《Stongest Level 1》 Earthisia Five years ago, a VRMMORPG named Earthisia suddenly gained immense popularity. No one knew who developed it or which company managed it¡ªit just appeared. Players could order a VR helmet online, and the next day, it would mysteriously show up outside their door as if by magic. Online forums were filled with debates. Some believed Earthisia was the work of a secret organization, others suspected it was a covert extraterrestrial project. There were even rumors that an advanced AI had created it as a simulation of another world. Yet, no one could find the truth. Earthisia captivated players with its vast and boundless world¡ªso expansive that even after years, no one had discovered its edges. The game¡¯s realism was breathtaking, from its stunning landscapes to dynamic weather and creatures that seemed alive. What truly set it apart was its lack of pain suppressors. Injuries in the game were felt as they would be in real life¡ªintense and undiluted, though not lethal. This heightened the thrill, making every battle and exploration feel like a real adventure. The danger, the magic, and the potential to be different made the game irresistible. For many, it was an escape from reality¡ªa place to chase dreams of success and power.
Gerry Frey, a 17-year-old boy, had brown eyes, black hair, and sharp features. His tall stature and natural talent in almost everything made him stand out, but despite his abilities, Gerry was unlucky. ¡°Everyone seems to be talking about this game. Does it really work like that?¡± Gerry muttered to himself, frowning. Although talented, Gerry¡¯s life was far from easy. His parents had died in an accident, leaving him and his younger sister, Lila, to fend for themselves. Lila, just two years younger, was his priority. Gerry worked tirelessly at a convenience store to pay her tuition while managing school during the day. His weekdays were a constant grind, and weekends were reserved for spending time with Lila.
One evening at the convenience store, two students were chatting loudly while picking out snacks. ¡°Hey, what level are you in Earthisia? I¡¯m already Level 58 with a Knight class,¡± one bragged. ¡°Pfft, 58? That¡¯s weak. I¡¯m Level 97 with a Swordsman class,¡± the other shot back. Their conversation faded as another customer entered the store. A blonde-haired boy approached the counter with a grin. ¡°Boss, long time no see! How are you doing?¡± asked Raven, Gerry¡¯s classmate. ¡°I¡¯ve been busy working to save up for my sister¡¯s tuition, but I¡¯ll be back at school tomorrow,¡± Gerry replied. ¡°Boss, you should try Earthisia. I heard you can make a lot of money there. It¡¯s way better than working at a convenience store,¡± Raven suggested. ¡°Really? I thought only streamers earned money through donations,¡± Gerry replied, raising an eyebrow. ¡°Nah, it¡¯s more than that. If you get rare items or equipment, you can sell them to other players. People pay good money for rare stuff. It¡¯s hard to get, though,¡± Raven explained. ¡°I¡¯ll think about it. I¡¯ve got some extra savings after my next paycheck,¡± Gerry said thoughtfully. Raven¡¯s phone rang, cutting their conversation short. ¡°I¡¯ve gotta go, Boss. Just think about it¡ªyou¡¯re the most talented guy I know. You¡¯d probably be stronger than most players in no time.¡± ¡°Alright, take care on your way back,¡± Gerry replied as Raven left the store. Outside, Raven answered his phone. ¡°Hello? Yeah, I tried to convince him to play. It¡¯s only a matter of time now.¡±
That night, Gerry returned home, where his little sister was waiting for him. ¡°I¡¯m home. What¡¯s for dinner tonight?¡± Gerry asked as he entered. ¡°Fried pork with a special sauce¡ªmy specialty! I feel like something exciting is going to happen soon,¡± Lila replied cheerfully. As they ate, the news played on the TV. Once again, Earthisia was the headline. ¡°For today¡¯s top story, Yana, the only daughter of the Glade conglomerate, has discovered a legendary class called ¡®Archmage¡¯s Apprentice.¡¯ It has garnered significant attention in the game. Meanwhile, no one has uncovered the main storyline quest yet,¡± the news anchor reported. ¡°Yana...¡± Gerry muttered under his breath. Years ago, when his parents were still alive, Gerry¡¯s family was as influential as the Glades. He and Yana had been close friends, but after his parents¡¯ deaths, everything changed. The Glades took over their family¡¯s company, leaving Gerry with nothing but their house. He distanced himself from everyone, even Yana, whom he blamed for his family¡¯s downfall. Later that night, Gerry made up his mind. After paying Lila¡¯s tuition, he used the remaining money to order a VR helmet.
The following morning, Gerry found a box outside his door. It was the VR helmet, labeled only with his name and address. He set it aside and went to school, Quiranes High, to catch up on the classes he had missed. Despite his absences, Gerry managed to stay second in the entire school. His sharp intellect and determination kept him afloat. His seat at the back corner of the classroom by the window allowed him to focus on his notes undisturbed. ¡°Gerry, it¡¯s been three days since you came to school. Here are my notes from those days. I simplified the content to make it easier to understand,¡± Yana said, handing him her notebook. ¡°I don¡¯t need it. I can handle this on my own. Just leave me alone,¡± Gerry replied coldly. Yana¡¯s expression turned sad. ¡°You¡¯ve been different ever since your parents died. It¡¯s like you¡¯re not the same person anymore.¡± Tears welled up in her eyes as she walked away. Gerry ignored her and continued studying. Raven, however, was absent that day.
Sure! Here¡¯s the revised version with improved grammar and structure:
Back in his home, Gerry started to put on his VR helmet and prepare to dive into Earthisia. As soon as the helmet was secured, a jolting experience hit him, like riding a roller coaster, falling down a steep drop. Then, he found himself in a gray world. A small screen appeared, prompting him to input a name.Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. There was no character customization in the game, but players could edit their In-Game Name (IGN). Without much thought, Gerry typed "Grey," a name that held no particular meaning, simply because the world around him was still dull and gray. As soon as he entered his name, however, the world began to change. A buzzing wind stirred the air, the grass fluttered in the breeze, and rays of light broke through the clouds, illuminating the scene. Soon, large letters appeared before him: Welcome to the world of Earthisia. They vanished just as quickly as they came. Gerry opened his map screen, but it was empty. The game didn¡¯t offer a map unless players either bought one or explored the area themselves. He found himself in the middle of a vast plain with no equipment. A bit confused, Gerry wandered around, noticing that there were no other players nearby. He must have been spawned into an unexplored part of the world, far from any of the game¡¯s usual starting zones. He walked for what felt like hours, and eventually, in the distance, he spotted a kingdom. It looked a lot farther than he initially thought. But before heading toward the kingdom, Gerry figured he should level up first. He needed to farm a bit before making the long journey. On his way, he came across some wild rabbits¡ªlow-level monsters, perfect for a beginner like him. He noticed three wild bunnies grazing nearby and, without hesitation, he chased after them. The wild rabbits were quick, but Gerry managed to corner them, landing punch after punch, knocking them down one by one. Lvl. 2 Wild Rabbit has been slain. You have gained 12 XP. You have leveled up! Lvl. 1 Wild Rabbit has been slain. You have gained 8 XP. Lvl. 2 Wild Rabbit has been slain. You have gained 12 XP. You have leveled up! Soon after, Gerry opened his status window to check his progress and increase his stats. [Status Window] ? Name: Grey ? Level: 3 ? Class: None ? Title: None Primary Stats: ? Strength: 1 ¡ú +2 Physical Damage ? Dexterity: 1 ¡ú +1% Attack Speed ? Constitution: 1 ¡ú +1% Physical Resistance ? Intelligence: 1 ¡ú +1 Mana Regen/Second ? Wisdom: 1 ¡ú +1% Magical Resistance ? Luck: 1 ¡ú +0% Rare Drop Rate ? Charisma: 1 ¡ú +0% NPC Favorability ? Perception: 1 ¡ú +0% Trap Detection ? Endurance: 1 ¡ú +2 Stamina Regen/Second ? Willpower: 1 ¡ú +0% Mental Resistance Secondary Stats: ? HP: 100 (Base) ? MP: 50 (Base) ? Defense: 1 ? Evasion: 0% ? Unallocated Points: 6 He farmed all the way to the kingdom, reaching level 18. Along the way, he saw several other players farming for mobs. They were all newbies, just like him. The newbies seemed to be struggling against a wild boar, which was level 5. When one player was about to be eliminated, Grey used his fast, agile movements and punched the boar multiple times, killing it and causing it to drop a magic stone. "Thank you! If not for you, I would¡¯ve experienced the dying part of the game. Though, I do want to feel it once," a player named Okeru thanked Grey with a smile. Gerry thought that this player was a masochist. Imagining dying in the game scared him. After eliminating the boar, it seemed that an earthquake occurred, signaling the spawn of a field boss. Grey thought that he could take it on, so he rushed to the area where the boss was spawning. Many players had gathered in the area, all ranging from levels 10 to 20, as if an event were taking place. In Earthisia, field bosses were much harder to kill than regular dungeon or gate bosses. These bosses required the cooperation of multiple teams or even an entire guild to defeat. Field bosses usually spawned after a lot of their minions were killed, but there were specific conditions to meet before they appeared. In some cases, a unique field boss would spawn without any conditions¡ªit would just show up suddenly. All unique field bosses had their own titles. Their level could range from 100 to the max level, though no one knew what the max level was. The highest level seen in Earthisia was Level 204, which had appeared five years ago. Determined to gain some profit, Grey went to the field area where the boss was spawning. The boss was a giant wild boar named Warhog, level 25. Grey, with no equipment, except for the newbie clothes he received when entering the game went to the area. Upon arriving at the scene, several players were already pouncing on the boss¡ªmages casting spells, swordsmen attacking. Players could choose their class at level 10 at the nearby kingdom or the Adventurer''s Guild, as mentioned in the beginner¡¯s guide on a wiki. With so many players already besieging the boss, it was only a matter of time before they killed it. Gerry decided to make sure he took the last hit on the boss, guaranteeing that he would receive a rare piece of equipment. But just as he was about to land the final blow, an earthquake shook the area. A silhouette of a giant dog, with the face of a dragon, appeared in the distance. It was a Level 100 field boss named Growler, with the title "The One Who Eats." Gerry ran as fast as he could, remembering what he¡¯d heard about the game¡¯s pain system¡ªif he was eaten by that giant monster, he would feel everything. He sprinted away, heading opposite to where the kingdom was. After running for a while, he eventually reached a nearby forest. Just as his luck would have it, he tripped and fell into a hole. A portal appeared beneath him, pulling him in. Luckily, the monster couldn¡¯t fit into the hole, and the terrifying roar of Growler grew faint as it moved away. After falling through the portal, he found himself in a strange cavern filled with statues. At the end of the path, there was a book. The book appeared to be blank, and Gerry realized it was likely an unidentified item. Maybe he could sell it for a fortune. Thinking about the money he could make, Gerry grabbed the book. But as soon as he touched it, the statues around him began to move. Panicked, he quickly grabbed the book, and an explosion occurred. He died instantly. "You died," the system''s voice announced. "Main Quest has progressed to 1%," it continued. "You have been..." Gerry saw part of the message before the world went dark. Gerry groaned in his bed, shouting in pain as he remembered the explosion. The sensation of dying in the game had felt too real, but at least he had the book.
