most unrelated to the old alchemist. Narrowing the search with terms like ¡°Pech,¡± ¡°alchemy,¡± and the city¡¯s name, he finally found some relevant entries.


    What surprised him was how old some of the posts were¡ªsome were hundreds of years old. Can NPCs even live that long? he wondered. Then again, it wasn¡¯t too shocking, considering Pech had a legendary quest.


    The most recent posts were only two days old.


    One user, Flickonmysword2345xxx, wrote:


    ¡°Not worth it! Total scam! Charges five times the normal price, and his potions barely work¡ªonly 80% as effective as regular ones!¡±


    Another post popped up shortly after, adding fuel to the fire:


    "That old geezer''s been polluting the city with his garbage for decades. My dad told me stories about how he got ripped off by him too. May he rest in peace."


    The post ended with an almost mocking line of respect:


    F.


    F.


    F.


    F.


    F.


    Man, this guy¡¯s reputation is even worse than I thought, Tom mused, scrolling through more posts. One thing was clear. Pech was famous, and not in a good way.


    Other posts echoed similar complaints about the quality of Pech¡¯s goods.


    Tom thought back to the potions Pech had given him. They seemed fine. Was Pech handing out good potions as samples to lure people in, but selling defective ones in his shop? It made sense.


    Tom was glad he¡¯d done his homework this time unlike before, when he¡¯d walked straight into Pech¡¯s trap. Should¡¯ve done this from the start. Maybe I wouldn¡¯t have gotten ripped off, he thought bitterly.


    Well, what¡¯s done is done.


    Pushing bad products in Beta could have real-life consequences. NPCs were untouchable in the city, but Tom, as a low-level player and a small boy in real life, would be an easy target for angry customers looking for payback.


    So, how do I handle this? he wondered.


    ¡­


    The next day, Pech wasn¡¯t expecting any results yet. He figured the kid would take at least a few days. But suddenly, the shop bell rang.


    A man in heavy armor walked in, carrying a massive greatsword.


    Pech launched into his usual sales pitch, but the man ignored him, grabbing a crate of 50 health potions and dropping 3,000 gold on the counter before leaving without a word.


    Pech frowned. The man¡¯s behavior was odd, but he didn¡¯t think much of it. Then, the bell rang again.


    Two customers in one day? Pech blinked in disbelief. He couldn¡¯t remember the last time that had happened.


    This time, it was a middle-aged woman, her body cloaked in a black robe with a hood pulled low over her face. A bow and a quiver of arrows were strapped to her back, and she moved with an eerie, almost soundless grace.


    She didn¡¯t say much hardly a word, in fact. She made her purchase quickly and left the shop just as quietly as she had entered.


    Not long after, a short man with a long white beard and a massive hammer slung over his back walked in. He eyed Pech with visible disgust but still bought his potions at full price before storming out without another word.


    By the time the day was over, Pech had sold out his entire inventory. For the first time in years, he¡¯d made 9,000 gold in a single day. He decided to close early, but just as he was locking up, Tom burst in.


    ¡°Got you three customers,¡± Tom said, cutting Pech off before he could speak. ¡°I¡¯m here to finish my quest and get my gold.¡±


    Pech finally pieced it together, a sly grin spreading across his face. ¡°Not bad, kid. You¡¯ve got a knack for sales.¡± He tossed Tom a pouch of gold. ¡°Come back tomorrow¡ªI¡¯ll have more work for you.¡±


    Pech assumed Tom had given out samples to lure customers, who then paid the inflated prices. But reality was far from what Pech imagined.


    Behind the shop, Tom stood with the last customer of the day. His strategy was simple: tell people the truth and offer a deal.


    He handed the man 30 high-quality potions.


    Tom had made a forum post detailing Pech¡¯s poor-quality products but promised 30 good potions with every purchase. He¡¯d been sure no one would bite, but with potions in short supply, five people contacted him. He could only fulfill three orders, but the other two agreed to wait until Pech restocked.


    Tom grinned, satisfied. He¡¯d recovered 900 gold of the 5,000 Pech had swindled from him. He even had another 10 potion samples left in his inventory.


    With the gold from the pelts, he now had over 1,200 gold¡ªenough to buy beginner equipment. But he wasn¡¯t sure which gear suited his class: cloth, leather, or plate.


    I¡¯ll ask Pablo tomorrow, he decided. No point wasting money on the wrong gear.


    Logging out for the night, he went to bed, eager to see what the next day would bring. He dreamed of standing shoulder to shoulder with Pablo in the bar, throwing punches at rowdy customers who tried to skip out on their tab.


    It was a beautiful dream.

 First piece of equipment

    The next day, Tom checked his private messages first thing in the morning. To his surprise, five more people had reached out, all interested in buying potions. One even asked if it would be possible to buy two or three batches.


    Without wasting any time, Tom logged into Beta and headed straight to Pech''s alchemy shop. When he arrived, the shop was still closed, and the door was locked tight.


    He circled to the back of the shop, finding an old, rickety wooden door. To his surprise, the key was still in the lock.


    Turning it slowly, Tom opened the door and stepped inside. What he saw made his blood run cold: Pech was sprawled on the floor, lying in a puddle of red liquid. Green glass shards were scattered everywhere.


    A young woman, dressed in simple clothing, stood over him, silently dragging him by the foot toward an unknown destination.


    I need to get the hell out of here! Tom thought, his instincts kicking in. He tried to bolt back through the door, but the woman moved faster than expected.


    She lunged in front of him, blocking the exit.


    Left with no other option, Tom dropped into his combat stance, fists clenched, and tried to break past her defense. He launched punch after punch, even managing to grab a bottle from the counter and smash it against her head with all his strength.


    Tom expected the hit to stun her, giving him a chance to escape, but she remained unfazed.


    What confused him most was that she hadn''t attacked back. All she did was stand her ground, keeping him from leaving.


    "Let me go!" he yelled, hoping to get some kind of reaction.


    She didn''t budge, didn''t even speak.


    Backing away, Tom found himself near Pech''s body. Slowly, he leaned down to check if the man was still breathing. As he got closer, an awful stench hit his nose, like rotting fruit and spoiled wine.


    Tom saw that Pech was, in fact, still alive. His chest rose and fell, and with every exhale, the putrid smell grew worse.


    He reached out to touch the red liquid on the floor, realizing it wasn''t blood at all¡­ it was wine.


    Finally, it clicked. The old fraud had simply gotten drunk, fallen over, and smashed a bottle of wine in the process.


    Tom felt ridiculous.


    The young woman walked over and grabbed one of Pech''s legs, glancing at Tom as if to say, Get the other one.


    Understanding her unspoken command, Tom grabbed Pech''s other leg. Together, they dragged him into the back room, where the woman stripped him down to his undershirt and cleaned him up.


    What surprised Tom most wasn''t the absurdity of the situation but the state of Pech''s body. Despite his face looking like that of an old man, his physique was more like someone in their prime. The only thing stranger than his youthful body was the purple splotches spread across his skin, as though he''d been poisoned.


    Lost in thought, Tom didn''t notice Pech stirring until he began to move. The first thing Pech did was stumble to a nearby bucket and vomit what seemed like an impossible amount of food and drink.


    Tom hadn''t realized a human stomach could hold so much until now.


    The woman handed Pech a fresh robe, helping him put it on with practiced ease. She also handed him a vial filled with a glowing liquid. Before Tom could ask what it was, Pech downed it in one gulp and turned to him.


    "What do you want?" Pech asked, his voice groggy and irritable.


    Tom blinked, confused. "I''m here about the quest. Yesterday, you said I could¡­"


    "No, no," Pech interrupted. "I mean, what are you doing here so early? Can''t an old man sleep off his hangover in peace?"


    Tom thought about asking if a man his age should even be drinking that much but decided against it. "It''s already past 10," he replied instead.


    Pech ignored him. "Ah, screw it. My head feels like it got kicked by a horse."


    The young woman suddenly spoke. "Should I go find the horse, Master?"


    "Hell no! It''s a metaphor, you dolt. Forget it."This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    With a groan, he waved Tom off. "Here. Take your quest."


    A familiar prompt appeared in front of Tom:


    [Pech''s Repeatable Quest]


    Find customers for Pech''s shop and earn gold as a reward.


    Reward 1: 300 gold for each customer who spends at least 3,000 gold (max: 3 customers per day).


    Reward 2: 50 favorability per customer.


    Note: The shop opens today at 12 PM!


    Tom smirked at the last line and turned to leave, but then he remembered something. "Mr. Pech, I need more samples."


    "Yeah, yeah, come back at noon, and I''ll give you some," Pech grumbled.


    "But I¡­ oh, never mind," Tom sighed dramatically. "I was sure I could get six or more customers today, but if you''re not interested, we can just drop it."


    "Six customers?!" Pech yelled, suddenly snapping to attention. He jumped to his feet, seemingly sober. "Wait here, kid. I''ll be ready in half an hour¡­ no, twenty minutes!"


    Tom''s bluff had worked. He sat down to wait, watching as the young woman stood behind the counter, completely motionless.


    "Hey," Tom tried making conversation. "You called him ''Master'' earlier. How long have you been learning under him?"


    She didn''t reply.


    Awkwardly, Tom fell silent and waited for Pech.


    True to his word, Pech returned 20 minutes later with a sack of 100 samples. Tom glanced inside and said, "I''m probably gonna need 200 to lock in six customers."


    Pech looked irritated but handed over another 100 without much fuss. "You''d better not waste these, kid," he warned.


    Tom grinned. "Wouldn''t dream of it, Mr. Pech."


    With that, he left the shop and contacted the people he''d spoken to on the forum. Thankfully, the game''s communication system allowed him to message players even while logged in. He gave each of his potential buyers a location to meet him.


    Over the next three hours, all five customers arrived, one by one, to collect their 30 samples each. The last buyer was the one who had asked about purchasing multiple batches. Tom promised to have more potions available tomorrow and said that he could only give him 2 batches today.


    The customer reluctantly agreed and left.


    Tom returned to Pech''s shop to claim his reward.


    Pech was standing at the counter, grinning as he counted a pile of gold coins. When he saw Tom, he waved him over.


    "Well done, kid. Here''s your cut, 1,500 gold, as promised."


    A notification appeared, confirming that the quest was complete.


    "How about finding me more customers?" Pech asked eagerly.


    "Shouldn''t it be 1,800 gold? After all, they bought six crates of your potions," Tom asked, confused.


    Pech shrugged casually, as if the missing 300 gold were completely out of his hands. "It''s 300 gold per customer. One of them may have bought two crates, but it''s still the same customer."


    Tom realized where he had gone wrong in his assumptions. He decided not to press the matter further and simply nodded, accepting the explanation.


    "Fine," he said, pocketing the 1,500 gold and making a mental note to be more careful next time.


    "Not today. I''ve got other things to do," Tom replied.


    A -5 favorability message appeared above Pech''s head, but Tom didn''t care anymore about keeping him happy.


    "I''ll be back tomorrow to bring more customers," he added.


    Hearing that, Pech brightened up again and let the matter drop.


    Tom left the shop, heading toward Pablo. With almost 3000 gold in his pocket, he was eager to get himself some proper equipment.


    As Tom entered the tavern, he noticed everything had been renovated. No more broken tables, repaired benches, and even the hole in the wall was patched up like it had never existed.


    Suddenly, a heavy hand clapped him on the shoulder. "You''re early, boy," Pablo said.


    "Good day, Pablo. I''m here to ask a few questions about my new class," Tom replied, looking up at him.


    "Sure thing. Come on, sit at the counter, and I''ll get you something to drink. I''ve got a surprise for you, too!"


    Pablo poured Tom his usual juice and grabbed a beer for himself.


    "First things first. What''s your question?" Pablo said, taking a swig from his mug.


    "I wanted to know what kind of armor I should buy. Do we wear cloth, leather, or maybe even plate?" Tom asked.


    He figured plate was unlikely, but he couldn''t completely rule it out.


    "Hmmm... what a coincidence," Pablo said with a grin.


    He bent down, pulling out a roughly wrapped crate, and shoved it in Tom''s direction. "Come on, open it!" he said, his grin widening.


    When Tom opened the package, he was a little confused. Isn''t this the wolf pelt I gave Pablo? he wondered.


    But as he pulled it out, he noticed the difference immediately. The wolf pelt had been crafted into a sleeveless vest, lined with soft fabric on the inside.


    Tom slipped it on. It was a little big at first, but within moments, it adjusted to fit his frame perfectly. Tom had heard of gear that could adapt to its wearer''s size, but this was the first time he''d experienced it himself.


    He inspected the vest and saw its stats for the first time:


    [Uncommon Wolf Vest]


    +20 ArmorWeight: 0.7 kg


    The stats weren''t particularly impressive, Tom thought. He knew that armor gained more bonuses as its rarity increased.


    Common armor offered no bonuses other than not being naked.


    Uncommon armor provided a basic defense boost.


    Rare armor often included one special effect.


    Epic armor could have multiple effects.


    Legendary armor... well, that was a mystery. Little information about it existed, and while some screenshots floated around the internet, nobody knew for sure if they were authentic.


    Tom didn''t concern himself with legendary or even epic armor. It was unlikely he''d ever see anything like that.


    "How do you like it?" Pablo asked, clearly eager for Tom''s reaction.


    "It''s awesome! Thank you, big brother!"


    "Hahaha, that makes me happy," Pablo said, ruffling Tom''s hair.


    "To answer your earlier question," Pablo continued, "we Brawlers aren''t tied to any particular armor type. But keep in mind, we only put one-fifth of our stat points into agility. If you wear heavy armor, it''ll drag you down even further.


    "That''s why light or leather armor is best for us."


    He gestured to the vest Tom was wearing. "That vest is actually part of a set crafted by one of my old comrades. If you bring me a few more pelts and some leather, I can make the rest for you."


    "Really, big brother?"


    "Hahaha, of course!"


    Tom drained his juice and bolted out the door. "I''ll get the pelts!" he shouted back, already running.


    Pablo called after him, "Just make sure you''re back before 6 PM! I''ve got some work for you!"


    Tom paused briefly, then waved as he ran off again. "Okay, see you later!" he yelled over his shoulder.

 Big haul

    Tom''s journey started at the blacksmith''s shop, where he went to buy a skinning knife. Originally, he planned to get a basic knife for a few gold coins, but one particular item caught his eye:


    [Uncommon Skinning Knife]


    +5-10 Cutting Damage


    Increases the chance of harvesting rarer materials from monsters.


    The listed price was a whopping 4,000 gold. However, after some haggling with the smith, Tom managed to cut a deal. He handed over nearly 3,000 gold and 20 of his remaining 30 potions to seal the purchase.


    Equipped with the knife and a massive sack for storing pelts, Tom headed back toward the forest where Felix''s dad had taken him for power leveling. On the way, he hunted down a few stray monsters, using the opportunity to collect materials. This time, he wasn''t leaving anything behind.


    After about an hour of traveling and hunting, Tom had collected nine wolf pelts and a single deer hide. However, only three of the kills were his own; the rest were from monster carcasses left behind by others. This wasn''t unusual, since most players couldn''t be bothered with professions like skinning, and the small amount of gold they''d make from pelts wasn''t worth the effort.


    For Tom, though, it was different. He saw value in building his skinning skill early, knowing it would allow him to harvest higher-level monsters in the future.


    Setting his sack on the ground, Tom climbed a tree to scout the area. From his vantage point, he could see groups of two to three wolves roaming around. Perfect targets.


    He jumped down, ignoring the 10 fall damage he took, grabbed his sack, and sprinted toward one of the wolf packs. Hearing him approach, the wolves turned and prepared to fight.


    Tom employed his favorite tactic in situations like this: no tactic at all. As the first wolf lunged for his leg, Tom used the momentum to deliver a kick straight into its open jaws.


    Unfortunately, without leg armor, the wolf''s teeth still managed to bite down, costing him 50 HP. Tom didn''t back down. Before the wolf could recover, he slammed a second kick into its stomach, sending it crashing into a tree where it lay motionless.


    Turning to the remaining two wolves, Tom found himself flanked. He dodged the first one, grabbed it by the tail, and swung it over his head, smashing it into the other wolf. Both wolves staggered, and Tom took the chance to pummel them until they stopped moving.


    Though the fight cost him 100 HP, Tom felt accomplished. While skinning the wolves, he reflected on what he could''ve done better. If I''d gone for the wolf''s head instead of its side, I could''ve avoided that bite, he thought.


    Climbing back into a tree, Tom surveyed the area for more targets. This process repeated for about two hours before he decided to take a break.


    He hid his sack under a bush and logged out of Beta. It was late afternoon, and his stomach growled, reminding him he hadn''t eaten.


    Heading to the kitchen, Tom noticed his mother''s capsule was active. She was clearly working and didn''t want to disturb her.


    Opening the fridge, he found leftovers from yesterday with a note attached: "Don''t forget to take breaks and eat."


    Tom chuckled. His mom meant well, but Beta was so captivating and new that it was hard to pull himself away. He devoured the leftovers, finishing the entire pot, then checked the forums.


    Only one new inquiry about Pech''s potions had come in, which surprised him. Tom responded, then deleted his original post and created a new one to bump it higher in the listings.


    With that done, he logged back into Beta.


    Thankfully, his sack was right where he left it. He picked up where he left off but soon heard the sounds of a nearby battle. At first, he ignored it, but then he spotted a massive banner towering over the trees.A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    Curious, Tom crept closer, peeking through a bush. In the clearing stood a slightly smaller banner than the one Felix''s dad used this one was about seven meters tall. A young swordsman wielding something resembling a katana fought with incredible grace, cutting down wolves with fluid, stylish movements.


    It was obvious the swordsman had been trained for years; such skill couldn''t be achieved in just a few weeks.


    "Can I help you, boy?"


    Tom jumped, startled by the gruff voice beside him. A grim-looking man had approached without him noticing.


    "Uh¡­ s-sorry! I just saw the banner and wanted to check if it belonged to a friend''s parents," Tom stammered, stumbling back.


    "Hmph. And what''s their name?"


    "Uh¡­ I don''t know their first names, but they''re the Hogen family," Tom replied nervously.


    "Tch. Lucky for you, I know them. But don''t get any bright ideas about tagging mobs for experience, or I''ll personally send you back to the city."


    m¡­ sorry for the trouble. I won''t tag anything, I promise. But, uh, would it be okay if I skinned the dead ones?" he asked hesitantly.


    "Get lost. Didn''t I make myself clear?" the man snapped.


    The swordsman, having overheard their conversation, spoke up. "Julius, let him do it."


    The man called Julius clicked his tongue in annoyance. "If we lose experience for this, don''t blame me."


    The swordsman simply signaled it was fine, and Julius stepped aside without another word.


    Tom got to work immediately, starting with the wolves. His movements grew faster and more efficient as he warmed up.


    The swordsman noticed Tom keeping up with his pace. "Interesting," he muttered, quickening his attacks.


    Without exchanging words, a competitive rhythm developed between them. Tom skinning animals and the swordsman slaying them.


    When the last enemy fell, only the bear carcasses remained.


    "Not bad," Julius commented. "Looks like you both improved."


    The swordsman walked over to Tom, extending a hand. "My name''s Cesar."


    Tom, surprised, shook his hand. "Tom. Thanks for letting me skin the bodies."


    "It''s nothing," Cesar replied before heading back to Julius. Moments later, they vanished into the air, just as Felix''s dad had before.


    Tom now had over 100 usable pelts and hides. The bear pelts were next. Though he hesitated at first, his experience with wolves gave him confidence, and he managed to extract four bear pelts.


    One of them was particularly impressive a complete pelt, including the head, from the largest bear of the group. A jagged scar ran across the face, giving it a fearsome look. Tom was proud of this particular trophy.


    Satisfied, Tom gathered additional materials from the bears claws, livers, gallbladders, and hearts before using a teleportation scroll to return to the city.


    At the city gates, Tom must have been quite the sight. A small boy barely 1.6 meters tall dragging a massive sack nearly twice his size. Over his shoulder was a smaller bag, dripping blood and emitting a foul stench.


    He first visited a butcher and specialty shop to sell the organs and bear claws, earning 200 gold coins. Then, he returned to the same tanner as before with his pelts.


    The tanner was thrilled. "Young man, these pelts are excellent quality! I didn''t expect you back so soon with new stock. You''ve got talent.


    Tell you what. Bring your pelts here from now on, and I''ll give you 20% above market price. Deal?"


    "Deal!" Tom replied, beaming.


    Casper extended a hand. "Name''s Casper."


    "Tom," he said with a smile.


    Casper''s eyes fell on Tom''s vest. "Wait a second¡­ are you the kid Pablo told us about? That explains why you wanted to keep that pelt last time."


    "Wait¡­ are you Pablo''s friend who made this vest?"


    Casper shook his head. "Not me, but my master did. Hey, old Smork! Get over here!"


    An older, wild-looking man in his 40s or 50s emerged shirtless from the back.


    "What do you want, Casper?" he grumbled irritably.


    "Look at what the kid who brought us pelts last time is wearing. Recognize anything?"


    Smork leaned in close, inspecting Tom''s vest. After a moment, he grabbed it, feeling the material. "No way¡­ you''re with Pablo, aren''t you?"


    Tom nodded, and Casper whispered, "Sorry about him. He''s still sharp with his craft but not so great with his eyes anymore."


    Smork promptly kicked Casper across the room. "I may not see well, but I can still hear just fine, you brat!"


    Turning back to Tom, Smork grinned. "Alright, kid, let''s see what you''ve got."


    Smork rifled through the sack, tossing pelts into two piles. One for the majority and another for the better-quality hides.


    "156 standard wolf pelts, 12 uncommon wolf pelts, 1 normal deer hide, and 3 normal bear pelts," Smork muttered. "Pablo probably told you about the set, right?"


    Tom nodded eagerly.


    "These materials are almost enough to finish it. Tell you what. I''ll cover the rest and give you 1,000 gold for the lot. Consider it a favor for Pablo. Deal?"


    Tom nodded excitedly. "Yes, please!"


    Then he remembered something. Pulling out his second bag, he said, "Can you do anything with this?"


    Smork peeked inside and grinned. "You''ve got some real luck, kid. I''ll make something special for you. Come back tomorrow."


    Thanking him again, Tom stored his gold and checked the time. Realizing he was running late, he rushed to Pablo''s tavern, arriving just as the clock struck 6 PM.


    The tavern was alive again, filled with patrons drinking and eating.


    As Tom walked in, Pablo''s booming voice greeted him. "Boy! Over here!"

 A complet set of gear

    Tom walked over to Pablo, who was leaning on the bar, chatting with an older woman. She had a kind smile that immediately made Tom feel at ease.


    "Hey there, kiddo," she greeted him warmly.


    "Hi," Tom replied shyly.


    "This here is Melisia, our barmaid," Pablo said, gesturing to her. "And those two guys over there are Kennor and Hando, our waiters."


    Tom glanced toward the two men. Despite wearing shirts, their broad shoulders and thick arms were impossible to miss. They were clearly built like tanks, though not as massive as Pablo.


    Is it normal for tavern staff to look like bodybuilders? Tom wondered, realizing this might just be a quirk of Pablo''s rowdy establishment.


    Pablo interrupted his thoughts. "Alright, boy. I want you working here for a while. It''s time to get your hands dirty. I''ve taught you the basics, but you''ll only really learn by putting them to use."


    Tom was confused. "Wait... working here? Fighting in a tavern? Won''t that, uh, wreck the place?"


    Pablo just grinned. "Don''t worry about that. For now, you''ll be working as a bouncer."


    Before Tom could fully process what that meant, a notification popped up:


    [Pablo''s Bouncer Quest]


    Work as a bouncer in Pablo''s Tavern. This quest resets daily at 6 PM.


    Reward 1: 100 Gold


    Reward 2: Up to 10,000 EXP (varies by the number of patrons ejected).


    Tom hesitated, nervous about his ability to handle rowdy guests. Then he remembered the experience he''d gained from hunting and skinning monsters. At Level 15, he was no pushover anymore.


    He allocated his unspent stat points as Pablo had advised:


    [Name: Tom Stein]


    [Race: Human]


    [Class: Brawler]


    [Level: 15]


    [Health Points: 850/850]


    [Mana: 200/200]


    [Vitality: 75]


    [Strength: 75]


    [Dexterity: 45]


    [Intelligence: 15]


    [Wisdom: 15]


    [Level 10 Skills: Beginner Brawler''s Stance, Punching Fury]


    Despite his improved stats, he still wasn''t sure he could take on real people.


    The tavern started to fill up, becoming so crowded that it was hard to keep track of everything. Tom sat at the bar next to Melisia, sipping his usual juice.


    At first, nothing happened. Tom hoped it would stay that way.


    Then the shouting started.


    Two men were arguing and soon began throwing sloppy punches at each other. Too drunk to fight effectively, they both knocked themselves out in a matter of seconds. The surrounding patrons burst into laughter, enjoying the brief chaos.


    Pablo whistled loudly and pointed at Tom. "You''ve got work, boy!"


    Tom gulped and approached the unconscious men. He grabbed each one by the collar and, using his newly improved strength, dragged them both out of the tavern. Surprisingly, the crowd parted for him as though this were completely normal.


    Reaching the alley beside the tavern, Tom laid them down gently, not wanting to ruin the tavern''s image by leaving bodies sprawled out in front.


    When he returned, another incident was already brewing. A man had drunk himself unconscious and collapsed onto the floor. Tom dutifully carried him out as well.


    The night continued like this, with Tom hauling out one drunken guest after another.


    By 11 PM, the tavern was at its peak. People packed shoulder to shoulder, the noise level was deafening.


    Tom was on his way back from the alley when someone bumped into him hard, knocking him to the floor.If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    "Watch where you''re going, you little punk!" slurred the drunk man who''d shoved him.


    Tom stood up and squared off against him. "You''ve had enough. Time to leave," he said, trying to sound confident.


    The man sneered, clearly sensing Tom''s hesitation. "Who the hell do you think you are? You think I''m just gonna listen to some little shit like you?"


    He reached for Tom, but Tom was quicker. Anticipating the move, Tom grabbed the man''s wrist and yanked him forward, driving his knee into the man''s gut.


    The drunk stumbled back, wheezing, but he wasn''t done. "Oh, you''re dead now, kid!" he roared, a fireball suddenly forming in his hand.


    Tom froze. A spellcaster? He didn''t know what to do.


    Before the fireball could fully form, a hand came down hard on the man''s neck. He collapsed to the floor instantly, unconscious.


    Tom turned to see Pablo standing behind the fallen man, his usual grin on his face.


    The tavern erupted into cheers:


    "Hell yeah, kid!"


    "Got some guts, don''t ya?"


    "Nice work, bouncer boy!"


    Tom''s face flushed red as he realized the crowd had been watching the whole time.


    "Drag him out and then meet me at the bar," Pablo said, clapping Tom on the back.


    Tom hauled the unconscious spellcaster out to join the others in the alley. Dusting off his hands, he returned to the bar, where Pablo was waiting.


    Tom expected praise but instead got a stern look. "You know what you did wrong?" Pablo asked gruffly.


    Tom thought for a moment. "I should''ve de-escalated the situation. He''s a customer, after all."


    "Hell no!" Pablo barked. "Screw the paying customers. You let a spellcaster finish channeling! Next time, you go in hard and fast and don''t give ''em a chance to get their magic off. Always be the one to strike first! That''s the Brawler way! Hahaha!"


    Tom nodded, taking the advice to heart. Pablo was right. He couldn''t afford to hesitate like that again.


    "I think I''m done for the night," Tom said. "Same time tomorrow?"


    "You got it, boy. See you then!"


    A notification confirmed the quest''s completion, and Tom received his rewards.


    Logging out of Beta, he stumbled out of the capsule, completely drained. It had been a long day, and his body was begging for rest.


    He climbed into bed and fell asleep instantly.


    The next day, Tom followed the same routine he''d been building: checking the forum for buyers, selling Pech''s potions, hunting monsters, and skinning them for their pelts.


    Unfortunately, there were no power levelers in the forest this time, so his haul was much smaller than yesterday.


    Even so, Tom managed to collect around 40 pelts, which wasn''t bad. He returned to the city and headed straight to the tannery since he didn''t have any additional materials besides the pelts today.


    "You''re back, boy!" Casper greeted him warmly as Tom walked in.


    "Hey, Casper," Tom said, handing over the sack of pelts. "It''s not much today, but I hope you guys can still make use of these."


    Casper inspected the sack and grinned. "Don''t worry, kid. This''ll do just fine." He quickly handed Tom his payment.


    With another 1,500 gold coins jingling in his pocket, Tom was satisfied with his small but steady side hustle.


    "Is Smork around?" Tom asked, curious about the armor progress.


    Casper gave him a knowing smile. "Oh, he''s here, alright. Check the back left door. He''s been waiting for you."


    "Thanks!" Tom said, heading to the indicated room.


    When Tom entered, he saw Smork slumped in a chair, fast asleep. His snoring filled the room.


    Tom hesitated. Should he wake him? Before deciding, his eyes landed on a nearby table, where several carefully folded pieces of pelt armor were laid out.


    Curiosity got the better of him, and he walked over to inspect the armor. One by one, he picked up the pieces, marveling at the craftsmanship.


    Tom inspected each piece of gear laid out before him, starting with the smaller ones:


    [Normal Deer Gloves]


    Weight: 0.1 kg


    [Uncommon Wolf Boots]


    +15 Armor


    Weight: 0.5 kg


    [Uncommon Beaver Leatherpants]


    +20 Armor


    Weight: 0.7 kg


    Everything seemed normal at first glance. But when Tom reached the final piece, he immediately recognized the pelt. It was made from the massive bear with the scarred hide.


    It was a hood that transitioned into a cape, crafted from the striking fur of the beast. As Tom picked it up, he felt a strange shiver run down his spine.


    [Rare Bear Cape]


    +45 Armor


    Weight: 1.5 kg


    You are intimidating


    The armor bonus alone was intimidating. It added almost as much defense as the rest of his gear combined. But the last bonus left Tom scratching his head. What does "you are intimidating" even mean?


    "Not bad, eh? Like it?" came a voice from behind.


    Tom spun around to see Smork, now fully awake and watching him with a satisfied grin. He must have been observing Tom''s reactions the entire time.


    With pure enthusiasm, Tom nodded eagerly. "They''re incredible! Thank you so much!"


    "What are you waitin'' for, boy? Put it on and come outside. We''re all waitin'' on you," Smork said before walking out.


    Tom wasted no time. He stripped out of his old gear and started equipping the new pieces. As he put on the wolf vest, he remembered how his shirt had restricted his arm movements during previous fights.


    "Guess I''ll go shirtless like Pablo," he muttered, slipping on the vest directly over his bare chest.


    Finally, he donned the bear hood. As it settled over his head and shoulders, a notification appeared in front of him:


    Set conditions met. While wearing the full set, you gain the following bonuses:


    +5% movement speed (tripled outside of combat)


    Active Passive: Call of the Wild ¨C Perception increased during wilderness combat


    Tom wasn''t sure what perception meant yet, but the increased movement speed alone was worth it.


    He adjusted the hood, letting the cape flow naturally down his back. The sheer presence of the set gave him a newfound confidence.


    Pulling the hood fully over his head, Tom turned to leave the room. His heart raced with excitement to show off his new gear to the others.

 They called him little Bear cub

    As Tom walked out from the back room of the workshop, all the workers turned to look at him.


    Tom confidently strode into the center of the room, standing tall in his new gear. He thought to himself, Don''t I look fierce? Don''t I look like a wild warrior?


    He puffed out his chest, entirely satisfied with his appearance, waiting for their reactions.


    But then, one of the workers let out a soft chuckle. Like a spark igniting a blaze, the entire workshop burst into laughter.


    Tom stood there, confused, until one of the men, laughing uncontrollably, pointed and said, "Who let the little bear cub in here?"


    The laughter only grew louder, and Tom felt his face flush hot. His cheeks turned as red as if someone had poured boiling water over him.


    Even Smork couldn''t keep a straight face. Through a grin, he clapped Tom on the shoulder. "Don''t take it too hard, kid," Smork said. "The gear''s usually made for seasoned fighters. But on you¡­ you look like a lost baby bear who wandered into town."


    Tom was crushed. He reached up and pulled his hood back, letting it hang loose. At least the armor bonus still applied even with the hood down.


    "I''m outta here," he muttered, bolting for the exit. As he ran, he thought, Just wait! When I''m bigger, I''ll show them what a real bear looks like.


    He sprinted all the way to the tavern.


    It was still early when Tom arrived. Pablo had just opened the doors, and the place was empty. But as soon as Pablo spotted Tom walking in, his face lit up.


    "You look fantastic!" Pablo said, giving him a thumbs-up. "Looks like you''ve met Smork. He did a hell of a job with that gear."


    Hearing that gave Tom a boost of confidence, and he couldn''t help but smile a little.


    "Melisa, get us something to drink!" Pablo called over to the bar as he ushered Tom to a stool.


    Melisa glanced over, then smirked. "You look adorable," she said, handing Tom his usual juice.


    That small moment of pride Tom had felt? Gone. Completely crushed.


    Tom sighed and drank his juice in silence, trying not to let her comment bother him.


    As he drank, Tom remembered that he still needed to allocate his stat points for the day. He''d reached level 18, with most of his experience coming from Pablo''s quest the night before and the rest from hunting wolves.


    But wolves were barely giving him any experience now. He started thinking it might be time to find a new leveling spot.


    The tavern began to fill up as the evening went on. It was the same work as the day before dragging out drunks and keeping order. Tom busied himself, trying to stay on top of things.


    For the most part, the night was uneventful, but there were a few moments that got under Tom''s skin.


    "Hey, little bear! Come have a drink with us!" shouted a man surrounded by his laughing friends. They waved Tom over, inviting him to join, but it was clear they were just teasing.


    Another time, an older woman with her family pinched Tom''s cheek and said, "What a fine, strapping young lad you are!"


    Tom didn''t know whether to laugh or cry. Honestly, he felt more like crying.


    The night ended, and with it, another day began. Tom was determined to shake off the teasing and keep pushing forward. He wasn''t going to let anyone hold him back.


    Tom couldn''t help but notice that demand for Pech''s potions had dropped drastically. Only one new buyer had shown interest, and the other was the repeat customer who had already offered to buy multiple crates. For Pech, this wasn''t a big deal as he made his profit either way, but for Tom, it meant less gold in his pocket.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    Left with no other choice, he arranged meetings with the two buyers, letting them know when and where to meet him.


    Later, Tom decided to search for new leveling spots. He filtered his options by a few specific criteria: the area needed to be within an hour''s walk from the city, enemies had to be level 20 or below, and the creatures had to be suitable for skinning.


    Skinning had become a reliable side hustle for Tom. Not only did it provide extra gold, but it also granted a small amount of experience, about a fifth of what he earned for killing a monster. Though small, the XP stacked up, especially now that it only took him 15 seconds to skin a creature.


    Fortunately, he found a promising area that matched his needs about an hour outside the city.


    After completing his potion sales, Tom headed to Pech''s shop to collect his reward.


    The moment he entered, he could tell something was off. Pech, usually theatrical and full of tricks, seemed lost in thought. Even when Tom stood at the counter, Pech didn''t acknowledge him at first. After a few seconds, the old man finally turned to face him.


    There was no grin, no sly remarks, just silence. Without a word, Pech handed Tom his gold.


    Tom''s gut churned. What is this guy playing at now? he thought.


    Unable to resist, Tom blurted out, "Mr. Pech, is something wrong?"


    The alchemist stared at him for what felt like forever before exhaling deeply. "The Darkness is coming, boy. You''d better get out of here soon."


    Tom''s heart skipped a beat. "The Darkness? What''s that? And how do you know it''s coming?"


