"All right, that should be enough." wiping the sweat off his face, he decided to stop hunting as he walked back to town.
"Status window."
【Character Name: Crow】
【Soul's Color: White】
【Profession: None】
【Title: None】
【Level: 16】
【Fame: 0】
【Infamy: 0】
Stats:
【Health: 355】
【Mana: 153】
【Strength: 10】
【Agility: 10】
【Vitality: 10】
【Wisdom: 10】
【Intelligence: 10】
【Luck: 10】
【Unused Stats: 30】
"Oh? Health and mana rose up quite a bit and there are extra points too... But the other stats didn't, I guess it can only rise when I put points in it... Hmmm... I'll worry about this later, for now, Inventory."
With the window information in front of him, he continued to walk as he eyed the items inside it.
"Hmm, normally in games, the monsters would drop items and such, why is this game not doing that and only leaving the body behind? Either way, I have twelve lone wolf corpses, thirty white snakes and twenty slithering snakes, this should be a good amount of money." Thinking of his 'could be' earnings brought a smile to his tired face as he sprinted in vigor towards the town as he closed the inventory window.
----------------------------------------
"Excuse me, can I sell my stuff here?" Crow went up to the nearest place he could recognize as a shop and chose it to do his business.
"Of course boy, wait one moment." A tall, well tanned man answered, he was apparently stacking boxes up to each other.
"There we go, now then, what can I help you with?"
"Well, I have some extra stuff I plan to sell. Here they are." Crow took all corpses from the inventory window and dumped the whole thing in front of him, of course, surprising the shopkeeper.
"Wh-Why are they still whole?"
"Are they not supposed to be?" The shopkeeper, though astonished at the sight, answered Crow whilst scratching his head.
"Well, you see, normally people would bring them in pieces, fangs, hides, meat, etc. I'll buy them but weren't these heavy for you?" Jumping up and down, Crow stopped and nodded.
"Yeah, I guess it was."
The shopkeeper burst out laughing, though whether it's to laugh at Crow, or how he didn't notice the weight, Crow will never know.
"Oh man. It's been a long time since I've seen someone like you. You're new at this aren't you?"
With an embarrassed face, he nodded at the shopkeeper's words, it was true so he couldn't refute it.
"Come here, I'll teach you how to dismantle monsters. It's a skill you'll need if you plan to survive out there."
As Crow went closer, the shopkeeper held out a knife under one of the Slithering Snake corpse and thoroughly showed it to Crow.
After the dismantling was over, what he saw in front of him was a dismantled snake. Fangs, Skin and meat.
"So, you think you know how to do it?" Crow's eyes were twinkling with anticipation.
'This might be helpful.' Crow thought as he nodded and said "I'll try."
He once again copied someone else's movements based on what he saw, though since he wasn't paying much attention towards the dismantling process, he made a few mistakes here and there. But he got the hang of it after a while.
"There you go! You've got it. Well, this should be helpful to you so you shouldn't forget it. Anyways, there are a lot of these monster corpses around... How many is it again?"
"Twelve Lone Wolves, twenty Slithering Snakes and thirty White Snakes all in all."
"Hmm, normally I'd be willing to buy them all for fifty silver coins but, I'm going to have to pay for around thirty five."
"Why lower the price? I'm okay with it, but why?" Crow was a little surprised at the shopkeeper's action so he decided to learn why.
"Well, the labor would be hard on me you know. Unless you're saying you'll dismantle every corpse here? I'd give you all the fifty silver."
Crow suddenly grasped the shopkeeper's hand in a firm handshake as he showed him a smile.
"Thirty Five silver coins it is then!"
The shopkeeper couldn't help but give a wry smile and chuckled as he shook Crow's hand.
"You're a really weird traveler."
----------------------------------------
"Let's see now... I have fifty silver coins right now including the starting money. There's still two days left before the appointed time to meet Dale. What time is it?"
In the game, Crow felt as if the time went way faster than it should. He was only hunting for about six hours in real time which would make it one in the morning but while he was hunting, he noticed how morning was already evening by the time his hunt was over.
"Hmm, that means it runs faster here than on real time... But by how much? Let's see if this works. Time clock."
Nothing happened.
"Figured as much." Sighing at his failed attempt, Crow walked back in to the store where he met first met the shopkeeper.
"Hey shopkeeper, mind if I ask you something?"
The shopkeeper, just like the first time they met, was busy doing something, although instead of stacking boxes, this time, he was dismantling the monsters.
"A little busy here, just ask your question."
"What time is it?"
"Hmm? Its..."
