--- Start of Grinding

After two hours of reading all the information he could find about the game, he now had knowledge comparable to that of a veteran player. He then spent another hour going around the village and talking to NPCs, hoping to score some quests.

*Huff!*

"Man, these NPCs are very realistic." Chris had an amused look on his face while gazing at people who come and go. "That last old lady NPC was as shrewd as granny Martha in the real world."

"Oh well, I better get started."

He then went to the smithy and used every coin he had to buy some ammunition for the weapon he chose from the newbie package that he got from the village chief. It was a good thing that the package included a gold coin so he doesn't have to go back and forth.

He also equipped the rest, which are the armor sets.

[Training Bow: +20 Ranged Atk/Crit

Training Helmet: +5 PDef/MDef

Training Gloves: +5 PDef/MDef

Training Armor: +10 PDef/MDef

Training Pants: +10 PDef/MDef

Training Boots: +5 PDef/MDef +50MSpd

Stone Arrows: +10 Ranged Damage]

[Ranged Atk: 70+30 MS: 50 + 100

Crit. 5 +20 PDef: 7 + 35 MDef: 7 + 35]

"I look like a real player now." He had a smile while checking himself out and stretching the string of his bow. "Hehe!"

"I have a feeling that I will stay in this beginner's area for a very long time though, even if I have a training scroll..." Shrugging his shoulders, he moved south towards the forest biome. "It doesn't matter because my goal is to become strong."

[Quest Missions:

Equipments for Everyone!(F-D): Bring smithing materials for the village blacksmith.(Repeatable Quest)

Rewards: +5 Exp and 1 Silver Coin for every 5(any) smithing material(Ore, Fur, Claws, Horns, Bones and Fangs).

Tonics for Everyone!(F-D): Bring herbs for the village alchemist. (Repeatable Quest)

Rewards: +10 Exp and 2 Silver Coins for every 3(any) herbs.

Hungry Villagers.(F-D): The butcher had run out of meat , bring him meat! (Repeatable Quest)

Rewards: +5 Exp and 1 Silver Coin for every 10 pieces of meat.

And 8 more non-repeatable quests...]

[You entered the forest periphery. Monsters: Fat Rabbit(F), Sneaky Fox(F), Grazing Deer(F), Silent Jaguar(E).]

*Rustle!*

'That's a rabbit!?'

Upon entering the periphery of the forest, Chris crouched down and hid on a nearby bush after seeing an incredibly fat rabbit about half his own height.

'Even Darryl will be humbled if he stands next to this guy...'

[Fat Rabbit(F) Lvl. 1

HP:100

Skills: Belly Bump, Munch!

Drops: 1-3 Bronze Coin(75%), Tooth(50%), Fur(50%), Meat(50%), Rabbit's Foot(F)(5%).

(Hidden Drops: Lucky Rabbit's Foot(E)(0.1%), Agility Ring(F)(0.01%).)]

'It has some hidden drops, eh?' His eyes lit up upon seeing the hidden loot drop of a level 1 monster. 'That ring must be valuable...'

'Okay, let's try this talent of mine!'

'Let's see... I have to think of the skill, activating it...'

[Fate Changer]!

[Please select the target.]

'Okay, I guess it works.'

'Next, I should be targeting the item that I am seeing with my observation active.'

[Target Locked!

Agility Ring -> (100%)

Fate Charge: 9/10.]

'Hehe... I'm learning fast!'

[Congratulations, Host.]

'Oh? System, huh? Thanks!'

'Alright, here goes...'

*Inhales!*

He took a deep breath before notching his arrow, then shot the fat rabbit.

*Sooo!* *Pak!* -200

A critical hit was delivered!

[You killed Fat Rabbit(F) Lvl. 1!]

[You obtained 2 Experience Points, Fur, Meat, Agility Ring(F).]

2/1,000

"O-only 2 exp, huh?" His mouth twitched, seeing the meager amount of experience points he gained from the rabbit. "No wonder there's little progress after two years of game release."

"Should I use the training scroll?" He then contemplated using the scroll he got from the newbie package, but shrugged his shoulders afterwards. "I guess I'll think about that later."

"Let's see the booty then."

[Agility Ring(F)^: Accessory(Ring).

Increases the wearer's Agility by 25.

(Hidden Recipe: Agility + Strength + Intelligence + Vitality + Dexterity + Wisdom Rings -> Omni Ring (E)/Agility Ring + Agility Crystal -> Agility Ring(E).)]

"Whoa!" He was surprised that the ring had some hidden recipes. "Interesting..."

He then noticed something that made him frown. "System, why is the upgrade button grayed out though?"

[Replying to the host, the host's system level is too low and it cannot do the following action for now.]

"I see..."He began to touch his chin and said, "So as long as I upgrade the system, I can do that, huh?"

[Requires 2,500,000 Experience Points to upgrade to System Lvl. 2.]

"Nope, not gonna happen for now..." He smiled wryly upon seeing the ridiculous amout of experience points required for upgrading his system.

"Still, my second talent is pretty insane! Hehehe!"

[Fate Changer(SS)^: Talent(Active).

Targets the chances of items (Drop, Roll or anything similar) with 30% and below, and change to 100%. Lasts until the target was obtained. Can be used for up to 10 times per day. Adds 10 Luck per Level.]

"If I find those monsters that drop those items to make that Omni Ring, I might be able to finish in a few days..." He then equipped the ring and continued on his way.

[Agility: 7+25

Ranged Attack: 70+155

Move Speed: 50 + 102]

A few minutes later, he saw a huge feline up above the tree, staring at a fat rabbit down below.

