Aria and I went back to scrolling down the forums on our phones to look for any guilds we can join when we go into the game. As much as we want to play as a party of three for the whole time, a guild will be essential in the long run.

Based on my experience from past games, guilds always have a big part. Being in a guild gives a lot of advantage over solo players or even a small group of players. It may come from the direct benefits given on being on a guild or having a community in the game you can rely on.

There was no game that I was not a part of a guild if the game has any type of guild system in it. Although every time it was with randoms, so it was difficult to cooperate with them.

"How about this."

"Let me look… That should be our neighbouring city and his character is already based in Twilight City. Good so far, but why is his name Richest Asian?"

"No clue, but this is the best thing I can find. He is 181st in city ranking, 4328th in country ranking, and his name can also be seen in the world leaderboard at 9989th."

"Richest Asian, that name sounds familiar."

"You met him, Cherry?"

"No… Ah, he is the one who purchased the first weapon I sold online. If I remember correctly, he purchased for 4500b$"

"He must be rich like his name suggest. That's a good thing if he is the leader of the guild."

Aria's eyes dazzled when I mention him being rich.

"We can always leave if it's bad. So, are we joining the Gold Paradise?"

"Geh! That's the guild's name? How crazy is he about money?"

"Isn't it fine? Maybe his ways can earn us a lot of money and I can finally have a decent source of income."

"If you say so. Gold Paradise, final?"

"I'm good with it."

"Yes."

Now that guild problem is now over for the meantime, we discussed things we would be doing following the update. Our decision came quicker than I thought. Maybe it was because Aria really wants to join because of what I shared.

This conclusion made me remembered that it has been a week and I have not yet partied with them. I felt bad for failing to join their party this long, so I promised that this time I will make sure that I am going with them after I hand in the quest.

From what they are saying, they are currently having a killing in Clouded Marsh along with 2 randoms they found on the way. The mobs there are supposed to be ranging from Level 24 to 26 that is why they are planning to hunt there until they level up to 24.

I also shared what happened on my side.

First, I told them the rewards of the hidden quest that I would be soon finishing, and it left them jealous, especially the stat points reward. They are starting to slightly regret the way they distribute their stat points because of the conditions on the equipment to equip it.

They told me that many pieces of equipment that are dropping from their side is always ending up being sold to the market. Not like it was a bad thing, but it is always better if they could equip better gear.

I am disappointed with their reaction when I told them the mysterious quest though. I thought they would be hyped with it. But because they rarely find and do quests anyway, they do not see the appeal or importance in it.

We continue to chit chat more until the clock turns to six. The box of sweets was already consumed a long time ago. Both Aria and I were preparing to leave since it was almost time for the servers to be up. And after we were done, we bid farewells to Michelle's parents while she accompanies us on our way out.

At the doorstep of my own home, I received a text coming from Aria.

[Let's meet in the City Centre around 9:00. We're quite far from the city.]

There was still time before the servers are up again, so I ate a light dinner with my family. We talked about things new in New World, but my parents were not as active as they were once were in the beginning days of the game. Mostly because of the work they have, like how my father always complains about his lack of sleep because of the game.

When the meal is finished and I was done doing the light chores, I flick through my academic books slightly preparing for the quiz that would be happening the day after tomorrow. But my mind was still on playing the game which defeats the purpose of my studying.

Now that the time ticked at 8 pm, I dropped everything I was doing and went to dive in the ETHER Link. The nauseating feeling of entering New World was already long gone.

Doing this has become my daily routine for the past week and probably months to come.

[Moonshire]

I stepped into a very familiar place. I am already tired of seeing the same view for the past few days no matter how beautiful it is. I learned that shooting down monsters would become a tedious task after doing it for a hundred times consecutively.

The reason why I was still here because the update notice came out when I was still exploring every nook of this place after finishing off the last monster which was the boss of this place.

Its name was [Flower Guardian] and good gracious, that boss was difficult as hell.

It was the first monster I fought with a debuffing property in its skills. It took my half a day to just to beat that thing not because its hp was through the roof, but because I needed to retreat many times after studying its attacks and patterns.

The passive skill Moonlight Blessing had made this possible to do in a quicker time than waiting for my HP to regen normally. Although that was that, killing the boss was another problem.

