It was a new day and Roki currently was strolling around the streets of Eraborn. It was still early, the streets was still vacant not many people are around only drunkards are laying around the street after passing out. A few early morning people were getting up doing their usual routine. While trying to found the store that he was assigned to, he walk pass through the food market street.

Store owners are all prepping their store before it opens. Observing it while walking slowly, he was still in disbelief on how real this was, even more so was what had happen last night. his mind was fuzzy but he can remember it clearly. His expression turns happy or too happy plus with a weird pervert smile. For one thing after having a taste of it, he really does know why people like it.

After daydreaming on the middle of the street, he then accidentally bumps into something. It was soft, soft like pudding and pudding taste good. A thought cross his mind, eating the pudding it would totally taste good, but then a voiced broke him from the day dream and the voice was very familiar.

‘Roki, watch where are you going’

A hard slap land perfectly on his right cheek, sending his face and his health bar flying.

‘oww, that hurts Rinoa’

‘then why did you bump your face into my breast then? Explain that!’

‘it was unintentional, I was looking for a store and I wasn’t looking’

‘yeah right I notice you from afar and calling you, but you walk without giving any response with a weird expression on your face’

‘ah?’

‘and since when did you have an expression like that I have never seen that before, it was kind of a happy kind of face but felt very weird’

‘you are overthinking Rinoa, im just having fun in the game so let it be’

‘huh fine then, by the way whats your task from Miss Zhang its been a while since I saw you’

‘I don’t know it seems my next task is at this place called Mysterious Elixir, im searching and still I cant find it’

Rinoa was showing a blank face toward Roki;

‘hey’

‘what?’

‘try turning your head to the side’

Roki turn his head around and saw the store’s name board

*Mysterious Elixir, all kind of potion and concoction to your needs ;)*

‘oh it’s the store, thanks Rinoa I will see you later k, im in a hurry’

“hurry my ass, just a while ago you were day dreaming, again why he is so dense did he forgot already that he sees me naked from before, I was hoping for a reconciliation or something ugh that Kichi, he’s always getting me riled up, next time I see him I gonna beat some sense into him”

Rinoa then went her way continue her running while in her grasp was a small bottle label;

*special spice*

On the other hand, Roki enter the store that he was assigned to. Seeing the store from the inside, he somewhat familiar with the interior of the store. Like something was amiss, he racks his brain while scanning the store. Then he heard a voice;

‘araa if isn’t the boy from before, what brings you here in this old woman store’

‘ah, obaa-san, you are the one during my first day here’

‘it seems fate brought us together again boya’

‘ouh yes this is a letter from Miss Zhang, she said my next task would be here’

Reading the letter, her face then carved a smile, like she knew the content of the letter.

‘I guess my intuition is still sharp as ever hahaha’

She laugh like old woman do;

‘what do you mean obaa-san?’

‘come boya, you have a lot to learn and since the dragoness have given her blessing to you, we need to make haste’

‘dragoness? Make haste?’

‘come, you have only a week left until the end of your period’

‘ah yes’

Roki obediently follow the old woman to the back of the store. Oblivious to what the old woman said he didn’t know that she notice of his confinement period, if he question her he would have known more about the old baba and his quest.

Brought into an enclosed room that was only lighted by candle light, it was dim and gloomy. At the center of the floor were marking of a spell circle. Large enough to fit a whole dining table on it.

‘boya, did Zhang gave you the five skills?’

‘ah yes’

‘very well then, and did you earn the title from her?’

‘ah yes’

‘good now we can proceed on strengthening the five skills, what level are those 5 skills at?’

‘hmm I don’t know obaa-san, I really don’t’

‘huh~ for a such an incredible boy to not know the simplest thing makes me dumbfounded’

‘don’t blame me obaa-san, im just having fun’

‘fun? Nevermind boya, just imagine to see your skills in your head and then it will manifested itself’

‘I see’

“Skill window”

Skill Window:

Sword Strike Intermediate Lv.5

Heal Intermediate Lv.4

Increase Concentration Intermediate Lv.3

Stealth Intermediate Lv.1

Soul Beat Intermediate Lv.1

‘obaa-san most of them are intermediate level five to one’

‘hoho impressive, very impressive’

Once again, Roki do not know the importance of skill level in this game. He didn’t even know the basic of the game, he was here only because of Rinoa and right now the fun in it brought him to the game even without the persuasion of Rinoa.

‘boya step into the magic circle and prepared to be transported’

‘ok….wait what?’

‘it’s the same as before boya, continue to use all of those skills as much as you can until the time end’

‘ok, so what will I be facing?’

