Chapter 6

With a newfound passion for the game, Gareth set off to find a tailor shop. Asking for directions from the same bartender downstairs, seemed like a good first step. Upon being informed that the tailors was only three shops left of the inn, walking over, Gareth could already see the impact the announcement of the competition had, many times more players crowded the streets, most of them beginners.

This was despite how realistic and advanced the game was, the price of the Chrysalis prevented many people from wanting to play the game, especially since the game was not advertised well and was missing several of the usual features of MMORPG games, such as guilds, or the trade of currency. As for well known internet personalities, their usual activities would make them more money then reporting on a game that didn’t allow video streaming, as such at most they might have entered the game once.

Ignoring the masses of players hurrying towards the rabbit fields, Gareth pushed his way past several clumps of players and entered the Tailor shop. Several other players were browsing the goods, or waiting in line by the shopkeeper, Gareth joined this line. Several minutes later he was issued a quest from the shopkeeper.

*New Quest(Collection) - Collect 10 Rabbit furs of Basic Quality or greater

Reward - 50 copper, 25 xp

Hurrying toward the fields, Gareth ran past several dozen players towards the edge of the forest. Beginning to hunt level 3 rabbits, always trying to do the smallest amount of damage to the fur as possible, a drawback of hunting rabbits with a sword. Adopting his previous approach of batting the rabbits, with the change that instead of cutting them he tries to stab them in midair. This method takes more practice but with the help of his newly improved agility Gareth soon masters it, a fact shown in one level up and in skill points gained.

Gaining over 40 skill points in Garner, mostly due to the small knife making it much easier to cut along the line, and quite a few in Beginner Sword Holding. Gareth decided to place a point in strength, constitution, defense, and two into agility. More than that he also gained 8 poor quality pelts and only 2 basic quality, and so continued hunting rabbits, after a short break to restore his stamina.

With a 2 new levels under his belt, and the quest completed, Gareth returned to town, first repairing his sword for 10 coppers, then turning in the quest and receiving the rewards, of money and experience. With an inventory full of poor rabbit fur, he sold them to the tailor for 36 copper, at one copper a piece. More than halfway to level 4, Gareth accepted the quest again as well as buying a pair of leather pants for 60 coppers that increased agility by one, replacing the common grey pants he was wearing with a shade of dark green, and bringing his wealth down to 6 coppers. Before spending the rest of it on bread after realizing he was down to his last piece.

Confident after gaining two levels, Gareth ventured into the forest for the first time, with Basic Cartography activated. Manipulating it to float behind his head, he advanced slowly in between the trees and bushes. Senses on high alert, Gareth was unable to completely dodge the charging rabbit, instinctively blocking with his arm, receiving a long cut.

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*3 Damage received

Watching the rabbit as it prepared to turn and attack Gareth brought up his sword to attack. The rabbit hopped closer, also preparing not jumping in rashly like the others, obviously a higher level. Finally it leaped as Gareth’s eyes blinked, Nearly biting through his throat, before a wild defensive swing struck the rabbit

*22 damage dealt

They went back to watching eachother, feet and paws crunching against the leafs that covered the ground. The rabbit was hopping noticeably slower, Gareth slowly approached, before leaping forward and stabbing his sword through the rabbit. However the space was empty, the rabbit having dodged to the side, and was now pouncing on the undefended back of Gareth’s neck.

*5 damage received

Gareth had now lost nearly a third of his health. Deciding to to wait anymore, and pissed off that a rabbit had managed to bring him to this state, he charged at the rabbit, anticipating it would dodge, and then when it did he stabbed it midair, bringing its health down to zero, ending the fight.

*23 xp gained

The damage to he fur was greater than to the other rabbits he was able to skin successfully, but the higher level of the rabbit gave it's fur higher quality, and so Gareth was able to make an basic quality pelt out of the rabbit. Having exited the forest to skin the rabbit and wait for his health restore, Gareth discovered that the map of where he had been extended only ten meters or so into the forest. Aware of the dangers of the forest now Gareth resolved to be more careful, after all, a death here would slow down his progress more than taking risks.

Once he was well rested, Gareth continued hunting in the forest, taking a break after running into a rabbit, slowly getting better at hunting them, and advancing further into the forest with each attempt. Eventually leveling up and getting 7 more basic quality pelts. Placing points into agility and perception, Gareth quickly killed several level 3 rabbits, and hurried to complete the quest.

Receiving 60 copper and another 25 xp, pending his money on more bread and a new shirt that raised his defense by one. Gareth returned to the forest, confident in exploring further.

He already had a small amount of the forest in front of the gate mapped out, so he continued further into the forest from that point, updating his map as soon as his mana regenerated. After several battles with rabbits, Gareth noticed that they all seemed to come from one direction, previously he had entered the forest from different places, and had been to tense to notice. Following the trail of the rabbits for several minutes, with the rate of encountering rabbits increasing, Gareth saw a small clearing ahead.

*New Skill - Following - You can follow things

*New Skill - Quiet - You are not as loud

Pushing away the screens, Gareth focused on the clearing ahead, seeing several smaller rabbits frolicking around, while larger ones watched, and occasionally left the clearing, to either enter the forest, or a small hole beneath a tree. Checking his map, Gareth saw that his magic had written Small Animal burrow above the area. Confident in his new abilities, and anxious to test them out against multiple opponents, Gareth turned off Basic Cartography, restored his stamina, and threw a rock to lure some of the aggressive rabbits to him.

The rock hit one of the larger rabbits, startling it, it squeaked loudly, and hopped madly towards the trees Gareth hid behind, bringing another of his buddies along. Activating the silent skill, gareth held his breath then swung his sword straight into the leading rabbits skull, killing it immediately. The second rabbit attacked without hesitation,chewing on Gareth’s outstretched arm, causing him to drop his sword. Hesitating slightly Gareth drew his knife, from his inventory and stabbed the rabbit repeatedly.

*8 damage received

Gasping for breath after the battle, though short, it was more stressful than others, Gareth began to pick up the bodies to skin, when he noticed that they had dropped loot like normal mobs. Inspecting the two drops, one was A Lucky Rabbit’s Foot the other was a Good quality piece of rabbit fur, usually only acquired with a leveled up Garner skill.

Seeing that the rabbit’s foot was a ingredient, Gareth continued to rest and restore his stamina. Checking the clearing every so often, revealed that the number of rabbits hadn’t decreased despite the two he killed, concluding that he would have to kill all of them in short order, Gareth returned to farming the rabbits to complete the collection quest and improve his level so he could exterminate the burrow.