job change
The players' faces turned pale as they realized what was happening. It seemed they had unintentionally triggered another event or unleashed a more powerful force.
"Ember, what's going on? What's that sound?" WTF asked, looking bewildered.
Ember Wilde took a deep breath, calming himself down, and then replied, "As you suspected, we are being surrounded by more undead creatures..."
"What should we do? I really don't want to be eaten alive by skeletons again," What the hell said, his face showing a look of discomfort.
"We must handle this with care. Everyone, stay quiet!" Ember Wilde answered, his mind quickly searching for a solution, and he promptly extinguished the campfire.
As the knocking grew louder, the players could hear eerie whispers and faint roars coming from the other side of the door. Whatever awaited them on the other side seemed eager to break in.
Still catching his breath from battling the skeletons, IronBarbie spoke up, "Ember, you mentioned before that the water from the Blackwater River is effective against the undead. Can we use that to our advantage?"
Ember Wilde nodded, "Yes, that might be a useful strategy. The water from the Blackwater River has some effect on the undead. If we use it to create a defense, it might buy us some time or weaken the approaching force."
"Then let's get ready! We can use the water to build a barrier that will deter them from advancing while we take refuge inside the room," IronBarbie suggested, checking the time, "It's now 3:45 in the morning, and we have only two hours until dawn. If we can hold on for those two hours, we'll be victorious."
The players quickly sprang into action, pouring the water from their containers onto the ground, leaving some at the doorstep, hoping to maximize the effect of the Blackwater River water.
However, just as they set up their defense, the knocking intensified, and cracks appeared on the door.
"Guys, we're running out of time. Once that door is breached, they'll flood in!" Ember Wilde warned.
As the door seemed on the verge of collapse, the players completed their makeshift barrier using the containers filled with water and swiftly retreated into the room.
After everyone made it inside, before they could catch their breath, WTF said, "Look at the quest log!"
The quest "[Protect the Shelter]" was marked as completed.
A question mark ("?") appeared above Ember Wilde's head, indicating that the players could now turn in the quest to his.
WTF and What the hell approached Ember Wilde and asked, "Ember, did we successfully defend the shelter?"
Ember Wilde nodded, indicating that they indeed had.
He then glanced at the skeletons outside, lingering near the Blackwater River but not daring to approach, and let out a sigh of relief. They had finally survived this ordeal, and while some of the players could be resurrected, he might not have that ability and could have perished permanently.
After giving the players a quick look, Ember Wilde responded with a line more typical of an NPC, "Brave survivors, without you, our shelter would have become a grave for the undead."
"This is the best weapon available within the shelter, and it can achieve its full potential only in your hands. Take it."
[Obtained: Experience Points x30, Copper Coins x30, Choose One-Star Weapon Box x1.]
"Hey, the NPC is indeed giving us the best sword in the village!" WTF remarked, looking at the quest rewards with a smile.
"What best sword? It's a Choose One-Star Weapon Box!" What the hell reminded.
"What weapon are you going to choose?"
"WTF opened the [One-Star Weapon Box] and while browsing through its contents, he said, 'Even though it's a one-star weapon box, the variety is quite extensive! It's not just limited to traditional weapons like knives, spears, swords, and halberds! There's even a handgun like the USP, and staves for magic users!'"
"In a world where the undead skeletons are the starting enemies, it's only natural to have mage classes! I've made up my mind; I'm going to play as a mage! Mages are always top-tier in any game; they're just the coolest!" What the hell said decisively, pulling out a wooden magic staff from the [One-Star Weapon Box].
"Mages are indeed powerful, but since you've chosen to be a mage, I won't overlap with you," WTF thought for a moment and finally took out a USP handgun from the [One-Star Weapon Box].
"I don't want to engage in close combat with skeletons using melee weapons; firearms suit me better," WTF said, playing around with the USP handgun with a smile.
Ember Wilde, standing in front of them, looked at the weapons they had taken out from the [One-Star Weapon Box].
He was utterly dumbfounded.
Ember Wilde smacked his lips, unable to hold back his curiosity, and asked, "Are you planning to use a wooden staff to whack the skeletons?"