    Pech''s face twisted into a grimace. "My scars¡­ they''re pulsing. I can feel it creeping closer. It won''t be long now."


    Tom glanced at the faint purple marks across Pech''s body. He''d always assumed they were harmless discolorations. Now, he wasn''t so sure.


    Pech''s tone sharpened. "You Anderworlders have your networks, don''t you? Ask around, boy. You''ll learn soon enough what it is."


    Tom wanted to press him for more details, but the alchemist turned away, clearly done with the conversation.


    Uneasy and more than a little spooked, Tom left the shop. What the hell is this ''Darkness''? he wondered as he headed toward the new leveling spot.


    On the way to his destination, Tom encountered almost no monsters. The well-traveled path provided a clear, open route, and the creatures of the forest knew better than to venture into the open where they could easily be spotted.


    At first, Tom wasn''t sure if he was headed in the right direction, but after a few more minutes of searching, he found what he was looking for. A seemingly unremarkable cave carved into the side of a mountain. He knew this wasn''t just any cave. It led to a monster nest inside the mountain.


    Monster nests, more commonly called dungeons, were open to all adventurers. Anyone could enter at any time, and it wasn''t uncommon to encounter others inside. The deeper one ventured, the tougher the monsters became. Dungeons also had the reputation of being mazes, with some taking days to navigate fully.


    Tom had no intention of going that deep. He didn''t have the time or the resources. His teleportation scrolls wouldn''t work inside due to the dungeon''s magical interference. He only had two scrolls left out of the five he''d started with a standard issue for beginner adventurers. Three were already gone, and he couldn''t risk burning another.


    Tom stepped into the cave cautiously. To his surprise, the walls were lined with lit torches, illuminating the interior. Why are there torches here? he wondered briefly. But he remembered the inhabitants of the dungeon "Kobolds".


    These creatures were a strange mix of humanoid and wolf-like features. They wielded crude weapons and sometimes wore mismatched pieces of armor. What made them unique was their intelligence; Kobolds could set traps, patrol in groups, and even use rudimentary tactics.


    The cave split off into multiple passageways, each leading deeper into the mountain. Tom knew it would be easy to get lost if he wasn''t careful, so he pulled out a piece of chalk he''d prepared beforehand. At each turn, he marked arrows on the walls to guide himself back to the surface.


    After a few minutes, Tom heard noises. It sounded like growling, but as he listened closer, he could make out syllables. Kobolds. They were speaking their guttural language.


    Following the sounds, he spotted two Kobolds sitting by a small fire. They were roasting something on crude sticks, their attention focused on the flames.


    Tom decided to play it safe on his first encounter. He picked up a rock and hurled it deeper into the cave, past the pair of Kobolds.


    Hearing the noise, one of the Kobolds stood up to investigate, clutching his stick like a weapon. The other turned his back to Tom to watch his companion shuffle off into the shadows.


    Perfect, Tom thought, creeping closer to the one still by the fire. He kept low, his footsteps as light as he could make them. Just a few meters away, the Kobold sniffed the air suddenly and whipped around to face him. Its lips curled back in a snarl as it tossed its fire stick to the ground.


    The other Kobold had already heard the commotion and was making his way back. Tom knew he couldn''t let them regroup. He lunged forward, landing a solid combo of punches on the first Kobold, striking its face and torso. The creature staggered backward, dazed.


    Tom had been paying attention during his shifts at the tavern and had picked up a new tactic from the brawls he''d seen. Leaning slightly backward, he planted one hand on the ground, feigning a wide stance. As the second Kobold charged in, Tom scooped up a handful of dirt and flung it into its eyes, blinding it.


    The first Kobold stumbled forward, but Tom didn''t give it a chance to recover. A powerful roundhouse kick sent it crashing to the ground. He didn''t stop until it lay still, lifeless.


    The second Kobold wiped at its eyes, growling in frustration. Tom closed the gap quickly, landing a flurry of punches until it, too, fell to the cave floor.

 Hitting gold

    Tom fought his way through the tunnels for several hours. Alongside the kobold pelts, he had collected a variety of unusual items like metal arrowheads, wooden figures, and leather strips. There was no telling which of these might be useful, so he took everything to ensure he didn''t leave behind any potential treasure.


    It was getting late, so he decided to make his way back to the surface. However, just as he started heading up, he heard noises from a nearby passage. These sounds were different from the usual kobold chatter, and Tom''s curiosity got the better of him. One more kobold wouldn''t hurt, he thought, as he followed the noise.


    At the end of the passage, a lone kobold stood scratching strange symbols into the wall. Tom had never seen them behave this way before, but he had only observed them for a day. Perhaps this was normal for them?


    Since there was only one, Tom carefully set down his sack and decided to attack. He sprinted forward, jumping into the air to deliver a flying kick to the kobold''s back. The impact threw it against the wall, but instead of collapsing, it turned around and let out an ear-piercing roar.


    "Fuck, a rare," Tom cursed under his breath as he immediately bolted. He couldn''t be sure, but this kobold was clearly stronger than the uncommon ones he''d fought earlier. Grabbing his sack on the way, he sprinted for the exit, the pounding footsteps of the kobold echoing behind him.


    Tom knew he had to make a decision: drop his sack and run faster or stand and fight. His loot from today was valuable, and leaving it behind felt like a loss he couldn''t afford. Resolute, he stopped, turned around, and allocated his recently earned stat points. At level 20, he was confident he had a chance.


    He planted his feet firmly and waited for the kobold. As soon as it got close, Tom lunged, tripping it with his legs and jumping onto its chest. He pinned its arms with his knees and unleashed a flurry of punches.


    The kobold screamed, stunning Tom briefly, and used the moment to throw him off. Its sharp claws raked across his chest, leaving deep, bleeding gashes. Tom gritted his teeth, determined to fight through the pain. The kobold looked unscathed, but Tom was sure his hits had done some damage.


    They clashed again, exchanging blows. Though Tom landed far more hits, the kobold''s strikes were devastating. It was a battle of endurance, and both were nearing their limits. When Tom''s health dropped to 20%, the kobold began to grow, its body glowing red.


    Tom remembered seeing Pablo do something similar back at the tavern. The kobold was using a rage ability, and Tom knew he had to act fast. He turned and ran, leading the kobold into a narrow side tunnel. The enraged creature charged after him, but the confined space made it hard to maneuver.


    When Tom reached the ideal spot, he slid under the kobold''s legs and came up behind it. The kobold struggled to turn, and Tom took advantage of its position, delivering blow after blow. Its glowing form dimmed as the damage piled up. Finally, with a heavy thud, the kobold collapsed.


    Tom staggered back, catching his breath. He had done it. He quickly checked the kobold''s body, finding a small pouch tied to its waist. He attached it to his belt for later inspection and prepared to skin the creature. However, before he could begin, he heard distant cries and footsteps echoing through the tunnels.


    "Shit," he muttered, realizing the fight had drawn other kobolds. Reluctantly, he grabbed his sack and ran. The kobold''s pelt would have to be left behind. His life was more valuable.


    Reaching the surface, Tom breathed in the fresh air and didn''t waste any time. He used one of his remaining teleportation scrolls, reappearing safely outside the city. Only then did he allow himself to relax.If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    Tom made his way to Casper''s leather workshop to sell all the kobold pelts he had gathered. Compared to wolf pelts, these were worth significantly more, earning Tom a quick 2000 gold in one go.


    That left him with the other items he had collected, whose value remained uncertain. Suddenly, an idea struck him. There were universal skills like his skinning ability that anyone could learn, but there were also special skills accessible only through books or scrolls. Curious, Tom took his remaining items and headed to a magic shop.


    The shop was stocked with various spells and skills, most of which were far out of Tom''s budget. He approached the counter and asked an attendant, "Excuse me, do you sell skills for inspecting items?"


    The attendant inspected Tom, surprised by his young age. A newcomer, he thought, though it didn''t deter his interest. "Of course, we have such spells. How much can you spend, young man?"


    "I have around 4000 gold coins," Tom replied.


    The attendant shook his head. "I''m sorry, young man, but the cheapest inspection spells start at 10,000 gold coins."


    Tom''s face fell. He was about to thank the shopkeeper and leave when the man continued, "There is another way to inspect items, though."


    Tom''s ears perked up as the shopkeeper pulled out a magnifying glass. "This is a magical artifact that can determine the rarity of unidentified items. Hold it over an object, and you''ll see a shimmer indicating its value: gray for normal, green for uncommon, blue for rare, and so on. The magnifying glass only needs to be recharged with magic occasionally and lasts several months per charge."


    Tom was intrigued and wanted it immediately. "How much is it?" he asked.


    "4000 gold coins," the shopkeeper replied.


    Tom hesitated, skeptical. After being scammed by Pech, he wasn''t sure if the price was fair, especially since it matched his exact budget. Deciding to shop around, he told the shopkeeper, "I''ll think about it."


    "Alright, young man. I see you''re short on funds. 3000 gold coins, but not a coin less," the shopkeeper countered.


    That confirmed Tom''s suspicions, that the man was trying to cheat him. Tom quickly left the shop and explored others, asking about similar artifacts. In one shop, the magnifying glass was priced at 1000 gold coins. Pleased, Tom promised to return.


    After confirming the fair price at multiple locations, Tom purchased the magnifying glass for 1000 gold coins. He also picked up a few teleportation scrolls from other merchants before heading to the tavern.


    Once there, he greeted his friends and retreated to the back room to inspect the rest of his items. Brimming with excitement, he began to go through his haul. However, his enthusiasm quickly faded.


    "Trash... more trash... oh look, surprise, more trash," he muttered as he identified item after item.


    Most of what Tom had collected was crude, honestly worthless junk. A few small metal pieces shimmered green, signaling they were uncommon, but that was it. Then he remembered the kobold''s pouch he had taken. Could there be something inside?


    He detached it from his belt. The pouch felt surprisingly light. Was it really empty? Opening it, he was met with pitch-black darkness inside, which unsettled him. Even tipping it upside down produced nothing.


    Tom held the magnifying glass over the pouch, and to his surprise, it shimmered green, marking it as an uncommon item. But what exactly was it?


    Curious, Tom logged out briefly and searched the forums for clues about black pouches. The first post that caught his eye read, "Why are spatial pouches black inside?"


    Tom clicked on the post and eagerly read through it. Afterward, he searched for more information about "spatial pouches," hopeful his findings were accurate. Pictures and descriptions matched his pouch perfectly, and the details were free to access.


    "I hit gold!" Tom cheered, punching the air.


    He logged back into the game to test his discovery. Slowly, he dipped his hand into the pouch, which disappeared into the bottomless blackness like a portal. Excitement surged through him as he fumbled around inside. Unfortunately, the pouch was empty.


    Still, the spatial pouch was a treasure in itself. These storage artifacts, depending on their size, started at 20,000 gold coins per square meter. Tom estimated his pouch could hold about 2 square meters'' worth of items, making it worth at least 40,000 gold.


    Satisfied with his find, Tom decided to wear the pouch under his vest to keep it hidden. Equipment in Beta was character-bound and didn''t drop upon death, but items like spatial pouches would be left behind unless tucked into pockets considered part of a player''s gear.


    "Tom, where are you?" a voice called from the tavern''s main room.


    "Coming!" Tom yelled back.


    He placed the magnifying glass and green-shimmering items into the spatial pouch, leaving the rest of the junk in his sack. With everything secured, he left the back room. Tom wasn''t worried about thieves taking the junk since honestly, they''d be doing him a favor.

 Approaching war

    The next day, Tom woke up feeling utterly exhausted. Pablo had kept him in the tavern until late at night, leaving him with barely any time to rest. Unfortunately, there was no chance to catch up on sleep, as it was Monday, a school day.


    After throwing on fresh clothes and grabbing a quick slice of bread, Tom made his way to the bus stop. He was too tired to risk walking and ensured he caught the bus on time. The bus ride was uneventful, and it dropped him directly at school. Still half-asleep, Tom headed to his class.


    The day began with Beta studies, a subject Tom usually enjoyed. Since Felix was running late, Tom rested his head on his desk to sneak in a few moments of rest. The sound of the bell startled him awake, just as the holographic image of their teacher appeared at the front of the classroom.


    "Good morning, students. Today, we''ll be discussing the various races within Beta and how you can become part of them. But before we start, I have an announcement," the teacher began.


    Some students shifted nervously as he continued, "A few of you, no names mentioned, did not bother submitting your essay on "My First Class". If that applies to you, please see me after the final class today."


    Tom''s heart sank. He''d completely forgotten about the assignment. "I hope I''m not in too much trouble," he thought, shaking off his nerves to focus on the lecture.


    The teacher''s voice carried on. "As you know, Beta has a multitude of races, each with distinct advantages and disadvantages. Most players begin as part of the Human Race, which is the most common. Humans gain an additional stat point in every attribute upon leveling up, alongside the 10 free distributable points. This can be particularly beneficial for classes that utilize all stats."


    A student raised his hand. "Teacher, does that mean if my class doesn''t benefit from all stats, I should consider changing my race?"


    "Good question," the teacher replied. "In general, yes, optimizing your stats is a good reason to consider a race change. However, there''s more to it than just numbers. Races like Elves and Dwarves belong to humanoid factions, making them easy to integrate into the Human Domain. Meanwhile, Beastfolk, known for their mercenary work, may face prejudice in certain areas."


    The teacher''s tone grew more serious. "Now, if you decide to join the Undead faction, choosing races like Vampires or other undead creatures, you''ll be barred from the Human Domain altogether unless you possess a disguise artifact. However, the Undead faction has incredibly powerful races. Vampires, for example, are highly sought after by players and inhabitants of beta, because of their regenerative abilities and longevity."


    The teacher wrapped up with a piece of advice: "I''d recommend waiting until you''re at least level 100 before considering a race change. By then, you''ll better understand your class and how you want to specialize. Life in Beta can be unpredictable, and circumstances might force you to make difficult decisions."


    The class wrapped up with a deep dive into the pros and cons of Elves and Dwarves, leaving Tom''s mind buzzing. As the teacher''s hologram faded, he reminded the class: "Don''t forget, we meet tomorrow at 8 AM sharp in Beta at the marketplace!"


    With that, the hologram disappeared, and the lesson ended.


    The rest of the school day passed quickly. By the time the final bell rang, Tom was slouched in his chair, completely drained. Felix walked over to him, grinning as always.


    "Yo, what''s up, Tom?"


    "Nothing much. Just tired," Tom replied.


    "I feel you. I was grinding till 3 AM last night, haha."


    "Same... same..." Tom muttered.


    Felix smirked. "You wanna grab a bite?"


    Tom hesitated but decided to be honest. "I can''t. I forgot my homework and need to see the teacher."


    Felix burst out laughing. "Damn, Tom! You''ve got guts, man. Good luck!"


    Tom gathered his things and made his way to the teacher''s office. Inside, he was surprised to see a Beta capsule instead of a traditional desk. Moments later, the capsule opened, and Mr. Bunwald stepped out, stretching casually before sitting across from Tom.


    Tom fidgeted nervously, but Mr. Bunwald reassured him. "Relax. You''re not in trouble."


    Tom let out a relieved sigh.


    "Just don''t let it happen again," the teacher continued. "I understand Beta is exciting. It was for me, too. Back when I was your age, I even skipped school just to spend more time in Beta. I thought it was the peak of my life. But trust me, paying attention here will save you from making avoidable mistakes later."If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    Tom nodded earnestly. "You''re right, Mr. Bunwald. I''ll do better."


    As the teacher''s watch beeped, signaling their time was up, he climbed back into his capsule. "Remember, don''t be late for tomorrow''s session in Beta."


    Tom left the office, the teacher''s advice echoing in his mind. "What will he think when he finds out I already picked a class without consulting anyone?" he wondered.


    At home, Tom reheated leftovers from the fridge and checked the forums before logging into Beta. Seeing no new interest in Pech''s potions and remembering Pech''s recent mood, he decided to skip visiting him today.


    As he prepared to dive back into the game, a thought lingered in his mind: "Didn''t Pech mention something about the Darkness?"


    Tom began his search in the forums by typing "Darkness," hoping to find some clues. Instead, he stumbled upon a collection of cosplays. Though irrelevant, he decided to bookmark the page, just in case his research led him back here. For now, he resolved to ask Pablo later if he knew anything about it.


    With a few hours to spare before his tavern shift, Tom decided to revisit the kobold cave. Thanks to his slightly increased agility compared to the day before, he managed to reach the cave in just 50 minutes.


    This time, Tom exercised more caution. Using the identification lens, he could quickly determine which kobolds to target and which pelts were worth taking. The lens saved him a lot of time and effort, allowing him to avoid unnecessary risks. Additionally, his new spatial pouch meant he no longer needed to lug around a massive sack everywhere. However, before heading back to town, he transferred the pelts into a regular sack. After all, he didn''t want to raise suspicion by pulling items out of thin air.


    After dropping off the pelts at Casper''s shop, Tom noticed something unusual on his way to the tavern since there were significantly more soldiers patrolling the city than usual. This only fueled his curiosity about the so-called "Darkness." Was this increased security somehow connected?


    When Tom arrived at the tavern, he was met with an unexpected surprise.


    "Hey, BOY!" someone called out.


    Looking over, Tom saw Dickson and his friends gathered near the entrance. Though still grateful for their help, Tom couldn''t ignore the question on his mind.


    "Don''t you guys still have a few days left on your ban?" he asked.


    Dickson and his group laughed heartily. "Oh, come on," one of them said. "Pablo could never stay mad at his best customers for long. We spend way too much here, haha!"


    Just then, Pablo emerged carrying a tray full of drinks. He overheard the comment and couldn''t resist chiming in.


    "If you paid half as much as you claim, I''d have retired years ago, you loudmouths!" he shot back with a grin.


    The table erupted in laughter, and even Tom and Pablo joined in. The mood was light and carefree until Tom innocently asked: "By the way, have you guys ever heard of something called the Darkness?"


    The atmosphere shifted in an instant. It was as if he had uttered a forbidden word. The laughter stopped, and everyone froze, staring at him with wide eyes.


    Pablo''s expression darkened as he reached out and gripped Tom''s shoulder with a firmness that was borderline painful. "Where did you hear that, boy?!" His voice was low and tense, his brow furrowed in a way Tom had never seen before. Not even when the tavern had been wrecked during the bar brawl.


    "I¡­ I overheard someone say, "The Darkness is coming". I didn''t think much of it, but then I saw all the extra guards patrolling the city¡­ I¡­I don''t know anything else!" Tom stammered, his voice faltering under Pablo''s intense gaze.


    Pablo glanced around the tavern, ensuring no one else was eavesdropping. Then, without a word, he motioned for everyone to follow him. His gesture left no room for argument.


    They moved to a secluded room at the back of the tavern. Pablo closed the door firmly behind them, the heavy click of the lock amplifying the tension in the room. Tom''s nerves were on edge. What have I gotten myself into? he thought.


    Dickson broke the uneasy silence. "He''s going to find out sooner or later. Might as well tell him now."


    Pablo''s face was grim as he nodded. His voice was heavy, carrying the weight of old wounds. "Tell him."


    One of Dickson''s companions stepped forward. "The Darkness... it refers to the undead faction," he explained. "For the past year, the frontline between the human and undead domains has been steadily pushed back. It''s only a day''s march from this city now, right at the edge of the territories."


    The words hit Tom like a blow. He blinked in shock. "But... why isn''t anyone talking about this? Why keep it a secret?"


    The man sighed deeply. "What do you think would happen if people knew? As soon as rumors spread, panic would follow. Citizens would flee westward, leaving the city crippled. The economy would collapse. With no food production, no weapons, no infrastructure. It would make this city a sitting duck, and the undead would overrun it. Everyone left behind would die, and the frontline would shift even further into human territory."


    Tom''s stomach churned. The reality of it all began to sink in. "Then how do you know about this?" he asked hesitantly.


    No one answered. The silence stretched, heavy and suffocating. Finally, Pablo stood up and walked out of the room without a word. Tom stared after him, confused and uneasy.


    It was Dickson who broke the silence. "We''re not just random drunks, boy. We all came from a city east of here, around a week''s march away. Twenty years ago, we lived normal lives there. I was in the city guard, along with these men. Pablo was part of a supply team, tasked with transporting food." His voice grew heavier as he spoke. "What''s happening here now... it''s exactly what happened to our city back then."


    Tom frowned. "But you survived, didn''t you? Why is Pablo so angry about it?"


    One of Dickson''s comrades spoke up, his tone grim. "What do you think is the first to fall when a city is attacked?"


    Tom hesitated. "The citizens?"


    The man shook his head. "No. It''s the soldiers. The ones standing between the monsters and the people."


    The pieces fell into place in Tom''s mind, and the realization hit him like a hammer. "Then how did you¡­"


    Dickson''s voice was low, almost a whisper. "We deserted."


    The admission hung heavy in the air. "We were only 18 years old back then. We joined the army thinking we could protect our city. But when the west gate fell, we abandoned our armor and ran. We left everything behind."


    Tom''s breath caught in his throat. For the first time, he understood the crushing guilt these men carried. "And Pablo?" he asked softly.


    Dickson''s face darkened further. "We all lost our families that day. But Pablo¡­ he watched his little brother die right in front of him."


    Tom''s words caught in his throat, and the room was engulfed in silence. The weight of the past pressed down on all of them, suffocating and unrelenting. No one spoke for several minutes.

 Fighting the Class Teacher

    Everyone left the room in silence, the weight of the conversation still lingering heavily in the air. For Tom, the impending war wasn''t as terrifying as it might have been. As a player, death meant only the loss of one level and a 12 hour respawn timer in the nearest town. With a few hours of effort, he could recover from any setback.


    But for Pablo and the others¡­death meant permanence. There would be no respawn, no second chance. They would be gone forever. What can I do? Tom wondered, the question gnawing at his mind. In just a few days, Pablo, Dickson, Casper, Smork and even Pech, that swindling rogue had earned a place in his heart. All of them had helped him in one way or another.


    The question now was, how could he help them?


    The rest of the evening unfolded differently than usual. The tension surrounding Pablo was palpable, and the two barely exchanged words. When it was time for Tom to leave, he made sure to say goodbye, but Pablo only gave him a slight nod. Even that small gesture spoke volumes about the turmoil Pablo was grappling with. Forgotten emotions, long buried, were resurfacing, and even at his age, Pablo struggled to confront them.


    Another sleepless night followed. Tom''s mind raced with thoughts of what he could possibly do to help. By morning, he was still without an answer.


    That day, Tom didn''t rush his morning routine. His class was meeting at the market square in the city later, so there was no need to hurry. One advantage of Beta''s mechanics was the alignment of spawn locations with real-world geography. Because of this, nearly everyone in his class had spawned in the same city.


    Tom entered his capsule and reappeared in Beta, right in front of the tavern where he had logged out the previous night. Casting one last glance toward the tavern, he began walking toward the square.


    Despite the early hour, the streets were already bustling with activity. As Tom neared the marketplace, he spotted some of his classmates heading in the same direction. When he arrived at the square, the entire class of 25 students was gathered in one spot, buzzing with anticipation. Everyone was eager to see what their teacher looked like in-game. All they knew from his lessons was that he belonged to a melee class.


    A man in a simple robe carrying a katana approached the group. His face was immediately recognizable as their teacher''s. Even Tom was taken aback by the imposing sword hanging at his hip.


    "It seems everyone''s here," Mr. Bunwald said after a quick headcount. "Follow me."


    He led the students to a training ground resembling a medieval arena. "Alright, students," he announced. "Please divide into two groups: those who have already chosen a class on the right, and those who haven''t on the left."


    The class split into nearly equal groups. Eleven students had already chosen their class, while fourteen had not. Tom naturally joined the first group.


    Felix nudged him. "Bro, you didn''t tell me you''d already picked your class! So, what is it?"


    Tom grinned. "You''ll see later."


    Felix smirked. "Alright then, keep your secrets."


    Mr. Bunwald addressed the group again. "Those of you without a class should pay close attention today. This exercise will show the advantages and disadvantages of being a melee fighter, ranged attacker, mage, and so on." He turned to two girls in the group. "Lilly and Lena, since you both have support classes, you can choose a partner to team up with."


    He then looked at Felix. "Felix, you''re also technically a support class, but you''ll have to face me alone."


    The students murmured among themselves as Mr. Bunwald confirmed their suspicions. "You heard correctly. Each of you will fight me one-on-one. Don''t worry; I''ll mostly dodge and parry your attacks." He paused, a sly grin spreading across his face. "Mostly."


    Several students gulped nervously at the idea of facing their fearsome teacher. The two supporters chose their partners, and everyone else prepared for their turn. Those not currently fighting stood outside the arena, watching closely.


    "Felix, you''re up first," Mr. Bunwald announced.


    "Lucky me," Felix muttered, trying to mask his nerves. It didn''t work.This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it


    "Before you attack, tell your classmates your level, class, and strengths," the teacher instructed.


    "Of course," Felix replied. "I''m level 27, a Banner Knight. My strengths are power-leveling and boosting my allies through banner buffs."


    "Very good," Mr. Bunwald said. "Now, attack me."


    Both knew that Banner Knights weren''t meant for direct combat, but that didn''t mean they were defenseless. Felix planted his banner in the ground before sprinting toward his teacher, drawing a short sword as he closed the distance. His attacks were unpolished but relentless, yet Mr. Bunwald parried each strike with ease.


    Occasionally, the teacher struck back with the flat of his blade or his scabbard, hitting Felix in various places. The blows barely fazed Felix. After all, the primary stat of a Banner Knight was vitality. Banner Knights could later share their HP with their banner, making them nearly unkillable. Not invulnerable, but close enough.


    "That''s enough," Mr. Bunwald declared, pushing Felix back.


    "As you can see," he said to the class, "Banner Knights aren''t particularly strong in combat. However, they''re incredibly durable and can take a lot of punishment. Later, you can earn good money power-leveling other players by tanking large groups of monsters while they do the killing. You can find more information online. Next!"


    Felix joined Tom outside the arena. "Not bad. You held your ground," Tom said.


    Felix shook his arms, which were starting to go numb. "Our teacher is a monster," he muttered. "He didn''t hold back at all when parrying my attacks."


    Tom chuckled at his friend''s complaint.


    One by one, the other students fought Mr. Bunwald. Archers, swordsmen, healers¡­ Tom saw it all that day.


    Finally, Mr. Bunwald called out, "Next up is Tom Stein."


    Tom stepped forward, his classmates murmuring in surprise. Even Mr. Bunwald seemed intrigued. "I have to say, Tom, I didn''t expect you to have already chosen a class."


    Tom laughed nervously, scratching his neck. "It all happened so fast, I forgot to tell you. Sorry, Mr. Bunwald."


    "Hmmm," the teacher mused. "Tell me and your classmates what class you picked."


    "Uh, well, I''m a Brawler, level 20, and¡­ honestly, I don''t know what I''m particularly good at besides close combat."


    Some of his classmates burst into laughter. "What? You picked a class without even knowing what it''s good at? What an idiot!" one boy shouted, and others joined in.


    Mr. Bunwald''s expression darkened. "Not bad," he said suddenly.


    The laughter died instantly. The class stared at their teacher in disbelief.


    "For those of you laughing," he said coldly, "Brawler is an uncommon class. It''s a strong melee class specializing in killing boss monsters and one-on-one combat."


    Even Tom was surprised. "A boss killer?" he thought.


    Mr. Bunwald continued. "And the fact that you''re already level 20 shows you''ve gained some experience in combat."


    This wasn''t surprising. Tom had the second-highest level in the class, behind Felix. However, one student scoffed, "He was probably power-leveled by Felix''s parents!"


    "Exactly!" others chimed in.


    "If you don''t know what you''re talking about, keep quiet!" Mr. Bunwald snapped.


    Pointing to Tom''s gear, he added, "His equipment is made entirely of pelts and furs from monsters in this region. If I''m not mistaken, you''ve learned skinning and gathered the materials yourself, haven''t you?"


    "Yes, I have," Tom replied.


    "And that hood on your back¡­ put it on."


    Tom hesitated but complied, though it embarrassed him. The students who had laughed earlier prepared to mock him again until Tom shot them a glare. A chill ran down their spines as if they were staring into the eyes of a beast. The room fell silent.


    "Not bad," Mr. Bunwald said. "Now, show everyone what your class can do."


    Tom wasted no time, charging straight at his teacher. He launched a flurry of punches and kicks, but Mr. Bunwald deflected every attack with the flat of his blade and scabbard. Yet, Tom grew faster with each strike.


    "Impressive, boy. It seems you''ve already unlocked your main skill," the teacher remarked.


    The fight continued for another minute before Mr. Bunwald called it off. "That''s enough."


    He stepped back, evaluating Tom. "Not bad for a first attempt, but you need to learn how to use your surroundings. Without a primary weapon, you''ll have to get creative. Against a swordsman, you''re at a disadvantage unless you can avoid every strike."


    He addressed the class one last time. "Alright, everyone. That''s it for today. Make sure to think carefully before choosing your class."


    Then he turned to Tom. "Stay behind, please."


    "Again?" Tom groaned internally.


    As everyone left, only Tom and Mr. Bunwald remained behind.


    "Don''t worry, I just have a tip for you," Mr. Bunwald said once they were alone.


    "A tip?" Tom asked, intrigued.


    "How have you been distributing your stat points so far?" Mr. Bunwald asked.


    "Two in Vitality and Strength for every one point in Agility," Tom replied.


    "Just as I thought," Mr. Bunwald said, nodding. "Since you''ve distributed your points like this, you should consider following the boss-killer path. More Agility would have been necessary for a duelist build. While you can still switch if you really want to, focusing on being a boss-killer is a great way to earn good money."


    "How do you know all this?" Tom asked, his curiosity piqued.


    "My class is Samurai," Mr. Bunwald explained. "I specialize in boss-killing as well and currently work for an agency. My situation is a bit unique, so I can''t go into too much detail."


    He paused, then added, "However, if you''re serious about pursuing the boss-killer route, I might be able to recommend you to my agency in the future."


    "Really?!" Tom asked, his excitement obvious.


    "Yes," Mr. Bunwald confirmed with a slight smile. "But that''s only if you continue to prove yourself. Your first milestone should be reaching Level 100. Once you do that, we can discuss it further."


    "Keep me updated," Mr. Bunwald said as he turned to leave the arena.


    Level 100¡­ Tom thought to himself.

 Wake up call

    Tom decided to clear his mind, and what better way to do that than smashing some monsters?


    With more time on his hands today than usual, he decided to delve deeper into the caves. Beforehand, he had checked the forums for advice on avoiding the dungeon''s more dangerous areas. Now, he would intentionally do the opposite, venturing into the paths he had previously avoided.


    On his way, he encountered a few patrols of kobolds. However, since he was already several levels above them, they posed no threat. After about 20 minutes of traversing the cave system, Tom saw a light at the end of the tunnel. This wasn''t the usual flickering glow of torches but rather a steady, radiant light.


    When he reached the end of the passage, he stood in awe. Before him stretched a massive lava lake, its orange glow lighting up the cavern. Around the lake, multiple kobold camps were scattered, with kobolds either resting or hard at work.


    Tom was perched on a sort of air vent on the cliffside. To descend, he would have to rappel down. The heat in the area was palpable, even though he was nowhere near the lava itself.


    He pulled out a potion from his pouch a low-grade fire resistance potion he had purchased before setting out. Tom had read that prolonged exposure to this environment caused debilitating effects, and he wasn''t about to take any chances.


    Next, he took out a rope. Since this descent point was frequently used by adventurers, metal carabiners had already been hammered into the wall. Tom secured his rope and carefully lowered himself to the ground.


    As he approached the first camp, he observed about 30 kobolds in the vicinity. A handful were gathered around a fire pit, where a large cauldron bubbled. Though he could vaguely make out bones in the pot, he chose not to think too hard about their origin.


    A larger kobold approached the resting ones, kicked a sleeping kobold awake, and barked something in their guttural language. The idle kobolds immediately returned to work, while the larger one lay down by the fire and closed its eyes.


    Even among kobolds, there seems to be a hierarchy, Tom thought.


    Now that the camp was nearly empty, except for the large kobold, Tom waited a bit longer to ensure it was truly asleep before creeping closer to the fire pit. He pulled out a bundle of herbs, a concoction designed to make creatures lethargic and eventually fall asleep. Since the effects were gradual, the kobolds would hopefully not realize what was happening until it was too late.


    As he turned to leave the fire pit, Tom accidentally nudged a wooden bowl, causing it to roll noisily across the rocky ground.


    He froze, eyes locked on the large kobold. When it didn''t react, he let out a quiet sigh of relief and retreated.


    Tom repeated the process with three more camps, spreading the herb mixture into their fire pits. He wasn''t sure if he could handle all four camps with roughly 30 kobolds each, but the herbs were cheap, and there was no harm in trying.


    With his work done, Tom only needed to wait. Having nothing else to do in the meantime, he decided to log out and grab a meal.


    When he entered the kitchen, his mother had just finished cooking.


    "Hey, Mom. Smells amazing," Tom said, taking a seat at the table.


    "Oh, there''s my big boy. Come here," his mom said, giving him a kiss on the cheek and a hug.


    "Maaaam, I''m not a kid anymore," he protested.


    "Hmpf¡­ is that so? I guess grown-ups cook for themselves then," she teased.


    "Come on, Mom, you know what I mean."If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    His mom smiled and playfully pinched his cheeks. "My little boy is growing up so fast. But don''t forget me when you leave me for another woman."


    Tom laughed at her antics, and the two enjoyed a warm meal together.


    As they finished, his mom stopped him before he could leave.


    "Tom, before you go, I want us to meet later in Beta. I have something for you," she said.


    "Mom, you know you don''t have to give me anything."


    "Quiet and just do what I say. You''re still my son, so listen to your mom," she said, her eyes filled with warmth rather than reprimand.


    "Okay, Mom, I''ll message you later," he promised.


    "Good. Take care, sweetie," she said, letting him go.


    Tom returned to Beta, where it had been two hours since he infiltrated the camps.


    To his dismay, the kobolds in the first camp were still eating. Deciding not to rush things, he waited.


    Fifteen minutes later, the kobolds began yawning and slumping from fatigue. One by one, they fell asleep, while others noticed something was off but couldn''t muster the strength to act.


    When Tom saw that all were asleep, he stepped out of his hiding spot.


    Carefully approaching the first kobold, who sat alone by a rock, he nudged it lightly with his foot. The kobold let out a small growl but merely slumped over and continued sleeping.


    Relieved, Tom took out an axe from his spatial pouch. While he wasn''t proficient with axes, he needed a weapon capable of delivering lethal blows in one hit.


    The first kobold was lying on its side. Tom raised the axe as if chopping wood and brought it down with all his strength. A massive "-10,000" floated above the kobold, which died instantly.


    Checking his surroundings to ensure no one had woken up, Tom systematically moved from kobold to kobold, decapitating them.


    What a glorious way to farm experience, he thought, grinning.


    In the center of the camp, two kobolds remained: one regular-sized and the larger one he had seen earlier. Tom decided to save the larger kobold for last and approached the smaller one.


    Lifting the axe, he swung it down, but something went wrong.


    Instead of landing a clean hit, the blade only nicked the kobold''s neck. While this would have killed a human, it wasn''t enough for a monster.


    The kobold let out a shriek before Tom, panicking, struck again and finished it off.


    The noise, however, had already done its damage. The large kobold''s eyes snapped open, and upon seeing Tom standing amidst the bodies of its kin, it roared in rage and charged.


    Caught off guard, Tom tried to raise the axe, but the kobold was too fast, slashing his chest with its claws. Tom''s health plummeted by over a third as he stumbled back.


