Chapter 8 “Flowers, bunnies and a bear.”

It is fairly normal for MMORPG game to focus on fight against monsters. It was very easy to put it into fantasy setting with swords, magic and all other stuff. ‘eye of Adventure’ wasn’t different in this regard, even so it became popular not only in hardcore gamers but with normal people as well. They mainly explored save location or meet with people who they couldn’t meet in real life. But in the end, EOA was mainly focuses on standard model with fighting monsters and having adventures. Currently because EOA was so popular, highest level players were recognized as somewhat celebrities. Many people knew their name and envied them. There were even TV shows that were purely about EOA and they also were popular. On the internet you could find numerous number of website about it, although the higher the level the harder it was to gain information as players didn’t like to pass them around for nothing.

The highest level players were ‘first generation’ as experts liked to call them. They were the ones that started the game the moment it came out. Most of them were hardcore gamers that heard about the challenge and came there from others game. They found out, that the game was exactly what they were looking for. Hard and challenging game that gives one a lot of freedom. Everyone found something interesting to do. The fact that they couldn’t even get close to final content was even more exciting. But was there even final content to begin with? The game was always developed by AI it was never ending story for people to experience. Although at some point getting even one level was a hell of trouble and it was also very risky for anyone who tried. The middle level for players right now would be around 140. That meant that if they died they would lost more than 14 levels, so everyone was very careful not to die, which made their progress slowly. People who passed 200 lvl were considered high level and skilled. People with level 250 and more were the ones that would be considered best in the game. There was also legend about phantom player who passed level 300 but it was as mentioned it was only a legend that was never confirmed. Only the person itself could see their own level. That’s why, it was hard to tell someone’s level and if he is higher than you or not. It somewhat reduced random PVP fights as people would worry that the person they attacked could be higher than then, which would result in their crushing defeat. Of course there were still some that didn’t think that way and not knowing someone’s strength was making it even more exciting.

But players who now fight against monsters on high levels were mostly all normal gamers, most without any fighting experience to begin with. So how did they manage to climb so far and develop their skill? For each of them it was hard and painful road but it began for everyone in a similar way. Even in this game there is a tutorial phase where you learn fighting basics. At least the game called it tutorial but people used a different term and it was “The forest of hell”.

Just as any other player Arata appeared somewhere in in that forest and just as any player he received a message.

[Welcome to fighting tutorial of eye of Adventure

Yes you are finally going to do some fighting as you successfully managed to get your class. As you may noticed the city of beginners is indeed as it says the city for beginners. You can think of it as theory part, now it’s time to see how much you have learned. It shouldn’t be hard for you as even if you die once, twice or endless number of times, worry not, you will always have another chance. The best way to learn is to learn on your own mistakes. Upon completion you will be granted a map that will show you the path to city. You can always try your luck and find the way on your own, but if you are capable of that, the challenge will be easy for you so why don’t you just do the challenge?

That would be introductory, now the challenge.

This forest is filled with many different but ‘easy to deal’ with monsters, upon killing any off them you will be granted points, your goal is to get 150 points. Each monster gives different amount of points however. Here is their standing.

-Bunnies are +1 point.

-Foxes are +3 point.

-Dears are +5 point.

-Humanoid Normal Flowers are +7 points.

-Humanoid Flowers with Fruit are +15 points.

-Bears are + 250 points.

Any other kills will award you with +10 points.

See all you really need to do is kill one bear. Isn’t it great? You can also kill 150 bunnies if you feel like it. Each tactic is good as long as you get those points. Sometimes you may fail and die but it is all learning experience so you should be grateful for this opportunity.

Dying of course means losing 10% of your overall level but it also reset your score point to 0, isn’t it great? You may even end up back to level one, but worry not. During the whole game you can go back all the way to level one anyway and with this tutorial we make sure that you are ready for anything.

Of course we won’t explain combat system you have to use the things that you have learned in the city of beginners. We also won’t provide any weapon so if you didn’t get any… well, bare hands also have their advantages. Oh, if you didn’t look up the skills yet, check the book that you just received.

I am sure that you are already ‘dying’ to go out there and gather your points so go! Let the fighting tutorial begin!]

“Aaa, another long explanation so in the end, I just need to kill one bear and go on with it.”