Meanwhile, in a distant mansion, a man smiled as he watched the news. ¡°So, it begins. The main quest has appeared.¡± "After five years since Earthisia launched, the main quest has finally surfaced, and players have been trying to figure out its conditions," a news anchor reported on TV. "In addition, the Glade family has posted a bounty of $100,000 for any information leading to the discovery of the main quest."
Back in the real world, Gerry was unaware of the uproar his actions had caused. He had a 24-hour death penalty before he could log back into the game. He had no idea that his actions had already sparked a chain of events across the gaming community. It was the weekend, so Gerry had the day off. He decided to spend it with his little sister. They went to Nyalimi, a fast food restaurant their parents used to take them to, then went shopping at a nearby mall called SM Super Mall to buy his sister some new clothes. Afterward, they went to the cinema to watch a horror movie, then took a walk around Wisdom Park. By the time they returned home, Gerry had almost forgotten about his death penalty in the game. Feeling that the penalty might have passed, Gerry retreated to his room to grab his VR helmet. He still couldn¡¯t get used to the feeling of logging in¡ªlike being pulled through the system menu in a roller coaster plunge. "That was scary and thrilling at the same time," Gerry muttered to himself as he prepared to enter the game again.
After the 24-hour penalty had passed, Gerry logged back into Earthisia. He immediately checked his inventory, but the book was no longer there. When he saw his stats, his heart sank. He had received a new passive skill called Forever Level 1, with no description other than its name. It was bound to him and couldn¡¯t be removed. He also had a new title: Cursed by the Ancient One, which boosted all of his stats by 15.
[Status Window] ? Name: Grey ? Level: 1 (Forever Level 1 - Curse) ? Class: None ? Title: Cursed by the Ancient One (+15 to all primary stats, immunity to basic status ailments) Primary Stats: ? Strength: 15 ¡ú +30 Physical Damage ? Dexterity: 15 ¡ú +7% Attack Speed ? Constitution: 15 ¡ú +7% Physical Resistance ? Intelligence: 15 ¡ú +3 Mana Regen/Second ? Wisdom: 15 ¡ú +5% Magical Resistance ? Luck: 15 ¡ú +2% Rare Drop Rate ? Charisma: 15 ¡ú +5% NPC Favorability ? Perception: 15 ¡ú +10% Trap Detection ? Endurance: 15 ¡ú +10 Stamina Regen/Second ? Willpower: 15 ¡ú +5% Mental Resistance Secondary Stats: ? HP: 150 (Base) ? MP: 50 (Base) ? Defense: 30 ? Evasion: 5% Current Effects: ? Passive Skill: Forever Level 1 (Prevents leveling; cannot be removed) ? Buff: Cursed by the Ancient One (+15 to all primary stats) Unallocated Points: 0
Now, Gerry faced an impossible question: What would he do in this newfound game? He couldn''t order another helmet, as this one was bound to him. Would he continue his journey in Earthisia, or would he be satisfied with his life in the real world?
Gate in the Frozen Plains Gerry, aka Grey, found himself at a resurrection altar in a nearby town where he had died in an explosion. At least, that¡¯s what he read in the wikis and guides. However, he seemed to be in another place entirely. He had spawned in a village with cracks running through its buildings, situated in a snowy plain. He had no proper clothing for such a cold environment, and the chill bit at him sharply. Grey approached a villager and asked about the area. The villager mentioned that there were a few adventurers wandering about, but no players had been seen in the area. He made his way to a nearby inn to ask more about the town. An NPC there gave him winter clothes. The inn had a cozy atmosphere, despite the few people inside. It gave off a warmth that only a family could create. The town was poor, as it belonged to a kingdom that had long abandoned it. The NPCs here seemed almost as advanced as real humans, living like ordinary people in another world. Grey wandered through the village, and, luckily, the village chief had a question mark above his head, indicating a quest. Grey opened his quest window and saw that another quest had appeared, but its details were hidden behind question marks. It seemed he had to fulfill a certain condition before the details were revealed. His quest involved clearing some slimes and collecting their cores to help repair the town''s barrier. If he wished, he could also collect mana stones from stronger monsters for an additional reward. Apparently, towns in this world were surrounded by barriers to protect them from outside monsters. These barriers could only be replenished using mana stones, which were dropped by monsters when killed. Grey roamed the village, hoping to find the slimes. Soon enough, he spotted a group of blue, bouncing slimes. Slimes tended to gather in groups, usually between 12 and 20. Occasionally, rare groups of 20 to 49 slimes appeared, and defeating them would cause a rare golden slime to spawn, which had significantly higher attack damage. The slimes ranged in level from 2 to 5. Grey summoned the newbie''s knife given to him by the village chief. It boosted his agility by 2 and attack damage by 4. He charged toward the slimes, ready to fight. Grey jumped into the snow and rolled around, securing three slimes. The slimes elongated their bodies to attack, and some bounced toward him as they attempted to strike. "You killed a Lvl 3 slime. Exp earned: 7. You can''t level up!" "You killed a Lvl 2 slime. Exp earned: 4. You can''t level up!" "You killed a Lvl 3 slime. Exp earned: 10. You can''t level up!" It seemed Grey truly couldn¡¯t level up anymore and would remain at level 1. However, he was determined to succeed in this game. After a while, Grey had killed 24 slimes. He obtained a rare drop, the Slime¡¯s Necklace, which increased his Vitality by 2. Killing a hundred slimes might have been easy, but finding them took a toll on Grey¡¯s mind. Swinging his knife repeatedly had increased his strength by 1. It seemed there was hope after all. He had learned from the wikis that conditions like these allowed players to increase their stats by repetitive actions, although it became more difficult as you progressed. This method was only effective at lower levels. Evading a hundred enemy attacks could increase agility by 1 as well, but after that, it would take 200 attacks to gain another point, and the same applied to other stats. The increase in difficulty would double with every achievement. As time passed, Grey managed to gather the 100 mana stones required for the quest. The reward would be 100 XP, a map of the area, 20 copper coins, 5 loaves of bread, and a gate pass from the kingdom. "It seems the village chief is quite generous to adventurers with such rewards," Grey thought. "My stamina¡¯s depleting faster than I thought. I¡¯ll stop farming mana stones and head back to the village," Grey muttered, reluctantly deciding to leave the area. As he walked back to the village, recovering his stamina, he stumbled upon a gate. In Earthisia, gates appeared randomly. While there were natural monsters outside, gates provided a special challenge for players. NPCs couldn¡¯t see the gates. Dungeons also existed, but anyone could enter them. Gates were extremely rare, appearing only once in about ten thousand tries. Grey entered the gate, following the afterglow. The surroundings were dark at first, but mana lights soon began to illuminate the area. He found himself in a large cave, where trees grew and the sound of running water could be heard. "This game really defies expectations on every level," Grey exclaimed excitedly. A whistling sound came from nearby bushes, signaling an enemy¡¯s approach. Grey quickly hid in another bush and erased his tracks. Two level 5 goblins emerged, followed by four level 3 wild boars. They seemed to be fleeing from something large. A thud echoed, like a mini earthquake. A giant figure appeared: a level 12 ogre chasing the goblins. "It looks like there are many forces around the gate, and they¡¯re hostile to each other," Grey concluded. He formulated a plan. He decided to lure the ogre to an establishment built by the goblins. A quest appeared before Grey: Quest: (can be repeated) Rewards: 5 Middle-Rank Mana Stones, 2 Silver, 50 Copper Coins, Tukatu''s Necklace (Rare). "Looks like the rewards from Gates are really generous. No wonder they¡¯re so rare," Grey happily accepted the quest. Not far from the river, two giant ogres, level 12 and 13, were eating wild boars. Grey picked up a stone and threw it at them, taunting them as he gave them the middle finger. The ogres stood up and angrily threw the boars¡¯ corpses at him. Now, he had to find the goblin village. After running and dodging, Grey climbed a tree and saw smoke in the distance. He now knew where the village was. The ogres were closing in, so he climbed down and headed toward the goblins. Two goblins were guarding the entrance. Grey taunted them, and it worked. One goblin ran inside, likely to call for reinforcements. The ogres were getting closer, so Grey hid in the mud he¡¯d prepared. The goblin reinforcements arrived, and the two forces began to fight.Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. The ogres swung their massive tree clubs, eliminating four goblins. Grey had a theory and decided to test it. He threw stones at the goblins about to be hit by the ogres, and it worked¡ªhe gained XP, and his quest updated. Quest: (can be repeated) Rewards: 5 Middle-Rank Mana Stones, 2 Silver, 50 Copper Coins, Tukatu''s Necklace (Rare). The fight was going to take longer than he thought. He wanted to lure more ogres into the village, but something ominous caught his attention. A goblin, taller than the others, wearing a voodoo mask and carrying a staff made of bones, appeared. It muttered something, and Grey realized it was preparing a spell. He threw stones at the ogres, drawing their attention. A giant black fireball shot toward the ogres, incinerating them. Only ashes remained. The shaman assigned new guards to the village before returning home. It looked like things were more dangerous than he had anticipated, but nothing would stop him from grinding. He retrieved the mana stones from the ogres and stored them in his inventory. As Grey prepared to lure the ogres to the village, a warning flashed before him: Warning! Outside interference has been detected! Would you like to log out?Yes / No Grey clicked ¡°Yes¡± and logged out. As he removed his helmet, his sister Lila appeared. "Big brother, our dinner is ready. I''ve already eaten, so you can eat after you play. I have to study now," Lila said with a hint of complaint. "Sure, my cute little sister. I¡¯ll finish my mission before eating," Gerry replied, putting his helmet back on. Grey logged back in and resumed his plan, making his quest much easier. Quest: (can be repeated) Rewards: 5 Middle-Rank Mana Stones, 2 Silver, 50 Copper Coins, Tukatu''s Necklace (Rare). "A few more times, and I¡¯ll be done with the quest. But how can I defeat this Shaman?" Grey wondered. After defeating 100 goblins, a message appeared: Achievement Unlocked: Goblin Slayer Effect: +2 Hostility with Goblins. Grey grinned, though the increase in hostility made his next hunts more dangerous. The goblins now attacked with greater coordination. But the rewards didn¡¯t stop there: Barely Acknowledged by the Ancient One Effect: +20 to all stats. Quest Unlocked: Trials by the Ancient One Objective: Slay 100 Goblin Shamans. Reward: A privilege granted only to the cursed. (Unique to 1 player.) The quest description was vague, but its significance was clear. The Ancient One, the mysterious entity tied to Grey¡¯s curse, seemed to hold a particular disdain for goblins¡ªor perhaps this was part of a larger plan. Whatever the privilege was, only one player in all of Earthisia could claim it. Now, only the goblin shaman remained. Grey had to come up with a plan to defeat this boss. The quest description was vague, but its significance was clear. The Ancient One, the enigmatic entity tied to Grey''s curse, seemed to harbor a particular hatred for goblins or it was a condition for something that greater. Whatever the privilege was, it was unique and only one player in all of Earthisia could claim it. And soon, only the goblin shaman remained in his quest, He had to came up of a plan to defeat the boss. Grey''s excitement was palpable as he turned his attention back to the goblin shaman boss. The Shaman, wearing its voodoo mask with crude tribal robes and wielding a glowing staff, seemed even more imposing now. Grey approached cautiously, staying out of its line of sight. It was now a fight that he couldn''t afford to lose Grey crouched behind a jagged boulder near the center of the gate, his sharp eyes locked onto the Goblin Shaman. The creature stood tall for a goblin, its staff glowing ominously with a green light. Around its gnarled neck hung bone trinkets that jingled softly in the wind. The eerie chanting of the Shaman filled the air, its guttural tones vibrating with malice. The Shaman raised its staff, summoning a faint black mist that swirled around it. Grey''s grip tightened on his dagger. This wasn''t an ordinary goblin. Its aura alone felt suffocating, and Grey could feel the malice radiating from the creature. With a deep breath, he sprinted forward. Grey darted toward the Shaman, zigzagging to avoid detection. As he closed the distance, the Shaman''s chanting stopped abruptly, and its glowing red eyes locked onto him. "Graahhh!" it bellowed, slamming its staff into the ground. A shockwave of green energy rippled outward, forcing Grey to dive to the side. The wave obliterated the spot he had just been in, leaving charred earth behind. Grey rolled to his feet and charged again. This time, he feinted left before leaping right, his dagger flashing in the dim light. He slashed at the Shaman''s side, landing a shallow cut. The creature hissed in pain but didn''t falter. Raising its staff high, the Shaman conjured a **black fireball**, its surface rippling with trapped, anguished faces. Grey''s heart pounded as the fireball hovered menacingly above the Shaman''s head. The Shaman hurled the fireball with a guttural roar. Grey barely had time to react as the projectile screamed toward him, the ghostly faces within wailing in torment. He dived to the ground, feeling the heat sear past his back as the fireball smashed into a nearby tree, disintegrating it into ash. The explosion sent a wave of scorching wind that knocked Grey off balance. The smell of burning wood and death filled the air, and for a moment, Grey''s vision blurred. The Shaman pressed its advantage, charging forward with surprising speed. Grey rolled to his feet just in time to see the staff descending toward him. He raised his dagger, deflecting the blow, but the force sent him skidding backward. Grey knew he couldn''t win in a prolonged exchange. The Shaman''s firepower and endurance far outmatched his own. He needed to exploit its patterns and weaknesses. As the Shaman prepared another fireball, Grey dashed forward, closing the gap before the spell could fully form. He slashed upward, aiming for the creature''s arm. The blade connected, and the Shaman howled as its concentration broke, the half-formed fireball dissipating into smoke. Grey didn''t stop. He ducked under a wild swing of the staff and stabbed at the Shaman''s leg. The blade bit deep, and the creature staggered, green blood seeping from its wounds. But the Shaman wasn''t finished. With a snarl, the Shaman slammed its staff into the ground. A glowing green sigil spread beneath its feet, and two spectral goblins rose from the earth. Their translucent forms flickered like dying flames, but their weapons looked solid enough. Grey cursed under his breath. "Of course it can summon." The spectral goblins lunged at him in unison. Grey ducked and weaved between their attacks, his dagger flashing as he slashed at their incorporeal bodies. They dissolved after a few strikes, but their presence had bought the Shaman time. The creature raised its staff again, and Grey''s stomach sank as another black fireball formed, this one even larger than before. The fireball screamed as it launched, the anguished faces within twisting in silent agony. Grey sprinted, zigzagging to avoid the blast. At the last second, he leaped into the air, the fireball detonating behind him. The force hurled him forward, and he hit the ground hard, rolling to absorb the impact. His HP bar had dropped dangerously low. One more hit like that, and he''d be finished. The Shaman approached, confident in its victory. It raised its staff for a finishing blow, but Grey wasn''t done yet. Using the last of his stamina, he sprang to his feet and lunged forward. The Shaman swung its staff in a wide arc, but Grey ducked under it and drove his dagger into the creature''s chest. The Shaman roared, its glowing eyes dimming as it staggered backward. Grey twisted the blade and pulled it free, green blood spraying across the ground. The creature collapsed to its knees, its staff clattering to the ground. Grey didn''t hesitate. He circled around the weakened Shaman and plunged his dagger into the back of its neck. The creature let out one final, guttural scream before its body dissolved into particles of light. A notification window appeared before him: Boss Respawn Time: 2 Hours. Grey collapsed to the ground, breathing heavily. His hands were trembling, and his body ached from the strain. But he couldn''t help the grin that spread across his face. He had done it, he had slain the Shaman. As the adrenaline faded, Grey''s mind turned to the challenge ahead. He would have to kill the Shaman 99 more times to complete the quest. It would be grueling, but if he had proven one thing today, it was that he could rise to any challenge. With a weary sigh, Grey made his way back to the gate''s starting point, ready to rest and plan his next move. Gerry logged out, he went to the kitchen to eat what his sister''s cooked for him, it was an egg omelette. He was excited, only 99 more times to defeat the Shaman and he will be awarded by some mysterious privilege. Tomorrow, he will grind in that gate. He can''t leave the gate because it will disappear forever. It was already midnight after finishing his meal. He had to take his sleep first. Impending Storm In the Real world, several government agencies are investigating the game Earthisia, it suddenly grow into a game that became known all over the world without knowing the developer or the company it belonged to. An American government which is more focused on this mysterious game started to investigate it more thoroughly than others. There is a certain scientist that finally found a lead. She had a haggard look, with deep eyebags and looks like she haven''t slept for days. "It''s been 5 years, since we started investigating this game, and now we had finally found a lead!" Imelda, a government hired scientist/developer happily said. "Yeah, no more over time at the office this time, I could finally spend time with my daughter." An officer replied while he grabs his coffee. "Tell our superiors we need a bonus because we finally did it." another officer exclaimed. "Now, what kind of secrets are you hiding inside the game!" Imelda said as she smiled mischievously. "Miss Imelda, don''t smile like that its creepy, you know." The officer said while he spits his coffee that he was drinking. The screen was loading hoping they will enter the game as an administrator of the game but while loading it, the screen cracked as if something was going to get out. "Shut the project now immediately!" A sergeant called Anderson shouted as if sensing the incoming danger. The sergeant brought out his hand gun then shot at the screen and he succeeded. "It seems dangerous to hacked into the game, maybe one of the conspiracy theories that people talked about is true." Another Scientist with a blonde hair called Bryan concluded and added. "Maybe its a way extra terrestials invade Earth, all government agencies can''t block the emergence of the game early on that''s why we are tasked to investigate it. Looks like we had to warn them of possible invasion and be ready."
