Linxx reached the shop and entered. He now has 1600 gold. He figured that he would get a good pet with this much gold. Knowing that he has to sweet talk the NPC to get the maximum profit out of almost anything in the game, he bowed down to the aged man and told him about his quest.
When the shopkeeper heard his story of Fighter Genk, he was in rage. Genk was a hero of the Nahur city. No one knew how he died. They had suspected that he was ambushed and killed as there were many assassins behind him hired by his enemies.
After knowing for a fact that their hero was still alive after fighting a strong ambush and was done in by mere wolves who took advantage of the fact that he was severely injured, the shopkeeper was furious.
He knew that the boy in front of him has come to look for a companion to defeat the wolves. He thought it couldn’t be a mere coincidence that this boy found the ring of Genk. He checked Linxx with a glare that would make many others run in fear but Linxx stood there with a look that said tales of his strength. The shopkeeper nodded and told him to come inside a small room which was further inside the shop.
When Linxx went inside, it was very dark. The shopkeeper lit a candle and asked Linxx to hold it and then, the shopkeeper started tossing out things one after another as if he was searching for something. Linxx held the candle in a way that would give the room maximum brightness.
“Can I ask what are you searching for?”
“Well, you are strong but you are not strong enough to handle 22 wolves by yourself right? So, you came here to get a pet. But I sense great things from you, so I am going to give you the most wonderful pet this world has ever seen. But… Aah, found it!”
The shopkeeper pulled out a raggedy old sack which was surrounding something. He unwrapped the sack and an egg was revealed. The egg was milky white and shone brighter than it usually would have because of the darkness. The shopkeeper hesitated for a bit and then his face seemed like it remembered something and held the egg in front of Linxx.
“This is a dragon’s egg.”
Linxx went deaf after that. The shopkeeper was telling the history of dragons but Linxx didn’t hear any of it. From his gaming experience, he knew that dragons are mythical creatures and especially in games, they are either the last boss or the strongest pet for a character or both. He knew that he had just won a jackpot.
***
Rohit woke up with a start but this has become pretty normal for him. The feeling of waking up from a horrifying dream is what you feel when you log out of the game. His character went to sleep in the game and he had around 5 hours of game time before its 4 a.m. in the game. He washed his face and due to excessive sleeping, he didn’t feel tired at all.
He took out his cell phone and was surprised to see a text from Dishita. In Rohit’s mind, she didn’t look that good with the curly hair and weird dressing but she was talkative. Talkative and weird. He opened the message.
College is soooo boring. You are lucky that you don’t have to come. I’m leaving after the second lecture itself. I will also skip going to lectures as much as I can. So, whenever you decide to come to college, text me, okay?
A girl who takes your phone number in a way that she did, then texts on the same day and ends her text with a ‘?’, would definitely be considered a stalker by many. But, Rohit knew from his talk to her that she wasn’t like that. She is just a happy-go-round girl who doesn’t care about such stuff and in Rohit, she has probably found a friend. Rohit’s lips curved into a smile as he texted back a single word reply – “Sure.”
What Rohit didn’t notice was that he had typed the text with his left hand and he didn’t feel weird as if he was naturally good in using his left hand.
Rohit ate food, checked the website and found that Linxx was still level 21. That made Rohit happy but the happiness didn’t last long as he got to know about level 11 quest for Linxx. He clicked the topic concerning the quest and saw the quest’s details.
’How can a level 21 person kill 22 wolves? Even though it’s a month long quest but still that should result in a failure.’
Rohit then found out that Linxx got the quest after beating a wolf in the first place. He was dumbfounded. Most high level people would think that beating a wolf isn’t that big a deal unless they have faced it but Rohit has. He was dead within 15 seconds of meeting the wolf. He couldn’t even do a single damage to the wolf.
’Just how strong is he? Will I ever manage to beat him? I have to get much much stronger. I will also make Adalwolf train with me.’
He then remembered that he was killed by a single strike from Linxx. Then wouldn’t be fair if he also manages to kill him with a single strike. Out of nowhere, now Rohit didn’t want to just kill Linxx for his revenge but now he wanted to kill him in one strike.
’That means I will have to train 100 times more than that Linxx bastard but why the hell should I suffer alone? I will also make that weak pet of mine to train.’