"And, although your handgun's magazine is full, what will you do when you run out of bullets?" he continued.
WTF and What the hell were petrified on the spot.
In every game, mages are powerful because they can unleash cool and powerful magic attacks. Furthermore, mage skills are never too weak in any game. However, the problem now wasn't about the strength of a mage's skills. It was that What the hell didn't have any usable skills at all!
He couldn't even conjure the most basic Fireball spell. So, his only option was to use the wooden staff to hit the skeletons.
The realization hit What the hell like a ton of bricks. He felt completely dumbfounded.
And, unfortunately, he was stuck in that state of shock. Meanwhile, WTF was in an even worse situation.
Unable to ensure a steady supply of ammunition, he chose the Gunslinger class, and that choice now seemed problematic in this undead-filled world.
Ember Wilde watched the two of them in their stunned states, feeling a mix of amusement and sympathy. The survival in this world was going to be tougher than they had imagined.
That means... once his bullets run out, he'll be a gunslinger without a gun! It seems like being a mage would have been a better choice after all. At least a mage can use a staff as a makeshift melee weapon.
"You guys have claimed the quest rewards, right?" IronBarbie, who had taken some time to rest, finally recovered and approached WTF and What the hell with a smile. "What did you choose for the choose one-star weapon reward?"
WTF and What the hell exchanged embarrassed smiles and then shared the information about their weapons on the players' chat.
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[USP Handgun ★]:
Damage: 35
Magazine Capacity: 12/24
Durability: 15/15
Special: Can equip a silencer (Damage -5)
Required Dexterity: 5
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IronBarbie glanced at their choices and said, "A USP handgun, huh? It's a decent weapon for now. As for you, What the hell, a wooden staff, well... you can still use it as a last resort. At least it's better than nothing."
Ember Wilde, who had been observing the conversation, couldn't help but smile at the scene. It seemed their adventure in this undead-filled world was going to be full of unexpected twists and turns.
[Apprentice Mage's Staff ★]:
Damage: 1~1 (Varies based on the holder's Strength attribute)
Durability: 10/10
Special: Spirit +1
Required Spirit: 5
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"These two one-star equipments are not bad for beginners. The staff can boost attributes, and the USP handgun has extremely high damage," IronBarbie commented as he examined the equipment.
WTF and What the hell were still marveling at IronBarbie's observations when he rubbed his chin and took a deep breath, saying, "However... even though the handgun has high damage, using bullets to shoot at skeletons feels a bit wasteful."
Ember Wilde interjected, "I agree. Considering the scarcity of ammunition, it might be better to rely on melee attacks or magic, especially when facing a large number of undead creatures."
IronBarbie nodded in agreement, "Exactly. Ammo conservation is crucial in this world. We'll need to make the most of our resources and find alternative ways to deal with the undead."
The party then discussed their strategies and how they would approach future encounters. With their varied weapon choices and Ember Wilde's magic skills, they were better prepared to face the challenges that awaited them in the undead-infested world.
IronBarbie's analysis hit home, and WTF and What the hell were completely dejected. The reality of their limited resources and lack of useful skills sunk in, leaving them feeling numb and defeated. They slowly sat down, leaning against some abandoned furniture, their eyes devoid of hope.
The urge to quit the game surged within them. The only reason they hadn't done so yet was to see what weapon IronBarbie would choose.
IronBarbie, seeing their disheartened expressions, let out a sigh. He understood their predicament and the challenges they were facing. After carefully considering his options, he finally made his decision.
"I know the situation is tough, and we're in dire straits, but we can't give up now. We need to find a way to survive," IronBarbie said with determination. "As for me, I'll go with the Apprentice Mage's Staff."
He picked up the staff and felt a faint surge of energy, as if it resonated with his spirit. It might not grant him immediate magical abilities, but it was an investment in his potential as a mage. Besides, the additional Spirit attribute could prove to be beneficial in the long run.
"I believe in you guys," IronBarbie continued, trying to encourage his teammates. "We can overcome these challenges together. Let's stick together and figure out a way to make it through this."
