Character Lock
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The fall of myself felt like an eternity, but the first touch of the ground was to fast to remember. My vision darken all around me to a small frame of the scenery my head was directed at, it was the grasp of my hand slipping away from the sword. Soon the sword vanished.
Revive in : 365 seconds
311 seconds
268
...
"Kick him already. Dual wielders are all leechers."
A shadow came approaching my vision and stepped on my senseless hand. As in spite, he twisted the heel of his golden steel sabaton upon my palm, crushing the sight of my fingers.
True enough of his statement, it was rare for such a build to be good at anything for a party. It has no support abilities. No effective offensive skills against bosses. Is too fragile to tank and is solely focused on self-sufficiency. In a party, all one can do is just hope to stay in battle.
But that itself is wasn't enough to a party.
You have been kicked from the party.
"Fucking noob." The heavy knight brought up his great sword beyond my sight and threw it down. The opportunity to respawn blanked out, leaving to town my only option.
Waiting for a moment, I found myself in the town square of Hi-Sciora. As of all towns, it was idle bit busy of players. Chat log spammed with advertising trades by individuals and progressing players running from quest point to quest point. But despite that, the noise was pretty moderate, people were having proper conversations in contrast of the brimming chat log.
Recently respawned, I had no MP so I sat at a corner of a well stacked building and waited till natural regen activated. While waiting I changed my title to 'Mercenary' and overheard conversations.
One that particularly caught my ears was a resting party of skrewed heavy meele builds and a single mage. A full on switch-tank party.
"Ay. Was fucking weird. Felt like the last boss raid got personal. We were both trying to kill each other. Hahaha!"
"Hahaha. Yeah, I was watching that. I was just right there just tanking and it just stopped at that moment when you revived and aoe'd you."
"Ye, what a cunt. And the mage wouldn't revive me.-"
"- the MP cost got too high. It was better FK'ing the boss."
"Ye whatever."
The mage saw me for a moment, reading the title then stared at the two swords at my back.
A whisper text came to me on the chat log from the mage.
"You a finale?"
"No."
Tch.
They wore envious cosmetics that made people want to spend money for in-game currency. Made me wanted to spend money on cosmetics. But that brief interaction woken me up.
'So what if I look cool? Rogues are shit. Hence their name rogue.'
I desired to change class as always but that too cost real money. In fact. It's crazy how many things are actually paid to use in the first place. Separate cost for resetting stats. Personal trait. Skills. Cosmetics. Land. Premium skills. Guild pact. Anything that doesn't affect a player's adventure.
I dropped my head behind my knees, depressed at the benefits of money.
'Enough, I need to grind.'
I opened a tab from the menu and googled a leveling guide of this game. Though, because this game has yet celebrate its first year after beta, the list was organised by level, oblivious to the exp amount.
There were many monsters around level 110, from mobs to mini bosses to raid bosses. There were even some early bosses that reached this level if their mode was above normal.
I was familiar with all the bosses through the story quest which allowed me to reach this level at ease. But that was going through them on easy. Looking through the list, I found a boss that wasn't in the story quest.
'La'elinch?'
It was normal mode with my level. Interested, I noticed it's location by surprise. It seems that the forest of monsters has more than one boss in it.
The teleportation feather to Kieel city, the home of all players, tore me away from Hi-Sciora square. It was a soothing ride but the stack of feathers to Kieel city reminded me of how I lost all my starter jump gold within a week, leaving me broke for the last 50 levels or so.
If you didn't get the hint of stack of feathers. Then there's no point explaining the incident.
The world roared to life with music and chatter. The city was full enthusiasm, full of people and full of shops of every kind. From player controlled to NPC controlled. People cheered loudly over from the open bars while others ramp around from place to place, doing their own thing.
The majority of players were mages. From pureblood to farmer, but all held a high level in society. After all, their diverse purposes makes them popular. From that the hunters and warriors was equal or lesser in majority between each other. Easy starter classes, great potential in the future. Then the brawlers, sparsely found in the crowd and has a trend of them being Chibi. But their tanking abilities as well as mobility skills are first to none.
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The dual wield hype had died down as quickly as it has been introduced to the world. Infamously known as the slowest class despite its sonic attacking speed, but also known to miss the target because of this.
Now, dual swordsmen players tend to be the ridicule of the game. Except those who had started as a warrior first then changed to dual wielding afterwards. Though, they aren't any faster than before.
I searched through my inventory, checking what gear to equip. The name of this boss had bought back some memories of discussions I've read on the thread board.
I opened another tab, searching a video clip of an La'elinch battle. But it was more of an analysis video recording during a calm battle with the hidden boss. Thankfully it revealed where it was as well.
"Hello! T.S here! Today we're going to be fighting La'elinch, suggest by many of you viewers! I'm with my guild Order of Destiny because as usual we will be fighting this boss from easy all the way to Miasma mode!...... "
"Finally, we are at Miasma mode. Because this is the final mode, it should be horrible. After all, it dodged and envaded about 80% of our attacks in ultimate. This is why I'm not doing it in solo."
The host sighted in regret of accepting the request but the video cut into the battle anyways. In the middle of the clearing was a small hunched being cloaked in leafs grown on vines and wielded a long shaft spear as long as the players.
This time, they all held different weapons. With Miasma mode, fighting it with earth or wind elemental weapons would only aid it.
"Okay mage. This time you solely focus on supporting sinc- what the fuck-?!"