    Realizing the axe was a liability, Tom dropped it and prepared for hand-to-hand combat.


    What followed was a brutal exchange of blows. The kobold had the upper hand due to Tom''s injuries, and he needed a plan fast.


    Glancing around, an idea struck him.


    He slowly retreated toward the fire pit, giving the kobold the illusion of victory. The fire had died down, leaving only embers and glowing wood.


    With a swift kick, Tom sent the embers flying into the kobold''s face, temporarily blinding it. Taking advantage of the moment, Tom grabbed the cauldron hanging over the pit, spun it, and slammed it into the kobold''s head.


    To his relief, the game didn''t penalize him for using an improvised weapon.


    The kobold staggered but wasn''t out. Tom didn''t let up, kicking it to the ground before delivering a final, powerful blow with the axe.


    Breathing heavily, Tom surveyed the aftermath. His health was down to just 20%, but he was thrilled by the rare loot and experience he had gained.


    Inspecting the large kobold''s pelt with his new magnifying lens, he was elated to see it wasn''t just uncommon.


    [Rare Kobold Hide]


    Used for crafting armor


    A rare monster! Tom thought excitedly. But his excitement was short-lived as a chilling realization hit him. If this kobold was rare, what had that other creature been¡­ the one that had almost killed him in the deeper caves?


    Cold sweat formed on his brow as he recalled his narrow escape. If only I had that pelt¡­ he thought wistfully.


    He had checked for the previous kobold''s body the day before, but it was gone without a trace.


    Shaking off his thoughts, Tom continued looting the camp, finding several uncommon glowing items and, most importantly, a pile of ore the kobolds had been mining.


    The sight left him speechless. This must be worth a fortune! he thought.


    Though he couldn''t carry everything, he resolved to take as much uncommon ore as possible, using his magnifying lens to pick out the valuable pieces.


    After filling his spatial pouch, he moved on to the next camp. With the kobolds asleep, he dispatched them efficiently and looted the area.


    The third camp was no different, but as Tom entered the fourth, he encountered something entirely unexpected.


    A horn was blowing, and the sound of it echoed across the entire area of the lava lake.


    Tom was halfway through his task when suddenly all the kobolds'' eyes snapped open, as if the sound of the horn was their wake-up call.


    The kobolds woke up groggy and confused, unsure of what had just happened. But as they looked around and saw their fallen comrades lying lifeless on the ground, they began screaming one after another, their cries of alarm echoing in the camp.


    Tom, however, was already fleeing toward his rope.


    He didn''t know what the sound of the horn signified, but he had no intention of sticking around to find out.

 Can you stop staring at my mom?

    As Tom reached the rope, he climbed it with speed and precision.


    Once at the top, he quickly removed the rope from the carabiner hook and let it drop. The rope wasn''t expensive, and Tom didn''t have the time to pack it up. Without stopping to fight or engage, he sprinted toward the surface.


    Fortunately, he only encountered a few scattered kobolds on the way up. These he simply shoved aside and kept running.


    Finally, he reached the surface. An unsettling feeling crept over him, prompting him to immediately tear apart a teleportation scroll. Moments later, he appeared just outside the city gates.


    "Phew..." Tom exhaled deeply, trying to catch his breath. Once inside the city, he ducked into a secluded alley and retrieved his trusty sack, filling it with all the pelts he had collected.


    He counted 81 pelts in total, satisfied with the haul. At Casper''s workshop, after some light small talk, he presented his loot.


    "Not bad, boy! I can give you 4,000 gold coins for these," Casper said.


    Tom''s face lit up with excitement. This was his second-largest payday, topped only by the day he had found the spatial pouch.


    "Is Smork here?" Tom asked.


    "Yes, but he''s swamped with a big commission for the next few days. Do you need something from him?" Casper replied.


    "No, never mind," Tom said, shaking his head. He had wanted to ask about upgrading his gear with different types of pelts, such as the kobold pelts, but it wasn''t urgent and could wait.


    Next, Tom made his way to the tavern, hoping to speak with Pablo before his shift began in an hour.


    When he entered, he spotted Pablo sitting alone at a table, sipping his beer. Tom grabbed a juice from the bar and sat down across from him. For a while, neither of them said a word. Just as Tom was about to speak, Pablo broke the silence.


    "Sorry I''ve been so distant. You''re a good kid," Pablo said, his tone heavy.


    Tom didn''t know how to respond, but Pablo continued. "I''ve spoken with a few contacts. They think it''ll be another one or two years before the Force of Darkness reaches this city. When that day comes, I''ve already decided that I''ll stay and fight."


    Tom was surprised. "Why?" he asked.


    Pablo clenched his fists tightly. "I''ve run away before. I''ve started over from nothing. But I''m tired of running, of letting them take my home."


    Tom could see the determination in Pablo''s eyes. He silently resolved to help when the time came.


    Pablo noticed Tom''s distant expression and asked, "Why are you here early, boy? Did you need something?"


    Tom snapped out of his thoughts and nodded. "I know we''re not supposed to use real weapons, but I was wondering, what if we had tools to enhance our fists? Would that be allowed?"


    Pablo grinned. "Smart thinking, kid. You''re right. There are ways to enhance your fists. For example, you can attach spikes to your gloves to deal more damage with every hit. The same goes for your boots. But there''s an even better option."


    Pablo leaned closer. "I was waiting for the right time to tell you about this. There''s a blacksmith in the eastern district, near the old bridge. He''s an old acquaintance of mine. If you have time, you should pay him a visit."


    A notification popped up in front of Tom.


    [Class Quest Detected]


    Pablo has suggested you visit his contact in the eastern district near the old bridge to seek tools that enhance your fighting style.


    Tom glanced at the clock. He had about 50 minutes to spare, but after a quick calculation, he realized he wouldn''t have enough time. He had another meeting scheduled.


    "I''ll be back soon," Tom told Pablo before dashing toward the marketplace.The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.


    About 15 minutes later, Tom arrived at the bustling square. He scanned the area but didn''t see the person he was waiting for. Suddenly, two arms wrapped around him from behind in a tight embrace.


    "Who''s my big boy?" a familiar voice cooed.


    Tom struggled to free himself but quickly realized his stats weren''t high enough to overpower the person. "Mom, people can see us!" he protested.


    "So what? I don''t care," his mother teased.


    Tom wanted to argue that he cared, but he held his tongue, knowing better than to provoke her.


    Turning around, he got his first look at his mother''s in-game character. She wore a slightly revealing outfit: a knee-length skirt, leather boots, a red vest, and a white blouse. She even had a bow tie and a black top hat. At her hip hung a staff with a small orb on one end.


    Tom stared at her, confused. He knew his mother was a Beastmaster, a class known for commanding powerful creatures in battle. Yet her appearance looked more fitting for a circus performer.


    His mother noticed his confusion and chuckled. "You''re wondering about my beasts, aren''t you? I left them in Wellhaven before teleporting here."


    Tom finally understood. His mother had spawned in a different city since she had moved to their current region only 12 years ago. In real-world terms, her original spawn location was about 300 kilometers away.


    "How did you get here?" Tom asked.


    "Well, I know a guy who happens to be a Spatial Mage," she said with a wink.


    "Wow, really?!"


    Tom was amazed. Spatial Mages were a rare class, renowned not for their combat prowess but for their ability to craft Spatial Pouches, making them incredibly wealthy.


    "How do you even know someone like that?" Tom wondered aloud.


    His mother smirked playfully. "A girl has her secrets," she said, putting a finger to her lips.


    "Anyway," she continued, pulling out a pouch from her pocket, "I''ve been holding onto this for you. It''s a Spatial Pouch. A bag that lets you store items without worrying about weight."


    She handed it to him proudly, expecting a stunned reaction.


    Tom smiled faintly. "Thanks, Mom."


    Disappointed by his lack of enthusiasm, she clarified, "You do realize these are expensive, right? And I managed to get you one with two square meters of storage."


    Tom didn''t have the heart to tell her he already owned one. Not wanting to hurt her feelings, he feigned surprise. "Wow, two square meters! Thanks, Mom. You''re the best!" He quickly hugged her to sell the act.


    Satisfied, his mother returned the hug. "As long as you''re happy," she said with a smile.


    Then, out of nowhere, she added, "Since I''m here, I''d like to meet this Pablo you''ve mentioned."


    "What?!" Tom exclaimed, startled.


    His mother gave him a sharp look. "Why not? Are you hiding something from me?"


    Tom stammered, unable to come up with an excuse. Resigned, he led her toward the tavern, silently praying that some of the bar''s more colorful antics would stay under wraps.


    Tom and his mother approached the tavern at a leisurely pace, taking about half an hour to arrive. By the time they reached the entrance, it was almost time for Tom to start his shift.


    As they got closer, a familiar voice called out, "Hey, Tom! Come sit down and have a drink with us!"


    Tom felt a cold sweat run down his back. Thankfully, his mother did not seem to think he would actually drink alcohol.


    "And who is the beauty next to you? Bring her along too, haha!" the man shouted, laughing.


    Tom walked over to Dickson''s table, leaning in to whisper, "Hey, that''s my mom. Show some respect!"


    "Oops, my bad, kid. But you never told us your mom is such a knockout," Dickson whispered back. "Is she single?"


    "Watch it, you¡­" Tom started to say but stopped when his mother stepped forward.


    "For your information, mister, I am single," she said with a smile. Her expression quickly changed, and she continued, "But I have no interest in drunken lechers like you."


    The rest of the table burst into laughter.


    "She really got you, Dickson. Hats off to the lady," one of them said, still chuckling.


    Dickson looked slightly embarrassed, realizing she had overheard him. He had only meant to tease Tom a little.


    "We''re heading inside," Tom said hurriedly. "Maybe see you later."


    When Tom and his mother entered the tavern, it was still relatively quiet since it was early in the evening. Fortunately, Pablo was behind the bar with the serving maid, washing glasses.


    "Hey, Pablo," Tom greeted. "I''m back."


    "Hey, boy, I just¡­" Pablo stopped mid-sentence as he looked up and saw Tom''s mother.


    "And who is the young lady you have with you? Your sister?" Pablo asked, his tone unusually casual.


    Tom noticed something strange in Pablo''s expression as he looked at his mother, but he could not figure out what it was.


    His mother smiled warmly and answered for him, "Oh, I wish I were young enough to pass as his sister. No, I''m his mother, Tina. It''s a pleasure to meet you. Tom has told me a lot about you." She extended her hand politely.


    "It''s¡­ it''s an honor," Pablo stammered, his voice stiff as he reached out with a slightly trembling hand for a handshake.


    They shook hands, and Tom could not help but notice how strange Pablo was acting. Was his mother really making him that nervous?


    "Please continue to look after my son," Tina said. "Even though he can be a bit of a troublemaker, he is a good boy."


    "Mom, this is so embarrassing," Tom muttered quietly, tugging at her sleeve.


    "Hahaha, don''t worry, your son would never cause me any trouble," Pablo said with a grin.


    "Then I''m relieved," Tina replied, smiling warmly.


    "I''ll leave you two now since I need to get back. Take care of yourselves," she said as she turned to leave.


    With those words, she exited the tavern.


    Pablo''s eyes lingered on her as she walked away, until Tom''s voice snapped him back to reality.


    "Hey, can you stop staring at my mom like that?"


    Pablo quickly averted his gaze, scratching the back of his neck nervously. "Eh¡­ I wasn''t staring. I was just thinking about something."


    "Hmm, is that so¡­" Tom said, eyeing him skeptically. He didn''t really believe him but decided to let it slide for now.

 Ah shit, here we go again

    The night and the following school day passed by in a blur. After school, Tom ate quickly and logged back into Beta at his usual spot. This time, he set out for the Eastern District to find the blacksmith Pablo had told him about.


    Tom easily located the bridge Pablo mentioned, but he didn''t see a blacksmith anywhere nearby. Confused, he searched for other bridges but found none in the Eastern District.


    After asking a few passersby, he understood why he couldn''t find it earlier. The blacksmith shop was not a traditional forge. It was just a small, nondescript house. Upon entering, Tom found a door leading to the backyard, where a cellar entrance lay hidden.


    Tom hesitated for a moment, unsure if he was in the right place or about to trespass. Summoning his courage, he opened the cellar door and descended. The sound of hammering on metal reached his ears as he went deeper, and the temperature grew noticeably warmer.


    At the bottom of the stairs, he entered a large room, roughly 40 square meters in size. Facing away from him was a man working at an anvil, hammering horseshoes with rhythmic precision.


    What immediately caught Tom''s attention was that the blacksmith was only a few centimeters taller than himself.


    "Excuse me?" Tom said hesitantly.


    Without turning or even looking at him, the man responded, "What do you want, kid?"


    "I was sent here in search of a weapon," Tom said.


    "I don''t make weapons anymore," the man replied curtly, continuing to hammer away.


    Now that Tom was closer, he realized the man wasn''t crafting a weapon at all. He was forging horseshoes.


    "Uh... I''m not sure if I''m exactly looking for a weapon... at least, I don''t think so," Tom stammered.


    "What do you want, kid? Stop wasting my time."


    "Well, Pablo told me you might be able to help me with something," Tom replied.


    The man stopped hammering at the mention of Pablo''s name. For the first time since the conversation started, he turned to inspect Tom. After a few seconds, he turned back to his work and resumed hammering.


    Unsure of what to do, Tom stayed rooted in place, wondering if the smith would help him or not.


    "Don''t just stand there like a statue. If you want me to craft something for you, help me out first," the smith said abruptly.


    Tom quickly stepped forward. "What can I do for you, Mr...?"


    "Stahl," the man replied.


    "Alright, Mr. Stahl. What do you need me to do?"


    "See that forge over there? Keep it running hot by adding coal from the pile next to it."


    Tom did as instructed and started shoveling coal into the forge.


    "Now, feed the iron ore into the other opening," Stahl instructed.


    Tom began alternating between shoveling coal and adding ore. The process took about 20 minutes before Stahl finally walked over. He placed a stone mold in front of the forge, pulled a lever, and the molten metal started flowing into the mold.


    From the mold, 20 horseshoes took shape. Stahl inspected them with a satisfied look and then turned his attention back to Tom.


    "You''ve got two minutes. What do you want?"If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    Tom thought Stahl''s abruptness was a bit intense. "Pablo mentioned you could help me craft a weapon suitable for a brawler."


    Stahl raised an eyebrow but quickly composed himself.


    "Alright. I can give you two options. First, leave me 10,000 gold coins, and I''ll craft you something using materials I can find on the market. Don''t expect anything special if I use standard materials.


    "Second, I have a task for you. About an hour''s walk from here, there''s a cave filled with kobolds. If you go deep enough into their tunnels, you''ll find a mining area with high-quality ores. Sneak in or fight your way through and bring back some of the ore. Three or four pieces should be enough."


    A quest window appeared before Tom, but before he could even look at it, he interrupted. "Do you mean these ores?" He reached into his spatial pouch and poured out its contents in front of Stahl.


    Deciding to trust the smith, Tom revealed his pouch. Since Pablo had recommended him, Tom didn''t think Stahl was the type to take advantage of him.


    "What do you..." Stahl started but stopped mid-sentence when he saw the pile of ore spilling out. For a moment, he was speechless.


    "Did you rob the entire mine, kid?" Stahl said with a hearty laugh. "Not bad. With these, I could craft you two weapons. One for each hand."


    Tom was ecstatic to hear this. "I have a question about payment. How about I leave you all the ore, and you keep 50 percent of its value? Deduct the crafting costs from the remaining 50 percent and give me back whatever is left the next time we meet."


    Tom knew he was likely overpaying but wanted to build a good relationship with the smith, hoping Stahl might put extra effort into crafting high-quality weapons.


    Stahl considered the offer for a moment but shook his head. "Let''s make it 30/70¡­ 30 for me and the rest for you. I''d feel bad taking that much from you."


    "Deal," Tom said happily, shaking the smith''s hand.


    "One more thing, kid. What kind of weapons are you aiming for? What do you want to specialize in?"


    Tom hadn''t expected such a specific question but already knew the answer.


    "I want to excel against a single strong enemy and similar challenges."


    "Good choice. Come back next Friday. They''ll be ready by then."


    Tom''s quest log updated, and the previous task to gather ore disappeared, replaced with a new quest:


    [Class Quest Update] Wait one week for Stahl to craft your weapons. Return on Friday to pick them up.


    With nothing left to do but wait, Tom left the smithy and headed for a new leveling area.


    The tactic he had used with the kobolds likely wouldn''t work a second time. He had read in the forums that such strategies could only be used once before monsters adapted. Besides, he still felt uneasy after hearing the horn that had roused all the kobolds from their sleep.


    A week passed since Tom''s visit to the smith. During that time, not much happened apart from his steadily rising level.


    Tom proudly opened his interface to check his progress:


    [Name: Tom Stein]


    [Race: Human]


    [Class: Brawler]


    [Level: 31]


    [Health Points: 1610/1610]


    [Mana: 200/200]


    [Vitality: 151]


    [Strength: 151]


    [Dexterity: 91]


    [Intelligence: 31]


    [Wisdom: 31]


    [Level 10 Skills: Beginner Brawler''s Stance, Punching Fury]


    There was one day left before the agreed meeting with Stahl. At school, Tom and Felix had planned to meet up to hunt monsters together.


    Despite Tom killing monsters daily from midday until evening, and completing his daily quest at Pablo''s, Felix had already reached level 38.


    This was the difference between players who were power-leveled and those who weren''t. Still, Felix only leveled for about two hours a day, during which he killed 150¨C200 monsters. It was nearly double what Tom managed in a day. Felix had initially wanted to help power-level Tom, but when he learned Tom had reached level 31 on his own, he suggested they tackle a dungeon together.


    After meeting at the agreed spot in Beta, Tom immediately asked, "So, where are we headed, bro?"


    "I''ve got some insider information, hehe. Just follow me. I know the perfect spot for us," Felix replied confidently.


    Tom could only smile and follow him, but as they retraced paths that felt all too familiar to Tom, he realized they were heading toward the kobold dungeon. Unlike his previous venture, however, they entered through a different entrance.


    "Aren''t the monsters here a bit weak for us?" Tom asked after they had been in the cave for a few minutes.


    "Tsk, tsk¡­ Patience, my young pupil," Felix teased.


    "This dungeon had a new chamber discovered just a few days ago. It was thought that the mining area on the lower level had the strongest monsters, but apparently, there''s a place even deeper where the monsters range from level 30 to 40."


    "Isn''t that a bit high?" Tom asked nervously. He still couldn''t shake the uneasy feeling that crept over him as he remembered his last encounter in the dungeon.


    "Don''t worry. I read on the forums that the really strong monsters are further inside. Besides, the loot on this level is said to be unmatched by any other leveling area nearby."


    "Really? What kind of loot are we talking about?" Tom asked, his curiosity piqued. He had already killed plenty of kobolds, but what could those deeper down possibly drop that he hadn''t seen before?


    "I read that some of them carry magical artifacts. If we''re lucky, we might even find a spatial pouch. You''ve probably heard of those," Felix explained.


    Tom nodded nervously. The memory of his last encounter in this dungeon flashed vividly in his mind.


    Looks like this won''t just be a casual stroll, Tom thought as he followed Felix further into the cave.

 The Temptation of the Undead

    As Tom and Felix reached deeper into the cave, Felix suddenly stopped and gestured for Tom to be silent.


    Ahead of them stretched a massive chamber. Several kobolds were carrying crudely built wooden crates through the room and taking them deeper into the dungeon.


    "What''s in the crates, and where are they taking them?" Tom asked Felix in a hushed tone.


    "The crates are full of ores, but I''m not sure where they''re bringing them," Felix replied.


    "What could they possibly be doing with so many ores?" Tom wondered aloud.


    "Let''s go deeper. Follow me," Felix said, a mischievous grin on his face.


    "I thought we weren''t going that deep," Tom protested.


    "Oh, don''t be such a scaredy-cat. Together, we can take on all the monsters in this dungeon!" Felix said confidently.


    Tom didn''t want to go further, but Felix had already started moving. Despite his reservations, Tom couldn''t leave Felix to face this alone. He quickly caught up to his friend.


    "I knew I could count on you," Felix said with a grin.


    The two crept further into the room. In the center were countless crates of ore, guarded by several kobolds. Tom was about to attack when Felix grabbed him and pulled him back behind cover. The slight noise from their movement caused one kobold to glance in their direction, but neither of them was seen.


    "What?" Felix whispered.


    "Those aren''t normal kobolds," Tom said with a grim expression. He quickly explained his previous encounter in the cave and how he had nearly died.


    Felix thought for a moment, his eyes scanning the kobolds in the chamber.


    "These are definitely the ones that drop magical items. I recognize them from the pictures on the forums. The enrage effect you described sounds dangerous, but I think we can handle it," Felix reasoned.


    Felix made a move to charge in, but Tom pulled him back again.


    "Dude, stop that and listen. At least pick them off one by one."


    "But how? They''re pretty close together," Felix pointed out.


    Tom had a plan. He picked up a rock and threw it far off to the side. A few kobolds heard the noise and turned to investigate. At the same time, Tom hurled another stone at a nearby kobold and quickly ducked behind cover.


    The startled kobold, hit by the stone, growled angrily and headed toward where the rock had come from. Tom and Felix retreated further into a side tunnel as Tom threw another rock to lure the kobold further in.


    Tom''s plan worked perfectly. As the unsuspecting kobold approached, both of them leaped from their hiding spot. Tom unleashed a flurry of punches while Felix planted his banner and drew his sword. The kobold charged at Felix in a blind rage, ignoring Tom entirely.


    Both attacked relentlessly, but Felix quickly started sweating. "Damn it, my health bar is already at 50%! Hurry up!" he shouted.


    Their strikes became more frantic, and luckily for Felix, the kobold went down before he reached critical health.


    Tom pulled out a health potion and handed it to Felix.


    "Whoa, where did you get potions from?" Felix asked as he drank it. "I thought there weren''t any left in our town. Even the surrounding towns are all out."


    "I have my ways," Tom said with a smirk.


    "Tch¡­ lucky. Hey, did it drop anything?" Felix asked eagerly.


    Tom checked, but to their disappointment, there was no loot. Felix was annoyed that their first opponent dropped nothing, but Tom managed to salvage something by skinning the kobold.


    Watching Tom skillfully handle his knife, Felix whistled. "Not bad, bro," he said, giving him a thumbs-up.


    Tom inspected the hide:


    [Corrupted Kobold Hide]


    A once-normal kobold, corrupted by the darkness.The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    A chill ran down Tom''s spine as he read the description. Just then, a horn echoed through the cave, loud and foreboding.


    "We need to get out of here!" Tom yelled, bolting toward the exit.


    "What? But we just got¡­" Felix started, but the cave began to tremble violently.


    In the center of the chamber, where the crates had been piled, a blue vortex formed, expanding into a shimmering dome. From the vortex emerged eerie figures made of rotting flesh clinging to their bones. Though sluggish in movement, they were clad in heavy plate armor.


    The creatures began collecting the crates, hauling them back into the vortex. More emerged, repeating the process in an endless, unsettling rhythm.


    Felix started to speak, but Tom clamped a hand over his mouth and glared at him, his eyes warning, "Don''t make a sound."


    The worst was yet to come. Another figure stepped through the vortex. This one had crimson red hair and wore clothing that resembled that of nobility. A long black cape, a pristine white shirt, extravagant purple trousers, and pointed leather shoes that emphasized his elegant build. His sharp, angular face exuded an otherworldly beauty, so striking that even Tom found the man mesmerizing.


    The man barked commands at the gathered kobolds, clearly furious about something.


    Tom froze, praying they wouldn''t be noticed. But as if sensing their presence, the man turned his piercing gaze toward their hiding spot.


    The skeletal creatures immediately dropped what they were doing and charged toward them.


    "Run!" Tom shouted, grabbing Felix by the arm and pulling him toward another exit.


    Their escape route was blocked by kobolds, so Tom veered into an unfamiliar tunnel, yelling, "This way!"


    The two ran as fast as they could through the twisting tunnels, the horde of monsters close on their heels. They came to a sudden dead end.


    "Damn it!" Tom cursed.


    "Then we go down fighting!" Felix yelled, throwing himself into the approaching horde.


    "What the hell are you doing?!" Tom screamed, but it was too late. Felix was already battling four monsters at once.


    "You idiot!" Tom shouted, reluctantly joining the fight. He knew Felix had no strategy or experience. If only they had used the narrow corridor to their advantage, they could have fought off the monsters one by one. Instead, they were now surrounded.


    Felix was quickly overwhelmed and fell after just thirty seconds of combat, leaving Tom alone.


    "This is hopeless," Tom thought bitterly. He regretted following Felix into the dungeon. He would lose a level and twelve hours of playtime. He wouldn''t even be able to explain to Pablo why he didn''t show up at the tavern.


    Tom retreated to the narrowest part of the corridor, forcing the monsters to fight him one at a time. He recognized the kobolds'' attack patterns from his earlier battles and managed to dodge most of their strikes.


    The first kobold fell, then the second. With each enemy, Tom grew more precise, taking fewer hits.


    By the fifth kobold, Tom''s health was dangerously low. He pulled a healing potion from his spatial pouch, one of the gifts his mother had included when she gave it to him.


    With five potions left, Tom resolved to make every one count. If he was going to die, he might as well gain as much XP as possible beforehand.


    After defeating twenty kobolds and using three more potions, a grotesque bone monster appeared.


    It attacked sluggishly with sharp claws, and Tom was able to dodge easily. However, every strike he landed on its heavily armored body registered as -0. Even his most powerful attacks did no damage.


    "This can''t be happening," he muttered, striking again and again.


    -0


    -0


    -0


    Frustration consumed him. He aimed for the head, but the monster blocked with its arms every time.


    "I refuse to believe I can''t kill you!" Tom shouted, attacking relentlessly. But after three minutes of futile effort, he made a fatal mistake.


    The monster feinted, then drove its claws deep into Tom''s side. Pain shot through him as he lost 80% of his health in an instant. The creature grabbed him with its bony, decayed hands, immobilizing him.


    Tom struggled but couldn''t break free. Desperate, he reared his head back and smashed it into the creature''s face.


    -50 appeared above Tom''s head, indicating the self-inflicted damage. But to his surprise, a -1 appeared above the monster.


    "Ha! You''re not invincible after all, you filthy pile of bones!" Tom shouted triumphantly.


    But his victory was short-lived. The monster began dragging him toward the vortex at the center of the chamber.


    Nearly all the crates had been transported through the vortex, which Tom assumed was some kind of portal leading to another place.


    The handsome man Tom had seen earlier stood with his back to him, speaking to the kobolds in a harsh tone.


    "Krik nah vork me son!" the man barked.


    One of the kobolds responded angrily, "Hakr sob mrk!" pointing furiously at Tom.


    The man turned sharply, shouting at the kobold, "Kark hodk bak hamak!"


    Reluctantly, the kobolds grumbled and turned away, clearly displeased but obeying the command. Tom couldn''t understand a word, but it was obvious they were talking about him.


    The man turned back to Tom and approached him, his movements fluid and deliberate. He reached out and stroked Tom''s cheek, speaking in his strange language. "Nolk berg hask turn tet?"


    "Get your hands off me, you freak! I don''t understand a word you''re saying!" Tom snapped, biting toward the man''s fingers.


    The skeletal creature holding Tom squeezed tighter, forcing him to stop mid-attack.


    "A feisty one, I see," the man said suddenly in Tom''s language. "So, you don''t speak the monster tongue, young man."


    Tom was stunned that the man could suddenly speak his language.


    "What do you want from me?" Tom demanded. "Just kill me or let me go!"


    "Oh, such anger," the man said with an unsettling smile. He gestured toward the kobolds. "If it were up to them, you''d already be simmering in a pot of soup to fill their bellies. They''ve demanded your death, given the number of their kin you''ve slaughtered."


    The man leaned closer, his crimson eyes boring into Tom''s. "But I¡­ I see potential in you. Serve me, and I will resurrect your body as one of my warriors. With this new form, you will gain immortality and powers beyond your imagination."


    A quest window suddenly appeared before Tom.


    [Race Change Quest Detected]


    Lampus R¨¹diger of the Undead Faction has offered you the chance to become his minion in exchange for an undying body and immense power.


    [Accept] [Decline]


    Tom stared at the quest prompt in shock. He hadn''t expected the opportunity to change his race to come this early in the game!

 The Curse of Flesh

    Tom seriously considered the offer. After all, his teacher had mentioned in class that the undead faction offered powerful classes. But several things troubled him.


    What would it mean to be his minion? Would it entail following his every command without question? And weren''t these the very people planning to attack the city soon? What about his friends in the city? If he switched factions now, wouldn''t that mean betraying their trust and turning his back on them?


    Tom thought about it for a moment, but after all they had done for him, he couldn''t bring himself to betray their trust and kindness.


    "I decline," Tom said firmly, looking the man straight in the eye.


    "You will regret this," the man said, driving his hand into Tom''s chest.


    An overwhelming pain coursed through Tom''s body like never before. He could feel the man grasping his heart with his cold hands, and as if that wasn''t already unbearable, he began squeezing it slowly, torturing him.


    "We will meet again, young adventurer," the man said before crushing Tom''s heart with his hand.


    Tom gasped for air, his breath stolen from him, and before he lost consciousness, he caught a glimpse of a window.


    [You got cursed]


    [You died]


    The next moment, Tom woke up drenched in sweat inside his capsule.


    "Warning! Warning! Heart rate abnormally high. It is recommended to temporarily halt gameplay."


    The robotic voice of the capsule filled the room. Tom ignored it, got out of the capsule, and threw himself onto the bed.


    "What a cluster fuck," he muttered, staring at the ceiling.


    His phone started ringing.


    Tom saw it was Felix but declined the call. He wasn''t in the mood to talk to his friend.


    The phone rang again. And again.


    By the fourth call, Tom was frustrated and answered with a sharp tone.


    "WHAT!?"


    "Uh... Hey bro. Look, I''m sorry, okay? I just wanted to¡­"


    Beep beep beep.


    Tom hung up and turned off his phone.


    Felix was his best friend or maybe his only friend, but Tom was so angry at him that he didn''t want to talk. His rage was actually directed at the mysterious man, but how could he take it out on him?


    "What was his name again? Lampus... Schampus? No... no... Lampus Gold-digger or something like that."


    Tom logged into the forum and searched for keywords like undead faction, man, beautiful, Lampus, and more but found almost nothing.


    The posts he came across didn''t mention the man he''d encountered in the cave.


    "Hmmm¡­ how about that bone monsters," he thought.


    He searched for a monster list from the undead faction and quickly found what he was looking for.


    "So those things were ghouls, huh," Tom muttered to himself.


    They were apparently just a normal race within the undead faction, nothing particularly special. However, it seemed they had the ability to evolve further. Tom''s interest was piqued, but further searches yielded no new information.


    "I guess rejecting the offer was the right decision¡­ at least I hope it was," Tom thought.


    Next, he picked up his phone and dialed a number.


    "Hey bro, please don''t be mad anymore, I¡­"


    "Listen here, you little shit. Stop yapping and listen. Find someone to go to the tavern in the west district called Drunken Broom and tell the owner that Tom won''t make it to work today."


    "Hey, what''s that about¡­"


    "Did you listen?!"


    "Yes, bro, but¡­"


    Beep beep beep. Tom hung up again.If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    He hoped his friend would at least do him this favor after what had happened. Well, he couldn''t entirely blame Felix. After all, how could he have known the mine was a hideout for the undead faction?


    There was nothing more Tom could do now, so he decided to go to bed early. Once he woke up the next morning, he could log back in, retrieve his weapons from Stahl, and resume leveling.


    "I''ll make up for the lost level quickly," he told himself.


    But as expected, sleep didn''t come easily. He tossed and turned half the night before finally falling asleep around 3 a.m.


    When his alarm rang at 10 a.m., he wanted to stay in bed, but seven hours of sleep would have to do. Without eating or getting ready, he jumped straight into his capsule and logged into Beta.


    He was greeted by an information window.


    [On your last visit you died. As a result, you have lost one level.]


    Tom exhaled deeply, looking around. He was in a place that resembled a cathedral, at least on the inside. He remembered reading that players were revived in the nearest cathedral upon death.


    He opened his status window next.


    [Name: Tom Stein]


    [Race: Human]


    [Class: Brawler]


    [Level: 32]


    [Health Points: 1060/1060]


    [Mana: 320/320]


    [Vitality: 106]


    [Strength: 106]


    [Dexterity: 64]


    [Intelligence: 22]


    [Wisdom: 22]


    [Level 10 Skills: Beginner Brawler''s Stance, Punching Fury]


    [Status Effects: The Curse of Flesh ¨C Your flesh makes you weak and hinders your growth. All stats reduced by 30%.]


    [Free Stat Points: 10]


    "What the fuck is this shit!" Tom screamed at the top of his lungs.


    "Is this supposed to be a joke?! How am I supposed to keep leveling with this curse?!"


    He immediately logged out and went back to the forum to search for information about the curse. He found posts quickly, but what he read made his world crumble.


    MussySlayer69:


    Guys, I fought someone from the undead faction and lost. When I revived, I got this curse. Screenshot attached. How do I get rid of it?


    Mongoose8321310:


    Sorry to tell you, bro, but you can''t. That''s permanent.


    MussySlayer69:


    What?! You gotta be kidding me!


    Mongoose8321310:


    Well, you could probably seek out a high priest from the Church of Light. But they''d likely ask for a few million gold coins.


    MussySlayer69:


    Are you shitting me? That''s like ten years of my salary!


    Mongoose8321310:


    Exactly. That''s why I said it''s permanent. Alternatively, you could join the undead faction. Then you could find the person who cursed you, ask them to remove it, or switch your race to something like Skeleton Warrior or Ghoul. The curse will naturally vanish then.


    The post continued, but Tom sank into his chair, completely drained of energy.


    He had been played. And his enemy wasn''t even his equal, he was leagues above him.


    Tom continued scrolling through the forum, but every post he found boiled down to the same two suggestions: pay a few million gold or join the undead faction.


    "Should I ask my mom?" he wondered. "No, I can''t ask her to fork up this kind of money. She might do something reckless, like taking on debt to help me."


    "Maybe my teacher has an answer," he thought. "But that''ll have to wait until Monday... that''s two more days."


    "I could at least ask around in Beta while I wait for Monday."


    Tom logged back into the game, finding himself still in the cathedral.


    He decided to head to the blacksmith to pick up his weapons. At least something good could come out of today, he thought.


    On the way there, he noticed the curse wasn''t just a stat debuff. It also affected his movement speed. He was much slower than usual and took nearly ten extra minutes to reach the blacksmith.


    When he finally arrived, he headed straight for the basement. Stahl was hammering away at a horseshoe when he heard Tom approach.


    "Ah, you''re here, lad... I was starting to¡­"


    In the next moment, Stahl''s words caught in his throat, and the hammer fell from his hand, clattering loudly on the stone floor. A tense silence filled the room.


    Tom, confused, stepped closer. "Stahl, what''s¡­"


    "STOP RIGHT THERE!" Stahl shouted.


    Tom froze, bewildered. "What''s going on?" he asked, his confusion written all over his face.


    Stahl pointed a trembling finger at Tom''s chest. "Why... why are you cursed?"


    Tom looked down and for the first time noticed what Stahl was referring to. Horror washed over him as he saw that the area where his heart was supposed to be was now a decaying mass of rotting flesh. Panicked, Tom tore off his vest, revealing that the rotten flesh extended across his entire left chest and up to his shoulder.


    "Holy shit!" Tom yelled, his voice shaking.


    "What happened to you, boy?" Stahl asked, his voice full of fear.


    Tom didn''t hide anything. He explained everything about his encounter with the vampire in the cave.