‘things that make your spine shivers hahaha’

‘looking forward to it then’

Without further ado, Roki step into the magic circle and vanish into thin air, the old baba stare at the magic circle while within her said;

“fate brought him to us and one day surely…”

Outside the store, a woman was running frantically. At the corner of her eye, the stamina bar continuously start to deplete. As the bar turn to nil, her body abruptly stop. Stamina bar indicate the amount of physical activities that the user can used, stamina will always be consumed if the user continuously engage in physical activity outside of resting state.

Ways of increasing stamina is through allocating points and by leveling up and the unorthodox way of training like in real life. Currently what she is doing is the exact way of increasing her stamina bar. This is the hidden benefit of doing the task. She began to notice it when she was running for the 7th spice bottle. She knew that her duration of running was able to persist longer than before.

Noticing that she was becoming stronger, it undeniably increased her motivation to continue doing this arduous task.

Three days passed and she was running her last lap. The sky has turned dark; the street was fill with people and users. Tonight a festival was being held, people are merry and cheering all together. Drinking beer and feasting the variety of delicacies sold at the street vendors. She was unaware of the current event.

Tonight was the night to celebrate the Night of the Moon Deity, Bulan. Within this world of Gaia, countless deities are worship by the population. For the population of Eraborn and the majority of known kingdom across the continent, they worship the twelve main deities and Bulan is one of them.

Bulan is a female deity that was depict as everlasting beauty. She governs the beauty of the night, the tide of the sea, the female monthly cycle and also the dark side of the moon, lunacy. The depiction of her was told to be a silver hair beauty with porcelain like white skin and a golden eye that mesmerizes anyone who seen it. Her body was alluring like no mortal could withstand even man or woman. The gown that she wore was said to be made by silk woven under the gravity of the moon holding mystical power.

As the citizen of Eraborn bathe under the moonlight celebrating their deity festival, they feast and drunk themselves to their desire. Meanwhile, amazed by the event Rinoa was excited the festive. Staring over the people and occasional events, she was awestruck in heart she also would like to taste all those delicious food, some pastry are made into a crescent shape, some food are made with ingredients associated with the moon.

But even with that her urge to become stronger outwit her glutton. Continuously running and running, she then arrived in front of the Jade Dragon Restaurant.

‘at last, the last one huh huh’

She enters and another whole scene of festive was in front of her. The whole restaurant was full of diners and food. Even the decoration of the restaurant was exquisite collaborating with the occasion.

While they are all dine in enjoyment, Miss Zhang was monitoring from the second floor. Her demeanor has never change since the first time she met her. not an ounce of warmth can be seen within her deep abyss eye.

But still she weave through the crowd and the waitress and proceed to climb the stairs. Reaching the second floor, they both stare at each other and Rinoa hand out the last bottle of spice.

‘congratulation Rinoa, you past the task’

‘thank you’

Rinoa was still staring at Miss Zhang hoping for something. Annoy by her stare she then ask;

‘what are you staring at?’

‘my next task’

‘oh, don’t worry just enjoy the festive for tonight’

A sense of disbelief was in her eyes, the things that she speak off was far that Rinoa can ever imagine. Nearly standing there like a statue hoping it was just a ruse. Miss Zhang ignore her stubborn attitude and leave her to stand.

“does she really mean it?”

After being left for a while, Rinoa gave in to her growling stomach and join the guest and waitress.

Meanwhile, a giant hand drop to the ground and upon impact hurl dust and debris to the surrounding. A shadow leap from the cloud of dust, holding a sword in his right hand. The face of this short man was smiling from ear to ear, grinning as wide as he can with his eyes looking sharp at his target.

In front of him was a statue, a 10 meter size statue to be exact. The statue look exactly like a thousand hand Buddha but more menacing in nature rather than the peace loving Buddha. Once again the thousand hands Buddha deliver multiple attacks using its large stone hand. But one by one it was dodged by the young man.

He dodge it by the last second but still the impact cause repercussion decreasing his so little health point. It immediately lead it to drop to zero but without the constant auto heal that he learned by himself, he would have drop dead by the second.

Auto heal, Roki learned through countless time of reciting the chant for heal and after numerous chanting he shorten the chant until he can chant it within his mind without uttering a single word. That is how he learns the sub-skill for heal, auto-heal.

