*One months ago...*
"I should have known that a behemoth is extremely big animals but this...this is..."
Vessalius dodges the incoming attack from the behemoths attack. It made a crack from where he was earlier as he look at the destructive power of the behemoth.
"THIS IS A GIANT!!!" he yelled while dodging the attacks from the gigantic behemoth.
In order for us to know what is currently happening right now, we have to go back back 1 month earlier prior to battling the gigantic behemoth which was a low level boss monster.
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*One month earlier*
One day after meeting Elder Troban in the library and got a historical quest from him, it is now that day. The start of Instructor Lance's personal training. Since he needed to get his avatar stronger to find the remaining books about the cursed swordsman. He arrived a couple of minutes late in the game because he jogged for a bit in the real world.
"Good you finally arrived my boy." said the instructor greeting him in the entrance.
"Good morning Instructor. I'm sorry I was a bit late instructor. I went to prepare some things for the training today." replied Vessalius after the greeting.
"Well let's not waste any more time my boy, let's start already so that we could discuss the pattern of your training for the whole month." said the instructor.
"Yes." he replied.
After the greetings and swords, Lance guided Vessalius inside the training hall. He looked around and judged that it was the same hall he trained for the past month but this time with added things on it. Bows and arrows in some corners of the hall ready to be fired. Straw dolls holding makeshift swords. There were other things he saw in the hall. He was amazed that the instructor could get this ready today since they just parted ways early yesterday.
Vessalius heard the booming sound of the instructor as he called him in one corner of the room. Lance was holding some kind of long rope when he arrived. He pulled the rope and one bow in some corner of the hall fired 3 arrows at once targeting Vessalius. His passive ability, foresight, was activated telling him that a sudden attack was heading his way. He rolled to the right, dodged the incoming arrows. Vessalius got furious saying 'what was that for?'. He didn't know that the training was already underway when he went inside with him.
"My boy, didn't I said earlier that we will be starting already? questioned the instructor while looking at Vessalius' furious face.
"Yeah but I thought we would be starting later when you discuss the training procedures." he replied angrily.
"My boy, when you go out of the walls, you are now alone and vulnerable. You gotta always tell yourself that you are prone to sudden surprise attacks. No one will tell you this. Only your instinct and gut feelings can. So advice number 1...." said the instructor as he wrote a short sentence on the board with a chalk. "Always be on high alert."
Vessalius was hit on the head. Clearly, he was making him realize the things that could go bad the hard way and not the easy way. His head nod after thinking things through about the advice. Lance saw that he got the point of that sudden attack when he nodded his head.
"Good. Now let's move on. We will be doing your training based on your style. Since I saw you trained here in the hall myself, I have deduced that you have a personal type and that you are an experienced warrior. I can clearly see what you are lad. You held the wooden sword with experience. There is no amateur moves when you hit the dolls over and over. I also saw you attempt a simultaneous move with one attack in the dolls. Clearly no evident feat. Tell me my boy, where did you learn those moves?" the instructor asked.
"I was trained from the basics by my father when I was young instructor then he got busy so I continued my training and self taught myself."
"I see." Lance nodded with affirmation.
"Your style is suited for 1 to many types my boy. You have strength and dexterity on your hands, quick reflexes on your body and a strong instinct like clairvoyance. It reminds me of the fighting style in the far east ends of the ocean."
The instructor recounts an old story where he met a person with that fighting style when he was serving the army. The stranger said that his style was a cultural style. Lance didn't know what a cultural style is so the stranger told him that he came from the ends of the sea. There was another continent in the far east. This was a huge shock for Lance since he didn't know. There in his homeland, he said that warriors were trained in different styles. One particular style he mentioned was called Shiranui-ryu in his homeland term. It was a fighting style of 1 vs 1 or many. He also mentioned Ittoryu or one sword style, Battou-jutsu or quick draw slashes. He mentioned a bunch of styles to Lance and was immersed into it. The two became close friends but time was short when it was time for him to go back to his homeland. As a courtesy of their short friendship, he wrote his own sword style and techniques in the book and gave it to Lance as a gift.
"That book which I mentioned is here with me boy." said the instructor as he brought the said book in his bag. It was a thick book with a title of Shiranui-ryu on the front cover.
"I never got to translate this thick book since reading is not my strong point so I have forgotten it in the passage of time. I'm sure this would be in good hands with you rather than with me picking up dust in my table." Lance said while handing the thick book.
Vessalius accepted the book and sized up the thick book. He like books like this in the real world. Thick books always held great information, deep words and the point the author wanted to let the reader feel but this is different. From what he could observed, this is a different kind of book. Vessalius remembers that this could be what the manual says a 'skill book'.
"I wonder if this is those skill book the manual says. But I heard there was suppose to be a ding like sound if you hold a skill book. I guess this is a very different book like I thought." Vessalius thought. His train of thought was broken when the instructor talked again.
