-Chapter 6

“Ha……….ha………..ha………Finally……level 4”

Panting I sat down on the ground and calmed myself so I could enter the rest state. Lying on the ground next to me was the dead body of a level 3 dog.

I had previously asked the Info bracelet on how to target something.

It was actually so simple!

I just have to be looking at what I wanted to target and tap the back of my right hand. Then the level, Blood-health and name would show up on my hand.

The dog next to me showed,

{-- Level-3 Dog – B-HP 0 %--}

The dogs in the outskirts ranged from levels 1- 3. I had to be careful not to fight dog’s lower level than me as they would give me less or no experience.

It had taken me 5 hours to get to level 4.

After getting to level 3 I returned to the city to take an hour long break to let my B-HP (blood-health) rise and my wounds to recover.

Then I had returned to the grassy outskirts to get to level 4.

My arms felt sore from the constant fighting, although I wasn’t wounded, many bruises covered my body.

The dogs had become easier and easier to dodge and kill the more I fought. I hadn’t taken any damage in the last 50 kills.

Now I was done with this zone.

Here in the grassy outskirts, the weed-like grass reached up to my knees but far in the distance I saw a rocky plain where the grass was short.

I could also make out….boar-like creatures. I was probably meant to move on into that area to challenge level 4 enemies.

Carefully avoiding both the dogs and groups of deer, I made my way to the rocky plain and shortly arrived.

The rocky plain had brownish furred boars grazing on the grass. I looked at the target information on one of the boars.

{-- Level-4 Boar – B-HP 100 %--}

Level 4, I was in the right place.

Although it was possible to find and kill higher level monsters, there wasn’t any point as they gave me the same amount of experience as a level 4 monster.

Also, I’m fairly certain that the higher level a monster, the stronger it would be.

Oh!

That reminds me!

It completely slipped my mind but now that I’m level 4 I should have 3 stat points!

I looked at the palm of my left hand.

Level – 4

Agi – 11

Stam – 7

Str – 3

Int – 0

Stat points – 3

Before I began adding additional stats to myself, I wanted to find out how they worked exactly.

I held down the button on my info bracelet and asked. Almost instantly, a reply sounded off inside my head.

*Four main stats exist in Darkstory.

Agility, Stamina, Strength and Intellect.

Agility increases your movement speed.

Strength increases your attack power.

Intellect increases your magic damage and reduces the cool-downs of all class abilities.

Stamina effects your exhaustion, more stamina will enable you to fight for longer periods of time.

One stat point is obtained every level.

Also every 10 levels 4 additional stat points are automatically added to your highest stat.

Additionally After landing the killing blow on special Named Monsters known as Boss Monsters, a boss essence can be obtained which increase all your stats by 1.

Certain classes also have methods of obtaining extra stats.*

That’s cool.

Wait did she just say classes?

“Which classes exist in this game? How do I choose a class?”

*That is level 2 information. Do you wish to pay the 1 silver fee of access?*

Oh. Apparently that information’s blocked. 1 silver was 50% of my total savings….Oh well, the curiosity was killing me. Even though it took me 100 kills to get that precious 1 silver, I just had to know.

“Yes, I would like to pay the fee”

*1 silver has been deduced.

Many different classes are available to players fitting all types of archetype’s usually present in fantasy settings.

Upon reaching level 40, certain locations within the three great cities will allow you to choose your class.

A large quest must be completed before you can become said class and obtain additional abilities.

Also, each class ability or spell comes with its own quest that must be completed before the ability can be learned and used.

Most abilities also have level requirements.

The initial classes available are Mage, Warrior, Assassin, Priest and Hunters.

There are also additional class advancements that require many pre-requisites.

Mages can advance to become shamans, necromancers or warlocks.

Warriors can advance to be shield-masters, Berserkers or Sword-saints.

Assassins cannot advance.

Priests can advance to be Paladins.

Hunters can advance to be Druids or Rangers.

Each class has unique abilities that suit the class fantasy.

Class advancements are not considered better versions of the original class, but rather additional customization choices.

For example, both necromancers and mages have certain strengths and weaknesses. Necromancers lose all freezing abilities gained from their time as a mage and the benefits of such frost magic. Instead they get other abilities with different strengths.

It is possible that other secret class advancements exist.

All this information and a more detailed look at each class can be found within the libraries of any of the three great cities for free.*

Ummm……Did she just tell me that I could’ve gotten that info for free?

That’s bullshit.

I’m definitely going to the library before spending hard earned cash next time.

Well time to start fighting!

I quickly added all my stat points to agility, raising it up to 14 and jogged along into the rocky plains.

I approached a boar. Intent on taking the initiative, I raised my dagger and charged it.

The boar quickly realized that a hostile human was approaching and immediately turned to face me adopting an aggressive stance.

The boar kicked the ground with its hind legs and in an instant was tearing through the air, diving at my chest.

