Improvement

 

Maybe Tongqiu wasn't aware, or more likely, maybe he was way too used to it. But the feeling of his heart darkening, chilling and indifference emanating from it expanding all around it; as well as how it'll eventually manage to enshroud his entire being with just but a few seconds after Yunalesca left, was there once again. As always.

He slowly, really really slowly made his way towards the Novice Village, heading towards the area of Marketing which is completely only for the use of players. Once in, you'll enter into an area that could be considered a small room. It actually depended of the actual bag's space that the player currently had so as to take out all items they could to sell.

It more or less worked the same way where one would have to just make a stall in the middle of a sea of people, except you didn't have to expose your identity. No need to wear masks, no need to ask someone else to do it for you and be forced to share gains, no need to absolutely fear retribution if you scammed somebody.

Though Tongqiu was nowhere near what afraid was, he nonetheless understood the absurdity of having two Magic(Violet) items, and weapons at that -which are harder to get-, at the very first damn day of the game release. Even then he wouldn't stop, it was okay if he wasn't retardedly waving the staff and crosier around but he wouldn't limit himself for fear or possible troubles for the future like a complete paranoiac lunatic.

So, naturally he nonchalantly took out the Magical staff and crosier. His surroundings were all the color of an aquatic lagoon, and then he opened the settings to set up a 'stall'. In which anyone who had what he wanted could directly present their goods for the seller to decide whether to accept or not, the trade. Tongqiu introduced first the staff to the Marketing system, with a description that he'll only exchange it for either 4 dual swords -Gladius- Powerful grade, no more or as well as 200 gold coins. Then he introduced the crosier, which he required in exchange some Powerful equipment (at least 4 pieces) or no deal, or just some 250 gold coins. It was probably quite the big price, for a lone person. Even a part of 7 could reach that number in a few days if they were to farm like crazy with only that of 2-4 hours of sleep, surely it was possible. Or, someone rich could get it, someone who could already command people without even forming an association yet. Which Tongqiu aimed for.

In case the selling wouldn't go well for a few days or rather the items exchanged for were of quite a higher level requirement than his, he didn't put the halberd to sell, instead letting it stay safe in his bag in case he once again loses the capability to even use a weapon. After 30 minutes he got bored, since he didn't got any immediate results, he rather just went out, heading towards the NPC that gave him the quest.

"Oh, journeyer, look at you! You've become much more stronger than before and it's only been a few hours! Surely you're someone incredible strong and your growing power must be of high talent, am I right?"

'Here we go.'

"I don't know if you've heard from the bandits at the mountainous area in the Misty region, they are the tumor of our village and some of our people have already had dealings with them which left them heartbroken to say the least. Anyways, would you mind getting me their bags of riches? Each of them must surely keep one, and although it barely consists of some miscellaneous items like decorations and toys, they must have some gold as well, right? I mean, they also mean a lot to us, so you would be doing a great favor not only to the Novice Village but the entire Azure Dragon Sub-Division and even the Myriad Beast Division would acknowledge you! What say you?"

"Okay." Tongqiu answered with the best of his emotions.

*PING*... you've completed [Kill 10 Wild Murderous Boars: 115/10]; due to your excessive completion rate, you'll be given extra rewards. Experience+1,000 (quest exp+300, completion rate+700).

*PING*... you've completed [Collect 40 hides from Wild Murderous Boars: 83/40]; due to your excessive completion rate, you'll be given extra rewards. Experience+1,500 (quest exp+750, completion rate+750).

*PING*... you've accepted the quest [Collect 'Bag of Riches' from the treacherous bandit at the mountains in the Misty region.]: Quest Type: Normal Quest, Quest Time Limit: None, Quest Reward: 50 gold coins, Experience+1,500, AP+1, Fame+10.

"Thanks." And so the 'hot-blooded' youngster left the greedy NPC.

Since he still had no money and no good gear, he could only try his best when going for those bandits at the mountain. Who knows, even just killing them was possible to result to be quite difficult, considering they aren't stupid animals but stupid uneducated people instead. But just when he thought of the hellish time he'd spend without resources at an enormous enemy area and started feeling dejected, a notification popped-up before him. He instantly changed his direction to the Marketing area.

What Tongqiu didn't know was that one could use the forums at any moment in-game, meaning, when one saw the incredible perfect -at their eyes- Magical graded weapons, another did as well and they all went crazy, hella crazy. So as time went on, his high requirement settings for selling his Magical weapons was obviously not going to let him know of anyone who didn't offer another four dual swords or at least 200 gold coins. Hence, once he received a notification he knew the time has come. As he was making his way there, some other notifications kept on appearing, but still only for the crosier though, maybe they all wanted to groom a nice good op healer, with a slight advantage from a Magical item even if it was low-level, it may be usable even at level 20! The thought of any magical-type class with that weapon was of unlimited potential and growth for the low-level early game was just as much.