That was Arata thoughts as he read the message. If the game was designed for anyone to pass it, he would surely be done with it in not time. ‘Killings small little bunnies’ was definitely not his way.

“What if there is achievement for it? Well I never cared about achievement in the first place.”

Achievement for killings 150 bunnies shouldn’t be called achievement in the first place but surprisingly it did really exist.

“There was at least reminder to check your skills first, first the twilight swordsman tree.”

Arata summoned the book and started to read.

-Class name. The Twilight Swordsman. Class granted to bla bla bla…

He skipped few pages as he had somewhat enough of hearing useless chatter already.

-there it is. The Twilight Swordsman is sword focused class…

“Really I wouldn’t have known.”

-his skills are mostly passive which increases ones stats, but he also has many useful skills that make tremendous damage. He also has skills that are useful in avoiding enemy’s attacks or helps to chase enemy. His defense is focused on dodging and parrying rather than blocking or taking the hit, so normally you shouldn’t wear equipment which is hard to move in, but rather good comfortable ones. As for stats your main focus should be on Agility and Strength. Preferred weapon, two ‘one handed sword’. New skills will be granted as you reach new levels, you can learn them from this very book. Skill book is however limited and in in time you will have to search for them on your own. Remember that you can always get other skills that are not only based on your class.

Arata read it all loudly so he could understand it better.

“In the other words this is a perfect class for me.”

After all profession was chosen to fit every player even if they didn’t think that it fits them. Arata had nearly five years of training in different combat arts so he was one of few who know what fitted him.

”Now for skill there shouldn’t be many on my level”

[ New skills learned ]

[ Black Dash

You move through your enemy making him take 130% weapon damage. You can also move through the space with it. Both have range of five meters.

Can damage multiple targets.

Skill cost: 120 stamina

Coldown: none

Current skill level 1(0%) ]

[ Strike

By using more stamina you make 130% weapon damage to your opponent. It is a simple strike that every warrior has.

Skill cost: 15 stamina

Coldown: none

Current skill level 1(0%)]

“Unless I have to increase my damage suddenly I don’t think that second skill is that useful, but let’s test first skill.”

[Black dash]

As he used his skill Arata became a little transparent and flied 5 meters forward, he even made it through one tree and while doing so he left marks after swords attacks on it.

“That’s useful but just like ‘lighting speed’, it take too much stamina. So I shouldn’t use it carelessly. But with time I should be able to use it more often as my stamina will increase. In the end, warriors always are more focused on basics rather than skills.”

It was true warrior classes were always more about using your weapon to do damage. They had some skills sure but the most important was always weapon. Wizards in comparison were based mostly on their spells. They used them as long as their mana would allow them, then they would regenerate it and fight once again.

“Now the second book”

-sword enchanters blablabla… they blablabla… oh there it is. Sword Enchanter is a magician type class but it focus on weapons rather than magic. It enchants one weapon so it made more additional damage. It can change physical damage of sword to the one of the elements which is very useful in cases of resist and magic creatures. Their high level skills can enchant weapon of every party member making them great buffers. They can also send out their energy out of the swords in form of arc. It also allows one to learn magic spells which non-magical class couldn’t learn. As for stats your main focus should be on Wisdom, Agility and Strength. Preferable weapons, swords. New skills will be granted as you reach new levels, you can learn them from this very book. Skill book however are limited and in in time you will have to search for them on your own. Remember that you can always get skills that are not only based on your class.

“It’s a little blank compared to the last one but let’s see the skills”

[ New skills learned ]

[Sword enchant

You enchant your weapon with power of elements making them doing additional damage. Depending on element of enchant your damage will increase against opponent who have bad resistance against it.

Skill cost: 50 mana

Coldown: None

Current level skill 1(0%) ]

[Sword slash.

You release power inside your weapon making a cutting arc across the field. Turn off all enchants.

Skill cost: All mana.

Coldown: none

Current level skill 1(0%)]

“Skill that eats all mana? Let’s test it”

[Sword enchant: Ice]

[Sword slash]

Arata first enchanted his weapon then used a skill. As he used ice element before, the blue cut arc was released from his sword. It destroyed nearby trees that were 6 meters from him and froze the broken parts.

“Range skill for sword? Awesome! Just like in the movies where samurais are cutting someone with wind. There is also cool effect.”

With all skills checked and tested, Arata started his search for the bear.