"My boy, for your first week, we will be doing basic exercise and do what the book says so I want you to read that book after our sessions." the instructor said.
"Yes sir." Vessalius said with enthusiasm.
"That's the spirit my boy. Well come with me my boy, let's go to the training course." said Lance
"Training course sir?" asked Vessalius.
"Yes my boy. What are you deaf now? Just follow me."
"Yes sir."
The instructor lead Vessalius to the training course and he followed suit after. After a couple of minutes, they finally arrived in a big room with lots of contraptions just like the training hall. He loitered around and could see that it's not just a big room. It was a very big big big room. This could be the biggest training course he ever saw. It's like a military training course.
"Well my boy? what are you waiting for? go and do the course. I want to see your worth. I want you to reach the end as fast as you can." Lance said with a big grin.
"Err instructor, isn't this umm a bit too long?" asked Vessalius
"Nonsense my boy, it's just 2 big rooms combined training course." replied Lance
"T-two big rooms!?" Vessalius gulped.
"Go on chop chop my boy, we haven't got all day here."
Vessalius nodded and shakily went to the start of the training course. He went to the ladder and go up in the starting line. He saw the whole training course in the starting line. A fire field, a field with spears that could protude on the ground, arrows that could shoot you everywhere...There was a bunch of scary things that could snuff the life out of him.
"Boy, on my mark..." said the instructor
'Wait I'm not ready yet...' Vessalius thought as he quickly took posture to start the course...
"GO!!!!" yelled Lance to announce the start of the training course.
As soon as the instructor yelled the start, Vessalius dashed forth towards the training course. The first course was a river with logs. Vessalius continued dashing as he entered the first training course. He continued, jumping from log to log. He was almost out of the first course when he saw his first impediment was a huge geyser shooting up from the water itself. He didn't realize that it was the Rosenheim's elite magicians that was making the geyser. He hasn't got the time to think of a plan on how to go forward so he just dashed forth, unsheathed his sword, jump towards the geyser and reflexively made a circular motion on the water geyser by using his sword. He entered in the water hole he made in a split second but he didn't got unscathed. Though he made the hole to enter, he got wet and almost slipped on the log where he landed. He thought he escaped the trap but he was wrong. A bunch of water balls was fired as soon as he landed. Vessalius used his sword to slice apart the water balls. He was put into a defensive stance and was unable to move further because of it. Wrong move on his foot and he would slip, falling on the water. If he was hit even one water ball, he would lose concentration and will be barraged instead thus falling on the water. Either of the two would be his demise or lose precious time just defending himself. He made his choice. Gamble and move forward, slowly, parrying the water balls. He saw his final leg on the first course. He jumped on the last log while defending himself and dashed forth towards the next course.
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"My boy, you took up much time in the first course. We are just starting. If you will be moving like a snail, you will never be able to finish the course." yelled Lance
Vessalius understood the words yelled by Lance. Indeed he would be moving slowly if he got impeded again. He entered the second course. this time it was a protruding field. Spears would hit him if he dodged slowly. He assessed that he needed quick reflexes and speed for this second course.
As soon as he entered the second course, he was already impeded by traps around it. Protruding spikes are coming out everywhere of the room. The second course has a feel of a labyrinth type where traps could be different depending on the path a person takes. There he saw 2 paths, left and right respectively. He turned to the right immediately. The reason why is because the exit is always towards the right. That is of course according to his book of stories. He stopped as soon he saw the traps. He's first impediment on the second course, slicers on the walls and on the floor. They were big enough to close all gaps from both sides and on the floor. One misstep and you will be a monster from the Philippine legend called 'manananggal'. Vessalius stops and observes the slicers turning on and off. He counted when will it turn on and off respectively. He counted 5 seconds from the on and off. He now knows the interval but the problem is, no space could be maneuvered. He could crawl into the corner but the problem is there might be another trap after the slicers. He's thought was suddenly broken when he heard the instructor yelled at him...
"Get a move on kid or else, you'll be squashed by a boulder there." the instructor yelled.
Squashed? What did he mean squashed? was Vessalius thought. He heard a rumbling sound from the left side of the path. He turned around to look but he couldn't see in the far corners of the opposite path. He squinted his eyes and saw a pebble in the shadows getting bigger and bigger. He finally realized what the instructor meant on the word squashed. Because in his view is a huge boulder that's going to squash him flat. He turns around to see if he could quickly pass through the slicers. He judged that there are still 20 or less seconds till he is in contact with the boulder...
'Darn it, is this what the phrase meant? A lion at the front and a tiger at the back?' Vessalius thought.
10 seconds till impact...
'No choice it's do or die.'
