Chapter 2: The Gamer, The Goddess, And The Trickster(2)

Four weeks had passed in gaming time. Grimm had revolved his log-in time in training and working in the restaurant. All of his salaries are spent in purchasing wheat bread, drinks and paying the entrance fee of the Dojo.

For hours, he performed thousands to ten thousands of push-ups, crunching, chin-ups, and squatting sword and hand to hand combat maneuvers while enduring hunger and continuous HP decrease when his satiety dropped to zero, stopping only to replenish when his HP is less than 10%.

Hard but the sweetness of the rewards eradicates all the pain.

After 4 weeks of training, his STR had risen by 40, AGI by 41, VIT by 35, and DEX by 30.

His job at the restaurant had also proved to be fruitful aside from monetary gain. After working nonstop during his shifts, his Stats gained a considerable increase. DEX had risen by 15, LUK by 14, and for enduring the scourging heat while working on the kitchen, Fire Resistance increased by 5%.

In addition, new Stats and Skills were gained after performing specific actions several times.

Ding!

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New Stat Acquired

Tenacity (+10)

Aside from physical toughness, mental toughness also play a crucial role in battle. Tenacity enhances the defense and reduces the duration against abnormal statuses such Stun, Slow, Sleep, Silence, Fear, Bewitchment, Blind and Stop. In addition, whenever your health drops to a critical condition, Tenacity points will be supplemented to Attack, Defense, Critical Attack, and Critical Defense.

Tenacity does not rise through level-up. Points under tenacity will only increase after enduring several hardships through trainings and battles.

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Level Up: Unbreakable Body [Passive: Beginner Level 4 (0.00%)]

In your journey to achieve greater heights, you’ve gained a body that for countless times had endured hunger and fatigue to the point of death, an accomplishment only possible for warriors with unmatched dedication.

(+25%) Increase in Defense

(+20%) Resistance to Hunger

(+12%) Reduction in Stamina Usage

8% Chance of Immunity to Physical Damage for 10 seconds when HP drops below 10%

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Sword Mastery [Passive: Beginner Level 2 (6.12%)]

Sword Attack Damage (+25%)

Sword Attack Speed (+6%)

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Hand-to-Hand Combat Mastery [Passive: Beginner Level 3 (11.11%)]

Bare-Hand Attack Damage (+30%)

Bare-Hand Attack Speed (+9%)

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Kicking Mastery [Passive: Beginner Level 3 (9.90%)]

Kick Attack Damage (+30%)

Kick Attack Speed (+9%)

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“I should start to get moving now,” Grimm said when he reached the last day of the fourth week of his routine. The last 4 weeks of nonstop labor and training had paid well but it’s now at the point where the trainings could no longer push his body to the limit and thus, it had stopped improving his stats.

The larger world outside the city walls is also waiting.

Hence, he said his goodbyes to the owner and chefs whom he’d worked with for the past month and due to the maxed intimacy that he shares with them, they gave him 1 gold and 20 pieces of meat as a parting gift.

And that’s not all.

He also receives a delightful reward from Chef Alfonso after impressing him with his cooking skills when he once tasked him to cook a Fish Dish.

Ding!

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You acquired [Chef’s Fillet Knife]

A flexible boning knife that is used to filet and prepare fish. The 15cm blade is able to move easily along the backbone and under the skin of fish.

Type: Dagger

Attack: 15

Durability: 25/25

Restriction: None

Equipped: (+25%) Additional Damage against Aquatic Creatures

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New Skill Acquired

Cooking [Passive: Beginner Level 1 (0.00%)]

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“Avatar Window.”

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In-Game Name: Grimm

Race: Human

Alignment: -

Level: 1

Profession: -

Title: -

Fame: 10

Infamy: 0

Health: 520

Mana: 60

Strength: 57

Dexterity: 64

Intelligence: 12

Agility: 59

Vitality: 52

Luck: 28

Satiety: 100%

Stamina: 100%

Attack: 83

Defense: 85

Magic Attack: 29

Magic Defense: 17

Critical Attack: 11

Critical Defense: 19

Attack Speed Status: Normal

Movement Speed Status: Normal

Hit: 69

Dodge: 64

Critical Attack Rate: 2%

Tenacity: 21

Magic Resistance: Fire Resistance (5%)

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Headgear: -

Necklace: -

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Shoulder: -

Armor: Cotton Shirt [Defense +5]]

Left Hand: -

Right Hand: Chef’s Filet Knife [Attack +15] [+25% Additional Damage against Aquatic Creatures]

Gloves: -

Belt: -

Leggings: Leather Pants [Defense +5]

Footgear: -

Accessories: -

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Grimm smiled at the numbers that unveiled in front of him. Despite being stuck at Level 1, he has the Stats of someone who is in Level 15 or even higher.

And thanks to Alfonso’s gift, he acquired a more reliable weapon without spending a single copper.

“Excuse me.” Someone suddenly tapped his right shoulder while he was preoccupied in checking his Menus.

