9 The Beginning of the Grind

After inspecting the changes, I closed the stats panel and sighed. The results were both expected and surprising, a paradox of sorts. My stat numbers had shot up, all of them resting comfortably in the double digits. These kinds of stats were typically reserved for players at level 5 or higher. Yet, here I was, still at level 0.

Temporary stats, I reminded myself. What truly mattered now was improving my equipment at lightning speed, conquering dungeons, amassing enough gold to convert into real-world currency, and sustaining my upgrades until I unlocked the coveted EX job: Blacksmith. It was an expensive path, but such was the nature of MMORPGs – you needed capital to ascend the ladder of strength, and smart investments were the key.

But before diving headlong into that financial journey, I was itching to explore another facet of the Versatile Weapon – its Change Form feature. The curiosity had gnawed at me since the moment I acquired it. As the first weapon in the Alternate World with such a capability, I couldn't resist the urge to see it in action for myself.

In order to ensure absolute privacy for my impending action, I ventured deeper into the forest, seeking refuge amidst the foliage-covered branches of a tree. My grip tightened around the Versatile Weapon, its importance undeniably substantial for the task at hand. With unwavering determination, I raised it aloft, ready to invoke the chosen skill.

"Change Form!"

[Access denied: Vocal command is not permitted. Please employ mental command.]

Sh*t...Well, that was rather embarrassing, wasn't it? But perhaps it was a blessing in disguise. This mental command feature had its advantages, especially for someone like me, accustomed to the seamless activation of skills without any vocal commands. I just tried it first since it is how most skills are being activated. Now, changing weapon forms became effortless, seamlessly woven into the fabric of battle, without the need to bellow at foes. Talk about convenience!

Mentally, I summoned the skill, and suddenly, my surroundings plunged into a surreal slowness. Oddly enough, my thought process remained unaffected, as if the game's system was functioning flawlessly. As the world around me decelerated, a sliding panel materialized before my eyes, accompanied by an explanation that assured me these panels remained concealed from other players, for my eyes only. Well, that's certainly good to know.

The panels displayed an array of weapon forms, each belonging to a distinct class. A thorough examination confirmed that they encompassed every existing weapon type. Faced with this array, I pondered the idea of switching to a weapon I knew well. My choice: the Magic Sword. As I made my selection, the surreal slow-motion experience ceased, and reality snapped back to its regular tempo. The panels vanished, leaving behind the transformed Versatile Weapon—now a gleaming Magic Sword.

Distinguishing between a standard sword and a Magic Sword was easy, even for novice players. The defining characteristic of the Magic Sword was the prominent emerald orb nestled near the blade's tip—a feature conspicuously absent in the swords typically wielded by Swordsmen. In subsequent iterations, the distinction extended to the absence of intricate magic runes adorning the blade or hilt. This subtle mark served as an unmistakable identifier.

The Versatile Weapon's appearance had undergone a striking transformation; it now embodied the quintessential Magic Sword design. A glance at my mana reserves revealed no depletion, eliciting a sigh of relief—this skill didn't consume mana. Additionally, I noticed the absence of any cooldown period, a highly advantageous trait!

I decided to explore other weapon options, and this time, I opted for the gun. The moment I selected it, a series of panels materialized before me, each showcasing different types of firearms: the revolver, a single pistol, and a twin handgun. Intrigued, I settled on the twin handgun, and to my astonishment, the Versatile Weapon transformed into two distinct handguns. I had initially expected a single weapon with the appearance of twin handguns, but what I got was the real deal. 

My curiosity didn't stop there; I explored other weapon choices, and they all impressed me. Even the heavy weapons like hammers and axes, though not as physically burdensome as their real-world counterparts, packed the same devastating power.

Among the selection panels, there were a few marked with enigmatic question marks. While I couldn't access these hidden options, I surmised that they might only reveal themselves with the introduction of new character classes in upcoming patches. It became evident that the Versatile Weapon was designed to evolve alongside the game, offering continuous utility and adapting to my chosen class's playstyle, eliminating the need for me to hoard various weapons.

