Eddie's heart raced with anticipation as he saw the quest notification appear before him. This was it—the start of his epic journey, the quest that would define his path in Ascendant Online. With a newfound determination, he accepted the quest and felt a surge of energy course through him. He wanted to focus on the notification and read it, but before he could the figure had led him out of the casino and into the bustling streets of Azure Harbor. The city was alive with activity, merchants hawking their wares, adventurers boasting of their exploits, and nobles strutting about with an air of superiority. But amidst the chaos, Eddie felt a sense of purpose guiding him forward.

Together, Eddie and the figure made their way through the winding streets, heading towards the outskirts of the city where the hidden temple awaited. Along the way, they passed by various landmarks—the grand marketplace, the majestic cathedral, and the towering citadel of House Arvon.

As they traveled, Eddie couldn't shake the feeling that he was being watched. He glanced over his shoulder, but there was no one there—just the bustling crowds of Azure Harbor going about their daily lives. Yet the sense of unease lingered, a reminder of the dangers that lurked in the shadows.

Eventually, they reached the edge of the city, where they were overlooking a cove that stood at the bottom of white limestone cliffs. The figure stopped and turned to face Eddie, their gaze piercing through the darkness of their mask.

"This is where our paths diverge, Eddie," the figure said solemnly. "The temple lies within the caves that dot this cliff. It is deep within and hidden from sight. You must journey alone from here and let fate guide you."

Eddie nodded, steeling himself for the challenges that lay ahead. "Thank you," he said gratefully. "For everything."

With a final nod, the figure vanished into the shadows, leaving Eddie alone at the edge cliffs. He took a deep breath, his heart pounding with anticipation. The quest awaited him, and Eddie was ready to embrace his destiny as a true adventurer in Ascendant Online.

As the figure disappeared into the shadows, Eddie stood alone at the edge of the cliffs, the weight of their words hanging heavy in the air. He gazed out at the sprawling expanse of the cove below, the azure waters crashing against the base of the towering limestone cliffs with a rhythmic intensity. The sound of the waves echoed in his ears, a constant reminder of the vastness and unpredictability of the world around him.

With a determined stride, Eddie began his descent down the rugged cliffside, his hands gripping onto the weathered rock as he navigated the treacherous terrain. The path was steep and perilous, but he refused to be deterred, his mind focused solely on the task at hand. Each step brought him closer to the hidden temple, closer to uncovering the secrets that lay within.

As Eddie descended down the cliff into the cove, he saw his first monster in this world, besides the nobles, of course. A quick scan showed the snake was named Venomfang Viper and it was Level 3. The creature slithered menacingly across the rocky ground, its scales glistening in the dim light of the setting sun. It was about six feet long, with a sleek, emerald-green body and eyes that glowed a sinister yellow. Its fangs, dripping with venom, glinted as it hissed, coiling itself in preparation to strike.

Eddie's heart raced as he assessed his options. He knew he wasn't well-equipped for combat, having only the basic knife he had acquired earlier from the auctioneer. But this was a low-level monster, something he could potentially handle if he played his cards right. He crouched low, his eyes locked on the snake, and slowly unsheathed his dagger, the blade catching the light as he prepared for his first real battle in Ascendant Online.

The viper lunged at him, its fangs aimed directly for his leg. Eddie sidestepped the attack, feeling the rush of adrenaline coursing through his veins. He struck back quickly, aiming for the snake's exposed side. The dagger connected, but the viper's scales were tougher than they looked, and the blade barely scratched the surface. The snake recoiled, its eyes burning with renewed fury.

Eddie realized he needed to outsmart the creature, not just outfight it. He glanced around the rocky terrain, looking for anything he could use to his advantage. His eyes landed on a large, flat rock nearby, partially covered in moss. An idea began to form in his mind.

He baited the snake, luring it closer to the rock. The viper, sensing an easy target, followed aggressively. Just as it was about to strike again, Eddie leaped onto the rock, using it as a platform to gain height. With a swift, calculated move, he plunged his dagger downwards, aiming for the soft underbelly of the snake as it coiled beneath him.

This time, the dagger found its mark. The viper let out a furious hiss, thrashing wildly as the blade sunk deep. Eddie held on, using his weight to drive the weapon further. The snake's movements grew weaker until it finally lay still, its eyes glazing over as it succumbed to its wounds.

Breathing heavily, Eddie withdrew his dagger, wiping the venomous blood on the moss-covered rock. He felt a surge of accomplishment wash over him, tempered by the harsh reality of what lay ahead. This was just the beginning. He had a long way to go and much more dangerous foes to face. But for now, he had proven to himself that he could survive in this world.