In a certain city, the man sensed the danger that was coming, it was same man at the mansion earlier, he brought out an unimaginable object. It looks tangible and can take any shape you want. "I had helped you find it boy, now I have to buy time for you to get stronger." The man said while the object disappeared. "He will have exactly 2 years at most and a year at the least, but it will be sufficient. He is the most talented person that I know." "Father are you there? I want to play this game everyone has been talking about at school. It seems that it was the greatest game ever created though there are talks that a secret organization created it." A girl entered at an office where the man works, it was Yana. "Okay my baby girl. You can order one right now, in the morning the helmet will be at your front door." The man replied as he smiles. "I will be working harder there too, I heard Gerry ordered one so I decided to play and maybe we''ll meet there and hoping we can bond again like in the past." Yana said as she reminisce "You have to get stronger too, my baby girl. Luckily I just obtained a crucial information about a secret class on the game. Want to take the quest for it?" The man said as he brought out his tablet. "Okay father, I''ll do it. I know that Gerry will be stronger there, he has the talent. That''s why I have to be ahead of him, so that he can''t cast me aside." Yana was determined to prove herself to Gerry. "Father, I also saw the news. Someone was impersonating me, it seems the woman also looks like me. Are you the one responsible for that?" Yana frowned suspecting her father. "No, my baby girl, you know that I won''t do that as you are my only daughter, I will have to let the company investigate the one impersonating you. Luckily, she impersonates as you and showed off in the news not knowing the consequences of messing with the Glade''s!" The man replied, with fires in his eyes, determined to find the culprit. "You can go home now sweetie, I''ll take care of the issues." The man commanded his daughter, he picked up his telephone and dialed some number. "Hello, this is Spencer Glade, I want you to investigate a woman who looks like my daughter, she was impersonating as her in the game." In a dark corner of an alley, a gangster fighting three men with baseball bat in their hands, his phone rang startling them."Big boss brother, you have to take your phone before continuing this training." One of the trio, stopped asking the gangster to answer his phone. The gangster picked up." Okay, Mr Spencer. Consider it done."
Meanwhile in the dungeon, Grey was still farming the Ogres and Goblins hoping for a good drops, using the same strategy of luring and throwing stones at the enemy before it died. He got a handful of Uncommon equipment and 3 rare items dropped by the Goblin Shaman. He had already killed the Shaman by 32 times in just a span 5 days as he had school to attend too. "Inventory." Grey commanded, and a window appeared showing his items that he got. INVENTORY: 0 Gold, 32 Silver, 125 copper coinsDid you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. Tukatu''s Necklace(RARE): Held by a shaman in an isolated village of goblins, it was said that souls of this shaman''s victims resided here. Increases 3 intelligence, 1 strength, 10 mana, 5 vitality, 2 agility. Requirements: Lvl. 10, 20 intelligence Effect: Summon a vengeful spirit, killed by the player. Attack Damage: 2 Health: 10 Cooldown: 160 minutes Mask of Despair(Rare)(incomplete):A mask discovered by a Goblin Shaman in the nearby Ruins, it is said that this mask is just a fragment of it was once. Increases 5 intelligence, 5 agility, 2% attack speed Requirements: Lvl. 1 Effect 1: conditions have not been met. Effect 2: conditions have not been met. Effect 3: conditions have not been met. Kirldr Stone Sword(Rare): A goblin once used this in his training accompanying him through his whole life, he met a human warrior and dueled to their hearts content but unfornately died when an avalanche suddenly erupted.Icreases 12 damage, 3 strength, 3 agility Requirements: Lvl 12, 9 strength Greji''s Handsome Adventure: A spellbook in learning fireball(Rare): Greji, a noble from an ancient era who possess an otherworldly Handsomeness created this in hope that if ever someone like him emerge they can use this without having a level. Conditions: Must read the book to learn Requirements: Lvl 0 7* Goblin Spear(Uncommon): A spear used by goblins. Increases 2 strength Requirements: Lvl 7 10* Goblin knife(Uncommon): A knife used by goblins. Increases 2 agility. Requirements: Lvl. 7 4* Ogre Eye(Uncommon)(Ingredient): A crafting material for making equipment or weapon. 127* Goblin blood(Common)(Ingredient): a crafting material in making inferior health potions. 162* Wild Boar Meat(Common)(Ingredient): Can be cooked. 200* Stones(Common)(Ingredient): Can be thrown or used as a material for building something. "Looks like I don''t need the other rare ones but The mask and this Greji''s book can be useful and a good investment, the stats increase with the necklace and sword could be cool but sadly I have to let it go, I can just sell it though for a high price as the game don''t have that much rare weapons especially with these kind of stat, it was said in a wiki." Grey happily exclaimed as he browse his inventory. Grey continued to farm his way into killing 100 Goblin Shamans but it might take him a few more days to actually finish it.
Gerry awoken by his alarm frowned as he press the stop button in his phone. The curtains in his room flutters as a passing wind did it, A slight sunlight passed through and his eyes felt like he got blinded. "Oh sh*t! I''m late for school." Gerry shouted as he immediately got up and hurriedly run into the shower. "Brother, Language!" Lila seems to heard Gerry cursing, so she scolded him. "Sorry! I got panicked." Gerry shouted apologetically while in the shower. 10 minutes had passed and Gerry is in a hurry going through the school. The school is 20 minutes away in Gerry''s house if by walking. He was late now by 20 minutes and the class has started deep. He ran to his fastest, it seems his speed could be compared to Athletes at their school. Sweats drip down on Gerry''s body as he got to the school gate. "You''re late again man, Hurry before the principal scold you! He will be coming at the school today..." The security guard called Mr. Ato scolded Gerry for being late again but cast it aside as if he was busy. Gerry runs to the 3rd floor of the school at the 2nd class room. 3-A. Unfortunately, the professor was already there. "Mr. Frey, you''re late again. Even if you are one of the smartest in the whole school, you have to abide by its rules, do you think you are an exception? No, you''re not and one more late in my class and I''ll fail you regardless of your performance in this school, now stand at the hallway for the rest of the class." Professor Mckorny angrily said as she lectures Gerry. "Looks like you''re watching us again boss." Raven, his friend that visited him earlier at Never Eleven said. "Are you alright Gerry?" Yana asked. "I''m fine. Please, don''t you worry about me Yana, just do you and I do mine." Gerry seems pissed at her even though she didn''t do anything. "Class! Quiet! Now, Mr. Frey go outside and stand there." Professor Mckorny shouted. The class went about in an hour. In this school a class per subject could last up to an hour and a half and Gerry stood there for the entire time. "Boss, how strong are you now in Earthisia?" Raven asked him with high expectations. "Wait, Gerry is really playing Earthisia now? I thought you are just bluffing Raven." A classmate of theirs with an orange spiky hair suddenly join their conversation. His name is Draven. "Yeah, boss joined the game for days now. Right boss?" Raven added. "I''ve been spawned in an undiscovered area in a snow plains, though luckily I found a gate there. I was grinding it for days now. If you guys want rare equipment and weapon I''ve got a spare that I can''t use. If you want to bleed money." Gerry admitted in a joyful manner. "So you found a gate there boss. I''ll buy the weapon to you and transfer the money now. I''ll add you in-game later when we got home. How much was it boss?" Raven said as he pulled out his phone to pay the fee. "Based on what I''ve read in wiki''s and guides, Rare drops from a gate could fetch thousands." Draven added. Raven immediately pull his phone back from his pocket. "Looks like I can''t afford it." "Why don''t you sell it to me. I''ll buy what you are selling for 2 times the market price." Yana suddenly jumped into their conversation. Gerry seems to be hesitant. "Are you pitying me now Yana? I''ll sell it at the market price. I don''t want anyone''s pity." Gerry annoyed by Yana''s sudden proclamation frowned. "The total is 2500$ because its from a gate. I''ll add you in the game later. What''s your IGN?" A notification appeared in Gerry''s phone indicating that the payment has been done. "2500$ has been added to your account." "Its "Yana" but my player ID is 233598513 just my name. I don''t have anything to hide in-game." Yana exclaimed. "Okay, I''ll add you later and trade the items. Just be online at 10:00 PM." Gerry added. The bell rang and it was now time for lunch. "Boss, let''s go to the canteen. They said a new dish will be served there, it will be special because the principal was said to be visiting with a few special guests." Raven entices Gerry to eat at the cafeteria. "Sure, let''s go. Might as well try it than regret, right?" Gerry said as he looked at Yana. They walked to the cafeteria and behold, it was filled with students that wants to try the new dish. Resigned by this fate that they will not be able to eat it, they went to a nearby convenience store where Gerry works, Never Eleven. "Gerry, your shift will start earlier than I thought so be ready later. Also the new items will be delivered later, so you manage it." The manager of the store said as he checks the items if something was missing. The day went passed by and Gerry just got home. Now with his newfound motivation of making money, will he be able to get stronger using only the conventional method of meeting conditions to increase his stats or will he be able to found an alternative path of making money and grow stronger. Shadows, Secrets, and Curses: The Road to Power Back at the America''s Government facility. Imelda, a famous scientist/developer came to known the threat the game Earthisia possessed, she immediately let the superiors known the looming doom that is coming. At the White House, A hologram of multiple presidents of different countries could be seen, the meeting seems to be regarding the civil war happening in the country called Syria, a phone call disrupted the meeting. "Hmmm, It seems to be an immediate threat, I''ll be informing the others about this recent discovery." President Ronald Damp, The President of the United States of the America, heard the news about what happened in the research facility. "President, about the Syria, we need to give supplies for the residents there, we also need to call back the tourist from each country to avoid Political disputes." President Bennedict Salan, the President of the French Republic said with a grim face, he added. "My daughter and granddaughter is still there visiting, so I will be leaving the meeting now to fetch them from that country before the war escalated further." "Okay, I wish you Goodluck President Salan." President Ronald Damp said with a sympathetic face. The hologram of the President of the French Republic blur and disappeared leaving 8 holograms of other people of importance. "It seems, we have more immediate danger coming, the world is at stake so be ready. We had investigate the game¡ªEarthisia which emerge 5 years ago, it was a game that became popular due to its realistic settings. Here is the video that transpired in one of our research facilities conducted by the Renowned Dr.Imelda Emerson which added to its credibility." President Ronald Damp clicked on a screen in the table, a video appeared, it was when Imelda was hacking into the program of the game Earthisia. The video showed them joking at each other then suddenly, a crack is appearing in the game as they was about to get in, a giant hand was appeared, it seems to be getting out of the the screen¡ªthe sergeant called Anderson with his quick reflex brought out his handgun and shot at the giant screen which stopped its operation. "This is the new threat, we had to stop the citizens in playing it but showing proof will cause panic in the world. Bryan concluded that it was an attempt by the extra terrestrials of conquering Earth but Dr.Imelda said that there is no certain explanation yet¡ªShe will have one in the coming days though." President Ronald Damp added. "President Ronald, playback the video, it seems I saw a white light coming out of the screen before it got shot by the soldier." President Hishiro Nakamura said with a suspiscious look in his face. The video has been played back a few times, it was paused¡ªfrom 3m:41s¡ªa flash could be seen then a figure instantly got out of the screen and disappeared quickly like it was not there. "Alert all military personnel, all government agencies, tell them that the world is facing a new enemy that anyone has seen before. We have to be prepared whether it take years for them to invade." All the presidents called their secretaries to this sudden news informing what transpired in the meeting. The meeting suddenly stops abruptly.
