《Hated by the RNG》 Ch-1 A new beginning Ethan''s eyes fluttered open to a blinding light, his senses overwhelmed by the sudden change in his surroundings. Moments ago, he was in his small apartment, clicking through the final cutscene of the MMORPG he had played for years. The game, "Estithae Online," was a sprawling open-world adventure that had captivated millions. But Ethan had achieved what no one else had: he had completed the game. Blinking rapidly, Ethan tried to adjust to his new environment. He found himself standing in the center of a bustling medieval town square, surrounded by cobblestone streets and vibrant market stalls. The air was filled with the sounds of chatter, the clinking of armor, and the cries of merchants selling their wares. "Welcome to Estithae," a disembodied voice echoed in his mind. "You have been chosen to embark on a new journey. Survive, thrive, and conquer." Ethan''s heart raced. This couldn''t be real, could it? He glanced down at himself, seeing his familiar avatar from the game. He was clad in basic leather armor, holding a rusty sword that was clearly labeled as a D-rank weapon. A notification appeared in his vision: Character Rank: D Weapon: D-Rank Sword Before he could process the information, a series of gasps and screams erupted around him. Ethan turned to see a player, wild-eyed and grinning maniacally, slashing through the crowd with a gleaming S-rank weapon. Players scattered in every direction, some already lying lifeless on the ground, their bodies remained right there. Some of their libs were severed A chilling realization hit Ethan: here, death was permanent. Ethan''s instincts kicked in. He needed to understand his situation better. A familiar command came to mind, and he opened his stat window. Alongside the usual attributes¡ªStrength, Agility, Endurance¡ªthere was a new entry:Skill: Inspect (???) - Allows you to view the stat windows of others. Testing it out, Ethan glanced at a nearby player who was frantically trying to escape the chaos.The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Name: Talia Hargrove Level: 1 Character Rank: C Class: None Weapon: C-Rank Bow Unique Skill: Quickstep [C] - Increases movement speed for a short duration. Ethan''s mind raced. This skill could be invaluable. He needed to know more about the people around him, to understand who could be allies and who posed a threat. A flash of movement caught his eye. A burly player with an A-rank axe was charging toward the crazed killer, only to stop abruptly, clearly evaluating his chances. The crazed player, with his S-rank sword, seemed unbeatable. Ethan glanced around, noticing others running for their lives. The atmosphere was thick with tension and fear. Ethan began to walk through the chaotic town square, trying to make sense of his surroundings. As he passed by different players, he discreetly used his Inspect skill, gathering as much information as he could. Name: Joran Thorne Level: 1 Character Rank: C Class: None Weapon: C-Rank Sword Unique Skill: Stone Skin [C] - Temporarily increases defense. Ethan moved on, noticing another player practicing spells with a B-rank wand, attracting a small crowd. Name: Mira Callahan Level: 1 Character Rank: B Class: None Weapon: B-Rank Wand Unique Skill: Fireball [B] - Launches a powerful fire attack. He overheard a group discussing strategies for survival, their faces filled with concern. Name: Lira Dennell Level: 1 Character Rank: B Class: None Weapon: B-Rank Staff Unique Skill: Healing Light [B] - Heals allies within a certain radius. "Stick close to others if you can," Lira advised another player. "It¡¯s dangerous to be alone, especially with lunatics like that running around." She nodded towards the S-rank player, who had just slain another unfortunate victim and was now striding confidently out of the town gates. Ethan continued to wander, absorbing the atmosphere and the snippets of conversation around him. The tension in the air was palpable, with everyone on edge, uncertain about their new reality. Prices for essentials had skyrocketed, and arguments broke out frequently over resources. "It''s going to take a while to get used to all this," Ethan muttered to himself. "But I''ll adapt. I have to." As the day wore on, Ethan found a secluded spot to rest, his mind racing with the day''s events. He had conquered Estithae once before, but this was different. This was real. And he was determined to survive and thrive, no matter the odds. Ch-2 Facing Reality The next day, Ethan sat cross-legged on the rough wooden floor of the small inn room, fingers drumming against his sword hilt. Think, Ethan. What¡¯s the best move? Then it hit him. His eyes widened as the word surfaced. ¡°Farming.¡± The idea was ridiculous on the surface, laughable to anyone with a more aggressive mindset. ¡°But not just any farming,¡± he muttered to himself, a small smile forming. ¡°Vegetable farming.¡± To anyone else, that meant days of pointless work in the dirt for meaningless rewards. For Ethan, it meant Research¡ªthe hidden skill that no other player bothered to touch. ¡°It¡¯s true. It¡¯s the best skill for a run like this,¡± he murmured, standing. He clenched his fists as if grounding himself. A no-class player has no choice. I¡¯m already weak... so I¡¯ll play smart. Estithae Online relied heavily on classes to guide players. Everyone followed the system¡¯s unspoken rule: choose a class early, boost your stats, and specialize. Swordsmen gained Strength and mastery with a blade. Mages earned boosted Intelligence and access to combat spells like Fireball. But Research was different. A hidden early-game skill that let a player learn any ability from any class. Mage fireballs? Swordsman strikes? Archer tricks? Ethan could take it all¡ªat a price. ¡°It scares off the others,¡± Ethan muttered, a bitter laugh in his chest. ¡°Because to get it, you can¡¯t choose a class. Not ever. No stats, no bonuses, no easy path.¡± He opened his map with a sharp command. The window blinked into existence¡ªa pale, half-finished view of the starting town. Most zones were faded into obscurity, only the beginner areas marked: Pulling on his ragged starter gear, he made his way to the far edge of town. The wooden farmstead loomed ahead, weathered and forgotten... except not quite. Three figures stood in the field when Ethan arrived, their presence catching him off guard. He slowed his steps, narrowing his eyes as he scanned them. What are they doing here? ¡°Check status,¡± he murmured, activating his skill. The information lit up instantly. The first was a woman. Her long, jet-black hair flowed down her back, a streak of white wrapped through like a scar. Her dark mercenary outfit looked worn yet functional, her body balanced in the poised stillness of someone used to combat.Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. Name: Astrid Roseworth Rank: A Class: Mercenary Weapon: B-Rank Daggers Ethan grunted to himself. ¡°She¡¯s fast. Stealth? She could be a problem in the future.¡± The next figure was the complete opposite¡ªclumsy and jittery. A young man with short, snow-white hair fumbled awkwardly with a glowing tome strapped to his side. Small potion bottles clinked together as he adjusted his belt, giving the distinct impression he¡¯d fall over if you so much as bumped him. Name: Philip Hyckman Rank: B Class: Mage Weapon: C-Rank Staff Ethan tilted his head, brows raising slightly. ¡°That Magical Research skill... Hm. Better than it looks if he survives long enough to use it.¡± And then his eyes landed on the third player. At first glance, he looked unassuming¡ªplain, worn clothes matching Ethan¡¯s, as though the game had mocked both their luck. But the dark blue hair, casually tousled, the strong posture, and the twin swords strapped to his back suggested otherwise. Something about him carried an air of calm confidence¡ªlike someone who knew he was special. ¡°Who¡¯s this guy?¡± Ethan muttered warily. The stats appeared. Name: Jack Hawkfire Rank: S Class: None Weapon: A-Rank Enchantable Sword The list went on. Ethan¡¯s jaw tightened. His grip around his blade hilt trembled as he reread the window, each line mocking him. An S-rank character. An A-rank weapon. Rare skills¡ªMental Barrier... ¡°Blessed by RNG...¡± he whispered bitterly. He glanced at his own window. D-Rank. A single combat-useless skill. The words blurred together. He blinked hard, fists clenched as an embarrassing sting hit his eyes. For just a second, the resentment crept through¡ªfiery and real. He couldn¡¯t hold it back. His face contorted into something ugly. Ethan slapped his cheeks, the sting jarring him back to focus. ¡°Relax. Stick to the plan.¡± He straightened his posture and inhaled sharply. Still, as he passed Jack Hawkfire on the way to the farmer NPC, his eyes darted to Jack¡¯s stats one final time. His lips twitched bitterly, and an unspoken thought rang through his mind. I hate you already. He goes to talk to the farmer NPC and start doing basic quests like, collecting vegetables, and terrain cleaning. The reward for those missions are some vegetables, farming exp and a bit of money. In this game u can insta sell every item in the market or u can put them for auction. The items given as rewards on these farming quests may look like shitty items, who would ever keep carrots, lettuce and other vegetables. ¡°I just need to collect and keep the correct items for the hidden quest to appear. This will be easy, i have already finished this game once¡± Ch-3 New gear acquired Ethan spent the last week chipping away at farming quests, methodically collecting vegetables, clearing terrain, and earning small rewards for his efforts. Each new task brought him closer to the goal. Research. The drudgery barely fazed him; after all, he¡¯d already walked this path once. This morning, a quest window had appeared, confirming he was finally on track: Find the lost animals of the farm Ethan smirked at the notification. ¡°Here it comes,¡± he muttered. ¡°The first real obstacle for this build.¡± But he wasn¡¯t na?ve. He¡¯d need better gear and skills before tackling it. The farm could wait.

