Thomas stood at the town’s gates, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips as he mentally configured his livestream setup. "NotGraphics" was a stroke of genius—he could already imagine the comments rolling in, debating whether this was some hyper-realistic game or some next-gen virtual reality madness. Hell, maybe some would think he was running an elaborate ARG. The mystery would be part of the appeal, and he was ready to milk it.
With a casual mental swipe, he hit “Go Live” in his skill interface. The HUD overlay popped up, showing the viewer count at a solid zero—for now. That’d change soon enough.
The town guards barely gave him a second glance as he approached, dragging a hefty boar behind him like it was just another Tuesday. The creature's massive tusks scraped the ground, leaving deep grooves in the dirt road, but no one seemed particularly alarmed. In fact, the guards parted ways with a grunt, assuming he was just another adventurer back from the wilds. One of them even nodded at him, seemingly impressed by his catch.
"Hey, uh," Thomas called out, voice echoing a little in his microphone—because, of course, he could hear the audio feed in his head. This was a full production, after all. "Where can I offload this beast?" He gestured to the boar, feeling pretty damn pleased with himself.
The guard he addressed blinked in confusion, then glanced at the other. "Adventurer's Guild. Down the main road, take a left. Can’t miss it."
"Right, thanks." Thomas gave them a two-finger salute and tugged the boar along, the weight barely registering thanks to his stats. He chuckled as the viewer count ticked up. Five people were watching now, and the chat started trickling in.
User001: This has gotta be some insane game engine. How is the boar so detailed?
LeetGuy42: Bro, is this like... real?
HackerLord69: Nah, he’s using deepfake tech, no way this is real.
Thomas kept walking, the smirk widening. "Welcome to the stream, folks," he said, voice calm but with an edge of amusement. "NotGraphics here. Just another day in paradise, hauling a boar to the guild. And yes, before you ask, no special effects here—just pure, high-quality visuals." He winked, knowing the viewers couldn’t resist trying to figure out the mystery. He could see the chat blowing up with speculation, and it only fueled his excitement.
As he neared the Adventurer's Guild, a few people on the street gave him nods of recognition. He wasn’t sure if it was for the boar or the fact that he was dressed like a goddamn noble, but either way, he basked in the attention. A small crowd had already gathered at the guild’s entrance, curious eyes flicking between him and the boar.
The guildmaster, a grizzled older man with scars that told stories, glanced up from his paperwork. “New around here, aren’t ya?”
“Something like that,” Thomas replied, pulling the boar up to the counter like it weighed nothing. “Heard you buy these things.”
The guildmaster raised an eyebrow but didn’t question it. “Aye. We do. Good catch.” He gestured for one of the workers to haul it away, though the guy struggled with the weight, prompting Thomas to help out without breaking a sweat.
Chat exploded.
K3wlGamer: Did you see that?? Is this guy jacked or is that part of the game mechanics??
Viewer327: No way he moved that like it was nothing.
The guildmaster slapped a pouch of coins onto the counter, counting out the reward. “Good haul. You’ll do well around here if this is your usual.”
Thomas pocketed the coins, his mind already spinning with ideas. Livestreaming his adventuring life? This was going to be gold.
"Well, chat," he said, "looks like we've got ourselves a nice payday. Stay tuned—there’s a lot more where this came from."
Thomas couldn’t help but grin as he mentally pulled up his Discord. Last night’s live session had been a hit—he’d showcased his new pad, complete with four bedrooms, a mysterious rune book, and that wicked rune art skill he’d unlocked. It was low-key, just a few dozen viewers at the time, but a couple of them had begged him to drop a link the next time he went live.
“Time to deliver,” he muttered, tossing the link into his Discord group. Within seconds, the pings started going off.
DiscordUser001: Yo, he’s live!
RuneMaster5000: I told you, this dude’s doing something wild. There’s no way this isn’t the next big thing.
As the viewer count on YouTube started climbing, Thomas turned his attention back to the guildmaster. The grizzled man had finished handing over the coins and was now eyeing Thomas with the kind of look someone gives when they see potential—or a sucker, either one.