----------------------------------------
Crow logged out after finding out the answer to his question. Apparently, one hour in real time is equals to three hours in the game.
'At least I learned something new again.' With that thought in mind, he closed his eyes and went to sleep.
----------------------------------------
**** Unchained Destinies Forums ****
[Raymond: Has anyone heard about the skill evolution? I did mine and I got a message saying something about 'skill morphed' or something. Then instead of the skill I was supposed to get, my skill became something better than it was supposed to!]
[Rio: That's old news Raymond, Evolution morphs aren't really something to be proud of, A friend of mine got a morph as well but it became worse than before! It's a good thing skill morphing happens 40% chance rate when evolving.]
[Contender-San: Rather than that topic, has anyone still found out anything new about the system? Especially about the color system? It's annoying to tell others that my assigned color is pink. I'm a guy!]
[A.na.ly.ze: Pink isn't that bad Contender-San... Or should it be 'Chan' now?]
[Contender-San: Why don't you tell me where you live... I want to have a friendly chat with you.]
[Fugu: Okay, alright, before this becomes some stupid flame war, I'll tell you about what I learned. The normal knowledge that we know is that the colors help in specific jobs. About how Warriors with the alignment of red gains a boost in Strength for every level, or if they have green they gain boost in Health instead.]
[A.na.ly.ze: That's old news fugu. Exception of the noobs, we all know of that already.]
[Fugu: I see... Then have you perhaps know that... Secret jobs can be obtained depending on the color alignment?]
As soon as the username fugu typed that statement, the forum basically received a sudden surge of comments. So much so that the forum itself got overloaded and was out for a few minutes.
[Fugu: ... Didn't expect the server to crash. I guess there are more lurkers than I thought.]
[Contender-San: Hey. Continue what you were talking about earlier.]
[Fugu: Hmm... Should I really? Well, it doesn't matter. You see, I heard a rumor from a friend, she told me that her classmate got a supposed 'Secret Job' and before accepting it, it stated on the description itself that it was only available to 'Blue Colors'. Still, this is just something I've heard from someone so the legitimacy is a bit low but hey, at least this means there are as many secret jobs as the colors right?]
The forum itself was flooded with comments after comments... But most of it were speculations, rumors and theories.
----------------------------------------
"Alright! I bought some light armor, an iron sword and still have a few silver and copper coins left. Equipment Status."
【Head: None】
【Upper Body: Light Armor (+6 Defense)】
【Lower Body: Starting Gear (No Options)】
【Left Hand: Iron Sword (+5 Damage)】
【Right Hand: None】
【Feet: Starting gear (No Options)】
【Accessories: None】
【Accessories: None】
【Accessories: None】
"Hmm, says on the beginner's guide that accessories are helpful, should get myself one of those soon."
'Since it has been around a day that has past in real time including the time he slept through, it should more or less, three days since then. It's a good thing I hunted for a while more for some extra levels.'
With this thought in mind, he went towards the village's pub.
----------------------------------------
"Hey Dale! I'm ready!" Bursting through the door, with a wide grin on his face, Crow called out to the man."
"Oh? You look different now, got some good old training?" though Dale said this, he was in fact the one that looks more different than before. In his hands now was a complete set of armor and a big and wide two handed sword.
"We should get going then." With Dale's word, the two ventured forth towards the location where Dale got attacked by a monster.
'Looking at him now... The monster may be more powerful than I think it is... Is my current self enough for this?'
"Status Information."
【Character Name: Crow】
【Soul's Color: White】
【Profession: None】
【Title: None】
【Level: 22】
【Fame: 0】
【Infamy: 0】
Stats:
【Health: 375】
(Gains 10HP/Level.)
(Can be affected by other stats.)
【Mana: 153】
(Gains 50MP/15Levels. *Varies depending on Job Affiliation)
(Can be affected by Wisdom.)
【Strength: 10】
(Affects Weight Limit and Defense.)
(Damage: 35-38(+5).)
(Determines damage dealt.)
(2Str= 1 Damage. 10Str = 1 Defense.)
【Agility: 10】
(Determines movement and attack speed.)
(*May still vary depending on perception and abilities.)
【Vitality: 10】
(Affects Health.)
(Defense: 24(+6). *Varies depending on Job Affiliation.)
(Determines Defense.)
(5Vit = 1 Defense. 10Vit = 5HP)
【Wisdom: 10】
(Affects Magic Affinity, MP and MP Recovery.)
(1Wis=0.1 Mana Recovery/5sec. 3Wis=1MP.)
【Intelligence: 10】
(Affects Magic Affinity and Magic Damage.)
