Chapter 1: Getting Started

I am Davos, a recent high school graduate residing in Seoul. I came to Korea after being expelled from home due to the misdeeds of my younger brother, Clyde, all with the ambition of securing the heir position for our Albreuin family's company.

It has been six months since then, and I have utilized a substantial portion of my allowance to acquire the innovative full-dive gaming system developed by my family, along with the popular game called "Clash of Blades" which was released four months ago.

The reason for my sudden immersion in gaming, despite having never played before, is rather straightforward.

I heard people discussing the vast sums of money that players in this game can earn, particularly those known as Rankers, who belong to the top 1000 in the game leaderboards.

Given that the game boasts over 500 million active users, achieving such a status is no easy feat, especially when starting four months behind like myself.

For now, my aspirations are not unrealistic, such as becoming a Ranker within a few weeks.

Instead, my primary focus is on becoming familiar with the game mechanics and getting acclimated to the virtual world.

As a Full Dive VR game, I discovered through online research that mastering a character's control holds paramount importance in excelling at these games.

Therefore, my initial efforts are directed towards honing these skills before venturing into other aspects of the game.

Davos began the setup process, donning the specially designed full-dive suit for Clash of Blades and powering up the game.

A dazzling interface greeted him:

"Welcome Traveler to the vast world of Clash of Blades!"

"I am VAX, and first, let me guide you through a few steps to set up your character. If you are ready, please select the corresponding button to ensure your interface is working properly."

->Continue

"Perfect! Now, please pick one of the Classes that will appear on your screen. You can review a brief description for each class before deciding. Keep in mind that your choice is final, and you won't be able to change to a different Class later on, so choose wisely!"

Fighter: A physical DPS Class utilizing polearms or barehanded martial arts to engage opponents.

Swordsman: A physical DPS Class that can wield either one-handed swords with a shield or a bigger broadsword for dealing decisive blows to enemies.

Archer: A ranged damage dealer, perfect for those who prefer to stay out of physical combat or enjoy supporting allies from a distance.

Mage: A ranged damage dealer or support, depending on the direction of magic you want to pursue. Choose lethal spells to eliminate opponents or potent buffs and debuffs to aid your allies in battle.

Priest: A supportive Class with a primary focus on healing allies and providing minor buffs. It's not the best choice for solo combat.

Paladin: A tank Class, ideal for those who relish being on the front lines, protecting allies by drawing aggro and using high defence to withstand even the most formidable foes.

Rogue: Suited for individuals who enjoy employing various gadgets and long-ranged weapons. Focus on trapping enemies to gain an advantage in battle.

Assassin: A super offensive-focused physical DPS Class, sacrificing defense for lethal attacks with dual-wielding swords and daggers, utilizing surroundings and items to your advantage.

Davos pondered which class might suit him best, but his choice quickly followed, guided by his shy and introverted personality that sought to avoid people:

"Are you sure you want to pick Assassin as your Class?"

->Yes

"Next up please decide what you would like to be called:"

Devilish Shadow

"Name selection complete."

"Do you wish to adjust your appearance or use your real appearance for your character?"

->Adjust appearance

"First I would like to change my hair colour from blonde to black"

Done

"Next up, I would like a haircut with loose strands"

Done

"Okay, these changes are sufficient. The rest can remain as it is for now."

->Finish customization

"Character creation complete! Get ready to embark on your adventure, Traveler!"

At last, the time had come to truly start the game. Davos was eager to explore the world that had captured so many users' hearts for months: "Finally, it's time to begin the real game. I can't wait any longer to delve into this world that has enthralled so many users."

Let me take a look at my status first.

"Status window open!"

Devilish Shadow

Lv. 1

Hp 24/24

Stat Overview:

Strength: 5 Atk= 2*Str + Atk Mod. =13

Vitality: 4 Hp= 6*Vit + HP Mod. =24

Endurance: 3 Def= 3*End + Def Mod. =11

Agility: 6+1 Spd= 2*Agi + Spd Mod. =14

Intelligence: 4 Mana= 4*Int + Mana Mod. =16

Stamina=Endurance*(Vitality/2) =6

Skills:

—

Exp: 0/25

Equipment:

Beginner Dagger (Atk+3, Agi+1)

Adventurers Jacket (Def+1)

Adventurers Cap(Def'+1)

Accessories:

—

BC: 100

Sidenotes:

Mod. = Modifiers from Equipment and other future sources,

Spd = Speed,

BC = Blade Coins, the main currency within the game,

Stamina calculation: rounded up for odd numbers because the system can only display full digits (f.ex. 5/2=3 instead of 2.5)