The streets outside weren’t very busy for how large of a city Fluss is. The worn cobbled streets were well kept with solid stone sidewalks on both sides for pedestrians. Tall multistory buildings made of a similar stone and dark wood bracings lined the outsides of the walkways. While most of the buildings were residential on the second and third floors, every other one had some sort of player business. This street looked to be eatery themed.

I looked upwards as I took a deep breath to appreciate clean air once more. The sun was just passing overhead to my left. If I take a right away from the plaza and follow the walls after a left, I should reach the northern exit.

While walking, I tried to familiarize myself with the menu system. I tested the log out portion, but of course it didn’t function. Other than that, I tried to use thoughts to navigate. It seems like that will be handy in the long run rather than needing a free hand. These are things I’ll have to practice until it's effortless to do. This is what it takes to be a player.

With Pan- Vic keeping an eye out for Lord, I can be free to look elsewhere. They might even know each other from their world, since he was familiar with the name.

After walking about fifteen minutes, I arrived at the northern gate. The road was much larger and had much more traffic than the side roads I took to get here. I hadn’t run into anyone begging to talk with me yet, so that's a good thing. The gate was open with a side door for those not in a carriage or on a mount. Players freely walked in and out. I simply, yet masterfully, slipped in and followed the path.

Outside the gate were lush plains of green, interrupted only by roads and forests to the northwest as hills meandered on the horizon. The atmosphere was warm and welcoming. It made sense as to why this was the first place players arrive.

I don’t particularly have direction as to where I should go, but it’ll be a long journey back to Larkspur nonetheless. Lord said it’s dangerous beyond the town, so I’ll want to get a stronger right? Only places I’ve seen monsters are forests. I’ll try there.

I walked off the path and into the tree lines. The flora was mostly the southern land’s pine; it dominates any forests here. Some bushes and rock formations allowed for natural cover, but other than that it was sparse from what I could tell. I remained low, watching my footings to avoid audible twig snaps. Hunting without a bow would be difficult, but if I can get close enough it’s possible.

I would whisper to myself a spirit call, one I learned from elders in Larkspur for hunting, “Fae and friends of this land, show me the way so we may all feast.”

It was a divining spell to find creatures, the payment to the spirits would be a share of the flesh. Even though I’m not looking for food, it’ll still be useful for leveling up. I opened the menu I had been practicing through thought alone and moved the local map to the side of my vision. It was a bit distracting, but I can learn to get used to it. The map revealed sparse red dots with no other descriptors. I made my way to the nearest one.

Through the trees I spotted the source of it, a boar. Above its head revealed a name like players, ‘Lvl. 4 Boar’ with a red outline to it, rather than the blue that was with players. Boars were aggressive, so sneaking wasn’t necessary. I had elected to not have my katana, also my only weapon, out while hunting. I summoned it now.

It hadn’t noticed me as I was about thirty feet away. Boars charge and gore. So long as I use a tree as a barrier, I shouldn't get hit.

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I reached down and picked up a rock, stepping out from my stealth. I threw it at the animal and hit it dead on between its eyes. The health bar went down just a tiny bit before flashing.

Wild boars might run at the sight of a person, but if I pissed it off it would be a surefire confrontation.

It would blow out its nostrils and come roaring towards me. I waited next to the tree I was at previously until just the right moment. I sidestepped quickly as its tusk ripped through the flimsy pine bark, swiping downward as it crashed through. My blade didn't cleanly cut through its neck, but it didn't need to.

[Critical] text flashed from above its wound, its health bar rapidly depleting until completely empty.

I suppose the level difference doesn't matter, or maybe my stats are just great like Vic said. I opened the menu to check my status again.

Erin

Level 2 Spellsword

HP: 140

VIT: 6

DEX: 13

STR: 7

MAN: 7

ARC: 13

LUK: 6

[ ] Enable HUD notifications?

I'd gone up a level. My Dexterity rose by a single point. The system knows best, I suppose. I wasn't paying attention to it before, but I hovered a finger over the question. It displayed additional text.

‘Check this box to allow level up and stat notifications outside of the menu.’

I went ahead and tapped it.

Below that was a box labeled abilities, divided into active and passive. The only active ability was ‘Wind Slice 1’ and the only passive was ‘Interference 1 [Inactive].’

The active skill was self explanatory, but the passive was confusing. Hovering my finger over it didn't yield anything. I went ahead and closed the menus.

I looked down at the easily achieved kill and thought it to be a waste. I didn't have the proper tools to make use of the animal. Dressing monsters was one of the few things players would reach out to the people for, since it was completely talent based.

I decided to offer it to the spirits.

I asked aloud, knowing they'd hear, “Please take all of this bounty. I only ask you to guide me to a stronger foe.”

I was always taught to speak properly and only ask the spirits of favors.

The corpse of the hog would glow blue and vanish. On the minimap in my peripheral vision, a purple pointer was aimed north east. That must be the spirits fulfilling their end of the deal.

I followed the path through the forest, killing boars on my way. I leveled up a few times, increasing strength and dexterity. It was really strange how I could feel a noticeable difference in my body just from the stat boosts.

I neared the point the spirits led me to. The terrain had sloped upwards and at the peak of the hill there was a respite from the treeline. Looking down was a clearing surrounded by the hill like a crater. I would have assumed so if not for the lush grass coating the landscape.

In the center of it was a creature, not much larger nor differently shaped than a bear.

[Lvl. 24 Ursa Major] floated above it in purple.

It seemed to be resting. Its fur was nearly ebony black with shimmering gold markings around its throat.

Lvl. 6 Spell blade vs Lvl. 24 Bear boss