"Okay, everything is ready, good Lu.." before the NPC was able to finish the sentence Zai had stopped him.
The NPC appeared disturbed by Zai's actions, looked at him with eyes that felt as if they were saying "this better be good" and then to the shock of everyone, the NPC who was sitting and asking questions, the company people who were glued to the monitor watching how Zai intends to level up from a Zero to Hero, and the Conductor who enjoyed this the most.
Zai shouted, "I am going to beat you and rescue my sister, do you hear me, Conductor." there was silence for a moment, and then the NPC spoke, "he heard you alright, and he is telling you Good Luck."
A flashing light appeared followed by him getting teleported into the middle of a busy street. He looked at the faces in front of him, one other newbie looked like a dwarf. The dwarf tried to walk but followed by his first step, he fell down straight on his face. Zai started laughing at the sight until he felt a slap on his back, that was meant to be a pat.
"Welcome newbie! Did you come here to have fun and enjoy what the game presents? How about joining the Hakuna Matata Clan, we are all for playing and fooling around" It was a group, that had no interest in adventuring. They merely wanted to live in a better world, than their reality. They have also entered the game so they could socialize and chat with other players.
Zai who came here for a serious rescue mission didn't spend time even rejecting him and just continued moving forward looking for a place to start training so he could get himself ready.
He walked along the road, the sun was hot, and the flowers had a sweet smell, it was as if he was still in the real world, but the only difference is that this world didn't seem ruined, the players were wearing armor and holding swords while others were wearing robes.
Then there are the players that didn’t look human at all. Still, in a moment of weakness, you could think that this was the reality. He took a deep breath, looked at the sky, stretched his arms and screamed: "a new journey begins."
All the players turned around and stared at him, when Zai realized he had done something embarrassing, he tied to act cool as if he didn't care.
He then noticed a question mark floating in front of him. Once he aimed his focus to it, a help screen popped up. It had various tips to help new players.
He did the first thing he read about and immediately said "status." Suddenly a window popped up in front of him. [ Name: Zai Level: 1 (0%) Health Point: 100 points (100%) Mana Points: 50 points (100%) Pets: Non Class: None Luck: The Worst Notice: Player is Branded by The Conductor. ] Zai stared at his status, seeing the notice he understood it meant that the Conductor was watching him, for an unknown reason it made him smile.
After viewing his statues, Zai checked his equipment
The status window disappeared, and a new window opened, there was a burned piece of bread among his equipment, and a black sword.
Zai looked at his equipment in frustration "I thought players started with different things."
He checked the status of the sword.
Sword quality can only be viewed once equipped Warning: once equipped the sword is bound to the player
He then looked at the piece of bread and remembered how only a while back, even a burned piece was at least something for him to eat. He put it back in his inventory for the day he would need it.
Zai felt frustration, he looked around and realized that he has been wasting time instead of rescuing his sister, but he didn’t know where to go.
Suddenly, he noticed a flyer on a nearby board.
[You want to experience? You want to train? You want good rewards for your efforts? Welcome to the Trial Arena, you can fight monsters without having to leave to the wild.]
He had felt that this was an excellent place to test out his fighting ability in-game. Therefore he went straight to the Trial Arena.
__________________
In the meanwhile, everyone in the monitor department was panicking
"WHAT is THAT? how could there be such a thing?"
One of the moderators commented "usually for beginners their status, would include attack power, defense, intelligence, strength, race, alignment, class, fame, stamina, vitality, agility and most of them start at 10 points, including luck. Even if someone had terrible luck, they would have 0 points.
Yet, his stats didn't include these things, and his luck was 'The Worst' such a thing has never been heard of before. As for the equipment, he should have received 10 pieces of bread. And that's it.
The sword is even more suspicious, I have never even heard of such equipment."
***
Zai unaware of any of these things, gave it no further thought. He headed toward the Trial Arena where the players usually id the challenges in groups but there were cases where solo fighters were able to win. It depended on their skills, but they could only fight monsters that matched their level.