Rohit logged in again at 3:45 a.m. game time and woke up Adalwolf. He noticed that Adalwolf is male and reminded himself to use ‘his’ / ’him’ / ’he’ for him instead of ‘it’. He perhaps thought that that would make him closer to his pet and thereby increase loyalty.
“If I can get stronger, so can you. You have to come with me and train. I don’t know how to train you but this running around seems to improve basic stats and strengthen ourselves. So, you are coming with me.”
Adalwolf looked at him and nodded instead of doing its 45 degree head routine. This surprised Worm. He knew that the game would take measures to make the pet understand the words of its master but he never thought that Adalwolf would agree.
‘Perhaps all the bad mouthing about him being weak yesterday made it so that he would want to get stronger too, eh? Good Good!’
Worm and Adalwolf were both waiting for Sanderp to come and give them bread and water. Before long, Sanderp came out and noticed Adalwolf also standing with Worm.
“So, Adalwolf is also going with you? Umm, then I will double your food. Ahh, I forgot to tell you this the other day but there is a penalty every time you come back to the castle. Before the next trip, I will add some weights. Umm, lets see, 0.5 kilograms of weight on each limb for you and 1 kilogram for Adalwolf.”
Before they could protest, Sanderp waved his hands around and there were 0.5 kilograms belt around each of his limb. Similar thing happened with Adalwolf. It’s just that his weights were 1 kilogram each. Now, Worm weighed 2 kilograms and Adalwolf weighed 4 kilograms more than they usually weigh.
This was tough, especially for worm because he had to travel 8 kilometers with one hand and one leg tied and after that they have to climb a mountain. Even though the mountain is without any monster, the trees block the path. It becomes denser and denser as they keep climbing.
Worm knew that after the little trek that he did yesterday. The thought of travelling a distance of 11 kilometers going up with 2 extra kilos on him made him almost run away from the training.
“Yes master, thank you for thinking of this training scheme for us. Adalwolf, bow your head and thank master.”
If he leaves, he will be killed by the wolves. However, that wasn’t the real reason why he didn’t run away. He had just returned from the real world and he got to know that Linxx is already strong enough to beat a level 60 or so wolf alone, while he couldn’t even scratch it. Even if he gets killed by the training, he will endure it. He will endure everything until he gets his revenge.
Sanderp was little surprised by Worm’s answer. He had expected him to protest against this little thing but Worm gratefully accepted the weights. Even Adalwolf remained calm. Being a small pup, 4 kilograms extra weight on the small body would make it difficult just to stand but his face didn’t show any change. Being a legendary creature, this determination can only be to support its master.
’This is the first time a white wolf has accepted a master, isn’t it? Didn’t think that you would want to become stronger too. Fine, I will train you to the point where you’d wish you should have never met me. I should have used 2 kilograms weight on each limb for him and 4 kilograms for the wolf.’
“Worm, I will like you to teach something before you go. Adalwolf, you also listen. This will help you too. Since, your intelligence is also high, I believe a pet can learn this skill too.”
Worm had never thought that the master would teach him a skill before he completes the wood quest. So, he was happy to learn a new skill. Who wouldn’t be?
“Okay to learn this skill, first sit down. Now, close your eyes and forget everything. Everything. Try to increase your consciousness. Try to hear as much as you can. I know this isn’t possible at this moment but you should keep practicing this. Now, tell me where I am.”
Worm didn’t hesitate, he and Adalwolf both turned around and opened their eyes. As expected, Sanderp was standing there. He had moved his position towards their back while he was talking but this wasn’t hard to notice. Sanderp nodded.
“Very good, very good! Now close your eyes again and try to focus on other things. Since I am speaking, your concentration is already on me but you should expand your concentration to the point that you should be able to distinguish between thousands of different voices.
You know, even the air flow has a voice. That is at different frequency than we can hear but when air is being, it creates a voice that is audible if you are trained. For example...”
*Thud! Thud!*
Adalwolf and Worm were both hit by a wet-leaves ball on their back. Since, the leaves were wet and curled to make a high density ball, the impact had quite an effect. So much that Worm lost 10 health due to it. They both looked at Sanderp who was giggling in a sheepish voice.
