Gabriel and [The Watcher] met each other in the middle of the chamber and crossed blades. Due to neither of them having a shield, they could only parry each other's weapons while trying to strike out as they ran past each other. [The Watcher] was a speed type warrior but it’s strikes still carried a punch for the LVL 7 Gabriel.

One of the scimitars managed to swipe underneath Gabriel’s let arm and ran across his cuirass. Scoring a deep mark in it, nearly cutting right through the armor. Both of them seemed to pivot on their feet the moment they passed each other. Gabriel activated [Heavy Chop] on his Khopesh and swung down at [The Watcher]’s scimitar that was held in a horizontal block.

The increased force from the [Heavy chop] skill knocked the scimitar down which gave Gabriel a chance to deal a decent chop with his axe to [The Watcher]’ shoulder.

[-51]

Gabriel was happy with the damage but shortly realized that with this amount of DMG, the battle would go for a while as the boss's health was still high [3949/5000]. He still had a long way to go.

After receiving a quick kick to his chest for his efforts, which had enough force to make him take a couple of steps back. [The Watcher] took the opportunity to score two hits on Gabriel, one on his arm and the other just to the side of the neck. If he didn’t move his head in the nick of time, his neck would have been sliced making it a critical hit.

{-32}

{-73}

They were some heavy damages for Gabriel. If they traded blow for blow like this Gabriel would be the one losing out; as he has less health, does less damage and only had minor health potions which have a long cooldown.

He needed to do something to even the playing field. Gab rolled under the next set of attacks and made some distance between himself before putting his axe away and keeping his Khopesh out with a free hand.

Gabriel quickly drank one [Minor Fury potion] and [Minor Health potion]. Before engaging [The Watcher] again. This time with one weapon less, he was only quick enough to deflect one scimitar and tried his best to twist his body negating some of the damage from the other.

Gabriel took the chance while they were close to each other, to use the skill [Summon Javelin] which summoned a Javelin in his free hand. Gabriel held his hand like a fist with the top of his fist facing [The Watcher]’s face. When the Javelin was summoned, it grew out of Gabriel’s fist shooting out like a rocket. The tip stabbing straight into the [The Watcher]’s red eye. The summoning of the javelin happened to fast for it to react.

Resulting with a narrow Javelin straight in the eye. The monster let out a loud screech that was painful to the ear while using the shadows to morph into the ground and appear 20 feet from Gabriel.

When it came back up from the floor A javelin came barreling in it’s direction, stabbing right through its robe and into the chest before disappearing again. Gabriel threw the javelin the moment it teleported away, he had never stopped watching the shadows from the moment the fight began.

Gabriel knew that one of the most annoying classes to fight against was anyone blessed with Goddess [Nyx] shadow skills. Because when was there never any shadows? Unless you fought in complete darkness but even Gabriel wasn't brave enough to fight in complete darkness if he could avoid it.

Cocking his arm back, Gabriel threw out two more Javelins when [The Watcher] appeared again to his right. One javelin stuck it in the shoulder but the other went right over its head. Well Gabriel wasn't a god...yet.

[-310 Critical Hit!]

[-75]

[-62]

[The Watcher – HP 3502/5000]

After Gabriel checked out the health he was much happier. All that damage and he didn’t lose anything.

“Come on ya bastard! Stop whining about your eye already, you have another one, don’t ya?!” Gabriel taunted.

[The Watcher] didn’t say anything for a couple of seconds. Gab thought he must be a mute. When it finally spoke only two words in its raspy voice.

"[Shadow Bind]!"

Ropes made out of shadows burst through the ground at Gabriel’s feet and wrapped around his body, his arms and legs were bound to the sides of his body. The shadow ropes squeezed the breath out of Gabriel and inflicted continuous damage to his HP.

{-5}

{-5}

{-5}

On the flip side the more damage Gabriel took the quicker his rage bar filled up.

[The Watcher] morphed into the shadows again and appeared right in front of Gabriel with his scimitars raised to chop at Gabriel's exposed neck. Gabriel’s face still held a relaxed smile.

“I have always wanted to say this!” Gabriel excitedly yelled.

“Flame On!!!” Gabriel shouted.

Gabriel activated one of his class skills.

[Sun Flare] –LVL 3: Combust all stored Rage points to send a flame-based attack from players body outwards to 10 feet. DMG = total amount of Rage points used. Push back effect and 35% chance to inflict Burn status – Cooldown – 4 hours.

When [Tu Manchu] told Gabriel that [The Watcher] had shadow powers, he used the 2 (SP) he saved from LVL 5 and put it into [Sun Flare]. Increases it’s chance to inflict burn and cooldown.