    Only after hearing the full story did Stahl start to calm down slightly.


    "Damn, you''re unlucky, boy! You got cursed by a vampire."


    "A vampire?" Tom asked, still processing everything.


    "Yes. They''re one of the strongest races in the undead faction and rule over the undead. Well, they''re undead themselves, to be precise."


    Things started to make sense for Tom. The man in the cave had controlled the ghouls using his racial abilities.


    "Do you have any idea what I can do, old man?"


    "Hell if I know. I''m a blacksmith, not a priest!"


    "Sorry. It was dumb of me to ask," Tom said, his voice filled with disappointment.


    Stahl noticed his harsh tone and realized he''d overreacted. He was in shock, sure, but the young man in front of him was the one carrying the curse.


    "Listen, boy. I can''t help you with the curse, but I can help you in another way." He grabbed a cloth from behind him and tossed it to Tom. "Catch!"


    Tom caught it and asked, "Are these my¡­?"


    "Exactly. Your weapons. Don''t let this curse get you down, lad. These weapons will help you regain your former strength."


    Tom unwrapped the cloth, revealing two brass knuckles. His eyes widened as he inspected them.


    [Rare Brass Knuckles (Left Hand)]


    Damage: +30-40


    Gain a 1% attack speed bonus for every hit. Stacks up to 100 times.


    [Rare Brass Knuckles (Right Hand)]


    Damage: +30-40


    Gain a shield equal to 10% of the damage dealt with every hit.


    Tom could hardly believe his eyes. The weapons were more than overpowered. Their effects complemented each other perfectly.


    "Stahl, you''re a genius!" Tom exclaimed and moved toward him for a hug.


    But Stahl recoiled, stepping back.


    "Oh... sorry, man. I don''t think I''m contagious, but you can keep your distance if you want."


    "Sorry, lad... it''s just...."


    Tom didn''t hold it against him. In the next moment, Stahl tossed him a sack of gold. "Here''s your payment for the ore. Eight thousand gold coins."


    Tom pocketed the gold and bid Stahl farewell. There was no point in staying any longer.


    As he walked outside, he pulled an old T-shirt from his spatial pouch and put it on. He wanted to avoid causing any more panic.

 Pech鈥檚 solution

    Pech was sitting at his front counter, staring blankly out the window.


    It had been more than a week since his last customer stumbled into the shop, and he had nothing to do but watch the people passing by. The fact that Tom hadn''t visited him in days didn''t bother him much. After the initial rush of customers, it was obvious that no one would be interested in his potions anymore.


    Still, he couldn''t help but give the boy credit in his thoughts. No one had ever managed to draw in so many customers in such a short time.


    Pech was on the verge of dozing off when he felt a strange pulsing sensation in his body. It wasn''t pain, but more like a tingling or the pulsing of an overworked muscle after exercise. His eyes snapped open, and he stared out the window, searching for the source of this phenomenon.


    Were the forces of darkness already encroaching upon the city?


    To his surprise, he saw Tom pacing back and forth in front of the tavern across the street. The boy was muttering to himself, looking uncertain about something.


    "Could it be¡­?" Pech whispered, activating one of his skills, Inspect.


    The skill allowed him to gather information on characters or individuals. The amount of detail depended on the target''s level relative to his own. If the target were at his level, Pech would only see their name. Slightly lower levels might reveal their class and race, and far lower levels, their entire character window.


    Since Tom was much lower in level, it was easy for Pech to see everything.


    When the information appeared before him, Pech''s jaw tightened. He stared in silence for a moment, then muttered, "It seems our fates are intertwined, young one¡­"


    "Marien," he called out to his assistant. "Fetch the boy from across the street and bring him here."


    Marien obediently stepped outside. Tom was startled to see her approach, but before he could ask anything, she grabbed him by the arm and practically dragged him into the alchemy shop. Her hand even lingered on his backside, which made Tom yelp in protest.


    Pech slapped his forehead and muttered, "What a blockhead."


    Tom, now involuntarily inside the shop, felt his nerves spike. What could the old trickster possibly want with him?


    Sensing Tom''s unease, Pech waved him over. "Relax. Come and sit down," he said, motioning to the chair across from him.


    With little choice, Tom sat down.


    "Go make some tea, would you?" Pech instructed Marien.


    She left briefly and returned with a teapot and two cups. Pouring the tea, she handed one to Pech and the other to Tom.


    Pech sipped his tea in large gulps. Feeling obliged to be polite, Tom took a sip as well. A bitter, earthy taste filled his mouth, like water strained through dirt. He grimaced but swallowed to avoid offending his host.


    Pech noticed Tom''s reaction and chuckled softly. "Tell me, boy, have you had any... interesting encounters lately?"


    Tom stared at him in surprise. "How did you know?"


    "If you''ve lived as long as I have, you pick up a trick or two," Pech said with a sly grin. "Now, let me see it."


    Tom hesitated but realized the jig was up. Reluctantly, he removed his vest and shirt, revealing the decayed flesh on his chest.


    Pech stood from his chair, donning a strange pair of glasses fitted with multiple lenses. He stepped closer, examining the cursed flesh closely, even pressing and prodding it.Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.


    "I''m not sure if you should¡­" Tom started to say.


    "Relax. You''re not contagious," Pech interrupted, continuing his inspection.


    Tom felt uncomfortable as Pech handled his condition with almost clinical detachment. Without warning, the alchemist pulled out a scalpel and sliced off a small piece of the rotting flesh.


    Tom gasped but felt no pain, which only added to his unease.


    "Relax. I won''t harm you," Pech reassured him. He placed the sample under a microscope, muttering "Interesting¡­ very interesting¡­" as he observed it.


    After about ten minutes, Tom couldn''t hold back any longer. "So? What did you find out?" he asked, hoping Pech might have a solution.


    "Well¡­ you''re screwed," Pech said bluntly.


    "Fuck you, old man!" Tom shouted, standing up to leave.


    "Calm down, boy, and sit back down," Pech said firmly.


    Tom, though frustrated, stayed in his seat. Deep down, he still hoped Pech had more to offer.


    "I wasn''t lying, lad. No matter how you look at it, your situation is dire. Sugarcoating it won''t change that," Pech said, his tone somber.


    Tom remained quiet, waiting for him to elaborate.


    "You see, I''ve been cursed by the forces of darkness myself. Although my curse is of a higher rank than yours, no human has been able to cure me."


    He paused, sipping his tea. "Over the years, I''ve conducted countless experiments to find a solution. In the process, I stumbled upon a way to extend my life."


    Pech gestured toward Marien. "She is the result of my research. A body I''ve created through magic. However, there are limitations."


    "What kind of limitations?" Tom asked.


    "For one, Marien is powered by a magical crystal. The maximum level she can reach depends on the quality of the crystal embedded in her body. These crystals can only be found in Rare monsters and above, the stronger the monster, the rarer the crystal."


    Pech continued, "Even if you acquire a crystal, your level will still be capped unless the crystal is replaced with one from a higher-level monster. For instance, a crystal from a level 60 monster would cap your level at 120. After that, you''d need a crystal from a level 120 monster to advance further."


    "Wait," Tom interjected. "Does that mean it''s possible to keep leveling up as long as you replace the crystal?"


    "In theory, yes," Pech admitted. "But there''s a catch. I''m the only one in the world who knows how to perform this magic. If I die, get captured, or simply disappear, there is no more leveling up."


    "Are you saying you could create a new body for me?" Tom asked hesitantly.


    "I don''t know," Pech replied, shrugging. "I''ve never tried it on someone like you."


    "What? Then why tell me all this?" Tom asked, exasperated.


    "What I''m saying is, you''d be my first test subject. The process would be excruciating, and there''s a high chance you could die or be permanently crippled."


    Pech leaned in closer. "Additionally, this would bind you to me. My enemies become your enemies. My allies become your allies. You''d be bound to protect me with your life."


    Tom was stunned. The weight of the decision felt crushing.


    "I need to think about it," he said nervously.


    "Take your time, boy. But remember, with each passing day, the forces of darkness creep closer to this city. You''ll need every ounce of strength to face what''s coming."


    [Mr. Pech''s Legendary Race Change Quest]


    After making a favorable impression on Mr. Pech, your relationship is strong enough that he has offered to change your race. Be warned, the outcome is uncertain, and you would be the first player to undergo this race change.


    Tom''s mouth hung open. So this is what this was all about? All this time, this quest was just about raising favorability with Pech? But something didn''t add up. The favorability can''t be high enough to trigger something like this. It must be my current situation that pushed him to make this offer.


    Tom hesitated. He wanted to discuss this with his mother, his teacher or someone, anyone he trusted. But what if Pech changes his mind tomorrow and says it''s too late?


    A thousand thoughts raced through Tom''s mind, but he surprised himself and Pech with what he said next.


    "Okay, I''ll do it."


    Pech''s surprise quickly turned into a sly smile. "Heh, good choice, boy. You''re lucky. From my old experiments, I still have a single level 60 crystal left. It should be enough for this."


    "We can start immediately if you''re ready," Pech added.


    Tom swallowed hard, summoning every ounce of courage he had, and nodded.


    Pech led Tom to the back of the shop, where he usually performed his alchemy. Marien moved a heavy rug aside, revealing a hidden trapdoor.


    Marien opened the door, unveiling a staircase descending into darkness. Tom''s heart raced, but he followed the pair into what turned out to be a massive underground laboratory.


    "You can leave your upper body bare and lie down on that table," Pech instructed, pointing to an ominous slab in the center of the room.


    Tom hesitated as he approached the table. His eyes darted to the assortment of tools surrounding it: scalpels, knives, a saw, and even a drill. A chill ran down his spine.


    He lay on the cold metal table, staring at the ceiling, wondering if he''d made the worst decision of his life.


    Marien secured him with leather straps to keep him from moving during the procedure, and Pech began preparing the crystal. Its surface glowed faintly, pulsating with a mysterious energy.


    "This might hurt a bit," Pech said with a twisted grin, holding up a gleaming scalpel.


    Tom closed his eyes, gripping the edges of the table. What have I gotten myself into?

 New race unlocked

    Pech began removing the cursed flesh from Tom''s chest. To his frustration, the flesh regenerated almost instantly, knitting itself back together with each slice.


    "This might hurt," Pech muttered, his voice carrying a tinge of warning. A faint flame erupted around his hand, and without hesitation, he plunged it into Tom''s chest.


    Tom felt the searing heat invade his body. Though he had grown used to numbness in the cursed area, the fiery sensation clawed its way through him, sending sharp waves of pain coursing through his entire being. Notifications of HP loss popped up repeatedly in his vision.


    "I need to burn it away to stop the regeneration. Hold still, boy," Pech said firmly.


    Tom clenched his teeth, beads of sweat forming on his brow, as he tried to endure the unbearable pain. His body instinctively flinched, but he fought against it, determined to see this through.


    Meanwhile, Pech pulled out an oversized syringe filled with a glowing blue liquid. "Hold your breath," he instructed, before plunging the needle directly into Tom''s exposed, blackened heart.


    Tom gasped as the liquid flooded his veins, cold and sharp. Pech quickly handed him a vial. "Sip this slowly and don''t down it all at once. And don''t pass out. If you do, this was all for nothing."


    Tom nodded weakly, taking measured sips. His heart began to slow. Each beat was weaker, quieter, until it stopped altogether. A deathly silence filled the room. His vision blurred, and darkness threatened to consume him.


    "Almost there," Pech muttered, sweat trickling down his temple. Then, he did something unimaginable. He reached into Tom''s chest with both hands and pulled out his heart.


    Tom''s blurry gaze caught sight of the grotesque, pulsating organ. "Is... is that my heart?" he thought before the darkness consumed him.


    Pech set the blackened heart aside and picked up a crystalline orb that shimmered with an otherworldly glow. He inserted it carefully into the gaping cavity in Tom''s chest. The moment the crystal settled, it began to radiate light, its energy coursing through Tom''s veins.


    Tom''s body convulsed violently as layers of cursed flesh were stripped away, replaced by something entirely new. His gray skin swelled unnaturally, cracking and splitting apart, spilling blood before healing over. The transformation was grotesque yet mesmerizing, each rupture and regrowth unveiling a hardened, stone-like surface beneath.


    Pech stepped back, marveling at his work. He ran a scalpel over Tom''s new skin, which screeched as if dragging against metal. "A success," Pech muttered, a faint smile curling his lips.


    ¡­


    In the depths of unconsciousness, Tom felt as though he was submerged in dark, suffocating waters. He flailed helplessly, his movements sluggish, as though weighed down by invisible chains.


    Suddenly, a light began to glow from within his chest. It grew brighter and brighter, illuminating his translucent form. His organs were clearly visible: heart, lungs, stomach, but as he watched, each shattered into fragments, crumbling like glass. His chest became a hollow void.


    The light filled the emptiness, a solid energy taking shape, mending and transforming him. The glow receded, leaving him alone in darkness once more.


    ¡­


    Tom''s eyes fluttered open, his vision blurry but familiar. He recognized the wooden beams of Pech''s lab ceiling.


    "You''re awake," Pech said calmly. "Good. How do you feel?"


    Tom sat up, rolling his shoulders and flexing his fingers experimentally. He hopped off the table, testing his legs. "I feel¡­ strong," he said, a hint of surprise in his voice.


    He assumed a fighting stance, throwing a few punches, but something felt off. "I''m slower," he noted, glancing down at his chest. The cursed wound was gone.


    "My stats should be back to normal," he muttered, pulling up his character interface. Relief turned to confusion as he read the unfamiliar layout:


    [Name: Tom Stein]


    [Race: Golem (Human form)]


    [Class: Brawler]Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.


    [Level: 32]


    [Health Points: 3720/3720]


    [Mana: 100/100]


    [Vitality: 248]


    [Strength: 248]


    [Dexterity: 31]


    [Intelligence: 0]


    [Wisdom: 0]


    [Level 10 Skills: Beginner Brawler''s Stance, Punching Fury]


    [Racials: Hard as Stone]


    [Status Effects: The Curse of Flesh ¨C Your flesh makes you weak and hinders your growth. All stats reduced by 30%. (inaktiv)]


    [Free Stat Points: 10]


    All of Tom''s stats had changed dramatically. Intelligence and Wisdom were now at zero, as he had lost the passive stat bonuses that humans typically received.


    His HP had tripled, and both Strength and Vitality had increased exponentially, but nearly all his Dexterity had vanished.


    Then there was his new racial ability: Hard as Stone ¨C Toughness increased by 30%.


    The description was short and straightforward. Tom assumed it acted as a 30% damage reduction or something similar.


    "But about those stats¡­" Tom murmured, still staring at his status window.


    There wasn''t much he could do about the overall changes to his stats at the moment. He decided to invest his 10 unallocated stat points into Dexterity to offset the loss.


    To his shock, the result left him with only:


    [Dexterity: 36]


    "What''s going on here?" Tom wondered aloud. Slowly, the realization dawned on him. "Wait a minute! At level 31, I''d invested 124 points into Strength and Vitality. Those values have essentially doubled. That must mean this race has an inherent multiplier for Strength and Vitality!"


    Testing his theory further, he thought back to his free stat points. "I only gained 5 points of Dexterity from 10 free stat points. That must mean there''s a 0.5x multiplier on Dexterity for this race."


    He glanced at Wisdom and Intelligence. "I have no idea if there''s a hidden multiplier for these stats, but since I don''t need them, it doesn''t matter."


    One thing was clear: his HP pool had significantly improved. As a human, he had gained 10 HP per point of Vitality, but now that number had increased to 15 HP per point.


    "The downside is definitely the reduced agility," Tom muttered. Even though he lost Dexterity faster than he could regain it, he received double the benefits in Strength and Vitality.


    He scrolled back to his status effects window. The Curse of Flesh was marked as Inactive. A wave of relief washed over him as he realized the curse no longer held him back. For the first time in days, Tom felt truly powerful.


    "You seem to have gained some unexpected advantages," Pech said, observing Tom''s reactions closely. "But don''t think this is over yet. The hardest part is still ahead. We need to start planning for what''s coming."


    Tom nodded, his expression firm.


    "By the way, what time is it?" Tom asked suddenly.


    Pech glanced at a clock on the wall. "It''s around 8 PM."


    Tom''s face fell. "Ah, crap. Pablo''s going to kill me. We''ll talk later!" Without waiting for a response, Tom sprinted out of Pech''s lab, his footsteps echoing down the street.


    Pech shook his head, smirking faintly. "Make sure you''re here first thing tomorrow morning!" he shouted after him.


    A quest notification popped up in front of Tom, but he ignored it, focusing on getting to the tavern as quickly as possible. To his surprise, when he arrived, the tavern was eerily quiet.


    Normally, by this hour, the place would be bustling with patrons. Now, it was completely empty.


    "Hello? Anyone here?" Tom called out, his voice echoing in the silence.


    Suddenly, Hando, one of the bartenders, burst out from the back room. "You''re here!" he exclaimed, rushing toward Tom.


    "Where have you been? Everyone''s been looking for you! Pablo even closed the bar, thinking you''d gone off and done something reckless!" Hando''s voice was loud, full of relief and frustration.


    Tom blinked in confusion. "What are you talking about?"


    Hando cut him off. "Just wait for Pablo and the others to arrive. Then we''ll explain everything."


    Before Tom could argue, Hando stepped outside, letting out a sharp whistle. Within moments, a falcon swooped down, landing gracefully on Hando''s arm. He whispered something to the bird, and it took off immediately, vanishing into the night sky.


    "We''ll wait inside," Hando said, grabbing Tom by the arm as though afraid he might vanish again.


    "I''m not going to run off. Calm down," Tom muttered. "Nothing happened."


    "Nothing happened?!" Hando barked. "Don''t try to play dumb, kid. We know exactly what happened!"


    Tom froze. "Wait¡­ What do you know?"


    Hando sighed but didn''t answer. "Just wait until everyone''s here."


    Not long after, Casper stormed into the tavern, his expression one of equal parts relief and urgency. "Boy, you''re alive!" he said, hurrying over. He placed a firm hand on Tom''s shoulder, inspecting him carefully.


    "Good. We''re not too late."


    "Too late for what?" Tom started to ask, but before he could finish, the door swung open again.


    This time, it was Pablo. His face was pale, his eyes wide with worry. The moment he saw Tom, he rushed forward, grabbing him by the shoulders and shaking him slightly.


    "Where is it?! Where''s the mark?!" Pablo demanded.


    "It''s gone," Tom said calmly. "I dealt with it."


    "You¡­ dealt with it?" Pablo''s voice was incredulous.


    "It''s a long story¡­"


    "Then wait until everyone gets here to tell it," Pablo said, relief softening his features. He let go of Tom''s shoulders, exhaling deeply.


    Over the next several minutes, more familiar faces arrived. Employees from the tavern, leatherworkers from Smork''s workshop, and even Stahl filed in, each looking at Tom with varying degrees of concern.


    As they gathered, everything started to click in Tom''s mind. Of course, Stahl must have told Pablo about the curse, which triggered the frantic search when Tom didn''t show up for work.


    "We''ve searched the entire city for you," Pablo said, his voice a mix of frustration and relief.


    "How did you know I wasn''t outside the city?" Tom asked, genuinely curious.


    "I''ve got friends among the guards," Pablo replied. "No one matching your description left the city today. That''s how."


    Pablo''s tone shifted, growing serious. "But let''s focus on the real issue. Tell us, Tom¡­ what happened to you? And more importantly, what happened to that damn curse?"

 A crazy 1 year plan

    Tom began telling the group what had happened in the kobold cave. He explained how he met a man who he suspected was a vampire and how he was cursed. The others were shocked at how much Tom had gone through in just the past 24 hours.


    "Then how did you get healed?" Stahl asked, his tone skeptical.


    As Tom spoke, an idea came to him. He decided to twist the truth a little. "I made a pact with someone," he said, carefully choosing his words.


    The group immediately grew tense.


    Pablo leaned forward. "I hope it wasn''t with the forces of darkness," he said cautiously.


    Tom shook his head. "No, don''t worry. I made a pact with a person from this city. They were able to heal me, but in return, I had to promise to protect them and, if needed, help them escape the city if it''s ever overrun by darkness."


    The group looked at each other, their doubt clear. Who in this city could possess such power?


    "I know it sounds suspicious," Tom admitted, bowing slightly. "But if you trust me as much as you''ve worried about me, then please believe me."


    With no clear argument, the others eventually let the matter drop. One by one, they left the tavern, convinced that Tom was safe for now and relieved the curse had been lifted.


    "You should rest for today," Pablo advised. "The shop''s closed anyway, and you''ve earned a break."


    "Thanks, Pablo. I''ll see you tomorrow," Tom replied as he stepped out into the night. Alone, he asked himself, What now?


    The answer came to him quickly. He left the city, heading west at a steady pace. Though slower than he used to be, Tom had grown used to his reduced speed. He entered a forest known to host wolves between levels 30 and 40. Planning to climb a tree for safety, Tom grabbed a branch, but it snapped under his weight, and he landed hard on his back. He wasn''t hurt, but the fall was jarring.


    Before he could gather himself, the rustling of a nearby bush caught his attention. A wolf leapt out, clearly drawn by the noise.


    "Great," Tom muttered as he got to his feet. The wolf lunged at him, but he managed to deflect the bite with his arm and counter with a kick. His movements were sluggish, and the wolf easily dodged before biting him again.


    A notification flashed: -33.


    The damage was minimal, which gave Tom some relief.


    He shifted into a fighting stance and began throwing punches, but the wolf dodged every strike. Frustration bubbled up until he remembered the brass knuckles Stahl had given him.


    Pulling them from his spatial pouch, he tried again, only to find his attacks were still too slow. Worse, his weapon''s attack speed bonus didn''t activate because missed punches didn''t count as hits.


    After yet another failed attack, Tom angrily punched a tree. To his surprise, the notification for an attack speed stack appeared. Realizing the potential, Tom began punching the tree repeatedly, ignoring the wolf''s bites. Another notification flashed: -44. The damage was still negligible.


    After a minute of this, Tom had lost around 500 health but gained 100 stacks of his weapon''s passive ability. "Now you''re dead!" he shouted, charging at the wolf.


    The creature tried to dodge, as it had before, but Tom''s enhanced speed caught it off guard. His punch connected, slamming the wolf into a tree with a loud thud.


    A massive -500 appeared, and the stunned wolf collapsed. Tom delivered one last kick to end the fight.


    "Damn, I''m slow," he muttered. Then, with a small grin, he added, "But I hit like a truck."


    Motivated, Tom hunted more wolves, but maintaining his attack speed stacks proved tedious. He found himself punching trees between fights, building up the buff before engaging the next wolf.


    After hours of combat, Tom realized he had gained two levels. Exhausted but satisfied, he decided to stop for the night.A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    Following the trail of corpses, he skinned the wolves, filling his spatial pouch with over 300 pelts. By the time he finished, it was 3 a.m. He teleported back to the city and logged out.


    Hungry and drained, Tom grabbed some cookies from his nightstand and quickly ate them before falling asleep. He didn''t wake until noon the next day.


    When he finally got up, Tom headed to the kitchen, where his mother was preparing a snack. Seeing him, she made something for him as well. They sat at the table together, and she noticed his good mood.


    "Something good happen, Tom?" she asked.


    With a mouthful of food, Tom nodded and mumbled, "Mmm-hmm." After swallowing, he added, "I got two amazing weapons!"


    He explained their effects in detail, though he decided not to mention his new race just yet. They chatted a little longer before Tom returned to the game.


    Back in the world, Tom headed to the alchemy shop but found it locked. Circling around to the back, he found the door open and went inside. The shop was empty, but as he ventured further, he noticed the trapdoor leading to the basement was uncovered.


    Heading downstairs, he heard Pech''s voice barking orders. "Not like that, you stone heads! More to the right. No, the other left!"


    Tom entered the cellar to find Pech commanding a group of crude stone golems as they excavated a large hole.


    "What are you doing now?" Tom asked, confused.


    "Perfect timing," Pech said with a grin. "Let''s go upstairs."


    Once upstairs, Tom asked again, "What''s with the digging?"


    "When the city falls, that will be our escape route," Pech replied confidently.


    Tom frowned. "Isn''t that the wrong direction?"


    Pech smirked. "Everyone else will flee the way you''re thinking. We''ll appear behind the enemy lines, where they''ll least expect us."


    Tom considered this but asked, "Why not just use a spatial mage to make a portal?"


    "When the darkness attacks, spatial teleportation will be locked. We won''t know until it''s too late."


    "Then why not leave now?"


    "They''ll track me down no matter when I leave," Pech replied, avoiding further explanation.


    Tom''s curiosity grew. Why would they track him? What''s his story? But Pech moved on.


    "So, the plan is simple," Pech said.


    First, and most importantly, your personal strength. You need to focus on leveling up as fast as possible. Ideally, you should aim for somewhere between level 150 and 200 before the attack happens. Of course, this depends on when the attack actually comes.


    "What?! 150 to 200? That''s the average level of an experienced adult player! I don''t think even my mother is that high level!" he thought to himself.


    "Second, we need to gather funds. A lot of them. If we can manage to scrape together around a 50 million gold, we can hire a skilled mercenary. Someone high-level who can act as a bodyguard for me when things inevitably go sideways."


    Tom blinked. 50 million gold? That wasn''t pocket change. Even for adults, that kind of money took serious effort to accumulate. He wondered where they were supposed to even start with that goal. This is sounding more ridiculous by the second.


    Pech then paused, turning to look directly at Tom. "And third... we need people. Specifically, I need you to recruit a few reliable helping hands. I''m looking for a healer, a transfer knight, and a beast master."


    "I''d prefer if these recruits are still at relatively low levels," Pech added. "That way, I can personally guide them on how to allocate their stat points and abilities. They don''t need to be powerhouses. Level 100 within a year should be sufficient."


    Tom frowned. Within a year? For three specific classes? That''s asking a lot.


    Pech clapped his hands together, looking satisfied. "Well, that''s the plan for now. Any questions?"


    Tom took a deep breath and stared at him. Then he finally said what he was thinking.


    "Yes."


    "Sure, tell me," Pech said, folding his arms.


    "Are you crazy, old man?" Tom blurted out, his voice filled with disbelief.


    Tom took a deep breath, clearly frustrated. "First of all, for normal people to reach level 100, it already takes about a year. For me to reach level 150 or 200, I''d need at least four years. And that''s assuming I do nothing but level up."


    Pech listened without interrupting.


    "Second," Tom continued, "collecting 50 million gold coins? That''s more than what a household earns in ten years of hard work. How are we supposed to come up with that kind of money?"


    Pech nodded slightly, acknowledging the point but remaining silent.


    "And third," Tom said, "where am I going to find three people willing to throw their futures away and let someone else decide their career path without getting anything in return?"


    "Hmm¡­ you''re not wrong about the last part," Pech admitted. "How about this?" He reached into his bag and pulled out three small vials, handing them to Tom.


    Tom looked at the labels.


    [Reset Potion]


    Resets all your stat and fusionskills. Only works up to level 120.


    Tom stared in disbelief. "Reset potions? These alone could make me rich for life if I sold them!"


    As if being able to read his mind, Pech cut him off before he could ask. "Don''t bother asking if I have more. I only have three."


    Tom sighed and put the potions into his spatial pouch.


    "You can offer these as a guarantee," Pech said. "If someone doesn''t like the path I''ve chosen for them, they can use this to reset their stats and start over. It''s an insurance policy."


    Tom looked skeptical but said nothing. A moment later a question crossed his mind. "What are fusionskills?" he asked.


    "You''ll find out soon enough," Pech replied cryptically.


    Before Tom could ask anything else, Pech added, "Also, stop putting points into agility."


    Tom frowned. "What? If I don''t invest in agility, I won''t be fast enough to hit anything."


    "Don''t worry," Pech said, his tone casual. "The kind of monsters you''ll be hunting in the future won''t be the kind you can miss."


    Tom didn''t like the sound of that, but Pech didn''t elaborate further.

 Getting fired

    Tom left the alchemy shop with three new quests displayed in his interface:


    [War Preparations]


    Reach at least level 150. Bonus experience for each level beyond that.


    Time limit ¨C 1 year


    [War Funds]


    Collect gold with Pech to hire a mercenary.


    Gold collected: 22,140/50,000,000


    Time limit ¨C 1 year


    [War Recruitment]


    Find three recruits willing to let Pech guide their leveling paths.


    Transfer Knight ¨C 0/1


    Healer ¨C 0/1


    Beast Master ¨C 0/1


    Time limit ¨C 1 year


    Tom didn''t know where to begin with the recruitment quest. Convincing someone to hand over control of their future to Pech sounded near impossible. Still, he decided to focus on the first two quests for now.


    His first stop was at Casper''s shop to sell all the hides he''d collected during his hunts. He was expecting the usual routine, but to his surprise, Smork wanted to see him.


    When Tom arrived at the workshop, Smork greeted him with a hearty grin. "Tell me, boy, how''s the equipment treating you?"


    "It''s really good, Smork. Thanks a lot," Tom replied sincerely, still appreciating how much the gear had helped him survive.


    "That''s good to hear," Smork said, his voice growing more serious. "Listen, I remember what you said yesterday, that you''ll need to get stronger soon. I''ve been thinking, and I want to help you with that."


    Tom raised an eyebrow, curious about what Smork meant.


    "Start by collecting more hides and pelts from wolves, beavers, and deer," Smork explained. "Your cape is good enough for now, but if you bring me high-quality materials, I can craft you a better set of gear. Actually¡­" Smork gestured toward the workshop. "Some of the wolf fur you just brought over is decent. I''ll craft you a new vest and boots. They''ll be ready the next time you stop by."


    Tom nodded in gratitude, but Smork wasn''t done. "And, boy, if we find any pelts that exceed rare quality, I''ll set them aside for something special. With the right materials, I can make you gear that''s truly exceptional."


    "Thanks, Smork," Tom said, chuckling. "But don''t count on me bringing anything that good anytime soon. I don''t think I''ll get that lucky."


    Smork grinned but said nothing more, letting Tom leave. As Tom walked out, he noticed his gold counter in the quest interface had updated:


    Gold collected: 30,140/50,000,000.


    He quickly did some math in his head. "If I make 8,000 gold a day, 365 days a year, that''s almost 3 million gold. That''s nowhere near 50 million. I''d need to make nearly 137,000 gold every single day."


    The sheer scale of the task felt overwhelming, but Tom tried to stay optimistic. "I''ll make more gold as I level up. For now, I just need to focus on what I can do today."


    Tom decided to trust Pech''s advice and allocated all his stat points into strength and vitality. Then, after buying a few supplies, he returned to his hunting grounds. Once there, he retrieved a whistle from his spatial pouch, a specialized tool used by power levelers to lure monsters.


    Most players avoided using such tools, as attracting multiple monsters at once was a death sentence for anyone unprepared. But Tom didn''t have the luxury of caution. He needed to level up quickly, no matter the risks.


    He blew the whistle, and within seconds, the first wolf appeared. While waiting, Tom had already begun punching a nearby tree to maintain his weapon''s attack speed buff. The buff only remained active as long as he was in combat or continuously hitting something, so keeping it up required constant effort.


    As the wolf lunged at him, Tom stomped down hard, slamming the creature''s head into the ground. More wolves arrived, and Tom stopped hitting the tree to face them. To keep his hands free, he clenched the whistle between his teeth, blowing into it whenever the number of enemies thinned out.


    Gradually, a pile of wolf corpses grew around him. His clothes remained relatively clean, but his gloves and brass knuckles were soaked in blood and monster fluids. After a while, the wolves stopped coming. No matter how hard Tom blew the whistle, no new wolves approached. Either they had grown afraid, or he had wiped out the local population.You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    He began skinning the wolves, impressed with his progress. "About 220 pelts in 2 hours and 15 minutes," he thought. "Not bad." It took him an additional 25 minutes to finish processing the wolves. Once done, he ventured deeper into the forest.


    After another two and a half hours of hunting, both of his spatial pouches were full. By then, it was time to head back to the city. Tom teleported to the city gates and ran to the tavern, arriving just in time for his shift.


    As soon as he stepped inside, he noticed the tavern was bustling with activity. Before he could find Pablo to start working, Pablo called him over and gestured for him to follow. Tom obeyed, feeling a little uneasy as they walked to one of the back rooms.


    "What''s this about?" Tom wondered, sensing a serious atmosphere.


    Once inside, Pablo turned his back to Tom, standing in silence for a moment before speaking. "Tom¡­ you haven''t been with us for long. I still remember when you joined us in that bar fight."


    "Why does this sound like a goodbye?" Tom thought, his stomach sinking.


    "I''ll be direct," Pablo continued. "Working here at the tavern is holding you back. If what you told us is true, you need to level up quickly in the coming months. Helping us out here was meant to give you a small head start with experience, but you don''t need it anymore."


    Pablo turned to face Tom, his expression a mix of sadness and resolve. "From now on, you don''t need to come here every evening to work. In fact, I forbid you to."


    Tom was shocked. He opened his mouth to protest but stopped when he saw the emotion in Pablo''s face.


    "This doesn''t mean you''re not welcome here," Pablo added, softening his tone. "If you''re tired, need a place to rest, or just want to talk, we''re always here for you." He tapped his chest with a fist. "Come back to me when you reach level 60. I''ll have something for you then. But for now, go. We don''t need you tonight."


    Without a word, Tom left the room. He knew Pablo only wanted to help, but the sudden change left him feeling conflicted. Deciding to give Pablo some space, Tom promised himself he''d return in a few days.


    On his way out, several patrons called out to him, inviting him to drink with them. Tom declined, promising to join them another time. Once outside, he headed to the alchemy shop through the back entrance, dropping off the pelts he''d collected before leaving the city to resume his hunt.


    Over the next two days, Tom focused solely on leveling and collecting pelts, stopping by Pech''s shop regularly to drop off materials. By the third morning, Tom was exhausted, having slept only five hours. Still, he washed up, dressed, and hurried to catch his bus. Thankfully, the bus was running late, giving him just enough time to make it to class.


    Felix had just approached Tom, intending to talk to him, when their teacher''s hologram appeared. Felix returned to his seat, deciding to speak with Tom after class.


    "Good morning, students," greeted their teacher, his voice clear and confident. "Today, we''ll be diving deeper into the topic of skills and skill fusions.


    "I hope by now you''ve all decided which class you''d like to pursue in the future. Apart from a few universal skills that can be learned from books or other sources and are available to nearly all classes, most skills you gain will be specific to the class you''ve chosen. These skills typically come from your profession mentor, the person who grants you your class, or as quest rewards from them or others of the same class."


    "For example, my first two skills as a Samurai were Sword Stance and Vertical Slash. Most classes receive between one and three skills upon changing classes at level 10. These skills can be active or passive, depending on the class."


    He looked around the classroom, ensuring everyone was following along. "You''ve probably already heard that every 60 levels represent a significant milestone for players. The first milestone comes after 50 levels, as you don''t receive your class until level 10."


    "At level 60, you''ll have two main options. First, you can visit your class mentor to improve the proficiency of your current skills and unlock new ones. Alternatively, you can choose to adopt a new class to gain access to that class''s unique skills. This decision can have a huge impact on your development."


    "The skills you receive at level 10 are typically referred to as Rank 1 skills. If you improve them at level 60, they become Rank 2 skills. However, if you choose to switch classes instead, you''ll receive something called Fusion Points. These points allow you to combine two or more Rank 1 skills to create a new Rank 2 skill."


    "But be warned," the teacher added with a serious tone. "Once a skill is fused, it cannot be separated without considerable difficulty. Additionally, the original Rank 1 skills are consumed in the fusion process, leaving you only with the new Rank 2 skill. If the fusion results in a weak or undesirable skill, you''ve made a critical mistake."