He turned around and saw a cute Elf staring at him with interest. “Are you a new player?”

“Yes, I am.”

“Are you doing any quest?”

When Grimm shook his head, a delighted smile rose on his face. However, as soon as Grimm made a displeased expression, he immediately apologize and begun explaining.

The Elf’s introduced himself as Basche and his story goes as this: He and his friends were all beginners in Eternal Empire and while they were hunting outside Latona, they came across a Wandering Warrior.

The warrior’s name was Bart and he is a high level NPC swordsman who bears great interest towards the unique abilities of the Outlanders.

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Note: Outlander is the term used by the locals of Avelot when they address the Eternal Empire players

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So when he discovered that Basche and his party are Outlanders, he offered them an opportunity to inherit his way of the sword.

“Bart is strong. He demonstrated several outstanding skills and sword techniques. So of course, we accepted,” said Basche. “However, once we did, it immediately triggered an inconvenient quest.”

“What quest?”

“Bart will only start the training once he acquired 50 unaffiliated students.”

“Unaffiliated? You mean players without professions?”

Basche nodded. “There were only 7 of us. We are short of 43 people for the event to open.”

“And you’re proposing that I should join this team you are assembling?”

Basche nodded again. “We already recruited 40 people and Trevol, the one who acts as our team leader convinced 2 of his cousins to start playing Eternal Empire and they will be joining us shortly. So officially, we are only a man short. If you join us, the required 50 students will be completed and the Wandering Warrior Bart will finally grant us his guidance.”

Grimm rubbed his chin. ‘So that’s their story.’ They are aiming for the teachings of an elite swordsman. Surely it is a golden opportunity especially for beginners like them to acquire such high class skills at such early stage.

However, Grimm is troubled. With 50 players involved where most of them are strangers to each other. Complications might highly spread like a wildfire. And for him who personally knows no one in the group, it could get dangerous.

Still, an opportunity is knocking on his door and he is not the type to turn down such chance just because it’s risky.

“Alright, I’m in.”

Basche rejoiced and shook his hand happily. “Thank, thank you so much! I promise. You won’t regret this!”

He then sent Grimm the Quest invite after giving him his IGN.

Ting!

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QUEST ALERT: GRAND KNIGHT APPRENTICESHIP

Bart, a wandering warrior is looking for a disciple. Prove your worth and inherit their legacy.

Difficulty: E

Quest Requirement: Gather 50 disciples that wish to receive Bart’s teachings.

Progress: [49/50]

Do you wish to join?

[YES] [NO]

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When Grimm pressed ‘Yes,’ another pop-up message appeared.

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QUEST UPDATE: GRAND KNIGHT APPRENTICESHIP

Bart, a wandering warrior is looking for a disciple. Prove your worth and inherit their legacy.

Difficulty: E

The 50 disciples are finally gathered. Meet Bart and receive his teachings.

Reward: ???

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“Alright!” Basche cheerfully exclaimed, leading Grimm to where they will meet Bart. “Brother Grimm, let’s go!”

◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

Trevol and the cluster of the gathered 47 other beginners were encamped near the gate when Grimm and Basche arrived.

“Basche, you’re back.” Trevol greeted. “We received the update, is he the guy?”

He shifted his gaze to Grimm and gives a satisfied smile.

“Aye,” Basche said.

“Hello there, I’m Trevol. And you are?”

“Grimm.” Grimm replied as they shook hands.

“Our destination is quite far. Sir Bart is waiting for us outside the Forest of Illusion and it takes 2 hours walk to get there. I know that you guys just got here but if you two are ready then we will depart right away.”

“That won’t be a problem,” said Grimm.

“We’ve waited long enough for this,” Basche said. “I think I’ll go crazy if I wait for another second.”

Trevol nodded and walked towards the rest and announced. “Everyone! Prepare your things! We’ll leave in 10 minutes.”

The newbies applauded on the announcement and prepared their food, potions, weapons, and everything that they have in hand that are useable for the journey.

“Alright,” Trevol said as the allotted time expired. “Let’s depart!”

Trevol and the assembly of beginners began to march southward. Grimm blended in and walked on.

◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

The President of Jenova Corp., Steven Armstrong’s eyes widened when the Head of Game Development, Cedric Lowe entered his office. He immediately places everything that he is doing on-hold as the young man approaches his table.

“Is it time already?” Armstrong asked with unmasked excitement.

Cedric nodded. “Yes sir. The Trickster is active once again.”

“Were you able to track him?”

Cedric nodded again, causing a very delighted smile on President Armstrong’s lips. “He’s in the North. We haven’t specified the exact location yet but we are certain that he’s moving somewhere around the Northern Continent.”

Armstrong bit his lower lip as it tremble. Every three months, equivalent to a year in the game, a Phenomenon Program known as the Trickster becomes active and causes mishaps towards the players.

His aim is unknown but he already inflicted heavy damages to their subscribers causing several players to quit Eternal Empire.

In normal circumstances, Armstrong would have already taken action towards this inconvenient since no matter how small, these kind of incidents are bad for business.