-bear, bear, bear, where are you?

Well he didn’t though that the challenge would give him the bear, right away. Nevertheless he tried. By first 5 minutes the only creatures that he saw were one small white bunny, and one deer in the distance.

“No bears so far, I have to keep looking.”

Then at some point Arata spotted a strange looking Plant. Creature of stems with white flower on top of it. It was slowly moving through the forest.

“Well, until I find the bear I might as well kill those.”

He unsheathed his swords and moved to attack the plant. It didn’t take much effort. One dodge of plant’s leaf and three fast attacks from his swords and the flower goes down.

“Easy.”

But it didn’t end up yet, as flower fallen to the ground, it shot out spikes out of its body. They were rather fast and hard to spot on so Arata health decreased by 7%.

“Happens.”

Arata moved on with his search for the bear. He didn’t found the bear so far but he found another three plant looking creatures.

“I might as well hunt for those flowers. It may be even faster than finding a bear.”

Arata rushed to cut them down. This time, the flowers used their leafs much quicker and they spread their steams in order to stop him. He didn’t have clean way to attack them so he stopped and started to cut through them. But every time he cut one of steams, other flower would shot a spike at him. He got hit by first one but when Arata found out about this attack, he become more careful and dodged the rest. Still he couldn’t get through the steam.

“Rushing in won’t work, needs different approach.”

He then moved forward again and as the first leaf was about to hit him.

[Black Dash]

He went pass through everything that was in his way, leaving nothing behind. As skill ended he reached the place where flowers were and then cut them down.

-this skill is useful indeed.

But as he said that, once again he got hit buy spikes that come out from bodies of dead flowers.

-ah their ability is annoying but apart from that, looks like there is nothing to worry about.

Then once again Arata moved to look for other monsters, especially the bear. But as the time went on, he couldn’t find even flowers anymore.

“No, I won’t start killings bunnies. There is no way that I will do that.”

In comparison to bears, there were many bunnies jumping around, but Arata didn’t even look at them. But as the time went on he started looking at them.

“They look yummy.”

Arata started to get hungry. No bears meant that he couldn’t complete the challenge.

Time passed again the sun started to set down. But then Arata found another flower. It was different from others instead of white flowers he had them blue and also he had yellow fruit in the middle.

“Doesn’t look too much different to me. Let’s see how better he is.”

Arata thought that because that flower was for more points he would be at least better than previous ones, however the truth was rather disappointing.

“Died in one strike, after all, it’s a challenge that everyone needs to complete I guess.”

Arata after all had fighting experience, good items and profession of rank 2 and double class. Other players could even come here at level one without anything, even bread to eat, and this challenge was a must to continue their way on.

But then out of sudden while standing there, Arata got multiple hits from spikes from every direction, and in seconds his HP went down to 50%.

-what the?

Arata was now surrounded from every direction by many yellow flowers. Just like the three before, they spread around their stems. But this time there was so many of them that you couldn’t see through the green. In few moments they created a stems jungle.

“Trap, no good.”

The leafs were coming from every direction and from time to time another spikes were flying his way. Arata dodged some, but some he could not as the place in where he could move was reduced once again, he also got hit by some leaf attacks. His hp was now at 18%.

“Need to get out of here fast.”

He thought that and again and used his black dash to escape. But this time, he ended trapped inside the stems as its range wasn’t enough.

-another one!

He then used another one with its help he moved in the range of flowers but he still was plotted in steams.

-another one!

[Not enough stamina]

-shit!

Arata then tried to cut thorough but he couldn’t move much. At least the flowers couldn’t attack him as well as most of their attacks were planted at the ends of stems. Arata couldn’t move and was trying to come up with something.

“No good, I need another dash, what is my stamina regeneration again?”

There was some regeneration but it was rather slow, same as mana.

“What other skills I have? Guess I only have this.”

[Sword enchant: flame]

With no more choice Arata used his last card.

[Sword slash]

Right away he released flame from his sword. The stems around his arms started to get burn just like everything else, giving him ability to move. At the moment he could move a hand the leaf strike was coming at him, but he parried it down. He was blocking the attacks that were coming at him from the middle where he once was.

-time to go.

The fire burned out an exit and Arata managed to get out.

-aaaaa! I am burning, who turned on friendly fire?

