Prologue - The Latecomer and the Testers

Part 1

I was mining mats, materials I need for crafting, in a local quarry, when I heard the distinct sound of fighting nearby. There shouldn't have been anyone around as most players should have moved on to higher level areas by now, but I started the game late. I started the game two months after the official release date and I had been leveling, though I use the term loosely, quite slowly. I can only think of one person who would be here, and he was supposed to meet me an hour ago. I store my pickax and start running towards the noise. Sure enough I see my friend and his party fighting a.... A GIANT ROCK GOLEM?!

"Yo Chris, we could use a hand over here" John said as he took a blow with his massive tower shield.

"How the heck did that thing get so big? It must be around 25 feet tall."

"Well SEO does have a feature that lets monsters level, this particular one must have earned quite a bit extra from defeating other golems and absorbing them into itself to get bigger. It's a level 40, my party is made up of level 35s so..."

"Well don't know how much help I'm going to be then, but I do know a trick to beating these rock golems hopefully it still works. I just need someone to hold down the arm and add me to the party."

"Right, added! Yuki use gravity magic and weigh slow that thing down then next time it smashes at me pin its arm down with ice magic."

"Got it! -Grav up-"

"Hey, hey, are we really listening to this guy?! Last time you time you guys told me he was only level 5 while you guys were already in your 30s!"

"Just watch he'll probably do more damage than your arrows Shani. UGH!"

John eats a kick from the golem as he turns away to talk to Shani.

"I've got you! -HEAL-"

"Thanks Belle."

"I see you added to your harem."

"Oh shut it and get ready."

"Yes oh great harem king, "I laughed as I took out my pickax.

Just then an arrow hits it square in the chest and explodes, as Shani used her -Bomb Arrow-. This draws the golem’s attention away from John. John roars at the golem using -War Cry thereby lowering its [Def] and gaining its attention again. The golem punches downward and as it makes contact with John's shield Yuki screams "-ICE PILLAR-!"

I jump on the arm and climb up to the golem's shoulder. I look carefully at its shoulder around where joint should be and found what looks to be the weakest spot. I channel my mana to my arms and my pickax reinforcing both with magic. I start mining away and as I do so I notice a large hand coming my way. I had to jump to avoid it and barely managed to stay on the golem as I landed.

"Hey quit staring, I need a distraction please!"

Just then and explosion hits right below where I'm standing.

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"Hey watch where you're aiming!"

Shani glares at me, but I just pretend not to notice. I remember that -Bomb Arrow- is notoriously hard to aim, whoops. Anyways thanks to the blast a crack appeared right where I was hitting. I continued hitting at the shoulder like I was mining.

"Oi, whatever you're doing hurry it up the ice is giving way!"

"Ugh not helpping John!"

I say that but he's right, and the shoulder seems to be significantly damaged enough anyways. I raise my pick and with all my strength bring it down right at the crack. Just like that the golem's arm crumbles and cracks start veining outward from where I was hitting it.

"Wow! I didn't know you could do that!"

"Seriously that's impressive can't believe he's a level 5."

"Guys it's not over yet I may have chipped a good chunk of its health off but it’s trying to throw me off now!"

-Fireball- -War Cry- -Bomb Arrow- The three just used more skills to get its attention, it worked! Now it was standing still and just trying to hit John with its remaining arm. I took the opportunity to climb down to its back as they kept pelting it with arrows, spells, and sword. I get to the middle and see the crack did extend all the way there. I find a spot with decent footing, and channel my mana into my hands, using it to enhance my grip on my left hand and using the other hand to punch at the crack. I keep punching until the exterior falls away and I see a shining crystal and I reach in and yank it out. The crystal was a |Golem Core| and it was three times bigger than the others I had encountered. Normally after taking it out the golem would crumble, but this didn't seem to be the case here. Lucky for me it gave me the chance to climb down, or so I thought. As soon as I removed it the golem went berserk, this must be due to its high level, and all I could do was hang on for dear life. It was actually moving quite quickly now, and attacking at random.

"Chris what did you do?!"

Yuki, Shani, and Belle all had to dodge attacks now. John's -War Cry- wasn't working anymore. Nobody could manage to attack it, but still its hp kept decreasing gradually.

"I took out its core! Now I can't get off this dang thing. HELP!"

-Grav down- -Barrier- Yuki and Belle casts their spells on me and I felt lighter and saw a sphere of light envelop me and then disappear. I hope it's enough, and jump off the golem and crash into the ground. Lucky me, the fall only took half my hp. As soon I jump off though it sees me and the |Golem Core| in my hand. It locks on me and I barely dodge its punch. This is bad one hit and it will kill me. I take advantage of Yuki's spell and channel my mana to my legs, the combined effect was spectacular. I hide behind John in an instant.

"Go my meat shield!"

John laughs and blocks the next incoming strike giving me some precious time to get some more distance. Just in time, as the last of the golem's hp disappears and crumbles down, but John was still under it! -Barrier- -Grav down +Area- Wow an area of effect added skill impressive.

-SHIELD WALL- All of a Sudden there were several Johns grouped up together holding their shields up over their heads. That's new, as in I've never seen it or read about it online. It must be something unique that only John had unlocked. With all that he came out unscathed.

"So how do you like my new skill guys?"

"Is that what you wanted to show me? That's ridiculous is that the skill that pushed you to level 35? It's like my level 5 -Doppelganger- but what was that 5 of you? How long does it last? Does it move around like -Doppelganger-?"

"Yeah we're glad you finally got to level 35, but that skill seems a little overpowered." Everyone just nods their head in agreement.

"Well the pre-requisites for it were ridiculous. You're on the right track with -Doppelganger- Chris, though there are a few other skills needed for it at high levels too. It lasts for as long as it has hit points, and the default is it moves with me in a sort of side by side phalanx formation. The downside is that it can't use any skills or attack, only thing it can do is defend. It is powerful I tried using it in a two row formation and had the second row cluster in and guard from above and I took no damage from a Red Elder Dragon. The downside is it takes about 3/4s of my mana to summon so many, I have absolutely 0 left after using all those -War Cry-s beforehand. I'll tell you more about it later just grab the drops and anything else you needed to mine and lets head into the mine and do this bounty quest."

I just sighed confirmed the drops from the pop-up screen and mined the golem's body for some high quality ore. I have quite a ways to go to catch up to John and his friends, and to think I almost didn't play this amazing game.