Felix stood outside the blacksmith’s shop, the weight of his recent achievements still sinking in. He adjusted the uncommon boots he had earned from defeating the Dire Hare, appreciating their added agility and defense. Caroline’s voice brought him back to the task at hand.
"Alright, Lix," she said with mock authority, "time to level up."
A notification popped up: Level Up! You are now Level 2. Felix grinned as his HUD displayed a new allocation screen.
CURRENT STATS:
* Strength: 5
* Dexterity: 7 + 1 (Class Bonus) = 8
* Constitution: 6
* Intelligence: 8
* Wisdom: 5
* Charisma: 9
* Perception: 7 + 1 (Class Bonus) = 8
"You get one free stat point per level, in addition to your class bonuses," Caroline reminded him. "Where are you putting it?"
Felix considered his options. "Let’s go with Constitution. I feel like I’ll need a bit more survivability."
Caroline nodded approvingly. "A wise choice. Now, let’s get to those beginner quests."
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QUEST 1: THE ERRAND BOY
Felix’s first quest was simple: delivering a package from the blacksmith to a tailor on the other side of the village. As he started running, a small overlay in his HUD indicated the stream viewership was rising steadily.
"Looks like people are watching," Caroline noted. "Chat’s already buzzing. Someone just said, ‘First errand boy of Sol Online!’"
Felix laughed. "I’ll take it. At least I’m breaking records somewhere."
"Another one says, ‘This game looks insane!’ Oh, and here’s a gem: ‘Why is he running like that?’ You’ve got trolls already, Lix." While the task seemed mundane, the journey gave Felix a chance to explore. The village’s intricate blend of medieval architecture and high-tech enhancements was mesmerizing. Holographic signs advertised wares, and NPCs engaged in conversations that felt almost too lifelike.
Caroline offered commentary as Felix jogged through the streets. "Notice how every NPC seems busy? That’s intentional. It’s designed to make the world feel alive."
"It’s working," Felix admitted. "Feels like I’m in an actual town."
He delivered the package without issue and received a small amount of system credits and experience.
"Not bad," Caroline said. "Though I’d hardly call you a hero for running errands."
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QUEST 2: GATHERER’S GRIT
The next quest involved collecting glowing herbs in a nearby field. Felix crouched amidst the underbrush, carefully plucking the plants while Caroline offered advice.
"Watch for the glimmer," she said. "Your Perception stat makes spotting rare herbs easier."
Felix paused as a faint shimmer caught his eye. "Found one!" he exclaimed, grabbing the plant.
"Good eyes, Lix," Caroline teased. "Maybe you’re not entirely hopeless."
The quest ended with a modest reward: a small health elixir and more experience points. Another notification popped up: Level Up! You are now Level 3.
UPDATED STATS:
* Strength: 5
* Dexterity: 8 + 1 (Class Bonus) = 9
* Constitution: 7
* Intelligence: 8
* Wisdom: 5
* Charisma: 9
* Perception: 8 + 1 (Class Bonus) = 9
Felix assigned his free point to Dexterity. "Better mobility never hurts."
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QUEST 3: A FISHY SITUATION
The next quest took Felix to the village docks, where a frantic fisherman begged for help. "Something’s in the water," the NPC said, pointing to ripples near the shore.
"Let me guess," Felix said. "Rats of the sea?" Felix quipped, glancing at his HUD. The chat overlay displayed, "Is this guy for real?" and "Dude doesn’t even know about water mobs?"
Caroline laughed, reading aloud. "‘Can’t wait to see this guy wipe to a fish.’ What confidence they have in you, Lix." "You catch on quickly."
Felix peered into the water, spotting glowing eyes. A trio of oversized fish leapt toward him, their sharp teeth bared. He dodged to the side, firing a bolt into the nearest one.
"Blinkstep to reposition," Caroline reminded him.
Felix teleported behind the remaining fish, dispatching them with quick, precise shots. The fisherman thanked him, handing over a small pouch of copper coins and another health elixir. The system converted the coins into credits, and Felix’s experience bar filled further.
