Chapter 1: Bumpy Beginnings

“Here, your Awakening stone. That’ll be five hundred thousand points.” The shopkeeper who had reached his later years informed, placing the golden-colored hexagonal stone on the table.

Teo picked up the item and inspected it eagerly. Impatience colored his face as his fingers traced along the smooth surface of the rock. This small thing that could easily fit in the middle of his palm had the potential to change one’s destiny. His destiny.

He was being meticulous when handling it.

[Do you want to start your tutorial?]

[Location: random]

[Yes/No]

“Great! The system! It’s the real deal.” Teo breathed out a long breath he didn't know he was holding, feeling relieved. He gave the old shop owner one of his genuine smiles. “Uncle, thank you for your help.”

He rolled up his left-hand sleeves, displaying a barcode engraved on his wrist to the shop owner. “Here.”

Gunt silently ran the scanner machine over Teo’s barcode. After Teo keyed his password, the money went into the shop owner’s account, marking the transaction as over.

Teo looked at the oldtimer while the man was busy finishing the procedure. Heavily furrowed face and downward curved lips replaced the usual joyous expression he liked to wear. Wavy creases were prominent on his forehead; further contributing to his gaunt look. Gunt was like the epitome of a depressed man. Teo was not used to seeing such expression on the man.

"You are awfully silent for someone who is standing before a future [Player]. What got you rattled, geezer?" Teo joked, rubbing his fingers on the spot that had the barcode. For no apparent reason, his skin would always itch after a scan.

Gunt ignored him as if he didn't exist and turned around to arrange the items on the shelf behind him. It seems that he didn't want to talk. This geezer is quite annoying sometimes.

Since he showed no interest to have a conversation, Teo didn't force it. He gave the man, who had his back turned towards him, a perfect 90-degree bow. “Thanks for the help, uncle. I won’t forget this favor.”

Awakening stones were heavily regulated and controlled by the government. The ability to artificially create [Players] made it a highly sought-after treasure. Having more [Players] joining their ranks means more security and survival options for the base camp, after all.

Given Teo’s D-grade citizenship status, he would have never been given the green signal to buy one even if he had enough money. Thanks to Gunt, however, he managed to get his hands on one of these precious stones. The man took a massive risk by selling him one in secret.

Teo would never forget this kind deed.

If I manage to become a player, I’ll definitely pay back uncle Gunt. He made a solemn as he pulled on the shop’s door to get out.

“Brat.”

His steps halted when Gunt’s call reached his ears. He turned to look at the man, who still had his back towards him as he stood behind the counter, “what is it?”

“No matter what you do, always prioritize your life. Even if you fail, it doesn’t matter. As long you are alive, there will always be another way.”

Teo looked down as he listened to the man’s wisdom-filled words. He understood Gunt’s worry. He was already a twenty-one years old grown-up man and still hadn't awakened as a [Player]. Usually, the natural awakening should have happened between twelve to seventeen years old. He was already four years late.

It only means one thing; he wasn’t eligible to be a [Player]. Somehow or other, he didn't qualify.

Now, this awakening stone could forcibly clear that eligibility criteria for him. But in exchange, he’d have to undergo a difficult trial.

This trial was called Tutorial Dungeon.

Among the people who use awakening stones, 70% of them end up dead in the Tutorial Dungeon.

“I’ll be careful, uncle.” Teo gave him a thumbs up before exiting the shop. The doorbell chimed as the door repositioned itself.

“I hope so, brat.” Gunt sighed gravely, watching Teo dissolve into the crowd through his shop’s glasses.

XXX

The walk from Gunt’s Refined Weaponry only took Teo a mere fifteen minutes. Throughout the way, he couldn't keep the grin away his tanned face. He couldn’t wait to reach home and start his awakening process.

Two decades ago, an energy called mana appeared and saturated the environment, causing irreversible climatic changes to occur. Flora and Fauna began to evolve and mutate into things out of people’s worst nightmares. In a matter of days, humanity lost its seat at the top of the food chain.

To make matters worse, wormholes appeared and released countless monsters into the world.

It was a cataclysm.

Earth’s ten billion population was reduced to a few million towards the end of the first month.

Just when humanity was at the end of its ropes, a group of special people began manifesting powers straight out of a video game. They displayed the ability to kill the monsters and even grow stronger by doing so.

