1 The Adventure of A Lifetime 1.0

What makes an MMORPG fun? Is it the grinding? The graphics? The story? Well in my opinion it's how you play it. Your own playstyle makes each game unique and more enjoyable. But what happens if the fun turns into something more serious? The story starts with a game called Elementos:Online, an MMORPG which suddenly appeared out of nowhere...

–Chapter 1

The streets are packed of people waiting in line to buy the new game Elementos:Online. They've been waiting since the manager of the store announced that they'll be getting a shipment delivery. Who made the game? Nobody cares actually, as long as they can play it. The unique thing about EO is the game mechanics. There are no class systems, you are what you want to be. It's a really unique mechanic which I rarely see in an MMORPG.

People can exploit things such as using overpowered combos by mixing certain skillsets like a wizard/assassin/archer style which is the current meta today. The game has been released for over a month now and people are already level 100 and above. Me? I'm still stuck at level 30. My name is Hitoshi Wakanabe, I am 16 years old and my playstyle is using useless skills. Skills like foraging, cooking, trapping, synthesizing, you name it. Since you can buy cheap healing potions most of my skills are rather useless. I do sell some of them but nobody wants to buy Grade-E Potions for a 100 credits. But it all changed when a notification appeared that says...

"Update required? It's been released only for a month and there's a new update? The creator is amazing, let's see the patch notes for it."

I clicked on the notification only to find a small message. The message goes:

Brave Warriors,

You have been chosen as one of the very best! I wish you good luck on your future quests and may you defeat the 4 evil bosses.

-Grandmaster

"4 bosses? Since when there were 4 bosses? And is this is the update? I guess it's pretty valuable since it's a direct message from the Grandmaster or whatever he calls himself. Wait maybe it's a she? Huh? An item is in my inventory..."

Suddenly, my screen flashed bright yellow. It blinded my vision and it felt as though I was being sucked into my monitor. I tried screaming for help but my voice was silent. It felt horrible as if my body was being shrunk forcefully then I was floating around a void.

It felt like I was in my mothers womb again, not that I remembered that, it just felt like it. Then I saw a light and I was being dragged into it slowly and then I woke up. It looks like a castle and seemed awfully similar. That process felt like I was being born, the sensation still lingers in my body.

"Where....am...I?"

I looked around and saw other people who went in the same process I did. Some even puked and couldn't handle the nauseous trip.

But once my vision cleared, my jaw dropped.

I was in Runrark's Castle, the main lobby of the game Elementos:Online. We were summoned into the game itself. I walked around and confirmed it, it was indeed Runrark's Castle. Something changed in me though, my hair became silver but my face, height, and body was still the same. Lowkey disappointed. Then a loud voice was heard.

"Welcome brave adventurers, I am the Grandmaster."

A wizard in a black cloak was floating around and claimed to be the Grandmaster, then the other people who were summoned were outraged. They started cursing and shouting. It was chaos.

"SILENCE!"

The wizard then moved his hand as if to silence the voices and he did. He removed the ability to talk even I couldn't make a sound.

"Listen first, I chose all of you because you were the best of the very best. The game is in danger and only you can save it. There are monsters out there that eat up the game files and the NPC's core data. They are Viruses created by the 4th boss who I was trying to tame in order to add in the original game server. But he was too strong and instead created these abominations. It's now your job to slay them and earn points. I shall reward the player or party with the highest points anything they wish for! What do you say?"

He seemed enthusiastic but he forgot that he took our voices so we couldn't even respond.

He then looked down and looked embarrassed and returned our ability to talk.

"I am sorry, I forgot to give your voices back. *Ehem* Now, what do you say? Will you help me and get anything you ask for? Feel free to ask questions!"

People were hesitant at first, nobody wanted to be here and they were afraid of what will happen. Then a hand appeared out of crowd and asked.

"Excuse me, if we die in here do we die in real life?" He asked.

"No. It is like the game, you simply respawn here and loose 75% of your credits and 25% of your exp. You cannot die here and do not worry about your body in the real world. You are only sleeping and I conjured Noots to put you to bed. Anymore questions?"

