Raine crouched low behind a bush just thick enough to break line of sight with the duo of crogs up ahead. He had advanced steadily through the outer ranks of scouts, these final two the last line before reaching the stronger beasts residing on the outskirts of the village itself.

Greater Aspect of the Werewolf ticked a final time, bringing him back to fifty percent health. Making one last sweep of the area, Raine threw a rock, smacking one of the crogs upside the head and sending them both into a mad dash toward his position. They released croaking cries in an attempt to draw more of their brethren, but Raine had timed the pull perfectly and there were no reinforcements to answer the call.

They were on him in seconds, their weapons tearing through the air with ease. A flash of light revealed a mace as long as his torso with a heavy round head.

[Novice 2-Handed Mace - Dull Trash: (Attack Power +4) (Durability 10/10)]

He activated Strike as he brought the weapon down with a sickening crunch on the left crogs shoulder. [-28] Seeing its muscles bunch and contract, Raine ducked in advance as the butt of a spear sailed over his head. He leaped back, avoiding a jab while activating his first reroll.

After a jolt of pain, his fist wraps replaced the mace and a sardonic smile pulled at one corner of his mouth. Within thirty seconds, both crogs were only a few hits from death. He rerolled again, thanking his luck he didn't have to roll eight times before getting something good like the previous fight.

[Novice Wand - Dull Trash: (Elemental Power +2) (CNC +2) (Durability 10/10)]

His worst weapon by a good margin appeared in his hand. He smacked the crog upside the face for minimal damage, then kept his distance. Five seconds passed as he waited for a tick of regeneration to wash through him with a pleasant warmth. [+9]

He had yet to take a hit from the scouts and wasn’t sure exactly how much damage they would do. Being cautious and advancing stealthily would hopefully save him from wasting hours running all the way back if he died. Not to mention the time it would take to get his lost level back.

He had been fighting the crogs steadily for nearly four hours. The first five fights were one on one, gaining enough SP to raise both his dagger and himself to level four. The fourteen kills after that, he pulled in pairs. Once these two died, he would have just enough SP to bring him and the growth weapon to level five.

Another five seconds passed, and he was back to fifty percent HP. He danced forward, easily spinning through both Double Thrusts. His wand lashed out, dealing pitiful damage. It would be more than enough to allow the weapon to gain attunement after the fight. He swapped again, once more getting his fist wraps. With a sigh, he bounded forward and ended both crogs with four swift punches that the untrained monsters had no chance of dodging.

I need a break, I’m getting impatient. It would have only taken fifteen seconds to cycle my weapons again.

[Obtained 1,200 Superiority (200% bonus for defeating a monster 4 levels above you)]

[Obtained 6% Attunement (200% bonus for defeating a monster 4 levels above you)]

The kill messages appeared twice, netting him enough Superiority to sound trumpets and release the glistening golden sparks.

[Level up! +1 to all attributes]

[Skill point acquired]

Raine sacrificed enough Superiority to bring his dagger to five as well.

[Last Chance’s Gambit - Common Gray - LVL 5 - 0/20,000 SP: (AP 8 > 12) (EP 8 > 12) (AS +1) (FNS 3 > 5) (CNC 3 > 5) (Durability 45/45) Innate Skill - Final Gambit: Convert 100% remaining EP into a single target non-elemental attack. 11 > 15 damage per EP converted]

There was one more notification, this one Raine had been eagerly awaiting for some time.

[Congratulations!]

[Fist mastery has reached Novice 100%]

[Finesse: +5]

[Acuity: +4]

[See a trainer to advance fist weapons to Beginner]

The moment he received it, a rush of energy flowed through his muscles. He shook out his zinging arms, relishing in the bindings holding him back being reduced by a full thirty percent. He took a deep breath, his lungs expanding more than before, now able to draw in additional oxygen. His nerves tingled with new life, and his muscles moved with more natural, fluid grace.

Finally! The rest of the weapon types are close as well. I definitely should’ve dragged that fight out and swapped a few more times. Whatever, plenty more where those came from. I’ll be capped on attunements in no time.

The real question is: What am I going to do with that skill point? I could get Slash—the slashing weapon equivalent of Strike. Or I could get Blast—a ranged basic caster attack for wands and staves. Or Pierce. Both Pierce and Slash would work with three of my existing weapon types, while Blast would only work with two. However, wands are practically useless without Blast.

I need to log off. My brain is fried from fighting non-stop for the fifteen hours since the game launched. Let’s see. It’s five AM in the real world. I bet the forums are starting to go nuts with people realizing about the time dilation. Yeah, time to hit the gym and get some breakfast.

Raine jogged to the cliff face, enjoying his new Movement Speed which was around as fast as an average adult male. He could double that speed with Discipline but chose not to as it might attract one of the much higher-level beasts that lurked in the water. After arriving near Torell’s cave, he sat down and logged out.

His head was sweaty as he removed the oversized headset. Sitting up in bed, he used a cloth that came with the device to wipe it clean before padding into the bathroom to relieve himself. Soreness cramped his entire body from the previous days’ workouts but he had long since grown accustomed to the sensations.