Normally in games you can’t hurt yourself by your own skills, here however it was different. Arata started to roll around the ground to put down the flames. Fire quickly left him alone without making much damage.

“Now then, there are enough flowers to get to 150 points.”

He thought to himself after looking at the group that just attacked him. Arata already spent many hours on the challenge without finding enough flowers or a bear. He surely wouldn’t pass the opportunity to finish the challenge in one go.

“Time to run.”

However he chose differently, he probably wanted a challenge and have a fight against the bear.

“Rule number one, when you are one hit away from death, run!”

Well… that could be another reason why he didn’t fight them.

Arata’s hp was at the last margin under 10%, although flowers were rather weak, in group they were extremely dangerous, especially with their great skill that could trap someone inside the jungle of stems. Before he underestimated the flowers and now he didn’t plan to do the same.

Running away wasn’t easy either as flowers kept shooting with spikes, but Arata managed to avoid them.

After finally running away from the flowers, hungry, without much health, stamina or mana, Arata decided that it is a time for a break and replenishment.

Arata didn’t have any skills that healed him, and even if he did, he wouldn’t have mana to use them. He decided that it is a time for his cooking skills to shine. Normal bread that he had left didn’t increase health regeneration much so it wasn’t good. He needed something better. In the first place food was limited way to regenerate health as you could only use it when you are hungry.

“I won’t look for any bunnies right now so it’s time to use wolf’s meat.”

He got some wolf meat from black wolf back in the beginner’s city. The meat also had expire date, so it was best to make use of it now.

It was already a night time when Arata set up the fire. He didn’t have any tools here so he could only roast the meat and use some spices that he got back when he was working for Marco. The meat turned out great and the smell spread out in every direction. Arata ate the meat and his hp went back to 100%. His stamina and mana was still half way done but it didn’t mattered that much as long as he doesn’t end up trapped in stems again.

“I should get done with the challenge quickly but lying down for a moment isn’t bad idea.”

Arata spread his legs on the ground and watch the fire burn.

Some time has passed and then, Arata heard rustling in nearby bushes, and also a voice.

-is anyone here? I smelled some nice food and…aaaaaaaaa!…

That person was sent flaying into the area of Arata’s campfire.

Before that person died, Arata heard his last words.

-not again.

“What the!”

-raaaaaaaar!

Then Arata heard the roar of some beast it.

“He got kill in one shot.”

Arata looked at person dead body that had only one wound but it tore out a large part of his flesh.

“Well. He must have a low level or something. It’s a perfect opportunity just as I regenerated myself and was going to look for him anyway.”

And then the bear come out from the bushes. The moment for which Arata was waiting has finally come.

“I could think about that earlier. The bait is the most basic thing during a hunt.”

-raaaaar!

The bear roared again and started to charge at Arata. It was a simple charge that was to strike with a head and push Arata back. Arata read it all and was playing to counter attack after a fast dodge that he was so confident in. The plan was going right as the dodge was done correctly but as Arata was about to strike he got pushed back by bear’s back leg.

Arata lost 30% of health in this confrontation without landing one hit on his opponent. But Arata didn’t stop because of this. He charged at bear and attacked him. But the bear was rather fast for his size, and dodged it to the right by jump, after that he countered by rushing at Arata again. Arata made desperation roll to avoid it. But just when he tried to pull himself back from the ground the bear once attacked without giving a chance to catch breath. He stroke with his front left paw sending Arata flying.

“What is wrong with that bear!?”

Then Arata decided to attack with skills, first he enchanted his weapon and then.

[Lighting speed activated]

With double speed he rushed on the bear. This time bear didn’t dodge but just once again stroke with paws. First paw countered double sword attack and the second once again send Arata flying. The bear outclassed Arata completely despite Arata using skills.

Arata’s hp was at 23% right now and the bear was still untouched.

“It’s time for strategic retreat.”

Arata started to run but just as he did that the bear started to rush after him.

-aaaaaaaaaa!

With desperate shout Arata dodged bears charge. As the bear turned around again he jumped at Arata who dodged it by rolling around.

Bear was much faster than Arata in the first place, so it was hard for Arata to run away. Arata decided to be sneaky and climb up the tree.

“Try to get me here you, whaaaaa…!”

The bear went up after him up to the tree without much problem. He was even getting up faster than Arata.

