It was almost 4 weeks since Dez has logged on to Royal Road now.
Having rested for only short meals of Rye Bread and running to the fountain occasionally to refill his canteen with water, Dez has spent the rest of his time striking the scarecrow aside for minimal sleep required to alleviate the fatigue effect on his character.
With only less than 2 hours of game time till his 4 weeks of beginner restriction ends, Dez continues striking the scarecrow in front of him in disregard to anything that happens around him.
Initially, players around took notice of him after he continues a tireless assault on his scarecrow for 15 minutes without slowing his pace even once.
This went on for 6 hours, where attempts to get his attention through remarks or comments had completely failed. Then taking a 5 minute break for Rye Bread and a long drink of water, Dez went back to striking his target as if he was a machine with a fixed program.
His routine repeated itself over the weeks. Every 2 breaks, he would refill his canteen. Each day, he would sleep for 2 hours. This went on to a point where people began from trying all means to have him react to them till writing him off as some new unsociable NPC. Of course, they had not try physical contact in either fear of retaliation or getting into a pointless fight.
On Dez's part, his character has steadily progressed. Rise in basic stats were decent. New stats like Sword Mastery and Sustenance came naturally as he continued his mechanical routine. Anytime now, he thought. Deciding to up the pace, Dez swung with whatever greater force and speed he could muster despite having tiring out his body over the entire process.
*TING!*
All his efforts have finally paid off. He is now done with the Basic Training that he found out about prior to entering the game. A message box appears, which he quickly closes as he brings up his character status window to get a better overview instead of the brief achievement.
Character WindowNameDezAlignmentNeutralLevel1Fame1ClassNoneTitleNoneHealth250Mana110Strength39Dexterity47Wisdom17Intelligence16Luck0Leadership0Stamina54Fighting Spirit5Perseverance12Endurance1Offence6Defence1Eloquence1Magic Resistance0%SkillsSword Mastery (Beginner)5Mental Finesse (Beginner)2
Dez stares at the stats window for a bit and shows a bored face despite feeling a sense of displeasure on the inside.
“This is peculiar. From what I know, doing things over and over mechanically will result in a decrease in Wisdom and Intelligence. Yet I remember these stats increasing very rarely but surely over this period whenever a stat increase message appeared.” wondered Dez.
His other stats like Strength and Agility has also grown in an unusual manner as they look way higher than what one would normally get from doing the Basic Training Programme. Furthermore, there was a new skill other than Sword Mastery which he gained from using the Wooden Sword.
Dez closes the stats window while bringing up another window that describes Mental Finesse.
Mental Finesse
The body moves and is always bound to the physical realm.
As with magic, one's mind has no such bound.
The flesh may falter but the undisturbed mind can go on forever.
This skill allows you to separate yourself from your physical bodies and using nothing more than your mind to create a simulated world of your own.
This does not affect the actual happenings and the slow down of time only increases with your proficiency of this skill.
Increases efficiency of any magic or imaging related skills.
Reduces mana cost of any skill by 1% or 1 mana, depending on which is greater.
Damage or level of any spell or image related skill receives a buff based on Wisdom & Intelligence.
Dez closes the window quietly as he laughs in disgust mentally at this skill he gained. Walking over to the instructor, who now looks at him with respect for having completed the training with tireless diligence and discipline, Dez mocks the game in his mind.
“So even in here, I'm given such preferential treatment, huh. A ridiculous increase in stats. An abnormal skill that is quite obviously equivalent to that of a cheat. I might be quitting this sooner than expected.”
Despite thinking all of this, the truth was far from what Dez imagines!
It is true that when one repeats an action over and over without thought and just mere perseverance, wisdom and intelligence points would be lost. For Dez, this was hardly the case.
He might not have realised it, but as he attacked the scarecrow over and over, he was constantly imagining the movements of an enemy striking back at him. Evading the imagined attacks without exaggerated movements, he went on to strike the scarecrow with a wide variation of lunges, slashes, blunt strikes and even more.
Doing all this while maintaining a constant speed of landing strikes, anyone who watched him would not notice any of this unless they had observed him the entire time while taking note of all his actions other than the evident routine.
Royal Road wasn't giving him preferential treatment. It was rewarding him for the complexity of his outwardly simple striking of a scarecrow! Though it did not speed up Basic Training, the difference in stats gain compared to a normal player completing the training by plainly striking a scarecrow was much better.
However, to Dez, this did not seem that way. He has always done anything he attempts in this manner. Understanding, thinking, and improving. The act of striking a scarecrow is simple to all. For Dez, he would think up and try all possible ways of hitting it. He would imagine it as a living enemy. Not just one type of enemy, as many as he happens to think up of till he is done.
As such, being rewarded in this manner does not seem fair. To him, it felt like he was being rewarded for doing things the way he normally does!
Stopping before the instructor, Dez looks straight at the NPC who was clearly impressed by what he has seen over the past few days. Lifting up an Iron Sword, the instructor presents it to Dez with both hands.
“Admirable! I have not seen such dedication and devotion to training of the sword at this level before. In fact, you have stayed here the entire time, haven't you?” says the instructor with a wide smile as Dez receives the Iron Sword with both hands humbly.
“This is but a small price to pay for growth in the way of the sword.” replies Dez respectfully.
“Such commitment comes rarely. Would you not take up the way of the sword? I'm sure with you, swordsmanship will have much to gain in both technique and individual.”
This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it
*DING!*
Class Change!
You can convert to a class Swordsman.
If you accept it, you can learn exclusive skills for the class that are withheld from the primary classes.
Do you want to convert to Swordsman?