At the Armory

The wooden door creaked as Ethan stepped into the dimly lit armory. The air smelled of oil and heated metal, a hint of something faintly acrid hanging in the corners. Weapons lined the walls¡ªgleaming swords, sleek bows, and wickedly curved daggers¡ªall neatly organized and practically daring someone to choose wrong. Behind the counter, a burly man polished a steel blade with steady hands. Livan Ironsmith. His bald head gleamed faintly in the torchlight, and the broad leather apron he wore looked more ceremonial than practical¡ªthere was no shirt beneath it, only skin darkened by soot and old scars. Ethan hesitated, watching the man silently for a moment. He startled me in the game, but now... He¡¯s downright intimidating in person. Livan¡¯s sharp gaze cut through the silence, pinning Ethan in place as if assessing his worth. ¡°You gonna stare all day, kid, or are you buying something?¡± Recovering quickly, Ethan stepped forward, his voice calm. ¡°I need a sword. Decent, within 1000 gold.¡± Livan set down the sword he¡¯d been cleaning and leaned forward on the counter. ¡°A thousand gold, huh?¡± His intense stare didn¡¯t waver. ¡°At best, you¡¯re looking at a C-Rank normal sword... or maybe a D-Rank katana. That¡¯s your budget¡¯s limit.¡± Ethan kept his face neutral, but inside, something twisted. A lie. A C-Rank sword barely scraped 700 gold. This guy thinks I¡¯m an easy mark. He leaned forward slightly, meeting Livan¡¯s glare with a small, knowing smile that sent an involuntary shiver through the smith. ¡°Maybe I wasn¡¯t clear,¡± Ethan said smoothly. ¡°I want a real sword. Something worth the effort. How about the Soul Sword?¡± For the first time, Livan blinked, his confident smirk faltering into surprise. Then, unexpectedly, he barked out a laugh. ¡°Hah! Been a long time since I had someone in here who knew their stuff. Wait here, brat.¡± Livan disappeared through a rear door, returning moments later with a weapon that seemed to breathe. The Soul Sword. Its hilt glinted faintly in the dim light, the pommel set with a crimson gem shaped like an eye that almost seemed to blink. Its blade shimmered faintly, the faint tendrils of ghostly mist trailing its edge. ¡°Take a look,¡± Livan said, setting it down. As Ethan approached, a window flashed: Name: Soul Sword Rank: C-Rank Unique Skill: Soul Gathering [???] Lv1: For every hit, gain souls based on damage. Souls enhance your level for a limited time.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. Gather 100 souls to unlock weapon potential. Progress: 0/100 Reward: Soul Stone Upgrade. Ethan nodded, impressed despite himself. ¡°Exactly what I need,¡± he muttered. He handed over the gold and moved to leave, but Livan stopped him with a gruff chuckle. ¡°Hey, brat,¡± he said, his tone unusually serious. ¡°One more thing¡ªdon¡¯t trust people who look like they¡¯d never betray you.¡± Ethan paused, glancing over his shoulder. He said nothing but gave a quick, dismissive wave before stepping into the street. Was that just a warning? Anyways i''ll keep that in mind. Stepping out of the armory, Ethan inhaled sharply, the cool air biting against his skin after the warm haze of the smithy. The faint clang of a distant blacksmith¡¯s hammer echoed through the street, mingling with the murmur of players and NPCs bartering at nearby shops. He adjusted his grip on the Soul Sword¡¯s sheath, his gaze scanning the town¡¯s uneven cobblestones. And then he saw him. A figure stood near the fountain, tall and familiar, the sunlight glinting off his spear. Ethan froze, his pulse quickening as he stared. Anthony. No way. It had been a long time since Ethan had seen him. The recognition stirred something uneasy within him, both relief and hesitation. He wasn¡¯t the same person anymore, and neither, Ethan imagined, was Anthony. Still, instincts prevailed. Before taking another step, he murmured, ¡°Check status.¡± Name: Anthony Hellspear Rank: C Class: Spear Warrior(2nd tier warrior) Weapon: B-Rank Spear
  • Calmness [B] Lv4: Grants composure during tense situations.
  • Javelin(Class skill) [B] Lv2: Allows the user to throw their spear for extra damage and recall it up to 12 meters.
  • Lie Detection [A] Lv1: Detects untruths three times daily.
Ethan frowned at the last skill. Lie Detection. The words lingered in his mind, like a warning in Livan¡¯s gruff voice: ¡°Don¡¯t trust the people who look like they¡¯d never betray you.¡± He clenched his fists briefly, forcing the unease aside. If Anthony truly was here, it was worth the risk to see if some part of their bond remained intact. ¡°Hey, Tony,¡± Ethan called as he approached. ¡°How have you been?¡± Anthony turned, his eyes narrowing slightly in surprise before recognition lit them up. A small grin spread across his face. ¡°Wait... Ethan? Is that really you?¡± He chuckled softly, lowering the tip of his spear to the ground. ¡°Man, it¡¯s been a long time. I¡¯m doing as fine as I can be in this mess of a game. How about you?¡± Ethan hesitated for a fraction of a second before answering. ¡°Fine.¡± He gestured vaguely to the sword at his side. ¡°Just doing some quests. Bought a new weapon today.¡± Anthony nodded, studying him briefly, his grin softening. ¡°Looks like you¡¯re giving it everything you¡¯ve got. That¡¯s good.¡± His voice grew quieter, more serious. ¡°Do you have some time to catch up? Feels like forever since we last talked.¡± Ethan¡¯s grip on the sword tightened unconsciously. He glanced at Anthony¡¯s status window again, his eyes lingering on Lie Detection. Even though we¡¯re friends, Ethan thought warily, I¡¯m not telling him about my skill. Livan¡¯s tip wasn¡¯t meant to be ignored. ¡°Not today,¡± he replied, shaking his head. ¡°I¡¯ve got a lot on my plate. This week¡¯s already packed, and I need to finish something important.¡± Anthony¡¯s smile wavered for a moment before he nodded slowly. ¡°I get it. It¡¯s just... been a while, you know? Let¡¯s talk when you¡¯re free.¡± ¡°Yeah, next time,¡± Ethan said with a faint wave as he turned to leave. He felt Anthony¡¯s gaze on his back as he walked away, his thoughts swirling. The temptation to stop and reconnect, to just talk like they used to, gnawed at him. But trust was a luxury he couldn¡¯t afford, not here. Not anymore. Ch-4 The first fake friend The Cave of Lizards was as foreboding as Ethan remembered from the game¡ªa dark, jagged scar in the rocky hillside. He tightened his grip on his sword and exhaled slowly. This was the place. He¡¯d known it from the moment the quest began, but that didn¡¯t make walking into it any easier. ¡°This damn cave,¡± he muttered. ¡°The only spot where the animals could be, and it had to be here.¡± The cave was notorious, not for wild beasts but for its inhabitants¡ªmercenaries, assassins, and betrayers. In the game, players often warned each other about its dangers, sharing horror stories of ambushes and bloody battles. But knowing didn¡¯t make the reality any less horrifying. The air inside was damp and cold, carrying the acrid scent of blood and decay. Ethan¡¯s boots crunched against scattered debris¡ªbroken weapons, empty potion bottles, and torn pieces of cloth. As he ventured deeper, the remnants of violence became more grotesque: a severed hand pinned to the wall with a rusted dagger, and limbs carelessly strewn across the floor. He forced himself to keep moving. ¡°This isn¡¯t how it was in the game,¡± he muttered, his stomach twisting. ¡°It¡¯s worse. So much worse.