Besides the numerous AoE or Area of Effect skills in its arsenal, every single one of them also has a slowing property. That is why every time I was hit I needed to retreat or else I will meet my end with the slowing debuff.

Naturally, to even defeat the Flower Guardian on my own and my level, I played everything close to perfection. After studying its moves for a long time, it never hit me a single time when I finally killed it.

Well, it never did, until the end.

In its last attack or should I say desperate attempt to kill me, the explosion it created before dying has caught me off guard almost dropping my HP to zero. Thankfully, I was in range distance when it triggered. The benefits of being a ranged weapon user.

I should take note that bosses are the most dangerous before death. Beside their second phase, they still have their rage mode which I forgot at that time.

Although as I think about my near-death encounter, all of that was worth it. Not only did I finish my quest, but it also dropped an amazing longbow.

[Chilling Soul Bow]

Grade: Rare

Durability: 180/180

Attack Power: 95-104

*Infused arrows with Frost and Ethereal property

-Movement Speed Slow: 8% (Max: 5 stacks)

-20% Armour Penetration

*Strength +15

*Dexterity -5

"Bow born from the coldest regions. Every shot from this bow pierces the soul of the enemy into a winter hell. Anyone who uses this bow will feel the chilling touch of the spirit inscribed on the runes written on the limb of the bow."

Condition of use: Level 20 – Agility 40 – Strength 25

It was an amazing bow that has the same debuffing property as the boss. I bet this thing can be sold for thousands of gold in the market, but why would I do that? But as much as I am happy on having this thing, it is not the only one that changed. Every single one of my equipment has improved from the starter set.

So now my character page looks like this.

[Name: Cherry Winter

Level: 20

Title: None

Health: 624/624

Defence: 53

Strength: 30 (+15)

Vitality: 30 (+7)

Stamina: 40 (+5)

Agility: 55 (+25)

Dexterity: 60 (-2)

Stat Points: 0

Money: 1845g]

**Equipment Page**

[Ethereal Bow]

[Moonfall Goggles]

[Silver Thread Robe]

[Moonfall Gloves]

[Moonfall Leggings]

[Boots of the Hunter]

*Moonfall 3 Set Bonus

-HP +150

-Crit Rate +3%

**Skills Page**

[Lv.2 Quick Hands]

[Lv.2 Light Steps]

[Lv.1 Stable Mind]

[Lv.1 Strong Heart]

[Lv.1 Fortified Body]

[Moonlight Blessing]

[Lv.3 Rapid Shot]

[Lv.2 Charge Arrow]

Besides my previous skills that have increased by a level each, I also got a lot of passive skills because all of my stat points have already reached 20 points. And I must say, these passive that they give was more useful than I expected.

[Passive Skill: Lv. 1 Stable Mind]

The mind can reach the tranquil state in a faster time. Reducing the effect and duration of negative status effect on the player by 2.5%

Regenerate +0.3% of maximum HP/10s during or outside a battle

[Passive Skill: Lv. 1 Strong Heart]

Every point in vitality increase HP by 12 points (previously 10)

+2% Defence

[Passive Skill: Lv. 1 Fortified Body]

+4% Attack damage

Not every skill was suitable for my character build, but anything positive helps. These passive skills are mostly for the frontline damage dealers or tanks who need every advantage they can get for fighting enemies face to face.

However, no matter how decent these skills are, it does not top the recently acquired active skill I got.

[Active Skill: Lv. 2 Charge Arrow]

Pull the bow to its limits, dealing 180% of weapon damage.

Cooldown: 20 seconds

I got lucky it dropped from killing one of the bigger golems in this area. It was tougher than your average mob but weaker than bosses.

Nevertheless, this skill alone has helped me cut the hunting time of stone golems to half.

Although I am not sure how these skills have levelled up. The NWF says it takes a certain number of times using the skills before it levels up, yet I am not so sure about that sill.

Despite that, my experience of the beauty of skills made me really want to have more of it. I am not really confident I can get more goods skillbooks in the future. but it made me remember the easy way to learn one.

It is one of the most basic things that is always listed in beginner guides, but due to my wanting to rush this quest, I forgot about it. The method of learning skills through NPC's. My life would probably be a whole lot easier if I just did that.

Stopping by the skill NPC would be the first thing I would do when I return to the city.

But first, there was still an unexplored area further in even after defeating the boss. The update did not let me explore it.