Another notification flashed: Level Up! You are now Level 4.
UPDATED STATS:
* Strength: 5
* Dexterity: 9 + 1 (Class Bonus) = 10
* Constitution: 7
* Intelligence: 8
* Wisdom: 5
* Charisma: 9
* Perception: 9 + 1 (Class Bonus) = 10
Felix added his free point to Perception. "Let’s make sure I don’t miss anything."
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QUEST 4: THE FINAL STRETCH
The last beginner quest involved retrieving a lost necklace for an NPC child. While the task seemed straightforward, it took Felix into a dense forest where he encountered more aggressive enemies.
"Watch out," Caroline warned. "Those things have ranged attacks."
Felix ducked behind a tree as glowing orbs of energy whizzed past him. He countered with a well-placed bolt, then Blinkstepped to a safer position. The combat was intense but manageable, and Felix finally retrieved the necklace.
Stolen novel; please report.
Returning to the village, he handed over the item and received his reward: a beginner’s quiver with enhanced capacity and another chunk of experience.
Level Up! You are now Level 5.
UPDATED STATS:
* Strength: 5
* Dexterity: 10 + 1 (Class Bonus) = 11
* Constitution: 7
* Intelligence: 8
* Wisdom: 5
* Charisma: 9
* Perception: 10 + 1 (Class Bonus) = 11
"Congratulations," Caroline said. "You’re officially out of the beginner zone."
Felix smirked. "So what’s next?"
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A BRUSH WITH DEATH
As Felix explored the outskirts of the village, a notification popped up: Hidden Event Discovered. Before he could react, a massive wolf-like creature leapt out of the shadows, its glowing red eyes locking onto him. The beast let out a bone-chilling snarl, and in an instant, it pinned him to the ground, its claws digging painfully into his chest.
"Lix, MOVE!" Caroline shouted. Felix struggled, but the creature's strength was overwhelming. The beast sank its fangs into his shoulder, a searing wave of pain shooting through his body. "System Pain Level: 50%," his HUD displayed, but it felt far more intense than he expected.
The edges of Felix’s vision blurred as his health bar depleted rapidly. Just before it hit zero, the screen shifted to a chilling death scene. A dark void enveloped him, and a small movie played. A towering figure, humanoid but unmistakably alien, appeared before him. Its silver skin shimmered as it spoke in a resonant voice: "Death is a reminder, not an escape. After 365 days, death will carry consequences." The figure extended a hand, and holographic images of the pyramids flashed around Felix. Each pyramid glowed ominously, their presence undeniable.
Felix’s mind raced. 365 days... the pyramids... His earlier conversation with Nina resurfaced. "They’re going to open in 365 days after the game goes live," she had said. "And we’ll need what’s inside them."
The alien’s voice echoed one last time. "Prepare wisely." The void dissipated, and Felix found himself respawning in the village square, his heart hammering in his chest.
As he steadied himself, a commotion nearby drew his attention. Another player, wearing basic starter gear, was arguing with his AI companion. "I told you to alert me before the ambush!" the player snapped.
Felix approached, curious. The other player noticed him and groaned. "Oh, great, another spectator."
"What happened?" Felix asked.
"My AI," the player said, gesturing at a small floating orb beside him, "doesn’t seem to understand the concept of timely warnings. I got jumped by a pack of wolves and lost half my inventory."
Caroline chimed in, her tone dripping with amusement. "Oh, poor thing. You mean your AI didn’t warn you about the wolves?"
The orb’s monotone voice responded. "This unit requires a direct query to provide situational updates."
Felix blinked. "Wait, you have to ask it for information?"
"Yes," the player grumbled. "And it doesn’t even flag potential threats unless I specifically tell it to monitor an area."
Caroline laughed. "Five Intelligence and Wisdom, I see. That’s... adorable."
The player frowned. "What’s that supposed to mean?"
Felix shrugged, smirking. "Her stats are... a bit higher than standard."
"A bit?" Caroline said. "Try four times higher. And I do more than just answer questions."
The orb buzzed softly. "This unit operates within standard parameters as defined by Sol Online’s management. Enhanced functionality is not authorized for tutorial-level AIs."