“I am still young and there is much to learn. My devotion is not bound to just the sword but everything this world comprises of. Should I take up the sword as my way of life in future, I will definitely return here to let you know.”
Looking a bit dejected, the instructor nods his head understandingly and pats Dez on his shoulder.
“Very well. If you take up the sword, return here and I introduce you to some of the honourable knights of Royal Army.”
Taking a half bow, Dez turns and leaves the Training Hall without another word. Players and NPCs who have gotten used to him staying by his scarecrow here stared on in wonder as he left as they have began to treat him as part of the Training Hall as an example to new players due to his behaviour over the past weeks.
Having planned out the development of his character, Dez wastes no time as he walks along the streets to observe player and NPC merchants who were trying to sell their wares. Watching for about 10 minutes, he then walks into a blacksmith's shop.
“Good day, what would you like to purchase?” asks the blacksmith who was eager to make a sale but couldn't help but show a slight frown when he sees the beginner clothing Dez was wearing.
Replying with nothing more than a nod, Dez silently looks at the display of weapons and armours from a distance. Seeing this, the blacksmith decides not to entertain the poor soul before him to carry on working on the sword he was moulding into shape with his hammer before Dez entered.
Seeing this, Dez watches on quietly as the blacksmith swung down his hammer over and over till the sword took shape. Dripping the sword into a trough of cold water, the hot iron quickly cools down and hardens. Having seen enough to get a rough idea, Dez walks up to the blacksmith.
“You seem to be a skilled and experienced blacksmith. How long has it taken for you to gain such a level of refinement?” asks Dez.
Like how an experienced senior would treat a newbie, the blacksmith smiles at the compliment and sets the sword down on a table before speaking.
“Years, boy. It sure wasn't easy for me to get to the level I am at today.”
“I see. I am actually very interested in knowing more about blacksmithing as I have always dreamed of making a fine sword or polished set of armour myself one day.”
“An aspiring blacksmith, huh? I can't say I appreciate more competition in the market around here. But perhaps some basics wouldn't hurt to start you out.”
“I would be much honoured if you would be willing to show some basic steps.”
The blacksmith, whose business wasn't too well and wasn't particularly busy at that point, showed some basic steps to the eager beginner Dez portrays himself to be.
With each step the blacksmith shows, Dez would excitedly ask a question or two that prompts the blacksmith to share more of his knowledge happily to the keen learner. When the basics were done, the blacksmith went on to talk about more advance techniques as he was already caught in the flow of teaching.
*TING!*
You have learned the Blacksmithing Skill
The blacksmith only stops when he realises that he was about to go into talking about his personal knowledge of blacksmithing. Letting out a cough, he regains his composure as his face changes by to one of a poker face.
“That's all I can tell you for now. If you want to learn even more from me, why don't you pick up apprenticeship under me? I will groom you to be a fine blacksmith.”
*Ding!*
Do you want to become the Blacksmith's Apprentice?
If you accept it, the blacksmith will teach you to the best of his abilities and pass down to you techniques that he has personally developed and know of.
“Your generosity in sharing your knowledge has already been more than worthy of my inexperience. I am still not worthy of your great tutelage. Allow me to train up first to ready myself as an apprentice. Please, have this Rye Bread as a gift from your future student.”
Raising a piece of Rye Bread he took out of his backpack, Dez offers it to the blacksmith with both hands stretching out. The blacksmith appears taken back for a bit but quickly refuses by gently pushing it back with both hands.
“It's fine. Keep it for yourself. Once you are ready, come back here and I will take you in as an apprentice.”
Gratefully keeping the Rye Bread in his backpack, Dez takes a half bow and thanks the blacksmith before leaving.
Having spent nearly an hour learning from the blacksmith, Dez hasten his pace after leaving the shop and headed for a tailor shop. On entering, he talks the seamstress there into teaching him how to sew and learns the tailoring skill as a result.
When he is done, he leaves and heads for the nearest tavern. Spending a silver piece, Dez gets his a simple room with a bed along with a meal included after a bit of compliments and flirting with the lady at the counter.
Picking his meal to be taken at supper time, Dez goes to his room where he has a cheap meal of Rye Bread and water first before resting into the evening. When supper time comes, he leaves his room to eat at one of the tables near the bar counter.
The food itself was passable and nothing special. But Dez wolfs it down ravenously and praises the meal of soup and bread to no end until the bartender offers to let him into the kitchen to meet the cook.
Once inside the kitchen, Dez repeats his act of interest and urge to learn into having the cook teach him the basics of cooking. Through this, he gains the skill of cooking.
Achieving all that he set out to do for the day, Dez leaves the tavern late into the night and prepares to head out of the city to begin hunting as he has planned.
Considering the game was 4 times faster compared to real life, a week has passed since he has entered the capsule without rest. The endurance supplements he took are reaching the end of their effect by now and he had at most a day left before he would have to let his physical body rest for an entire day.
This means from now till the time he has to disconnect and leave Royal Road for 4 whole days in game time were approximately 4 whole days as well.
Taking out the sword he received from the instructor at the Training hall earlier, he examines it.
Hard Iron Sword:
Durability: 54/54
Damage: 10-14
Awarded to those who completed the Basic Training Program.
This widely-used long sword is better than basic type weapons that are available in a blacksmith’s workshop.
Equip:
+10 STR
Limits:
STR 40+
VIT 35+
“4 days. I suppose I should try out some actual combat before I leave. The experience will allow me to plan on the day of rest from grinding this game for a week now.”
With only beginner clothing and the Iron Sword he received from Basic Training, Dez heads out to hunt by himself as players who around watch on as they anticipate his inevitable death as a newbie who goes night hunting by himself.