From infront of them La'elinch suddenly vanished and a white phantom came flying at the host of the video. But besides the surprise attack, like professional gamers they continued to shout out their plans mid battle. The mage as full support. Knight change to DPS from tank and samurai from DPS to lurer. The warrior staying the same role as buffer DPS along with the brawler also being a backup lurer if the samurai tripped.
The video was cut again to highlights, retries and finally the death of La'elinch.
"Phew! Thanks for watching!"
I was hesitant a bit. But it was either this or back to the realm of Hi-Sciora and get kick around all day just like a few hours ago. Or worse case scenario, resort to hunting individual mobs just for a few or even less than one percent of exp points. Nevertheless, I already made a decision already since I came here.
The chat log, as like all towns, was spammed with shout-out sales, bargains, and even a little bit of recruitment from upstarting guilds.
This world was extraordinary when I first interacted with it. From my strange and slow beginning from the cliff and traveling around the world after realising how levels affects this world.... I made many mistakes here.
I pushed onwards, leaving the regret in this town and headed out the gates. The soldiers with spears, looking alive on duty for the sake of appearances, but really would be the most lax people in town since monster never got near the walls.
A few bot accounts spamming in chat on the map outside the gate. As if that wasn't enough, newbies had to venture here and struggle to do so with these fucking bots blocking the way to some farming areas. To bad all the maps surrounding the town is PvP free so these bot account couldn't be killed.
It's fucking trollers. Nothing more nothing less.
I phantom step pass the barricades in cost of 2/3 of my MP. Quite a dearly toll just to travel but it was fast. There were also other players traveling through, more or less powerful than me.
The forest hasn't much change, well at least not the terrain. But there was camping sites along side the once corridor now a sparsely gravel road. A few carriages and steeds tied up at posts by the trees. It had change greatly from the beta world due to the interaction of players and NPC's alike.
Surprisingly there was a Traven out here as well and is more popular than the bars in the town. The small open barn was full of ponies and horses, some with grand armor and many with basic covering. Guess that's why there was a few steeds tied up at the trees from before.
I had no intention to do stop bys while going to La'elinch but I guess I envied the company of companions as well. I entered the Traven for a while, bought myself a mug with a few copper coins and leaned by the chore board.
Chores for gathering items, from plants to materials from rodents. Upcoming events like an expedition through the silver spine pass the forest of monsters. More guild recruitment which for some reason is on a chore board. Who the hell does that?
'I guess I should go now-'
On the chat log there was a group looking for one more member for La'elinch primary mode. Tracking down the requester username to a huntsman player with another three players sitting about, another marksman, a Samurai and a warrior.
The feeling of rejection from before still sunk deep inside but this world values cooperation over lone wolves. And only fools would try to go solo.
Approaching their table, I held my hand out, catching one of their attention, eventually gain all of their interest. A couple chuckled from their previous talk than glared at me with a smile.
"What do you want." He sneered.
A ping of regret stabbed me. But my own pride gave me confidence. 'This fucking kid..' I didn't like his way of addressing me. 'Suck it up, this is worth a try.'
"I'm looking for a party for La'elinch primary mode."
They looked at each other, muttering into silence, probably switching their conversation to party chat mode. It didn't last long and ended with them grinning.
You received an party invitation from DRAG0NS1AY3R
"You'll be switch tank." The warrior exclaimed.
They packed up, leaving their mugs on the table. Outside they went towards the steeds, at this moment I realized they'll just leave me behind and I started to go first.
...
"Huh your pretty fast! Haha"
I brushed the twigs stuck on my clothing from my off road shortcut. While they tied their steeds again I rested, gaining back my money lost during the chase.
'Not the first time I've been ditch you cunts.'
The others were just disappointed that I caught up within half a minute when they arrive at La'elinch's area.
There was already a handful of parties here, disappearing to fight La'elinch or were disbanding.
"Ready up!"
We interacted with the orb of light, entering a mini lobby. After everyone readied, we were transported to back of the area, but this time the orb of light was replaced by La'elinch figure.
"Go." The huntsman pushed me forward as they glared, unmoving from the path to the area exit.
"Hey! What about you guys?!"
It was already too late. The marksman shot an arrow at La'elinch and immediately ran to the exit. Being the closes to La'elinch, the aggro fell upon me.
The rest left except the sneering samurai who kept the exit block.
You have been kicked from the party.
'What-?!'
The Samurai dashed forward, his named katana slashing forward. Samurai build. Moves slow but attacks fast, but this one being over level 100, had Shukuchi.
"Don't run away coward." He spitted.
The ground his katana hitted splitted to waves bursting to the sides.
I had phantom stepped away from his strike but I became a step closer to the enraged La'elinch. But before I could dodge again, La'elinch swung his spear from behind. It's blade of the spear skrewed through me, entertaining the Samurai.
"Buhahaha! That's what you get for running away."
The chat log was full of comments from the other members of the party. All replying the same as the Samurai.
"LOL. what an idiot."
"Noobs are so funny."
"Get out already Josh. I found a finale player."
The Samurai left battle as I was left stunned by the attack. The spear was pulled out again and pierced through the back of my throat. The last bit of HP vanished.
You have been defeated. No other members are alive. Cannot revive.
To town?
. . .
I respawned at town and went to menu. My finger hovered over the log out button. Intentions swarming in frustration.
'I had enough of this shit.'
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