After thoroughly testing the Versatile Weapon's capabilities, I emerged from my concealed position and glanced at my character's level, which still remained at 0. In contrast, most other players had undoubtedly powered their way up to level 3 or even level 5 through relentless grinding.

First, I needed to head to the clearing. As I made my way, rain began pouring down – a reminder of the game's unpredictable weather systems, which added a unique dimension to NPC behaviors. When the rain fell, the number of NPCs outside the town dwindled. In some cases, specific weather conditions would unveil secret NPCs. Time of day mattered too, with morning, afternoon, and evening each influencing NPC actions. Some elusive characters, like the enigmatic Dark Shady Merchant, only surfaced at night in various locations.

I had a wealth of knowledge about these secret NPCs, having met most of them in the past. Yet, in Mining Town, they mainly served as stepping stones for players to grow stronger before facing the ultimate challenge: reaching the main city of Resurgia and the coveted Teleport Portal. These hidden NPCs provided substantial EXP upon completing their quests, helping players level up quickly. To access the main gate leading to Resurgia, players needed to reach level 10 and obtain a token by defeating the Gate Guardian. It was a rite of passage, a prerequisite ensuring no player ventured into the monster-filled Capital unprepared. Once inside, the realm of quests and possibilities expanded exponentially.

I wasn't in a hurry to climb the ranks; my focus was on becoming stronger. Accepting quests that offered SP or AP was a smart strategy. Rushing to high levels right from the start wasn't ideal. Taking it slow and collecting diverse armor and weapons for my Versatile Weapon to consume was my plan. This weapon had the potential to grow my power significantly, making me less inclined to part with my old armor once I upgraded.

I chose to avoid level 1 monsters. While they were weak and easy to defeat, their EXP rewards were paltry, and the materials they dropped were mostly useless. NPCs don't buy these items unless they have issued a specific quest. Moreover, beginner quests primarily revolved around basic explanations, rendering the acquisition of such materials unnecessary and non-mandatory. It was a far better use of my time to skip these creatures, especially when countless beginners were already dealing with them.

I ventured deeper into the clearing, a realm where the level 3 and 4 monsters roamed freely. Amidst the brave solo players tackling this challenging turf, I sought out creatures untouched by others. These elusive beasts promised the most valuable loot, making it the perfect training ground for beginners. While players at level 0 would find these monsters formidable, my stats, equivalent to a level 5 player, rendered them inconsequential.

Drawing my sword, I assumed a battle stance. My objective today was simple: slay a few monsters and level up to 3 or 4. Once I had collected their gear, it would serve as fodder to enhance my Versatile Weapon, an investment for future battles.

I remained committed to the Swordsman class, wielding a longsword. Active skills were my priority for now; they offered a faster SP accumulation rate. While passive skills were tempting, they wouldn't yield substantial SP returns without active skills to complement them. My goal was to secure a passive skill and a single active one. However, I reserved my Free SP for classes I rarely used, understanding their limited availability. Dispatching these monsters would not only reward me with experience but also SP—two birds, one stone.

In this relatively unpopulated area, the monsters seemed plentiful. A Grass Lizard with a menacingly long tongue locked onto me, wasting no time. I squared off against it.

[Grass Lizard]

Level 3

HP: 140/140

With a nonchalant slash of my sword, I inflicted a mere -70 damage. Small numbers still surprised me, even though I knew I was a level 0 player. Nevertheless, for someone at my level, this was a significant hit. A critical strike would have ended the creature before it retaliated. Level-zero players typically boasted damage values of 5 to 7, depending on their stats. Focusing on a balanced stat distribution was crucial.

Before the Grass Lizard could react, I delivered another strike.

-50

A simple stab served as a finishing move, piercing the soft body of the monster. It felt almost tedious.

-30

With a twist of my sword, I withdrew it from the lifeless Grass Lizard, watching as its life slipped away.

-Grass Lizard successfully slain.

-Gained Sticky Tongue

-Gained 3 copper

-Gained 100 EXP (Title effects activated, bonus 100 EXP earned)

-Gained 5 Swordsman Class SP (Title Effects activated, 5 Bonus Swordsman Class SP earned)

It seemed this mundane routine would persist until more exciting challenges came my way.