Geomchi2 was about to reach out to the woman who was acting very weird, when his disciples stepped in. “Master, are you hungry? We can buy some kimbap rolls pooling our money together?”
His disciples treasured him and seeing their master drool over the kimbap rolls the disciples new right away that their master wanted some…but being absolute beginner they did not have enough money to buy them
“Maybe if we do some easy quest and raise money?” A disciple whispered to the instructor.
Geomchi2 however gave a warm smile and looked inside his pockets.
“I have 10 pieces of bread in my pocket that should be more than sufficient. Kimbap rolls can wait till we have more money.” Geomchi2 said after seeing his pockets. “Then let us break some bread before we journey on??”
The disciples took out breads from their pockets and took a bite. Geomchi2 knew this flavor all too well from Royal Road. It tasted exactly as it did in Royal Road…maybe it was more stale than before or, maybe he had grown used to his wife’s good cooking. The bread was very stale and hard to chew, like a stone. Geomchi 2 had a very similar reaction to what his master. He choked on the bread and spat it out and then said, “We need to do quests quickly and gather money to eat delicious food as soon as we can. This is terrible. They eat this when they go out to hunt?”
His disciples nodded.
“I did a little research on the internet; it is the same as Royal Road. There are large numbers of different types of food. Advanced level meals are so delicious that it melts in your mouth. It’s supposed to be the most heavenly experience and unlike Royal Road the cuisine includes new flavours that never existed before…but all this costs a lot. If we only focus on gather money, then we will not have time to train…and become stronger.” Said an instructor.
“As expected of one that I named ‘Earthen Geomchi 3’! You’re a very bright kid.” Geomchi 2 praised him a lot.
“We can also learn cooking?” A disciple suggested hoping to get the same praise.
“No…that skill is for women…” one of the three instructors in the group said.
“Women today also don’t cook.” The seven disciples replied back simultaneously in a choir.
“Hehe, I get that a lot.” Geomchi 2 said. With changing times, the cultures also changed. Men and women both had to know cooking and both had to do household chores. It could no longer be left on to women to do everything. Geomchi 2 had personally experienced this after his marriage.
The disciples laughed, pleased because of his teacher’s joke. Back in the dojo, he was well liked by the other practitioners for being understanding and perceptive. He was so old and wise, his advise was always right. The practioners could only appreciate the depths of their wise masters compassion.
Even though the Geomchi’s stopped playing Royal Road under mysterious circumstances they did not lose touch of playing VR games. They had nothing more than 50 rye bread in total which tasted terrible and they had yet to find the beginner training hall…yet the mood of the Geomchis was unusually pleasant and lighthearted, they often smiled. Geomchi2 was a role model for many VR players and students were dying to see him in action. Usually Geomchi2 had to restrain himself in the real world as it did not have monsters to attack so the practioners wanted to see the full extent of their masters power. They all were proud to be their disciples and knew that the summit of power they wanted to cross was their master, so that their master can be proud to call them his disciples.
“So to eat it, we just have to keep chewing it? Even though it’s hard, it’s like eating those tin biscuit when I was a young boy.” Geomchi2 said. “We can think about learning cooking and getting money latter. For now we satisfy our hunger and continue our search.”
After they finished eating half of rye bread and satisfying their hunger. Geomchi2 looked at them and said, “So, let’s get started?”
“Master…we have to tell you something….there is no training center.” Earthen Geomchi 3 said mustering all his courage.
“What do you mean? There is no training center. There must be a training center, otherwise where will all the players practice the way of the sword?” Geomchi2 asked unperturbed by the relevantion there was no training hall. He had the absolute belief that Royal Road must have a Training Center. “We have to go to the training center.”
“Master there is no training center in the way you describe it rather…it exists as a temple…” Earthen Geomchi 4 explained noticing how is beloved master was is in denial.
“Since we are earth element it maybe a good idea to visit the Earth Shrine?” A disciple suggested meekly.
After a few moments of silence, Geomchi 2 spoke up, “Well, let’s go see whether or not the earth shrine is any good!”
The Geomchis found the earth shrine fairly easily. It was the tallest and largest building in the middle earth city. There were an incredible number of people swarming around the shrine of Serabourg so they had to to stick together to avoid being separated. However they had no need for that. Seeing the bulky muscular delquient looking men heading towards the temple, many people would step aside in fear. Nobody knew that these men were absolute beginners.
