The morning was quiet, with only the faint chirping of early birds breaking the silence. Sinclair found himself alert and active way earlier than he was used to. The events from yesterday still played on his mind, and the unyielding energy surging through him further piqued his curiosity. Could it be due to the increase in his endurance stat he mused?
Munching on his breakfast, he swiped through the holographic screen, analyzing any changes. That's when he spotted it: the previously grayed-out Quests tab shone invitingly. Almost automatically, he reached out, excitement causing him to fumble with his cereal. A splash of milk dotted the counter as he hastily opened the tab.
As the new interface unfolded before him, his eyes widened with anticipation. This was another step into the world he had found himself inexplicably a part of, and he was eager to dive in further. What challenges and adventures would the quest tab throw his way?
Quests:
Finish the Tutorial - Complete all training areas
Reward - 100 gold, 2000 Experience, and Item Upgrade Token
Class Quest - This quest will be a trial designed to test what class fits you best. You can take a class outside of your aptitude, but be warned that trying to be something you are not has consequences. At the end, you will be shown a list of possible classes.
He mentally clicked on Finish the Tutorial. Immediately, a new menu opened up, displaying a golden button with the words Enter Tutorial prominently in the center. When he clicked on it, he received another message.
System Message - Selecting this will transport you to another dimension where you can choose training options to get you through the desired level. Are you ready? *WARNING* Time does not flow the same in the tutorial zones, so make appropriate decisions on what to bring. If you leave the training zone before the end, there is a 24-hour local time excellent down on re-entering the zone. Do you wish to continue Y/N?
A jolt of anxiety surged through Sinclair as he abruptly closed the prompt, taking deep, steadying breaths. The very idea of journeying through different dimensions was overwhelming. He was expected to leave Earth, and then what? Engage in battles against unknown entities to gain strength?
He groaned, pressing the heels of his palms into his eyes. The lack of guidance or instruction frustrated him. How was he supposed to make decisions that might have life-or-death consequences without any help files or guidance?
Sometimes, leveling up was swift when he played games, while other times, it felt like an eternity to gain even a single level. Drawing from that experience limited as it was, he decided to prepare for a three-day absence. The number three had always been his favorite, and since he had no commitments on Earth in the coming days, it seemed like a safe bet. However, he acknowledged the unknowns: he needed to learn about potential time discrepancies between dimensions.
With resolve, Sinclair began his preparations. Protection, sustenance, and combat readiness were his top priorities. If he were going to embark on this wild journey, he would ensure he was as prepared as possible.
Rummaging through his closet, he found his leather bomber jacket. It was a little tight, but it's not like he had many options. This heavy leather jacket and the tear-resistant denim style pants he wore when working outside were the most challenging things he owned. Inspecting the items, he was excited to find they had stats, even if they were negligible at best.
Leather Jacket - Basic leather protection for torso and arms. Small protection from slashing damage.
+10 Armour
Briar Pants - Thick pants to stop small piercing thorns. Slight resistance to piercing effect.
+5 Armour
Sturdy Boots - Basic Military boots with rugged soles
+3 Armour
In the cluttered space of his shed, Sinclair's eyes fell on his trusty axe — the one he'd used over the years to fell trees. Even with time's passage, its blade gleamed sharp, a testament to his meticulous care. Its sturdy leather strap allowed it to be slung easily across his back, making it a reliable choice for his upcoming journey.
Beside it, his twin axes from the Ren Faire caught his attention. They might have been purchased as novelties, but their craftsmanship by the stage steel artisans was undeniable. He recalled the secret thrill of swinging them against various objects in his backyard, pretending he was a legendary warrior defending a village from invaders. And, not content with their decorative edge, he'd painstakingly sharpened them, ensuring they'd be as formidable as they looked.
With a satisfied nod, Sinclair decided they'd be perfect companions for whatever challenges awaited him in the other dimensions. He could envision himself, axes in hand, ready to face the unknown.
Felling Axe - Two-handed standard axe for felling trees or fending off predators in the woods
12-16 slashing damage
Twin Training Axes - Single-handed axes used to train.
