Time passed by in a flash. The bright light of the sun crept down from the heavens. Leon and Darren consumed in discussion waited in anticipation. Anticipation to begin a new journey, a different life. The stars in the sky were nonexistent, as between them arose puffs of gray. Those balls of cotton seen during the day shifted into streams of gray the color of ash and soot. They blanketed the sky, hiding the full moon in its full glory behind them. But the moon fought, oh how it fought to shine its light on the earth. But the clouds stretched over the sky, giving it a hazy ominous feel. Along this engulfing of the night voices blabbed happily like a mountain river.
The hour of prime fell as the game’s starting time approached ever closer. Before Darren and Leon knew it, time had come to emerge into the new world.
“Are you ready?”
Darren said as his face grew brighter
“Obviously”
Leon said as some happiness crept onto his face. The thought of this being work grew farther and farther to the back of his mind. The constant chatter and discussion had sparkled a flame not often seen in those deemed undaunted. A feeling of happiness and anticipation for a better life and an exciting journey had emerged from the pit of emptiness.
“Then what are you waiting for! Put on the head gear!”
Darren voice echoed loud across the barren hut. The unstable table shook slightly in accordance to the might of the wind on the outside.
“Okay!”
Leon picked up the light soft helmet and treaded it over his head. The head ware was comfortable; the soft material weaved perfectly against his rough yet tender face. The jet-black darkness once again engulfed Leon’s vision as he laid himself against the hut’s wooden floor.
The game server will open in: 50 SECONDS
Your starting location will be determined depending on race chosen. Equipment will be the same for every character
entering Sovereign Online.
Enjoy your journey. Seek for sovereign and change your fate.
50 seconds later Leon’s vision blushed. The blue window indicating the countdown disappeared and he was transferred elsewhere. Leon could fill the chilly air beating against his skin and what seemed like a forest appeared before his eyes.
Welcome to Sovereign online.
Starting location: Forest of Anguish
“What a forest?”
Leon couldn’t help stating out loud. The manual stated that you generally began your journey in a village. A village that provided both safety and reassurance which would mole the player toward this world’s harsh landscape. The first levels were meant to act as a tutorial into an unknown world, but the feeling this forest gave away was not pleasant to say the least.
The forest was dark and foreboding, but there was peace in its sullen ambiance. Leon’s eyes flickered over the thick, dark trunks of the trees that rose steadily into the sky, its branches interlocking with its neighbors like giant’s arms linked together protecting their home. The trees were densely packed together, leaving just enough space to allow someone to maneuver through. Leon pressed his palm against its rough bark, and breathed in the scent of the forest. The musty scent of leaves after rainfall, the warm soil packed against the earth by scurrying animals, the scent of things in different stages of blooming and growth. The smell of life and death. The forest was teeming with it.
As Leon was about to embark his journey from his surprising beginning, from the darkness came sounds of heavy limbs being dragged across the forest floor. Whatever it was, it was massive. Either it dragged its feet or a tail through the undergrowth. Every once in a while would come a cracking noise like bone on wood, or at least that is what Leon imagined it to be - a thick skull crashing into a trunk. This beast was neither lithe, graceful, or blessed with night vision. Blue chattering lips and trembling muscles and just sitting there became a non-option. Sooner or later his involuntary noises or his smell would lead this predator right to him. He tensed up ready to spring forwards, facing the dreadful danger ahead. Excitement grew stronger every step he took across the moist forest floor.
Step’s later Leon laid eyes on the massive creature. Its stench invaded his nostrils as he gazed upon the monster, his stomach reacted in accordance growling and screeching. Slate grey powdery skin, flaking, three meters tall, body bumpy like a sack of rocks, incongruously small head with scrubby sparse lank hair, an effluvium of rancid lard, legs like tree trunks, great warty feet with hairy toes.
Upon his head floated a text in a bright red color:
“Forest Troll Level: ??”