【Luck: 10】
(Affects in-game stances.)
(Gains chance for lucky items and crit. *Does not happen most of the time.)
【Unused Stats: 42】
(Gains 2pts/level.)
"Oh wow. This is much deeper than I thought it was. Where should I put my points in? Hmm, alright, let's do this."
He spent the time walking towards their target location spending all his points dividedly on his stats.
10 Points each on Strength, Agility and Vitality and 6 points each on Wisdom and Intelligence.
Were he a better player of MMOs, He'd know what to do with the points, but since he often just plays the RPG that relies on items, he couldn't help but know of what he has just done... And of what he'll continue to do in the future.
The one which most gamers would call a "Hybrid" build character.
----------------------------------------
"Alright, We're near. We should rest up before heading out."
Along the way, they encountered a few enemies though they were quickly slain by Dale. Since the two were not in a party, Crow didn't get any exp. Though it did help level up his Observation skill by 2, watching both the monsters' movements and Dale's. As it stands now, observation skill now stands at beginner mastery level 6. Though the mastery percent doesn't get higher on the same targets anymore.
"Observation Skill Information."
【Observation: (Beginner Class) Lv6. 23%】
Allows the player to observe things around him.
Higher level of the skill allows better understanding of the surroundings.
Has the ability to evolve into other type of skill based on requirements.
Skill has the ability to evolve to 【Inspect】. Level will be reset to 5 and current percentage will be reset to 0. ( Yes/No )
"Yes."
'Why not? It's an evolved skill! This is definitely better than before!'
(Skill Morphed. Skill changed to Crow's Sight.)
'Huh? My sight? What the...?'
"Crow's Sight skill Information."
【Crow's Sight: (Beginner Class) Lv5. 0%】
Has all abilities of previous skill and supposed skill.
Gives the player the ability to inspect things around him.
May notice shiny things from the ground.
Higher level of mastery will result in better understanding of the inspected item or person.
'Oh! A crow, as in the flying one... I thought the game meant me for a moment there.'
----------------------------------------
As they sat down in an opening, Crow dismantled all of the monster corpses that Dale produced.
'He's much more of a monster than I thought he was.'
【New Skill Gained: Survival】
As he was dismantling the bodies, he gained the skill while doing it.
"Survival Skill Information."
【Survival: (Beginner Class) Lv1. 0%】
Gives the player a boost depending on the surrounding terrain. *Boost gain gets higher based on skill mastery.
Allows the player to learn the skill 'Instinct' once prerequisites have been met.
If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.
Gives the player a chance to gain extra loot while dismantling. *Chance to gain higher quality based on Skill Mastery.
Mastery increases while dismantling and adventuring.
(Current terrain: Forestation. Survival skill boosts Health Regeneration by 2%)
'Isn't this skill a little bit... Unfair? It can level up on it's own while dismantling and grinding and it gives buffs! This game is broken. If all players has this skill then I'm sure this game is broken.'
Stuck on his thoughts, Crow failed to notice Dale slowly inching forward to him.
"Hoho? Why are you dismantling the monster?"
"Huh?"
"I mean, why do you have to do it like this and not like the other travelers. Most travelers I come across with, has this strange power like yours to make the items vanish like you do, but the difference between you and the others are, if it's a monster body, they come out already dismantled. The question is... Why are you not doing it?"
"Game Options."
【Auto-Decline: Friend Request (No)】
【Auto-Decline: Party Invitation (No)】
【Auto-Decline: Guild Invitation (No)】
【Auto-Block Whisper (No)】
【Auto Dismantle Monster Drops (No)】
"... Calm down Crow... You gained a new skill because of this... It's not a problem that you wasted all your time dismantling... You got an OP skill... That's all that matters."
"Uhh... Don't worry much about it. Dismantling them manually is better you know...?" Dale told him his own set of reassuring words, using a not so reassuring voice, but Crow was already way over that talk as he finished dismantling the monsters and putting it on his inventory.
"Enough about this talk, I want to know something, Dale, my name is Crow, by the way." he held out his hand and Dale took it to shake hands with him in a friendly manner.
"Nice to formally meet you then Kid... Er, Crow."
"What level are you? Do you mind if I know your affiliation as well?"
"That's all you wanted to know? That's easy! My level is 55. Freelancer class."
"Freelancer?" As soon as Crow wondered about the word, Dale took on a bright smile and told Crow all about the freelancers.
"Basically, freelancers are those that can learn anything! Whether it be magic from mage classes, swordsmanship from the swordarms classes, even fist art of the monk classes. ANYTHING!"
