36 Chapter 36
"Wow!"
"This game looks so real!"
"I know right? I was also amazed when I first logged in."
Some players were talking in the middle of the square while some others already went on to grind.
They were looking for quests and stuff to improve themselves.
A group of beta testers were waiting at the place where a kid would give them weird quests for a high amount of EXP.
They didn't tell of this shortcut to many others because it was their privilege to enjoy but no matter how much they waited, the kid didn't show up.
"Where is Max?" A player asked to another one.
"I don't know. He was always here during beta testing." The player shrugged.
"Maybe he had some stuff? Or could it be a bug? Maybe the developers removed him to even the grounds between beta testers and the other players?"
"It could be."
"Oh my god!" A female player shouted. "Look at that hunk!" She said to her friend.
"Where?" He friend asked.
"Look at the forums. Someone just posted the photo of a blacksmith. Oh my god!"
He friend then logged in to the forums and found the photo.
[Girls, I'm in love]
It was posted under that topic.
On the photo, there was young blacksmith with only an apron on his shirtless body. His tanned skin filled with muscles could be seen clearly.
His long silver hair reached to his waist and was tied at the tips.
There were a few scars on his body here and there, but it didn't diminish his handsomeness, instead, they added to it.
His grey eyes were just like the metal he was working on, and was focused intensely.
"Oh my god!" She also exclaimed. "Where is his workshop?!"
"It is close by. I texted the poster and she replied just now. Let's go!"
***
*Clang!*
After hitting the final hammer blow on his now finished blade, Max wiped his sweat with his arm.
The man in the photo posted on the forum was Max.
In these years, he had grown significantly, reaching 187 cm. His previous auburn hair turned silver, his golden brown eyes turned metallic gray, and his skin got tanner from his overuse of magic which created a rebound effect. (A/N: He looks like the cover.)
He didn't want to cut his hair, so he tied it at the tip with a simple cloth.
He came back to Horizon a month prior to public release and bought a simple workshop to continue his blacksmithing.
He wanted to fill his NPC shop with weapons and armors to sell them in exchange for EXP. Because he knew that the things he would be able to buy would be updated once the game was open to public.
And, he wasn't disappointed. There were a lot more new stuff. Only the prices were a bit spicy.
But with this many players around, he knew that he wouldn't have any troubles regarding that.
He was on a lot of adventures over the years. He could sell them as Memory Crystals. His shop was filled with weapons and armors of the highest quality.
And, there was also a new addition to the things he could buy with EXP.
[Saint Graph Rank Up] -> 5.000.000 EXP
From its name, he could guess that it would increase his Parameters. Over the years, he got accustomed to his newfound powers, and also grew stronger.
[Name: Maximillian Evander]
[Class: Archer]
[Parameters]
Strength -> E+
Endurance -> E++
Agility -> E++
Mana -> D
Luck -> E
Phantasm -> C
(A/N: The parameter distinction will be kind of different from Fate. It will be explained at the end of the chapter.)
[Class Skills]
Magic Resistance -> D-
Clairvoyance -> D
[Personal Skills]
Projection -> C
Mind's Eye (True) -> D-
Valor -> D
[Phantasm]
Unlimited Blade Works -> E ~ C
Triple-Linked Crane Wings -> C+
Rho Aias -> ?
Then he took a better look at the Blueprints.
[Blueprints]
Caladbolg II -> 2.500.000 EXP
Hrunting -> 2.500.000 EXP
Ascalon -> 3.000.000 EXP
Gram -> 2.500.000 EXP
Steel Sword (Lesser Fire) -> 5.000 EXP
Steel Sword (Greater Fire) -> 10.000 EXP
.
.
.
(A/N: If you have recommendations let me know. Anything goes as long as it makes sense.)
And many more weapons, either named like Merodach and Beagaltach, or just their material and different enchantments. There were all types of weapons for sale. Swords, daggers, clubs, hammers, axes, spears.
Anyone of them could be exchanged for EXP.
But what Max wanted at the moment was not to increase his arsenal, but his parameters.
He could buy them later once he got stronger himself.
What would he do with more weapons if he can't even use them yet? That's why his strength came first.
"Hmm?" After taking his eyes off the interface, he saw a huge crowd of players gathered in front of his workshop.
""Kyaa!"" They shouted in unison when he looked at them.
'What's going on?' He thought. Because what he noticed about the crowd was that they were all females.
"He looked at me!"
"No! He clearly looked at me!"
Then an argument started.
'How did they find me so quickly? No matter, works for me anyways.' Max thought.
He then looked at a player and continued, "Ah adventurer, you made it just in time. I've lost my grandfather's hammer. It had a lot of sentimental value for me. Could you help me find it?"
Then a quest panel appeared before the players.
[Find the Grandfather's Hammer]
[Difficulty -> —]
Description: Find the Blacksmith's grandfather's hammer in the woods.
Reward: 50 EXP
'Hahaha I've been waiting for this for so long. I've hid countless hammers in the woods, I can use it as a repetitive quest and force them to go out. That way they might gain more EXP by hunting animals.' Max thought.