“You know,” the guildmaster began, his gravelly voice cutting through the background noise of the bustling guild, “registered adventurers earn more coin, build a rep. You might want to think about signing up officially if you plan on sticking around.”
Thomas raised an eyebrow. "Official, huh? What's that get me, aside from a few extra coins?"
"Reputation," the guildmaster said simply, leaning on the counter. "Reputation gets you jobs, bigger bounties. And trust me, the money follows. But first, you’ll need to take a written and physical exam. Can’t just hand out licenses to anyone who can drag a boar around.”
Thomas blinked, trying not to laugh. "Wait, a written exam? I thought this was all swords, magic, and monster-killing. Didn’t know I needed to crack open a textbook for this gig."
The guildmaster shrugged. “Can’t have idiots running around with a sword, not knowing the basics. Gotta know what you’re hunting, how to track, what to avoid. Trust me, we’ve lost enough fools to ignorance.”
Thomas chuckled, his fingers tapping at the side of his thigh as he glanced at his livestream feed, where the chat was going nuts.
FrostBite: Bro, this guy has to pass a test to kill monsters? This world is cracked.
Stonkz420: Man’s about to fail the written part, I can feel it.
"Guess I’m gonna need to brush up on my monster lore,” Thomas said to the stream, the smirk never leaving his face. Then he turned back to the guildmaster. “Alright, I’m in. What do I need to do to sign up?”
The guildmaster nodded, a satisfied grunt escaping his lips. “Go talk to Ingrid over at the registration desk. She’ll get you sorted for the exam. Physical test’s just to see if you can swing a sword and take a hit—nothing too fancy.”
Thomas gave a mock salute and made his way across the guild hall. His mind raced with possibilities as he walked, not just about becoming an official adventurer but about the content goldmine this was turning into. His livestream audience was growing, and if he could broadcast his registration process—exams and all—it’d be the ultimate bait for new viewers.
He glanced at his HUD, watching the viewer count steadily climb. Discord notifications were popping off, and the chat was more active than ever. This whole adventuring gig? It might be his ticket to stardom—not just in this world, but back on Earth too.
“Alright, chat,” Thomas said with a sly grin, “let’s see if your boy can pass a test. Place your bets now.”
Thomas strolled up to the registration desk, his eyes catching on Ingrid, the receptionist. She was gorgeous—like, ridiculously so, with long chestnut hair pulled into a loose braid, soft blue eyes that sparkled with a mix of boredom and professional courtesy, and a figure that made him stand up a little straighter. He flashed her his best charming grin, and she raised an eyebrow.
“Ingrid, I presume?” Thomas asked, voice smooth, though he was aware his chat was probably blowing up with commentary.
Chat:
LeetGuy42: Bro, is this a dating sim now??
Stonkz420: Yoooo, shoot your shot, my dude!
RuneMaster5000: This NPC is about to ruin his life, watch.
“Yup. You’re here for the registration exam, right?” Ingrid said, clearly unimpressed by the smile.
“Right,” Thomas nodded. “Let’s get this show on the road.”
Ingrid handed him a stack of papers. “Written exam first. Identification of monsters, plants, and some basic math. You can use the desk over there.”
Thomas looked at the papers, then back at Ingrid. "Monsters and math, huh? You're not playing around."
She gave him a small, amused smile. “Not really.”
Thomas made his way to the desk, plopping down with a sigh as he glanced at the questions. The written language of this world still looked like some bizarre mix of runes and squiggles to his viewers, but thanks to system, he had no trouble reading it. He glanced at his stream feed, where chat was already confused.
FrostBite: What is this gibberish? Are those even letters?
LeetGuy42: Dude’s in an alien SAT test.
“Alright, chat,” Thomas muttered as he scanned the test. “I know it looks weird, but don’t worry—I’ll translate for you.”
He breezed through the math section, nailing it effortlessly. Thank God they didn’t throw him any crazy magical formulas; it was all basic arithmetic, stuff he could do in his sleep. But when he got to the identification part? That was where things got… dicey.
The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.
Question 1: Identify this plant—commonly used in potions to heal burns.
