AN: Thanks for your support guys! Here's a quick chapter, enjoy!

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“-is to me!”

Landing with a muffled thump on his arse, Feng growled as he realized that the Administrator has likely stopped paying attention to him… or worse is being amused by his futile objections.

“Sigh… Women.”

“Ohohoho, having troubles with ladies traveller? A strapping young man like you should hardly have such problems at this age!” An old man sitting on a bench next to his landing spot laughed and spoke amusedly.

“Feh, can’t live without them but they should bring a lot of headaches… Anyway, I am Feng, respected elder. Why do you call me a traveller?”

Responding politely to the old man, Feng decided to plumb the NPC for more information and given the intelligence of AIs involved, he decided that being polite will likely earn him more points and answers… Plus he has always been brought up to respect his elders anyway.

“Ohoho, the Gods has ordained that travellers like you will be appearing soon and there has been dozens before you dropping off in this exact spot. I have been amusing myself watching all the clueless travellers bumbling around and trying to rush off shouting about finding ‘monsters to kill’ or ‘quests’.”

Cursing in his mind about the appearance of dozens of players in this area already, Feng quickly processed the rest of the old man’s words and formulated a reply.

“I see… Well in that case, could I trouble you respected elder for some advice to prevent myself from ‘bumbling around’ as you said about the others?”

“Hohoho… I see you are a smarter breed than the rest, well then I guess it does me no harm to give you some directions. I suggest you head down to the adventurers’ guild following the west street and the basic training centre attached to it if you wish to venture forth into the unknown like most of the other travellers. Or if you are inclined towards more mystical arts, perhaps you should check out the library on the north street. While I doubt you’ll be interested, go down south to find the crafters’ lane and learn some crafts or even trade skills at the merchant guild.”

“Hmm… Thank you for your wisdom, elder. Could I be so bold as to trouble you and inquire if one wishes to learn the more… shadowy arts, where could one find an instructor?”

“Hooh… Such things should hardly be bandied about in broad daylight and an upstanding citizen like me would hardly be aware of what you are referring to but… perhaps you could check out the tavern down to the east near to where the slums are for more clues. Be on your way now young man, come back to visit me when you have trained yourself some and perhaps we can chat once more.”

Winking at Feng, the old man got up sprightly and vanished into the crowd within a few quick steps.

*Ding*

New Quest Gained: A Mysterious Old Man’s Advice – First Steps

You caught the attention of a mysterious old man and received some directions for your first steps in the world of Athal.

Objectives:

1) Visit the Adventurers’ Guild & Training Centre

OR Visit the Mages’ Guild

OR Visit the Crafters’ Lane

OR Visit the Merchants’ Guild

OR Visit the Slums’ Tavern *Hidden Objective*

2) Learn Basic Skills

3) Find the mysterious old man again.

Sub-objectives: Hidden

Rewards: Hidden

‘Well… that was helpful and odd. Looks like there’s more to that old man, especially with the speed he vanished. Damn and I didn’t get his name, how am I supposed to find him again? Ah well, better get started on training… judging by the codex stat gains, going to these places to train should net me some stat gains anyway.’

Feng decided to hurry and take advantage of the time when most of the other players are possibly still milling around lost and started an easy jog westwards towards the adventurers’ guild.

Barely thirty seconds in, he was distracted by a notification in face and loud *DING* causing him to stumble and fall onto the street.

New Skill Obtained: Running

Congratulations, you have gained an essential locomotion skill. Tired of the snail pace you are moving at? Simply pick up your feet and run! Be warned running drains your stamina but like in real life the more you run, the more you are able to endure!

(Passive)

+1% increase to running speed

+1 Endurance

Reading the notification in front of his face as he sprawled awkwardly on the ground, Feng swore under his breath.

“Damn you Admin, you probably set the damn notifs to go off at the worst possible moments on purpose.”

*DING*

New Skill Obtained: Balance

Congratulations, you have gained an essential life skill. Slipping and tripping all over the place, you clumsy clown? Fret not! We have generously implemented the balance skill to stop you from sprawling your arse on the floor every few steps!

Admin Message: Nope, that was just your own misfortune, you could have changed the game settings… But this? This is us laughing our collective behinds off at you :D We even customized the skill description for you! ^^

(Passive)

+1% chance to avoid losing your balance

+1 Dexterity

‘Grrr, that #[email protected]%ing troll!’ Scowling at the message, Feng swiped the notifications away and quickly checked the game settings to change the notifications to only alert instead of a pop-up.

Deciding that it was best not to allow the admin to get any more amusement out of this matter, he quickly got up and continued jogging towards his target.

Upon reaching the guild which was obvious from the large polished stone exterior two full floors higher than its surrounding buildings and hanging sign with a sword and the words “Adventurers’ Guild” scrawled over it, Feng walked towards the door and pushed it carefully with a finger… only for it to not budge at all.

‘Dang, I forgot that this body is completely untrained.’

Pressing his whole hand against the door, he tried to push it open again only to hear a slight creak… and absolutely no movement. Growling, Feng put all his weight against the solid oaken door and shoved with all his might… only for it to inch open a crack.

‘What the hell… Screw this, if I don’t have enough strength in this body… I’ll substitute technique. No damn door is going to stop me.’

Crouching lower into the ground, Feng grounded his feet and pressed a single palm against the door and in one fluid motion… took a step and twisted sharply in a single corkscrew movement rising up from his feet to waist and finally channeling the force with a quickrotation of his wrist into the door.

*CREAKKK*

The door groaned and moved barely a quarter open but sufficient for him to slip through.

“Well. Well. Not a bad showing for a young traveller. That door should require at least twice as much as strength as you have in your body to open…”

Jumping in shock, Feng spun around only to come face to belly of a figure towering over him…

*DING*