Gabriel's body was enveloped in flames that spread out like he was at the centre of a bomb.

The flames and intense light burnt all the shadows in the room away, including the ones holding on to Gabriel. As [The Watcher] was so close to Gabriel it was knocked off its feet and set on fire. Shooting across the floor towards the edge of the floor. The fire made it look like a comet.

Gabriel had used the chance while it was in mid-air to sprint at full force behind [The Watcher]. When it hit the floor Gabriel was hot on its heels. The moment [The Watcher] got to its feet Gabriel tucked his shoulder in and slammed into its chest with the force of a runaway train.

[The Watcher] was sent flying off its feet again. This time Gabriel didn’t follow and just watched as the momentum from the shoulder tackle pushed the boss off the side of the platform and straight into the lava.

[The Watcher] Let out high piercing shrieks as its body was melting in the lava. The boss had a fair bit of HP so it was still alive as it made it’s way to the edge of the platform to pull itself out of the lava.

Gabriel wasn’t going to allow any of that nonsense.

Gabriel summoned one more Javelin with the last of his rage points. He took precise aim before throwing it as hard as he could.

Leading to a direct hit! Right in [The Watcher]'s remaining eye.

“BullsEYE!! HAHA” Gabriel boasted with a joyful laugh.

[-300 Critical Hit - [The Watcher] has been blinded]

The next couple of seconds went by as Gabriel just watched the boss flail about in the lava river before its HP finally bottomed out.

[Congratulations!! You have slain Hidden Boss – The Watcher – LVL 10]

[Congratulations!! World achievement acquired! You have Slain the first Hidden Boss in Deliverance Online - [The Watcher] - Your name will be entered into the Hall of Valhalla! Rewards: +100 Renown. +100 Gold. +2 (AP)]

[Congratulations!! For defeating [The Watcher] you have unlocked early access to the Main map of Deliverance Online – the lands of Valhalla. Would you like to be teleported now. Yes or No?]

Gabriel clicked [Yes]

[Because of your primary race being Human. You have the opportunity of choosing between three of the four Human based Kingdoms. Once chosen you will be automatically teleported to the Capital City of that Kingdom]

Please choose one of the following:

Imperium Empire: main city – Roma – Main Pantheon Followed: Roman Kingdom of Stormhaven– Main city – Stormhaven – Main Pantheon Followed: Norse Sarragos Kingdom – Main city – Corinthis – Main Pantheon Followed: Egyptian – Temporarily unavailable as starter Kingdom Free Cities states of Maderva – Multiple cities – Main Pantheon Followed: Greek

Gabriel chose [Imperium Empire] and was teleported to Roma. His body floating in the air before vanishing.

Left in Gabriel's wake was the sound of heels clicking on the ground, approaching the spot Gabriel just left. A figure appeared; it was wrapped in shadows from head to toe looking like a constantly moving black sheet. A feminine voice dripping with sex appeal echoed out in the empty chamber, the voice sounded like it was coming from everywhere and nowhere.

“Tsk... The boy made me lose a bet to that bitch. Stupid little human. I will find you soon enough Osiris and when I do....”

If Gabriel saw the shadowed figured in [The Watcher]’s chamber, he would be sweating bullets. Gaining the attention of some Gods can be very beneficial but it can also be very painful too. Each god or goddess had their own agenda and completing quests for one usually put you up against what another one wanted.

As Gabriel was being teleported to Roma, all across the Novice Villages his achievement was heard by every player, to a mix of different reactions once again.

[World Achievement Accomplished!! Player [Osiris] has Defeated the first Secret world boss - [The Watcher – LVL 10] and has gained early access to the main map. His glory will forever be recorded in the Halls of Valhalla!]

[World Achievement Accomplished!! Player [Osiris] has Defeated the first Secret world boss - [The Watcher – LVL 10] and has gained early access to the main map. His glory will forever be recorded in the Halls of Valhalla!]

[World Achievement Accomplished!! Player [Osiris] has Defeated the first Secret world boss - [The Watcher – LVL 10] and has gained early access to the main map. His glory will forever be recorded in the Halls of Valhalla!]

Gabriel’s achievement was announced to all players three times, almost like it was slapping them in the face. The world chat bar was going nuts for people posting questions to [Osiris] asking to reveal his secrets or people just straight up chucking abuse at him and blaming him for random things.

“It's that god damn [Osiris] Muppet again!! What kind of steroid did he take!!??” A player in England commented.

“I have only just figured out how to kill the fucking Dildo-rabbits and this guy is killing LVL 10 – Bosses" An older man in Japan yelled at his screen.