Once he entered the Marketing area, in his little room; he saw that there were four individuals expressing their desire for  the crosier. Two of them offered him the entrance to their future-to-be association where they'd give him a high position and take care of him. Tongqiu deleted those two without an ounce of even to keep reading them. The rest was one about exchanging for three Powerful equipment that he could choose himself and 100 gold coins. The other one offered two Powerful equipment but also 1 Magical grade Item. 

Tongqiu decided to go for the second one, but only if they gave 2 Magical grade Item instead of 1, along with those two Powerful equipment. While he did so, he sent another message towards the first option, indicating that if he found another at least Powerful item for magical class, he'd be interested in contacting them. That player answered with their Nickname and then withdrew their offer. Of course, one could use a nickname specially created by the Marketing system if they wanted, unlike this player which just gave his player nickname 'Raoundozia'. To differentiate them was to simply look at them, the Marketing's system nickname is presented in the form of a aquatic colored plaque with a name on it and that was it; while the player's is just their name and when looking at them, one could see their LV and Class if the player allowed it, otherwise just a space blank instead. Of course, others could just remain anonymous like Tongqiu, and they could be tagged as 'important' by someone, and when that someone was selling again or the wanted to contact him, it'll be simple to work with.

As he finished his chatting with that player, the other player accepted his terms as he received two random Magical Items and listed available equipment for him to choose. From all those Tongqiu finally chose the two that depended on DEX the most being:

[Bloodstained Iron Armguard]: Type: Armguard, Grade: Powerful(Dark Blue), Equipment Requirements: LV5, Attributes: Physical Defense +24, DEX+11, STR+3.

[Durable Iron Boots]: Type: Shoe Garment, Grade: Powerful(Dark Blue), Equipment Requirements: LV5, Attributes: Physical Defense+32, DEX+12, DET+4.

Somewhat excited to try his new battle abilities with such beauties, Tongqiu left for the Misty region, in his start for slaughtering human lives that terrorized the people in the Novice Village without end.

 

---

 

Misty region, East from the Novice Village Tongqiu was assigned to.

 

After equipping his only Powerful(Dark Blue) gear available, as well as adding 3 AP to REC, DEX and LCK each, he looked at this status window.

As he stepped onto the bandit's territory.

The first bandit he found was a lonely scout who was 'relieving' himself on a poor tree. As he stared fixedly onto him, his stats were shown.

[Bandit Scout]: Type: Human, Level: 6, HP: 110. An even worse level of humanity, it could be considered a stupid bandit among bandits. Which is a lot to think about.

With Halberd of the Fallen in hand, he tried his best to stabilize himself while his other hand was in position to catch him, should he fuck up something as simple as this. Once he got into range, he initiated his backstab with the halberd.

-156

A 'piercing' attack!

A horrendous tearing sound echoed as his halberd immediately pierced through the bandit. His arms propelled backwards by the immense shock almost breaking his own two arms. His face was completely stiffened in utter despair and pain.

Tongqiu's bar HP wasn't far from LV4, which meant he wasn't that far from LV5. Which meant he would soon be able to use most of his newly obtained Powerful(Dark Blue) gear. Naturally, such a death garnered his attention for a little quantity of seconds, before he dragged his halberd back somewhat disgustingly at that.

His intentions were clear. Non-stop levelling.

For the next 8 hours, the first few 2 he levelled up to LV4, without stopping he immediately started going further into the mountains.

The mountain area in the Misty region had for what seemed to be 3 different sections. The outer area where there were bandits between LV5 to LV7, and each of them would alert the other from enemies as long as they even  heard a rabbit move around so his only option to 'stealthily' kill them before they managed to alert anyone was to either cut off their brainless heads or pierce their necks like nothing else mattered.

He started getting more jumpy and agile, his attacks were ever more precise and calculated. His bearing through all this was but the legendary growth of someone with talent, talent to kill. Even if it meant real killing or just inside such a 'second-life' like virtual game. His progress was astounding for even masters, and perfect for the ignorant. 

As such, once his experience bar reached 20% after another hour of levelling at the outer section of the mountains, he got bored and headed towards the inner section. Of course, not without also killing every single bandit he saw. Which were a tons lots of many, to say the least.

...

Between the outer section and inner section, where around 5 km of pure land, without the hump and sunken characteristics of the previous mountainous outer section, almost completely barren-flat with some high-level vegetation areas where he could sneak in with.

Arriving at what seemed the inner section he found out that unlike the poor-looking outer section, the inner section was quite beautifully looking. Its affinity with nature was obviously much more eccentric in terms of sharing a gloomy bloodthirsty and peaceful aura, making anyone not steel-like minded people completely lose their guard, and be annihilated in there. 