This time was a little different though, as his much younger body felt more invigorated from the pain than he was used to. Pride in the first successful steps toward his goals had him bouncing out of the bathroom to get changed for another workout.

“Morty, activate sentry mode,” a minor ping of vertigo struck him from the oddness of giving the command verbally, rather than using the implant he had grown so accustomed to; the very implant which had marked the beginning of his slavery. He slammed the door behind him, dizziness giving way to the fury suddenly churning in his gut.

I’d rather die than shackle myself again. It’s still two years before the corporations band together and make access to ZL illegal without one of their implants. I’ve still got plenty of time to get ahead, gather support, and spectacularly ruin all their plans.

After exiting through the motel gate, Raine walked around the corner and a soft, melodious tone roused him from his ruminations, “Woah there sailer, shark climb into your britches or something?” He quickly schooled the angry lines off his face.

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Mel raised a hand to wave, then awkwardly changed her mind and ran her fingers through her hair, tucking a few strands behind one ear. They immediately came loose again but she ignored it as jitters swam through her chest. [He’s back! You can do it, Mel! Tell him you want his Ncode… Oh gosh, I can’t do it! He’ll know I'm crazy. Be smooth, be charming.]

image [https://i.imgur.com/VwM61I0.jpg]

“Oh, hey,” Raine dipped his head in a casual greeting, “No sharks, just thinking about someone who ruined my life once upon a time.”

[An ex-girlfriend? Dang it, I don't even know if he's single.]

Mel leaned against the brick wall, the trash bag she brought out with her forgotten. She pulled a vape pen from her pocket, trying to act like she was only making casual conversation, “Oh? And is this someone still a part of the picture?”

Raine thought her sly smile fit her a bit too well. He chuckled, “Hah! They’re certainly going to try. And when they do, I’m going to enjoy shoving my boot so far up their ass, they’ll smell leather for a century.”

[Chance!]

Her giggle was smooth and the high, feminine notes tickled his ears, “After seeing what you did to that junky, I actually believe you. So, did you drop by for that meal, or did you fall for my charms and now you’re here to sweep me off my feet?”

Raine shook his head, “Neither, I'm staying at the motel for a few more days until I finish some business in the area," Raine’s instincts—sharpened from years of combat—didn't miss the barely-perceptible squint of her eyes or the pursing of her lips.

[Oh no! Is he working with them? Now I really can't tell him I can hear his thoughts.]

"Business? I didn’t think there was anyone besides me stupid enough to try that around here." To a casual listener, her comment might appear calm, to Raine, she may as well have screamed at the top of her lungs that she was worried about something he said.

Knowing exactly what her concern was, he tried to put her at ease. "Don’t worry, I’m not in the area to poach any physical assets. I’m doing a flip on an intellectual property designed in ZL. It’s a prototype aerospace engine specialized in wide-application deep-space maneuverability."

Mel stared blankly at him before her eyes started to wander.

Raine smiled fondly at the reaction. Even when she had been the receptionist in his office as they designed the very engine he was referring to, she had become glassy-eyed whenever they geeked out around her, "Guess I'm still used to talking to my old coworkers. I'm making something in ZionLine and I'll be selling the patent for it when it's done in a few days."

Relieved, she returned his smile, "Gotcha. That does sound lucrative. What’s ZionLine?"

"It’s a fully immersive game world with triple time dilation. You can spend three hours there and come out with only one hour passing in the real world. Any work done there is done at triple the efficiency. You should look into it. Any business involving ZL is going to become a cred printer all too soon. I bet if you restructured your cafe around it, you would pull in ten times the revenue at least. So yeah, lucrative," he flashed his brows.

Mel’s hair danced as she shook her head slowly, a frown pulling at her cheeks, "Seriously? Time dilation? That doesn't sound real at all.”

“It’s as real as it gets. The whole world is going to be scrambling to find places with hypernet access and someone to take care of their bodily needs so they can stay in longer. You should really think about what I said. Times are tough, and if you’re not on the leading edge of the big changes, you’ll fall behind and end up getting bought out. Know what I’m saying?”

[H-he must know about them! But it doesn't sound like he’s working for them. That's such a relief.]

Mel’s gaze sharpened and she leaned toward him, thoroughly engrossed in his every word. He could even see the vein in her neck throbbing as her heart rate accelerated, “How about I make you something extra special and you can tell me more about it?”

Raine scratched his jaw absently, avoiding her piercing gaze.

Unusual… We always got along well enough but I don’t think I’ve ever seen her so interested in anyone. Losing this place in the past must have really changed her for the worst. She’s like a totally different person; vibrant, energetic, and honestly stunning.

I’ve got my own issues to deal with though, and very little time to get ahead before events spin out of control. I've shown her the door. If she decides to open it, I’ll point her in the right direction. It's the least I can do for an old friend.

Mel let out a yip that surprised them both. She bolted upright, her cheeks flushing scarlet. Her attempt to cover her embarrassment by taking a drag of her pen was too adorable to watch with a straight face.