"Accept!"
"Accept!"
"Accept!"
"I'll do anything for you!"
The players all accepted the quest with high spirits and dispersed.
"That takes care of that. Now, for the other one…" He said as he willed his body armor and holy shroud to materialize.
Then walked out of the workshop.
He walked towards the gates amidst the gawking looks of the players.
He got the news that more Mythic Dawn cultists were looking for the man named Wrought Iron. Ever since the news from that day, they never stopped looking for him, but luckily, he looked so much different than before so they couldn't find him.
Also, with the passing of time, Mythic Dawn Cult started getting more and more brazen. Instead of operating in the dark like they were doing previously, they started acting in the light too.
They were known as an evil cult who sought to bring destruction wherever they go.
And they made quite a few attempts on Horizon but they didn't get any results so far.
Still, they didn't stop trying and sent more cultists each time.
At the front of the gates, stood Marcus.
"Yo, Archer. You're here." He said as he got closer to Max and whispered, *Why do I have to call you Archer dude? Can't I just call you by name?*
Max took a look at his back and saw a few players were following him, and among them was a familiar one.
[Grid]
*Just play along will you?* He whispered back.
He decided on using a code name so that he can add to his mysteriousness and make players more curious about him.
*Well, whatever you say. You're the boss.* Marcus shrugged. "They are close by. Our intel was correct." He said.
"Let's go then." Max replied.
——<>——
'Why does he feel familiar?' Grid thought.
He saw the NPC walking along the streets and unconsciously, he started following him because he felt familiar.
Previously, he was waiting by the square to find Max but no matter how much he and the other beta testers waited, he never showed up.
That's why he gave up and followed this NPC named Archer.
'That's a weird name.' He thought but followed the duo as they walked in the forest.
Soon, they came upon a camp. There were around thirty people dressed in red robes and were looking at them with animosity.
"They've found us! Prepare for combat." A red robed man shouted to his comrades.
Soon, they were surrounded.
But Archer wasn't fazed in the slightest.
"Scums of Mythical Dawn Cult," He said as two swords, one black and the other white materialized in his hand.
'That's!' Grid exclaimed in his mind.
Those were the same swords used by Max previously. 'Could it be him?' He thought.
"You seek to bring chaos and destruction wherever you go!" Archer shouted furiously as countless swords materialized and hovered around him with their tips pointed at the cultists.
"Not on my watch! You shall not pass!" Archer said as a one sided massacre commenced.
Swords appeared out of thin air and shot towards the cultists as the two swords in his hands cut anyone that dared to come close.
'That's Max!' Grid thought. But he couldn't understand how that kid from before became so different and so strong.
In no time at all, the cultists were all killed.
"Goddamn! That was awesome."
"Yeah!"
The players exclaimed. Some of them managed to record the whole battle and posted it on the forum which attracted quite a bit of attention from others due to the guy being famous due to his photo.
-He has the looks, and he is strong? I love you Archer!
-I'm Gar for Archer!
-Gar? I like it! I'm Gar for Archer too!
-He is Garcher!
"That takes care of that." Archer said as he dematerialized his weapons. "Marcus, can I leave the rest to you?"
"Yeah, no problem. Go do your thing."
"Thanks."
Then the Archer walked back the way he came from.
"Hmm?" But then he stopped as he looked at Grid.
"I remember you. How have you been?" Archer asked.
'What? He remembers me?' Grid thought in surprise. No one thought that NPCs in the game were capable of remembering the players, and this came as a huge surprise for them.
"I happen to be in need of some assistance, would you be willing to help me?" Without waiting for him to respond, Archer asked again.
"Yes!" This time Grid answered as fast as he could.
"Great, follow me."
Their exchange was posted on the forum with a title that said,
[Archer a Special NPC?]
***************************************
I know that Fate uses '+' as multiplication as in;
E = 10
E+ = 20
E++ = 30
D = 20
D+ = 40
D++ = 60
But I'll be using them as increments. But ranks will be important too as they decide how much increment there will be as in;
E = 10
E+ = 20
E++ = 30
D- = 35
D = 40
D+ = 60
D++ = 80
C- = 85
C = 90
C+ = 120
C++ = 150
As it goes. The ranks decide how much increment there will be.
'+' in E rank will add 10
'+' in D rank will add 20
'+' in C rank will add 30
'+' in B rank will add 40
'+' in A rank will add 50
Just like in fate but instead of multiplication, they will be increments.
In fate E++(30) might be higher than D(20) but in this story, it will be lower.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Alright, here is our first interaction with the players and their reactions.
I'm taking Grid as a sidekick and a few more probably. If you have any recommendations, let me know.
We'll first start with Oblivion main quest line, and then probably Skyrim, Witcher, Dark Souls and finally Elden Ring.
Oblivion Crisis is approaching!
As always let me know your thoughts and if you enjoy the story throw them stones and reviews.
No chapters tomorrow!