Before the troll could face Leon a message suddenly appeared before his eyes. Showing what he already feared once grazing upon the beast.
Danger: Forest Trolls are at least ten levels above you. Tread carefully.
The gruesome forest troll didn’t seem to have caught Leon’s scent as it kept gazing in a different direction. Underneath its feet was what could only describe as a bone yard. Bones of different lengths and size spread underneath’s its warty feet and fresh blood kept dripping down its bumpy body. Letting onlookers know that it had just engulfed itself in bloody slaughter.
Leon closely watched the Forest Troll as he kept still. No emotion of worry lingered only determination and excitement. Leon kept thinking challenges are what make any life interesting. Leon glanced down on what was equipped on his body.
Bronze SwordDamage:1-5Durability:100 / 100Quality:GreyA sturdy bronze sword crafted to suit the needs of inexperienced adventurers.
Ragged Hide ArmorType:OutfitDurability:100 / 100Quality:GreyA sturdy Ragged Hide Armor that covers the whole body crafted to suit the needs of inexperienced adventurers.
+1 Defense Rating
Those values was underwhelming was the thought that came to Leon’s mind. Leon’s first plan therefore flew out the window. It stated, engage the gruesome troll and use superior battle knowledge to emerge victorious. Reading the game manual had provided him enlightenment regarding monster and player battle encounters. Stats had great influence on movement, damage and generally everything regarding battle, even if he possessed superior battle sense and experience winning straight up would be a hassle. The Forest Trolls menacing muscles radiated power, emitting the wide difference in stats.
A kill would never be initiated unless one process one hundred percent certainty of success.
Leon head kept tilting in different directions as he was scouting the terrain. The tangled pathways between trees were both narrow and hard to maneuver. Bringing the Troll treading across those paths would definitely hinder its movement and in consequence its battle power. Leon knew having killed many men of large stature that maneuvering was always a weakness that came hand in hand with size. The question that beckoned inside his head was, would these narrow pathways provide him opportunity for victory. Not knowing the enemy he couldn’t be certain and therefore decided to tread away from the gruesome creature.
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Leon walked across the narrow paths to right side of the Troll, only minutes later he came across a daunting mountain pass. Moss and lichen covered boulders sprawled in the rockery of Mother Nature. There was no trace of civilization in this wilderness apart from a worn out path that snaked through the blanket of rocks. The path was so cramped that even Leon thought walking there would bring hardship. As soon as Leon laid eyes on the narrow path, an idea grew like a fire catching dry wood.
Minutes later Leon once again stood before the gruesome troll. Meter’s away from his sight was an opening leading onto the Forest Trolls abode. The troll was located in an opening, not to get caught in the narrow pathways of the forest. Leon gripped the stone he had picked up as he made his way there; he clenched his arm muscle as he released the stone in the Troll direction. Movement’s later the stone ricocheted off the gruesome Trolls head.
“ -2 “
As the yellow number displayed across the Trolls small head it exploded in a gruesome rage. Lifting its head to the sky it released what Leon thought was the growl of death signaling to every living creature in its vicinity that he and only he would kill this attacker. As the troll head faced against Leon their eyes met, this yellow almost red eyes starred straight back. Moments later his body flew toward the narrow forest, every step travelling twice as fast as Leon could currently run. As soon as movements were spotted on the Trolls body Leon dashed towards the narrow mountain path. A mere minute later he arrived; he positioned himself right before the opening and turned around facing the enraged monster.
Taking backward steps Leon slowly wandered inside the narrow mountain path in hope that the enraged beast would follow his ascension up the valley. As he grazed the Troll no sign of stopping could be seen on his body as rage had overcome reason. Two meter’s from the small opening the Forest Troll lunched itself in the air ready to descend onto Leon’s fragile figure. But as soon as it grew closer the rocky slopes of the narrow mountain path met up against the beast in resistance slowing down its descent. The massive body didn’t come to immediate stop though which was what Leon predicted. Instead rock residue flew about as the mountain pathway crumbled around the troll’s massive body. The Trolls reaching arm grows closer and closer to Leon fragile body as he kept backing further down the mountain path. Even if the mountain path gradually slowed the Trolls descent locking it in a steadfast still position his arm continued to advance.