His words seemed to inject a glimmer of hope back into WTF and What the hell. They realized that giving up wasn't the answer, and they should face the hardships head-on as a team.
With renewed determination, they got back on their feet, ready to face whatever lay ahead in this unforgiving world.
IronBarbie walked up to Ember Wilde and, after a somewhat cheesy exchange, received his quest reward.
"Thud!"
There was a muffled sound as IronBarbie brought the heavy iron hammer down to the ground.
"To deal with skeletons, you need a blunt weapon, and this big iron hammer is just perfect. If I manage to knock down a skeleton, I should be able to one-shot it!" IronBarbie grinned as he shared the equipment information of the massive iron hammer.
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[Novice Blacksmith's Iron Hammer ★]:
Damage: 15~18
Durability: 35/35
Required Strength: 5
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WTF and What the hell looked at the information on the iron hammer, and envy appeared on their faces. The iron hammer had such high damage and an impressive durability of 35 points. With IronBarbie's agility combined with this hammer, he seemed capable of taking on a group of skeletons single-handedly.
"I know what you're thinking... Are you considering me invincible in the early stages of the game?" IronBarbie shook his head.
"If this game didn't have a stamina system, I might actually be invincible at this stage. But don't be fooled by the attributes of this iron hammer; it consumes stamina at a rapid rate when I use it. Just that one swing earlier drained as much stamina as running several laps in the lobby. So, I still need to be cautious."
"Woah, in that case, using firearms should not consume much stamina, right? After all, it's just pulling the trigger," What the hell said.
"And when I use skills, it should probably consume a resource similar to 'mana' or 'spirit points'," WTF added.
WTF and What the hell exchanged glances, and their expressions improved. They realized that their chosen professions still had their own advantages and disadvantages.
The only problem now was how to survive the early stages of the game. Once they acquired ammunition and the mage's skills, they could significantly improve their situation. How to survive the early stages? The answer was to find an experienced player to guide them.
Thinking of this, both WTF and What the hell looked at IronBarbie with eager eyes, making him feel a bit uneasy.
"Although I can use voices that sound like those of an older sister or a loli, I'm totally straight, so don't get any weird ideas!" IronBarbie felt a hint of fear despite his imposing 1.9-meter stature.
"No, no, you've misunderstood!" WTF quickly explained, "We just want to join your team and level up together."
"Yeah, exactly," What the hell nodded in agreement, playing along.
"I see..." IronBarbie took a deep breath, "Currently, there are only five people with testing qualifications in the game. The other two ran away because they were afraid of dying in the sunlight. I can't seem to find any other teammates."
"That's right! Other than us, there's no other option!" WTF said excitedly.
What the hell sighed and rubbed his forehead, "Why do I feel like I can't get too excited about that..."
WTF paid no attention to his friend's comment and continued, "Big bro, let's add each other as friends on the game platform. Since all the platform friends' information is interlinked, we'll be able to see each other online."
IronBarbie hesitated for two seconds but eventually exchanged friend information with them.
"It's getting late, I need to log off and rest," WTF waved his hand, "If I fall asleep during the early meeting tomorrow, my idiot boss will scold me again."
The three players bade each other goodnight, and as they logged off, they felt a sense of anticipation for the adventures that awaited them on the other side of the screen.
After finishing their conversation, WTF's character gradually faded and disappeared into the respawn point. What the hell did the same, bidding farewell before logging off.
IronBarbie glanced at where they had disappeared and muttered to himself, "Even though it's 100% realistic, it's still a game after all. The equipment and items on their characters will disappear when they log off. Each player should have storage space in the game."
Ember Wilde knew that this was all part of the game's system. The system provided players with various game-like functions in this realistic post-apocalyptic world.
"Ember, I heard from WTF that cleaning up the shelter is also a quest with rewards," IronBarbie turned to Ember Wilde and said, "Let's leave these dirty things in the lobby for tomorrow; you don't have to do it."
Ember Wilde nodded slightly. He hadn't planned to clean up the shelter in the first place. Moreover, his mind was currently focused on something else entirely.
When he reached level 10, an exciting system prompt appeared. At level 10, he could finally undergo a job change!