“Don’t look at me like that. Those balls travelled a long distance of 10 meters before hitting you. You should’ve been able to hear them and dodge them easily. Well, its your first try so I won’t complain much but I did expect both of you to dodge them since it was easy.
Keep practicing this and one day you will be able to fight against invisible opponents. And if you want to fight alone or with few people, you should master this since you’d be able to read which attack from which direction would land first and counter it suitably.”
The last sentence made Worm swallow his own spit. Since, he didn’t to form a party and play alone, this will be the most essential skill amongst all. He made a mental note to practice this skill during lunch.
“Thank you master for teaching this skill. I will be leaving now.”
“Okay but just letting you know that when you’ll come back. I will add another 2 kilograms for you and another 4 kilograms for Adalwolf. And going from here to the tree is 44 kilometers. You won’t be able to achieve that in a year if you just walk.
You’ll have to run and drink as little water as possible during your whole journey. The leather strips will come off on their own when you’ll reach the base of the mountain. Off you go!”
***
Linxx struggled with himself to not think about the egg and listen to the shopkeeper
“...and they are superior creatures that are far stronger and mysterious than a normal pet. However, they are intelligent and they can sense the power of people. It is said that the egg would only hatch if they find someone they acknowledge as their master.
Because they are extinct now or at least no one has seen a dragon since a century, they just disappeared suddenly back then. I was somehow fooled that this is a dragon’s egg since it hasn’t hatched for anyone. But what’s the harm in trying? Hold this for a minute.”
Linxx was astonished. Who wouldn’t be, when they hold a dragon’s egg in their hands?
‘My pet could be a dragon!’
The possibility, in itself, was amazing. He put down the candle and held the egg but nothing happened. A minute passed, then another but still nothing happened. With a sad expression, he held the egg towards the shopkeeper to return it.
The shopkeeper was about to take the egg when it vibrated a little. Linxx instantly pulled back his hands and started rubbing it. The egg vibrated a little more. Linxx kept rubbing it until a crack appeared. The crack gradually grew longer and multiple cracks started covering the egg. Before long, a head appeared through the cracks and looked at Linxx.
Slowly, a foot tall creature covered with dark blue metallic colored scale came out of the egg. Its round light blue eyes matched with its exterior. A pair of wings, each at least one and a half foot long, suspended the dragon in mid-air. Even though each of its wing was longer than its whole body, the wings further escalated the beauty of its mighty presence.
“Oh master, I am aware of your strength and I know that you will continue to grow more. That’s why I have decided to make you my master. Please name me.”
The shopkeeper hadn’t seen a single pet that has talked until now. With time, all the pets get used to their master’s words but still they could only understand, not talk. This was the first time where a pet has talked. A legendary creature bowing its head in front of a human. The shopkeeper didn’t have words to describe this scene unfolding in front of it.
“You will be called Vritra from now on.”
“I like that name master. I, Vritra, hereby swear on my dragon blood to serve you. I am weak and small creature as of now. But, as I grow older, I will become more powerful.”
“You don’t have to grow old to become powerful. Come with me, your training will start now. We don’t have much time. You need to get strong enough to kill at least 5 wolves on your own within a month.”
“But master...”
“I won’t hear your complaints. You have to train and train and train some more. With me, you have to become this world’s mightiest creature.”
“I will train with you master.”
Vritra only wanted to tell his master that he can take on 5 wolves easily even though its level is only 1. With thousands of years spending inside an eggshell, it had learnt the language of this world and it also has knowledge of most of the monsters present in the world.
Linxx thanked the shopkeeper for bestowing him the legendary creature.
“May I ask how much gold do I need to pay?”
“What are you talking about? You are going to fight for hero Genk. I can’t accept payment from you. Also, the dragon wouldn’t have chosen anyone. So, it is free. Infact, I am proud that I have managed to find the master of the legendary dragon.”
“Thank you.”
“All the best. I hope you bring fame to our Nahur city.”
“I definitely will.”
***
After falling down again and again, Worm reached the base of the mountain. But he took 6 hours and 30 minutes instead of 7 hours, even with the increased weight. The speed increased after he hit level 1 in Weak Foot Ability skill.