BOOM
The Trolls hand grazed across Leon body. Its fist a third of his body size, flew deeper into Leon stomach as he clenched for air.
“ -59 ”
A big red number lingered over Leon’s head as he began to cough up small amount 0f blood. Leon slowly rose to his feet mere centimeters from where the fist now was locked, the Trolls body had lunched several meters into the mountains path and was currently struggling to get free.
“That’s quite the punch you’re packing”
Leon said as he removed the last amount of blood from his mouth.
A slow descended fist had actually inflicted 59% of Leon health. Leon’s frown grew wider as he imagined what a full force punch would have inflicted.
“I got to be even more careful next time. Creatures of this game seems to go against the norm to say the least”
“I need to adapt. Or surviving is going to be rough”
Leon said out loud as the enraged Troll continued to struggle against the narrow mountain path. Stone residue was continuing to accumulate and Leon knew that the time to go for the kill was now.
As he side stepped the immobile hand and approached the gruesome troll’s small head its struggles continued to escalate. A pray of minor strength was so close to it but it could actually not hurt him, the feeling echoed across the troll mind as he continued his struggle. Leon gripped his sword and plunched it straight through the immobile Troll’s eye
“-45”
“So the eye does 45 damage”
“How about the brain”
Leon once again clenched the sword hilt in his hand as he lunched the swords sharp peak inside the creature’s brain.
“-185”
“Holy fuck”
There were no mentions of different points of damage depending on what vital point struck in the game manual. Leon couldn’t help but let a smile brew across his face as he made this vital discovery.
“But it’s still not dead..”
Leon once again lunched his sword inside the now almost lifeless troll.
“-20”
The troll breath stopped as the body slowly began to disappear.
“250 health points damn”
Ding!
+500 Experience
+Level Up
+Level Up
+Level Up
You are the first player to defeat this enemy and words of your conquest will therefore spread across the land! +5 Fame
Your superior battle knowledge and braveness have managed to defeat an enemy of superior strength. Tales of your bravery will be spread across the land! +50 Fame
Title received for defeating enemy of superior strength: The Brave
Would you like to activate this title?
Titles were a means to get extra stats. Receiving them was determined on player actions taken. Knowing the benefits of equipping a title Leon didn’t hesitate
“Yes”
The red green name above his head changed instantly emitting an even brighter glow.
“Leon the brave”
Were the words that hovered above Leon’s head.
“Titles”
Leon’s voice echoed inside his head as he brought up the title information page.
Title: The Brave
As a warrior with superior perception and bravery your name will echo across the mind of those who lies eyes on your name.
+10 to all stats
Leon smirked in response to the information given by the title information window. 10 points to every stat was something which would carry across every level from now own. Ideas of gaining furthered titles came to mind but Leon put them in the back of his mind as his thought sprung towards something else.
"Skills"
Leon's class was something heard in ancient tales, a being of death, and omen of death. The racial skill or ability that came with it must come with great strength.
Omen Of Death (Racial Passive Skill)
Banshee's usually seen as an omen of death and a messenger from another world.
In legend, a banshee is a fairy woman or man who begins to wail if someone is about to die.
As an omen of death your senses are heighten in its presence.
+100% damage when enemy is below 20% health.
As soon as the window diapered from Leon's sight an archaic voice came forth inside his mind.
"You have 30 unspent stat points. Please open up stats menu to delegate points or voice your preference inside your mind."
"30 points in agility
Leon knew beforehand that agility would provide the maneuvering ability he needed to gain advantages inside this forest. These narrow pathways were the perfect killing zone for those with an agile body and agile mind.
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Super short chapter, but just felt reasonable to end it here. Things will begin kicking soon.
Thanks for the support.