    "It''s best to research potential class combinations online before making your decision. Compatibility between classes is key to creating powerful fusions."


    He turned his attention to Felix. "Take Felix, for example. You all saw him spar with me last week. His level 10 class is the Banner Bearer. This class allows him to plant a banner that buffs his allies. At level 60, he plans to choose the Knight class, combining the Taunt skill with his banner skills to become a Banner Knight. This fusion will create a specialized skill set that combines defense and team support."


    Tom listened intently, absorbing the new information. For the first time, he understood the significance of the reset potions Pech had given him. Resetting fused skills was clearly a valuable option if mistakes were made during skill fusion.


    The teacher continued explaining other class combinations and fusion possibilities until the lesson concluded. As he began to dismiss the class, Tom hesitantly raised his hand.


    The teacher looked surprised. "Yes, Tom? Do you have a question?"


    "Uh, no, Mr. Bunwald. But could I speak with you after school?"


    The teacher nodded. "Of course. Come see me at 12:05. You know where to find me."


    With that, the teacher''s hologram disappeared, signaling the end of the class.

 Asking for advice

    As the class ended, Felix came running up to Tom.


    "Hey, what was that about?" he asked.


    Tom was still slightly annoyed with Felix. After all, it was Felix''s reckless behavior that had landed him in a massive mess, even if things had taken a turn for the better recently.


    When Felix saw that Tom wasn''t answering, he spoke again. "Oh, come on, man! We only lost like a level and twelve hours of playtime. I''ll ask my parents to help you power level a bit, and then we''ll be good, right?"


    Tom''s expression hardened. "Bro, do you know what happened after you recklessly ran in and died?"


    "You died too?" Felix asked hesitantly.


    "WRONG!" Tom snapped. "I got screwed so hard, I thought I''d have to quit beta for good!"


    Tom then proceeded to explain everything that had happened, detailing his meeting with Pech, the curse, and how he ended up making a deal to resolve it.


    Felix stood there, completely stunned, his mouth hanging open like a fish out of water.


    After a few seconds, he snapped out of it. "Sorry, bro! I''m really sorry! Trust me, I''ll do everything in my power to help you fix this curse."


    "You''re lucky," Tom said coldly. "I already resolved it myself." Without waiting for a response, he started heading to his next class.


    Felix ran after him, shouting, "What do you mean you resolved it yourself?!"


    After school, Tom headed straight to his teacher''s office, making sure to arrive on time. At exactly 12:05, just like last time, the capsule housing Mr. Bunwald opened, and the teacher stepped out.


    "Hello, Tom. Have a seat," he said, gesturing to a chair.


    Tom sat down, feeling a little nervous. To Mr. Bunwald''s surprise, Tom asked, "Say, Mr. Bunwald, as a teacher, do you have something like a confidentiality agreement? Like, are you not allowed to talk about what your students tell you?"


    Mr. Bunwald furrowed his brow but answered calmly, "Don''t worry, Tom. Everything you tell me here stays between us. The only exception would be if your life or someone else''s were in immediate danger. In those cases, I would be obligated to inform your mother. But apart from that, you have my word."


    Relieved, Tom began explaining everything: how he met Pech and Pablo, his fight in the kobold cave, the information about the darkness faction, and the quests Pech had given him.


    The truth was, Tom was completely overwhelmed. He was only 12 years old, and while he had managed so far, Pech''s new quests made him feel like the ground was being pulled out from under him. As Tom spoke, Mr. Bunwald''s expressions grew more and more serious. Finally, after nearly 20 minutes, Tom''s mouth felt dry, and he stopped speaking.


    The room fell silent, so quiet you could hear a pin drop. The first words out of Mr. Bunwald''s mouth were, "You wouldn''t be joking about something like this, would you?"


    "I swear, Mr. Bunwald, everything I''ve told you is roughly what happened," Tom replied earnestly.


    Mr. Bunwald nodded slowly, then pulled out his phone and made a quick call. Tom could hear the voice on the other end.


    "Where are you? We''ve been waiting for you for ten minutes."


    "Something came up," Mr. Bunwald replied. "Cancel the hunt or find a replacement for me. I''ll be here for at least another hour."


    "Wait, what do you mean, cancel¡­" Before the person could finish, Mr. Bunwald had already hung up.


    "So, where do we begin..." Mr. Bunwald said, his tone heavy. "Let me start with the things you might not fully understand about the situation you''re in."Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.


    Tom leaned forward, paying close attention. He had come here precisely for information and advice.


    "In beta, there are several factions, as you''ve learned in class. Broadly speaking, we can divide them into three main groups. First, we have the humanoid faction, which includes humans, elves, and dwarves. This is the largest faction, mainly because most players start as humans.


    "Second is the faction of darkness. It''s the second-largest but primarily consists of NPCs and beta''s native inhabitants. Lastly, we have the beast faction, which includes the beastfolk, who mostly work as mercenaries. These three are the major factions, but there are hundreds of smaller ones.


    "Keep in mind, though, that a faction''s strength doesn''t depend on its size, it depends on its strongest members. For example, smaller factions like the dragon faction, the sea folk, and the chimera faction each have only a few hundred members but are globally just as powerful as the darkness faction, which has thousands."


    Tom listened in disbelief. He had never realized there were so many factions in beta.


    "So, what does this mean for you, Tom? When a new faction is formed, it starts as neutral, with no alliances or enmities. However, over time, factions form alliances or non-aggression pacts, which can have massive consequences.


    "You are now part of Mr. Pech''s faction. Whatever alliances or conflicts he forms in the future will directly affect you. If he becomes an enemy of all factions, you''ll be hunted and possibly imprisoned indefinitely, depending on the will of those factions."


    Tom swallowed hard. He had expected the consequences to be big, but not this big.


    "Currently, you shouldn''t worry too much. Since your faction leader appears to be human and seeks protection from the darkness faction, it''s likely he''ll align with the humanoid faction. But nothing is set in stone. You never know what faction leaders have planned."


    Mr. Bunwald continued, "Now, about your new race. I''d say you''re pretty lucky. Getting double bonuses on strength and vitality, with the only downside being halved dexterity, is something I''ve only heard of with epic-tier races."


    Tom''s eyes widened. "Did I hear that right? Could my race be comparable to an epic-tier race?"


    "Hmm... it''s hard to say. We know almost nothing about your race besides the stat bonuses. As you level up, you might unlock additional perks. But I''d say your race is at least rare-tier."


    Tom felt a wave of happiness, only for it to shatter moments later as Mr. Bunwald added, "But here''s the catch, Tom. Your race depends on your faction leader''s survival. If he''s captured or killed, you''ll stagnate forever. My recommendation is that you reach at least level 180 to ensure your maximum level cap is raised to 240. Most adults fall within the 180-220 range, so that would keep you average even if something happens."


    Tom nodded, taking the advice seriously.


    "Now let''s move on to your quests," Mr. Bunwald said. "Let me ask you, Tom, have you ever wondered where the experience points from quest rewards come from?"


    Tom frowned, confused. He shook his head, signaling that he had no idea.


    "The experience points come from the quest givers themselves," Mr. Bunwald explained. "This means they exchange the experience they''ve earned to transfer it to you. Otherwise, NPCs could just hand out quests and level players up to 100 or higher instantly."


    Tom''s eyes widened as he began to understand. "So, Mr. Pech can transfer part of his own experience to me through quests?"


    "Exactly," Mr. Bunwald confirmed. "For you, gaining 100 levels might cost him only a few of his own, depending on his level. As long as he doesn''t fall below a milestone, like level 60, he won''t lose any critical stats."


    "I get it now," Tom said, feeling relieved.


    "As for the gold quest, that will likely come from your faction leader himself. Since he''s an alchemist, raising the necessary funds shouldn''t be too difficult. What''s more important is the third quest," Mr. Bunwald said, his face growing serious.


    "Under no circumstances should you tell anyone about the elixirs you received in exchange for their services."


    Tom was confused. "Why not? Are they that valuable?"


    "More than that!" Mr. Bunwald exclaimed. "The reset potions you have can reset stats and fusion points, something incredibly rare. If word got out, people might try to harm you or your family to get their hands on them."


    Tom was shocked. He knew the elixirs were expensive but hadn''t realized they were this rare.


    "For your last quest, I recommend a different approach," Mr. Bunwald continued. "Find people who''ve made mistakes in their leveling or skill fusion. Have them sign a contract agreeing to work for you in exchange for the elixir to reset their stats and skills."


    "Would there be many people willing to take that deal?" Tom asked.


    Mr. Bunwald smiled. "Trust me, there''d be a line of people desperate for such a chance. But you need to be careful. Don''t advertise this publicly, and make sure you choose people you can trust."


    Tom understood the caution. Even with a contract, someone might still try to steal the elixir.


    "By the way, your faction leader is right. You shouldn''t invest any more points into agility," Mr. Bunwald said. "The double multiplier you''re getting for strength and vitality is too good to waste. There are ways to compensate for low agility later."


    "Thank you for your advice, Mr. Bunwald," Tom said sincerely.


    The teacher smiled warmly. "I expect great things from you, Tom. Please keep me updated. If anything goes wrong, don''t hesitate to come to me."


    Tom bowed deeply to show his gratitude, then left the room without another word. He had a lot of work ahead of him.

 Getting boosted free of charge

    As Tom exited his teacher''s office, he was surprised to see Felix sitting on the ground near the door.


    "Bro, I waited for you," Felix said as he noticed Tom stepping out, getting up quickly.


    "Why have you been waiting for me?"


    "Oh, come on. I want to make it up to you. Tell me the rest of what happened."


    Tom hesitated but decided to share the rest of his story as they walked outside. He deliberately omitted certain details, like the reset potions. It wasn''t because he didn''t trust Felix, but to ensure Felix didn''t get further involved in his already complicated situation.


    "Bro, I think I can help you," Felix said suddenly.


    Tom raised an eyebrow. "How can you help me?"


    "Well¡­ let''s go to my place. I have to ask my parents for permission first."


    Curious but skeptical, Tom agreed to go with him. He couldn''t imagine what Felix had in mind, but he decided to follow along.


    ¡­


    When they arrived at Felix''s house, they waited for about 30 minutes until his parents logged out of Beta and came to join them for lunch. Felix''s parents were surprised to see Tom there, but they didn''t mind, as the two had been friends for years.


    While sitting at the dining table, Felix brought up the reason for Tom''s visit. "Mom, Dad, I have a request about my class."


    Both parents exchanged surprised looks. It wasn''t common for Felix to ask for anything related to his class progression.


    "What is it?" his mother asked.


    "I know we already planned out how I would develop my class in the future," Felix began cautiously, "but something has come up, and I''d like to make a few changes to the order I progress my skills."


    Felix''s father immediately frowned. "That''s not something you should decide on a whim, son. Do you realize the implications of changing your path?"


    "Yes, Father, I''m aware."


    Tom, who had little understanding of the Banner Knight class system, watched the conversation silently.


    "And what path do you wish to take?" Felix''s father asked, his tone still serious.


    "I want to switch my class to Knight at level 60 and choose Guardian as my secondary class. This would allow me to become a Transfer Knight first. Then, at level 120, I can still take the Banner Bearer class and fuse it to become a Banner Knight. It''s a bit more roundabout, but I believe it''s the better option now."


    "Hmm¡­" His father''s stern expression softened slightly. "That''s not as bad as I was expecting. I was worried you were going to give up on becoming a Banner Knight entirely, but it seems I was worried for nothing. Still, what made you change your mind about this path?"


    Felix hesitated for a moment before glancing at Tom. "It would be better if Tom explained."


    Both parents turned their attention to Tom, who froze momentarily, unsure of how much to reveal. After a brief moment of thought, he decided to give them a brief explanation. He told them about how he was cursed, how he was healed in exchange for agreeing to protect someone, and how that person had tasked him with finding specific classes, including a Transfer Knight.


    When he finished, Tom felt nervous. He fully expected Felix''s parents to discourage their son from taking this new path. To his surprise, the opposite happened.


    "Felix, how could you act so recklessly?" his father scolded. "It seems you lack basic common sense when it comes to combat. Perhaps we''ve been power leveling you too much lately."The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.


    "You''d better make sure Tom completes his quest successfully," his father continued. "Otherwise, I''d be ashamed to call you my son."


    Felix turned to his mother for support, but she didn''t let him off the hook either. "We''ve pampered you too much, Felix. It''s time for you to take responsibility for your actions, young man."


    She then turned to Tom. "What level are you now, Tom? Let us help you power level as an apology for the mess our son caused."


    "That''s really not necessary," Tom replied, trying to decline politely.


    "Don''t be so modest. You''re part of our family, Tom," Felix''s mother insisted. "When we say we want to help, just accept it and say thank you."


    "Thank you, Mr. and Mrs. Hogen."


    "Don''t worry about it," Felix''s mother said with a warm smile.


    After finishing their meal, the entire family, Tom included, logged into Beta from the Hogens'' home and met outside the city gates. Felix and Tom were the first to arrive, but his parents joined them shortly afterward.


    "So, Tom, what level are you now?" Felix''s father asked.


    "I''m about to reach level 37. I just need a few more experience points."


    "Wow, that''s really impressive, Tom," Felix''s mother said. "You must''ve been playing day and night to get that far."


    "Yeah, kind of," Tom replied, chuckling.


    "Well, since Felix is at level 38, I know just the right farming spot for us," Felix''s father said. "It''ll take some time to get there, though."


    As before, he grabbed both Tom and Felix by the hands and leapt into the air, with Felix''s mother following close behind. After about 30 minutes, they arrived at a massive rocky mountain.


    "Wait here," Mr. Hogen said, before he and his wife ran up the mountain. The two split up at the summit and began running along the slopes, creating craters in the rock as they leapt and stomped their way downward.


    Tom and Felix watched in confusion. "What are they doing?" Tom wondered aloud.


    Moments later, a faint buzzing sound reached their ears. As they strained their eyes, they noticed small holes dotting the mountain. Each about 50 centimeters wide. Emerging from these holes was a massive swarm of wasps.


    Tom wasn''t afraid of the insects themselves, but the sheer number of them was daunting. "There have to be at least a few thousand," he said quietly.


    Felix nodded, equally uneasy.


    When Mr. and Mrs. Hogen returned to them, the swarm of wasps was hot on their heels. Mr. Hogen planted his banner in the ground, causing it to grow to an imposing 10 meters in height. Felix''s mother, however, kept her banner in hand and took a position behind the two boys.


    "Okay, you two, you can start now," Mr. Hogen said.


    Tom and Felix hesitated at first but eventually started attacking the wasps. As they got into the rhythm of fighting, their movements became more fluid. Tom, in particular, impressed the Hogens with his speed and efficiency. It only took him 3-4 punches to kill each wasp, despite their levels being between 40 and 50, nearly 10 levels higher than his own.


    "Time to speed things up," Felix''s mother said as she planted her banner. Unlike her husband''s, this banner didn''t attract monsters. Instead, it boosted the attack speed of Tom and Felix. With the buff, Tom began killing the wasps in just 2-3 hits, and some even fell after a single critical strike.


    Felix, on the other hand, struggled with his sword, needing around 10 hits per monster despite the buffs. However, Tom''s high kill speed ensured Felix''s experience gain was much higher than usual.


    Seeing Tom''s rapid improvement, Felix''s father decided to pull more monsters. He sprinted up the mountain, leaving his banner behind, and returned 10 minutes later with another swarm of wasps. To his astonishment, almost all the wasps from the first group were already dead.


    This process continued for several hours, with Mr. Hogen repeatedly bringing new swarms while Tom and Felix cleared them. By the time the last wasp fell, the sun was setting.


    "That''s it for today," Mr. Hogen said. "We''ve got a night shift to do, so we need to head out soon. But I must say, Tom, you''re really strong. Normally, it would''ve taken Felix all day to kill this many wasps on his own. Even a class specialized in monster killing would''ve struggled to handle more than 2-3 groups. But you wiped out 25 groups on your own. In my 10 years as a level booster, I''ve only seen that kind of speed from kids of extremely wealthy families."


    He clapped Tom on the shoulder. "You should be proud of yourself."


    Felix and his parents said their goodbyes, and Felix mentioned he would be heading to the city to change his class. "I don''t want to accidentally hit level 60 before doing it," he explained. "See you tomorrow at school!"


    Tom stayed behind, looking at the sea of monster corpses around him. Many of the bodies had already started to decay, as monsters in Beta decomposed within 24 hours to prevent farming areas from becoming overcrowded with carcasses.


    Taking out his identification lens from his spatial pouch, Tom inspected the wasps. While he couldn''t skin them, he noted that their stingers and wings occasionally emitted a green shimmer, indicating they were valuable. He began carefully collecting these parts, feeling a rush of satisfaction when he found rare components.


    [Rare Wasp Stinger]


    Can potentially be crafted into weapons by a skilled blacksmith.


    [Rare Wasp Wing]


    Used by alchemists to create potions.


    After about an hour, Tom stopped. His spatial pouches and an extra bag were already full, and it didn''t make sense to continue collecting parts. Tearing a teleportation scroll, he reappeared at the city gates, ready to rest and plan his next steps.

 Getting ported away

    As Tom reached the city, he headed straight to Pech''s alchemy shop to see if anything could be done with the materials he had just collected. On the way, he opened his character interface to allocate his stat points and inspect his updated stats.


    [Name: Tom Stein]


    [Race: Golem (Human form)]


    [Class: Brawler]


    [Level: 47]


    [Health Points: 5850/5850]


    [Mana: 100/100]


    [Vitality: 390]


    [Strength: 390]


    [Dexterity: 40]


    [Intelligence: 0]


    [Wisdom: 0]


    [Level 10 Skills: Beginner Brawler''s Stance, Punching Fury]


    [Racials: Hard as Stone]


    [Status Effects: The Curse of Flesh ¨C Your flesh makes you weak and hinders your growth. All stats reduced by 30%. (inaktiv)]


    Even though both Pech and his teacher had advised him against putting any more points into agility, Tom couldn''t shake the feeling of unease when he saw his Dexterity stuck at an uneven number. His inner OCD got the better of him, and he decided to invest just enough points to make it 40.


    When Tom entered the alchemy shop, he found Pech in the back room, surrounded by crates of potions. "Ah, just the person I was looking for! Come here, Tom," Pech called out.


    Tom approached, surprised at the sheer number of potions in the room. Pech handed him a crate full of samples. "Take these and find some customers. This is how we''ll start collecting gold through potions."


    Tom inspected the potions but couldn''t help but glance at the other crates. Just as he suspected, many of the potions in the other crates were only 80% efficient.


    "Mr. Pech, I have to ask," Tom began. "Why do you keep trying to scam people? You could make a lot of money just by running a legitimate business."


    "What do you mean? I would never¡­" Pech stopped mid-sentence when he saw the unimpressed look on Tom''s face. He sighed. "Fine. If I''m honest, I haven''t done legitimate business in so long, I don''t even remember how it works. Plus, my reputation is so bad, nobody would come here even if my products were top-notch."


    "You''re wrong about that, Mr. Pech," Tom said firmly.


    Tom then recounted his experience running a small potion business himself. Pech looked at him with mild amusement, surprised to hear that Tom had a crafty side of his own.


    "Alright," Pech relented. "How about this? I''ll rebrew these potions to bring them back to 100% efficiency. You find the customers, and we''ll see how it goes. Deal?"


    "Deal," Tom agreed.


    "Oh, and one more thing. I''ve got something for you, see if it''s of any use." Tom pulled out one of the rare wasp wings from his spatial pouch and handed it to Pech.


    Pech inspected the wing and was visibly impressed. "How many of these do you have?"


    Tom proceeded to take out all the wings he had collected, about 500 pairs, all of uncommon and rare quality.


    "Not bad," Pech said, examining them closely. "I''ve got some ingredients I could use to make potions with these, but honestly, it''d be a waste. My current materials are only normal quality, so the potions wouldn''t do these justice. I think I have a better idea."


    Pech cast an inspect spell on Tom and raised an eyebrow. "Looks like you leveled up quite a bit today. That''ll make this easier." He tossed Tom a small pouch. "This has 10 square meters of storage space. If you do well, you might get to keep it."


    Tom stared at the pouch in disbelief. This was a high-quality item, not something casually given away.


    "Now here''s the plan," Pech continued, pulling out a map of the surrounding areas. "About 12 hours from here on foot, there''s a clearing where moon grass and moon moss grow. Tonight''s a full moon, and at its peak around 2 a.m., the moonlight will infuse the plants. If you gather them, I can use them along with the wings to create a special potion that''ll sell for a fortune."This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.


    Tom hesitated. "It''s already 8 p.m., and I still need to eat. Even if I ran at full speed, I don''t think I''d make it in time."


    "Who said anything about running?" Pech replied with a sly grin. "For 20,000 gold, we can pay a spatial mage to get you there instantly."


    "20,000 gold? Are you sure it''s worth it?"


    "Absolutely. Trust me on this one," Pech said confidently.


    "Alright, let''s do it. I''ll be back in two hours," Tom said. He packed up the materials and headed to Casper''s shop to sell his goods. To his surprise, Smork was waiting for him.


    "Good evening, boy. I was just about to leave for the day when I saw you coming in," Smork said.


    "What can I do for you, Smork? Sorry, I haven''t had time to gather more pelts yet."


    "That''s fine. I actually finished two new pieces of gear for you and wanted to give them to you," Smork replied, leading Tom to the back of the shop.


    Smork handed Tom the items:


    [Rare Wolf Boots]


    +25 Armor


    Weight: 0.5 kg


    Attacks with your beine aggainst beasts deal 10% more damage


    [Rare Wolf Vest]


    +30 Armor


    Weight: 0.7 kg


    Attacks aggainst you from beasts deal 10% less damage


    "They''re amazing!" Tom exclaimed. Though the bonuses were specific to beasts, they were perfect for his current hunting needs.


    "By the way," Tom added, pulling out the rare wasp stingers, "do you know anyone who might be interested in these?"


    Smork inspected the stingers and nodded. "I could ask Stahl, though he doesn''t make weapons anymore. If you''d like, leave them with me, and I''ll make sure they get to the right person."


    "Thanks, Smork," Tom said gratefully, leaving the shop.


    After selling his goods and preparing for the journey, Tom logged out to check if Felix and his parents were still in Beta. Seeing that they were, he sent them a thank-you message via his phone before leaving their house.


    The walk home would''ve taken 40 minutes, but Tom decided to wait for the bus instead. It only came once an hour, but he was lucky as it was due in 10 minutes. As twilight turned to dusk, Tom spotted a group of classmates approaching the bus stop.


    Among them was a boy Tom couldn''t stand, the same one who had mocked him after his sparring match with their teacher. Tom decided to ignore them, but the group had other plans.


    The boy approached him, sneering. "Well, well, look who it is, the guy who doesn''t even know how to use his own class."


    Tom tried to remain calm, refusing to engage.


    "What''s the matter, Tom? Running home to mommy already?" the boy jeered, his tone dripping with mockery.


    When Tom continued ignoring him, the boy grabbed his shoulder. "Hey, I''m talking to you! Didn''t anyone teach you to answer when spoken to? Oh, wait¡­" he smirked cruelly, "you don''t even have a dad, so who would''ve taught you anything, huh? Your¡­"


    Before he could finish, Tom''s body moved on instinct. His fist shot out, landing squarely on the boy''s nose with all his strength. The boy fell backward, blood streaming from his nose.


    The rest of the group stood frozen in shock. They hadn''t expected Tom to fight back, let alone with such force. Tom himself was stunned by his own reaction, but panic quickly set in. Unsure of what to do, he turned and ran.


    Tom covered the 40-minute walk in just 20 minutes, his adrenaline fueling him the whole way. When he arrived home, he was out of breath but relieved to find his mother still logged into Beta, sparing him the need to explain anything.


    He found a portion of food in the fridge and devoured it quickly. With a full stomach, he retreated to his room and logged back into Beta, ready to continue his journey.


    As Tom logged back into Beta, he immediately made his way to Pech''s shop. Once there, he voiced a question that had been bothering him.


    "I''ve never harvested plants before. Do you have any tips for me?"


    "That won''t be a problem," Pech replied, pulling an encyclopedia from one of the many shelves in his cluttered workspace. He flipped through the pages, tore out two, and handed them to Tom.


    "Here are the details for the plants you''re looking for," Pech explained. "Harvesting is pretty straightforward. For the moss, just pull it up with the soil and roots intact and toss it into your spatial pouch. The grass, on the other hand, is as long as straw. I''ll give you a sickle so you can cut it cleanly at the base."


    Pech then emphasized, "Make sure you only collect uncommon or rare grass and moss. Don''t waste space in the pouch on lower-grade materials."


    Tom nodded in understanding, but Pech wasn''t done. "One more thing: getting back. Your teleportation scrolls have limited range. You''ll likely need to walk for around 11 hours westward before you can use them. Keep your bearings and try not to get lost."


    "Got it," Tom said, making sure he understood everything.


    "Good. Follow me," Pech said, leading Tom out of the shop and toward the city center.


    On the walk there, a new quest appeared and Tom accepted it.


    They stopped in front of a small shop. Tom was surprised by how modest it looked, but as he stepped inside, the interior was much larger than the exterior suggested. The shelves were lined with spatial pouches of varying sizes, the very kind Tom dreamed of owning, but the price tags were far beyond his means.


    A middle-aged man emerged from the back of the store, his expression souring the moment he saw Pech.


    "What do you want?" the man grumbled.


    Unfazed, Pech replied smoothly, "We''d like to purchase your teleportation services."


    "Where to?"


    "The Eckert Valley in the east."


    "20,000 gold," the man said flatly. "Non-negotiable."


    "No problem," Pech said, turning to Tom.


    Reluctantly, Tom reached into his pouch and handed over almost all his hard-earned gold. His chest tightened as he watched the mage scrutinize the coins as though doubting their authenticity before pocketing them.


    "I assume the boy is the one being teleported?"


    "Exactly," Pech confirmed.


    "Isn''t he a little¡­ weak for the Eckert Valley?" the mage asked, raising an eyebrow.


    "He''ll do just fine," Pech said confidently.


    Tom''s concern grew. "What do you mean, ''too weak''? What level are the monsters there?"


    Before he could get an answer, the spatial mage completed the spell, and a portal materialized beneath Tom''s feet. He didn''t even have time to react as he fell through.


    The last thing he saw was Pech giving him a thumbs-up.

 A special Sapling

    When Tom was thrown out of the portal, he appeared a meter above the ground.


    Luckily, he managed to keep his balance and landed on his feet.


    As he looked around, he found himself in a clearing that was already quite dark. The only source of light was the moon shining brightly in the sky.


    Tom had about four hours until the moon would reach its peak. Without wasting any time, he began searching for the moon grass and moon moss.


    He scanned the area for any obvious landmarks. The map had indicated the region was massive, and he wanted to be sure he didn''t accidentally wander out of the area while searching for the plants.


    Tom knew there was supposed to be a lake at the center of the area, so he decided to search for that landmark first. He initially tried climbing a tree to get a better view, but just like last time, the branches broke under his weight.


    "Am I getting heavier?" he wondered, giving up on the idea and continuing his search on the ground.


    The darkness made it difficult to see, and Tom moved cautiously, making little progress. After an hour of searching and finding nothing, he began to feel frustrated.


    What if he had already left the area and wouldn''t find the moss or grass anymore?


    Suddenly, he heard rustling sounds ahead of him.


    Tom crouched low, trying to remain as inconspicuous as possible. He didn''t know what dangers lurked in this forest.


    To his relief, it was just a deer that had wandered in his direction.


    He stood back up, reassured that the deer posed no threat.


    Turning away to head in another direction, Tom noticed the area suddenly brightening.


    When he turned back to the deer, he saw it gathering a fireball in its mouth.


    "F*ck!" Tom yelled as the fireball flew straight toward him.


    He dodged just in time, narrowly avoiding the attack.


    But the deer wasn''t done. It was already preparing another fireball.


    Tom had to decide whether to fight or flee. After some hesitation, he chose to fight, wanting to gauge the strength of the monsters in this area.


    As the next fireball neared completion, Tom ducked behind a tree for cover.


    He felt confident that the tree would shield him.


    However, to his shock, the fireball curved around the tree and hit him directly.


    He lost 40% of his health in one strike.


    Realizing the severity of the situation, Tom immediately ran.


    Losing 40% of his health in a single hit was alarming. With his high health pool, nearly comparable to that of a tank, a normal player would have died instantly.


    Unbeknownst to Tom, the monsters in this forest had surpassed the first level-60 threshold and ranged from levels 70 to 80.


    As he fled, he kept glancing over his shoulder.


    The glowing light of the fireball made it impossible to lose track of the deer.


    The hunter had become the hunted.


    No matter how fast Tom ran, the deer kept a consistent 50-meter distance behind him.


    Whenever he tried to gain more distance, the deer launched another fireball.


    Whenever he slowed down, the deer would close the gap.


    Tom ran and ran, desperation mounting as he realized he couldn''t outpace his pursuer.Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    Another fireball hit him, leaving him with only 20% of his health.


    Frustrated, he cursed aloud, "Are you a fcking carnivore or what? Just fck off already!"


    Luck wasn''t on his side, as Tom slipped and tumbled down a steep hill.


    He lost half his health during the fall.


    Grateful that he had drunk a healing potion earlier, Tom picked himself up, only to see another fireball hurtling toward him.


    The impact left him with a mere 10% of his health.


    Looking up the hill, Tom saw the deer glaring down at him.


    But then, its ears twitched.


    Moments later, it turned and bolted.


    "Phew... I was lucky, I guess," Tom muttered, drinking another potion to restore his health.


    Only then did he take a moment to survey his surroundings.


    The soft ground had cushioned his fall.


    Tom''s eyes widened. "Is that... moon moss?"


    He quickly pulled the note Pech had given him from his spatial pouch and compared the plants around him.


    Sure enough, he had landed in a vast field of moon moss.


    Unfortunately, there was no moon grass nearby, but this was already a promising start.


    Tom checked the time. It was only 1 a.m.


    The full moon wouldn''t peak for another hour, giving him three full hours to harvest.


    He pulled out his magnifying lens and began inspecting the moss.


    Using sticks from the ground, he marked all the patches that glowed with color.


    An hour flew by, and the moss began to glow.


    Recognizing it was time, Tom started harvesting.


    Within 30 minutes, he had filled over six square meters of his spatial pouch.


    It was time to search for moon grass.


    The glowing properties of the plants made it easier to locate good patches.


    After some searching, Tom found small clumps of moon grass.


    Unfortunately, it wasn''t much, filling only half a square meter of space.


    Continuing his search, Tom came to a cliff.


    Peering down, he saw a vast lake below.


    This confirmed he was still within the right area.


    What made him even happier were the glowing clumps of moon grass growing around the lake.


    Tom quickly found a safe path down the cliff.


    The lake was breathtaking, its surface reflecting the moonlight and illuminating the area.


    Tom wasted no time harvesting the grass, filling all his spatial pouches to capacity.


    Relieved, he exhaled deeply. His mission was complete.


    But just as he was about to leave, he noticed a glow in the middle of the lake.


    Squinting, he realized there was a small island at the center.


    "What could be there?" he wondered aloud.


    Curious, Tom decided to investigate.


    However, as he swam toward the island, he was horrified to realize he couldn''t float.


    He sank like a stone to the bottom of the lake.


    His body instinctively gasped for air, but to his surprise, he didn''t drown.


    It was as if he didn''t need to breathe at all.


    "Is this an effect of my race?" he speculated, unable to think of another explanation.


    Since he was already underwater, Tom decided to walk to the island.


    His movements were slow, and it took him half an hour to reach his destination.


    When he stepped onto the island, he finally saw the source of the glow.


    A small sapling, no taller than a meter, was radiating an intense light.


    Far brighter than the moss or grass, its glow was mesmerizing.


    Tom pulled out his magnifying lens to inspect its quality.


    Through the lens, he saw a purple shimmer with golden specks.


    His hands trembled as he double-checked to make sure he wasn''t imagining things.


    The sapling remained purple with golden specks.


    Tom did the only logical thing he could think of. He dug up the entire sapling, roots and all, and placed it carefully into a bag with some soil.


    Then he hurriedly ran back to the shore, praying that immersing the sapling in water wouldn''t damage it.


    Once on the other side, Tom pulled out his compass to orient himself and sprinted toward the city.


    On his way back, he encountered a few monsters but ignored them entirely, running straight past.


    Some tried to attack him, but Tom deflected their blows and kept moving like an unstoppable bulldozer.


    By the time the first light of dawn appeared, Tom was certain he was halfway back to the city.


    To avoid drawing attention, he slowed down and walked along the road at a normal pace.


    It was 8 a.m. when he realized he should have been at school.


    But the sapling was far more important. He continued toward the city.


    Finally, at around noon, Tom saw the familiar city walls.


    Now nothing could stop him, and he sprinted the rest of the way.


    Once inside, he ran straight to Pech''s shop, entering through the back door.


    Pech was reorganizing the shelves when he heard the loud bang of the door.


    He was about to yell when he saw Tom.


    "You''re back already?" Pech checked his watch. "Did you not find anything?"


    Tom, keeping a mysterious air, headed straight to the back room where the trapdoor to the basement was.


    "Follow me," Tom called to Pech as he opened the trapdoor.


    Pech, confused, followed him down.


    "Did you find everything, boy?" Pech asked.


    Tom didn''t answer.


    Instead, he pulled out the small sapling.


    At first, Pech didn''t recognize it.


    But then he cast his inspection spell, and his eyes widened in disbelief.


    [Soiled Pine Sapling]


    A once normal pine sapling that has been nurtured by the excrement of the Moon Deer.


    "Why the f*ck would you bring that thing here?" Pech asked, his expression a mix of confusion and disgust.


    "Huh?" Tom was equally confused by Pech''s reaction. "Isn''t this a rare plant? It glowed purple under the lens!"


    Understanding the misunderstanding, Pech sighed and explained, "No, boy. That glow wasn''t because it''s some rare or epic plant. It''s because it''s been growing in... uh... special fertilizer. This tree has absorbed Moon Deer droppings for who knows how long, and that''s why it glows."


    Tom froze for a moment, the weight of Pech''s words settling in.


    Disgusted, he hurriedly washed his hands in the nearby sink and tossed the tree aside like it was toxic waste.


    Pech, however, wasn''t as quick to dismiss it. With a curious glint in his eyes, he crouched down and inspected the tree further.


    "You know," he said, rubbing his chin thoughtfully, "we might actually be able to make some money out of this."

 Getting mugged

    Tom was perplexed about the sapling''s potential value. To him, it seemed useless.


    "You know what is most sought after in this world?" Pech suddenly asked, breaking Tom''s train of thought.


    "Money?" Tom answered hesitantly.


    "And where do you get money from?"


    "By selling things like monster drops?"


    Pech grinned. "Exactly. Now think about the deer that used this sapling as its... toilet."


    Tom''s eyes widened as realization struck him. "Oh, sh*t. That deer must be at least epic or legendary tier!"


    "Exactly. Now the question, boy, is this: information about this deer would be incredibly valuable. We even have proof that it might be a legendary creature. So, do you want to keep this information hidden or sell it for a quick buck?"


    "How much do you think we could get for this kind of information?" Tom asked, his excitement growing.


    "A few million, at least," Pech replied casually.


    Tom''s heart raced at the thought. A few million gold would already be a significant chunk of the money they were trying to collect.


    But as he thought about it further, Tom hesitated. If the deer really was that powerful, when would he ever get another chance to hunt such a monster? The image of the deer that attacked him earlier came to mind. Could it have been that same deer?


    Pech noticed his hesitation and said, "Let''s keep it a secret for now. I don''t think many people will wander into that area, so the deer should remain undiscovered for a while."