They were called [Players], people who had the backing of [Akashic Records].

With their privileges as [Players], they built Base Camps that monsters couldn’t invade. And humanity finally got the breathing space it needed.

It had been two decades since then, and [Players] were slowly regaining the land humans had lost to the monsters during the cataclysm.

Base Camp No. 10 had a total population of three million. However, since its area was a little small, people had to live in residential sites known as Settlements. Well, C and D grade citizens anyway.

Teo’s dorm was located at the far end of Settlement No. 112. It was a 2x3 meter room with only a metal bed in a corner. He owned no other furniture or utensils. He didn’t need them, anyway. With him saving money to buy an awakening stone, food pills were the only things he could afford.

Teo closed the door behind him and took out the Awakening stone from his pocket.

[Do you want to start your tutorial?]

[Location: random]

[Yes/No]

The same message inside a three-dimensional holographic box appeared again.

He had already mentally prepared himself before going to buy the stone. He was ready for any consequences. He had to become a [Player] or die trying.

With that kind of mentality, Teo pressed yes.

[Transfering to a random Tutorial Dungeon...]

Teo felt such dizziness as he had never felt before. It was even worse than the aftereffects of trying a brandy that had aged for too long.

Thankfully, it only lasted for a moment. But even after the dizziness disappeared, Teo still found it difficult to stand on his own feet. His body was covered in sweat and his legs had become softer than jelly.

He hugged the ground and proceeded to empty his empty stomach.

“What a bad experience!” Teo mumbled to himself, wiping away the saliva from his lips. “Anyway, where am I?” He inspected his surroundings with rapt attention.

It was a slightly bigger room than his dorm and had a dome for a roof. A lantern-like object hung from the ceiling, providing faint light. The way out of the room was a narrow path that disappeared into the darkness.

Teo gulped as a bad feeling welled up in his heart.

System message appeared in a flash, clearing all his doubts.

[Tutorial Location: Lyria’s Cemetery]

[Type: Undead]

[Number of Floors: 10]

[Current Floor: 1]

[Clear condition: Kill 50 zombies]

“Fuck!!”

Teo couldn’t stop himself from cursing out.

Out of all tutorial places he could’ve gone to, his wretched luck brought him to one of the most infamous dungeons to ever exist, Lyria’s Cemetery.

Teo shuddered as he recalled the stories of this place shared by ‘lucky’ people who had escaped this place with their wits intact.

An environment harsher than danger zones, housing monsters scarier than your worst nightmares, Lyria’s Cemetery had maintained its unclearable reputation for more than a decade.

It was a place where even the high-ranked rankers failed. Teo held no illusion that he could clear it.

“I’m finished!” Teo moaned, hugging himself as he rolled on the cobblestone floor. “My new life was over before it could even start. God! Why are you so unfair to me!?”

As someone who was trying to awaken through an Awakening stone, if he left halfway without completing the tutorial, not only he’d fail at awakening, but he’ll also be throwing away his only chance.

“No. I can’t give up now.” Teo gritted his teeth as he stood up. “I have given up my everything for this chance. I won’t be pulling out now.”

[You’ve obtained a beginner bonus]

[Attribute points x10]

[wooden sword x1]

[Step out of the safe zone to begin on your quest]

[Good luck!]

In a flash, a crudely made wooden sword appeared on the floor. Teo picked it up and inspected it thoroughly.

A system window flashed, detailing the weapon’s characteristics.

Wooden sword

Rank: Common

Attack: 2 – 4

Durability: 999+/999+

Proficiency: 0%

A crudely made weapon, given to all beginners who go through the tutorial. Even though it lacks attack power, it boasts durability that no item will ever have

“Oh! So this is what they call Observation!” Teo mumbled to himself as he read the contents of the notification. “It is so handy!” He nodded gratifyingly.

The observation was a skill every [Player] possesses. It is a default ability that comes with awakening and helps a player the most in their beginning stages. An indispensable skill that never loses its value to a [Player].

“On the other hand, this sword really sucks. Well, better than nothing, I guess.” Teo shook his head. “System, show me my status page.”

[Displaying status] Name Teo

Level

Exp

1

[0/50]

Attributes:

STR: 9

DEF: 5

AGI: 11

VIT: 15

WIL: 7

MAG: 0

Skills: Observe Lv 1 Health 150/150 Stamina 30/30