[Silent Jaguar(E) Lvl. 5

HP: 5,000

Skills: Pounce, Ferocious Bite, Camouflage, Swipe

Drops: 10-50 Silver Coins(75%), Tooth, Pelt, Claw, Fangs, Meat(50% Each).

(Hidden Drops: Ring(Quest Item)(5%), Skillbook-Camouflage, Pounce(1% Each), Clawed Gauntlet(5%), Strength Crystal(F)(0.5%).)]

'Nope!' His face darkened the moment he saw the Jaguar's stats. He was sure as hell that he would die in a few hits from it and wouldn't be able to resist or even run at all.

"I'll try my luck at it once I get stronger." He walked around, avoiding the feline, to find a suitable monster to kill.

*******

*Sooo!* *Pak!* -510

[You killed Sneaky Fox(F) Lvl. 3]

[You obtained 8 Experience Points, 9 Bronze Coins, Fur, Fangs, Claws, Wisdom Ring (F).]

[Exp 12552/1000]

*Huff!*

"Man, this is monotonous but quite enjoyable."

It has been more than an hour since Chris started his monster hunt. He just finished off a large fox monster about a quarter tall as him. Although what he was doing was repetitive, he enjoys the feeling of landing a critical hit, instantly killing his target.

He's also pleased that the loot is automatically added to his inventory after each kill, praising his system for one of its fantastic features. Also, despite meeting a lot of people, there was no shortage of monsters, and they spawned quickly, so his experience point gain was consistent.

A few minutes before, he got confused when his experience points exceeded the limit, resulting in him not leveling up at all. He asked his system, which told him that it was one of his system's functions, meaning that he could level up manually from now on.

And just as he was about to press the level-up button, his system advised him to hold onto it and just use the points for upgrading his attribute points instead, as his experience gain will decrease as he levels up. His eyes lit up, and he did just that, upgrading each stat by 10.

Basic attributes require 100 experience points each until the stat reaches two digits, 1,000 points each until the stat reaches three digits, and so on. It's 5 times the former for the special ones. Furthermore, the attributes he gained from any equipment or skill are not recognized by his system, which will always base its decisions on his raw attributes, ensuring fair costing.

"I suppose it's time to use this scroll now..." he murmured, staring at the scroll in his hand. He is finally ready to use it after an hour of testing and memorizing the area.

[Newbie Training Scroll: Consumable.

Provides ten times experience points gained once used. Lasts for 7 days. Does not work outside the newbie map. Countdown stops when the player is not in battle.]

*Riiips!*

He then tore the scroll in half, transforming it into motes of light that flew towards him.

[You recieved a 10x experience points multiplier buff!]

[Time left: 168:00:00]

"Sysyem, use all of my experience points to improve agility!"

[Understood, Host!]

[-12000 Experience Points

+12 Agility

Agility: 10 --> 22

Agility: 22 + 25, Ranged Attack: 160 + 155, Move Speed: 52 + 102 ]

"Nice!" He was pleased with his new stats, particularly his increased ranged attack damage.

"I should be able to one-shot the common monsters in the inner forest now with this damage output, as long as I land a critical hit." With eyes brimming with confidence, he moved forward, ready to start a massacre.

He finally reached his destination after a few minutes of walking.

[You entered the inner forest.

Monsters: Goblin Warrior(F), Goblin Slinger(F), Goblin Shaman(F), Hobgoblin(E).]

[Goblin Slinger(F) Lvl. 6

HP: 600

Skills: Powershot, Double Throw, Haste

Drops: 6-36 Bronze Coins(75%), Fangs, Nails, Skin(50% each), Sling(10%), Dart(5%).

(Hidden Drops: Skillbook-Powershot, Double Throw, Haste(0.1%), Blowgun(0.001%), Dexterity Ring(F)(0.01%).)]

'Hoh? This guy is hiding so much stuff!' His eyes lit up upon seeing the hidden drops of the dark green humanoid creature a few meters from him. 'Let me lighten the load for you...'

[Fate Changer]!

[Please select the target.]

'Target all the hidden drops, excluding double throw and haste!'

[Target Locked!

Skillbook - Powershot, Blowgun, Dexterity Ring -> 100%

Fate Charge: 6/10]

*Sooo!* *Pak!* -630

[You killed Goblin Slinger(F) Lvl. 6!]

[You obtained 640 Experience points, 28 Bronze Coins, Nail, Skillbook-Powershot, Blowgun, Dexterity Ring(F).]

"Oh my god, 640 XP!?" He was so surprised at his gain that he couldn't believe it. "Is this even legal?"

[Yes, Host, it's legal.]

"Haaah! Thank goodness!" He sighed in relief after hearing his system.

He then went into calculation mode and grinned a lot while mumbling.

"If I remember correctly, a monster of similar level to you gives 2 experience, twice gives 4, three times gives 8, and so on, and you only get 1 if they are lower level than you."

"So as long as I remain at level 1, the experience I gain here will be at an all-time high."

"Good thing I've listened to your advice."

"Hehehe... I have an entire week of battle time to grind."

But before he could rejoice, his system gave him a reminder.

[The host should not forget that the basic attribute upgrade cap is only 100. So the host needs to upgrade the system to increase the cap.]

"..."

"That's two and a half millions of experience points." He has a wry smile when he remembers the requirement for the system upgrade. "I guess I should start grinding then."

Despite the massive numbers that stood in his way, his determination never wavered. He began his long grind with his bow in hand.