“sheesh why is it attack pattern becoming more frantic, just a while ago it was much easier to dodge”

“damn it, those hands are troubling”

Roki silently cast a spell the only magic that he knows. Taking 3 second to complete the incantation. A burst of weak light came out of his hand. A sudden collision occurs between an invisible force with the giant stone hand. Halting the incoming attack it leaves a 10 second gap for Roki to avoid the attack.

Soul beat, a beginner magic spell, practically shunned by beginner magician as its power and magical properties are not on par with other beginner magic such fireball, ice bolt, lightning orb and etc. but to Roki it was a helpful magic and as it reach into the intermediate level the power and effect increased in magnitude compared to its lower level.

Soul beat power was not enough to kill monster at lower level but its effect were knocking back the enemy hindering them from approaching except for that the only advantage of this spell is its low cooldown period. At beginner level 1 the cool down is the lowest among the others with 8 seconds and after reaching intermediate the cool down was now 3 second along with increased in distance strike and burst power. Making it a more incredible spell.

Previously before the changes in behavior and frantic attack pattern of the thousand hand Buddha statue, its movements were more predictable and more slower. Being the man he is, engrossed with the fight against the giant statue, he didn’t notice the sudden change in the moon precisely it turning into a full moon while emitting a more intense moonlight that grace itself to the statue.

This was in fact happen during the night of the Bulan festival, the night when the celebration of Bulan. Its not proven but the intensify light caused a major power up to the statue along with changes of attack pattern.

But to Roki this occurrence increased his concentration and his mood leaving a wide smile on his face. other users would cower in front of this immense threat but Roki was excited and his virtual heart beat elevated by the second making him feel more alive.

Roki further watch the movement of the statue further adapting himself to the situation, further adapting to its pattern of attack changing of how he view this monster.

as time passed by his body was accustomed to the current movement of the statue, parrying the attack while using sword strike, taking a brief window of chance delivering multiple sword strike but still it doesn’t budge the giant statue. He also honed his other skills such as stealth and increased concentration. Using the stealth at the last moment before the attack hits him, cause the statue to misdirect the attack. While improve concentration is constantly being cast as soon as its effect wore down. His heal skill on the other hand is continuously cast using the auto cast.

You may all wonder how a level 1 newbie could cast this spell continuously but it was in fact because the magic circle he was connected to supplying him with an unlimited amount of mana. Making him able to cast spell and skills continuously without any reserve. Previously under the guidance of Miss Zhang he also more or less train under the same influence.

This exchange between Roki and the thousand hand Buddha continue on…..

While on the other hand, a certain young maiden elf has fainted due to over consuming of food and also alcohol.

The night of the festival was the first time she ever being drunk and her attitude turns much to the extreme side. Bouts of food fight and drinking between her and other users and also NPC lead to her current state right now. Last night was the night where Rinoa behavior turn like those of one who has drunk their entire life.

Aggressive, friendly, loud voice and terrible rash decision yup that what she was when she was drunk, a thing that she should not try to remember as it would leave a bit of embarrassment to her untainted clean slate. Well the rash decision were most likely when she indiscriminately headlock all the perverted men who try to sneak a grope. More than making them stay away from her it was the opposite as their faces when being headlock were expressing utter joy. Damn those perverted men.

Waking up from her drunken state, she was laying on top of the bar counter. With her eyes open, the things around her was in a chaotic state. Broken chair broken table with many drunk people laying around the floor, on the table and some are in half naked state. Who knows what kind of thing that happen the night of the festival.

Luckily for Rinoa, she hardly remembers a thing as the hangover was quite putting a toll to her mind. below her mana bar was a status infliction, in the image of a bottle with bubbles on top of it hinting she was in a drunk state.

‘ouh my aching head, what happened last night ugh’

‘that’s something you shouldn’t ponder about, get up Rinoa, you have a quest to be done’

A cold aura came from the one and only being that emit this terrifying and unapproachable atmosphere. The owner of the current chaotic wreck restaurant, Miss Zhang

‘ughhh yes Miss Zhang’

She was then dragged by Miss Zhang to the kitchen of the restaurant. There it was different from the wreckage from outside, people wearing white clothing resembling those of chef were running around busy with their own works.

Some are prepping for ingredients, some are washing dishes and some are cooking with blazing fire over their stove. Truly the embodiment of chinese cooking, the bright large red flame. There stood Miss Zhang, silently watching the battlefield of cooking. It was far from noon but the intensity was no doubt as if the restaurant was full with customer.

‘Now your next task is none other than joining the rank of cooks over here and this time you will only pass if you reach cooking beginner level 5, understood?’

‘yes but…’

‘ouh yes try to finish this feat as before the end of this week’

‘but Miss Zhang I don’t have the cooking skill’

‘then learn it’

‘how?’