5-9 slashing damage each
He was starting to wonder how he would carry all these things. He still had to pack up three days' worth of food and clothes. What happens if he had to run or something? He would be weighed down and over-encumbered. He hated that feature in Skyrim. Going along happy as a clam, pick up one more item that sent you into overload, and it was half-speed walking. He could burn health if it were an emergency instead of stamina. But that seemed like something you should only do in an emergency, not because you didn't plan better.
Grabbing an old army duffle bag, he put small clothes in the bottom and his extra pair of work pants on top of those. He grabbed only food that wouldn't spoil without refrigeration. Water bottles, summer sausage, crackers, and miscellaneous dry goods went into the bag. He grabbed his ultra-light cooking gear as well. It was a small pot and utensil that he could boil water in if he ran out. There might be magic where he was going, but he wasn't going to risk drinking from a stream with untold bacteria. A mana-backed stomach bug sounds like a quick way to end a new future or his pants.
He grabbed his fire starter kit from the mantle and placed it in one of the cargo pockets of his jeans. Jamming his blanket and some last-minute items in his bag, he cinched it shut. He had wanted to train his stats, but the burn to find out what was under the quest tag was too powerful. He had to do this first. The training he had already gone through made him almost as strong as some of the meat heads at the gym. He couldn't pick up a truck, but while test-swinging the axes, he found that they whistled through the air and made significantly deeper cuts in trees out back.
Spending just over an hour getting everything packed, he felt as ready as he was going to. The sun was starting to rise over the hills. The view from his house was one Sinclair immensely enjoyed, and why he lived on the family farm even though it was quite some ways from town. This was hopefully not the last time he would be setting his eyes on a sunrise from here. He looked around his living room again while opening the Quest tab. He selected the quest Finish the Tutorial.
Holding his breath, he selected yes, and felt the bottom fall out of his stomach. Space stretched on forever in front of him. Lights flew by so fast that they couldn't even be categorized as anything other than a blur. It reminded him of the Stargate series he loved to watch. When colors started rolling back in after only a few seconds, he slammed into the ground, coughing as he tried to see where he was.
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Tall trees, reminiscent of Earth's cedar trees, dotted the landscape. They soared even higher than the trees Sinclair was accustomed to back home. Well, at least from what he could see of his surroundings. The massive trees cast long shadows over the forest floor, creating an eerie atmosphere. As Sinclair stood up and brushed himself off, he noticed a faint game trail under his feet. It seemed like as good an idea as any to follow it and explore this unfamiliar terrain.
The trees surrounding him had a peculiar aura, as if they were trying to envelop him, not in a warm embrace but in a sinister, suffocating grip. The sensation was far from friendly; it felt ancient and filled with anger, adding an unsettling layer to his surroundings.
The eerie silence continued to pervade the trail as Sinclair made his way deeper into the forest, with the towering trees casting long, haunting shadows. The filtered light that seeped through the boughs added to the eerie ambiance, making his discomfort grow with each step. He couldn't shake the feeling that he was heading somewhere ominous.
As the trail meandered through the forest, Sinclair suddenly came upon a small clearing. To his astonishment, he found a structure that resembled the Viking longhouses he had seen in documentaries. The building had a thatched roof nearly touching the ground, with door openings that seemed to poke out of the walls and roof in an even pattern. It was a scene out of history, but the absence of any people was unsettling.
Approaching the building cautiously, Sinclair noticed a door facing him with the Uruz rune etched onto its surface. The symbol resembled a staple with its left corner lifted into the air and was associated with concepts like strength and power. The fact that he understood the symbol's meaning without prior knowledge startled him, and he couldn't help but feel uneasy about this newfound ability. It was as if knowledge was being effortlessly fed into his mind, and he wasn't sure how to handle it.
As Sinclair examined the doors surrounding the Viking longhouse, he couldn't shake the feeling that each one held a distinct challenge linked to the meaning of the rune inscribed. The words and symbols convey the intent of the challenges that lay beyond. It was as though the doors were inviting him to test his abilities in different ways.