¡± The narrow passage opened into a larger chamber dimly lit by glowing crystals embedded in the walls. Ethan ducked behind a jagged boulder and peered into the room. Three figures stood near a set of cages. Inside the cages were the quest animals¡ªwild creatures pacing anxiously behind enchanted iron bars¡ªand, at the back, the shepherd dog he was sent to rescue. Ethan¡¯s gaze shifted to the figures standing guard. Two were clad in standard mercenary armor, weapons slung lazily over their shoulders. The third was different. The way he held himself, the confidence in his stance¡ªit felt eerily familiar. Ethan¡¯s breath caught in his throat. ¡°Mark,¡± he whispered, his voice barely audible. Mark Lowcut. A name Ethan had never thought he¡¯d associate with betrayal. They had played this game together for years, part of a team of friends who trusted each other implicitly. But the man standing there now, flanked by mercenaries, was a stranger. His daggers gleamed menacingly in the dim light, and blood stained his leather armor. Ethan¡¯s HUD flickered as Mark¡¯s stats came into view: Name: Mark Lowcut Level: 12 Character Rank: B Class: Assassin (2nd Tier)(7 player kills) Unique Skills: Stealth [A] Lv4, Quickstep [C] Lv5, Berserk [B] Lv3 Ethan¡¯s jaw tightened as he scanned the details. Seven player kills. Seven. Mark had chosen the path of a killer. His thoughts raced as memories of their gaming days flashed through his mind. The Mark he remembered wouldn¡¯t have done this. What changed?Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. Ethan shook his head. This wasn¡¯t the time for questions. The animals were here, and so was Mark. If he didn¡¯t act fast, he¡¯d lose them¡ªand possibly his life. He adjusted his grip on his sword and waited. When the two mercenaries turned their backs, Ethan surged forward. His blade moved in a blur, cutting both down before they had a chance to react. 2 souls obtained. Number of souls: 2. Mark turned sharply, daggers at the ready. His eyes widened in recognition. ¡°Ethan?¡± ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s me,¡± Ethan said, his voice steady but cold. ¡°Why, Mark? Why did you choose this path?¡± Mark¡¯s lips curled into a smirk. ¡°Why not? It¡¯s simple, really. Killing players is the easiest way to level up and get better gear. Don¡¯t tell me you haven¡¯t thought about it.¡± Ethan clenched his fists. ¡°I can¡¯t let you keep doing this.¡± ¡°Then try and stop me,¡± Mark said, his grin widening. ¡°If you dare.¡± Ethan didn¡¯t wait. He dashed forward, his sword slicing through the air. Mark moved faster, sidestepping the attack and retaliating with a quick slash. Ethan felt the sting as Mark¡¯s dagger grazed his arm. 0.05 souls collected. Number of souls: 2.05. Mark¡¯s Stealth skill activated, and he vanished from Ethan¡¯s sight. Ethan spun around, his guard up, but it wasn¡¯t enough. A sharp pain exploded in his back as Mark¡¯s dagger found its mark. ¡°Damn it!¡± Ethan hissed, stumbling forward. ¡°That Stealth skill is broken.¡± Mark laughed. ¡°This is how the game works, Ethan. RNG decides everything. You rolled low, and I rolled high. It¡¯s just bad luck.¡± Ethan gritted his teeth. He couldn¡¯t see Mark, but he could feel him circling. He closed his eyes, focusing on his other senses. When Mark struck again, Ethan moved instinctively, evading the attack and grabbing Mark¡¯s wrist mid-swing. Mark¡¯s eyes widened in shock. ¡°What the¡ª?¡± A notification flashed across Ethan¡¯s HUD. High Instinct [S] Lv1 - A passive skill that improves perception of hidden enemies and enhances reaction speed in critical moments. Ethan smirked. ¡°Thanks for the assist, Mark.¡± With a swift motion, he twisted Mark¡¯s wrist and slashed his sword across it. Mark cried out, leaping back and clutching his wounded hand. 0.20 souls obtained. Number of souls: 2.25. Mark¡¯s face twisted in fury. ¡°You¡¯ll regret this, Ethan!¡± he roared, activating his Berserk skill. His veins bulged, his muscles swelling as raw power coursed through him. Mark charged, daggers flashing wildly. Ethan¡¯s new skill kicked in, allowing him to dodge with precision, landing counterattacks whenever he saw an opening. 0.25 souls obtained. Number of souls: 2.50. But the fight wasn¡¯t over. In a moment of desperation, Mark lost reasoning completely and aproach Ethan too fastly. He swings his daggers strongly at Ethan''s chest hurting him badly. After that, he threw his own daggers, misleading Ethan and throwing a powerful kick right in his chest. The force of the blow sent Ethan crashing into the wall, coughing blood. ¡°Damn it,¡± Ethan muttered, struggling to stay upright. ¡°This is bad¡­¡± Mark let out a feral roar, charging again. Ethan tryed to stay conscious and raise his sword to keep fighting, but he can''t. His end seems to be near. Ch-5 Every bug can be patched Ethan slumped against the cold wall of the cave, his chest heaving. Blood trickled down his arm, pooling beneath him. His vision blurred, but one image remained seared into his mind: Mark¡¯s lifeless body, felled in an instant by a figure who moved like a phantom. It wasn¡¯t that time had stopped. It was that the newcomer, a swordsman wielding a gleaming katana, was simply too fast for the eye to follow. The moment came rushing back. The swordsman¡ªJack Hawkfire, Ethan recalled¡ªhad walked into the room, his steps deliberate, almost casual. Mark had turned, his eyes wide with terror as Jack unsheathed his katana. The blade gleamed once, and in the same instant, Mark¡¯s neck opened in a spray of crimson. By the time the katana was sheathed, it was over. Ethan, pinned against the wall by his injuries, had stared in disbelief. ¡°What the fuck just happened? Who... who are you?¡± Jack had glanced at him with a faint smirk, his presence as imposing as his weapon. Ethan, ever the strategist, activated his Inspect skill. The information flooded his vision: Name: Jack Hawkfire Level: 23 Character Rank: S Class: None Weapon: A-Rank Enchantable Monohoshizao (Katana of Sasaki Kojiro) (Named Katana) Unique Skills:
  • Tsubame Gaeshi [S] Lv1: Allows the user to perform a vertical cut from up to down and then instantly from down to up.
  • Weakness Detection [A] Lv3: Highlights vulnerabilities of targets.
  • Lie Detection [A] Lv5: Can detect lies three times per day.
  • Fast Switch [B] Lv3: Enables swift weapon switching for seamless combat flow.
  • Mental Barrier [S] Lv4: Grants resistance to mental and illusionary attacks.
  • Medium Sword Proficiency [D] Lv5: Enhances sword combat dexterity.
  • Combat Reflexes [A] Lv4: Accelerates reaction time to incoming attacks.
  • Battle Clarity [B] Lv3: Reduces combat stress, improving decision-making under pressure.
  • ...