When he arrived at the arena, the NPC inspector who looked like a lizard directed Zai to a round room full of doors and told him he can decide where to go and then left him alone.
It was up to Zai to decide which door to enter. Each door had a number on it, and it seems there were 99 doors. Supposedly behind every door, there was a different challenge, and it was up to the player's luck to open the door which is least scary.
Zai, trusting his analytic ability, chose the door No. 71 for the best reason. Because door No. 71 was the closest door to him and it made no difference because either way he doesn’t know what lies behind any of these doors.
He put misguided faith in luck and opened the door to enter, the room had various weapons and armours. Zai went to take an armour to wear it, but a window appeared in front of him
Armor level 20 - too heavy for you to wear
Zai Started to wonder at the stupidity of the system, why would an armour for a level 20 player be in a trial for level 1 player. He just dismissed his thoughts as sceptical and got a sword and armour that looked different from what he wanted, but they were the only ones he could equip himself with. The system allowed him to wear anything he wanted, but they were too heavy and were very hard to walk with. However, when equipped through the system, he received multiple benefits.
The countdown was about to hit zero, it was time for him to start and complete this challenge.
The door to the arena was opened, Zai stepped out with the sun in his face at first glance,
He then heard a loud Voice of a commentator which was heard all over the Arena
"He came out, Zai the level one warrior who picked this room" and then a cheer came out, Zai looked around and noticed he was surrounded with spectators all sitting around the arena. They were cheering and clapping, while he was standing in an actual arena with a lion who was not released yet”
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Had he not have been used to underground fights, he would have been scared shitless in this situation, everything looked realistic he felt the danger just by standing in the middle of the arena.
"Wh.. wha… what is going on?" He said in a low voice, but he was being monitored on the screen in front of all the spectators. And everyone heard the answer, as the commentator’s voice was heard by everyone
"Between all the people who enter the trials they are given the option of picking one room from 99 and the room you chose will lead you to a trial relevant to your level, but there is one room that is different, and it gives you a random trial from all of the levels, until now there were 99 entries to this room, and only 3 were announced winners!
Now creatures of all creation, you all came here to see contestant number 100!" A wild cheer was heard from all around the arena.
"Let the fight begin."
Once the words were spoken, another window appeared in front of everyone in the arena
Zai level 1 VS. Leo level 31
*
Everyone who came to the arena to see the Level 1 battle the level 31 monster, came to be entertained by watching a first-time newbie running around scared. However, that was not what they got, instead, Zai was standing his own ground, he was not running around but rather analyzing the situation.
Unlike the other players in Secret Online. Zai was there for a purpose, many things rested on his shoulders. his sister's life was dependent on him winning that fight.
He has reached a conclusion ‘I can’t defend against this monster, I have no choice but to attack, but I might be caught - there is no way out of this, the best I can do is hit and run"
He ran at the lion that was standing still not feeling any intimidating presence, and he jumped above him, making a circle in the air as he slashed the lion with his sword.
He was unsure if it would work, but now he knew - Real life skills, also apply in game.
Since he has been battling the underground lately, he knew how to manage. Once his feet landed on the ground, he ran to a tower and used a double jump skill from one side to the other, until he was swiftly able to reach the top of the tower, and sit above watching the lion growl underneath him.
Then the game commentator's voice was heard in the entire arena, "This epic skill are exciting to watch, the air double jump slash that Zai has shown looks amazing - too bad that the only thing it did was get his sword to almost get broken! and the lion hurt only a little."
After hearing the commentator's word, Zai checked his sword, only to find that as the commentator said, the durability dropped down to 1/30 and that was done by only 1 hit. If he used the sword again, it was sure to break. He remembered he had another sword which he received upon joining the game. A black sword that he was unable to identify which also included a warning on its label.
Zai was unaware of the implication of having a bound sword, but once he accepts a bound item, he won't be able to use any other similar item. The only way to be able to do so is if he passes a ritual that would require him to spends days looking for a different set of items.