Worm’s two skills of weak arm and weak foot have now reached beginner level 1 and are midway to level 2. It turned out that adding weights increased the leveling speed of the skills.
Adalwolf was doing surprisingly better. If he was tired, his face didn’t show any sign of it. Worm didn’t take even a tiny sip of water until now and neither did Adalwolf. The leather strips came off. He decided to continue going upwards without taking water break.
He didn’t plan to return to the castle tonight because he will have to carry more weights. Adalwolf nodded when Worm explained to him that they would be continuing without taking water breaks and that they have to save as much as they can.
He took first step towards the mountain when he was interrupted by a system message.
Strength increases by 1.
Increase in strength has increased health by 1.
Strength increases by 1.
Increase in strength has increased health by 2.
Strength increases by 1.
Increase in strength has increased health by 3.
He should have been happy because of the message but he wasn’t. He was interrupted just as he was about to start climbing the mountain. And figuring out the role of strength in increasing his health took 5 minutes more of his precious time.
’First increase in strength increases health by 1, 2nd by 2 and so on… Damn, this messages are irritating. I don’t wanna be disturbed when I’m training.’
Suddenly, an idea occurred to him.
“Mute all system messages about basic stats and level ups. ”
He was right. This game is highly developed. Another message appeared that asked him until which level and distribution of stat points. He was even more irritated by the message. He knew that every level up gives 5 distribution points from the forums.
“50. For every level up until level 5, distribute all the points to agility. From level 6 to level 50, distribute 2 points to strength, 2 to agility and 1 to intelligence.”
He continued with his trekking and Adalwolf quietly followed. Before long, it was 4 p.m. and Worm decided that he should rest a little and his throat was parched to the point of burning up. The trees in the mountain gave him some relief but still he will have to drink the water now.
He wasn’t an army man who could survive weeks with just a litre water bottle. He told Adalwolf that they were taking a rest and after eating they would do the skill that master taught them before going further.
Perhaps Adalwolf wasn’t that tired or perhaps he just wanted to mock his master but he did his favorite 45 degree head routine once again. This, somehow, made Worm smile and he hit Adalwolf while smiling.
They ate and sat down while trying to meditate and feel everything around them. They kept meditating for an hour. By now, they could sense sounds of breezes a little. As Worm decided to start their trekking once again, another message window popped up.
Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Stat Focus formed.
Due to extreme focusing, a new stat Focus is formed.
Increase in the focus stat will raise your concentration and decrease your mana consumption.
Points cannot be distributed to this stat.
Skill : Concentration
Type : Passive
Stage : Beginner
Level : 0(0.00%)
Due to extreme focusing, a new skill Concentration is formed.
You can now sense changes in air pressure with range of 0.1 centimeters.
’Range is 0.1 centimeters? What the hell am I gonna do with that little range. Looks like I will have to increase its level.’
***
Worm kept himself out in the mountains for one and a half day, eating as little as possible. When he finally figured that he has only quarter bread and about 100 millilitres of water left, he decided to head back to the castle.
The game allowed a distance measurement function which told him that he had travelled 7 kilometers since the base of the mountain. He could easily reach the tree with the food remaining but the problem will be after that. He would need to cut the strong wood of the tree. That would consume around 70% of his strength when he is fully fit.
Furthermore, he will have to carry extra 16 kilograms of that wood by himself. Dragging it would be a pain because of the forest and going down a slope with 16 kilograms of wood wouldn’t be easy either.
He now knew why the quest had a time limit of 2 months and not just 2 days. He figured that he will have to reach the tree without consuming anything and save all his food and water for cutting the tree and coming back with it.
At present, he had travelled only 15 kilometers of the one way 22 kilometers journey and has already consumed 87.5% of his food and 90% of his water even with resting time and time again. He needed to add 7 more kilometers to this journey and decrease his food consumption to 0% so as to reach the tree.
’This is only the third day. I will definitely do it if I try more. ’
There was no use continuing any further. He took rest there and asked Adalwolf to take rest and concentrate the skill that master taught them. Going down would be faster than coming up, so he figured that he can spare an hour for increasing proficiency of Concentrate skill and still make it to the castle before 10 p.m.