"Isn't that a little too strong? Is there any side-effect or anything?" At Crow's questions, Dale couldn't help but flinch.
"Guh, well, the only downside is... It takes Freelancers to learn those skill two, maybe even three times longer than normal. Let's say a mage learns a magic skill in a day while taking breaks, a freelancer would need at least two to three days without break sometimes. Even then, the magic power of the skill the freelancer uses would be weaker than what the mage's magic."
"Basically... Jack of all trades?"
"Master of none." Dale finished the sentence as he nodded.
"I see. Though it still is helpful if you think about it right?"
Dale once again took a bright smile and nodded with a yes.
"Oh, by the way Dale, seeing as you're at a high level and you're quite good at swordsmanship, what made you escape so badly that you can't beat it time and again?"
"Hmph, some stupid mutt and it's pack. Can't even kill them all since every time I go back, they have already healed up. Their teamwork is annoying as well..."
"Oh? Wolf pack then? Let's do this Dale!" after checking their equipment and getting ready, the both of them went deeper into the forest."
----------------------------------------
*Wooooooooooo*
"Hey... Dale..."
"Yeah, Crow?" The two were conversing behind a rock so not to garner the attention of the pack.
"Isn't that a little too big for an alpha leader?"
"Maybe. But the big one isn't really the problem here... It's the pack itself that we should be worrying about!"
"Yeah, whatever." Crow decided not to take Dale seriously on matters concerning life and death. He instead used his newly acquired Crow's Sight skill to inspect the leader of the pact that is standing on a large rock.
【Alpha Wolf of Zen forest】
【Forest Wolf Pack Alpha, 'Zephyr'】
(Mastery level too low to determine other characteristics.)
"Dale... I've got bad news."
"Yeah?"
"Apparently, that's a named monster. As in... A boss level monster. Level maybe the same or even higher than yours."
"Tch, I already knew that."
"Maybe we should back away for now? You know... Get more allies."
"Stop being a wimp. You trained for this moment didn't you? They're coming. Get ready."
----------------------------------------
The battle has started with Crow and Dale fighting the underlings, the Alpha, only watching on. Like the two didn't even seem good enough as a snack.
"Damn it! Take this!" The two of them were fighting on equal grounds with the pack members, but slowly in time, they're getting pushed back into a corner. The number differences were too hard of a disadvantage for the two.
For every attack they do, they receive twice, sometimes even thrice the damage. Crow was thankful he bought armor before going in the quest.
"Damn it! This is endless! There's too many of them!"
Though it was an equal fight even among the number disadvantage, they were already backed into a corner. The wolves menacingly stepped closer and closer and before they lunged, they heard a deep and powerful howl.
*Arooooooooooo*
As soon as the howl finished, the wolves divided into to groups on the left and right side, leaving a pathway towards the Alpha.
No sooner than they made eye contact was the moment Zephyr dove straight towards the two.
"Damn! Look out!" Dale pushed Crow aside forcefully and took the brunt of the charge getting knocked into the hard rock and utterly crushing it from the force.
As soon as the alpha stepped away, Dale flopped down to the ground with a thud sound.
"Dale? Dale?! Damnit! You'll pay for that!"
Anger and despair was all the emotions Crow can feel. It clouded his eyes, causing him to forget the fact that Zephyr was too much stronger compared to him. He recklessly charged towards it, with the sword in front of him.
Before it could even reach Zephyr, it took the time to clamp its teeth into the flimsy sword... And crunched it.
【Iron Sword's durability fell to 0. Item (Broken Sword) put into inventory.】
(Due to unexpected disarmament, you have been put into dazed debuff. Along with the enemy's skill, dazed debuff will last longer.)
With the message coming into his view, he regained his composure and saw the wolf in front of his face. He felt the heat from the wolf's breath. His mind once again jumbled up. He can't make heads between tails.
'This world. 'Unchained Destinies' is real... Way too real. This isn't a fantasy game. This is a new life... The pain I feel when I get hurt, the hunger, the thirst even the blood splatter from monsters I've killed... They're all too real... This is a second life... And I'm close to dying.'
Zephyr opened it's mouth, above and below its jaws were Crow's head. Ready to be crunched.
'Hell no! I don't want to die damn it!'
His heartbeat quickening every second, his eyes surveying the surroundings, his body with new and regained energy, pulled his head away with every power it has and was able to dodge in the last moment.
Crow was intently watching Zephyr's every move, every twitch it makes, every look it gives, everything.