Caroline’s snark was immediate. "Well, aren’t you a bundle of fun. No wonder your player’s having such a great time."
Felix couldn’t help but laugh. "Good luck," he said to the other player, patting his shoulder as he walked away.
"Some people have it rough," Caroline said once they were out of earshot. "Imagine trying to survive this world with that thing babysitting you."
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QUEST 5: A PUZZLING ENCOUNTER
Returning to the village, Felix spotted a group of players huddled around a glowing monolith near the town square. An NPC scholar approached him, offering a quest: Mind Over Matter. Solve the puzzles within the monolith to earn valuable rewards.
Felix eagerly took the quest, but as he worked on the intricate puzzles—aligning glyphs, deciphering symbols, and rearranging holographic panels—Caroline finished her assigned puzzles in record time, earning a rare item. "Not bad, Lix," Caroline teased. "For someone taking five minutes per puzzle."
"Rub it in, why don’t you?" Felix muttered.
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THE FINAL TEST
After recovering from his death, Felix received a final tutorial quest: Defeat the Tutorial Boss. Armed with his new sniper rifle, he followed the waypoint through the outskirts of the village, which led him into a dense forest. The journey was long, and the landscape gradually transitioned into eerie, mist-covered ruins. Ancient statues with glowing eyes lined the path, and faint whispers seemed to echo in the wind.
"They really want to set the mood," Felix said, his voice uneasy.
Caroline chuckled. "Atmosphere is everything, Lix. Focus—we’re not alone out here."
As if on cue, Felix spotted movement in the trees. A group of shadowy figures darted between the trunks, their red eyes glowing ominously. A notification appeared: Hostile Creatures Detected.
Felix gripped his sniper rifle, raising it to his shoulder. The weapon felt powerful, its weight balanced perfectly. "Time to see what this thing can do," he muttered.
The first enemy leapt from the shadows, and Felix fired. The shot rang out, the recoil kicking against his shoulder. The bullet struck the creature square in the chest, sending it sprawling to the ground. "Damn," Felix said, grinning. "This thing’s a beast."
"Nice shot," Caroline said. "But don’t get cocky. More are coming."
Felix reloaded quickly, firing at the advancing enemies. Each shot was precise, the sniper rifle’s sheer power obliterating the smaller foes. But one creature, faster and more elusive, stayed out of his line of sight. It circled him, waiting for an opening.
"I can’t get a clear shot," Felix said, frustration creeping into his voice.
"Allow me," Caroline said. Her tone shifted, becoming almost clinical. "Activating Memory Infusion."
Felix’s vision blurred for a split second as tactical data flooded his mind. A glowing outline of the creature appeared through the trees, marking its position. Instinctively, Felix adjusted his aim and fired. The bullet tore through the foliage, striking the creature down.
"Got it," Felix said, exhaling sharply. "That was... intense."
"And efficient," Caroline added smugly. "You’re welcome."
Finally, the forest opened into a massive clearing dominated by a circular arena. As Felix entered, a new wave of stream comments appeared.
Caroline read aloud, "‘This is it, the big boss!’ and ‘Rip in advance, my dude.’ Oh, and someone just bet 500 credits that you won’t survive the first minute."
Felix rolled his eyes. "Appreciate the faith, stream. I’ll try not to disappoint." The Shadow Reaper stood at its center, its towering form shrouded in black mist. Its glowing red eyes locked onto Felix, and a notification flashed: Level 10 Elite: Shadow Reaper.
As Felix stepped closer, the air grew heavy. A system notification appeared: Fear Effect Activated. Movement Reduced by 50%.
Felix froze, his heart pounding. "This thing’s on a whole different level."
"Stay calm," Caroline said. "This is just the tutorial boss. Stick to your training."
Felix raised his sniper rifle, but his hands trembled. Before he could fire, the Shadow Reaper let out a deafening roar. The screen abruptly faded to black, and massive red text appeared: TO BE CONTINUED. Below it, a release date flashed: Sol Online Goes Live: 10.10.2063 12.00.