They reached the base of the mountain and ate the remaining food and continued towards the castle. It was much harder for Worm because of the leather straps around his right arm and leg. Having consumed all his food, he felt like he was hanging by a thread. He knew that he would reach the castle if he travelled just a kilometre more but his body couldn’t handle it.
He had surpassed his limits long ago at the base of the mountain but drinking 100 millilitres of water gave him some strength. But, all that strength was gone by now. His vision became blurry and the forest looked white to him. After taking another step, he fell down. This was his 56th fall since the mountain. Only this time, he didn’t have the strength to stand back up. He passed out.
Adalwolf was struggling now. He had given up the thought that since he was a legendary creature, he had to look strong always. This training was too hard for a pup like him. He had been hungry and thirsty for lots of period but his master didn’t give him anything. He wanted to kill his master because he was keeping a legendary creature hungry.
But, everytime he looked at his master, he knew that his master was suffering much more than he was. Master had given him the last piece of bread that he didn’t eat himself. The look in Adalwolf’s eyes when he received his tiny piece of bread from master told his master that he wasn’t satisfied and master gave him his own bread as well. His master only drank the water that was with him.
Seeing his master collapse when they were so close from the castle, made Adalwolf feel guilt. If he didn’t have shown his master that look, master wouldn’t have to give his own bread to him and he wouldn’t have collapsed.
Adalwolf was just a small pup, but the guilt made him stronger. Even though, he didn’t have much strength left himself, he can’t abandon his master. He dragged his master by using master’s cloth as the point of attachment for its sharp teeth.
He kept dragging until he finally reached the castle. He howled once, used his legs to hit on the door and before the door could be opened, he also passed out.
Sanderp opened the door, saw Adalwolf and Worm lying on the floor, unconscious.
’Well from the looks of it, you two did good. But since you came back, I’ll have to add more weights before you leave. Don’t think I am a bastard for doing this. It is just for training to make you stronger. I will make sure you become strong enough to defeat hundreds and hundreds of wolves on your own without relying on Adalwolf before you leave but I think that Adalwolf will also become strong to do that. I never would’ve imagined that the legendary white wolf has this much growth potential.’
After he was done praising them inside his mind, he sprayed some water over their faces and yelled when they woke up.
“You bastards! Weaklings! You both passed out by just this? What will you do Worm when I start teaching you archery, fighting with swords, spears, double-edged spears, 25 kilograms mace and glaive? I think I will have to quit before I can even start.
And you legendary white wolf, are you sure you are legendary? Your senses are weak, your legs get tired far too easily. And I was thinking of teaching you fighting with those weapons too while you hold them in your mouth but you can’t even hold your own body weight with those weak legs of your, how will you use such weapons while holding them with your mouth? Both of you are such weaklings. Tsk. Tsk.”
This angered both of them and the look in their eyes told everything. Sanderp was pleased by his work.
“What’s that look? You wanna kill your master? You weaklings! Fine. Here, these are just 1 kilogram each. Come and hit me if you can. Here, I’ll even be kind enough to give you handicap. Come at me together. I will also close my eyes.”
Within seconds, two wooden swords materialized out of thin air and fell down near Adalwolf and Worm. On the other side, both the legs and arms of Sanderp were tied by leather straps. He was standing upright on his knees. That was the handicap.Fighting without any limb of his.
Worm picked one up and Adalwolf used his mouth to pick the second sword. Both of them had worked their asses off and now Sanderp was criticizing them for not working hard. The rage made them forget that Sanderp was their master. And the handicap made it worse. They thought that the master was making fun of them.
They both charged at the Sanderp with all their strength. When they were just centimeters away from hitting him, he disappeared and reappeared behind them. He used headbutt to hit them both one at a time. Both fell down, but the power in the headbutt was so strong that Worm and Adalwolf, both were left with just 10 health.
“That’s how slow you both are. Even with my legs tied, you couldn’t see me, could you? Now go and wash yourself up. Eat food later and then sleep. I will meet you tomorrow morning at 4 p.m. as usual. Your weights will be increased. I am gonna grind your asses for the next 3 years. Hahaha.”
***
“Sir, a player jumped 9 levels within one second!”
“So, it would have been a high level quest where he would have defeated a high level boss. Why are you telling me this?”