In a forest, dark and gloomy, growls could be heard. A figure could be seen walking as if the monsters couldn''t detect him, it was the gangster, his name is Jensen. He got the Unique Class¡ªShadow Assassin which helps him meld into the shadows, his title is "He who controls the shadows". "Now, where could I find this imposter. Her last place where she has been spotted was in the kingdom of Balake. Interesting, an Archmage''s Apprentice huh, she could give me a good fight." Jensen amused by the situation, looked at the news¡ªsearching for clues to find the woman in question. A clash of swords could be heard in a distance, explosions occured. It''s as if some guilds is having war with another, curious by it, Jensen disappeared in the shadows. "This boss monster is for us to kill! We are here first." A person with a bandana in his head, holding a sword that seems of value proclaimed. The person with a bandana pushed his sword in the side, followed by a slash he eliminated one of his competitors. "Flame Strike!" A mage from the opposite guild used a skill in a distance almost hitting the person with a bandana. "Icicle arrow!" "Earthquake dash!" "Flame Slash!" A series of skills could be seen at the swamp, muds splashing, water evaporating. "The boss will now be ours after we eliminate your teammates, Valorian Guild!" A man with a spiky red hair proclaimed, proking the man with the bandana. Unbeknownst to them, a shadow was lurking, moving like a snake stalking its prey. After minutes of battle. Fewer people could be seen, Its as if someone was eliminating both sides silently. The leader of both sides noticed it came to an agreement to ceasefire. "We had to stop! Someone is targeting us! An assassin, we eliminate this threat first before finishing our battle!" The man with the red spiky hair shouted, angrily. "Show yourself assassin! We know you''re there!" The man with the bandana added. A grunt could be heard at a back, another man down. "HAHAHAHAHA" laughter could be heard around the swamp. Then another man down. "Sh*t, this is getting scary! Its as if we are being hunted by a ghost!" A valorian member shouted, scared and his legs shaking. Slash! Another man down. "Its getting boring, time to finish this. HAHAHAHA." Sound reverberated around the swamp. Shadows are convering around the swamp, its as if an army of unseen enemies are gathering at one-point. Then, black spikes suddenly sprung up on each person around¡ªfollowed by shadows emerging holding sharp blades, a katana cutting them down. "It''s really convenient killing people here, there is no law that can stop me." Jensen smirks as he lick his katana, he added. "It looks like there is really a boss here, hope he will drop good stuffs for me to sell." In a distance a silhouette of a Giant Frog could be seen. It was a whopping level 150 monster called The Swamp Ruler. It has a lot of HP and its main attack is Tongue Touch, with a touch you could be poisoned with an effect of losing 5% HP per second. "This is really what a game feels like." Jensen proclaimed excitedly.Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. Jensen is on Level 201, he was one of the unregistered Ranker of the Game. Jensen meld again with the shadows, he leaves behind a decoy. The Swamp Ruler attacked the decoy which emits a black smoke blinding it. He then throws a kunai that could be detonated at touch. BOOM! A loud explosion occured. The Swamp Ruler''s HP got reduced to 52%. The Swamp Ruler felt like its life was in danger growls letting out a force stopping any movements in a radius of 100 meters. Trees swayed, water ripples. Multiple clones emerge from the shadows holding a kunai, they throw it to The Swamp Ruler making its HP to 15%. "Its truly fun to play with the weak. HAHAHAHA!" Jensen joyfully laughed as he toyed with the boss. To finished it¡ªHe used his special skill as a shadow assassin, the area around the boss became black, as darkness crept in, Souls of its victims emerged in a form of shadow letting a misery cry pulling the boss down into the abyss of darkness. The condition to use this skill is to make the target to only have 15% of its HP, though OP it also has restrictions as it can only be used on common bosses. The boss dropped many items including a unique weapon, rare items, and materials. "I''m unlucky again, I didn''t get the special drop!" Jensen frowned as he resigned to his fate. He added as he disappeared into the shadows. "Time to find these girl!"
Kingdom of Balake is a place where Beastmen, Demi-humans, Humans and other species co-exist. It''s also a place of opportunity as it has one of the famous dungeon "Devil''s Lair" at its center, attracting millions of adventurers and players. In the middle of the market a giant statue could be seen, though the name was blurred but you could see that the statue has an otherworldly handsomeness and charm that it emits. "Buy 1 take 1 Potion! Buy Now at a discount of 10%" a merchant shouted in the middle of the market near the dungeon entrance. "Need party of 3, healer, tanker, and archer classes are the most welcome!" a swordsman shouted. There a girl was walking, it was Yana, shopping around mesmerized by the beauty of this otherworld. "Wow! This game really didn''t disappoint. Luckily I spawned near this kingdom. I shoul''ve played 5 years ago when it came out if I know that this was great. Hope next time that I would see this beautiful scene with Gerry." Yana happily said as she walked around the market near the dungeon. Near the dungeon entrance, a shadow emerges. He picked out a binocular to scan the people around. "Lvl 78 Andrew, Lvl 102 MeetmeattheAPT, Lvl 121 Worldend, Lvl 85 Skadoosh!, Mage, Healer, Priest, Druid." Jensen was scanning around the market hoping he could see his target. "Hmmm, where is she, Yana? Finally found you." Jensen finally found his target of investigation then he checked again. "Damn, Lvl 8. It''s Mr Spencer''s Real daughter. Better call him to ask." Jensen disappeared leaving a flash of light and bits of data indicating he logged out. He picked his phone out of his pocket then called a number. "Mr. Spencer, I saw your daughter at Earthisia, does she play the game? If not, I found the imposter but if she is what are your orders?" Jensen asked curiously awaiting for his new task. "Help my daughter level up, she should get stronger and help her in this quest, she had to get this class no matter what. The priority is helping her, finding the imposter could be cast aside." Spencer Glade gave a new task for spencer, in a cold tone he added and warned Jensen. " Don''t make any fun ideas on her, you should know me by now, and what I can do." Jensen got startled and scared by the sudden threat, so much that he became respectful. "Copy that, Sir!"
