A Bore

Finally, all the prepping is done. And now I can play. There are so many unknowns and things to figure out, it's exhilarating!!!

I walked through the woods almost skipping to the town. I'm so happy.

The game feels so smooth. it's like I'm really walking, not that I have much experience with that. The feeling of my legs moving is perfectly emulated and the sound of the autumn leaves crushing underfoot is beautiful. The sun in the sky is like mine, tho one back home but somehow brighter yet less painful. The sky is a deeper blue and clashes with the sun in an endless war of colour. The scenery is so warm, the red and yellow leaves feel like a warm hearth soothing me as I walk through. If this was the entire game I would still say it's worth it…

"Help!!! Help me please! Anybody!"

Ooooh the first quest. I gripped my dagger and ran towards the noise, my feet pushing up remes of the fallen leaves as I kicked off the ground.

In front of me was a girl. She had a wicker basket and was wearing rural clothes adorned in grey, the dull fabric contrasting her golden hair and bright blue eyes mimicking the battle between the sun and sky. She was so real. It's amazing.

I jumped forward without even looking at my opponent. I am ready to lay down my life right here right now! I pushed my left hand back creating a human barrier between her and the… actually what is it? Normally I would've stepped back for a few minutes and studied its attack patterns. Rushing in so early? It's reckless. I don't know what kind of revival system we have. What if I lose all my stuff when I die? This was a mistake! But I can't back out now. I looked forward...

Welp, it's been a nice life.

In front of me was a boar that was about six feet tall. It blew a solitary snort into my face blowing my unkempt black hair backwards.

This is the end. There's no way I can fight something like this!

Peh listening to myself think is disgusting. It's just a game. I might get hurt but that's the fun of it! I'll smile and gladly take a beating if it's for a girl like this!

Of course I know that she's not real but my shut in reflex is going overdrive right now. Nothing can stop me!!!

I jumped into the air and jabed my dagger down into the boars to hide the small blade piercing the flesh and sending streaks of red blood down its back.

'-10'

Ah fuck!

The boar lowered its head and charged its horns slamming into my chest as I managed to catch the chunks of ivory. My feet were pushed back, crumpling the leaves behind me.

'-99' my health points dropped r=drastically turning the bright green bar red. my vision clouded and the world turned monotone. my hearing was muffled exept for a highpitched whining noise.

Aaaaaaah I have one health point left.

What should I do?

It's now or never skills. Please give me something.

'Unique skill copy activated: twin slash charge.'

My body moved on its own, I was in control but it was like pure instinct, like a motion i'd practised all my life. I slammed into the boar's side and my hand seemed to split in two, cutting the flesh twice in an instant.

'-200

Boar defeated

You leveled up four times.

Chain quest started - Alice's adventure'

What the hell just happened?I just reached level five. Did I just copy a boar's move and deal 200 damage? What the hell is going on with this game. Is it just ridiculously easy or did I get an op skill?

if i can copy peoples skills and steal themn does that mean i have all of them? its not limited to players either, I guessed it would be like copying weapons or something but this is something else.

"Thank you brave, uhhhh Shadowrath?? Well I suppose that's ok. We aren't at war with you anymore... I dont think.... Would you accompany me back to the village?"

Oh of course I chose the race that everyone hates. theres always one... normaly in games that doesnt effect much but these NPCs are capable of disgrimination. I mean I'm impressed but this is going to get annoying really quickly.

I let out a sigh and walked after her. The sunlight bounced off her hair perfectly. Why the hell is this girl so damn cute???? shes an NPC for gods sake!

We walked up to the village and inside. Everyone looked at me really suspiciously. I need to get a hood or eye patch or something this is freaking ridiculous. I guess this means I won't be getting any titles like lord or noble. They have a fame system in this but I don't think it comes from quests. There's something that's been bugging me. On the menu there is a leaderboard of exp gained and it was empty before. I think if at the end of a week or month you are at the top you become a lord or get some awesome item. I wonder who's at the top now?...

No way....

this isn't possible...

"IT'S MEEEE!?!?!?!??!?!?!?!?!?!"

Oops I think I said that out loud. Damn it even in a game I'm lame. Anyway this gives me an incentive. I want to see how long I can stay on top. Let's finish this chain quest and then I might go out and do some grinding. I walked her to her house and she thanked me by kissing my cheek. I swear I almost died. It was more scary than a thousand of those boars.

'Alice's adventures part one finished - come back in some time to begin part two.

You leveled up'

Alright, I will come back in three days and speak to her but for now I need to do more prepping. If I buy a hoodie and then go into a tavern can I get some info? I think i have just enough money for that but i should do some grinding first. I walked back out of the village and.

'New message alert - Unknown:

Heya just finished my shift and now I'm heading home. What's your username?

You:

ItsAssassin and you should get on quick cuz I think being early is the key to becoming good in this game.

Unknown:

Ok big shot i'll be on in a few minutes

You:

Well technically I'm the top player rn, so a little respect please?

Unknown:

Wait fr? damn I'm running now what town are you at?

You:

Teld and don't pick Shadowrath they suck'

I walked back into the woods and looked for mobs. I ran into about three boars before she arrived.