-Crack!

Searing pain shot through my body as the boar crashed into my chest. I felt my ribs crack from the sheer weight and power of the boar.

My body was flung to the side and the boar continued soaring through the air, falling a few meters away.

With shaky breaths I got up and faced the boar, I had failed to even counter-attack.

The dive-attack had left me stunned from the impact.

Blood was also dripping from a gash that ran across my shirt.

The sharp tusks of the boar had managed to inflict a light wound on my chest.

If the dive-attack was more of a direct hit, my insides would have been gouged out from those tusks…..Probably fatal damage.

The boar was fast and strong but it wasn’t very large. Smaller than the dogs in the previous zone.

That would be its weakness.

I began circling around the boar swiftly, staying on its sides.

I was circling closer and closer to the boar.

The boar then abruptly turned and dived towards me.

Quickening my pace, I dodged the attack.

Not willing to give up my chance to kill, I scrambled to follow the boar’s charge.

It landed on the ground and I pounced.

With both my daggers high above my head, I stabbed downwards, aiming at the un-protected back of the boar.

-Squeal!

With a tortured screech, the boar fell on its side.

Lifeless.

Looks like a good hit killed these boars instantly.

I noticed that the boars were similar to the dogs, glass cannons.

Ugh! Throbbing pain shot through my chest….

Looks like I cracked a rib.

It hurt to move around.

Maybe I should go back to the city and wait for it to recover? I mean my B-HP was still fine…

Oh well let’s just continue farming these boars.

I quickly adopted my circling strategy on the other boars and the battle become uneventful.

From the practice that my experiences with the dogs brought me, I felt that I was more than capable of handling these beasts.

By circling and taking advantage of the boar’s only method of attack being to charge at me, I uneventfully started grinding through the mobs.

Ugh….

The pain in my chest was getting worse and worse….

I needed to get my cracked rib some medical attention.

“What ways are there to heal besides just normal regeneration?”

*Bone potions and Blood potions are renowned for being adventuring essentials. Both potions only work in the rest state and cannot be used in combat. Bone potions restore all Bone-related injuries slowly over time and Blood potions greatly increases your blood-health regeneration. Additionally Combat-Salve and bandages are recommended to be applied directly on serious wounds so a full recovery can occur. All these items can be bought from the general goods store. The cathedrals within any city also have Priests on standby that can restore you to good health with healing magic for a small payment of 1 silver.*

Ah fuck, everything cost money.

Doesn’t that mean if you took fatal damage before you earned enough money to heal, you would just….die?

Feeling a sense of foreboding I then asked,

“Are there any penalties for dying?”

*After dying the player is immediately logged out and not allowed to login until 12 hours real-time. Upon logging back in the player will be re-spawned to the closest graveyard with 50% fatigue and his experience for that level reset to 0%. That does mean that if a level 9 player were to die at 99% experience, the player would then re-spawn as a level 9 with 0% experience.

Woah, that’s harsh….

Dying was really bad then. I was thankful that I didn’t drop items or lose money but….having your experience reset meant that I would have to be very careful while leveling.

The pain in my chest was distracting, but I was at 87% experience… I’ll just head back to town after getting level 5 real quick.

Adopting a focused attitude, I rapidly approached another boar and engaged it in combat.

It charged, I side-stepped, never letting it lock-on properly by continuously circling. Then counter-attacked with a well-timed stab.

Ah easy, 88%

Again. Another boar.

89%

Side-step, thrust under the belly.

96%

Dodge. Finish with a wide-slash into the boars head.

98%

Just two more to go, nonchalantly I advanced towards my last boar.

Here it comes, its charging at me.

I twisted my torso, intent on dodging the boar.

A twinge of pain shot through my chest.

My broken rib.

Slightly unbalanced, I tried to remain calm.

The words from before suddenly popped up in my head. If I die now…

I would lose 98 boars worth of experience.

Fuck

I’m distracted.

A moment’s hesitation.

It was all the boar needed.

It slammed into my gut.

Its tusks pierced into my flesh.

Twist.

Twist.

“ARRRRRRGH”

The boar gouged further inside my stomach.

Dark and wet blood burst out onto it’s fur.

Fuck.

I need to kill it.

Kill.

Somehow I still had both my daggers grasped tightly.

Kill.

I plunged my daggers into the boars head.

Blood sprayed into my eyes.

Blinding me.

Fuck I can’t see

Fuck….it hurt so much.

I gripped the lifeless frame of the bloody beast and in panic pushed it out.

“AAAAAGGGGGGH”

The bloody corpse was no longer embedded inside me but…

Blood flowed from my stomach.

I put my hands over my stomach. Applying pressure.

My hands were quickly stained red.

My blood-health was dropping…

“Fuck….”

I need to get back…

I looked in the distance….

the city was…..

so far away…….

“Fuck.”

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