Back to the dungeon in the Frozen Plains, there he was, Grey almost finishing to kill 100 Goblin Shamans. Grey who was wielding his knife dodged at the black fireball the shaman had casted. "Ignite from the desire to win, with these handsome face as the front, be the guide to form a ball. Fireball!" Grey casted the spell. It was the condition to cast the skill written in the Greji''s Handsome Adventure: A spellbook in learning fireball. "Its really cringy to say this but I had no choice. F*ck the developer of this skill." Grey cursed as he got goosebumps from thinking it. The fireball hits the shaman then it died becoming ashes. The fireball can deal a lot of damage ranging from 2x times the intelligence plus magic amplification to 5x the damage depending on his sincerity of his own handsomeness. Quest Unlocked: Trials by the Ancient One Objective: Slay 99/100 Goblin Shamans. Reward: A privilege granted only to the cursed. (Unique to 1 player.) "Only 2 hours left and finally I''ll be done with this trial." Grey hopefully wants to know what the reward will be. Grey walked back to the dungeon entrance. It''s been almost a month since he was here in the dungeon without getting out. He now knows the ins-and-outs of the Cave. Now, waiting for all the monsters to respawn he came to the entrance. He checked his status window to know his stats which changed a lot since that time. [Status Window] ? Name: Grey ? Level: 1 (Forever Level 1 - Curse) ? Class: None ? Title: Cursed by the Ancient One (+15 to all stats, immunity to basic status ailments), Barely Acknowledgment from the Ancient One(+20 to all stats) ? HP: 390 (Base) ? Defense: 65 ? MP: 137 (Base) ? Evasion: 12% Stats: ? Strength: 65 ¡ú +130 Physical Damage ? Dexterity: 57 ¡ú +28% Attack Speed ? Constitution: 39 ¡ú +19.5% Physical Resistance ? Intelligence: 42 ¡ú +8.4 Mana Regen/Second ? Wisdom: 37 ¡ú +12% Magical Resistance ? Luck: 35 ¡ú +4.4% Rare Drop Rate ? Charisma: 37 ¡ú +12% NPC Favorability ? Perception: 59 ¡ú +39% Trap Detection ? Endurance: 60 ¡ú +40 Stamina Regen/Second ? Willpower: 48 ¡ú +16% Mental Resistance Current Effects: ? Passive Skill: Forever Level 1 (Prevents leveling; cannot be removed) ? Buff: Cursed by the Ancient One (+15 to all stats), Barely Acknowledgment from the Ancient One(+20 to all stats) Unallocated Points: 0 Skill: Fireball(need the incantation to cast): The fireball can deal a lot of damage ranging from 2x times the intelligence plus magic amplification to 5x the damage depending on on the caster''s sincerity of his/her own handsomeness/beauty. In the entrance, a sudden glow could be seen, Grey got alerted. Soon, a figure could be seen getting in. It was Yana¡ªno she has a different aura, mannerism and all. "Who are you?" Grey asked. "I''m Yana, the only daughter of the Glade Family." She proclaimed. "No, you are not. You have a different aura than her, she is more cheerful than others too, you also have different tone than her. I could noticed it because we are close. Now, who are you? Really?" Grey asked her as he pointed his knife into the imposter''s neck. "My name is Mary, a Level 209 player, The archmage''s apprentice. I was tasked by my master to fetch the skillbook Greji''s Handsome Adventure that he detected here, he also predicted that the gate will be spawned here." Mary, who was impersonating Yana said as she removed her mask revealing her true form. She has black hair with an unmatched beauty as if she is not from Earth. "I think I got one but I could sell it to you, for a high price." Grey proclaimed as he brought out the book to let her see it and put it back immediately. "Sure, how much. I''ll send it to you, what''s your bank account? Is a million fine?" Maria muttered not caring for the money. ''Sh*t, I''ll be rich. Now, I can buy a car. I should quit later at the Never Eleven after this!'' Grey thought to himself. "Sure, It''s 12**********. I''ll be confirming it later, let''s meet at 12pm. It''s now 10pm huh, Wait a minute, you go send it first. I''m always here, so I won''t scam you. I had to send someone a friend request first and send some rare items that I''ve got earlier. Grey added Yana in-game then sent the items she bought from him. "Yana has message you! Would you like to read it!" A notification appeared but Grey just ignored it. He logged out of the game and saw a notification in his phone indicating that his Bank Account got a million added to it. After confirming it he logged in back. "Woah, it''s still 10:20pm and you''re waiting for me. You must be fun at dates." Grey joked with Maria but got ignored. "I''ll transfer the item to you now." Grey transferred the item to Maria. Now, he has to wait for the final showdown with the Goblin Shaman. As Maria was about to leave, she asked him to add each other as a friend in-game. Grey sent a friend request to her then got accepted immediately. After waiting for almost 2 hours, it''s now the time to clear the dungeon. In exactly 30 minutes, Grey has done it. He finished the trials tasked by the Ancient One. Quest Unlocked: Trials by the Ancient One Objective: Slay 100/100 Goblin Shamans. Reward: A privilege granted only to the cursed. (Unique to 1 player.) Trials by the Ancient One is now complete. Reward Obtained. You''ve got a new authority. Authority: Predator(Absorbs the essence of the enemy killed gaining an unlocated points. Each kill increased your stats by 0.01 for common monsters for 10% chance, 0.1 for rare monsters for 8% chance, 1 for unique monsters for 5% chance, 10 for common bosses 5% chance, 50 for field bosses for 3% chance ,100 for unique field bosses for 1%. Increase in stats will also be varied by the opponents level and difficulty. There is a 0.000001% to absorbs an opponents skill.) "F*ck! It looks like RNG followed me here." Grey frowned but at the same time happy. New Quest Arrived from the Ancient One: Class Change! Task: Get to the temple of Arankhar! Rewards: Class Change( Jack of all trades, master of none)(Unique), Main Quest Unlock! "Cool! It looks like, I''m the first one to get the main quest!" Grey suddenly exclaimed. Now, with Grey''s newfound hope of getting strength and way of earning money. Will he get to the top of the Game Earthisia, or will he fail in making it big? What awaits him is a lot more perilous than the others. Duel of Destiny Now with Grey''s newfound of gaining strength, he decided to finally get out of the gate he stayed for almost a month. It was night outside the Gate. He walked back in the frozen plains following his map with a lot of undiscovered areas, he decided to farm more mobs as he walked back to complete the quest given by the Village Chief. You have slain a Lvl 4 slime! +12 xp You can''t level up! Multiple notifications appeared indicating of that Grey has slain may mobs. Ding! You have gained 0.01 All Stats! Ding! You have gained a total of 9.26 Unallocated Stats. Grey was overjoyed, he now thinks of the Curse as a blessing in disguise for him to gain stats and money. He went to another area where slimes were most likely to spawn, there are several instances¡ªwhere slimes would spawn just after eliminating them. Though the chances are minimal, it was there. "Now, this is what I call Gaming and Grinding." Grey happily exclaimed, smirking while slashing the enemy slime that just spawned. Ding! You have gained 0.01 Unallocated Stats! While mesmerized in the grinding, there is a figure approaching him, his hair is dishelved¡ªstressed by the area he spawned in which don''t have any players, glad by seeing another player he ran towards him. This player is called Sid¡ªhaving a purple hair, average height with a different charm like an idol from TV. Grey who was busy grinding mobs, sensed something was approaching, alarmed by it he immediately lunge on him. Gripping tight on his dagger, when the figure came to view, Grey saw that it was a player and immediately pull back his dagger. "Sorry about that!" Grey apologized sincerely. Happy about seeing another player, Sid cast aside on what had transpired and seens to cry in tears of joy. "No, its okay! I''m just glad that I saw another player. I thought this game was fun because my friends started playing it and was always talking about it. I didn''t want to left behind so I tried it. Then I spawned in this accursed place." He frowned. There are instances that a player can spawn in an uncharted area where no players has yet to discover. It was an experience that some unfortunate players had to deal with¡ªsome has taken the opportunity of it to gain an immense advantage of monopolizing the quests and rewards from that area. "So you''re stuck in here too? Luckily, you''ve met me¡ªgenerous and benevolent Grey." Grey joked as he chuckled. "Do you have any tips on how to survive here, looks like you are here for a long time now." Sid asked, he looked at Grey''s mask and knew it was a rare mask from its appearance. "Sure, just go to the village chief and he will give you a quest of eliminating 100 slimes, he will give you the necessary essentials like a newbie''s knife and pieces of bread as a start. You have to collect their magic stones. But since I''m generous I''ll give you rare equipments but you have to be loyal to me since today." Grey informed Sid of what to do about being in the frozen plains. "Thank you brother! From now on you are my brother, though not from blood but from by bond." Sid happily exclaimed as he made a promised. Grey checked his inventory. Inventory Currency: Weapons & Equipment
  1. Tukatu''s Staff (Unique) (x2)
  2. Tukatu''s Necklace (Rare) (x14)
  3. Mask of Despair (Rare) (Incomplete) (x18)
  4. Beginner''s Dagger (Common) (x125)
  5. Goblin Spear (Uncommon) (x7)
  6. Goblin Knife (Uncommon) (x10)
Ingredients & Materials
  1. Ogre Eye (Uncommon) (x84)
  2. Goblin Blood (Common) (x1270)
  3. Wild Boar Meat (Common) (x3140)
  4. Stones (Common) (x200)
  5. Small Low-Quality Magic Stones (x8242)
  6. Medium Low-Quality Magic Stones (x152)
Potions
  1. Small Health Potions (x30)
  2. Small Mana Potions (x30)
  3. Medium Health Potions (x10)
  4. Medium Mana Potions (x10)
Grey handed over 2 Beginner''s Dagger, and 1 Tukatu''s Necklace to Sid. They added each other friends to keep in contact. "I have to get back to the Village to hand over the quest materials to the Village Chief and get the rewards so that I can go to the Kingdom after this." Grey said. "Let''s go together brother, I''ll be accompanying you." Sid proclaimed.The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. After 10 minutes of walk and eliminating slimes from the path they are taking, they saw the village. Sid excitedly ran around and got ahead of Grey as it was the first time he saw a village, on the way Sid has leveled up to 12 as Grey was gave him the last hit thus sharing XP. Since, Grey can''t gain XP, he leveled up fast. "Come with me, I''ll lead you to the village chief." Grey commanded. Something was different in the Village, it was quieter than the first time he got there, it was as if there were no villagers that could be seen. They hurried up to where the Village Chief was but no one was there, they decided to split up to find any villagers and meet up again at the village chief''s house. A notification appeared. Quest has changed. Details: An adventurer was tasked by the Village Chief, hoping that the Village will replenish its barrier using the magic stone that will be given by the adventurer to him he didn''t ordered the warriors from the village to do the task but several days later, the adventurer didn''t came back and a mysterious black fog sweeps the village, leaving nothing behind. Eliminate 100 slimes. ¡ú Find the missing Village Chief and the Villagers Give 100 small low-quality magic stones to the Chief that came from Slimes. ¡ú Eliminate 1 Lvl 60 Necromancer. Rewards: ??? "F*ck, it was my fault." Grey cursed as he now know the reason of the Village being isolated. Grey waited for 20 minutes but Sid seems to be not coming back so he went to find him. He went around the village but he only found a footstep going towards the INN. Worried by the sudden change in situation, he immediately summoned 2 Beginner''s dagger to his hands. As he walks slowly toward the entrance, he saw a figure sitting at the INN, eating A freshly baked Apple Pie. "Oh hey bro!" Sid said as he munched on a piece of Apple Pie. Grey who was worried sick lets his guard down, he throw 1 dagger at the side barely hitting Sid. "You got me worried there, next time use the chat to inform me." Grey angrily said as he pulled out the dagger stuck in a barrel. "Okay bro!" Sid agreed, terrified of what happened. He learned his lesson. They went outside, a silhouette could be seen snooping around the Village. Sensing the danger, Grey immediately pushed Sid barely avoiding an arrow. Followed by a series of arrow firing at them, he gracefully block each one. "Let me deal with him" A knight clad in armor said pulling his sword around his waist. Both was alerted and aware of each other. One wrong move and they''ll die. "For a Newbie Adventurer, you looks strong." The knight named Oberon said, praising Grey, he added. "I am Oberon, Knight from Indra Estate. What about you?" "I have no name to say for someone who sneaks attack." Grey, frustrated by the sudden ambushed said. Grey was the first one to move, with his agile movements, the knight followed suit. Clash of metals could be heard around the state, a soldier holding a bow was about to shoot at Grey got stopped by Knight Oberon. "Don''t meddle in a Knight''s Sacred Duel!" Knight Oberon shouted¡ªangrily. Grey adjusted his position as he dodge an incoming attack, he kicked Knight Oberon''s sword using it as a springboard. He landed in a snow, he run around the Knight waiting for a chance to strike. The duel came to a standstill. This time it was the Knight''s turn to make his move. His sword glowed with a blue color. Grey was wary and knows that if the sword cuts him¡ªhe will be cut in halves. He now knows it''s time to use that particular skill, although cringy and long¡ªhe has to do it. "Ignite from the desire to win, form from the essence of arrow, flames within our sorrow, greatness from this handsome face as my front. Fire Arrow! Gerry casted a spell A flame started to form in front of Grey, starting to materialize in form of an arrow. Greji''s Handsome Adventure: A spellbook in learning fireball is a book with many uses, it was stated in the book that as long as he learned the fireball spell, he can manipulate its shape and power depending on the Player''s intent but he have to always include the praising his own self''s handsomeness. Knight Oberon startled by the sudden change in temperature became wary but no danger was detected. As the Fire Arrow gets nearer, he prepared a slash with his sword releasing an energy. Boom! Both the energy and the fire arrow clashed forming an explosion. Grey which was near the explosion stumbled but immediately got up. He doesn''t to experience dying again in the game so he used his Unallocated Stats to increase his Agility and Strength. Now, boosted with the his new stats got stronger. "He used a forbidden potion!" A mage who was watching sensed the sudden change in Grey. "Don''t interfere!" Knight Oberon interrupted as the soldiers and mages preparing to attack. They run towards each other clashing from swords to dagger one after another. Grey, using his agile movements jumped and roll around the Knight taking advantage of the difference in speed, the Knight used his an energy again covering his whole body. "You can do this brother!" Sid was hoping that Grey could win. The Knight after covering his body with energy became more stronger, and more agile too. "Surrender now, criminal!" Knight Oberon proclaimed accusing Grey. Grey who was accussed abruptly stopped his movements and asked. " What do you mean criminal?" The knight sees that Grey suddenly stopped as he ponders upon the situation.