“Sir, that player’s level after levelling up 9 times is 9. He was at level 0 just seconds ago.”
Johnson knew who the player was. Not by name, but the player was famous in his own way. When the game started, everyone levelled up to 25-30 quite easily. But after that, the levelling up stopped. Two months have passed in real life and the second last player in the rankings was at level 23. The last ranked player was still at level 0.
That was no reason to be alarmed. They had figured that many players would drop out of the game, but to their surprise, not even a single player had dropped out. But there was one player who didn’t level up even once. The last ranked player.
He was known as the player who sleeps thrice the amount that normal people sleep because everyone had thought that he must have found a place where he could sleep.
There are certain places in the game which Mr. 87 had designed in a way that even the developers won’t be able to get video of the places unless the player agrees to it. And when they had found that this level 0 player is online for around 20 hours every day, they had tried to get his video but he was at a place that cannot be seen. So, they had concluded that he must have been sleeping all the time.
Out of nowhere, his name was mentioned again after around 50 days. Johnson knew that a level 0 player wouldn’t be able to get a high level quest and his fame would be 0 as well. So, the reason that he was able to level up 9 times at once would be that he must have defeated a high level monster. But, the question was, how can a level 0 defeat a high level monster? A single hit by the high level monster can easily damage 100 health points which would result in death for a level 0 player.
Since, they were still unable to gain a video feed of Worm’s fighting, Johnson was furious.
’Why the hell that 87 bastard made this feature of game where we cannot see what players are doing sometimes? This is irritating.’
“Show the rankings on screen 1. Write a script to show the ranking of that player with automatic refresh of 3 seconds. It should be done by the time I am finished with this sentence and I am finished.”
The screen showed the rankings. Worm was still last ranked. His level was now 9. This was the first time his level wasn’t 0. Everyone in ‘The Source’ was looking at screen 1. The screen refreshed. He was still at the same position. The screen refreshed again.
Worm’s level now showed 16 instead of 9. Within 3 seconds, he had gained another 7 levels. This baffled everyone in the room. He was still ranked last but how can a player gain 16 levels within a minute? They all knew that the level difference wise experience is the best in games. But they knew that even if he was fighting a level 15-20 fox, gaining this much experience to level up 9 times at once is impossible. Everyone in the room had this one question?
’Is he fighting wolves even though he is at level 0? A single scratch would kill him and he is defeating them in mere 5-10 seconds? How in the world is that possible?’
The screen refreshed again. Worm was now level 22. Still at the last position but this last ranker had shocked the very developers of the game who weren’t surprised when Linxx defeated 22 wolves at level 43 with the help of a dragon who was still very small.
’its obvious that he isn’t even distributing the stats points after level up. There is no way to distribute 30 stat points and kill another high level monster within just 9 game seconds. That means he is fighting with the stats of a level 0 player? What in the name of god is going on? Is he fighting with a group of monsters to find another monster so fast?’
With the next refresh, nothing changed but after another 3 seconds, everyone’s jaw dropped. Worm was level 25 now. He wasn’t ranked last anymore. He had passed around 300k players within 3 seconds. He was still above 50 million rank but he wasn’t last anymore.
The whole amphitheatre was quiet. No one had the time to say anything. Before they could process anything, the screen was refreshed again. Worm was now level 28. He passed another million players within 3 seconds.
The people in the room had forgotten to breathe. Their minds was so focussed on the screen, that the whole atmosphere inside ‘The Source’ was hard to describe. Within the next 6 minutes, Worm’s level was 51 and his name was opposite to the rank 27,976,419.
After another 10 minutes, his rank didn’t increase by even 1. His experience didn’t change for that level either. He had stopped hunting monsters.
No one said a word even in those 10 minutes when the refreshed screen wasn’t changing Worm’s level or rank. Johnson knew that the character named ‘Worm’ was someone special. His instinct told him that Worm wouldn’t hunt any more.
“Add his name in favorites.”
***
Miss Jenny was fortunate to get a hold of ‘The Sphere’ book. She was jobless before but after she ranked in the top million rankings of the game, she was approached by 7 different news agencies. She wasn’t approached to be interviewed but she was asked to work as an employee.
Unbelievable wages were offered to her. She finally chose to work for the newly formed Spherical News for 80,000 euros a year with bonus pay for every other good news that she brings.