Thomas squinted at the sketch of a leafy thing. It looked like a cross between a fern and a cactus. He stared at it, then shrugged. "Uh… Aloe Vera, maybe?" he muttered to the stream, scribbling down a nonsense answer.
It got worse. The next image was a monster—a gnarly-looking creature with six legs and fangs the size of his arm. He had no idea what it was, so he just scribbled down “Giant Death Spider” and hoped for the best. His viewers were eating it up.
Chat:
K3wlGamer: Giant Death Spider? LMAO.
User001: That plant’s probably poison ivy, bro.
After what felt like an eternity, Thomas handed in his exam. Ingrid took the papers, glancing over them quickly. “Math’s perfect,” she said with a nod. “Identification… well, you got zero, but that’s not uncommon for someone new. You’ll pick it up over time.”
Thomas scratched the back of his head, laughing nervously. “Yeah, I’ll… work on that.”
"Don’t worry,” she said, her tone softening just a bit. “You’ll learn the monsters and plants eventually. Most adventurers start out not knowing much. The important part is surviving long enough to figure it out.”
“Solid advice.” He gave her a thumbs-up, relieved she didn’t seem too disappointed.
Ingrid gestured toward another door at the side of the room. “Alright, next up is the physical exam. Follow me.”
Thomas followed her, the chat now abuzz with excitement. The written test might’ve been a joke, but the physical exam? This was where he could really show off.
They entered a large training room, and Thomas took in the various weapons and targets lined up along the walls. Ingrid walked him through the setup.
“First, ranged combat. You can choose to use magic or a bow. After that, we’ll move on to close combat—you can choose between swords, pugilist training, or daggers.”
Thomas cracked his knuckles, feeling his confidence return. “Oh, I’m about to ace this.” He glanced at the chat. “Alright, folks, place your bets. Magic or bow? And for close combat… let’s see who’s betting on fists.”
Chat:
LeetGuy42: Magic! Go big or go home.
Stonkz420: Pugilist! I wanna see him punch something into orbit.
RuneMaster5000: Swords. Go classic, man.
Thomas grinned, rolling his shoulders to loosen up. This was where things were about to get interesting.
Thomas walked over to the weapon rack, eyeing the selection. Bows, swords, staves—all calling out to him, but the harsh truth hit him when he reached for a staff and realized something. He couldn’t use magic yet. His rune art skill was cool and all, but that wasn’t exactly the fireball-throwing, lightning-bolt-summoning kind of magic his viewers were probably dying to see. With a sigh, he grabbed a bow instead.
“Alright, chat,” Thomas said, holding the bow up. “I know, I know, no magic today. Gotta work with what I’ve got. But hey, archery’s cool too, right?”
Chat:
K3wlGamer: Bruh, no fireballs? Weak.
LeetGuy42: Better hit those targets, Hawkeye.
RuneMaster5000: The real magic is hitting anything at all.
Thomas snorted at that last comment and headed over to the designated range. Ingrid, now acting as the test overseer, watched him with a neutral expression, though there was a hint of curiosity in her eyes. “First phase,” she said, pointing to a series of stationary targets. “Mid-range, then long-range. Whenever you’re ready.”
He notched an arrow and pulled back the string, taking aim at the first mid-range target. His viewers were probably expecting him to fumble it, but Thomas had decent enough aim from his days of gaming. The arrow sailed through the air and struck the target dead center, making a satisfying thud.
Chat:
Stonkz420: Okay, okay, not bad!
FrostBite: Damn, nice shot.
K3wlGamer: Mid-range is too easy though. Let’s see the long-range shot.
Thomas allowed himself a small grin. “Mid-range? Easy peasy,” he muttered, pulling back for the long-range shot. The target was farther than he expected, though, and he had to take a moment to adjust his aim, calculating the arc in his head. He loosed the arrow, watching it fly... but it barely clipped the edge of the target.
He winced. “Alright, not perfect, but it hit!”
Ingrid made a note on her clipboard, her face still neutral. “Next phase: moving targets.”
Thomas exhaled, stepping up again. Moving targets were always tricky, but he had a plan. “Alright, chat,” he muttered, notching another arrow. “Here’s where things get fun.”