30 minutes ago, Knight Oberon with his soldiers are making an exploration of finding a criminal that is terrorizing in the Outskirts of Indra State. He was tasked of capturing the criminal. They went to an abandoned Village that got wiped by a stampede of monster 3 years ago hoping to rest there for the night. Then a priest suddenly said to him that a dark aura was recently used indicating a dark mage or equivalent of it was lurking the area and used a skill. A dark mage is a mage who uses dark mana from the sacrificed humans they''ve killed¡ªthe higher the mana the sacrificed one is, the higher the rewards to them. There also like the nercomancers using the corpses of its victims as puppets or summoning demons from the depths of hell. There are other dark entities that terrorizes the whole continent. They observed a man entering the INN so he ordered one of his men to investigate but suddenly when the man was about the walk towards the INN, the man panicked and head back to them, and that was when they saw two men walking outside it. Suspecting the two men as the culprits, he ordered his men to fire them arrows. Knight Oberon thought that he wanted to test the man if they are really the culprit or not, he also wants to know if this man has a potential to learn his techniques but he was not taking disciples.
Knight Oberon became overwhelmed by the feeling of the battle, forgot about the test¡ªit was a long time that he felt joy in fighting freely as he became busy teaching squires and signing documents as the Chief Knight of the Indra Estate. Knight Oberon''s Level is Level 350 which is a lot. He went easy on fighting with this man that he met in this abandoned village. Grey knows to himself that the Knight was getting easy on him as if testing him in something. Now, he was about to give his all in this attack when he got stopped by the Knight. "Stop! I know that we suddenly attacked you but we had found a trace here about someone here who uses dark mana, and coincidentally you two are here. So I decided to test you. And you passed!" Knight Oberon proclaimed, with a wide smile in his face. Ding! Knight Oberon has acknowledged you! Affection increased by 10! Reputation increased by 150! "You might learn a new skill but certain conditions must be met." said the system. Grey overjoyed by the sudden revelation started to introduce himself. "I''m Grey, a player. We are from here and the Village Chief here tasked me to slay slimes at the frozen plains, It took me a month because of personal reasons to came back and here we are wondering where the Villagers had gone." "The Village was destroyed 3 years ago by Monster Stampede, there should be no people around here unless..." Knight Oberon suspected that the Village Chief was the culprit they are finding. "It seems the necromancer was the Village Chief himself!" Grey thought to himself. "It looks like we came to the right place to investigate. Priest go purify the place, we will rest here tonight!" Knight Oberon commanded. "Yes sir!" the priest saluted then went on his way. "You two, come with me." Knight Oberon pointed at Grey and Sid as he asked the two to come with him. They went to the house next to the Inn as Knight Oberon''s place to sleep, he commanded the others to pick their quarters. As they ate dinner, the Knight Oberon seems to apologized to them for suddenly attacking and whatnot. "I''m sorry for earlier, it seems I became excited because its been years since I had a duel with others." Knight Oberon explained apologetically. "It...It''s...It''s okay sire!" Sid suddenly became respectful as if admiring the knight as he stuttered. The Knight looked at Grey with a serious look and asked. "Do you want to learn aura? but you have to pass my condition first to learn it. It seems your body can endure the process of learning aura." "What''s an aura?" Grey asked. "Aura, a manifestation of a swordsmaster''s inner energy that enhances their combat prowess. While every swordsman has the potential to awaken Aura, its attributes and effects vary from individual to individual. Learning Aura often begins by training under a Swordmaster, though success is never guaranteed¡ªonly those with talent or sheer perseverance can truly master it. Countless hours of rigorous physical training, mental discipline, and focused meditation are required to harness and control this energy. For many, the key lies in achieving a state of enlightenment, where the swordsman gains a profound understanding of their own essence, purpose, and connection to the world around them. This enlightenment aligns their body and mind, unlocking the path to channel their Aura effectively. Those naturally attuned to Aura may learn faster, but the journey is always arduous, demanding both determination and unwavering focus. Though there are others, geniuses that can learn it alone without anyone''s teaching or inheritance.¡ªcountless training are required if you aren''t that talented. But it seems your body is built to learn aura so I want you to learn it." The knight explained. "So, are up to the challenge or not?" Quest has appeared. Details: Knight Oberon impressed by a certain player wants to teach his techniques to him. He issued a challenge that will test if the players is qualified to learn it or not. Eliminate the necromancer alone. 0/1
Reward: Obtain "Thunderheart Technique" Book, Advice from Knight Oberon "The Thunder flash". Accept/Decline Necromancer Ding! Quest Accepted: Eliminate the Necromancer Alone Grey staring at the system notification realized the weight of the task he had just accepted took a deep breath. Sid who was watching him was amazed by the sudden dicision Grey has made. "You want to defeat that necromancer alone, brother? If you want, I can help you a little. I''ll be a shield to sacrifice my life for you." Sid said with a bit of hesitation in his voice but offered him some help. "Don''t worry, I''ll be fine." Grey replied in a confident voice, he added with a greedy look in his eyes. "This is an opportunity for me to get stronger if I end up learning Aura so I''ll be taking the risk. If I learned aura, the stronger I am, the stronger the loot I can obtain, the more money I earn." Knight Oberon who had been watching them bicker for awhile now, nodded in approval. "Good! Your determination is the first step. A little greed is what push people too to be great in things. Rest now because we''ll need your strength later." Grey saw at a certain post in the wiki called "necromancer''s growth and weakness by Arise", it was stated there that necromancers are strong opponents especially in battle of attrition as they can summon minions at the cost of their mana or stamina to fight for them but they have a fatal weakness¡ªit was that they are defenseless as they cast their summons. That was true if the necromancer is an NPC, or monster because players with necromancer class can instantly summon. Sunlight soon bathed the eyes of Grey as he came up of different scenarios, strategies on defeating the necromancer in his head. Knight Oberon''s team now was preparing for the expedition on finding the necromancer, their team consists of two knights, five soldiers, two mages, and a priest. The knight gathered then in front of the village''s central square, he looked at Grey and said. "Grey, we have to split up and look for the traces of the necromancer. I''ll be taking Sid with me so that I can teach him a thing or two. Once you find something you have to report or use a signal before taking action." "Yes sir!" Grey replied though he already had plans in his mind. The group splits up, each heading in different directions. Grey was going in an icy mountain just next to the village, he walked then he saw in a near snowy covered terrain near faint footprints so he followed it. The air grew colder as he moved away from the others, the trees becoming thin as it was becming more of an open plain. "Maybe the necromancer''s still here." Grey thought as he saw in the quest earlier that the villagers had vanished with a fog. After an hour of searching, he spotted something unusual in the distance¡ªa faint shimmering light was in the air, as if a mirage was there to confuse travelers hovering near the base if the icy mountain. "A magic barrier?" Grey thought making wild guesses. Before he could enter the barrier, a messenger from Knight Oberon came riding a horse. He stopped in front of him, panting from the sudden situation. "Knight Oberon has ordered everyone to regroup immediately! We found tracks leading to a cave on the western side of the mountain." Grey hesitant to go said. "I found traces here too, I will investigate things here but inform Knight Oberon about it. If I found nothing here, I''ll catch up to you guys." "Understood!" the soldier said then returns to where the team was. Grey summoned his daggers in his inventory, he held it tightly as he walked in cautiously. As he get nearer to the barrier, the air around buzzeld with energy. He hesitated for a moment but came to a decision to proceed, he reached out and touched it, the illusion rippled like a water disturbed by a rock thrown in a water, he stepped through as if the wall in the mountain was just an illusion. On the other side, it was a cave¡ªa frozen wasteland, darker, colder than the outside. Grey felt a chill run down from his fine as if having a goosebumps. "This has to be it." Grey muttered to himself as he walked. He stepped inside, the echo of his footsteps bouncing off the icy walls. The interior was dimly lit by glowing blue crystals embedded in the rock. Grey tightened his grip on his weapons, his eyes scanning for any sign of movement. Suddenly, a voice echoed through the cavern, deep and mocking him. "So, you have found me and come to face me, little adventurer?" Grey froze, his heart pounding. A figure emerged from the shadows, cloaked in black robes. The Necromancer¡¯s face was obscure with a bit of glowing red eyes burned with malice. ¡°You dare to challenge me alone?