“What is wrong with this bear!?”

Arata step on one of the branches and jumped to another tree thinking that he might run away thanks to that but few seconds later the bear did the same thing.

“No! Leave me alone!”

Arata jumped down from a tree on the ground instantly rolling to the left as the bear landed on the spot where he was second before.

-aaaaa!

Once again Arata was on the ground running and dodging the bear attacks. It didn’t look good. The bear continued to use even more surprise attacks than before.

At first Arata planned to just find the bear, kill it, get the points and complete the challenge. Well, he did finally found the bear. But the only thing he was fighting right now weren’t points but his life.

While fleeing in panic from the bear, Arata spotted a cave. Arata decided to enter it as he didn’t have a plan as to how to loose still closing in bear. The running speed of bear at that point was not as fast as before, it seemed like he was getting slightly tired. Now, Arata didn’t have to dodge another charge every ten seconds, but only every 30 seconds. It was a great improvement.

When Arata entered the cave he quickly realized that it wasn’t his best idea. There was no place to dodge and in the middle of the cave there was yet another bear, this one was little darker in color than the one that was now blocking the entrance.

“Good thing I saved it.”

Arata still had stamina for one black dash so he used it to pass by the entrance where the bear stood. As he used a skill the bear took 10% of his health.

“Not bad compared to dark wolf”,

After all black wolf was level 40 and the bear was ‘in theory’ for beginners.

“But that won’t help me, run!!!”

Thankfully, the bear from the cave didn’t give Arata the chase. After another 5 minutes of fleeing in panic, Arata was trying to come up with idea.

“Running doesn’t work at all, shouldn’t mobs have some ‘agro range’ where they stop running after the player?”

The bear didn’t look like he was about to give up any time soon.

“So, the monsters are more like normal beings that could in theory exist in world, so how to deal with a bear? Some says that feinting death is a good idea but I think using that trick will result in real death so I am not trying to that. Why does he even trying to hunt me, the other bear didn’t even stand up.”

Then Arata recalled the moment of his first encounter with the bear.

“For whole day I was looking for a bear but couldn’t find one then at night he comes. Ah yes! The bait, he came because of the smell. So he wants to eat me, great.”

The bear was still chasing him.

“He is a little slower than before maybe I can fight him this time.”

Arata thought that and he once again looked at the bear. That reminded him of his previous experience so he immediately threw away that idea.

“It’s not like I am in better condition, anyway my instincts are screaming only one thing right now. RUN!!!!!.”

But he was already running for some time now and it didn’t helped. He first encountered the bear at night, now it was already bright.

“Other ways to deal with bear? Give him something he wants and then run away? He wants to eat me, means he is hungry, no wait he didn’t eat the other player after he killed him. That means he want something else, or at least he doesn’t eat humans. Anyway I have to give him something else to eat.”

Arata took out rest of the wolf meat from the menu and threw it at the face of the bear. The idea worked and the bear stopped to eat what was given to him. Arata use this chance and managed to run away.

-ha, ha, ha, ha.

Arata was tired after the long desperate run, and decided to take the rest. He didn’t have anything that would replenish his hp anymore so he had to wait before it was it acceptable level from default regeneration. After that he moved on with the challenge. He didn’t plan to fight any more bears again though. He spend three days hunting foxes, deer’s and flowers but only the ones that were in max in group of three. Arata also didn’t attack the ones with a fruit as he was afraid of more traps. He focused on weak monsters and played it safe. Still, throughout the whole challenge Arata didn’t kill even a single bunny.

Arata was also unhappy that he couldn’t beat the bear. Before he thought that he could achieve anything he wanted in this game with his previous experience, at least on low levels. Being proved wrong was a huge blow to him. But Arata wasn’t stupid and did not challenge the bear again.

The so called tutorial, referred by players as “Forest of hell”. It was the lesson that one could not forget and it melted normal people into warriors who could at least face against simple monsters without fear and because they experienced the death so many times, dying one more time was no more anything special to them. It was also a lesson that greed and overconfidence does not pay off. The bear was made especially for those who were arrogant and highly sure of their abilities, so they could have their lesson as well.

As Arata finally reached 150 points. New message appeared and a map that showed the way to the small village called Loris. It was the first city where player of human race would usually go after arriving in the new world.

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