Ethan¡¯s fists clenched. ¡°The RNG carried guy. Of course he¡¯d have a legendary katana and skills stacked to the heavens.¡± The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. In that moment Ethan¡¯s body gave up and ended up fainting. Ethan woke two days later, his body still sore but his wounds bandaged. As he sat up, memories of Jack¡¯s intervention returned. His jaw tightened, frustration bubbling up. ¡°Fucking RNG guy,¡± he muttered. ¡°Why did he have to save me? Of all people...¡± A quest notification drew his attention, and he opened his menu: Status: Completed Reward: 100 Gold, blank pages of a mysterious skill book. Ethan¡¯s brow furrowed. ¡°At least that¡¯s done.¡± As he pocketed the reward, another thought crossed his mind. The gacha machine. The caf¨¦ was dimly lit, a faint hum emanating from the gacha machine tucked in the corner. Ethan approached it with purpose, carrying several small items he had specifically purchased to exploit an old bug he remembered from his gaming days. He smirked as he adjusted the settings. If this still works, I¡¯ll walk away with an accessory worth ten times what I paid. He placed the items in a specific sequence, following the steps that once guaranteed a high-tier accessory. Finally, he inserted the 100 gold and pulled the lever. The machine whirred and clicked erratically, its lights flickering. Ethan watched expectantly as it began to shake. ¡°Yes, yes, come on...¡± Suddenly, the machine sparked violently, shaking as if it were about to explode. Ethan stepped back, a sinking feeling in his gut. With one final jolt, the machine spat out... an egg. An egg. Ethan froze, staring at the object as it rolled to a stop at his feet. Picking it up, he inspected it, his brow furrowing. Race will depend on chance. Potential races:
  • Human (50%)
  • Dwarf (40%)
  • Elf (10%)
Ethan let out a frustrated groan. ¡°What the hell? Did they patch the bug? Damn developers. Well... what even is this?¡± The egg shimmered faintly, its surface covered in runes he couldn¡¯t decipher. He stuffed it into his pack, muttering, ¡°Figures. RNG again.¡± Back at the farm, Ethan continued grinding until the final hidden quest appeared. Reward: Blank pages of a mysterious book, 1000 gold, and 5 levels in a skill of your choice. Ethan read the notification twice, a shiver running down his spine. ¡°The Keeper,¡± he muttered. ¡°This is it.¡± He glanced at the egg tucked safely in his pack. ¡°Looks like it¡¯ll hatch during the labyrinth.¡± As he prepared for the journey ahead, a faint smile tugged at his lips. No more RNG. It¡¯s time to carve my own path. Ch-6 This RNG is not normal Ethan stood before the massive stone doors, their rough, ancient surface emanating a faint, cold energy. When he pushed them open, darkness enveloped him completely, swallowing the dim light from the corridor behind him. The air inside was heavy and still, suffocating in its silence. He paused, gripping the Soul Sword tightly, its faint glow doing little to pierce the black void. His instincts screamed to turn back, but he knew that wasn¡¯t an option. ¡°Activate High Instincts,¡± he whispered. The world shifted. His vision sharpened as red, glowing trails appeared in the darkness, guiding him forward. Ethan exhaled slowly, steeling himself as he began to follow the path. The silence amplified the sound of his boots against the stone floor, each step reverberating through the void. Eventually, a smaller door came into view. Its surface was engraved with intricate carvings of warriors and monsters locked in eternal battle. Ethan placed his hand on the door, and a notification appeared in his vision: {After this door, a trial will start. You won¡¯t be able to quit until you complete it. You will face 5 waves of enemies.}
  • Defeat 50 Labyrinth Soldiers. Reward: Random loot box, 100 gold. Extra Condition: Complete under 4 minutes. Extra Reward: Key to the boss room.
Ethan sighed, resting a hand on the egg tucked securely in his bag. ¡°Okay, little one,¡± he muttered. ¡°Let¡¯s see if I survive long enough for you to hatch.¡± Before proceeding, he opened his stats window. Name: Ethan Wanless Level: 20 Character Rank: D Class: None Weapon: Soul Sword (Tier 0) Unique Skills:
  • Inspect [???]
  • High Instincts [S] Lv5
  • (Special Weapon Skill) Soul Gathering [???] Lv2
¡°What a pathetic stat window,¡± he muttered. His jaw clenched as his thoughts turned to Jack Hawkfire. Compared to that RNG-carried anomaly, his progress felt agonizingly slow. He exhaled sharply, closing the menu. ¡°I accept the conditions.¡± The door creaked open, its groan echoing ominously. Ethan stepped through, and the door slammed shut behind him. Torches along the walls burst to life, illuminating a large, square chamber with no visible exit. A notification materialized in front of him: {Wave 0/5. Time elapsed: 00:00.} The room shuddered, and a loud clang reverberated as iron gates opened along the walls. Ten enemies emerged in a disciplined formation:
  • 3 Armored Lizards (Lv 7)
  • 5 Armored Knights (Lv 5)
  • 2 Great Guards (Lv 10)
Ethan tightened his grip on the Soul Sword. ¡°Let¡¯s make this quick.¡±This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. Ethan dashed toward the knights, his movements swift and deliberate. In a single swing of the Soul Sword, three of them crumpled to the ground, their armor clattering noisily. The remaining two knights lunged at him in unison. Ethan sidestepped their attacks with inhuman precision, slashing them down in a blur of motion. The lizards, sensing an opportunity, attacked from three directions. Ethan grinned. ¡°This is pointless.¡± He vaulted over the lizard approaching from the front, decapitating it mid-air before landing on its back to propel himself toward the others. Each swing of his blade was precise, cutting through their thick scales like butter. One of the guards hurled a spear. Ethan leapt, narrowly avoiding the spear. In one fluid motion, he closed the distance and severed the guard¡¯s head. Without breaking stride, he hurled his sword at the second guard, the blade piercing its chest with lethal force. Ethan retrieved his sword and glanced at the timer. {Wave 1/5. Time elapsed: 00:25.} {5 seconds until Wave 2.} ¡°That was fast,¡± he muttered. ¡°Last time, this wave took 40 seconds.¡± As the second wave began, Ethan methodically cut through the enemies, each encounter faster than the last. ¡°Okay here we go again. Just 4 more waves to go.¡± Just like that Ethan continues completing the trial, killing every enemy that appears, reaching the last wave. ¡°Just one more wave and I''m done with this. Just pls RNG don''t activate any special eve¡­ ¡°.... FUCKING SHITY GAME. Every fucking time the same, what the heck is the RNG of this character. Let me check how much probability there was.¡± Ethan looks to the warning window. Due to a unique moment or unique situation that never happend at this point you have been granted a loot box. ¡°Haha, such a funny game.¡± Ethan looks up and starts swearing. ¡°If i ever come across with any of u Admins, i will kill you and then throw your body into the shit from the animals¡± ¡°What event is gonna be this time? Please, don¡¯t be something crazy¡± The level of every enemy will go up 15 levels, but every enemy will start with half HP. If you finish the event successfully a special reward will be granted. ¡°Holy fuck. 15 LEVELS? Even if they start with half hp they are gonna destroy me.¡±
  • 5-Tomb Guards(lvl 20+15)
  • 4-Royal knights(lvl 22+15)
  • 1-SwordMaster Samurai (lvl 25+15)