“Fuck you [Osiris]. Your announcements keep distracting me and getting me killed! It’s your fault I am bad at this game!!” A young man who was waiting for his death countdown to finish posted.

“[Osiris] Carry me! I will have your babies!” A young woman in a Novice village declared to the sky.

“Yeah, carry me too! I am a man but I can steal a baby and give it to you!” A man near the young woman also yelled out.

The messaging boards were lighting up with questions about who this [Osiris] was, as the player's name wasn’t famous in any of the past VR games. People wanted to know about him as his first achievement could have been a fluke or he took advantage of a bug.

Regardless, everyone agreed that it required a great amount of skill or trickery to defeat a LVL 10 Boss at LVL 7, not to mention to do it within the first day of the servers being online. Naturally both these qualities were helpful to Super Guilds in many ways, so many high profiled people immediately issued out commands to their people.

“I want everything there is to know about this Osiris - I want his age, height, sexual orientation, I want to know the goddamn color of his pubes and I want it NOW!!” The guild leader of one of the super guilds Eden shouted at his 2nd in command.

“Find me this Player Osiris, surely he played other VR games in the past. Cross check his Deliverance online name with our database and see if you can find some similarities with other semi-pros. Check the ‘pub’ matches too.” The CEO of a large company that sponsors other Pro-Gamers declared to her assistant.

Gabriel was oblivious to all this, as he was gazing up at the main square of Roma! The public square was massive and was about the size of a football field. The city had beautiful cobble roads all around, connecting to the streets. There were fountains every 50 feet with amazing statues of different Emperors in different poses or fighting orcs. It was a magnificent sight.

Roma was one of the bigger human Capital cities, looking like a mixture of old Rome and Venice, with its many canals and gondolas travelling across them.

“Welcome to the beautiful city of Roma Traveller! Could you please follow me to register yourself at the city registry?” A male voice entered Gabriel's ears from behind.

Gabriel turned to the man speaking. It was a tall, heavily built man in Roman style overlapping plate armour and tunic. He had a large rectangular shield in one hand and a gladius sword at his hip. While holding a T-cross helmet under another arm.

“Thank you for the friendly welcome. I would be honoured if you could guide me to the city registry office” Gabriel replied.

Gabriel walked with the Roman guard while he looked at the busy streets of Roma. Stalls set out everywhere within the open square, with people yelling out their goods to sell. A squad of guards walked past in an orderly file. Noble men and women in carriages wearing different colored togas and stolas. You could see much of the hilly city from the square, as it was on top of one of the larger rises. Majority of the houses in the area were the common Roman Insuale; a simple square building with an opening in the middle called an Atrium.

In the distance Gabriel could make out the Hippodrome and Coliseum, where players could get a Imperium specific class called [Gladiator]. Players could also challenge others to duels and could even rent out the area for a large price to hold mock battles. Gabriel continued to observe the city as he followed the Guard. He saw the beautiful aqueducts; dozens of small ones were dotted all over the city and a few large ones could be seen from miles around. They connected to the many rivers crisscrossing the Roma streets. It was truly a feast for the eyes.

Once reaching the city registry building. Gabriel paid the 10 silvers to register his name. You were required to do this in all major cities; if you got into trouble the city would know who you were. You could of course sneak into cities and avoid that but unless you were a cheapskate or doing something illegal, there was no reason not to pay as the penalties for getting caught were severe.

Gabriel turned to the guard who led him into the office before he left.

“Excuse me good sir, when is the next recruitment day for the military being held?” Gabriel asked.

“Oh ho! Looking to join our great Legion are we!? Good man! There will be a recruitment trial on the day after tomorrow, at dawn. Just go to the Legionnaire camp in the military district before 6am. Tell the guards at the gate and they will issue you a pass for the day to attend the trials. I’ll be seeing ya! Good luck lad!” The guard answered, looking a lot more friendly after Gabriel mentioned joining the military.

The guard waved before heading off.

“Perfect. Gives me plenty of time to accomplish a couple of things but first I better log off and get something to eat. Dinner should be almost ready” Gabriel said to himself while leaving the office.

Gabriel asked for directions to an Inn and after paying 10 Silver to hire a room for 12 hours. He lay down in the bed and checked the clock on his screen which showed he had been playing just shy of 12hours (RT) and 24hours (GT). He clicked log off and waited for the nano-bots to roll of his body before opening the capsule in his birthday day suit.

“Well, I think it’s safe to say that I'm off to a strong start” Gabriel said with gusto.

Gabriel got dressed and went down the hall towards the kitchen for dinner.