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With renewed determination, Eddie continued his descent, the slain viper a reminder of the perils that awaited him. He ran into a few more snakes which were levels 1 to 3. He was wondering when he had killed enough to finally level up to Level 1. Wait, had he never checked to see if the level had an experience bar? When he'd focused on other things in the status, they gave more information. Maybe it was the same here.

Eddie focused on his level for the first time and saw:

99/100 Experience to the next level

“Shit, only need to kill one more,” Eddie muttered. Then he thought about everything he killed and realized he hadn’t ever tried to loot any of the snakes that he’d ever killed. “Fuck,” he yelled.

At the same time he realized that yelling on a strange cliff on the main quest may not have been the best idea. Eddie turned around and looked back up the cliff. Yeah, that was not going to happen. He’d just be extra sure to loot the next thing that he killed. Eddie started searching for his next foothold and carefully made his way further down the cliff, his eyes scanning the rocky terrain for any signs of movement. The air was thick with the scent of salt and damp earth, and the sound of distant waves crashing against the rocks below added to the tense atmosphere. As he descended, Eddie's mind raced with thoughts of leveling up and the potential rewards that awaited him.

Finally, he reached a small ledge that provided a brief respite. He took a moment to catch his breath, glancing around cautiously. The cave entrance was now much closer, a dark maw that seemed to beckon him forward. But Eddie knew he needed to focus on finding one more snake to defeat before entering an unknown cave.

As he scanned the area, his keen eyes spotted a slight movement among the rocks to his left. A smaller snake, barely noticeable against the gray stone, was slithering towards a crevice. It was a Level 1 Viper, its scales duller and less intimidating than the others he had encountered.

Eddie tightened his grip on his dagger and approached the snake quietly, his movements slow and deliberate. He didn't want to startle it into hiding. As he got closer, the snake sensed his presence and coiled defensively, hissing softly. Eddie took a deep breath, his heart pounding in his chest, and lunged forward with precision.

The dagger pierced the snake's body with a satisfying crunch, and the creature writhed for a moment before falling still. Eddie quickly withdrew his weapon, his eyes already scanning for any loot. He focused on the slain viper and was surprised to see a small notification appear:

Loot: Venom Sac, Snake Scales, 1 Copper Coin

He quickly collected the items, feeling a sense of accomplishment. As he did, another notification popped up:

Level Up! Congratulations! You have reached Level 1.

Eddie felt a surge of energy course through his body. He quickly accessed his status screen to see the changes:

Status

Name:

notadoctor

Race:

Level:

1

Class:

N/A

Profession:

N/A

Health Points (HP):

95

Mana Points (MP):

105

Stamina:

120

Stats

Strength:

8

Dexterity:

16

Constitution:

9

Intelligence:

10

Wisdom:

9

Charisma

9

Free points:

5

Skills

N/A

Achievements

First to Market

Racial Traits

Night Vision, Trickster’s Wit, Surprise Attack

Unlike the last time when he had assigned his stats in a rush, Eddie now planned to consider his options more deeply. He hadn’t encountered many monsters yet, but from comparing their loot to the wealth he had seen, targeting sentient beings seemed more lucrative. With that in mind, Eddie decided to structure his build around defeating human opponents. He would lean into his strengths—dexterity and intelligence. Perhaps he could become a stealthy mage, something that utilized his racial traits to their fullest potential.

Eddie paused for a moment before adding 3 points to his dexterity and 2 points to intelligence, bringing them to 19 and 12 respectively. This should increase his chances of dodging attacks and improve his proficiency with any spells he could learn. Well, he assumed that he could learn spells but had yet to try his hand. Having never seen any spells cast or heard how to learn them it may prove challenging.

Satisfied with his choices, Eddie closed his status screen. Before he entered the cave, he wanted to see if there was anything else on the ledge, who knew what could be hidden. After all, this was a game. So, he began to carefully explore the ledge, scanning every nook and cranny for any hidden items or clues that might aid him on his journey.

He crouched down to peer into a small crevice, his eyes straining in the dim light. The sound of waves crashing against the rocks below echoed in his ears, mingling with the distant cries of seabirds. His fingers brushed against something cold and metallic. He pulled it out—a small, ornate key, its surface etched with intricate designs.

Eddie's heart raced with excitement. This key had to unlock something valuable or important, perhaps even a shortcut or hidden treasure within the cave. He slipped it into his pocket, a sense of anticipation building within him.

Standing up, Eddie took one last look at the ledge before turning towards the dark entrance of the cave. He could feel the cool air emanating from within, carrying a faint, musty smell. With a deep breath, he stepped forward and entered the cave.