_________________________________________________________________________

Username: ItsAssassin

Race: Shadowrath

Class: Knife

Level: 8

Vitality: 10

Wisdom: 10

Strength: 10

Speed: 20

Title: none

Unique skill: Copy

Special skills: Eye of death

Inventory: Knife of beginnings

_________________________________________________________________________

"Hey sorry that took so long I take way too long on my appearance in these games."

"It's fine, it gave me more time to gain levels."

She was wearing a white costume that covered her arms down to the wrists and stretched down to a skirt that dropped to her knees. She had a short sword that dangled from her hip. She has straight blond hair that hangs down to her chest. Her eyes are red and pierce through the divine clothing like bloodstains on a white sheet.

"What's your unique skill then?"

"Hold on" she was fumbling through the menu frantically scrolling through screens

'S.I Rene has sent you a friend request.'

"There mister 'top ranked', now we can be friends."

I clicked the accept button.

"Now my unique skill huh? I think it was 'Divine Arrow' or something. How about you?"

"Copy"

"What the hell show me"

"You first"

She pulled her hands together and pulled the right one back, a beam of light forming between the two. Then she released and it shot forward a dazzling and blinding light moving through the trees and pushing away the leaves in its path. Then it slammed into a tree elegantly carving a swirl in the impact. And as quickly as it had formed it disappeared.

"Now you!"

I mimicked the action, my left arm perfectly straight and I pulled back the arrow a huge flush of light pouring out of my right wrist. It was bigger than hers as I pulled back. Then I compacted the huge amount of light into a small arrow compressing it into a thin shape. And then I released the arrow flying forward. The trees in front of me started to sway back and forth in the trail of my arrow, and then it smacked into the side of the tree, exploding and cutting the tree in half.

I was silent as the tree creaked and clattered to the floor.

"What the hell? That was my ability! You thief!!!!!"

"I'm sorry"

"No no I'm kidding, that was awesome, you've gotta be in one of my streams now. That was insane!"

"Thanks but I'm not good at talking."

"you wouldn't need to speak to the chat though, i'll make you if it's the last thing I do!!!"

"Ok but when i've gotten a little better, speaking of wanna grind some levels."

"Yeah I can't have you using my ability better than me!"

We spent hours fighting side by side. We only managed to find boars but i gained three skills:

'Twin slash charge

Divine arrow

Hardening hide.'

I leveled up to level ten and we called it a day.

For the first day it wasn't bad, I made a new friend and got some pretty balanced skills with defence, attack and range. I looked through my skill tree looking for skills to buy but apparently dark magic is just invisibility and not what I'm used to.

What a scam!!!

I fell back to my body as I exited LSO, my body felt weak but that was to be expected. Now what do I do? I suppose I should look through the comments and chats.

"Hey have y'all seen this guy who made it to level ten in one day???"

"Must be like a beta tester or something"

"Nah this game doesn't have those."

"Man, I wonder what his US is????"

"Its gotta be something op all I got was some dumb healing ability that can barely take care of a cut"

ItsAssassin: "as your level increases your US gets better"

"Yooo is that him???"

"Man thx for the info, I'd love to watch u play you got into this thing real quick"

"Thanks for the help man I thought I was totally screwed"

I clicked off the window and logged onto my old game, the blinding white light making me fall back in my chair. It's a cruel trick to make people who never go outside see that!!!

'Friends online: 0/32'

Damn!

What should I do, should I go back in? It's already eight. I should get some food and then go back to grinding. Pushing out of my room and into the kitchen I passed my mom watching TV.

"Good game?"

"Yeah"

"Thanks for picking Ellie up yesterday she told me what happened and thank you for not causing a scene."

"To be honest its cuz of her I probably would have socked at least one of them if not for her."

"Hahah well anyway thank you I have such a good son. Where are you going now?"

"The store I'm kinda hungry"

"Have you got money?"

"Yeah don't worry"

Closing the door behind me I pressed out into the rain.the streets were running with water and the roofs were turned into waterfalls. The patter of rain was incessant and crowding filling my mind. The water fell on my head making it heavy and running down my face. Rain filled my clothes, soaking them through as I walked. The rain is annoying, I need to change when I get home. I need to shower too cuz I kinda stink. What a pain.

Everyone who passed me was hurrying through the rain holding umbrellas above their heads. It's as if they're scared of the rain, like the water will wash them away. It brings me back to when I was younger, when I would play outside all day with my friends and run home in the rain holding my bag over my head as cover. It's weird to think that I used to be popular considering my current self. I don't think I'm unlikable. I just don't make an effort to talk to people, if I'm honest if S.I Rene hadn't approached me I never would have spoken to her even though that's the thing I've wanted for the last three years. It's pathetic but then again I'm pathetic, so it fits.

I walked into the shop and stood in the queue, I put my headphones in and started to play some music. The headphones are an ingenious invention, not only does it let you listen to music but it discourages communication. They are an essential tool for surviving social encounters like this one. I stood in the queue, it was almost my turn. When a girl takes her food and smiles. It's agony! Should I talk to her??? Is she even looking at me? Maybe she knows someone behind me? Is she being polite? Who would smile at a vampire looking guy like me. I grabbed my food and left. Walking out into the rain my feet rippled the slightly submerged street. She was walking in the opposite direction, Should I follow her? I want to!

I walk back home. Im pathetic, when it comes to talking to people however much i want to i just can't seem to move.

I'm pathetic!

Clenching my fist I drive it into my stomach.

I'm an idiot!