The door on his right, adorned with the Algiz rune representing courage and protection, seemed to promise a test of his bravery. Across from it, the Ansuz rune, symbolizing true vision and inspiration, hinted at a challenge related to insight and creativity. Finally, the Ehwaz rune, resembling a capital M and signifying teamwork and trust, offered a unique cooperation trial.
After contemplating his options, Sinclair started with the door that initially caught his attention—the one with the Uruz rune. He couldn't help but wonder how the system would test his strength and power. With a sense of determination, he reached for the door and prepared to step into whatever awaited him beyond it.
As Sinclair emerged from the door, he found himself in a breathtaking valley nestled between towering mountain ranges that stretched out in a V shape. The scene before him was nothing short of idyllic. The valley was graced with a small water source to his right, and he could spot various animals grazing in the distance, although he couldn't quite discern their species from this distance. The lush woods on the other side of the field were about three hundred yards away, offering a sense of beauty and a hint of potential danger.
Sinclair proceeded cautiously, his senses on high alert, scanning the surroundings for potential threats. The serene beauty of the landscape didn't lull him into a false sense of security; he knew better than to let his guard down. A system notification alerted him to something meaningful as he took a few steps forward.
System Message - Uruz - Test of the Fishermen
Quest Objective: In times past, fishermen had to earn their right to fish the shores of their homeland through a show of strength and endurance. Embrace this ancient tradition by demonstrating your physical prowess. Please select one of the stones to your right and carry it across the field to the designated area without setting it down.
Challenge: Choose your stone wisely, as you must carry your selected stone the entire distance without dropping or setting it down. If you fail, you'll be teleported back to the start with your chosen stone for another attempt. Remember, once you pick a stone and take a step, you cannot opt for a lighter one.
Rewards: The weight of your chosen stone directly influences your reward. The heavier the stone, the greater the reward upon successful completion. This test is a measure of not only your strength but also your determination and resilience.
Reading through the message several times, he walked over to the five stones on the ground. He examined each stone and found an excellent display of each stone detailing weight and difficulty level. There was also a problem he noticed.
Common Stone - 23 kg Difficulty - Novice
Uncommon Stone - 54 kg Difficulty - Medium
Rare Stone - 100 kg Difficulty - Hard
Epic Stone - 154 kg Difficulty - Expert
Legendary Stone - 209 kg Difficulty - Nightmare
The message said he was stuck with a stone of his choosing after taking a step. Which meant he could test the weights the old-fashioned way. Taking one step, though, would spell disaster if it was too heavy, and he stumbled. Sinclair knew what he wanted to do. In games, he was greedy. He always wanted the biggest and best rewards. He would grind away for hours, sometimes looking for a new item with the best stats. Those were games, though, and this was real somehow. There was a genuine danger of getting hurt here. It didn't matter though. He knew he would test this trial with the most significant stone he could pick up, even if he had to restart a thousand times. It was a test, and they should be challenging; otherwise, what was the point?
Standing over the smallest stone, he leaned over and wrapped his hands under it, picking it straight up to his waist with ease and taking a few steps. Just like he expected, the novice-level stone was easy. Setting it down carefully, he stepped over to the next rock and repeated the same action. Once again, this stone was easy, too. There was a weight difference, but not enough to do more than recognize the minor difference. He did notice something strange happened, however. After stepping in with the second stone, he noticed the first stone disappeared. Once you could verify that picking up a stone and taking that first step was possible, the next lightest stone was no longer an option. Regardless, this was fine since he wouldn't go with the most petite stones. He would have to be careful if he reached the last two stones.
The next stone required some more effort to be put in. It wasn't a strain yet, but the weight jumped up appreciatively. Setting the stone down, he stretched his back out, knowing that the following stones were the real deal now that he saw how much the weight was growing. Leaning over and grabbing the Rare Stone, he had to start tensing all his muscles and keeping a steady grip. There wasn't any doubt in his mind that this stone was coming off the ground, but it was a more complex struggle.