He was wary of the sword because it had the warning, but he didn’t understand what the warning was about, so when it came down to it, he said
"It is all or nothing" he had already made up his mind, he was going to bet, and bind that sword. maybe it was a useful tool that he would be able to use to defeat the lion. He knew he had no choice, without a sword he would definitely die.
He viewed the status of the sword again before equipping it.
Sword quality can only be viewed once equipped Warning: once equipped the sword is bound to the player
He held it in his hand. The sword was light, it was useful for sudden attacks, and it was sharp.
He swung it, and when he did, he could hear the wind whistle. The wind's whistle was followed with him noticing that his life point dropped by one.
He was curious and immediately checked his sword status.
Cursed Sword - Level 1 Bound to Zai
The sword used to be owned by King Voriken the 4th, he used this sword to further his plans of revenge. Countless people's blood was drawn by this sword. Countless cursed it as they drew their last blood. ]
Blood magic activated after the 10,000th sacrifice, and the sword was cursed. Anyone who holds it, in return for using the sword, their own blood will be drawn.
Active: Sonic Draw Sonic Draw would allow the owner to create sound with his sword Notice: As a bound sword, the sword levels up with the holder. Any harm that comes to the sword will be drawn from the health point.
Zai looked at the screen in shock. Only by swinging the sword he had lost one point. This means that with his health right now, he only had 99 tries before he dies by default. The special skill sonic draw, was useless! The only thing it did was make a nice sound for his ears. It can't be used in a battle.
He immediately tried to substitute the cursed sword back with the beginner sword he got upon entering the contest.
Error 1404 You can't remove your bound sword
The window kept repeating every time he tried.
"FINE! I WON'T USE A SWORD THEN"
He removed his sword from his hand as if he was willing to fight with his bare hands.
Once the sword was returned to his inventory. As if to trick the system, he immediately tried to take out the beginner sword.
Immediately, the cursed sword was the one in his hand.
“I DON’T WANT THIS, I WANT THE BEGINNER SWORD,” Zai said in frustration.
Do you really want that beginner sword that much?
Yes No
"I can smell the conductor behind all of this! all that which you are doing is cheating! Yet you get pissed if we do? YES! MY ANSWER IS YES"
So be it.
Next thing he noticed, His cursed sword was in his right hand, and the beginner sword was in his left hand. Except the beginner sword looked grey now instead of the brown color it used to have.
Before he dared to swing it, he double checks the sword status to make sure everything was going well.
Beginner sword Attack +2 Durability 1/30 Unknown Sword Heart Unlocked
The sword heart was something new that wasn't in the stats before. He tried to check the information on it but was unable to.
"Great now, a cursed sword in one hand, and an almost shattered sword in another- I feel as if the situation is now worse than before.
The commentator's voice was heard again.
-WHAT HAPPENED TO ZAI? Suddenly after standing on the tower, started to play with the swords, yet he doesn't dare attack the lion. A "boo" can be heard from the audience who dislike cowards!”
A vain finally popped in Zai's head.
He has decided it was time for him to continue his plan of run and slash. He figured that by doing such a thing, the lion would steadily lose its life.
He prepared for his attack, raised his two swords to the sky, jumped from the tower, straight at the lion, in hopes of sticking the swords right in the lion's body.
However, the lion suddenly jumped upward aiming at Zai. Due to the work of gravity, Zai couldn't dodge in mid-air. But he was able to make his sword plunge straight into the lion's mouth, his hands also were in the lion's mouth. And when the lion closed his mouth on them. It was an instant defeat to Zai.
Suddenly, he felt as if he was in a black liquid. He tried to move, but as if he was pinned down, he was unable to do anything.
Suddenly and all at once, the black liquid disappeared from around him and instead, a man with long black hair, wearing a white coat appeared in front of him. The person in front of him resembled someone he knew a lot, if only he had shorter hair, he would certainly be him
"Father?"