¡°A fucking Samurai. That''s even rarer than the event itself. At least it can drop me items¡± In no time the enemies started spawning. Five Tomb Guards at the front, 4 Royal Knights at the back, and lastly the samurai with a Seiza position(Japanese traditional sit position) with his katana in front of him on the floor. ¡°Okay.¡± Ethan sighs. ¡°Here we go, I¡¯ll go serious this time.¡± That said, the last fight until the boss starts. Ch-7 Fuck the Plausibility Ethan darted toward the nearest Tomb Guard, his movements fluid and precise. His Soul Sword gleamed faintly as it carved through the air, severing one of the guard¡¯s arms with a brutal swing. Without hesitation, he leapt into the air, using the momentum to slice cleanly through the creature¡¯s neck. As his feet hit the ground, a burst of searing heat struck him from behind. The impact threw him forward, pain exploding through his body as he tumbled across the cold stone floor. ¡°Damn,¡± Ethan groaned, clutching his side as he staggered to his feet. ¡°That hurt. First time they¡¯ve managed to land a hit, and it feels like I won¡¯t survive the next one.¡± The remaining Tomb Guards began to chant, arcane energy swirling in the air around them. Their glowing eyes locked on Ethan as they unleashed a barrage of spells. Ethan¡¯s instincts screamed. ¡°Activate High Instincts!¡± The world slowed, and his body responded automatically. He weaved between the incoming projectiles with calculated precision, his vision sharpened by the skill¡¯s enhancements. ¡°I didn¡¯t want to waste this,¡± he muttered, his voice tight with frustration. ¡°But I guess it¡¯s necessary. Time to put these souls to work.¡± Ethan closed his eyes, focusing deeply as energy pulsed within him. {Your level will be boosted by the number of souls used for 10 minutes. 15 levels added.} {Current Level: 20 ¡ú 35.} A series of notifications flashed across his vision: {You are the first player to reach Level 35. Rewards will be distributed shortly. Calculating rewards. Rewards distribution delayed pending administrator review.} ¡°Fucking admins,¡± Ethan spat, glaring into the empty air as he dodged another spell. ¡°Always meddling. Guess I¡¯ll just have to show them what I can do without their interference.¡± When he turned back to the Tomb Guards, he noticed something unexpected: the creatures had hesitated, their relentless advance faltering. Ethan grinned, a savage expression. ¡°I always wondered if monsters in this game could feel fear. Guess it¡¯s time to find out. Don¡¯t die too easily.¡± In a flash, he closed the gap between himself and the remaining four Tomb Guards. With one devastating swing, the Soul Sword cleaved through all of them in a single, fluid motion. Their bodies collapsed, fading into dust as his blade finished its arc.This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. {Wave 4/5. Time Elapsed: 3:57.} Ethan wiped sweat from his brow, his breath heavy. ¡°That took too long. Time to pick up the pace.¡± Without waiting for the next countdown, Ethan dashed toward the Royal Guards, their polished armor gleaming under the flickering torchlight. ¡°I don¡¯t have time for this,¡± he muttered, narrowing his eyes. ¡°Activate High Instincts¡ªmaximum output!¡± A rush of energy flooded his senses as High Instincts surged to a new level. Ethan¡¯s movements became a blur. Every swing of his sword was deliberate, exploiting weaknesses in the Royal Guards¡¯ armor with terrifying accuracy. Sparks flew as his blade tore through steel, slicing through one opponent after another. {Sword Dance [A] (Upgradeable): Your damage, dexterity, and attack speed are significantly boosted when using swords.} Ethan felt the boost immediately. The Soul Sword seemed weightless in his hands as he carved a path through the remaining guards. When he struck down the last one, he stood upright, panting heavily. He turned his gaze to the final opponent¡ªthe Samurai. The Samurai remained unmoving, seated in perfect stillness with his katana resting upright before him. His calm, imposing presence sent a shiver down Ethan¡¯s spine. Ethan tried to take a step forward but collapsed onto his knees, his body trembling with exhaustion. ¡°Fucking admins,¡± Ethan hissed through gritted teeth. ¡°Always ruining my plans.¡± The Samurai rose, his movements deliberate and respectful. Without reaching for his sword, he approached Ethan, his footsteps echoing in the now-silent chamber. When he stood before Ethan, he extended a hand. Ethan blinked in surprise. ¡°What?¡± The Samurai didn¡¯t speak, but his gesture was clear. Ethan hesitated, then reached out and grasped the offered hand. The Samurai helped him to his feet before returning to his original position. He unsheathed his katana, adopting a low fighting stance. Ethan grinned weakly. ¡°Hah... You honor-bound bastard. Fine. I¡¯ll give you the fight of your life.¡± Reaching into his pocket, Ethan retrieved a small, glowing stone. ¡°This wasn¡¯t meant for you,¡± he muttered, ¡°but I guess saving things isn¡¯t an option right now.¡± He crushed the hearthstone in his hand, a surge of energy washing over him as a new skill was unlocked. {Suppresses all feelings of pain and damage for two minutes. When the effect ends, all accumulated pain will return instantly.} ¡°Activate Temporary Patch,¡± Ethan said, his voice steady. {All feelings of damage suppressed for 2:00.} Ethan straightened, his trembling subsiding as the artificial calm of the skill took hold. He raised his sword, adopting a stable stance that radiated confidence. {Wave 4/5. Time Elapsed: 4:30.} ¡°Let¡¯s go, Samurai,¡± Ethan said, his lips curling into a fierce smile. ¡°Give me everything you¡¯ve got.¡± The Samurai responded with a slight nod, his grip on the katana tightening as he surged forward. Their blades clashed, the sound ringing out like thunder, signaling the start of a battle neither would forget. Ch-8 An admin appeares Ethan tightened his grip on the Soul Sword, the weight of exhaustion pressing down on him. Despite that, his mind was sharp, focused entirely on the final opponent. Across the room, the Samurai stood in perfect stillness, his katana gleaming under the torchlight. The air was thick with tension, the flickering flames casting shadows that danced between them. Ethan could feel the Samurai¡¯s unwavering presence, a wall of discipline and lethality that seemed insurmountable. ¡°Let¡¯s go, fucking Samurai,¡± Ethan snarled, his voice carrying equal parts frustration and resolve. ¡°Give me the best you¡¯ve got!¡± Without hesitation, Ethan charged. The clang of their weapons filled the room as their blades collided. The Samurai parried each of Ethan¡¯s strikes with ease, countering with precise blows that found their mark every time. For 15 grueling seconds, the two engaged in a brutal exchange. Ethan¡¯s swings were relentless, aiming for the Samurai¡¯s defenses. The Samurai¡¯s counters, however, left cuts and bruises across Ethan¡¯s body. Ethan¡¯s breaths came heavy, his vision blurring slightly from the exhaustion. Blood seeped from the dozens of wounds scattered across his arms and torso, but he didn¡¯t back down. ¡°You¡¯re tough,¡± Ethan admitted, his voice ragged. ¡°But maybe you should check your katana¡¯s condition.¡± The Samurai¡¯s expression remained unchanged, but a closer look revealed the truth. Every strike Ethan had thrown wasn¡¯t aimed at the Samurai directly but at his weapon. Fine cracks had begun to form along the blade, faint but unmistakable. Ethan smirked. ¡°Sorry, but I don¡¯t have time to play anymore.¡± He stepped back, planting his feet firmly, and raised the Soul Sword high above his head. ¡°All or nothing,¡± he muttered, channeling every ounce of his strength into a final blow. The Soul Sword came down with a deafening crash, shattering the Samurai¡¯s katana in an explosion of sparks and splintered steel. The Samurai staggered back, his broken weapon falling uselessly to the ground. Ethan didn¡¯t let up. With a roar, he unleashed a flurry of relentless strikes. His blade found its mark again and again¡ªcutting through the Samurai¡¯s chest, arms, and legs. Blood splattered across the room as Ethan¡¯s assault continued, each swing fueled by sheer adrenaline. Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. Ethan screamed as he brought the Soul Sword down in a final, vertical slice. The blade cut through the Samurai from head to toe, splitting him cleanly in two. The lifeless body collapsed to the ground, dissolving into shimmering fragments. {Due to executing the strongest vertical strike recorded, you have been granted a new skill: Vertical Slice [B] Lv1. After successfully landing 15 hits on the same enemy, your next vertical attack will be enhanced.} Ethan glanced at the timer as he stumbled backward, his legs barely able to support his weight. {Due to defeating an enemy with high vitality, bonus souls have been granted.} A wave of relief washed over him, and a smile broke across his bloodied face. ¡°Let¡¯s fucking go!