‘ask the chef then why are you asking me’

‘fine’

‘what did you say ?’

‘yes Miss Zhang!’

‘good’

“cheh, just you wait you cold blooded demon after I finish this quest I wont come back to this forsaken restaurant again, hmph, but wait if she said to finish this by the end this week that mean this is the last task then, yes!!, my time to venture out Gaia will soon come, just you wait”

She ends here monolog speech by raising her fist into the air signifying her determination to succeed, but such it was a cool pose the drunken status acting up on her leading her to sprawl on the floor and puking. So much for enjoying her first time drinking alcohol beverage.

A few trip to the bathroom puking her brains out, her drunken status was then disappeared. Putting on a set of chef attire, she then proceed to introduce herself to the head of chef of the restaurant;

‘hello head chef Im Rinoa and I will be in your care for the next week’

‘haha another challenger eh, its been a while since one of you reach this far’

‘ah yes, I have done my best’

‘don’t be too tense, since you come this far, you should strive on haha’

‘yes I will head chef-san’

‘call me chef Liu-bei will be enough’

‘yes chef Liu-Bei’

‘huh~ too tense, that boss of mine really drive you guys being this stiff’

‘no im not chef Liu-Bei, im always like this on my first time so eventually I will be less tense’

‘as you say so then, anyway go prep some ingredients with Junior chef Ma’

‘yes chef Liu-Bei!’

She then met Junior chef Ma. Ma was sitting on a small stool silently peeling up various kind of vegetables. Different from the usual greens of the real world in Gaia the vegetables were in various colors and shapes. Some resembles the usual vegetables but with a little twist of variety in its shape and minor addition.

Rinoa look at this Junior chef Ma and she notice how fast his peeling speed, she then greeted him;

‘hello Junior Chef Ma, im your new helper Rinoa, plese guide me’

‘oh ok’

Silence enclosed both of them, the simple and short reply by the gloomy looking guy left her unable to respond. The vibe that this guy gave off was a bit similar to Roki but a much more severe than her childhood friend. The gloominess of this guy hasten to envelop the surrounding. Before suffocating against this gloominess, she then breaks the silence;

‘so what I can do to help you junior chef ma?’

‘here’

A simple direction from his hand indicates to her to join him peeling the veggies. A small peeling knife was given to her, she then sat opposite of Junior Ma and start peeling along with him.

At first she thought it would be easy but contrary to her belief, certain type of veggies have certain ways of peeling it. it was hard and frustrating at first but after observing how Junior Ma peel she then gets the hang of it. hours over hours she peels and peels.

Once in a while she tries to begin a conversation with Junior chef Ma but certainly it was a short reply or its either yes or no. she gave up midway trying to speak with him and silently attuned herself with the silent atmosphere.

The evening came and customer rush in to the restaurant for dinner. Prepping was done and the time has come. Relieve of her duty to prep, she was then task to assist the other chef along with junior chef Ma.

The evening section begins and kitchen was burning with flame and oils along with their burning will. It a whole different scene compare to before, people are moving as fast as they can and chef are shouting at each other for instructions and guide.

She was engulf by the burning situation but then brought back to reality by a nudge from the gloomy Ma.

‘Come and help we shoudnt be dazing around’

‘yes!’

She then start assisting the chef, she makes a lot of blunders along the way but she further improve herself while making up for her mistake. She quickly adapt to her surrounding and further increase her familiarity with the other chefs.

Time flew by and the restaurant close down. At the corner of the kitchen, rinoa was closing tight her eyes while leaning to the wall.

‘huh im tired i guess its time for me to sleep then’

Before returning to the real world, she first goes back to a room provided for her in the restaurant. Its one of those bunk beds in a small little room. laying on one of the bed she then went to sleep and log off.

By laying on a bed the user can receive a special boost in status after logging in back.

On the other hand, a man was going toe to toe with the thousand hand Buddha statue. As the large stone hand try to strike the small Roki. he counter it with his attack while using his sole sword skill, sword strike. Blue aura envelops the sword and seconds before it clash with the stone hand, the aura change color to white.

After the clash, his body was flung into the air while his body was engulf by glowing aura indicating the auto-heal. As he was floating in mid-air a blue screen open up.

————————————————————————————————

Sword Strike has reached Advanced Level 1!

Due to fast increased in leveling a bonus of 2 times in skill experienced has been earned for the next 24 hours.

————————————————————————————————

He could only grin as his sword once again envelops by the new white aura;

‘Come!’