The crowd suddenly became relieved. And the questions keep coming until everybody's questions were answered. So in short:

We are given the freedom to choose a weapon and skillsets. We are also given 100,000 credits to spend and buy equipment for. We are allowed to form a party up to 4 members. Time in this realm moves slower than in the real world so we don't have to worry about our bodies. Noots are like Noots in the game. Little dwarf like creatures that wear a robe. They are your average NPC's that run shops, own stores, give you quests etc. Player killing is strictly prohibited to keep a clean game going. In order to earn points, we need to complete quests, kill Viruses, and defeat bosses. The 4 bosses are:

Kotai, a solid matter manipulator. Able to control and create any solid material.

Ekitai, a liquid slime like creature. Able to secrete and turn into any liquid.

Kuki, a hermit who controls air, and gas like materials.

Puruz, an unknown entity. The Grandmaster did not mention anything about him, only his name was given.

Our stats were randomly assigned based on our real game stats. Everyone was hyped and they started to talk to other people as if nothing was wrong here.

"Looks like everyone is starting to feel the game huh? Okay! Now purchase your skills and come back to the main lobby!"

The wizard then opened a portal that leads to the market place Noot Town. It was huge! Everything was in it. All rarities of items, weapons, armor. It was like a dream, to good to be true. I started looking around for the library to learn some skills. I usually go to the deepest part of Noot Town, the area called Black Sales. A place where cheap skills and equipment can be bought. It was shady but it was cheap. So I bought a cheap Knight's sword and settled on being a Knight class. I also bought a cloak that hides my face and some potions. Then I searched for the library. I went inside and asked for some skills.

"Hey there adventurer, welcome to Black Sales Library, what can I do to help you?"

The librarian Noot replied.

"Please give me some support skills and survival skills." I replied.

"I see, so you are going to be a supportive survivalist class huh? I do recommend you learning the guard skill tree as well as th--"

"No, I'm a knight class actually." I said.

The Noots around me were shocked. And they looked at me with worried faces.

"A-are you sure? Wasting all of your skill points in skills that are useless to a Knight Build? You don't even want to have sword based skills." He replied with a worried tone.

"Yes." Then I gave him the credits.

He then took them and manifested the skills in my player menu. He then saw my base stats.

"What the hell?! Your stats are... are..."

"I know right? Pretty cool huh?" I replied with a smug look.

"Cool? No! It's all 1, everything is 1!" He said.

I don't see the big deal about it. I can just farm and grind to strengthen them. What's the worst that can happen?

"Adventurer, you have my blessing. I shall pray that you won't get one shotted by Goblin Bandits."

(Note: Goblin Bandits, the 2nd weakest monster, next to the Dumb Slime.)

"Thank you very much!" I said as I walked out of the store.

I then went back to the portal and returned to the main lobby. People were already adding others to their party. So I went and tried to join them but nobody wanted to let me join. I kept looking around and nobody wanted me. So I decided to solo play it instead. But I saw a girl with long brown hair, she looked worried. So I approached her.

"Excuse me, do you have a party?" I asked.

She looked at me and was terrified and hesitant to reply.

"N-no... I d-don't have one yet..." Her voice sounded like she didn't know anything about this.

"Are you alright? What do you mean? You already have gear for a mage, may I look at your stats?" I asked.

"H-how do I o-open my menu?" She asked.

She really does not know how this works.

"Look at your right arm and focus on the crystal bracelet. And in your mind keep repeating the words, Open Menu."

She looked at her shaking arm and said out loud.

"O-open menu."

It opened. She smiled as if she defeated a boss. She stopped shivering and looked at her menu happily.

"You don't have to say the words itself just in your mind, now if you excuse me I'll take a look at yo--"

It was amazing. Everything was 99+ and even her base mana points are off the charts! How did she get this good in the real game and yet she doesn't know how to open the menu.

"You have amazing base stats! Woah! How did you get that far in the real world?" I asked.

"Y-you see, I was borrowing my brother's game, then I was summoned here. I did not know a t-thing about this game so I asked a N-Noot to give me a preset. S-she recommended me a M-mage set so I chose it. I don't know how to use my s-skills, that's why nobody wanted to p-party up with me."