The first moving target, a mid-range one, zipped across the field. He tracked it with his bow, leading the shot as he anticipated its trajectory. His fingers released the string, and the arrow flew true, hitting the target with a solid thunk.
Chat:
LeetGuy42: Nice! Nailed it!
Stonkz420: That’s how you do it, man!
FrostBite: Okay, okay, we’re impressed.
Thomas grinned, his confidence building as he watched the target sway from the impact. “Mid-range, I’ve got your number.”
Next up, the long-range moving target. Thomas squinted, trying to gauge the timing, but it was moving faster than the last. He loosed his arrow a second too late, and it sailed harmlessly past the target, embedding itself into the ground somewhere off in the distance.
He lowered the bow with a groan. “And that’s a miss.”
Chat:
RuneMaster5000: RIP, long-range. We hardly knew ye.
K3wlGamer: Eh, it happens.
LeetGuy42: You tried, man. You tried.
Ingrid walked up, jotting down the results with an expression that was hard to read. “Not bad,” she said. “Most recruits don’t even land a single long-range shot their first time. You’ve got potential.”
Thomas grinned, feeling a little better about it. “Glad to hear it. But I’ll work on the long-range stuff.” He gave the chat a thumbs-up. “Alright, folks, bow training done. Let’s see what else they’ve got for me.”
Ingrid nodded. “Next up is close combat. You can choose a sword, pugilist training, or daggers.”
Thomas felt his pulse quicken. This was where things were about to get real. Time to prove he wasn’t just some guy with a bow but someone who could really handle himself up close.
“Alright, chat,” he said with a grin, “get ready for the main event.”
Thomas felt a twinge of excitement as he glanced at the weapon rack again. Ingrid’s explanation of the close-range combat test echoed in his head: first round, a one-on-one fight against a goblin, then two goblins in the second round. It sounded intense, but he couldn’t help but be curious about the final phase—a fight against a C-Rank adventurer.
“Don’t worry,” Ingrid had said, “the goblins are bound not to kill. They’re trained to injure, but we’ve got healing potions on hand just in case.”
"Right," Thomas muttered under his breath. "Good to know I won’t get my head ripped off."
Ingrid continued, “The real test is to see how you handle both mindless monsters and a skilled opponent. The goblins will give you a feel for raw, chaotic combat, and the C-Rank adventurer will show how you deal with a more tactical fight.”
Thomas scanned the available weapons, his fingers brushing over the hilt of a sword before shaking his head. Nah. That wasn’t his style. He reached for two sleek daggers instead, the familiar weight of them settling comfortably in his hands. He hadn’t practiced with swords much, but Kali martial arts? That was where he had experience. The fluid, fast-paced style of fighting with short blades was practically second nature to him.
“Alright, chat,” he muttered as he twirled the daggers, getting a feel for the balance. “I’m going dual daggers. I’ve trained in Kali, so this should be interesting.”
Chat:
LeetGuy42: Kali? Oh damn, this is gonna be sick.
RuneMaster5000: Daggers are the way to go, man. Fast and lethal.
K3wlGamer: Goblin time, baby! Let’s see some slicing and dicing.
Ingrid led him to the combat ring, which was enclosed by stone walls and wooden fences. A few other adventurers watched from the sidelines, some with curious expressions, others barely paying attention. It was just another day at the guild for them, but for Thomas, this was going to be one hell of a spectacle.
Ingrid stood at the edge of the ring, holding a small whistle. “When you’re ready, we’ll release the first goblin.”
Thomas took a deep breath, twirling the daggers in his hands. “Let’s do this.”
Ingrid blew the whistle, and a small gate opened at the far end of the ring. A goblin scurried out, snarling as it eyed Thomas. It wasn’t huge, but it was fast and armed with a crude dagger. Its beady eyes locked onto him, and with a high-pitched screech, it charged.
Thomas slid into a low stance, his Kali training kicking in. The goblin lunged, and Thomas sidestepped smoothly, one dagger slashing across the creature’s arm. It yelped, spinning around, but Thomas was faster. He pivoted, driving the second dagger into the goblin’s side, the strike shallow but enough to make it stumble back.