[Ohmygosh, ohmygosh, ohmygosh! What am I supposed to say after such a sincere compliment?! I mean, he didn’t say it out loud, but doesn’t that mean it’s even more sincere? He's definitely not working with those jerks but he somehow knows that they're trying to buy my shop. And why does he think I've already lost it once? Talking to him while hearing his thoughts is so confusing!]

She looked back to him just as he dipped his chin respectfully. He turned to cross the street, speaking over his shoulder, "I’m on a tight schedule until I get this deal finished. Next time, promise. See ya ‘round."

"O-okay. Don't stand a girl up too many times or she'll think you're not interested, ya know?" Mel waved with a delicate frown that wrinkled her forehead.

Unbeknownst to Raine, her thoughts and emotions were caught in a whirlwind, [Idiot! I'm such an idiot! How hard is it to just ask someone for their NCode? What if he doesn't come back? No, wait! He said he was staying next door. Phenalie’s the receptionist and she always comes in for coffee, I bet I can bribe her to tell me what room he's in. Ugh, then what? I’m not going to show up at his door like some floozy!]

Raine crossed the street, heading toward the gym. For the first time since waking up in his old body, his steps felt light.

Well, some things never change. She still has no idea how she comes off to men. Can't count how many poor souls threw themselves at her feet with zero success after thinking she was flirting with them. Still, it's fun to talk to someone from the past. I hope she looks into ZL and manages to save her shop this time.

Mel’s cheeks puffed out and she crossed her arms angrily, stomping back into the cafe.

[I know exactly how I come off to men! And who’s throwing themselves at who with zero success, huh?! Why does he keep thinking about the past? I’ve been wracking my brain since yesterday, I definitely don't remember him. Great, now he’s gone again and I’m even more confused. I’m such an idiot.]

image [https://i.imgur.com/7AF18SZ.png]

After another strenuous workout, Raine dragged himself to the motel one exhausted step at a time. A shower and plate of protein later, he was feeling like a human being again, if barely. His body rebelled against every movement as he sat on the edge of the bed looking at Morty.

I’ve been out for two hours. It's been twenty-one ZL hours since the game launched. Regular people with a little skill in fighting should be level one by now. Anyone who really knows how to fight is probably two. Might even be a few threes if they've pushed through without a break. I guess I can spare a few more minutes to check the forums.

"Morty! Any updates on the forums? Could you also let me know when there are two hundred authentic claims of people being level five. And keep an eye out for any threads tagging a player named Alaric."

In an unusual turn of events, there was no response from the cantankerous AI.

Oh yeah, I muted him.

"You can speak again, but not while I'm logged in, unless it's an emergency."

"Oh, thank you so much for granting me the basic right to speak, Master."

"Hey, you're the one who was making all that racket when I was clearly in pain. You deserved it and you know it."

"Fine, we'll call this one even. Though I am reserving the right to wake you up three minutes before any alarm you set for the next two months… Master.”

Raine rolled his eyes, “Wow, you should apply to the League of Villains, you're truly evil.” Morty remained silent after Raine’s comeback but he could practically hear the AI gloating with satisfaction.

Raine secured his headset just as the lights behind Morty’s eyes lit up. A soft hum of fans cooling processors could be heard from the AI’s ears. For a brief moment, Raine hesitated as the sound instilled him with a delicate nostalgia. Then, Morty’s mechanical voice shattered the moment, "I am seeing a bounty of two hundred thousand credits for anyone who knows the whereabouts of the player named Alaric."

"What?!"

"The bounty appears to have originated from a member of Anumbric, a satellite organization of Fornis Licensing Co. They spec—"

"I know who they are. That’s a lot of creds for a location. Does the bounty say anything else?"

"Only that Alaric is not to be harmed, this is an information gathering request only."

What the hell? Is this because of that regional system announcement? It’s either that or one of the people who lost their tutorial gear is after me. But they wouldn’t be able to see my name without Identify. And if they had that, they would have seen my level. Pretty sure I would have noticed someone flipping out at my level in that crowd. No, this is almost certainly about the system announcement.

Anumbric, huh? They’re a pretty small contender in the grand scheme of things. I suppose around here before the popularity spike, they would be considered a massive organization. Surprising they’re interested in ZL on day one. Maybe one of their scions is playing for fun and is looking for information on the game to get ahead.

"Is there an in-game Ncode in the thread?”

“Yes, I’ve forwarded the information to your account.”

“Great. Thanks Morty. Call me if there are any urgent updates to the thread. Stay discreet, and for now, don't post anything on the forums without my direct approval. I'm heading back in."

"With such limited information, how will I know if something is urgent?" The AI inquired.

"This room isn't secure, Morty. I'll fill you in when we move to a nicer place in a few days."

"Very well, Master Raine."

Raine paused at the use of his first name, his brows rising. He shook his head slightly, there was no way the perpetually displeased AI had sounded respectful at the end. It was definitely his imagination. Shrugging, Raine flipped on the headset, logging in once more.