¡± the Necromancer sneered. Grey didn''t respond. Instead, he gripped tightly on his daggers, dashing to attack the necromancer. With Grey''s speed. he disappeard in the necromancer''s sight then reappeared behind him, slashing both daggers. The attack struck but got blocked by a barrier made with dark mana. "A foolish attempt!" The necromancer said with malice, raising a hand¡ªwaves of dark magic erupted form his palm, forcing Grey to leap back. The ground grumbled as skeletons started to emerge from the ground, they seem to wield weapons of different kinds while some empty handed. Grey realized that he was outnumbered, he cursed under his breath as skeletons converge around him, cornering him. ¡°Let¡¯s see how long you can last!¡± the Necromancer taunted. Grey moved swiftly, weaving between the skeletons as he struck them down one by one. Each kill earned him a small boost to his stats, but the Necromancer continued to summon more.If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. ¡°Enough!¡± Grey shouted, throwing one of his daggers toward the Necromancer. The blade struck the barrier again, but this time cracks began to form. The Necromancer scowled, clearly irritated. ¡°You¡¯re more troublesome than I thought. No matter. You¡¯ll die here all the same.¡± He raised his staff, dark energy swirling around its tip. Grey knew he couldn¡¯t afford to let the spell be completed. Grey attempted to use his speed again, he disappeared and appeared behind the necromancer striking him with his dagger. Ding! You have learned a new skill "Shadow Step." Conditions met: Using an unbelievable speed, players have to disappear in an enemy''s sight then reappear behind them. 2/2 It seems in Earthisia, you can gain skills without a class if you perfrom certain conditions at a perfect time learning a new skill. The battle raged on, the clash of steel and magic echoing through the icy cavern. Grey¡¯s breath came in gasps in interval as if exhaustion started to crept in him, his stamina dwindling as he pushed himself to the limit. The Necromancer, though injured, continued to fight with relentless fury. His skeletal minions marched forward to Grey, but with a swift swing of his daggers, Grey shattered them into piles of brittle bones. Suddenly, Grey remembered about the villagers laughing inside the INN. ¡°Why... why are you doing this?¡± Grey demanded, his voice hoarse from exertion. ¡°What happened to the villagers? Where are they?¡± The necromancer laughed matching his malicious grinning, his face became twisted. "Villagers? Ah, so you noticed.¡± His tone dripped with mockery as he raised a skeletal claw to summon another wave of undead. ¡°You¡¯re asking about my little puppets, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Puppets?¡± Grey asked with a puzzled look, but a hint of suspicion sips in. ¡°Yes, puppets. Those villagers you met¡­ they weren¡¯t alive. Not truly.¡± The Necromancer sneered, sidestepping Grey¡¯s charge and casting a wave of icy spikes. ¡°They were my victims long ago. Their bodies, their memories, their voices¡ªall preserved and animated to serve my will. Clever, wasn¡¯t it? The perfect lure for unsuspecting travelers like you.¡± Grey parried the spikes with a desperate swing of his daggers, anger bubbling to the surface. ¡°You used them? Made them imitate the living just to trap people?¡± ¡°Precisely.¡± The Necromancer grinned with satisfaction as he circled Grey, his staff glowing with dark mana. ¡°It¡¯s simple. Humans are drawn to bonds, to connections. A child calling for help, a friendly villager offering hospitality, a wise old chief with a problem to solve¡ªthey all play their part.¡± He chuckled. ¡°Those with close ties to the living are the easiest to imitate. A few illusions here, some necromantic magic there, and you fools walk right into my grasp.¡± Grey clenched his fists, his grip tightening on the hilts of his daggers as he bit his lips. ¡°So, all those quests to eliminate monsters¡­ they were just for your rituals?¡± ¡°Indeed,¡± the Necromancer replied with a proud tone in his voice. ¡°You see, the monsters are but ingredients. Their essence, combined with human life force, fuels my work. Travelers like you¡ªyou¡¯re the real prizes. And you, little boy¡­ you were special. I noticed a dark aura in you, as if you''ve been cursed.¡± Grey froze for a moment, his mind racing. ¡°Special? What do you mean?¡± The Necromancer¡¯s grin widened. ¡°Your aura. Your potential. When I first saw you, I knew you¡¯d be the perfect catalyst. Someone like you could summon a middle-rank demon, a being of incredible power.¡± "You''re insane! You sacrificed people, killed them, just for a measly demon! Using them like a sacrificial lamb to slaughter just to gain power and a servant to call." Grey angrily said. ¡°Am I?¡± The Necromancer tilted his head, his expression cold. ¡°Do you think the world runs on kindness and light? Power is the only truth. But you, you had to ruin everything. You didn¡¯t return in time, and those nosy fools from the Indra Estate began poking around. I had no choice but to flee, to leave my carefully constructed trap behind and hide here in this icy mountain. But now, you¡¯ve brought yourself to me. It¡¯s almost poetic, don¡¯t you think?¡± Grey¡¯s anger boiled over, and he charged at the Necromancer with renewed determination. Their weapons clashed, sparks flying in the dimly lit cavern. Despite his fatigue, Grey¡¯s resolve burned brightly. ¡°Why not?¡± the Necromancer retorted, deflecting Grey¡¯s blow and sending a wave of dark mana in his way. ¡°The strong takes from the weak. That is the most basic law of the world. You should be grateful I saw potential in you!¡± Grey dodged the attack, his feet skidding on the icy ground. ¡°You¡¯re wrong. Strength isn¡¯t about taking¡ªit¡¯s about protecting!¡± Flashes of images came to Grey. He remembered his little sister when their parents just died from an accident, their company taken from them, his inheritance is only the house they are living. He has to provide to his little sister since then protecting her. The Necromancer snarled, his composure faltering. ¡°Enough of your self-righteous drivel!¡± He raised his staff, chanting an incantation. The cavern trembled as a massive skeletal beast emerged from the shadows, its eyes glowing with a malevolent light. Grey gritted his teeth, steeling himself for the fight. His body screamed for rest, but he couldn¡¯t afford to falter. The memories of the villagers¡ªtheir laughter, their warmth, their false lives¡ªspurred him on. The skeletal beast lunged at him, its claws swiping dangerously close. Grey rolled to the side, slashing at its exposed ribs. The Necromancer laughed maniacally. ¡°You¡¯re wasting your energy, boy! You can¡¯t win!¡± But Grey refused to give up. He dodged another attack, his movements becoming more fluid as he focused. Each swing of his sword grew sharper, more precise. The faint Aura around his blade began to intensify, cutting through the beast¡¯s defenses. The battle raged on, the cavern filled with the sounds of combat. Grey¡¯s strikes began to take their toll on the skeletal beast, its movements growing sluggish as its bones cracked and shattered. Finally, with a powerful slash, Grey cleaved the beast in two, its remains collapsing into a heap. The Necromancer staggered back, his expression one of disbelief. ¡°Impossible¡­ how can you¡ª¡± Grey didn¡¯t give him a chance to finish. Summoning the last of his strength, he charged at the Necromancer, his blade aimed straight for his heart. The Necromancer raised his staff to block, but it was too late. Grey¡¯s daggers pierced through, the dark energy around the staff dissipating in an instant. The Necromancer gasped, his body crumpling to the ground. Grey stood over him, his chest heaving. ¡°This ends here. You''ve already lost.¡± The Necromancer chuckled darkly, blood dripping from his lips. ¡°Lost? No, boy. I¡¯ve already won.¡± Before Grey could react, the Necromancer plunged his hand into his chest, a grotesque glow emanating from his body. A guttural incantation filled the cavern, the very air thick with malevolence. Grey¡¯s instincts screamed at him to retreat, but his feet felt rooted to the icy ground. ¡°What are you doing?!¡± Grey shouted, panic rising in his voice. The Necromancer¡¯s laughter turned to a pained howl as his body began to disintegrate, dark tendrils of energy spiraling into the air. ¡°You were always meant to be the sacrifice, Grey,¡± he spat, his voice distorted and otherworldly. ¡°But if I must die, I¡¯ll take you with me!¡± A deafening roar echoed through the cavern, shaking the walls. The dark energy coalesced into a swirling vortex, and from it emerged a towering figure. Its skin was the color of molten ash, its horns curled like a ram¡¯s, and its eyes burned with infernal light. The demon exuded an aura of raw power, its presence oppressive and suffocating. Grey staggered backward, his mind racing. He didn¡¯t need to see the glowing sigils marking its level to know he was outmatched. ¡°Level 300¡­¡± he whispered, his hands trembling. The demon¡¯s gaze locked onto him, its mouth twisting into a sinister grin. ¡°A morsel left for me?¡± it rumbled, its voice deep and reverberating. ¡°How generous.¡± Grey raised his sword, forcing himself into a defensive stance. His heart pounded in his chest as he dodged the demon¡¯s first strike¡ªa massive claw that shattered the icy ground where he had stood moments before. He countered with a desperate swing, his blade barely scratching the creature¡¯s hardened skin. ¡°You¡¯re nothing but an insect!¡± the demon roared, swiping at him again. Grey was thrown across the cavern, crashing into the wall with bone-jarring force. Pain shot through his body as he struggled to stand. ¡°Is this¡­ the end?¡± he thought, despair creeping into his mind. The demon advanced slowly, savoring its impending kill.