    "Now," Pech continued, "let''s talk about your mission. Did you find what we were looking for?"


    Tom proudly emptied all his spatial pouches in front of Pech. The underground laboratory was instantly filled to the brim with glowing grass and moss.


    Pech had expected Tom to gather a few square meters'' worth of materials, but the sheer volume left him speechless.


    His shock only grew when he inspected the materials and realized that every single piece was of uncommon quality or higher. He had told Tom to only collect the better-quality items, but this level of thoroughness far exceeded his expectations.


    "You''ve outdone yourself, boy," Pech said, marking the quest as complete.


    Moments later, Tom''s experience bar filled five times over, and he shot up to level 52.


    Excited, Tom quickly allocated his new stat points and asked, "How much do you think we can make with all these materials?"


    Pech pulled out a small notebook and began making calculations. After about a minute, he replied, "We''re not doing as well as we could, since we''re missing some wings. You''ve brought a lot of the main ingredients, but right now I can only brew about ten cauldrons'' worth, which would produce around 2,000 potions. At 1,000 gold per potion, we''re looking at about 2 million gold."


    "Only 2 million?!" Tom exclaimed, shocked.


    At first, it sounded like a lot for a day''s work. But then Tom processed Pech''s comment about the missing wings.


    "Wait, does that mean we could make more if I bring you more wings?"


    Pech, still scribbling in his notebook, turned to Tom. "Indeed. If you can gather another 4-5 square meters of wings, we could maximize the profit."


    "By how much?" Tom asked eagerly.


    "Another 4-5 million, give or take," Pech replied.


    Tom was ecstatic. "Okay, I''ll do my best!" he said with determination.


    But suddenly, a wave of dizziness hit him.This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    Tom remembered that he hadn''t slept yet, and the exhaustion was catching up to him.


    "I''m going to sleep for now," he told Pech.


    "All right, see you later," Pech replied.


    ¡­


    Tom logged out of the game, lay down, and immediately fell into a deep sleep.


    He didn''t know how long he had been out, but he woke up to someone shaking him.


    "Tom! Tom! Are you okay? Can you hear me?"


    Groggy and disoriented, Tom opened his eyes to find his mother hovering over him, phone in hand.


    "Yes, hello," she was saying into the phone. "My son isn''t waking up. I don''t know what''s wrong. I just found him like this!"


    Realizing what was happening, Tom''s mind snapped into focus. He had to act quickly before an ambulance arrived.


    "Mom, Mom, listen! I''m fine!" he shouted.


    His mother gasped, startled by his sudden outburst, but quickly sighed in relief.


    "Looks like he woke up," she said into the phone. "Yes, I''m sorry. Thank you. Goodbye."


    She hung up and turned back to Tom, her face a mix of worry and frustration.


    "What happened? The school called to say you didn''t show up today, and when I came to your room, I couldn''t wake you up at all!"


    "I''m sorry I made you worry, Mom. I just overslept because I was busy in-game," Tom admitted sheepishly.


    "Tom Stein!" she scolded, using his full name. "What did I tell you about skipping school to play Beta instead?"


    Tom winced. He knew he was in trouble. "I''m sorry, Mom. It won''t happen again, I promise!"


    "It better not!" she snapped. "Now, what were you doing that was so important you couldn''t go to school?"


    Tom hesitated but decided to tell her everything. It felt wrong to keep her in the dark when he had already involved his teacher and even Felix''s parents.


    By the end of his story, including the part about the three reset potions, his mother''s anger had faded into amazement.


    She was surprised by the adventures her son had already experienced and couldn''t help but reminisce about her own younger days when she was filled with the same adventurous spirit.


    "Okay," she finally said. "But next time, let me know, so I don''t get a heart attack when I find you like that."


    Tom nodded earnestly. He didn''t want to cause her any more trouble.


    Then, unexpectedly, she asked, "How many people have you recruited so far for your quest?"


    "Well... Felix agreed to be the Transfer Knight, but I''m still missing the healer and the beastmaster. Why do you ask?"


    "Well," she said, "I''m not sure why Pech needs a beastmaster, but maybe I can help."


    "You?" Tom asked hesitantly.


    "What''s that supposed to mean? Do you not want your mother to help you?"


    "No, it''s not that," Tom stammered. "It''s just... he might want you to do something weird."


    "Something weird? What could he possibly ask me to do that I can''t handle?"


    Tom didn''t tell her about the quest he had received when he first met Pech. After changing races, the quest had disappeared from his log, and he hadn''t mentioned it to anyone since.


    "I''ll ask if it''s possible," Tom said. "What level are you right now, Mom?"


    "I''m at level 169," she replied. "All my stats are split between Intelligence and Vitality, with the rest in Wisdom. I''ve also focused entirely on beastmaster skills, so they''re all at Tier 3."


    "Thanks, Mom."


    "Don''t worry, son," she said, kissing him on the forehead. "You must be hungry. How about we celebrate your achievements by dining out tonight?"


    "Really? But can we afford that?"


    "Don''t worry," she said. "Special occasions like this deserve to be celebrated. Now go wash up and put on some nice clothes. I''ll wait downstairs."


    Tom hadn''t eaten out since his 12th birthday half a year ago, so he was excited.


    He got ready quickly, putting on a designer pair of pants his mother had gifted him for his birthday.


    When he came downstairs, his mother was already dressed up. Her outfit wasn''t as expensive as Tom''s pants, but she looked elegant.


    They walked together to the same restaurant they had visited on his birthday.


    Tom ordered his favorite meal: steak and potatoes. His mother ordered a steak with a mixed salad.


    For many people, it might have been an ordinary meal, but for Tom and his mother, it was a rare treat.


    After finishing, they paid the bill and began their walk home.


    Halfway there, a man emerged from a side street, holding a knife and pointing it at Tom''s mother.


    "Give me your purse! Now!" he shouted.


    Tom froze. A robbery? In this day and age? With basic needs provided by the government, why would anyone resort to this?


    His body tensed automatically. He was ready to lunge at the man, even if it meant risking his life.


    But before he could act, his mother took his hand and squeezed it tightly.


    Tom relaxed slightly, watching as his mother handed over her wallet.


    The man snatched it and fled back into the alley.


    Neither of them gave chase as they knew it wasn''t worth the risk.


    Instead, they called the police, who arrived within minutes.


    Together, they searched the alley and were relieved to find the wallet discarded in a corner.


    The small amount of cash inside was gone, but all her documents were still there.


    After giving a description of the thief, the police offered to drive them home.


    Once home, Tom couldn''t help but ask, "Mom, why would people still rob others when they have food and shelter?"


    His mother looked at him and answered, "You''re too young to fully understand, Tom. The government may provide for basic needs, but for some people, that''s not enough. Sometimes, desperation or greed leads them to do terrible things. That''s why you need to work hard, so you never find yourself in that kind of situation."


    She kissed him on the forehead.


    Tom thought about her words and the man in the alley. She might be right, but he resolved to never find himself in a position where he couldn''t defend himself.


    "Maybe I should take some self-defense classes," he thought.


    Exhausted, Tom went straight to bed. He hadn''t slept much the night before, and his body desperately needed rest.

 Joining a dojo

    The next day, Tom went to class as usual. Surprisingly, besides Felix, no one seemed to care about his absence the day before. Even his teacher didn''t ask, so Tom made up a quick lie about having a headache and not being able to attend.


    When the school bell rang, Felix eagerly walked over to him. "Hey, let''s head out together!"


    Tom hesitated. "Actually, I might want to check out a club, so you can go on without me."


    "Really? What kind of club? Will there be girls?" Felix teased, grinning.


    "I don''t know," Tom replied, rolling his eyes. "I just decided yesterday that I want to join some kind of fighting class. I figured I''d check out a few clubs that focus on that."


    "Oh, really? You should check out the boxing club," Felix suggested. "I heard their captain made it to the semi-finals in the last regional tournament."


    "Sounds good. Thanks! See you later."


    They said their goodbyes, and Tom made his way toward the gym, his first stop being the boxing club.


    Even without Felix''s reminder, boxing seemed like the closest thing to his brawler class in Beta.


    As he entered the gym, he saw people warming up by jumping rope. The gym was divided into four sections, each hosting training sessions for different clubs.


    Tom approached the boxing club. The captain was easy to spot, as he was leading the warm-up while participating alongside the others.


    Tom walked up to him and introduced himself. "Good day, my name is Tom, and I wanted to check out your club today."


    The captain turned to face him, looking him up and down. "You''re a little young, but that''s no reason not to give it a try," he said. "Have you picked your class yet? How about you join us for today''s training, and we''ll see how it goes?"


    "Yes!" Tom said, excitement clear in his voice.


    He was just about to tell the captain about his class when an all-too-familiar voice interrupted.


    "What is he doing here?"


    Tom turned to see Simon, the boy he had punched earlier in the week, standing behind him with a scowl.


    "Simon, you''re late," the captain said, frowning. "This is a potential new member."


    "I didn''t ask who he is," Simon replied irritably. "I asked what he''s doing here."


    Tom couldn''t help but think, So his name is Simon, huh?


    Simon walked up to the captain and whispered something in his ear. The captain looked at him with a mixture of annoyance and skepticism. "Are you sure about this?"


    "Absolutely," Simon insisted.


    The captain sighed and turned back to Tom. "It looks like we''ll have to postpone your trial session."


    Tom was confused but kept his composure. "How about next week?"


    "Next week''s not good," the captain replied curtly. "Try again next year."


    Simon stood beside the captain, flashing Tom a smug smile. It was obvious he had said something to sabotage Tom''s chances.


    "I see. I won''t bother you anymore," Tom said calmly before walking away.


    Determined not to let this stop him, Tom headed toward the self-defense club in another section of the gym.Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.


    But Simon was one step ahead. Tom watched as Simon ran over to the self-defense captain and started talking to him.


    A moment later, Tom received another rejection. "Sorry, the club''s already full," the captain said.


    Tom sighed in frustration, noticing Simon heading toward the next club. He didn''t even bother trying there, knowing what the outcome would be.


    Defeated, Tom left the gym and began walking home.


    Tom''s frustration with Simon grew with every step. What did I ever do to him? he thought angrily. It was one punch. Why is he trying so hard to screw me over?


    As he passed a large dojo advertising Free Martial Arts, something caught his eye. He had never heard of that style before, but martial arts meant fighting, right?


    Curious, Tom stepped inside.


    He saw several muscular people sparring, using kicks and punches in fluid combinations. He was mesmerized until a large hand clamped down on his shoulder.


    "Did you get lost, kid?" a deep voice asked.


    Startled, Tom turned to see a towering man, easily over two meters tall, with a deep tan suggesting he came from the south.


    "Cat got your tongue, kid?" the man asked again, smirking.


    Before Tom could answer, another man, much shorter, probably only 170 cm tall, approached and smacked the larger man on the back of the head.


    "Jackson, stop scaring the kid!" the smaller man scolded.


    "What? I didn''t do anything!" Jackson grumbled, annoyed.


    "Warm up already," the smaller man retorted. "I''ll show you what ''nothing'' looks like soon enough."


    The larger man walked off, muttering under his breath, while the shorter man turned to Tom, grinning brightly. His white teeth stood out against his dark skin.


    "So, what can we do for you, young man?"


    Tom hesitated. He didn''t have the money for a membership and felt a little out of place.


    "I was looking for a place to learn about fighting," he said cautiously.


    The man laughed. "Well, you''ve come to the right place, but you''re a little young to join us. Why not try your school? I''m sure they have clubs better suited for you."


    "I tried," Tom said, his voice tinged with frustration. "It didn''t work out."


    "Why not?" the man asked, curious.


    Tom explained everything that had happened with Simon at the gym. By the end, the man was clenching his fists in anger.


    "What an a**hole," he muttered.


    "Yeah, but there''s nothing I can do," Tom said, shrugging. "Sorry for wasting your time."


    He turned to leave, but the man stopped him. "Hey, wait."


    "Hmm?" Tom looked back, confused.


    "Come with me," the man said, walking toward the center of the dojo.


    Tom hesitated but followed.


    They approached a large ring. "Come here, young man," the man said, stepping inside.


    Tom nervously climbed into the ring, unsure of what to expect.


    The man tossed him a headgear and a pair of gloves. "Put them on," he said, pulling on his own gloves.


    The gloves felt heavy, dragging Tom''s hands downward. It was clear they were designed to strengthen the wearer''s arms over time.


    "Show me what you''ve got," the man said with a smile.


    Tom took a deep breath and adopted his fighting stance. He struggled to keep his hands up but managed.


    "Not coming? Don''t blame me if I strike first," the man teased before launching a kick.


    Tom blocked, but the sheer force of the blow made his arms tremble and ache.


    "Is that all?" the man asked. "Now I see why they didn''t want you. You''ve got no bite, kid."


    The words reignited Tom''s determination. With renewed focus, he attacked.


    Punches, kicks, and combinations flew, but the man dodged effortlessly.


    "Whoa, whoa, is that all you''ve got?" he mocked, grinning.


    For two minutes, Tom gave it his all, but the man remained untouched.


    Exhausted, Tom leaned against the ropes, drenched in sweat. Meanwhile, the man didn''t have a single drop on him.


    "Not bad, boy," the man finally said. "You''ve got some bite after all."


    "Hey, kid! Not bad for a first timer!" someone shouted.


    Tom realized that at some point, the entire dojo had stopped to watch the sparring match.


    Feeling embarrassed, he glanced around nervously.


    "What do you say, guys?" the man called out. "Should we let him train with us?"


    There was a brief silence before someone shouted, "Sure, why not?"


    "Yeah, let him stay!" another chimed in.


    Others nodded or murmured in agreement.


    The man turned back to Tom. "Well, boy? Want to join our dojo?"


    Tom hesitated, fiddling with his gloves. "I''d love to join, but... I don''t really have any money."


    The dojo erupted in laughter.


    The man threw an arm around Tom''s shoulders. "Kid, I didn''t ask if you had money. I asked if you wanted to join."


    Tom was speechless. All he could do was nod enthusiastically.


    And just like that, Tom joined the Free Martial Arts Dojo.


    Tom didn''t join the rest of the dojo''s training, which would usually last about 1.5 hours.


    Today was a sparring session, and after his bout with Tyson, he''d had enough for one day. General training was held two to three times a week, and Tom decided he''d join those sessions going forward.


    During a brief conversation with some of the other members, Tom learned the name of the man he had sparred with. Everyone called him Tyson. Apparently, it wasn''t his real name but a nickname inspired by a legendary boxer from a few hundred years ago. Tyson was apparently a big deal back in the day, though Tom didn''t fully understand the significance. Still, he figured everyone had their own heroes.


    When Tom got home, his first priority was food. After eating, he headed straight to his room and logged back into Beta, after looking up a few things on the forum.


    There was no time to waste as he had to pick up where he''d left off the day before.

 Making bank

    It was already 2 PM when Tom logged into Beta. He immediately left the city gates, heading toward the bee hive he had visited last time with Felix''s parents.


    His hope was that someone would be power-leveling there, allowing him to collect wings from the ground. Otherwise, he would just have to fight through the wasps himself.


    Since they were already 2¨C12 levels below him, he felt confident that he could kill many of them without any real risk.


    The last time he visited, it only took 30 minutes because Felix''s parents had carried him. This time, traveling on foot, it took him an hour and a half to reach the place.


    Even at max speed, he was nowhere near as fast as Felix''s parents. The only good thing was that his stamina never seemed to deplete, no matter how much he ran, likely another positive effect of his new body.


    When Tom reached the hill, no one was there. He had already expected this and got straight to work. Instead of running all the way up the mountain to pull hundreds of wasps, he ran up for about 10 seconds, made a loud jump to draw attention, and ran back down. About 20 wasps followed him, buzzing angrily.


    These wasps were much less intelligent than the wolves he had fought before. They flew straight at him without any sense of self-preservation. They didn''t even try to dodge his attacks, allowing him to kill them in just two hits at most.


    It took him only about a minute to kill the entire group, surprising him with how efficient it was. He didn''t even manage to stack his passive weapon buff all the way to 100.


    What shocked him most was how little damage he received. Each attack from the wasps only dealt 10 damage. With his high damage output and the shield generated by his weapons, their attacks barely scratched him.


    Tom grew bolder and decided to pull larger groups. Soon, he had around 100 wasps chasing him down the hill. When they surrounded him, only 10 to 15 could attack at a time due to their size, making it easy for him to fend them off. Tom systematically killed them, barely losing any health.


    Encouraged by his success, Tom continued to pull larger groups. After a few hours, he was pulling groups as large as the ones Felix''s parents had handled when power-leveling him.


    He didn''t forget his mission, carefully collecting the wings and stingers from the wasps after every wave. He knew Pech needed the wings, and Smork had sold the stingers for a good price last time, so they were worth gathering too.


    After five hours of farming, Tom had gathered all the materials he needed and leveled up twice, reaching level 54. Despite the wasps being far below his level, he earned good experience due to his speed and efficiency.


    About a third of his time was spent inspecting each wasp and gathering materials, but it was well worth the effort.


    When Tom was done, he began running toward the city. At the halfway point, he took out a teleportation scroll and used it to appear in front of the city gates. Wasting no time, he headed straight for Smork''s shop.


    Smork greeted him with good news: the previous batch of stingers had all been sold to a weaponsmith. The smith said they were perfect for crafting javelins and spears and had a large order to fulfill. He even asked if more materials could be gathered, offering an additional 20% on top of the original price.


    Tom was thrilled. He dumped another four square meters of stingers in front of Smork. For the first batch, Smork handed him 50,000 gold coins as payment. For the second batch, Smork estimated they would earn at least 120,000 gold coins.


    Tom thanked him and promised to return the next day, then headed to Pech''s shop to deliver the wings he had collected.


    At Pech''s shop, Tom found more crates of potions stacked high, while Pech lounged in a chair, seemingly relaxing. "Put the materials in the back," Pech said lazily.If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    Tom did as instructed and returned to find Pech handing him two crates. The first contained healing potions for levels 60 to 120. Tom inspected them and confirmed their quality; there were no defective potions.


    The second crate contained a shimmering blue liquid. "What are these?" Tom asked. The game only displayed information for items he already knew, so he couldn''t tell what these potions were.


    "These are flying potions, levels 60, rank 2 and rank 3," Pech explained. "They''re made entirely with uncommon and rare ingredients. Each rank adds a 20% efficiency bonus."


    "Wait, flying potions? Can you actually fly with them?" Tom asked, surprised.


    "Sort of," Pech replied. "They temporarily give you wings, but using them takes practice. I''ve heard plenty of stories about people crashing to their deaths after drinking one."


    Tom had been tempted to test a potion but decided against it after hearing the risks.


    "How much should I sell them for?" he asked.


    "A crate of level 60 healing potions goes for 3,000 gold, and level 120 ones for 10,000 gold. The flying potions? Rank 2 can sell for 2,000 gold each, and rank 3 for 4,000 gold each."


    Tom''s jaw dropped. "Four thousand per bottle?!"


    He quickly calculated the potential profit. With 10 crates of flying potions, each containing 80 bottles, they could earn nearly 2 million gold coins. With the additional materials he had gathered today, they could make even more.


    Tom then mentioned his mother''s offer to help with recruitment and described her stats to Pech. Pech chuckled, clearly recalling his first meeting with her. After some thought, he said, "She can help, but there are conditions. She needs to reach level 179 first, then pick a new class at 180. Her options will be limited, but I promise it''ll be worth it."


    Tom hadn''t expected so many requirements. He decided to tell his mother about it the next time they met.


    Logging out, Tom messaged his mother to talk after school the next day. He then posted about the potions on the forums, listing their quantity and quality without mentioning Pech''s involvement.


    The thread quickly drew attention. Some users doubted its legitimacy, others complained about the high prices.


    Mongus23410:


    "Hey, did you rob an alchemy shop or something? Are these potions legit?"


    Artischoke43xxx:


    "This has to be fake. And what''s up with those prices? Healing potions used to be way cheaper. Why are these so expensive?"


    Mongus23410:


    "Yeah, lower the price! I''ll buy them if you''re reasonable."


    The comments ranged from skepticism to outright hostility. Some users even sent threatening private messages, demanding cheaper prices.


    Amid the chaos, Tom found a serious offer: someone wanted to buy 50 rank 2 flying potions at the listed price.


    Eager to seal the deal, Tom messaged the buyer to arrange a meeting location and logged back into Beta.


    Tom stood behind the tavern he had been working for just a few days ago. The familiar surroundings gave him a sense of security, making it the perfect place for his meeting.


    A man clad in shining armor suddenly appeared at the entrance of the alley. He paused for a moment when he spotted Tom, seemingly taken aback, but then walked straight toward him.


    "Are you Strongbear2324?" he asked, his voice firm.


    "Yep, that''s me. You got the money?" Tom replied, trying to sound casual.


    "Sure, but let me see the product first."


    Without hesitation, Tom reached into his spatial pouch and pulled out one of the flying potions. He wasn''t particularly worried about being cautious anymore; at his current stage in the game, the chances of someone outright attacking him for it were slim.


    The man inspected the potion carefully, using some kind of analysis skill. After confirming there was nothing wrong with it, he nodded and handed over a sack of gold coins. Tom quickly counted the coins, ensuring the amount was correct, before taking out the remaining 49 potions and handing them over.


    The man inspected the rest of the potions, seemingly satisfied. Without saying much else, he thanked Tom and left the alley.


    Tom exhaled in relief. The transaction had gone smoothly, without any issues. He didn''t like the idea of carrying so much gold around, so he immediately made his way back to Pech''s shop.


    When Pech saw Tom walk in, he raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Not bad, kid," he said, impressed that Tom had already sold his first batch.


    Tom simply nodded and handed over the gold, then grabbed another 50 potions. Without wasting any time, he logged out of the game to check the responses to his sales post.


    To his surprise, the number of messages had skyrocketed. It took him nearly half an hour to sort through them, filtering out the serious offers from the noise. He confirmed several buyers and set up meeting times with them in Beta.


    Over the next few hours, Tom completed transaction after transaction. Everything went smoothly, and by the end of the day, he had sold nearly 500,000 gold worth of potions.


    His last customer of the day was different, though. The man wore a long-sleeved robe with a cape that obscured his entire body and face. The only detail Tom could discern was the man''s deep voice, which hinted at his gender.


    "You''re the seller?" the robed figure asked.


    "Yeah, that''s me. You here for the flying potions?" Tom asked, his instincts on edge.


    "Yes. Let''s make this quick," the man said curtly.

 Almost getting robed again

    "Where are the potions?" the man asked, his voice hoarse and impatient.


    Tom cautiously took out one potion and handed it over for inspection. The man quickly grabbed it, inspected it for a moment, and then pocketed it.


    "Now give me the rest, boy," he demanded.


    "You have to pay up first, sir," Tom said, holding his ground. "I showed goodwill by giving you the first potion, so now I need you to hand over the money before you get the rest."


    The man''s irritation was evident. "Don''t talk nonsense. Hand over the rest of the potions now!" His voice grew more aggressive.


    Tom remained firm. "I can''t do that. How about this? You pay for five potions, and I''ll give you five potions at a time. How does that sound?"


    The man''s response was not what Tom expected. In a swift motion, he pulled out a sword from beneath his robe, its blade glinting menacingly. "Listen here, you little shit," he growled. "You better give me all the goods you have unless you want to end up in a mess."


    Tom froze, shocked by the blatant attempt at robbery in the middle of the city. He briefly remembered the time he and his mother were robbed on the streets. That day, he couldn''t do anything. But here in Beta, things were different.


    "You can fuck off," Tom spat, his defiance surprising even himself.


    The man''s grin twisted into a sneer. "I don''t think you understand the situation, boy. I''ve already scouted the entire area, and I know you''re alone. I''ve inspected you, and I know you''re just a level 54 human with an uncommon class. I''m more than triple your level. I can kill you in just a few strikes."


    Tom was startled by the man''s confidence but quickly realized something strange. "Human?" he muttered to himself. The man''s inspection didn''t seem to register Tom''s new race. He decided to use this misunderstanding to his advantage.


    "You can try!" Tom yelled and bolted away.


    The man cursed and gave chase, his sword slashing toward Tom. The blade struck, but to the robber''s and Tom''s surprise, it only dealt 1,000 damage.


    "You must have some defensive armor," the man muttered, annoyed. "Looks like I''ll have to strip you naked before killing you."


    He struck again, and Tom took another 1,000 damage. Though Tom tried to retaliate or dodge, the man''s speed was far superior. Tom''s health began to dwindle with every strike.


    When his health dropped to 20%, the man grew visibly frustrated. "How the fuck are you still standing? I''ve poisoned you with each strike, but you''re still running around!" he shouted.


    Unbeknownst to both, Tom''s new race made him immune to certain poisons, including the paralyzing poison the man used. His immunity rendered the robber''s tactic useless.


    "You leave me no choice," the man said, preparing to finish Tom off. But Tom had been preparing too. Each time he dodged, he punched the walls of the alley as hard as he could, creating loud, echoing booms.


    Suddenly, a shadow loomed behind the robber. A massive hand grabbed him by the neck and lifted him off the ground.


    "I was wondering who was trying to destroy my tavern," a deep voice growled. "But it seems someone was messing with my little brother."


    It was Pablo. He had heard the commotion from inside the tavern and rushed out just in time to see Tom being chased. Without hesitation, he intervened.


    The robber struggled, his sword flailing as he aimed a kick at Pablo. A blade shot out from his boot, heading straight for Pablo''s throat.


    "Watch out!" Tom shouted, but Pablo was already prepared. He caught the man''s foot mid-air and slammed him into the ground with a deafening thud.This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.


    The robber groaned but quickly regained his footing, retaliating with a flurry of attacks. Pablo matched him blow for blow, his sheer strength keeping the upper hand.


    After a minute of intense fighting, Pablo''s movements slowed, and his vision blurred. The robber smirked. "Looks like my poison worked on you. Too bad it didn''t work on that little shit over there. I''ll deal with you first," he sneered.


    Pablo only smiled. "Looks like I have to get serious," he said. In an instant, his body grew larger, his muscles bulging as a fiery red aura engulfed him.


    "Oh, fuck," the robber muttered, panic flashing in his eyes. He tried to flee, but Pablo was too fast. He pinned the man to the ground, punching relentlessly until the robber''s health was nearly depleted.


    "Come here, boy!" Pablo shouted to Tom.


    Tom ran over, unsure of what to do. "What can I do to help?" he asked.


    "Search him. Make sure you don''t miss anything."


    Tom quickly searched the man''s belongings and found two spatial pouches. He ignored the rest of the man''s gear, knowing it would vanish upon death.


    "Now finish him off," Pablo commanded.


    Without hesitation, Tom stomped on the robber''s head, delivering the final blow. The man let out a strangled cry before his body disintegrated into a cloud of pixels.


    "You alright, Pablo?" Tom asked, concerned.


    Pablo chuckled. "Who do you think you''re talking to, boy? That was nothing." He patted his chest confidently.


    Tom sighed in relief. "Thanks, Pablo."


    "Let''s head inside. I need a drink after that, and you''ve got some explaining to do."


    Over a glass of juice, Tom recounted his potion dealings behind the tavern. After hearing him out, Pablo offered his back office as a safer trading location.


    "You sure? I don''t want to bother you," Tom said hesitantly.


    "Don''t disrespect me like that," Pablo said firmly. "You''re like my little brother now. When I say it''s fine, it''s fine."


    "Thanks, big brother," Tom said, a genuine smile spreading across his face.


    Pablo grinned. "That''s more like it. Now, stick around for a bit. The others have missed you."


    Tom spent the rest of the evening in the tavern, catching up with familiar faces.


    Tom decided to inspect the loot he had taken from the robber earlier. He pulled out the two spatial pouches, eager to see if there was anything useful inside.


    However, as he tried to access their contents, he encountered an unexpected problem: neither pouch allowed him to take anything out or put anything in.


    Frustrated, he inspected the pouches with his magnifying glass. [Sealed Spatial Pouch] was displayed when he hovered over them. Tom did not know what to do for now, so he just put them away.


    By midnight, he logged out, content and ready for another day.


    ¡­


    Elsewhere, a man slammed his fist against a wall in frustration.


    "What happened, Slicer?" another man asked.


    "I got fucking killed in Beta. Lost everything except my gear."


    "Hah! Bit off more than you could chew?"


    "Fuck off. I did everything right. Scouted the area, poisoned my victim, but somehow he didn''t go down. Then some asshole shows up, robs me, and finishes me off."


    "Sounds like you had a bad day. Want to team up and teach him a lesson?"


    "We''ll need to watch him first. Make sure he''s alone."


    "No problem. Tell me his name and what he looks like. I''ll take care of the rest."


    ¡­


    Tom had no idea that he was already being targeted by a criminal organization. He was blissfully unaware as he followed his routine the next day. After school, he made his way to the Free Martial Arts Dojo for his first proper training session.


    Today was the day he would participate in the training, and Tom couldn''t hide his excitement. As soon as he entered, he spotted Tyson and greeted him eagerly.


    "Hey, Tyson!"


    "Hey, boy. You ready to sweat?" Tyson asked with a grin.


    "Yes!" Tom replied enthusiastically.


    "All right, everyone, let''s get started!" Tyson shouted, signaling the beginning of the session.


    The dojo sprang to life as everyone gathered in the center. The warm-up began with several laps around cones set up across the room. After that, they stretched to loosen their muscles and moved into shadowboxing. Tom was already drenched in sweat by the end of the warm-up, but this was just the beginning.


    Tyson demonstrated a series of punching and kicking combinations. The students spread out across the room to practice on sandbags stationed at various points. Tom found himself struggling to coordinate his kicks properly.


    Tyson noticed and came over. "Your kicks aren''t connecting the right way. Watch me," he instructed.


    Slowing down his movements, Tyson demonstrated a perfect kick, pointing out the mechanics step by step. Tom observed closely and began mimicking the actions.


    "Yes, much better," Tyson encouraged. "Now try adding that power to your punches."


    Tom continued practicing under Tyson''s guidance. Despite the difficulty, he could feel himself improving slightly with each attempt.


    Before he knew it, the session had come to an end. Tyson gathered everyone to wrap things up. "Great work today, everyone. Make sure you come back on Monday!"


    Tom nodded, thanking Tyson before heading home. His body felt heavy, his muscles aching from the intense workout. The exhaustion was real, but so was his sense of accomplishment.


    Once he got home, Tom barely managed to jump into the shower, washing away the sweat and grime from training. His limbs felt like lead as he climbed into his capsule to log back into Beta. Despite his fatigue, Tom knew there was a lot left to do in the virtual world, especially since customers for Pech''s potions were starting to line up online.

 That鈥檚 a big worm you got there

    Over the next few days, Tom dedicated his time to selling potions at the tavern and attending training at the dojo. Using the tavern as his secure exchange point, he successfully sold all the potions Pech had produced.


    When Tom reviewed the progress of Pech''s gold-collection quest, he was astounded to see they had already accumulated 7 million gold coins. He hadn''t expected to advance so quickly in this portion of the quest, especially considering that collecting gold was significantly harder than leveling up or recruiting people.


    Tom had also discussed with his mother the need for her to reach level 179 before moving to his city to assist with the quest. Although her progress was slower due to limited game time, she remained determined to help.


    On Friday, Pech assigned Tom a new quest:


    [Scouting Quest]


    Pech suspects that the Darkness faction may be encroaching on these lands. Investigate potential signs of their presence and report back by the end of the week.


    Quest Reward 1: Experience based on clues found.


    Quest Reward 2: ?


    Tom was eager to uncover the mysterious second reward. After consulting the forums, he discovered reports of unusual activity in certain dungeons. Similar to what happened before a new floor appeared in the Kobold dungeon, players had reported changes in other areas.


    His first destination was the Kobold dungeon, where he had previously encountered the curse. Armed with better stats and gear, he wanted to check if the Kobolds were still mining resources for the Darkness faction. However, when he arrived, he found that all the entrances to the caves had collapsed. This was puzzling since open entrances were essential for the Kobolds'' survival. He made careful notes of his findings and moved on.


    The second dungeon on his list was two hours away, inhabited by massive subterranean worms. These creatures lived in sprawling tunnel systems and were notorious for their blind but highly sensitive detection of ground vibrations. Forum rumors suggested the discovery of a new, unexplored layer deep within.


    Tom navigated the tunnels with ease, dispatching the massive worms with one or two hits each. Even the stronger monsters deeper inside only required a few strikes to defeat. These creatures lacked intelligence, relying entirely on vibrations to locate their prey. By testing their behavior, Tom realized he could evade them entirely by leaping into the air, rendering them unable to detect his movements.


    About thirty minutes into the dungeon, Tom arrived at the area described in the forums. From there, he had to rely on his instincts to search for additional leads. Following his hunch, he decided to explore passages that led downward, reasoning that if the Darkness faction was involved, they might be after something hidden deep underground.


    As he wandered deeper, he began to notice subtle vibrations beneath his feet. Curious, he knelt down and pressed his ear to the ground. A faint, rhythmic hum pulsed through the earth. He hadn''t noticed it before, likely because his boots absorbed the sensation. Intrigued, he carefully followed the vibrations, taking note of their strength in each passage.


    After nearly an hour of navigation, the vibrations became much stronger, shaking the ground beneath his feet. By this point, the tunnels were almost devoid of monsters, though those he encountered were significantly larger and higher-leveled.


    Finally, Tom reached a massive corridor and spotted a strange, gray dome-like shape in the distance. It appeared to be the source of the vibrations. Squinting, he realized with growing alarm that the object was moving. Using a magical telescope he had recently acquired, he focused on the dome for a closer inspection.


    [Name: Corrupted Titan Worm]


    [Race: Worm]


    [Level: ???]


    "Oh, shit!" Tom exclaimed, quickly stepping back. This creature was clearly over level 180, making it extraordinarily dangerous. Observing its behavior, he realized it was digging a tunnel. Using his compass, he determined the worm was headed toward the frontlines.The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    To measure its speed, Tom placed a stone marker on the ground where the worm''s tail was and followed it for a minute. After carefully counting his steps, he estimated that the worm moved roughly 300 steps per hour, with each step being approximately one meter.


    Running the math, Tom calculated that the worm could dig around 7,200 steps, or 7.2 kilometers per day. Over the course of a year, this would amount to approximately 2,628,000 steps, or about 2,628 kilometers. This was an alarming revelation, as it meant the worm could potentially create a direct tunnel connecting the Darkness faction''s territory to human lands within a year.


    Unsure of the worm''s ultimate destination, Tom made detailed notes about its trajectory and characteristics before carefully retracing his steps back to the surface. By the time he emerged, it was already dark. Exhausted, he decided to log out for the night.


    The next morning, after a hearty breakfast, Tom resumed his quest. Over the following two days, he investigated several other dungeons rumored to have new layers. While he found additional floors in some, none contained definitive evidence of the Darkness faction''s involvement. Despite this, he managed to gain another level, reaching level 55.


    By Sunday afternoon, Tom returned to the city and used a teleportation scroll just outside its borders. Once inside, he headed straight to Pech''s alchemy shop to report his findings. Entering through the back, he found Pech slumped over the counter, reeking faintly of alcohol.


    "Wait a minute," Tom thought, opening the quest progress tab. To his frustration, he noticed 10,000 gold missing from their funds. It didn''t take much to guess where the money had gone. Although annoyed, Tom decided to hold his tongue for now, allowing Pech to sleep off his hangover.


    Logging out for lunch, Tom joined his mother at the dining table. The two discussed his progress in the game, with Tom sharing his findings about the Corrupted Titan Worm. His mother reassured him that knowing the enemy''s movements was a significant advantage, even if it wasn''t direct progress.