If outside the shrine was crowded, then the inside was could not be explained in words! It was teeming with hundreds or maybe thousands of players. Thankfully the shrine was big enough to accommodate so many players but it was absolutely stretched to its limit. With great difficulty the Geomchis reached the information desk where they were guided to one of the outer grounds of the shrine. Here there were a small number of people were using activating their skills.
“Oh! So this is the way they do it.” Said a player as he raised a platform of earth from the ground. Earth was one of the easier elements to master and manipulate.
Geomchi2 was not in the slightest bit interested; he only wanted to use his sword fiercely. “All I see is earth here, are there no swords and scarecrows?” He asked impatiently.
“No master…”
“…”
“All this magic hocus pocus is not of any user. The true strength of a man is in the way of a sword. No matter how much earth you raise you can never do anything with raising ground. Man walks on the ground, raising it will make no difference to humans.” Geomchi2 scorned. He was angry that Lee Hyun removed the beginner training hall!
A NPC instructor near by heard Geomchi 2’s comments and took offense. ‘I’ll teach him the way of the earth. How dare he compare a pitiful sword to the mighty earth element!’
“Excuse me, I couldn’t help over hear what you had to say about the earth element. I am an earth element my self and would be more than glad to show you that Earth element is not all wishy washy as you describe.” The NPC said politely but was boiling with rage inside.
“Yes please do show me…” Geomchi spoke sarcastically.
The NPC raised his hand straight forward, “Ten Earthen Needles!”
The earth trembled slightly and ten spikes over 8 feet in length made of earth shot out from the ground.
‘That must have left them shocked.’ The NPC chuckled, “Well have I changed your opion of the earth affinity?”
Geomchi2 looked unfazed if anything he was rather disappointed. He was hoping for something more dramatic. Even his disciples and intructors weren’t too impressed. The NPC stood in shock seeing their disappointment…most people by now would have been converted to believers….they were the first to show disappointment…
“Is that really all earth affinity can do?” Geomchi2 finally spoke.
“Of course not!” The NPC said getting all edgy. “This was the most basic attack….”
“Yawns,” Geomchi2 let out a massive yawn.
Infuriated the NPC aimed at a near by tree, “Thousand Needles!”
This time, a thousand, thinner and longer than before, earth spikes jutted out from the ground and ripped through the fig tree. The NPC was breathing slightly harder than before… ‘There…I have shown them the true terrifying power of the Earth…’
This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
“Yes this indeed more spectular if I were a turtle…Hitting a tree is certainly more difficult than hitting a moving target…” Geomchi2 spoke sarcastically. He was completely uninterested magic…
“Fine then…why don’t we test which is stronger, the sword or the earth?” The NPC asked out complete frustration.
“No it will be too unfair.” Geomchi2 said.
“Too unfair? You are right you must be a beginner…fine I won’t use any attack that require more than 5% mana.” The NPC said haughtily.
“No no…please go all out…I meant it might be too unfair for you. I must give you a handicap…” Geomchi2 spoke confidently.
The NPC stood stunned for a second. ‘Maybe I was wrong about this ones level…what if he is a really strong?’
The instructors and disciples were shocked too! They knew they couldn’t defeat the NPC instructor teaching the Earthen element. The NPC’s level must be very high as well…They were wondering what their master was upto…
“To make it an equal contest, I suggest…I will close my eyes…” Geomchi2 continued.
“Fine!” The NPC said speaking with great offense. ‘I’ll teach him a lesson.’
“But we cannot battle here, others may get involved…” The NPC said.
The NPC quickly arranged for a sword for Geomchi2 and a witness. Then they all walked to a more secluded and open area. The practioners were excited. Their old masters usually avoided matches due to their age…but in VR age did not matter, they could easily overcome the limits of their aging bodies here! ‘At last we get to see a match where our master goes all out!’
“These are our dueling grounds.” The NPC said.
“Yes, this is splendid area to hold a festival…” Geomchi2 said.
The NPC’s face went red in anger… ‘How dare he…our most splendid dueling grounds…’
The other practioners agreed with their master. This open ground only stood to favour the earth users. In a real life battle, there were would shrubs and trees…not a clean ground like this where one takes cover. An open ground like this was best used to hold a festival.
“What is wrong with this?” The NPC asked angrily.
“Everything….” Geomchi2 said with a bored expression.
“Then you choose where you want to fight!”