¡± Ethan yelled, triumph in his voice. But as the adrenaline drained from his body, his legs gave out, and he collapsed to the ground. ¡°Ah... my legs... I can¡¯t stand anymore,¡± he muttered, his breath ragged. Suddenly, a bright flash illuminated the room, blinding Ethan and sending waves of dizziness through him. His vision dimmed, and his body felt impossibly heavy. Just before losing consciousness, he caught a glimpse of something standing over him¡ªa humanoid figure with three glowing eyes and six arms. The creature smiled eerily, and Ethan¡¯s world went dark. When Ethan came to, the pain in his body was gone. He groaned, sitting up slowly as his head throbbed. Every scratch, bruise, and wound from his battle with the Samurai had vanished. ¡°What the...?¡± he muttered, his hand instinctively going to his chest. Memories of the fight flooded back, and his eyes darted to the timer. Below the timer, a new message appeared: {Admin Message: You did really well, but the admin council has decided that your actions exceeded the plausibility for this point. Try again, loser. At least we pity you, so here are the rewards we held back.} Ethan stared at the message, his jaw tightening as rage boiled within him. ¡°AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!¡± He slammed his fists into the walls of the chamber, over and over, until blood began to drip from his knuckles. He didn¡¯t care. The pain was nothing compared to the fury coursing through him. Just as he prepared to punch again, a faint glow from his backpack caught his attention. The egg¡ªthe strange item he had won from the gacha machine¡ªwas spinning and levitating, radiating a soft light. Ethan paused, his anger giving way to confusion. The egg cracked, its shell splitting apart to reveal a small, humanoid figure. The light faded, revealing a male dwarf with a wide grin and a forging hammer slung over his shoulder. Ethan blinked, activating his Inspect skill. Name: Fafner Durinn (Companion of Ethan Wanless) Level: 5 Character Rank: B Class: Blacksmith Weapon: Forging Hammer Unique Skills:
  • Weapon Upgrade [A] Lv1
  • Accessory Upgrade [A] Lv1
The dwarf dusted off his trousers and looked up at Ethan with an easy smile. ¡°Hey there, Master,¡± he said cheerfully. ¡°I¡¯ll be supporting you in your battles and your adventures. But I¡¯ve got a favor to ask in return.¡± Ethan¡¯s brow furrowed. ¡°A favor?¡± he asked, confused. ¡°Aren¡¯t companions just supposed to serve their masters?¡± The dwarf chuckled. ¡°Sure, most of the time. But I¡¯m not just any companion. I need your help, Master, to become the greatest blacksmith in all of Estithae. So, what do you say? Equal partnership?¡± Ethan stared at the dwarf for a moment, processing the situation. Finally, he let out a tired laugh, shaking his head. ¡°Equal partnership, huh? Fine. Let¡¯s see what you¡¯ve got, Fafner.¡± The dwarf grinned, his eyes sparkling with determination. Ch-9 Finally good luck While they were talking about the treat a sudden message popped up. {Sorry for the delay on the reward distribution. Rewards for your accomplishments will be delivered as well as the rewards for completing the labyrinth trial.} Random loot box and 100g
  • First player to reach level 35 (A Griffin pet)
  • Big dexterity with swords (Sword Dance[A].Lvl1)
  • Strongest vertical slice (Vertical Slice[B].Lvl1)
  • Obtained experience in the trial (5 Levels obtained)
Ethan looks at the griffin pet he just got. ¡°Wow. It''s a damn Griffin. That¡¯s actually really good.¡± Ethan pet and scratched the little griffin. ¡°Hmm, what name should I give you? Hey, Fafner. Do you wanna give him a name? Fafner starts thinking and finally tells him. ¡°How about Grif? It¡¯s kinda simple, but I think that it sounds cool.¡± The griffin let out a small squawk and jumped at Ethan¡¯s shoulder. ¡°It seems that he liked it. From now on you will be Grif.¡± Says Ethan. The griffin makes sounds of being happy and scrubs against Ethan¡¯s cheek. ¡°Now. Open random loot box¡± The loot box starts to shine and a thin screen appears over it. It starts moving from up to down all the different ranks to determine how good the prize will be. It moves until it stops on the B. ¡°Okay B rank, that¡¯s not bad considering my luck up to now¡± The box doesn¡¯t open. It starts to tremble, and suddenly the screen starts spinning like crazy until it becomes a ??? rank reward. Ethan¡¯s eyes open like crazy. ¡°Holy fuck, finally, good luck in this damn game.¡± A hearthstone skill is given to Ethan. An info window pops from the hearthstone. {This hearthstone contains the skill Combine[???].Lv1. Allows the user to combine temporarily two skills to form a powerful one (Combining two skills doesn¡¯t delete those skills).} ¡°HOLY FUCK. I didn¡¯t expect to obtain this skill until late game. This is hilarious.¡± {Requirements: You have to be at least level 45 to be able to use this skill} ¡°Agh, it''s true, I need at least level 45, I didn''t remember. Okay it''s not bad.¡± Ethan finishes preparing everything. ¡°Okay, Fafner, Grif, Get ready. You will come with me inside but stay right behind me. Ethan looks at his own character window before going in. ¡°Oh, this looks much better now.¡± Thought Ethan Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. Name: Ethan Wanless Level: 25 Character Rank: D Class: None Weapon: Soul Sword (Tier 0) Unique skill:
  • Inspect [???]
  • High Instincts [S] Lv8
  • (Weapon skill) Soul gathering [???] Lv4
  • Sword Dance[A] Lv1
  • Vertical slice[B] Lv1
  • Temporary Patch[B] Lv2
They enter the trial, starting it. This time everything goes smoothly. There is no complication for the team and Ethan ends it quickly. Ethan throws the last vertical slice to the samurai, who now was only level 25. Hidden requirements completed Rewards obtained: Key for the boss room "That was pretty fast even for me. I''m doing really well to be fair." Suddenly a window pops in front of Ethan. He looks at it smiling realizing what it is. Souls gathered in the trial. 50 Total souls gathered 103/100 Rewards: Weapon upgradeable stone ¡°Finally, the upgrade for the soul sword.¡± Ethan takes the stone and gives it to Fafner along with the sword. ¡°All yours my friend.Thanks to you I don''t need to go back to the village.¡± Fafner takes both and spawns an anvil. An information display appears in front of Fafner. {Do you want to use your class ability to upgrade this sword?} Fafner hesitates for a moment and looks at Ethan. He sighs. ¡°Yes, I want to use it¡± Fafner didn¡¯t look up, his focus unyielding as his hammer struck the stone with rhythmic precision. Beads of sweat trickled down his forehead, glinting in the sword¡¯s growing brilliance. The blade and the upgrade stone pulsed with synchronized light, their glow intensifying with every strike. Streams of golden and blue energy arced between them, twisting and weaving like ethereal threads. Each hammer blow sent explosions of fiery sparks into the air, their colors shifting between electric white and deep orange. One last strike and a shockwave of air marked the end of the ritual. ¡°Okay, all done. Take it, tell me how it feels.¡± Ethan takes the sword. He looks at it and the weapon window is shown. Soul sword (Tier 1. Dmg +25) 30% chance to gather double souls Tota souls gathered 103 Gather souls 103/200 Weapon upgrade stone(Tier 2) ¡°Yeah, this is what I needed. Time to go for the boss.¡± Fafner looks at him with a smile on his face. ¡°Try not to die in there.¡± Ethan and Fafner high five. ¡°I¡¯ll come back alive, don¡¯t worry.¡± Fafner and Grif get out of the trial room leaving Ethan there. Ethan goes to the boss room door, takes out the key and opens it. The moment he enters the door behind him closes. He takes a deep breath and takes a combat position. Drops of sweat run across his face. He realizes he is nervous. ¡°Haha. Look at me. Why am I so nervous? I have already done this fight countless times.¡± He takes the combat position again, but he is not nervous anymore. A smile appears in his face, expectant for the fight. The excitement he was feeling was shown all across his face. In front of him the door where the boss was supposed to come from opens. Ethan gets ready to jump at it at the very second he shows up. Suddenly someone comes out. It''s not the boss. It seems more like a person. He is kinda far and because of the dust Ethan can¡¯t appreciate who is that. The individual throws something at Ethan¡¯s feet. It comes rolling out from the dust. The head of the boss. There can be seen signs of cruelty on its head. Not just a clean cut. In the head both eyes were missing, only one tooth remaining. No ears, the nose completely destroyed. Ethan was amazed at how cruel and powerful the person who defeated the boss was. As the dust was dissipating, the guy said something. ¡°Hey Ethan, how have you been?