    After their meal, Tom logged back in to check on Pech, only to hear angry shouting coming from the front of the shop. Someone was arguing heatedly with Pech, their voice filled with rage. Tom crept closer, curious and cautious, to see what was happening.


    n front of Pech stood three men with grim expressions.


    "We told you last time that Black Boots needs his money. How many times do we have to repeat ourselves, old man?"


    Pech was massaging his temples, his face clearly showing the pain of a severe hangover.


    "Serves you right," Tom thought, watching as the loud voices of the men added to Pech''s misery.


    "But gentlemen, the payment isn''t due for another week. Please, have some patience and return then," Pech pleaded, his voice cracking slightly.


    "We''ve had enough of your excuses, old man," one of the men snapped. "Our boss decided he wants his money every three weeks now, not four."


    "That wasn''t the deal," Pech countered.


    "To hell with the deal," the leader growled. "Give us the money now, or we''ll make sure this is the last time you talk back."


    Reluctantly, Pech reached into a stash and pulled out a bag of gold coins, handing it to the men. They carefully counted the money before nodding.


    "Don''t forget," the leader warned as he turned to leave. "Three weeks from now, we''ll be back. And if you don''t have the payment ready, you''ll face the consequences."


    Tom watched the exchange in confusion. The three men were only around level 130, far below Pech''s abilities. With Pech''s strength and skills, he could have easily dealt with them if he wanted to.


    Why didn''t he fight back?


    "You can come out," Pech called out tiredly.


    Tom stepped forward from his hiding spot. "Your friends?" he asked sarcastically.


    Pech''s face twitched. "When did you get so cheeky, you little brat?"


    "And who are they?" Tom pressed.


    "Just some thugs whose boss I owe money to," Pech replied, rubbing his temples again.


    "How much do you owe?"


    "Oh, only around 5 million gold," Pech said, trying to sound nonchalant.


    "What?!" Tom exclaimed, barely able to contain his shock. "What is wrong with you, old man?!"


    "Calm down," Pech muttered. "It''s not like I planned for this to happen."


    "But why not fight them? You''re clearly stronger than all three combined!" Tom asked, his confusion growing.


    Pech hesitated before responding. "It''s not the thugs I''m worried about, kid. Their boss, Black Boots, is another story. That man... Well, let''s just say it wouldn''t end well for me if I crossed him."


    Tom sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "So, what''s the plan? Just keep paying them forever?"


    "Of course not," Pech said, his voice suddenly sharper. "Once we finish our quest and gather the money we need, we''ll leave this city anyway. Let Black Boots try to catch us if he dares¡­ha! That''ll be a show."


    Tom didn''t entirely understand what Pech was planning. But he decided to follow his plans for now.

 Reaching 60

    Tom grew excited, ready to share the results of his investigations over the past few days. Pech listened intently as Tom explained everything he had discovered. Once Tom finished, Pech started to ponder aloud.


    "I was wondering how they planned to bypass the frontline in the next year or two," Pech said. "But it seems like this worm is their answer, a tool to break the stalemate at the frontlines. Still, I doubt it''s their only move. There are likely other plans already in motion, but this worm could certainly help achieve their goals."


    Tom nodded, understanding that Pech might be right. However, something still bothered him.


    "Is there anything we can do about it?" Tom asked.


    "The best option for now is to gather more information," Pech replied. "And you need to get stronger fast. If you can reach level 150 quickly, you might stand a chance to kill that worm before it finishes the tunnel."


    "I see. I''ll work on it," Tom said with determination.


    "Good," Pech said, reaching into his robe and pulling out a scroll. "Also, you''ve earned your quest reward."


    In the blink of an eye, Tom leveled up five times, reaching level 60. Tom''s excitement grew when Pech handed him the scroll.


    "I''m not your class teacher, so I can''t give you my strongest skills," Pech explained. "But I can teach you this, an advanced identification skill. It''ll help you work more efficiently moving forward."


    Tom inspected the scroll. A notification appeared before him.


    Skill Scroll Detected: [All-Knowing Eye]


    A skill created by the alchemist Pech after studying thousands of books. This skill allows the user to identify anything known to Pech at the time of its creation.


    Tom''s eyes lit up. It sounded incredible.


    "Careful, Tom," Pech warned. "It''s not as overpowered as it sounds. You can''t see enemy levels, skills, or stats. This skill is strictly for identifying materials and items I''m familiar with. It can also detect spells being cast but is limited to items and creatures below level 120. Lastly, it consumes mana, which you don''t have much of."


    Pech handed Tom a small staff. "Here, use this. It''s a mana battery. If you run out of mana while identifying, this will help."


    Tom inspected the staff.


    [Uncommon Mana Battery]


    Can be used to cast spells without consuming the user''s mana. Needs recharging.


    Current Capacity: 10,000/10,000 Mana.


    "Not bad," Tom thought, pocketing the staff.


    "Next, you should visit your class teacher and upgrade your skills to rank 2," Pech advised. "As for a secondary class, it''ll have to wait until level 120. I''m already working on finding a suitable option for you."


    "Thank you," Tom said sincerely. Since working with Pech, the alchemist had consistently supported him in their shared goals.


    "Oh, one more thing," Tom asked. "What about the two spatial pouches I brought you? Were you able to unlock them?"


    "Not yet," Pech admitted. "But I found someone who can. The problem is, they''re asking for 100,000 gold coins. Do you think it''s worth investing that much of our hard-earned money?"


    Tom hesitated but nodded. "Let''s give it a shot. Let me know when they''re unlocked, I want to open them together."


    Pech agreed, and Tom left the shop, deciding to visit Pablo since he still had some free time.


    When Tom arrived at the tavern, it was already packed despite the early evening. He greeted several familiar faces before heading to the back, where he found Pablo washing dishes alone.


    Tom grabbed a towel to help dry the dishes. "How''s it going, Pablo?"The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    "Pretty good. You?"


    Tom grinned. "I hit level 60. Didn''t you say I should come back when I reached it?"


    Pablo paused and looked at him closely. "Well done, boy. Let''s finish this up quickly, and I''ll teach you a few new tricks."


    Excited, Tom helped Pablo finish the dishes in record time. They then headed to the ring in the back. As Pablo stepped in, Tom followed, reaching for the gloves.


    "You won''t need those," Pablo said. "I want to see how far you''ve come."


    Tom obeyed, setting the gloves aside. At Pablo''s instruction, he also took out his weapons, which hummed faintly with power.


    As Tom clenched his fists, he could feel the tension in the air. Pablo stood opposite him, unmoving. After what felt like an eternity, Pablo made the first move, launching a barrage of punches.


    Tom blocked as best as he could, each strike chipping away at his health. Thankfully, his toughened skin reduced the damage significantly. Tom quickly retaliated, landing blows that barely scratched Pablo.


    As the exchange continued, Tom''s passive skill began to stack, his punches growing faster with each strike. He noticed that Pablo wasn''t dodging, likely on purpose, but it allowed Tom to reach his full speed.


    Then something strange happened. Tom swore Pablo''s attacks landed twice in quick succession. Confused, he focused on Pablo''s movements. Sure enough, Pablo''s hand moved so fast during some strikes that it delivered two hits in the blink of an eye.


    Tom became determined to replicate the technique. He tried repeatedly, failing each time, until his health dropped to just 10%.


    Suddenly, it clicked. Time seemed to slow as Tom delivered one punch, immediately following it with a second. Both strikes landed in less than a second.


    Pablo''s eyes widened in shock as he leaped back. "Not bad, boy," he said, clearly impressed. "You figured that out faster than I expected."


    A notification appeared before Tom.


    [Level 10 Skill: Punching Fury upgraded to Level 60 Skill: Punching Fury Rank 2]


    Gain 1% attack speed with each consecutive punch (up to 40 stacks). At 20 stacks, gain a 10% chance to boost attack speed by 500% until the next punch.


    Tom couldn''t contain his excitement. This upgrade felt game-changing.


    Pablo gave him a moment to celebrate before pulling him back to reality. "We''re not done yet. There''s still more to learn."


    Over the next few hours, Pablo taught Tom about three stances: balanced, offensive, and defensive. Each had its own advantages, and Pablo emphasized the importance of switching between them fluidly during combat.


    By the time they finished, it was nearly 3 a.m. Tom was utterly exhausted but thrilled when he saw another notification.


    [Level 10 Skill: Beginner Brawler''s Stance upgraded to Level 60 Skill: Brawler''s Stances Rank 2]


    Balanced Stance: Reduces stamina consumption for bare-handed combat by 50%.


    Offensive Stance: Increases damage dealt by 30% but also increases damage received by 20%.


    Defensive Stance: Reduces damage received by 20% but lowers damage dealt by 70%.


    Switching between stances has a 1-second cooldown.


    Tom smiled as he reviewed his updated character interface.


    [Name: Tom Stein]


    [Race: Golem (Human Form)]


    [Class: Brawler]


    [Level: 60]


    [Health Points: 612/7800]


    [Mana: 0/100]


    [Vitality: 520]


    [Strength: 520]


    [Dexterity: 40]


    [Intelligence: 0]


    [Wisdom: 0]


    [Level 10 Skills: - ]


    [Level 60 Skills: Brawler''s Stances, Punching Fury]


    [Racials: Hard as Stone, Rock Solid]


    [Status Effects: The Curse of Flesh ¨C Your flesh makes you weak and hinders your growth. All stats reduced by 30%. (Inactive)]


    What caught Tom''s attention the most was the newly unlocked racial skill, Rock Solid. When he clicked on it, more details were revealed:


    Rock Solid ¨C Make a chosen body part as hard as stone.


    Tom felt a mix of curiosity and apprehension. It seemed like a powerful defensive ability, capable of negating all damage to the selected area. But one question nagged him. What if an attack could break stone? Would the body part shatter entirely?


    He decided to test it with Pablo. After some practice, he confirmed its effectiveness in negating damage, but he was cautious about the potential risks. For now, he resolved to save it for emergencies.


    Feeling more capable and confident than ever, Tom went to bed, eager to tackle the challenges ahead. The next day, however, he showed up to school looking completely exhausted.


    The first to notice was Felix. "Hey, bro! What''s up? Did you stay up gaming again?"


    Tom chuckled awkwardly. "Yeah, maybe a bit."


    Felix grinned knowingly. "So, did you finish that quest you mentioned?"


    "Yep," Tom said proudly. "And I even hit level 60!"


    Felix''s eyes widened in disbelief. "What? No way! I''m constantly being power-leveled, and I''m only level 56! There''s no chance you hit 60 in just a month."


    Tom smirked. "Oh, it''s true. You''ll see¡­"


    Before he could finish, the bell rang, and their teacher''s hologram materialized at the front of the room.


    The two friends returned to their seats, agreeing to continue the conversation after class.


    The lesson dragged on, and Tom struggled to keep his eyes open. His fatigue from the late-night training with Pablo was catching up to him. But just as he was about to nod off, something the teacher said snapped him to attention.


    "Starting next week, we''ll be holding a tournament between all eight classes. If you want to participate, form a team of three to five people and submit your application by the end of the week. That''s all for today."


    The hologram vanished, and the class ended.


    Tom rushed over to Felix, excitement bubbling in his voice. "Hey, did you hear that? Want to join the tournament?"

 Forming a team

    Tom had a rushed conversation with Felix about forming their team for the upcoming tournament. Both realized they didn¡¯t have many friends to recruit and discussed their strategy.


    ¡°We probably need some kind of ranged fighter,¡± Felix suggested.


    ¡°Yeah, and maybe a healer too,¡± Tom added.


    Felix nodded. ¡°The problem is, most high-level players probably already have teams. We might be left with lower levels.¡±


    ¡°First, we just need to find people,¡± Tom said.


    ¡°I might know someone,¡± Felix said suddenly.


    ¡°Really? Who?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s a guy in Class D, a fire mage, but¡­¡± Felix hesitated, ¡°his personality is, well¡­¡±


    ¡°Kind of what?¡± Tom asked.


    ¡°You¡¯ll see. I¡¯ll invite him to talk after class. Be free later, okay?¡±


    ¡°Sure,¡± Tom agreed. ¡°In the meantime, I¡¯ll think about a healer.¡±


    During the next class, Tom mulled over possible healers. He remembered a girl in his class who had played a healer weeks ago during a fight with their class teacher. However, he was almost certain she already had a team, likely with her Berserker friend. Tom didn¡¯t interact with his classmates much, so he had no idea who else might be a healer.


    As he pondered, he overheard a conversation nearby.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Jenny, but Jamal from Class F asked me to join his team for the tournament. I know I promised we¡¯d team up, but¡­ you know I¡¯ve had a crush on him forever. Would it be okay if I joined his team?¡±


    The speaker was a tall blonde girl from his math class. She was talking to her shy friend, Jenny, who nodded reluctantly in response.


    ¡°You¡¯re the best!¡± the blonde girl said, clasping Jenny¡¯s hands.


    Tom recognized Jenny. She was quiet and often kept to herself, letting her friend do most of the talking. He had a hunch she might be a good candidate for a support role.


    After the class ended, Tom asked someone who knew Jenny about her class. To his luck, they confirmed she played a support class, though they weren¡¯t sure which one.


    ¡°That¡¯s good enough,¡± Tom thought and approached the girls.


    As he neared their table, the blonde girl noticed him first, looking surprised.


    ¡°Hey,¡± Tom said.


    ¡°What do you want?¡± the blonde girl asked sharply, assuming he was there to talk to her.


    ¡°I wanted to talk to Jenny,¡± Tom replied simply.


    Jenny looked startled, locking eyes with Tom briefly before glancing down at her desk.


    ¡°Oh¡­ and what could Jenny possibly do for you?¡± the blonde girl asked, still acting as her friend¡¯s spokesperson.


    The bell rang, signaling the next class. Tom realized he didn¡¯t have much time. He quickly turned to Jenny and said, ¡°Can we talk by the gym after school? I have something to ask you.¡±


    Without waiting for a reply, he hurried to his next class.


    When school ended, Tom called Felix and told him to bring the fire mage over to the gym. Tom didn¡¯t mention Jenny, unsure if she would even agree to join them.


    As Tom approached the gym, he noticed Jenny standing nervously by the entrance, rubbing her hands together. To his surprise, he also spotted the tall blonde girl poorly hiding behind a nearby tree, occasionally peeking out.


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    ¡°What is this all about?¡± Tom wondered, confused by the situation.


    When he greeted Jenny, her nervousness intensified. ¡°Hey, I¡¯m Tom. Thanks for meeting me here.¡±


    Jenny stammered, ¡°H-Hello¡­¡± while fiddling with her hair.


    Just as Tom was about to explain the tournament team, Jenny suddenly blurted out, ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­ but I¡¯m not interested in dating anyone right now!¡±


    Tom blinked, taken aback. ¡°What?!¡±


    Jenny, clearly embarrassed, turned to run away. ¡°Wait!¡± Tom shouted. He still needed to clarify the misunderstanding.


    At that moment, the blonde girl stepped out from behind the tree and placed herself between Jenny and Tom.


    ¡°Linda¡­ what are you doing here?¡± Jenny asked.


    ¡°I came to make sure nothing happened to you,¡± Linda said firmly, then turned to Tom with a glare. ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear her? She¡¯s not interested. Leave her alone.¡±


    Jenny tugged on Linda¡¯s sleeve, whispering, ¡°You don¡¯t have to be so harsh¡­¡±


    ¡°You have to be firm with guys like this. Otherwise, they won¡¯t get the message,¡± Linda declared.


    ¡°Wait a minute!¡± Tom shouted. ¡°I wasn¡¯t asking her out. I just wanted to invite her to join our team for the tournament!¡±


    Both girls froze, stunned by the revelation.


    Jenny¡¯s face turned beet red. Without saying another word, she ran off in embarrassment, Linda following behind, calling out, ¡°Jenny, wait!¡±


    Tom stood there, bewildered by the turn of events.


    After a few minutes, Felix arrived at the gym with another boy walking beside him.


    At least one of us seems to have succeeded, Tom thought to himself as he walked toward them.


    ¡°This is Julius,¡± Felix said.


    ¡°Julius, this is Tom,¡± Felix continued, introducing the two.


    Tom extended his hand in greeting, but Julius made a disgusted face as he looked at Tom''s outstretched hand.


    ¡°Julius Rex is my name,¡± he declared haughtily. ¡°Just so you know, I, as an uncommon class holder, do not like to meddle with the likes of you. The only reason I am here is because Felix promised me that, with his family¡¯s help, I¡¯ll reach at least level 40 by the end of the week.¡±


    Tom exchanged a look with Felix. Felix''s apologetic expression and Julius¡¯s arrogant words spoke volumes.


    ¡°Um¡­ I¡¯m an uncommon class holder as well,¡± Tom replied cautiously.


    ¡°Hmph,¡± Julius scoffed. ¡°Felix already told me about your so-called brawler class. People who dirty their hands by fighting like animals are no better than normal class holders. Only someone as distinguished as me, a mighty pyro mage, has the right to call themselves my equal.¡±


    ¡°Is he in or not?¡± Tom asked, his tone already tinged with irritation.


    Felix nodded reluctantly. ¡°Yes, but I had to promise him I¡¯d ask my parents to help him reach level 40.¡±


    ¡°What level is he now?¡± Tom asked.


    Felix hesitated before Julius answered for himself. ¡°I¡¯m level 22 right now.¡±


    ¡°Why is your level so low?¡± Felix asked, visibly confused.


    ¡°What would someone like you know?¡± Julius snapped. ¡°Of course, I¡¯m not going to dirty my hands by fighting monsters myself.¡±


    Tom glanced at Felix, unsure how to respond to such arrogance.


    ¡°What he means,¡± Felix clarified, ¡°is that no one wants to team up with him because he¡¯s acting like an ass.¡±


    ¡°Hey¡­!¡± Julius tried to interject, but Felix ignored him.


    ¡°Don¡¯t take his barking seriously,¡± Felix continued. ¡°No one else will team up with him besides us, so we¡¯re his only option at the moment. And he won¡¯t back out of it since he¡¯s desperate. It¡¯s already taken him two months to reach level 22.¡±


    Julius didn¡¯t argue further, simply looking away.


    ¡°Any good news on your side about a healer?¡± Felix asked Tom.


    ¡°Well¡­ that might have to wait until tomorrow,¡± Tom said, deliberately avoiding explaining what had happened earlier.


    ¡°I suggest we wait until tomorrow to finalize everything and meet in the city then,¡± Tom continued. ¡°You don¡¯t need to ask your parents for help either. I think we can manage to level him up to 40 without their assistance.¡±


    Julius looked like he wanted to say something but held back in the end.


    Tom parted ways with them shortly after. He needed to head home as he had promised his mother he would be there for dinner.


    As Tom reached home, he heard his mother speaking in the kitchen. At first, he thought nothing of it, but the closer he got, the more he could hear the intensity in her voice.


    "I already told you we¡¯re not interested, and you should lose this number for good," she said sharply.


    Tom paused, listening from just outside the doorway.


    "Yes, yes, I know this won¡¯t change anything," she continued, her tone laced with frustration.


    "No, I already told you, we won¡¯t consider anything. We want nothing to do with you lot," she said, her voice growing colder.


    Then, her voice wavered. "What future are you talking about? You stole it from us when you¡­"


    At that moment, she caught sight of Tom standing in the doorway. She abruptly stopped mid-sentence.


    "Don¡¯t call again," she said firmly and ended the call with a sharp tap on the phone screen.


    Her expression shifted in an instant. The irritation and tension vanished, replaced by a warm smile.


    "How was school, Tom?" she asked, her tone now cheerful.


    "Who was on the phone?" Tom asked, his curiosity piqued.


    "No one important, just someone who doesn¡¯t know when it¡¯s time to give up," she replied casually.


    Tom frowned. Something about her response didn¡¯t sit right with him. He had the nagging feeling that she was hiding something from him.


    They both sat at the table and ate dinner together. Tom tried a few more times to pry into who had called her, but she skillfully deflected every question.


    Eventually, he gave up. Feeling slightly frustrated, he retreated to his room, unsure what to make of the conversation he had overheard.

 Skinning unlocked

    Tom entered Beta and headed straight to Pech''s alchemy shop. He was eager to see if the spatial pouches he had brought earlier had finally been unsealed. However, as soon as he stepped inside, he was greeted by the sight of crates stacked haphazardly all over the room. He blinked, momentarily distracted, before hearing Pech''s familiar voice calling out from the back.


    "Ah, Tom, perfect timing!" Pech said, climbing up from the secret room. He was holding a small ledger and looked slightly harried. "Could you do me a favor? Take these crates outside the city, dump the contents, and bring them back when you''re done."


    Tom frowned, confused. "What''s in the crates?" he asked, glancing at the stacks.


    Pech scratched his head sheepishly. "Well, remember the tunnel I told you I started digging?"


    "Yeah?" Tom replied cautiously.


    "I''ve run into a bit of a logistical problem. We need to dispose of all the stone and dirt we''re excavating."


    Tom raised an eyebrow. "So, these crates are filled with dirt and stone, and you don''t know what to do with them?"


    "Pretty much," Pech admitted with a shrug, clearly hoping Tom wouldn''t argue.


    Tom sighed and rubbed his temples. "Fine, I''ll get it done. But before I start playing delivery boy, what about the spatial pouches I brought you? Did you manage to unseal them?"


    Pech''s face lit up as he reached into his robe and tossed the pouches to Tom. "Here you go. They''re all yours."


    Excited, Tom immediately opened the pouches and began rummaging through them. His excitement quickly turned to frustration when he realized they were empty. He shot Pech an accusatory look. "Was there nothing inside?"


    Pech raised a hand defensively. "Calm down. There were only a few vials of poison. I took them out so you wouldn''t accidentally kill yourself. There wasn''t anything else in them."


    Tom sighed heavily, his shoulders slumping. "So, we spent all that money for nothing?"


    "Not exactly," Pech said, grinning. "These pouches have eight and twelve cubic meters of storage space, respectively. Considering the cost of unsealing them, we basically just paid for two new pouches. So it''s not a total loss."


    Tom nodded grudgingly. "Fine. At least they''ll be useful. Perfect for carrying all this dirt, I guess."


    He began transferring the contents of the crates into the spatial pouches before heading out of the city. As he left, he decided to test his new strength as a level 60 Brawler. He had researched a nearby area, a river teeming with wildlife like crocodiles, otters, and beavers. The creatures ranged from level 50 to 70, making it an ideal place to test his capabilities.


    The river was about a thirty-minute journey, and when Tom arrived, he took in the serene, deceptive calm of the water. He knew better than to trust its placid appearance. Wading into the shallows where the water barely reached his knees, he began splashing and making noise to draw attention.


    Within moments, dark shapes began moving in the water, heading toward him. Tom quickly retreated to the riverbank, waiting for the creatures to emerge. A horde of crocodiles, about fifty strong, soon appeared, their massive jaws snapping as they charged onto land.


    Not wanting to fight in the water, where his mobility would be severely limited, Tom rushed toward the nearest crocodile on solid ground. He delivered a powerful punch to its head, but to his surprise, the damage number that appeared was only -110. Before he could process this, another crocodile lunged from behind and clamped its jaws around his leg.


    Tom braced himself, expecting to be dragged down and mauled, but the crocodile couldn''t move him. Despite thrashing and rolling, it couldn''t budge him an inch. Tom took advantage of the situation, yanking his leg free and delivering a solid kick that sent the crocodile flying into the others. However, the damage numbers were again disappointingly low.


    Realizing he might have bitten off more than he could chew, Tom began strategizing. "They must have a weak spot," he thought. Spotting the vulnerable underbelly of a crocodile, he flipped it onto its back and delivered a punch to its exposed stomach. The damage number that appeared was a satisfying -1502, accompanied by a pained screech from the creature.


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    Encouraged, Tom baited the crocodiles into biting his legs, knowing they couldn''t pull him down. As they attempted to roll, he attacked their exposed bellies, swiftly taking them out one by one. Within ten minutes, the battlefield was littered with over fifty crocodile carcasses.


    Tom inspected the fallen creatures using Pech''s mana staff, noting that their backs emitted a faint glow, indicating uncommon-quality materials. He decided to skin them but quickly ran into a problem. His beginner skinning knife dulled after just one attempt, and on the second, the blade snapped.


    "Fucking perfect," Tom muttered, glaring at the broken knife. Left with no other option, he stored 28 carcasses in his spatial pouches and returned to the city, determined to find a solution.


    His first stop was Casper''s leather workshop. When Tom entered, Casper greeted him warmly. "Tom! What brings you here today?"


    Tom hesitated before pulling out one of the crocodile carcasses. "I, uh, ran into some issues," he admitted, showing Casper the broken knife.


    Casper frowned as Tom explained his predicament. "You tried to skin a rank 2 beast with a beginner tool? Seriously?" he said, exasperated. "Didn''t your skinning teacher warn you about this?"


    "Skinning teacher?" Tom asked, confused. "I''m a Brawler. I don''t have one."


    Casper stared at him in disbelief. "Wait, you''ve been skinning beasts without any training? Good Lord, Tom, how have you even managed this far?"


    Tom scratched the back of his head awkwardly. "I just¡­figured it out as I went."


    Casper sighed deeply. "Well, you''re lucky I know someone who can help. Come back in an hour. I''ll call in a favor."


    Relieved, Tom thanked Casper and used the time to return Pech''s empty crates. He also browsed local vendors for a better skinning knife but found nothing suitable.


    When he returned to the leather shop, Casper was speaking with a middle-aged man. "Ah, there he is," Casper said. "Tom, this is Mersa. Mersa, meet Tom."


    Tom shook Mersa''s hand. The man studied him briefly before asking, "So, you''re the self-taught skinner Casper told me about? Let me see the knife you''ve been using."


    Tom handed over the broken pieces. Mersa examined them carefully, then handed them back with a look of surprise. "You''ve done remarkably well with such a basic tool. Most people would ruin their materials with a knife like this."


    Tom felt a sense of pride but remained humble. "Thanks. What should I do now?"


    "First, we need to get you proper training," Mersa said. "Follow me to my shop, and I''ll teach you everything you need to know."


    Tom eagerly followed, excited to finally learn the skills he''d been missing.


    After only five minutes of walking, they arrived at a small, unassuming warehouse. Inside, Tom saw numerous hides stretched out on racks, waiting to be processed. The room smelled faintly of leather and curing agents. In the middle of the space, Mersa turned to Tom.


    "Alright, kid, take out all the carcasses you collected today," Mersa instructed.


    Tom complied, placing the crocodile carcasses from his spatial pouch onto the floor. Mersa inspected them with a satisfied grin.


    "Impressive," he said. "You targeted their weak spots without damaging the hide on their backs. Very good work. Part of being a skilled skinner is knowing how to kill without ruining valuable materials."


    Feeling encouraged, Tom nodded. Mersa handed him a new knife.


    "Here, take this. Let''s begin the skinning process."


    Tom inspected the knife and was surprised by its details:


    [Rank 2 Normal Skinning Knife]


    Level 60 restricted


    Increases the chance of harvesting rarer materials from monsters.


    At first glance, the knife didn''t appear to have any extraordinary bonuses. Tom wasn''t sure if it was significantly better than his previous knife, apart from being a rank 2 tool. Still, he accepted it.


    "Alright, show me what you''ve got," Mersa said, stepping back to observe.


    Tom started skinning the first crocodile. To his surprise, the new knife sliced through the tough hide effortlessly, making the process much smoother. Within minutes, he had removed the hide and placed it to the side. He stood back, feeling quite proud of himself.


    But Mersa''s words quickly brought him back to reality. "Crude cutting technique. Poor handling of the hide. Approximately 12% of the material wasted during the process."


    Tom blinked, taken aback.


    "You did well for a beginner," Mersa said, softening his tone, "but there''s a lot of room for improvement. Watch and learn. Let me show you how it''s done."


    Before Tom could respond, Mersa took the knife and began working on the next carcass. At first, Tom was skeptical, but as he watched, his doubt vanished. Mersa''s movements were precise, almost artistic.


    Each cut was deliberate and graceful, his hands working with a steady rhythm. The hide came away in a single, flawless piece, free from imperfections or waste. When Mersa laid the leather on the ground, Tom could hardly believe the result.


    Tom compared it to the hide he had skinned earlier. Both were of uncommon quality, but the differences were glaring. Tom''s piece was uneven, with jagged edges and small tears. It was smaller and less smooth, with visible creases and imperfections. Mersa''s hide, on the other hand, was immaculate large, uniform, and pristine.


    Mersa noticed the awe in Tom''s eyes. "What do you think? Want me to teach you a few things?"


    "YES, PLEASE!" Tom exclaimed enthusiastically.


    Mersa chuckled. "Alright, let''s get to work."


    For the next eight hours, Tom practiced under Mersa''s guidance. The older man patiently corrected his technique, teaching him how to handle the knife with precision, how to avoid waste, and how to ensure the hide remained intact. Each carcass became a lesson, and by the end of the session, Tom had improved significantly.


    When they were finished, Tom left the warehouse, exhausted but deeply satisfied. He had left the crocodile hides with Mersa as thanks for the lessons and the new knife. As he walked away, he noticed a new notification in his interface:


    [Level 10 Skills: Skinning]


    Tom grinned to himself. Another skill unlocked, and with it, another step closer to reach his goal.

 Onslaught of rabbits

    Tom reached the school bus stop and made his way into the classroom, still half-asleep from the night before. As he walked through the quiet morning air, he heard a soft voice behind him.


    "Ex... excuse me..."


    Tom stopped in his tracks and turned around, unsure who was addressing him. When he turned, he saw Jenny, the shy girl from the day before, standing a few steps behind him, clutching the strap of her bag nervously.


    "Oh, it''s you," Tom said, raising an eyebrow. "What''s up?"


    "Em... about... about yesterday..." Jenny stuttered, her voice barely above a whisper.


    "What?" Tom asked, leaning in slightly. He could barely make out her words.


    "I''m sorry... about yesterday," Jenny said again, this time loud enough for Tom to hear.


    "Oh, that," Tom said with a grin. "No problem. Happens to the best of us. Did you have a chance to think about what I asked before you ran off?"


    Jenny flushed bright red at the reminder of her earlier embarrassment. She couldn''t meet his gaze and fidgeted with the strap of her bag.


    "D-do you really want me in your team?" she asked suddenly.


    "Of course!" Tom replied. "Why would I ask if I didn''t mean it?"


    "Then... then I''d like to join," Jenny said softly.


    "That''s great!" Tom exclaimed, grabbing her hands in excitement. He shook them enthusiastically as if sealing an important deal. Jenny froze, completely stiff, her mind racing. It was the first time a boy had ever held her hands.


    "Oh, right," Tom said, letting go quickly when he noticed her awkward reaction. "I forgot to ask what class you play. I only know you''re a support."


    "I''m a protection spell support," Jenny replied, her voice barely audible.


    "A protection spell support? That''s actually really helpful. We were looking for a healer, but preventing damage works just as well. Welcome to the team!" Tom said, smiling brightly.


    Jenny nodded shyly, her face still red.


    The two walked into the school together. Tom did most of the talking, asking questions while Jenny responded in short, clipped answers. Through their conversation, Tom learned that Jenny was already level 32, having leveled up steadily while playing with her friend. It was far from Tom''s own level 60, but he figured she could easily reach level 45 before the tournament began.


    When they reached the school building, they parted ways after exchanging phone numbers. Jenny was initially shocked when Tom asked for her number, but after he explained it was just to coordinate their team plans, she gave it to him with only a slight hesitation.


    After classes ended for the day, Tom had his usual training session at the dojo. Before heading there, he texted Felix and Jenny, telling them to meet outside the city gates in Beta at 2 p.m. Felix would inform Julius, as Tom didn''t have his number.


    Training at the dojo was as grueling as ever, though Tom was slowly finding it easier to keep up. The punching and kicking drills still challenged him, but with Tyson''s guidance, he managed to finish the session without falling behind completely. By the end, he was drenched in sweat and utterly exhausted.


    After grabbing a quick bite to eat at home, Tom logged into Beta, ready to meet his teammates. He reached the city gates at 2:05, slightly late, and saw the three of them already waiting.


    Felix''s equipment hadn''t changed much. He carried a banner on his back and a short sword at his hip. Julius wore a dark robe, holding a wooden staff topped with a crystal. Jenny, in contrast, wore a white robe adorned with pink flowers and carried a two-meter-long staff. A paper charm engraved with protective runes hung from the end of her staff, gently swaying in the breeze.


    Tom knew that protection spell supports only had a single spell engraved on their staff when starting out. They channeled mana into the staff to activate the spell, which provided defensive barriers to their team. While effective, the concept had significant drawbacks. If their staff was broken or lost, they became essentially useless in combat. Despite this, Tom wasn''t concerned. Healers were similarly vulnerable if caught by attackers, so it made little difference to him.


    After introducing Jenny to the group, they set out to hunt monsters. Tom had already selected a good area for them to train. Outside the city was a region inhabited by creatures known as killer rabbits. These monsters were level 40, making them perfect for helping the others level up.


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    Tom had considered leveling in this area himself but preferred fighting monsters he could skin for materials. Killer rabbits, unfortunately, were not worth skinning. Unlike regular rabbits, they had no fur, just wrinkled, leathery skin that few tanneries would touch. Even the price for their hides was abysmal, making it not worth the effort.


    The journey to the hunting grounds was long. Despite moving quickly, the group''s pace was slower than Tom''s usual solo travel. It took them over an hour to reach the grassy hills where the rabbits lived. The area looked peaceful, with the creatures hidden in tall grass, but Tom knew better. These rabbits were hunters, not prey.


    Tom already had a plan to lure them out. He turned to Julius and asked, "What spells do you have as a pyro mage?"


    "Hmph... Watch and be amazed," Julius replied, puffing up his chest. "I have Fireball and Flame Wall like most fire mages, but as a pyro mage, I can also summon a Fire Ring, a superior version of Flame Wall."


    Julius raised his staff and began casting, creating a small ring of fire about a meter wide around himself. The flames singed the grass, but when Julius ended the spell, the fire dissipated immediately.


    "Well? What do you think?" Julius asked proudly.


    "Okay... you''re useless," Tom said bluntly.


    "Hmph! What do you know?" Julius snapped. "If I had more mana, I could make a fire ring spanning kilometers!"


    "Oh, really?" Tom asked, his tone skeptical.


    "Yes, really!" Julius replied, crossing his arms.


    "Then prove it." Tom tossed him the mana battery staff he had received from Pech.


    Julius caught the staff, inspecting it curiously. When he realized it was a mana battery, his eyes lit up. "Muhahaha! Now, let me show you my true power!"


    Raising the staff, Julius cast the Fire Ring spell again. This time, the flames expanded rapidly, creating a massive ring of fire that burned through the tall grass. At first, Tom was impressed, but then he noticed the fire spreading far beyond what he was comfortable with.


    "Uh, Julius, that''s enough. Stop the spell," Tom said, his voice tinged with concern.


    Julius froze, turning to Tom slowly. "Ehm... here, take your staff back," he said, handing it over awkwardly.


    Tom inspected the staff:


    [Uncommon Mana Battery]


    Can be used to cast spells without consuming the user''s mana. Needs recharging.


    Current Capacity: 0/10,000 Mana.


    Tom stared at Julius like he was the biggest idiot alive. Shaking his head, he pocketed the empty staff. "Alright, that''s enough. The grass is trimmed. Stop the spell."


    "Uh... I can''t," Julius admitted.


    "Excuse me?" Tom asked, his eyes narrowing.


    "I can''t stop the spell! I don''t have enough mana to end it!" Julius shouted.


    "What the hell? Are you stupid?!" Felix yelled. "You''re going to get us killed!"


    "Don''t yell at me! This was YOUR plan!" Julius shot back defensively.