"UUUUUUWWWWWAAAAAAGGGGHHHH!!!!" Vessalius yelled and started running towards the huge boulder
5 seconds till impact...
Vessalius without a running start has a disadvantage. Either his whole body be sliced piece by piece or squashed flat. It will all depend on his quick mind, reflexes and luck.
He jumped...
3 seconds...2...1...
As soon as he went into contact, he quickly drawn his sword, jumped as high as he could with the help of his short running start. He dug deep into the boulder and made himself attached into the boulder itself. As soon as it had hit the slicers, it made a crashing sound like 'gurururu' on the spikes. It slowed the slicers but it was still moving. He will still be killed by it's rotation as soon as he made impact on it.
3 seconds upon impact on the slicers...2...1...
"UUUUUUUUUUUUUOOOOOOOOOOOOOOGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHH!!!!" Vessalius yelled.
He gripped his sword hard and rooted his feet on the moving baulder itself and the unimaginable happened. He used the butt of his sword as a foot propeller to push him forward. And he did it smashingly...is what he thought. Protruding spears came out on the walls. He was about to pierced...until a booming voice stops it from piercing him...
"HALT!!! That is far enough my boy. I will be stopping you for continuing the training course."
Vessalius was still in his position. He sweated and could almost feel the sharp, pointy, metal spearheads in his body. When Lance said that the training course is to be stopped, the spears retracted back. He lied flat on the floor with an erratic breathing. It was very obvious to him that he won't be able to finish this training course.
"Well my boy, how do you like my training course? I call it 'The Training Course of Doom'?" Lance asked.
"Very...doomish...is...all...I...can say..." replied Vessalius with an erratic voice.
"The swordsman must always be like water, fluid flexibility, reading the opponents movements, perception and dexterous. As long as you remember those words, you'll be known in the continent one day for your swordsmanship." Lance said then he continued with a word of praise. "Though I gotta say, you finish the first course which is the water course. Though you have stayed their due to mishaps, you still able to passed it. Each course consist of what a swordsman needs in his perks."
'I see. Though I only passed the first course, each courses hold different meanings and traits.' Vessalius thought
"From your expression, it seems you have finally grasped what I meant. That's good my boy. This day will only be a trial. Tomorrow will be your real training. I hope you have the courage, guts, perseverance and willpower to finish this training course because I will be training you so hard you will wish you were never born." Lance said
Vessalius stands up and answers with confidence on his face "Yes, instructor."
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It's been 8 hours since he did the training course. Lance told him to rest for the day so that he could be ready for the training tomorrow but he disobeyed his advice and started doing swings after reading the book he gave him. The sword which was given by the instructor himself was on repair and that it would be given to him tomorrow. His fighting spirit stat is gradually increasing because of his determination. Though the training course made him realise that he was still a level 1 player, a noobie gamer. Though he has been hitting the forums, reading articles about gaming, he still considers himself a noobie. Like a little baby that was just born. Due to what he did on the training course, he gained an increase of 1 in strength, agility, vitality and wisdom respectively. Though it was a mediocre stat increase, this will help him in the long run. He also earned the title of trainee since he is being instructed by Lance. The trainee title only gave him an increase of 100 in health but it's enough since he was still starting. He stopped doing his swings and instead took a peak on his status.
"Open Status Window." Vessalius said
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Name: Vessalius
Alignment: Neutral
Level: 1
Class: None
Title: Trainee
Fame: 0
Health: 1090/1090
Mana: 200/ 200
Stamina: 500/ 500
Strength: 62
Agility: 61
Vitality: 61
Wisdom: 15
Intellect: 15
Fighting Spirit: 27
Leadership: 0
Luck: 0
Attack: 8- 18
Defense: 5
Magical Resistance
Fire: 0%
Water: 0%
Wind: 0%
Earth: 0%
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For the second time, he saw his status window. It made him jump. His hard earned stats came into full view. Though mediocre for now, his future will be set in stone if he continued his plans based on his mind map.
He put his wooden sword on his side for now and started going home. Where is home you ask? It's the instructor's home of course. One of the advantages this quest has is free food and lodging. This was the advantage.
Vessalius suddenly stops on his tracks.
Of course, all advantages has of course the opposite. The disadvantage is...
"Home...Err...Which way is the instructors house?" Vessalius asked himself.
That's right. He doesn't know the instructor's house. This was his disadvantage. Though he was heralded as a genius at a young age, his personality and traits tends him to forget the small tough. This is also (unknowingly of course) one of his cute side and his dumber side. After spending 5 long hours (and increase his vitality and agility by 1), he finally found the instructors house. He was given a good lecture by the instructor himself for being late outside and ushered to go inside for dinner. He read the book again for a good 4 hours which increased his wisdom and intelligent stat by 1 before logging out to eat dinner in the real world.
He contemplated whether he would survive this world in 1 month. The game world that is.