However, the Trickster is an NPC directly activated and controlled by the mother program of Eternal Empire, the Gaia Memory.

Created by the Original Game Developers, the Gaia Memory is in no exaggeration the Goddess that governs everything in the continent of Avelot. From the creation of the game’s world to the dawn of its history and its people, all were under Her handiworks. Even the continuous game expansions were no exception. They are self-sufficiently made and initiated by Her without any external intervention, making his current Game Development department no difference from mere maintenance men.

So if Gaia creates an action that is outside of her usual world governance in the world of Eternal Empire, it is definitely something that is worthy of all of Armstrong’s attention because it will definitely lead into something that will influence not just Eternal Empire but Jenova Corp. as a whole.

‘What is your aim, Gaia?’ Armstrong asked inwardly. ‘If only your Creator still lives, I won’t be having these questions.’

Unfortunately, the Original Head of Game Development and Gaia’s creator, Professor Edgar Profetana III passed away a few months after the completion of the game, bringing all the data related to the origin and secrets of Eternal Empire with him.

He tried in vain squeezing something out of his former team but they knew nothing and admitted that they were just blindly following the plans readily outlined to them by the Professor.

In the end, he is left with no other option but to crack the secrets of the game with his own power and to fulfill that, aside from his own effort, he also offered a very enticing prize to the first player that can conquer the game. Knowing that to achieve such height, one must first uncover all the concealments buried within Avelot.

But that’s just a secondary measure. He can’t completely rely on the players that are oblivious to his goal. However, he’s just as emptyhanded as they are. He wanted to grasp the secrets of his company’s most valuable product but his only clue is this slippery and troublesome Trickster that Gaia released from time to time.

“Cease all the activities of the Game Development Department,” Armstrong ordered, “and focus all your attentions in pinpointing the Trickster’s exact location. We must find him before he vanishes again.”

“Understood, sir.” Cedric complied.

◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

Bart was sitting on top of a huge rock near the entrance of the Forest of Illusion when Grimm and the beginners arrived. He is very tall with a lean but well-built frame. He wears a worn out metallic crown, necklace, boots, wristbands, and a belt that all sport red jewels along with bands on his upper arms and neck. The rest of his attire consists of white pants and a red sash and a huge broadsword that hangs on his back.

“Outlanders, you’ve finally returned.”

“That’s Master Bart?” “As expected, he looks strong.”

Grimm heard some of the beginners murmured on each other, voicing out their thoughts.

Trevol, Basche, and the 5 more others that were part of the original group that triggered the quest approached Bart.

“Master Bart,” Trevol greeted. “We’ve fulfilled our mission.”

“Well done, well done.” Bart said. He descended from the heights of the rock and gave Trevol a tap on the shoulder. “Now we can begin.”

Bart pulled out 50 tooth pendant necklaces and handed it over to Trevol. “Here, have everyone have one of these.”

Trevol nodded and took one necklace before passing them to the rest.

Ding!

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You acquired [Wolf Fang Necklace]

A necklace with a Dire Wolf’s fang pendant that is crafted and blessed by the Warrior Bart.

Type: Necklace

Durability: 20/20

Restriction: None

Equipped: (+5) Agility, (+5%) Health Recovery Rate, (+10%) Additional Damage against Feline Creatures

Active [Wild Aura]

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Skill Alert: Wild Aura

Degenerate the movements and attack capabilities of wild animals that stray too near by 20%.

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Grimm almost chocked on the number of stats and blessing that the shabby looking necklace provides. Now he understands why Trevol and his group had endured a lot of troubles just to complete the quest. Even with the necklace alone, it was already worth all the troubles and they haven’t even started yet.

“Arm those gifts and follow me,” Bart ordered.

After everyone complied, Bart led them towards the entrance of the Forest of Illusion.

“Master! Are we gonna enter the forest?” Trevol asked.

“Of course. Why do you think I brought you all here?”

“But this is the Forest of Illusion.”

Getting curious on what causes the commotion between Trevol and Bart, Grimm asked Basche who is standing in front of him. “What are Trevol and Bart arguing about?”

“You didn’t know?”

Grimm shook his head. “I haven’t explored that much yet.”

Instead of answering, Basche picked a rock and said, “Watch this.”

He throws the rock towards the forest until it disappeared from sight. Grimm was confused on Basche’s action but was later enlightened when the same rock that he threw flew back towards them. Basche caught the rock and explained. “The Forest of Illusion is protected by a powerful barrier that prevents everyone and everything from getting in. That’s how the forest acquired its name. Everything that goes in is spitted out.”

“Ha, ha, ha,” Bart laughed at Trevol’s concern. “Worry not about that.”

Upon those words, Bart unsheathed his sword and raised it above his head. The sword then emitted a blue light before he swings it towards the forest.

The impact between Bart’s sword and the forest’s barrier created a blinding light that stole everyone’s sight for a few seconds.

When everything cleared, the once heavily vegetated forest revealed a beaten path that leads into a clearing in the middle of the forest.