"Damn you. I'm not going down here. Im not gonna die here!" Crow stood on all fours as he intends to copy the wolf's form, motion and movement. Were he thinking straight, he would never do this decision. But it whether it was a good decision or not, he still received a system message.
【Prerequisites have been met. You have gained "Instinct" skill.】
Whether he was planning on this moment or not, he dodged to the side even before Zephyr charged straight to him, he used his Crow's sight skill and instinct skill together on reflex.
Although with this, Crow is able to dodge any of the assault the wolf is giving him. Though good things weren't meant to last, his mana was slowly dwindling, either using instinct or the Sight skill is draining him, he'll know later... If he can survive this fight.
*Grrrrrrrr*
The wolf growled at him, but he didn't take his eyes of his enemy. Still on all fours, Crow jumped as high as he could. Even though the distance between the two of them was meters apart, the wolf instantly shortened it in a matter of seconds. Though thanks to the jump, Crow was able to dodge the last second and grip the beast's back with both hands and bit into its back.
He was holding on for dear life.
The rodeo didn't last long enough though before he got forcefully removed as he went flying into the air and fell straight into the forest floor.
Crow tried to stand up, on two legs or on all four. Limbs.. It doesn't matter, he must stand up... Or else he's dead.
Contrary to his belief though, Zephyr didn't end his life. It looked intently at him, examining him. And Crow looked back with a powerful glare, though his body can't match his glare.
The wolf walked away while the others stayed.
'Damnit. It's like its saying I'm not even worth it's time... Damnit!' while Crow was cursing in his mind he didn't notice the Alpha walking back with something in its mouth. It left whatever it was in front of Crow and soon went away. The pack going along with it.
'Is it over? Is it finally over?' feeling as all the tension vanish, he laid down on the ground like puppet with its strings cut.
"What did that thing even left me?" He used his Crow's Sight on the 'thing'.
【Crow's Pet】
【No name】
【Level: 1】
【Health: 100】
【Mana: 50】
【Loyalty: 10】
【Strength: 6】
【Agility: 8】
【Vitality:5】
【Intelligence: 3】
【Luck: 4】
"Huh? My pet? What the heck? Wait. I don't have time for this! Dale!!"
----------------------------------------
"Man oh man! Didn't think it was that hard! Hahahahahahahaha!" Dale was boisterously laughing with his left arm in his head... His right arm however, was limply hanging to the side.
'Apparently, his right arm can't be moved anymore. He can still feel his arm, he just can't move it willingly anymore, some kind of shock to the brain causing the nervous system to... Wait... Aren't they A.I.? No. I already decided that this world is a second world.'
"Haaaa, in all seriousness though, at least we got the gem. Too bad I can't show the world the real strength of the 'Freelancer Class'. Wait. I got it! You take up the mantle and spread the word!"
*TING*
【Dale has trusted you to show the world the power of Freelancers.】
【You can now change your job into "Freelancer"】
(Yes/No)?
"I would be honored." With no hesitation, he quickly answered to his friend. With all that happened, he's sure that both of them are friends that can count on one another.
(Your job has been changed to Freelancer)
(As a Freelancer, you have the ability to learn all other job's skill but it will take 50% proficiency as you are not of the proper class chosen.)
【New Skill Gained "Job Understanding"】
【New Skill Gained "Beast Taming"】
【New Stat Gained "Charisma"】
'Huh? Already level 3?'
"Job Understanding skill information."
【Job Understanding: (Beginner Class) Lv3. 14%】
Allows the player to learn job specific skill, though it would take longer than normal.
The higher the skill level, the faster the proficiency and affinity.
Current job affinities:
【Swordsman = 0.1% Mastered】
【Tamer =0.4% Mastered】
"Ah, by the way, I've been noticing that wolf pup following us. Want to kill it?"
"NO!" Dale was surprised at his sudden yell but calmed down and gave him a questioning look.
"It's a... Gift I think? A gift from Zephyr the alpha wolf. Right now, I think it sees me as the pack leader or something. I'll take care of it."
"Oh? Starting out on mastering Tamer class then? You have a long way to go then! As a professional Freelancer let me warn you, even among the strongest and most known tamer classes around... No one has been able to go into advanced mastery."
crow gulped. Even though he didn't plan on mastering the Tamer class as a start, he'll eventually have to.
"The reason why is... Because this world has countless and countless of monsters. Not including the undead since those are a different species entirely, as a tamer, you'll be recognized if you're able to tame a wyvern or a dragon! So with that. Good luck!"
Crow sighed... He was happy yet dejected at the same time thinking of what would happen in the future.
'This is going to be a looooooong while.' Crow sighed again.