Sitting down inside my shard space, I see auroras in the pitch black sky. This is probably due to the [Mana Sight] skill I obtained.

Mana Sight

Type: Passive Ability Proficiency: Lv1 (0/100) Effect: Allows the holder to perceive mana more easily. Also permanently increases PER stat by proficiency level.

The skill increases my PER stat, however, I didn't consider that too deeply as I had other information to consider from what happened today.

The first was that we aren't able to [Log Out] as I myself had recently tried to do. If I were to remain like this for three days, it wouldn't be surprising if I, along with the entire player base, simply fall dead. Of course, that Wayne guy said he would take care of it which left the next problem. If we die, according to the game's website, our personal shard becomes inaccessible and after 12 hours, it reconstructs. I guess I can take that as a bald faced lie now.

'How do I get stronger in this game?'

The first was to develop codes but, I'm not a coder and code language is a completely foreign concept to me. The next was to raise my stats, something the developers weren't too keen on releasing. I tried asking Novir but the faerie wasn't too sure either. Speaking of the faerie...

I noticed that the light-shaped body of the faerie started becoming a bit more defined. The faerie began to appear more like a living being. Looking at the blue name tag hovering above Novir, I saw a percentage next to it.

Novir - 30%

I can guess that when this value became 100%, I'd be able to see Novir as a definite being.

Pushing that to the back, I started doing some push ups, sit-ups and running within the shard space until a notification came up.

Strenous activity beyond limits causes a rise in STR and slightly in DEX.

Fatigue status added, further activity may result in status decline.

After cooling off a bit, I quickly opened my status screen and looked at the STR and DEX values.

ID: A15479C Name: Jason HP: 100 HPR: 1/min MP: 100 MPR: 1/min KI: 100% STR: 8 (1/80) DEX: 8 (0/80) INT: 8 PER: 9 (0/90)

If what I see is correct, it looks like I'd have to go through that whole exercise montage 79 times to gain a point of STR. Now that I thought of it, there was another way to increase your stats but it escapes me at the moment with this current situation.

Considering that I'm not going to gain any information here, I decided to go through the still active arch and back towards the city. Novir followed behind me, not that I cared too much for the fae right now.

As I exit the arch onto the landing platform, I notice how empty the surroundings were compared to the first time I was here. As I walk towards the city again, I turn towards Novir who is flying beside my head and begin a new conversation.

"Hey Novir, who is this queen of yours?"

"Dunno, haven't met them before..."

"So you follow the instructions of someone you don't know?"

"Yeah, why?"

"Is the queen that big a push over that they're afraid to show their face?

"Queen isn't a 'push over'!" said Novir reaching a shout towards the end. It made me realise something but for now I'll push it to my 'list of things to consider later' in the back of my head. At the end of the day, Novir is basically an AI so I suppose there would be limitations to the amount of available information now.

"What about the city, what can you tell me about it?" I asked

"Well, Seed City is the biggest city in Zera so you can find almost anything you need there."

"Almost? So what isn't in Seed City?"

Novir became quiet for a while and then replied, "Fragment Beasts."

There it was, the names they give to monsters in this game and as the faerie said it, I remembered the game website that this game had a total of 10 Shatter Beasts which were scattered on the numerous ruined shards of the game and a final boss, the [Fragmentor] I assume, that appears after all 10 beasts had fallen.

Finally back at the city, since I already made a mental note of all the locations, I started by heading towards the equipment store, not that I expected to buy anything as my current money was absolute zero. There were some players moving about here and there but not that much otherwise. They're probably holed up inside their personal shards after that stupid announcement. As I got closer to the equipment store, I saw some of the other players had a bracer equipped on their arm which had two glowing spots on them moving away from it, towards the exit of the city.

As I entered the equipment store, I could see that the NPC had just become free so I approached and asked about cheap, possibly free, weapons. The beastkin NPC looked at me with such soul crushing pity that I almost started nervously laughing.

"I have a set of spare weapon bracers that I'm lending out to adventurers like you for a fee, if you can do me a favor, I'll even let you keep one for free."

"What's the favor?"

"I need a the skin of a fragment wolf, I heard they make great armor for newbies."

"Where can I find this, 'fragment wolf'?"

"There should be a few of them roaming around beyond the transport arch just outside the city. Are you going to do it?"

"Sure, why not."

Request accepted

Obtain 1 x Fragment Wolf Skin.

Reward: Weapon Bracer >

Note: If you abandon the request, you must return the weapon or you would be placed on a wanted list.

The NPC brought out the same kind of bracer that I had seen on the other players when coming here and sent me off. Along the way, I took the time to examine the weapon currently resting on my hand.

Weapon Bracer >

Sword Mode: +20 ATK * (PER/STR) Mana Mode (60MP/Bolt): +30 MAT * (INT+DEX/4)

An weapon capable of assuming two different forms. Unable to store own charge, relies on user as source.

It was an energy weapon. First, to activate either one of the weapons, you have to tap one of the buttons which is the glowing spot on the bracer. After tapping the button, a one meter long energy blade which encases your hand or a circular transforming letter formation appears expanding to the diameter of your open palm. The blade was self explanatory but the circle formation, I don't think I should do that so in the city and as such, I put it off until I reached outside.

Once I moved past the arch, the hexagonal floor changed to vegetation and the surrounding vegetation became thicker. Eventually, I began to see small forest lifeforms like birds, rabbits, mice and some chimps. The vegetation had wonderful diversity with the tree leaves appearing as they do in autumn. Some of the bushes had Rejuv berries which I picked and placed into my item inventory after I looked over their information.

Rejuv Berry

Recover 5HP/second for 3 seconds

The recovery effect wasn't all that good but when I taste tested one, I found that it made for a good snack. Not that I'm truly eating this thing considering it was a game world.

With a sigh, I continued through until I chanced upon a lone fragment wolf consuming a fluffy, near decapitated but very dead, rabbit. I cautiously approached whilst I made Novir stay back.