She had given thanks to her friend who had given her a copy of that book which ultimately, became a game. And because of that game, she was now one of the best paid employee, working for a news agency in whole of England, let alone London.
She, however, pitied her friend who chose Merchant as his profession. He didn’t know anything about the merchant profession but still chose that profession because he was spontaneous. However, even after working hard all these days, he was still ranked 2nd last.
He hadn’t succeeded much in his trades and was now ranked last, well second-to-last. The last ranked player has always been at level zero. But her friend had told her that he would level up once within the next 30 minutes and he would surpass 100k players by doing so. He was happy just by thinking about it.
Just to see his transition to upper ranks, Jenny was refreshing the rankings page every minute. She got bored and thought of making coffee. She came back after 10 minutes and refreshed the page. Her friend wasn’t ranked 2nd last anymore. He was ranked last.
’Where is that level 0 player? Surely, he couldn’t have gained 23 levels in 10 minutes right? Wait, he isn’t ranked 2nd last either? What’s his current rank? I think the website made its first mistake.’
He scrolled up until she was at 45th million ranking. Still no sign of Worm. She finally typed his name in the search bar and pressed Enter. She couldn’t believe what the screen showed. She ran to her boss’ office and opened the door without knocking. Her boss looked furious at her sudden entry.
“Did you forget the manners to knock?”
“I am sorry but tell me one thing. Is the bonus pay of news still available?”
“Yeah, only if you have something that others don’t and if it’s interesting. We can’t compete with Colors TV after they acquired the rights for ‘Fierce Warriors’ broadcasts.”
“I think this is pretty big.”
The boss was sure that he wouldn’t hear anything out of the blue. Even though they are second ranked in the news companies that tell the news about ‘The Sphere’, many players are silent about their quests and their powers.
Perhaps many people still don’t know how to approach news channels but no other player is as big as Linxx and no other alliance is as great as ‘Fierce Warriors.’ Almost all the top level players are in the alliance.
Others that aren’t, often work alone or in small parties so their fame isn’t high even though they are high level and the quests that they receive is often of low difficulty levels.
“You know the last ranked character Worm who was always at level 0? Well he isn’t at level 0 anymore. 10 minutes ago, he was but now he isn’t.”
The boss got more furious.
“Who the hell cares whether he is level 0 or not anymore? He took 2 months to gain a single level. You think that’s big? Why the hell did we hire you?”
“Well, it’s true that he was level 0 but now he isn’t and he didn’t gain a ‘single’ level and I’m pretty sure he hunted monsters as high level quests aren’t available for low level players with low fame that would have given him enough experience for those level ups.”
She strained the word ‘single’ as much as she could. The boss looked at her with uncertainty. The boss knew that for the first level 625 experience was need and for the second, 1303 experience was needed, so to gain 1928 experience in 10 minutes is a big thing for a low level player, an even bigger thing for a level 0 player, it becomes even big when a level 3 rabbit gives near about just 50 experience.
So, he must have hunted 39 rabbits within a span of 30 minutes in the game? That’s bigger than just big. Especially for a level 0 player who has been at level 0 and experience 0 since the start of the game 2 months ago.
The news wasn’t big enough to become headline but the news of a level 0 player who hunted around 39 rabbits in just 30 minutes of game time, with his low health and low stats, is great news. That means he hunted more than one rabbit per minute.
All this implied that he must have hunted rabbits which were in a group. When the game started, it was very tough for a level 0 player to hunt a rabbit who was alone.
Even though this is kinda late to hunt rabbits when everyone except the merchants have moved to hunting foxes at the very least and top level players are now hunting wolves, he decided to give this story a one minute window in the prime time news.
Jenny waited for the boss to make the calculations in his mind. She knew that the boss would think that his level has increased by 2 or 3 at the very most. She watched his boss’s lips curve into a smile slowly. It was then, when she delivered the bomb statement that made her boss almost fall out of his chair.
“Like I said, his level didn’t increase by a single unit. Within a span of 10 minutes, his level is now 51 and he is ranked 27,976,419.”
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Next Chapter : 17th March, 2014. Monday. ~1 p.m. GMT.
Enjoy your weekend~~~
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