She said in a sad voice. So she was summoned here by accident? That's why she was scared. Well since I don't have a party too, maybe I'll teach her how to play then.

"Well if you want, I can teach you how to play." I said.

"Really? Even t-though I don't know how to play?" She said in a soft voice.

"Of course! Everyone starts off new in a game, if I teach you how to use skills, you can become stronger! So join my party and let's become strong together! I'm Hitoshi, nice to meet you." I said while letting out a big welcoming smile.

This is my chance to show them that I even if I have the lowest stats and useless skills, I will defeat all the bosses! Together with her, we will earn the highest points and get that wish!

"Yes! I would love to join your party! I'm Aiko nice to meet you!" Her voice seemed relaxed now.

"Alright Aiko, let's ask the Grandmaster to warp us to the farming grounds. Let's go!"

I then took her hand and walked straight to the Grandmaster.

"Check it out yo, you thought I wouldn't get a party member despite having the lowest stats huh? Hahaha, I'll show you that even if you have a weird build, you can become the strongest!" I bragged to the old wizard.

"I see, now are you ready to start your adventure? Step in the portal." He replied.

Before we stepped in, I took a deep breath an--

"U-umm H-Hitoshi, can you let g-go of my h-hand now?"

"Oh sorry, well, what are you waiting for? Let's go!"

I pushed Aiko to the portal, and I took a deep breath an--

"That was very ungentlemanly of you Hitoshi." The wizard said.

"Eh? What do you mean? I don't have time to chat, I'll be going now."

As I was about to enter the portal, I took a deep breath an--

"Oh what's this? A Knight dumber than a Dumb Slime? Hahahahah, get out our way peasant. Holy Knights Party shall earn that wish and crush all of you fools." A deep voice said.

4 Knights in black armor and their faces hidden walked in the portal. They seemed serious. But no matter who they are or what lame party they are, I will defeat them. I took a deep breath and entered the portal. It was a grassy field full of slimes, it was wonderful. The cold air was blowing, the grass is dancing, Aiko is screaming. Wait...

"Aiko?! What happened?!"

"Hitoshi! I keep hitting them with my staff but I don't seem to deal damage to them! Is it a boss slime? Help!"

Aiko kept smacking her staff into the Dumb Slime. She doesn't know that magic users can't deal physical damage. I need to teach her how to cast basic attacks.

"Aiko, focus on the tip of you staff and in your mind say, Magic Ball." I replied as I drew my sword.

"M-magic ball."

Then a small ball floated around Aiko's staff and it went straight to the slime then a big explosion erupted and it was so huge the shockwave killed all the other surrounding slimes. She is Overpowered!

"Amazing power Aiko! This is great! You're gonna be stronger in the future!" I danced cheerfully knowing I found a good party member.

"R-really?" She said while hiding her embarrassed face using her big hat.

"OUCH!"

Something dealt damage to me. It was a powerful enemy. 75% of my Hitpoints disappeared. It was my first enemy encounter. I drew my sword and casted healing magic on myself. Nice, now 5% of my hitpoints were healed. I ran and slashed my sword into the vicious beast. It was tough, I dealt only 5 damage. I stepped back and casted Boost on my sword increasing it's damage by 50%. Now I deal 10 damage to it. I ran towards it and stabbed it. It counterattacked, luckily I evaded it and only received 29% damage. I'm clutching on 1% and I have no choice but to use my trump card. I stood tall and casted Glory Shield on myself, this skill allows me to negate any attack that will potentially kill me. I rushed back to the enemy and slashed it one more time, a critical hit! It died, I gained 2 Exp points. My first enemy was already a powerful one huh? This adventure is starting to look fun! I can't wait to fight the bosses!

[Aiko's Perspective]

Hitoshi is getting harassed by a level 1 Dumb Slime. This boy, even though he is weak he still does not give up. He makes me feel calm. He even accepted me while others did not want me. He sure is someone to look up to. He even complimented me on my attack. He's making me feel like I'm not worthless and I am strong. Alright, I promise to get stronger in order to help Hitoshi out and win that wish.

Today's Spoil of War:

Hitoshi nearly died to a level 1 Dumb Slime and got 2 Experience points out of it.