Chat:
Stonkz420: Yo, that was clean!
LeetGuy42: Thomas is putting in work!
RuneMaster5000: That goblin didn’t stand a chance.
The goblin snarled, recovering quickly and rushing at him again. This time, Thomas let it close the distance, baiting it in. As it swung wildly at his torso, he ducked, dodging the sloppy attack, and countered with two swift strikes to its chest. The goblin let out a final screech before collapsing, the daggers in Thomas’s hands slick with its blood.
Ingrid blew the whistle again. “Round one complete. Good work.”
Thomas wiped the sweat from his forehead, glancing at the chat feed for a second as he prepared for round two. His heart was pounding, but the adrenaline was keeping him sharp. He hadn’t fought a real goblin before, but the chaotic movement and unpredictability were exactly what he’d trained for.
“Alright, chat. That was one. Now let’s see how two goes.”
Ingrid didn’t waste any time. Two goblins were released into the ring, both snarling and armed with crude weapons. They flanked him immediately, their movements more coordinated than the single goblin from before.
Thomas adjusted his stance, keeping his eyes on both creatures. One rushed him from the left, the other from the right. He pivoted, dodging the first swipe, and slashed at the second goblin’s leg. It stumbled but didn’t go down. The first goblin lunged again, and Thomas barely had time to parry the attack, his dagger clanging against the creature’s weapon.
This was trickier. The goblins were faster, more aggressive. He had to be smarter, more tactical.
He focused on the first goblin, stepping in close and delivering a brutal slash across its arm, disarming it. Before it could react, he followed up with a quick stab to its chest. The second goblin lunged at his back, but Thomas spun around just in time, slashing upward with his dagger. The goblin’s momentum carried it right into the blade.
Chat:
FrostBite: Two at once? No problem!
K3wlGamer: Man’s a natural!
Stonkz420: Goblins didn’t even touch him.
Both goblins crumpled to the ground, groaning in defeat. Thomas stood over them, panting slightly but still energized.
Ingrid clapped, an impressed smile on her face. “Not bad. You’ve got real potential. But the final test is the real challenge.”
She gestured to the side of the ring, where a C-Rank adventurer was waiting. He looked young, maybe in his early twenties, with a short sword at his side and a confident smirk on his face. Unlike the goblins, this guy was no mindless monster.
“Ready for the final phase?” Ingrid asked.
Thomas glanced at the adventurer, his mind racing with strategy. This wasn’t going to be some wild, chaotic fight. This guy knew what he was doing, and Thomas would have to be smart to win.
“Let’s find out,” Thomas said, gripping his daggers tightly as he stepped into the ring. The real fight was about to begin.
As Thomas stepped into the training area, he was met with the sharp gaze of the seasoned C-Rank adventurer. The man was a picture of confidence, with a slash across his face that hinted at battles fought and won. His short sword rested casually over his shoulder, while a sheathed dagger peeked out from behind him, ready for action.
“Looks like they sent in a rookie,” the adventurer said, a smirk playing on his lips. “You sure you’re up for this?”
Thomas felt a rush of adrenaline surge through him. “I’m not just here for the experience,” he shot back, twirling his daggers in a flashy display. “Let’s see what you’ve got.”
The adventurer chuckled, adjusting his grip on the short sword. “Alright then. Let’s make this a good fight.”
With a quick nod from Ingrid, the air grew tense, a palpable energy filling the space as both combatants took their stances. Thomas's heart raced; this was it. The final test was about to begin, and he could feel the weight of the moment.
Then, without warning, the adventurer lunged forward, his movements fluid and precise. Thomas instinctively leaped to the side, narrowly avoiding the blade as it sliced through the air where he had just stood.
“Damn!” Thomas thought, adrenaline flooding his senses. “This guy’s no joke!”
He needed to think fast—there was no room for error against someone with real experience. As he prepared to counterattack, the air crackled with tension, and the thrill of the fight loomed ahead, leaving the outcome uncertain and the stakes higher than ever.
To be continued…