¡± Ch-10 The second fake friend The voice of that guy resounded in the room with echo. Ethan knew that voice. He has heard it somewhere. Outside the game. In that moment he remembered it. That softness. That security in himself. With just those few words Ethan realised who that guy was. He froze in that place, unable to move. Suddenly a spear appears out of nowhere and thrusts through Ethan¡¯s leg. ¡°AAAAAAh. Fuck.¡± The pain was unbearable. Why? It''s just a spear, it should not hurt that much. Ethan examined the spear and saw that the tip had a glowing orange color. Elemental spears can have those kinds of colors. There are a type that are rarely found. It can cause extra damage or add effects to what they hit. ¡°Come back!¡± Said the guy. The spear struggled to come out from Ethan¡¯s leg. Doing him a lot more damage. Blood spilling with each try of coming out. The spear finally got out, tearing apart Ethan¡¯s leg flesh and making him lose balance. Sweat falling from his forehead. His face is trying to suppress the desire to cry and scream. After some deep breaths, he is finally able to speak at the person in front of him. ¡°Why? Why are you doing this Anthony Hellspear?¡± He looks at him. Inspect Name: Anthony Hellspear Level: 28 Character rank: C Class: Spear warrior Weapon: A-Rank Fire spear Unique skill:
  • Calmness [B] Lv6
  • Javelin (Class skill) [B] Lv10
  • Lie detection [A] Lv5
  • Medium Spear Proficiency [B] Lv6
  • Deflect [A] (Class skill)Lv3
  • Parry [S] (Skillful skill)
Anthony appeared from the dust. His face showed anger and hostility towards Ethan. He slams the spear in the ground making all the remaining dust go away. Anthony hears what Ethan said and clenches his teeth. He then shouts at Ethan ¡°Why? How dare you ask?¡± Anthony frowns more and points at Ethan. ¡°Someone of confidence told me that you killed Mark! The friend who we spent so much with! I know you were just a rat who would turn your back at us anytime. I knew it from the very moment I met you.¡± Ethan couldn¡¯t reply, even if technically he didn¡¯t kill him, he tried to. ¡°You won¡¯t reply, disgusting bastard? It must be true then. I will kill you. For that I don¡¯t care what I must endure.¡± He says before taking out what seemed like a fruit. Similar to a pear but of a golden color Ethan gets scared the moment he sees the fruit. ¡°WAIT! How do you have that? Anthony, don¡¯t!¡± That fruit is an item that is really difficult to find. It helps you advance a certain number of levels depending on RNG. Nevertheless, there is a base percentage of 70% of failing and killing the one who eats it at the moment. That percentage is changed depending on what your character rank is. The closer you get to rank S the less percentage of failing, but also the less levels that the RNG works with. Rank S has 50% of failing and can upgrade between 1-10 levels. When going down in ranks the maximum level increases by 5 and the percentage is also increased by 5. An example could be: a rank B has a 60% of failing and the RNG will choose between 1-20 levels. Anthony eats it despite only being rank c. His body starts to tremble. It continues for five seconds. Anthony¡¯s body expelling a huge aura. In a moment his body stops. He lets out a huge amount of air from his mouth. Ethan couldn¡¯t believe it. Just how far is this idiot going just to kill me. Let''s see. Inspect Name: Anthony Hellspear Level: 35 Character rank: C Class: Spear warrior Weapon: A-Rank Fire spear Unique skill:
  • Calmness [B] Lv6
  • Javelin (Class skill) [B] Lv10
  • Lie detection [A] Lv5
  • Medium Spear Proficiency [B] Lv6
  • Deflect[A] (Class skill)Lv3
  • Parry[S](Skillful skill)
Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. Ethan¡¯s eyes opened wide. HOLY SHIT 12 levels. Mark¡¯s expression changed to a cocky one, a smile on his face. All that anger seems to have disappeared. Mark starts talking. ¡°For now, let''s just say that I''m avenging Mark. Even with all that, I didn''t like you from the beginning. I just endure you, because we were on the same team and the party leader protected you. Now that he is not here, I won¡¯t even get sad if I kill you. So how will ¡®the great Ethan¡¯ get out of this?¡± Ethan looks down after hearing that. The partner who he has spent so much time with. A friend that was saved by him many times. Ethan clenches his teeth. He frowns and looks at Anthony with an intimidating glare. ¡°So that is what you really thought of me all this time. I understand. If this is how you wanna do it, let''s do this.¡± He then whispers ¡°Temporary Patch.¡± Ethan starts to get up. Anthony was surprised to see him being able to get up. ¡°You had something under the sleeve all this time. Bastard.¡± ¡°Anthony. Let me tell you something¡± Ethan is looking at him with anger and self-confidence. ¡°I don¡¯t want to, but if i have i won¡¯t hesitate on killing you and I¡¯ll claim this fucking quest and I¡¯ll continue advancing in the game.¡± ¡°Sword dance.¡± ¡°High instincts maximum output.¡± ¡°Use 10 souls.¡± <10 Levels extra has been granted for 15 minutes> ¡°Give me a good fight Anthony.¡± Without thinking twice Ethan dashes at Anthony. Throwing a big blow, a wide sword swing with a huge speed and incredible strength. Despite all that Anthony takes a stable position. In his vision a dot appears in Ethan¡¯s sword. He grabs his weapon firmly, in his forearms his veins marked, he hits with his spear tip at that point. With a huge sound, Ethan¡¯s sword is blocked perfectly and it rebounds a bit in the spear. He throws another one aiming with precision to Anthony¡¯s leg, but again his blow is blocked and rebounds a little. After that Ethan takes some steps back. Damn, that skill. It always gives so much trouble. ¡°You like my parry skill. I was lucky and got this skill in the gacha system, and as you know this is a RNG game.You won¡¯t be able to win.¡± In the not so long time this world has been going everyone that Ethan encountered said the same. RNG, RNG, RNG¡­ Ethan shouts at Anthony. ¡°Every fucking time the same! Stop saying that RNG is everything! IT IS NOT!¡± Ethan dashes faster and takes Anthony aback, who is unable to parry correctly and takes some damage in the left arm. ¡°I will show all of you that RNG is not everything. Me, someone who started with a D character rank will complete this game.¡± Anthony stays silent for a moment, and then laughs out loud. ¡°HAHAHAHAHAHAHA. You think that you can complete this game with a D character. Holy fuck, thats the best joke I have heard. ¡± He gets serious again and throws the spear at Ethan again who is able to block it just barely, but he is thrown back because of the power the spear was thrown with. ¡°How do you, a mere D character, with probably poor skills, plan to complete the game? Even the time we played together, you were only useful for your knowledge, because of the countless hours you played this game and the immense runs you tried.¡± Ethan, whose hands were trembling for the recent impact, doesn¡¯t answer him. ¡°So, you won¡¯t answer?.¡± Anthony calls his spear to return to him. ¡°If that''s all. Die, Ethan¡± Anthony is now the one who runs at Ethan, and throws a lot of impacts, everyone one of them having a perfect balance between power and precision. Mostly all of them were evaded thanks to high instincts, some of them left some scratches along Ethan¡¯s body. In a moment Ethan runned at Anthony who tried to thrust Ethan with his spear. In the last moment Ethan jumps over the spear and tries to deliver a swing at Anthony¡¯s neck. Anthony is able to evade a big damage just leaving him with a not deep wound on his neck. The moment Ethan lands the previously damaged leg makes him lose balance. Anthony takes this opportunity and throws a powerful kick at him. Pushing him back. Even if Ethan couldn¡¯t feel pain, he was starting to feel the exhaustion of the fight. The scream his body was doing every time he did efforts with his damaged leg. He puts one knee on the ground ¡°What happened Ethan? You have a pitiful aspect. It¡¯s even sad to see you like this. I told you, RNG is everything in this game. I got this fantastic parry skill so you can¡¯t beat me now.