Time was wasting. Enoch left the obsidian shard, crossed the clearing and entered the forest. His build was vulnerable without a class to improve his Speed. No skill, no spell, no multiplier on Strength or Agility. Only a negligible boost to Health, Stamina and Mana. Good Perception, some Dodge, some Resist and a very small chance of rerolling failed rolls.

Yes, the game engine used rolls. The simulated physic came first for obvious success and failures. A second system took care of competing skills and general chance. Hit vs Dodge, Poison vs Resist.

What he needed now was a quick way to reach level two. The surrounding forest sloped down over broken rocks. Dark spruces, white birches. The smell of rotting leaves, pine sap and moss. He knew this biome. Knew all of them, except the new one, Mushroom Jungle. He had a hunch that this one would be annoying.

He spotted a decent stick, took it.

Crude Quarterstaff | Weapon | Rarity 1

Damage 1 | Reach 3

Type Blunt

He picked a plain rock and activated the Golem Core’s spell, Animated Object.

“Choo Choo,” said the core, “oh, a rock. Quite the start Master Meat.”

“Enoch please. And don’t say meat ever again.”

“If it pleases my Master.”

“I said Enoch. No Master. Just Enoch. And don’t complain about the rock, we’re just starting.”

“The rock it is.”

The artifact laughed with fake enthusiasm, sparked purple pixels, did a weird squeal of digital notes and stuck to the rock. So much for his jolly personality. Worst patch ever.

His family chimed in. They were in for the whole game. Thanks for the support guys.

“Great choice son, I like the little core. By the way, are you sure about that commentator? She doesn’t seem to like you very much.” Tag | Mom

Great. The commentator was on his back and he couldn’t even hear what she was saying. The casters had access to accounts with additional data. It let them compare players and build up the tension. The players couldn’t listen. Too many strategic information.

Oh well, too late now. Hopefully, she would at least entertain his watchers.

“She’s fine, my son can take some critics. Be sure to watch the replay, she does make a few valid points.” Tag | Dad

Enoch waved at the empty air behind him, greeting his viewers. He went on with his hovering stone, walked down the slope for a good ten minutes. Spotted a riot, deep in the wood, to his right. He stayed immobile, peered at the huge shape. A gray mass with lines of black. And the smell. Enoch ran in the opposite direction. No question asked. A Stone Bear. He’d be obliterated at his current level. Had to flee. That monster ran faster that something this heavy had any right to.

He circled back after a wide, wide loop. Continued down for while, frustrated with his current Mobility, at 0. Where it was too steep, he had to switch to a zig zag pattern. Shameful. A few more levels and he’d be surfing down the canopy.

Enoch paused on a ridge. The trees shook on right. Too much for his current level. He didn’t bother checking it. Veered left as the chat questioned his manhood.

Nothing manly about dying this early. He tried to convince himself, half an hour later, fleeing from a Maul Turtle.