“How about there…” Geomchi2 said while pointing to the forest.
“Yes that also suits me.” The NPC said with a bit of uncertainty. He was feeling uneasy battling in a terrain unknown to him…however his pride was on the line and the pride of the earthen affinity. If he were to chicken out now he would bring shame to himself, family and his kingdom…
The NPC and Geomchi2 stood nearly twenty five feet apart facing each other. The other practioners and witness NPC stood on the sidelines to watch.
“My name is Geomchi2.”
“My name is Krug.”
After exchanging pleasantaries, the witness NPC (a human man), stepped up and spoke, “Begin!”
Krug aimed his hand facing Geomchi2 and whispered, “Grasp!”
However, as if Geomchi2 already knew what Krug aimed for stepped aside. The earth where Geomchi2 stood began curling, if Geomchi2 had not moved from there his feet would have been caught.
Krug wasn’t too worried…though he ought to have been. Before he could raise his hand at Geomchi2 again…Geomchi2 was no where to be see…
“Bafu (native language of one of the many languages in Versailles for f*ck)” The NPC said under his breath. He now understood why Geomchi2 wanted to fight here…he could take cover. If the earth user didn’t know where he was then his attacks were meaningless…
“Match over!” The witness said.
“What?” Krug asked in shock. As he turned to the witness and other practioners; The witness looked completely disappointed and the practioners wore a big smile. “But why? We just began…”
Krug turned around, there behind him, stood Geomchi2 with his eyes closed and sword pointed at where Krug’s nape was.
“…” Krug was at a loss of words. He didn’t even hear Geomchi2 creep up on him. His brain could no longer make sense of what just happened…everything happened so quickly.
Geomchi2 opened his eyes and smiled. His student’s were left with nothing but overwhelming appreciation for their master’s skills.
“How did…” Krug wanted to know more. He had never seen a man this strong. “PLEASE LET ME BECOME YOUR STUDENT!” Krug finally blurted out. He knew in his heart that this must have been a sign from the Gods above. It was a sign that he was unworthy of using the earthen element till he mastered his own weaknesses!
Geomchi2 smiled. He did not know whether Krug was a NPC or a player, but in eyes Krug was the most honest man. He immediately realized that he was weak and did not hold on to any pride or hesitate to ask if he could become a disciple. Those who were willing to learn from anyone were sure to grow stronger. “I will never say no to those who realize they can become much stronger.”
Krug had tears in his eyes...Geomchi2 was a great man in his eyes. He so easily accepted him.
The other practioners welcomed the new student into their group. As they began exiting the dueling grounds, the disciples quickly began telling Krug of their master’s greatness. Krug was most impressed to know that Geomchi2 and others had defeated dragons, golems and all sorts of monsters before…
“Master, where do we head now?” Krug asked shyly.
“We need a place to practice the way of the sword.” Geomchi2 said while staring into the crowds and crowds of people in front of him.
“We can use those open grounds?” Krug suggested.
“The dueling grounds?” Geomchi2 asked curiously. “Won’t there be objections?”
“I will take care of the paper work. It is as you said, those grounds are better used for festivals than dueling. No one ever uses those grounds anyways, so there won’t be any problems.” Krug said reassuringly.
“We will also need wooden swords and scarecrows…” Geomchi2 added.
“I can arrange the wooden swords…” Krug replied, however he was unsure how to phrase the next bit… “This thing you call scarecrow? Is it some monster?”
The practioners looked at each other and began laughing. However, Geomchi2 did not laugh. “It is a dummy…something to practice strikes on…and it looks like a human.” Geomchi2 tried to explain.
Krug looked a bit concerned, he had never seen a scarecrow before nor had he heard about anything like this…
“Basically we need something soft so that it can absorb the impact of our strikes when we practice.” Geomchi2 said seeing Krug’s confused expressions.
“I understand…but wouldn’t it be better to kill monsters then? They are also much like how you described.”
“We can’t step outside the city as yet.” Geomchi2 said. “We have only just arrived here.”
“Master what is your level?” Krug asked suspiciously.
“Level 0.”
“…” Krug was left in awe…he was just defeated by a level 0. Either his master was lying or it implied he was woefully weak…either way it spoke of Geomchi2’s greatness.
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Authors Note:
1. Thank you jomke86, for your suggestion.
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Connect to Royal Road – Elementarem Vim next Chapter?YesNo
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