¡± Ethan boiled in rage after hearing that shit again. ¡°I told you not to say that again, asshole!¡± Ethan starts thinking. How can I beat him? I have fought in my past a lot of enemies with the parry skill, but I don''t have any magic skills nor a magic weapon. So how. Aggggh, I can''t think of anything. So there is just one alternative. Overpower it with pure strength. ¡°Hey Tony, you told me that everything is RNG, and that I won''t be able to beat you, right?¡± ¡°Is Anthony for you bitch. Of course you won¡¯t.¡± A sudden chill shivers down his spine. What is this sensation I¡¯m having? I¡¯m winning, I know so why.. ¡°I didn¡¯t want to do this, because I wanted to save it.¡± ¡°Use 10 souls¡± <10 souls will be used to increase your level. Actual level 35(increased recently with souls). You have reached level 45> Anthony felt the incredible presence and pressure Ethan was suddenly expelling over the whole room. ¡°What the fuck is this!! What did you do?¡± Ethan looks up at Anthony with a smirk. ¡°This is the power of my knowledge. Try not to die so soon.¡± Ch-11 Not alone this time In a blink Ethan dashes at Anthony who couldn¡¯t even react. His speed couldn¡¯t be compared to the one he had before. As he reaches Anthony, he stops, his feet remaining in the ground. He prepared a heavy blow, his feet making cracks in the floor from the strength he was putting into that attack. Aimed directly at the upper body. That blow had everything. Precision, speed and strength. Anthony who saw the point to do a parry, was completely outspeed and was only able to minimize the damage. The huge blow impacted Anthony¡¯s spear¡¯s body, leaving a crack in it. That blow push him back. His whole body trembling. He was having a hard time just to maintain a his guard up. Ethan didn''t left him time to think and dashed at him again. Thanks to the injury in his leg Ethan couldn¡¯t run as fast, so when he threw one more blow, Anthony jumped back to evade it. Even with that, the attack from Ethan cut two fingers of his left hand. ¡°AGGGGGGGH.¡± Anthony was in a huge pain. ¡°I''m just a D rank character right? You were lucky that I have this injury right here.¡± Says Ethan pointing at his still bleeding wounded leg. Ethan rests his sword on his shoulder as he talks. ¡°Give me the core of the boss, let me claim the rewards and I won¡¯t kill you.¡± I¡¯m about to win, but still, I¡¯m having this feeling that something is not right. What is it? Anthony, who was supported on his spear, starts talking with a cocky smirk at Ethan. ¡°Let me ask you something Ethan. Do you think you have won?¡± What does he mean? Does he still have something under his sleeve? ¡°Yeah, pretty much. You nearly can¡¯t stay standing and your neck is at a good distance from my sword.¡± Anthony looks with a serious expression, just to start laughing out of nowhere ¡°Ha. HAhahahaha. You haven¡¯t changed a bit. You had this same issue when we were on the same team. When you get the advantage you always let your guard down.¡± Anthony stabilizes himself in a better position. ¡°Do you think that I could have beaten the boss alone? Someone you know came with me.¡± Suddenly an incredible pressure could be felt from inside the room where the rewards of the boss awaited. Ethan started to sweat. He couldn¡¯t believe this power. It is absurd, how could someone be so powerful when this game just started a few weeks ago. In a moment he could see a silver haired woman coming out of the room. Just walking. He then felt it. A familiar sensation. It is not the first time I have this sensation. When Jack saved him in the cave of lizards he also felt the same and had that feeling. Fuck, a Rank S. Ethan step backed a bit and adopted a fighting stance. Sweating and trembling. Breathing heavily. His heart beating at a high speed. Name: Aria Larkspur Level: 45 Character rank: S Class: Bow and dagger warrior(2nd Tier Mercenary) Weapon: S-Rank Convertible Galadhon Bow (Named Bow, Legolas)Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. Unique skill: Predator''s Focus[A] Lv5, Dancing Blades[B] Lv7(Class Skill), Phantom Stride[A] Lv6, Duelist''s Agility[A] Lv3, Piercing Tempest[B](Class Skill) Lv8, Veil of Eternity[S] Lv2, Death''s Embrace[A] Lv1(Evolved skill) The moment Ethan saw his name his face took an expression of losing all hope. As if they had just pierced him multiple times in the chest. He lost his stance. Aria? Aria spoke-¡±Veil of Eternity¡± {Allows the user to slow or stop the time for every enemy, depending on the level each enemy in its range} Suddenly everything stopped, Ethan got a flashback, when Jack Hawkfire saved him. I can¡¯t die here. Move. Get your guard up. COME ON, MOVE BODY! He leaves aside that feeling and focuses solely on the battle. He gets his fighting stance again. There is no difference in level so the skill will only slow him. I can do this. That¡¯s what Ethan thought. But reality is more cruel than what someone can think. Aria-¡±What a pain. Phantom Stride¡±. {Allows the user to get in the user shadow and teleport to another shadow in a range}. Before Ethan could even blink, Aria already had emerged from his shadow. She transformed her bow into two daggers joined with the bows string. ¡°Death''s Embrace¡±. {When attacking from the back of an enemy allows Aria to aim precisely to 4 different vital points with increased accuracy, speed and power. This skill is the evolution of the backstab skill.} Aria was about to stab precisely into Ethan''s vital points. The first stab was aimed at the back''s upper body, directly to the heart. Ethan was able to bend his back to dodge, but still received a scratch all across his chest. The second stab aimed at his head. Ethan was able to block it completely with his sword. The next stab was aimed at its flank, just below the ribs. Again , he dodge just barely jumping back as he landed the injured leg made him lose balance and the last stab was aimed directly to his other leg. Ethan was unable to react and the dagger pierced his thigh. Aria takes that dagger back and with a spin ends his attack. The Veil of Eternity stopped working. ¡°Tch, I haven''t mastered it yet. So Ethan, it seems that you have a huge problem, huh.¡± Ethan, who didn''t feel pain because of his skill, but still was breathing heavily from the exhaustion, looked at her from the floor. {Due to the huge damage you just received in little time, temporary patch time will be decreased by 2 minutes. Soul stat time will be decreased. All your buffs time will be decreased.} Ethan starts coughing blood. His body telling him to stop. ¡°Damn, it seems that I¡¯m really fucked this time.¡± Anthony then talks from behind. ¡±That''s what happens when you try to do everything alone despite being a D rank character.¡± Ethan looked down for a moment. He heard a brief sound behind him and knew what was coming now. He smiled and looked again at Anthony and at Aria. Yeah, that could have been a problem when I played this game before. Ethan starts laughing. ¡°Hahahahahaha.¡±.He sighs. ¡°You really think that I came here all alone? Nah, I already tried that several times in some of my many attempts to complete this game. The solitary path was impossible to complete. I did all I could but in the end most of the time. The feeling of being alone and burden every wound, every enemy, made my own character commit suicide in every run. The moment I met my best friend I promised myself that no matter what I wouldn''t die alone anymore. Ethan looked at them again smiling. ¡°Don''t worry, it''s too early for me to die here. Right, Astrid? Suddenly in Ethan¡¯s shadow someone emerged, and in a second it reached Aria, who blocked an attack with her daggers that sent her flying back. On the dust generated from the clash a feminine figure could be appreciated. Anthony couldn¡¯t believe it, how could someone enter here and send Aria flying with just an attack. The figure started talking while the dust was dissipating. ¡°Uh, well blocked girl.¡± The dust dissipated and a woman could be seen. ¡°Am I late, Ethan? ¡°Nah, perfect timing¡± Suddenly on the woman''s back a guy teleported. A man with a mage outfit appeared. ¡°Damn Ethan, you look like you''re having a hard time.¡±