He was super strong in the gym, but there is a big difference between lifting something designed to be lifted and lifting a stone with its irregular sides and hand grips. At one point, he almost dropped the stone because it was so awkwardly shaped. Placing the stone back on the ground, he watched as the previous stone faded from view. He was going to be unhappy if this screwed him up, and he could lift the next stone but not walk with it.
Taking a drink from his water bottle and removing his jacket, he prepared to lift the Epic Stone. Sinclair set his feet and patted the stone, looking for the best hand holds. This would have been much better with some of his chalk from the gym. Grabbing the best places he could reach on the stone, he sunk his hips and started pulling. This stone was not messing around. He slowly stood with the stone, keeping his muscles tight and focus sharp. He hesitated before locking out his knees. If he proved he could lift this stone and take that first step, the previous stone would disappear.
He was nervous because he wasn't sure he could walk one hundred yards with this stone, let alone three hundred. That was an insane distance. Just as he was about to set the stone down and return to the lighter stone, there was the sound of a twig snapping off behind him. He startled a little when his head whipped in that direction, causing him to step forward while still holding the stone.
He immediately dropped the stone and turned to look at the previous stone with mounting horror as it slowly faded from view. He had planned on using the slightly lighter stone to train some with. That way, with a few more stat bonuses, he could have more easily lifted the Epic stone. Yes, he could quit and return to his world to train more, but there was a 24-hour penalty for reentering this zone if he did that. That was different from what he was here for, however. If they wanted to test him, he would show that he was worth being tested and so much more.
Walking over to his stuff, he grabbed a granola bar and more water. He might as well get a quick break-in to start on the right foot. He sat for a few minutes, looking around to find out what made that noise. There were dry branches around but no sign of an animal or person that could have broken it. Sighing to himself, he stretched on the ground, ensuring his back and legs were ready for this. It was going to be a challenge for sure. Sinclair left his stuff on the ground next to the closest tree. He figured he could carry the stone over and then return and get his things. There were no rules stating he couldn't that he could tell. In his experience, if it were not expressly stated, he would do whatever he felt best at the time.
Walking back to the stone, he again prepared to pick it up. Again, Sinclair was successful at lifting the stone. Getting the weight settled, he took one step forward. And, almost fell. Taking standard steps was out of the question, meaning this would take longer. He shortened his stride and started to waddle forward with the stone. He was fifteen yards into the knee-high grass when a screech and an impact against his calf caused him to lose his balance, leading to him dropping the stone. No sooner than the stone touched the ground, he was back at the start with the stone at his feet and him in mid-fall. Sinclair tumbled to the ground, both confused and angry that he was back at the beginning.
Getting back to his feet, he looked out into the grass, seeing that stalks rustle back and forth occasionally. He had initially taken it for the wind but now knew it must be from whatever hit him. The difficulty of this just reached a new stage of irritation. Carrying the stone was going to be hard enough, but now he had to contend with creatures headbutting him in the shins hard enough to leave bruises and knock him over. Hopefully, they couldn't do more damage, and he wouldn't have to bleed the entire way over there. He could not carry the stone and swing a weapon to fight back. He would have to tank the damage and focus on not losing his balance.
Straightening his posture, Sinclair's determination shone through. Steeled for another attempt, he covered almost thirty yards, dodging two impactful strikes before a swift adversary caught his leg mid-step. He hit the ground, gritting his teeth as he rubbed the forming bruises on his shins. Propping himself against a boulder, Sinclair took a moment to gather his thoughts, considering solutions to his ongoing balance challenge.
With agility not naturally in his wheelhouse, he assumed that thanks to the title bonuses and a smidgeon of individual training, he was now hovering just above average. However, vivid memories from his childhood remained, such as when his parents humorously compared his grace to that of a bull moose in a China shop. Even with his improvements, there was still a long road ahead if he genuinely hoped to tackle his balance issues. Buying a balance beam or other gymnastic equipment started to appeal to him. Investing time in perfecting his balance could prove indispensable, especially if he found himself on the cusp of another showdown. That was a task for later, however. He had stones to move now and was excited to see himself excel.