    Before Tom could say anything, a blur of movement caught his eye. Something burst out of the flames. A killer rabbit, charging straight at Julius.


    Tom moved to intercept, but the rabbit was too fast. It leaped at Julius, aiming for his throat. Just before it struck, a glowing barrier appeared around Julius, absorbing the impact and shattering. Tom seized the opportunity to strike the rabbit mid-air, killing it with a single blow.


    More rabbits began emerging from the flames, their eyes glowing with malice. Dozens of them surrounded the group, drawn by Julius''s out-of-control fire spell.


    The flames burned all around them, cutting off any chance of escape. With no way to flee, the team had no choice but to stand their ground and fight.


    Before he could fully process the situation, Tom instinctively began shouting orders.


    "Felix, place your banner and buff our attack speed! Julius, stand between me and Felix together with Jenny. Focus on regenerating your mana until you can stop this spell of yours! Don''t even think about wasting it on attacking the rabbits. Jenny, keep shielding yourself and Julius. Felix and I are tough enough to survive a few hits, but you two won''t last long if they target you directly!"


    As soon as he finished barking instructions, Tom launched into action, swinging his fists against the onslaught of killer rabbits. The rabbits died in a single hit, their bodies crumpling under the force of his attacks, but their numbers were overwhelming. Even as Tom thinned their ranks, more poured out of the flames, their glowing eyes full of murderous intent.


    Felix did as he was told, planting his banner firmly into the ground. A faint aura spread from it, granting the group increased attack speed. Despite the buff, Felix''s clear speed was painfully slow. His class, designed for supporting rather than dealing damage, left him struggling to kill even one rabbit at a time.


    Tom quickly noticed the imbalance. He was forced to move constantly, switching sides to cover Felix whenever too many rabbits swarmed him. Every few seconds, Tom glanced over at Julius and Jenny. They were standing back-to-back, the mage clutching his staff tightly while Jenny channeled protective barriers around them both.


    Jenny was doing her best, but the rabbits weren''t mindless. They noticed her glowing staff and quickly deduced she was the one casting the shields. Within moments, a growing number of rabbits shifted their focus to her, their vicious attacks threatening to overwhelm her defenses.


    Tom felt a pang of worry. If the rabbits broke through Jenny''s barriers, both she and Julius would be finished in seconds. He redoubled his efforts, punching through the nearest wave of attackers and rushing to cover their position.


    "My mana is running low!" Jenny shouted, her voice panicked as she struggled to maintain the shield.


    "Hang in there!" Tom called back, slamming another rabbit aside with a powerful strike. Julius, how much longer until you can end this madness?"


    Julius didn''t respond. He was too focused on frantically channeling mana into his staff, trying to gather enough energy to extinguish the flames. Tom gritted his teeth in frustration. The rabbits showed no signs of letting up, and Jenny''s exhaustion was evident as her protective barriers flickered intermittently.


    The flames from Julius''s spell continued to rage, cutting off any chance of retreat. They had no choice but to endure.


    Just then, Jenny shouted, "I''m out of mana!"


    What perfect timing, Tom thought sarcastically, gritting his teeth.

 Awakening of the beast

    The protective barrier around Julius flickered and vanished completely. The rabbits, sensing their chance, surged forward with renewed aggression, their glowing red eyes fixed on the now-vulnerable targets. It was like a floodgate had opened, and their sharp teeth glistened as they charged relentlessly.


    "Felix! Cover them!" Tom shouted, his voice firm amidst the chaos. Without hesitation, he repositioned himself, determined to intercept as many rabbits as possible.


    His fists moved in a relentless flurry, punching and dodging with an almost rhythmic precision. Yet for every rabbit he struck down, two more seemed to leap out of the fiery chaos surrounding them, their numbers seemingly endless. It was overwhelming, but Tom knew he couldn''t afford to slow down.


    Felix moved quickly, positioning himself in front of Julius and Jenny. Drawing his short sword, he held it in a defensive stance, his movements lacking the confidence of a seasoned fighter. He glanced nervously at the encroaching horde. "I''m not a tank yet, Tom!" he shouted, his voice betraying his fear.


    "Just hold the line for a few seconds!" Tom barked back, not breaking his focus on the swarm. His hands moved like lightning, smashing into the rabbits and sending them flying. "Julius, how close are you to stopping that damn spell?"


    "I need at least another minute!" Julius yelled, panic evident in his voice as he clutched his staff tightly. His eyes darted between the flames and the approaching rabbits, sweat dripping down his face.


    In the midst of the chaos, something shifted within Tom. It was as though his body began moving on its own, finding a rhythm in the madness. Each punch landed with precision and speed, his movements fluid and unyielding.


    He had been relying on the balanced stance he was most familiar with, but instinctively, he switched to the offensive stance, throwing caution to the wind. His defensive posture was abandoned, replaced by raw, unbridled aggression.


    His punches grew faster and sharper. Every blow carried the weight of his determination. He began to notice the effects of his upgraded passive skill, "Punching Fury." Each time the skill''s double-hit effect triggered, Tom felt a surge of speed, allowing him to quickly reposition and strike another rabbit within moments. The skill wasn''t just accelerating his attacks, it was enhancing his entire movement.


    Despite the chaos, Tom''s mind calculated every step. He used the brief speed boost from his passive to dart forward, closing gaps between enemies, delivering quick, devastating blows.


    Rabbits fell left and right, their bodies piling up as Tom whirled through the battlefield like a storm. His three teammates watched in awe, frozen by the sheer ferocity of his movements.


    Felix, who had been prepared to fight for his life, found himself lowering his sword. "I don''t think I even need to fight," he muttered under his breath, astonished by Tom''s speed. No rabbit even came close to their group as Tom intercepted every single one before they could reach them.


    At some point during the battle, Tom''s hood, which usually rested at his back, was thrown up by the wind of his own movements.


    It fell over his head, concealing his face. The sight of him, shrouded in the hood, radiating an almost predatory aura, sent chills down his teammates'' spines. Even Felix unconsciously took a step back.


    Jenny clutched her staff tightly, her eyes wide as she watched Tom''s transformation. He wasn''t just fighting, he had become something primal, something untamed. It was as though a wild beast stood in his place.


    Tom didn''t know what came over him, but in the heat of the moment, he let out a deafening roar from deep within. The sound echoed across the battlefield, overpowering even the crackling of Julius''s uncontrollable flames.


    Everything seemed to freeze for a moment. The rabbits, once fearless, stopped in their tracks, their glowing red eyes shifting from hunger to terror.


    And then, something miraculous happened. The rabbits turned tail and bolted, leaping back into the very flames they had come from. Their frenzied retreat left the battlefield eerily quiet. Julius''s fire spell still raged, but the immediate threat was gone. No more rabbits emerged from the flames.


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    Seconds passed in stunned silence. Finally, Julius stamped his staff into the ground, the fire ring dissipating into smoke and ash. The four of them stood in the aftermath, surrounded by scorched earth and the remains of their attackers.


    Normally, they would have retreated at this point, but the danger was temporarily abated. Tom, however, let himself fall backward onto the ground, his body sinking into the dirt.


    It wasn''t physical exhaustion. He hadn''t felt that since his transformation into a golem. No, this was mental exhaustion, the toll of surviving the impossible. His chest heaved as he stared at the sky, a small smile tugging at his lips.


    Felix and Jenny approached cautiously, concern etched on their faces. They exchanged glances, but when they saw Tom smiling, they both let out a collective sigh of relief. The tension that had gripped them began to fade.


    "What was that all about!" Felix barked, rounding on Julius with a mixture of frustration and lingering fear. "You almost killed us, you idiot!"


    Julius looked down, clutching his charred staff like a lifeline. He avoided Felix''s piercing gaze. "It wasn''t my fault," he mumbled weakly. "I didn''t expect the spell to spiral out of control like that. I just¡­ didn''t have enough mana to stop it."


    Felix threw his hands in the air, exasperated. "You didn''t have enough mana? That''s your excuse? Then why the hell would you cast something you couldn''t handle in the first place?"


    Jenny, still shaken, interjected softly, "Maybe we should calm down. We all made it out alive, didn''t we?"


    Felix scoffed, his frustration unabated. "Barely! And only because Tom went berserk and scared them off. Otherwise, we''d all be rabbit chow right now."


    Tom, still lying on the ground, raised a hand lazily. "Guys¡­ can we save the yelling for later? I think I''ve earned at least five minutes of quiet."


    Felix sighed and stepped back, crossing his arms. "Fine. But this isn''t over, Julius. You need to get your act together if we''re going to make it through the tournament."


    Julius said nothing, his face pale as he stared at the scorched battlefield. Jenny knelt down beside Tom, her hands trembling slightly. "Thank you¡­ for protecting us," she said softly.


    Tom opened one eye and gave her a small grin. "Don''t mention it. But next time, let''s try not to piss off an army of rabbits, okay?"


    Jenny nodded, her expression softening. Felix, meanwhile, sat down heavily on a nearby rock, muttering under his breath. Julius, still clutching his staff, stared at the ground, clearly shaken by the events.


    For now, they had survived. But Tom knew that this was only the beginning. If they were to face tougher opponents in the upcoming tournament, they had a lot of work to do.


    After a few minutes of peace, Tom sat up, brushing dirt off his clothes and facing his teammates. His breathing had steadied, and though he still felt mentally drained, his focus was already shifting to the next step.


    "How much experience did you guys get?" he asked, breaking the silence.


    Jenny''s face lit up. "I reached level 35!" she said, her excitement evident. Gaining three levels in one session was a huge leap for her, considering she typically managed one level per day, even on a good day.


    "That''s great!" Tom said, genuinely pleased for her. He turned to Julius, who had been uncharacteristically quiet. Julius rubbed his nose awkwardly, avoiding eye contact.


    "Spit it out already," Felix said, crossing his arms and glaring at him.


    "Uh¡­ well, I reached level 35 as well," Julius admitted, his tone uncertain as if bracing for backlash.


    Felix''s eyes narrowed. "Don''t joke with us. There''s no way you, of all people, gained that many levels."


    "I''m not joking! I''m serious!" Julius said, his voice defensive.


    Tom held up a hand to stop Felix from launching into another tirade. "Hey, calm down. It might actually be true," he said, considering the situation. "Think about it, experience in a party is distributed based on how much you contribute to killing the monsters.


    We don''t know exactly how much health the rabbits lost when they charged out of the flames, but given the sheer number of them and how long we fought, Julius could''ve racked up a lot of experience just by being there."


    Felix frowned but didn''t argue. "Well¡­ at least one good thing came out of this mess," he muttered.


    Tom nodded. "Yeah, but we should call it a day for now. Jenny and Julius are completely out of mana, and if we keep going, they won''t be able to contribute. That means they won''t get much experience from the kills."


    "I agree," Felix said. "We''ll regroup tomorrow and try again. Hopefully with fewer¡­ fiery accidents."


    Jenny and Julius nodded in agreement, both visibly exhausted. Julius, in particular, looked like he''d been hit by a train mentally, if not physically. Jenny, despite her drained mana, seemed more optimistic, buoyed by her unexpected progress.


    "We should also work on our teamwork," Tom added. "I don''t think we did badly today, considering the chaos, but there''s definitely room for improvement. We''ve got a few days left before the tournament. Let''s make the most of them."


    Everyone nodded, their expressions a mix of relief and determination. Each of them pulled out a teleportation scroll, ripping it in sync.


    A flash of light enveloped them as they teleported back to the city, leaving behind the scorched battlefield littered with the remains of countless rabbits.


    Unbeknownst to them, a pair of red eyes watched their every move from the shadows.

 Children Yearn for the Mines

    As Tom approached the city gates, his first stop was Pech''s shop. His mana battery had been completely drained during his last fight, and he needed it recharged before heading out again. The sight that greeted him was all too familiar. A mountain of crates stacked haphazardly, waiting to be moved.


    "Ah, Tom! Just the person I needed," Pech called out as he spotted him. "Help me move these crates outside the city again, will you?"


    Tom sighed but agreed, though not before handing over his mana battery for recharging. "Here, Pech. Get this charged while I''m busy."


    The task didn''t take long. In a few minutes, he had dumped the crates'' contents outside the city gates and returned to unload the emptied boxes into Pech''s hidden storage room. When he came back, Pech handed him the recharged mana battery, and Tom was off again, a lingering question driving him forward.


    His next destination was Stahl''s workshop. The place wasn''t hard to find; nestled in a small courtyard, the sounds of clinking tools and the smell of molten metal made it unmistakable. As Tom entered the courtyard, he spotted Stahl outside, leaning back on a stool with a drink in hand, clearly taking a break.


    "Hey, Stahl," Tom greeted him.


    "Tom! How''s it going, kid?" Stahl replied with a grin, setting his drink down.


    "Not bad, not bad," Tom said, stepping closer. "I came to ask you a question... and maybe a favor, depending on your answer."


    "Oh?" Stahl leaned forward, intrigued. "What''s on your mind, kid?"


    Tom hesitated for a moment, then dove into his story. "While I was skinning a monster the other day, my knife broke. Turns out it wasn''t made for handling Rank 2 beasts."


    Stahl chuckled knowingly. "Well, yeah. That should''ve been obvious. Didn''t your teacher warn you?"


    Tom flushed slightly but deflected the question. "Not important. Anyway, I figured it out eventually. My real concern is about my weapon. It''s a Rank 1 item, and I was wondering... can it break too if I push it too hard against stronger monsters?"


    Stahl studied Tom for a moment, rubbing his chin before answering. "You''re not wrong to be concerned, but here''s the thing. A rare weapon, even if it''s only Rank 1, is a bit special. Think of it as a Rank 1.5. It''s tougher than your standard Rank 1 gear but not quite up to Rank 2. It''ll hold up for now, but once you start facing Rank 3 foes, you''ll need an upgrade."


    Tom absorbed the information, nodding slowly. "Is it possible to upgrade weapons?"


    Stahl''s eyes gleamed. "It''s not impossible, but it''s tricky. Harder than crafting a new one, for sure. You''d need materials compatible with your current weapon''s composition. Most people find it easier to start fresh with a new weapon."


    Tom hesitated again, then confessed, "I''ve grown attached to my brass knuckles. They''ve been with me through a lot of fights, and they fit my build perfectly. I don''t want to replace them if I don''t have to. Could you help me upgrade them?"


    For a moment, Stahl was silent. Then, an unusual smile crept onto his face. "I like you, kid. Not many people treat their weapons with that kind of respect. For most, they''re just tools. But you? You treat them like part of yourself. I can get behind that."


    He reached for a piece of paper and a pen, jotting down notes and calculations. After a few minutes, he handed Tom the list. "Here. These are the materials you''ll need. You''ll need them in decent quality too. No cheap scraps."


    Tom glanced at the paper. Most of the materials were unfamiliar to him, and he felt a pang of doubt. "Thanks, Stahl. I''ll see what I can do."


    "Don''t sweat it if you can''t get them right away. You''ve got time before you really need an upgrade."


    Tom nodded, pocketing the list. He thanked Stahl again and left, thoughts racing. The first thing he did was check the forums for the materials Stahl had listed. The prices made his jaw drop¡ªrare-grade materials started at 400,000 gold coins, and that was for the cheapest option. Worse still, the nearest viable gathering site was eight hours away on foot, guarded by Level 80 monsters.


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    Teleporting was an option, albeit an expensive one. Still, it was worth considering. Tom headed to the teleportation shop he''d used before. The familiar mage at the counter greeted him with the same stoic expression.


    "Teleportation services?" the mage asked.


    "Yes. I need to get to the Scarab Tunnels in the east. About eight hours from here."


    The mage''s brow furrowed slightly. "Coordinates?"


    Tom handed over a slip of paper he''d prepared earlier. The mage examined it, then quoted the price. "13,000 gold coins."


    Tom handed over the payment but hesitated before asking, "And a return trip?"


    "10,000 gold. You''ll need this crystal." The mage handed him a shimmering stone. "It''s bound to this shop. Use it to return here. You can recharge it for 5,000 gold or exchange it for the same amount."


    With everything settled, the mage clasped his hands together, and in a blink, Tom was gone. Tom appeared in a rocky valley, the air thick with the sounds of distant monsters. Tom took a deep breath and looked around.


    In the shadows, he spotted the inhabitants of the area: massive black scarabs, each roughly a meter long, skittering across the ground. These were the lowest-ranked creatures in the valley, likely Level 70, clinging to the outskirts after losing their place deeper within the caves.


    Tom descended a narrow path winding down the rocky hillside, the crunch of loose gravel underfoot the only sound accompanying him. Within minutes, he reached the valley floor. He had read about these creatures before and knew they weren''t particularly intelligent. This was the perfect opportunity to test a theory he''d been pondering since his last encounter with high-level monsters.


    He pulled his hood over his head, instantly feeling the shift in his aura. Since the rabbit ambush during his last fight, Tom had noticed something was different¡ªsomething had changed in him. He couldn''t quite pinpoint what it was, but he had a hunch.


    Walking deeper into the valley, he kept his eyes peeled for an entrance to the tunnels below. Soon, he encountered his first scarab. The massive insect froze, antennae twitching as it focused on him. Tom held his ground, locking eyes with the creature. A second later, the scarab turned abruptly and scurried away as if its life depended on it.


    Tom couldn''t help but smile. His theory was correct.


    Since his last fight, he had suspected that the passive effect of his Rare Bear Cape might be influencing monsters, deterring them from engaging him. Before reaching Level 60, he had worn the hood in fights before, but it had never produced this kind of reaction. Something about him¡ªor his aura¡ªmust have changed to trigger this effect. Whether it was his recent level-up or something else entirely, he couldn''t be sure, but the idea intrigued him. He filed the thought away to investigate further later.


    For now, Tom pressed on, moving deeper into the valley with newfound confidence. He soon spotted a narrow cave entrance partially hidden by jagged rocks. It wasn''t very large, and Tom hesitated for a moment, picturing the tight, claustrophobic passages he might encounter inside. He''d seen videos of explorers squeezing through uncomfortably narrow spaces to reach uncharted areas, and the thought made his skin crawl.


    Taking a steadying breath, Tom ducked through the small opening. Almost immediately, the ground gave way beneath him, and he dropped three meters into a cavern below. His instincts kicked in mid-air, and he twisted his body to land on his feet. The impact echoed like a hammer striking an anvil, but thankfully, no scarabs were in sight.


    Tom exhaled in relief and retrieved his compass and a torch. According to the forums, all entrances to this valley''s dungeons were located in the south, but the path forward always required moving north through hostile territory. He set his direction and began his journey.


    As he progressed, he encountered more scarabs. Some fled at the mere sight of him, their instincts seemingly overriding any urge to fight. Others, more aggressive or perhaps of higher quality, stood their ground. Tom paused to observe their behavior before deciding to engage.


    The first confrontation forced him to search for a weak spot, but he discovered one fairly quickly. Beneath the scarab''s wings was a membrane that matched the rest of its armored exoskeleton in color, camouflaging it effectively. At first glance, it seemed as tough as the rest of the carapace, but a solid punch revealed otherwise. The armor buckled inward like dented metal, and massive damage numbers floated above the creature.


    Hot streaks of excitement coursed through Tom as he continued his battles. The scarabs'' carapaces glowed faintly, indicating they were valuable. After defeating his first scarab, he examined the loot it dropped.


    [Uncommon Scarabeus Carapace]


    Used in alchemy or by blacksmiths.


    Nice, Tom thought, pocketing the prize.


    As he ventured further into the tunnels, the scarabs that faced him grew stronger, each fight more challenging than the last. The weaker ones seemed to vanish, leaving behind only creatures of at least uncommon quality. By the time Tom reached the heart of the caves, he had collected over ten carapaces, each glowing faintly in his inventory.


    Tom was about to move forward when a strange noise stopped him. From a side passage he had intended to ignore, he heard a peculiar rustling sound, as if something was writhing or rolling across the ground. His curiosity piqued, Tom approached cautiously, keeping his steps light and his fists ready for whatever might lie ahead.

 Finders keepers

    As Tom reached the source of the sound, he stumbled upon something utterly disgusting. A fat, slimy maggot was wriggling on the ground, its gelatinous body swaying up and down. The creature appeared to be feasting on something, its movements deliberate and rhythmic.


    Curious, Tom edged closer, his nose wrinkling at the pungent, earthy smell emanating from the creature. Upon closer inspection, he realized the maggot was eating rocks. "Nothing too crazy," he thought, considering the barren environment. There wasn''t much else for such creatures to eat in these desolate tunnels.


    Tom briefly contemplated killing it. However, the thought of touching its slimy upper surface made him hesitate. Deciding against it for now, he slowly backed away, careful not to disturb its meal. He turned and ventured deeper into the cave, eager to find what he had come for.


    The network of tunnels proved frustratingly complex. Progress was slow as Tom navigated countless dead ends. Each time he reached a blocked path, he had to retrace his steps to the last fork he hadn''t yet explored. His frustration mounted as he wasted precious time wandering aimlessly. The dark, damp air and the echoes of his footsteps added to the oppressive atmosphere.


    After nearly two hours of searching, Tom finally found a tunnel with a steep slope. The incline seemed promising, and he felt a surge of hope. Quickening his pace, he descended deeper into the cave. His torch illuminated only a few meters ahead, the flickering light casting shifting shadows on the uneven walls.


    With each step, the tunnel widened, and soon Tom could barely make out the walls on either side. The ceiling, once just a few meters above his head, disappeared into the darkness above. He realized he was standing in a vast, cavernous room. The sheer size of the space was overwhelming, the emptiness stretching endlessly before him.


    Tom pressed northward, his ears picking up the faint rustling sounds of scarabs nearby. Unfortunately, his torchlight seemed to draw the creatures like moths to a flame. The chittering of their legs grew louder, and more scarabs began emerging from the shadows. No matter how carefully he moved, the number of scarabs increased steadily, as if an invisible force was guiding them toward him.


    Soon, he was surrounded. Fighting ten at a time, Tom found himself unable to push forward. The scarabs swarmed relentlessly, their sharp legs clattering against the rocky floor. Panic began to creep in as he realized his progress had stalled completely.


    He needed a plan. Retreating would mean abandoning his mission, but staying put could lead to being overwhelmed. Tom decided to test his surroundings. He extinguished his torch and stored it in his spatial pouch, plunging the cavern into pitch-black darkness. To his dismay, the scarabs continued their assault, though the absence of light made them slightly less aggressive.


    Adopting a defensive stance, Tom waited for the scarabs to come to him. As they drew close, he used the vibrations of their movements to pinpoint their positions. Each punch was carefully aimed, and he watched for damage numbers to confirm when he hit their weak points. Gradually, he began to gain the upper hand.


    After several tense minutes, the last scarab fell, and the cave fell silent once more. Tom exhaled deeply, his shoulders relaxing for the first time in what felt like hours. With no immediate threat, an idea struck him. How could he efficiently collect the materials from the scarab corpses?


    He retrieved his mana battery from his pouch and activated his inspection skill, a gift from Pech. The glowing outlines of the scarab bodies appeared in the darkness, allowing him to locate each one easily. Working methodically, he harvested their materials, casting the inspection skill repeatedly to ensure no corpse was missed.


    Once he had collected all the loot, Tom took out his compass and inspected it. The inspection skill revealed the direction of the needle, and to his relief, he could determine north. He began walking again, holding the mana battery in one hand and checking the compass regularly to stay on course.


    Another benefit of the inspection skill became apparent as he advanced: it allowed him to spot scarabs hiding along his path. When possible, Tom avoided their perception entirely, moving around them silently. When avoidance wasn''t an option, he launched precise sneak attacks, taking them out swiftly.


    Progress came steadily, but suddenly, Tom noticed the glow of his mana battery fading. It had run out of energy again. With his small mana pool unable to recharge it, Tom had no choice but to continue in near-total darkness. He steeled himself, relying on his growing familiarity with the cave''s oppressive blackness.


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    After what felt like an eternity, a faint shimmer of light appeared in the distance. Tom paused, narrowing his eyes to confirm what he saw. The light was real, and it lay in his direction. He quickened his pace, his curiosity and hope reigniting.


    Fifteen minutes later, he reached the source of the light. It illuminated a massive hall filled with glowing red crystals embedded in the walls. Scarabs scuttled about, using their bodies to excavate the crystals. Nearby, maggots writhed, feeding on the luminous fragments. As Tom watched, the maggots began to glow faintly red after consuming the crystals, then wriggled away, disappearing deeper into the cave.


    Fascinated, Tom approached the crystals. He bent down to pick one up, examining its smooth, glowing surface. Though he considered inspecting it, he decided to conserve his mana. These crystals weren''t the pitch-black ore he was searching for, but their rarity might make them valuable. He pocketed several before turning his attention back to the maggots.


    Following their glowing trails seemed like the best lead. Tom carefully moved deeper into the cave.


    As Tom ventured further, an extraordinary sight came into view. The walls ahead resembled a gigantic honeycomb made of stone, each cell carved out by the maggots. The creatures wriggled inside the holes they created and began to excrete silk-like threads, spinning glowing red cocoons around themselves. The process repeated all across the walls, a mesmerizing and eerie display.


    Tom decided to remain hidden and observe. His patience paid off when one of the cocoons began to split open. From the small chamber emerged a scarab, slightly larger than the ones he''d encountered before. Its faint red glow set it apart from the others. The creature crawled out of the cocoon, down the wall, and disappeared into the shadows beyond the glow of the crystals.


    What caught Tom''s attention even more was the honeycomb wall itself. It appeared darker than the rest of the surrounding cave, almost unnaturally so. He wondered if the material it was made of might be connected to the ore he was searching for.


    Determined to find out, Tom moved closer. The ground beneath him grew increasingly uneven and bumpy, slowing his progress. He couldn''t tell if the scarabs had been eating into the floor or if the terrain had always been this way, but he was forced to tread carefully to avoid tripping.


    Guided by the wall, Tom eventually reached a smaller cave that seemed to have been excavated some time ago. A faint glow from the nearby honeycomb illuminated the interior, making it easier to look around. However, despite his search, Tom found no sign of any rocks or ore in this cave. He also realized that mining the ore might prove difficult if it wasn''t already loose, as he had hoped to find larger fragments lying around.


    Just as Tom was about to move on, a noise echoed from deeper in the honeycomb. He peeked around the corner of the tunnel he was hiding in and saw fresh excavation underway. He also noticed something peculiar¡ªthe maggots seemed to favor newly created caves and rarely ventured into older, used ones.


    Tom decided to wait near the freshly dug caves, hiding in the shadows as the scarabs finished their work and left. Once the last scarab scuttled away, Tom made his move. The new cave was about four meters above the uneven ground, forcing him to climb the steep cliff to reach it. Though the ascent was tricky, he managed to pull himself up and enter the chamber.


    Inside, the cave was entirely different. There were no traces of maggots, meaning it was unlit except for faint beams of light spilling in from nearby caves. This made it difficult to see, but Tom''s eyes gradually adjusted. As he scanned the ground, he spotted a few pieces of rock scattered about. He picked them up and used his inspection skill, despite its drain on his mana.


    A smile spread across Tom''s face as the notification appeared:


    [Normal Babronium Ore]


    Used by blacksmiths as crafting material.


    This was exactly what he was searching for! The only issue was that these were normal-grade ores, and he needed rare ones. Still, this was progress. He continued searching the cave for more fragments, hopeful for better-quality materials.


    As he combed through the chamber, a sound from behind startled him. Instinctively, Tom pressed himself against the darkened end of the tunnel, staying as silent as possible. Peering into the shadows, he saw a large maggot, glowing faintly red, squirming into the cave. It was one of the creatures he''d seen earlier.


    Tom held his breath, his muscles tensing as he waited for the maggot''s next move. To his surprise, the creature paid him no attention. Instead, it began eating the rocks scattered across the ground. Tom watched in shock as the maggot''s wide mouth consumed not only ordinary rocks but also pieces of ore.


    His jaw tightened. When the maggot reached one of his precious Babronium fragments, Tom couldn''t hold back. Without thinking, he charged forward and struck the maggot with a heavy blow to its head. The impact was far more effective than he expected¡ªthe maggot slumped over and stopped moving entirely.


    It seemed these creatures were far less resilient than the scarabs, a fact that gave Tom a small sense of relief. The faint glow from the maggot''s body now illuminated the entire cave, making it easier for him to search for more ore.


    Before he could move on to the next cave, an idea struck him. He turned to look back at the fallen maggot, and a shiver ran down his spine as he considered what he was about to do.

 Taking a bath

    Tom approached the maggot cautiously, retrieving his skinning knife from his pouch. He didn''t expect to find any valuable materials from dissecting the creature, but he hoped to recover the ores it had consumed, now resting inside its bloated belly.


    He attempted to open the maggot without touching it, relying solely on his knife. Unfortunately, the slimy, jiggling surface made the task nearly impossible. Letting out a resigned sigh, Tom faced his fate. He grasped the maggot with his hands, suppressing his disgust. It felt unnervingly similar to kneading wet bread dough, and Tom worked quickly to finish gutting the creature.


    When he sliced open its stomach, a heap of red and black rocks spilled out, partially digested and coated in an unpleasant, acidic slime. Acting swiftly, Tom scooped the pieces into his spatial pouch, ignoring the stench that made his eyes water. He couldn''t be certain the rocks were still usable but hoped they would retain their value despite the decomposition.


    Finished with the maggot, Tom headed toward the cave''s exit and waited near the entrance. He knew it wouldn''t take long for them to dig a fresh tunnel, and within minutes, his patience paid off. A group of scarabs had carved out a new cave.


    Wasting no time, Tom climbed into the freshly dug tunnel before any maggots arrived. He collected every piece of ore he could find, stuffing them into his spatial pouch. As soon as a maggot entered the cave, Tom dispatched it with a single precise blow, extracting its stomach contents to salvage any usable materials.


    This process repeated across several caves. Tom moved systematically, harvesting ores and clearing maggots with efficiency. After some time, he noticed a group of scarabs working together to excavate a much larger tunnel than usual. He couldn''t help but feel a surge of anticipation¡ªsurely, something special must lie within.


    The excavation took nearly thirty minutes, with Tom observing from the shadows, ensuring he stayed out of sight. Once the scarabs finally departed, he crept into the new cave, excitement rising.


    Tom''s eyes lit up when he saw the chamber. Scattered across the floor were numerous pieces of rock, glinting faintly in the dim light. Without hesitation, he began collecting the materials, filling almost all the remaining space in his first spatial pouch. Satisfied with his haul, Tom decided it was time to leave the cave and head back to safety.


    However, just as he was preparing to leave, a massive maggot entered the cavern. It was unlike anything he had encountered before¡ªnearly three meters long and two meters wide. Tom froze, watching intently. From his earlier encounters, he had realized these maggots were likely blind. They didn''t react to his presence, even when he stood directly in front of them.


    Still, this one''s size unnerved him. He had already gathered all the ores it might have consumed, so he was curious about what it would try to eat now. His question was answered almost immediately. The maggot began munching on the walls of the cave, devouring the stone with a terrifying ferocity. As it fed, the walls crumbled, and the chamber grew larger with every bite. At the same time, the maggot itself began to swell, its body expanding like a balloon being filled with air.


    Tom''s unease deepened as the maggot continued to grow, soon filling most of the available space in the cave. Its sheer bulk left no room for him to maneuver, effectively trapping him inside. The creature inched closer with every second, its gelatinous body pushing toward him. Tom''s heart raced as the maggot came to a stop mere centimeters from his face.


    He knew he couldn''t fight in such cramped conditions. His blade would barely scratch the creature in these circumstances, and there was no way to dodge its immense bulk if it decided to attack. For now, Tom chose to wait, hoping the situation would somehow resolve itself.


    The maggot remained motionless for a moment, its bloated form looming over Tom like a living wall. He could hear its wet, squelching breaths and feel the oppressive heat radiating from its body. Every second felt like an eternity as Tom braced himself, unsure of what the enormous creature would do next.


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    The maggot, in the meantime, began secreting a substance from its body. The sticky material started off soft and slimy but quickly hardened as it dried, forming a buffed, shimmering cocoon. Within minutes, Tom could see nothing but a glimmering wall of the cocoon mere inches from his face.


    He realized he had two options: wait for whatever was inside to develop and hatch or try to break out and escape now. A third idea crossed his mind¡ªlogging out for the day and hoping that by the time he returned from school tomorrow, the situation would have resolved itself. But then he thought about all the ores the maggot had consumed, and greed began to take hold.


    Resolving to take action, Tom retrieved his knuckles from his inventory. With a determined expression, he started punching the exterior wall of the cocoon. To his relief, he saw damage numbers floating in the air with each hit, even if the damage was small compared to his usual attacks.


    -32


    -25


    -19


    -44


    The numbers flickered before his eyes, proof that he was making progress. However, the cramped space severely limited his ability to move, reducing the power behind his punches. Practically pinned to the cocoon, his movements were slow and awkward, but he kept going.


    Over time, cracks began forming along the hardened surface. Tom focused all his strength on those weak points, striking repeatedly at their base. Each punch widened the fissures until, with a final blow, he broke through.


    What happened next completely caught Tom off guard. A viscous, gooey mass burst out of the cocoon, flooding the confined space and enveloping him entirely. The sticky substance clung to his body, soaking him from head to toe. For a moment, Tom froze in disgust, nearly gagging as the slimy liquid surrounded him. It felt as though he were swimming in a nightmare, but he fought back the nausea and kept his composure.


    Luckily, as a golem, Tom no longer needed to breathe. This spared him the risk of drowning, but he still couldn''t see anything¡ªhis vision was entirely obscured by the glowing red slime coating his face. As he wiped at his eyes in frustration, an idea struck him.


    He reached for his spatial pouch, which was still empty, and in a matter of seconds, began scooping the goo into it. The pouch quickly filled to capacity, but the chamber was still half-flooded. Undeterred, Tom pulled out a second pouch and continued collecting the mysterious substance until both were brimming with the sticky red fluid.


    With that task complete, Tom turned his attention to the second wall on the opposite side of the cocoon. Covered in slime and eager to leave, he worked faster this time. The extra space gave him more freedom of movement, and he managed to break through in half the time it had taken him before.


    Not wasting a moment, Tom began making his way toward the exit. He didn''t know if the scarabs had heard the noise he made breaking through the cocoon, but he wasn''t willing to stick around to find out. His entire body was drenched in slime, and the air clung to him with an oppressive dampness, but he pressed on.


    Just as he was sliding down the incline leading out of the chamber, something happened that he hadn''t anticipated. He reached the bottom, his feet hitting the ground, when the floor beneath him suddenly began to tremble. Tom froze, his heart racing as he instinctively stepped back.


    The vibrations stopped almost as quickly as they had started, but the brief moment of instability set Tom on edge. He glanced around the chamber, unsure of what to make of the situation. At first, he thought the cave might be collapsing, but as he replayed the sensation in his mind, he realized it didn''t feel like an earthquake. It was less like the entire cave had trembled and more like something beneath the ground had shifted.


    Tom retrieved his torch and, using the last of his mana, reignited its flame. As the flickering light spread through the darkness, what it revealed made him freeze in terror. The torch slipped from his hand, rolling forward across the uneven ground.


    Earlier, Tom had wondered where all the hatched scarabs might have gathered. Now, he had his answer. Before him stretched an army of scarabs. The floor was coated with them, their black carapaces interlocked and covering every visible inch of space. As the torch rolled forward, its glow revealed more and more of the mass, a sea of gleaming exoskeletons that stretched beyond the limits of the light.


    Tom''s footstep had been the catalyst. The moment he stepped forward, the scarabs stirred. It was as if they had been lying dormant in some kind of slumber, only to awaken at the disturbance. The movement began slowly, a ripple spreading outward, but quickly became a churning tide as the scarabs started to writhe and crawl.