When Tongqiu was about to move in into the innumerable trees and rocks along with the obvious mountainous-like roads full of bumps and utter uneven land, making it easy for him to conceal himself, in fact, he thought that areas like this where meant for large-scale groups of people to move around with. Tongqiu believed it was designed so for players to learn cooperation, to truly understand that the only way to manage around here and get to the center of it all was to unite between parties to fend off these demon-like garbage of humanity, Only then was it worthy. Which left him pondering... whether the fact that one can't choose class until LV10, which is, one the Novice Village area is no longer of use, help to them and can not return, is more like a self-training, self-discovery and even... soul searching for the players to find their own better self of battling. In other words, battle style, play style; but also to identify their own path. The mountains at the Misty region wasn't the only 'grand' place where one could go to.

It all depended on whatever they did not want to do or where willing to do. Whether it was this area where humans are the target to be massacred by players, since Novice Villages only have human race npc population, or others which Tongqiu didn't know of. Some may be of monsters, some may be of animals, normal ones or with an affinity towards an element. Others could even be those were you only have to pick up herbs and may find some mystical and majestic sceneries or encounters. Which reminded Tongqiu that he had to choose a Sub-Class as soon as he returned to Novice Village.

...

The first bandit Tongqiu found was a stern-looking but also quite cruel looking uniformed bandit. He looked at him for his stats.

[Bandit Official]: Type: Human, Grade: 1 Star Elite, Level: 8, HP: 650. An experienced bandit will always be a bandit, possible to be strong, but how smart really?

'Well, time to get at work I suppose.'

He got into position, and without trying to act sneaky he simple stood there, his waist sticking out, holding his halberd pointing downwards and his other arm downwards as well.

The bandit noticed him and instantly entered in a battle pose. Tongqiu casually walked towards him in that same pose from before and once he was 7 meters away from him, he jumped, jumped as high as he remembered the Alpha Ferocious Bull do so. As he pointed his halberd at this target, his stupid target dumbly tried to block it with a sword, which ended up in the bandit being forced back while negating damage, maybe that made him feel good about himself- stopping his enemy surprise attack, but before he could ever think more of it he was about to be beaten down.

-36, -27, -28.

Slashes and thrusts came at him as he finally stood up, shakily.

-40,-30, -29, -40.

His hp going downwards 420/650, Tongqiu kept on with his advances but at that time, the bandit used a skill which allowed him to direct his body towards Tongqiu, forcing Tongqiu to dash aside while trying to block the newly incoming attack from the already before him bandit. Surprisingly, when he did so, the bandit's sword was propelled to the sky as he was weapon-less. How could Tongqiu even wait half a second?

Immediately thrusting towards the bandit's chest, followed by a fast slash and finally kicking the idiot away to make room between, them after all the bandit would take back his sword, and his weapon at the moment was a halberd. He didn't intend to have an honorable fight with Main Kingdom's diarrhea as he kept on attacking his lower body, intending to cripple his movement. 

...

-34, -92.

A critical hit! 

Whole low body bloodied with multiple scars between his torso and arms, the bandit was barely 12/650 HP as he was about to be finished off by Tongqiu, whose halberd was aimed at his throat and expression was but, cold, and indifferent.

As Tongqiu reached 2 meters away from the bandit, it suddenly threw a dagger at him which Tongqiu easily avoided, but at the same he launched himself towards Tongqiu with his sword seemingly aimed at gushing his intestines out. But at the moment Tongqiu was blocking the attack, the sword suddenly flatly landed on his halberd, rendering it completely useless for a second, a second used by the bandit to paint the neck of Tongqiu's neck with a beautiful bright red as the center of his throat got poked with the whole dagger.

-89!

Nonetheless, at such physical pain and knowledge of injury one would easily get into despair and panic in the face of brutality. Nonetheless, Tongqiu only change was in his eyes, of that of turning completely enraged and about to make little pieces of this motherfucker's flesh, coagulate his blood for glue, and use his bones for a fucking child's moving toy to help kids to be put to sleep. His rage was so sudden that the bandit himself forgot to twist the neck and cut off Tongqiu's head with it. He had the strength.

Instead, Tongqiu extended his hand forcibly, obvious rage; grasping his head... by gushing out his two eyes firmly locking the downside of the bandit's eye sockets with two of his fingers and his thump 'stabbing' at one of his nose's orifices, before using the same sword he rendered his halberd useless with, to cruelly slid his neck across the blade over and over; turning the bandit's  face from that of shock to that of soulless pain.

...

*PING*...  you've successfully killed [Bandit Official], 1 Star Elite, LV8, SP+8, Fame+8 as a reward.

Tongqiu: '...'

'Fucker...'

Tongqiu couldn't talk, he was in a state of weakness which had affected him until he could recuperate, already out of battle, he could see the familiar '+5, +5, +5' as he kept on trying to calm himself. After a minute or so, he managed to stabilize himself and took out one of his well earned-thanks-to-certain-lady potions bought with his gold coins, 5 bottles per gold coin.

[Light Red Potion]: Type: Consumable, Effect: Drinking or eating it restores HP+50 and HP Regeneration+1 for 10 seconds. Cooldown: 10 seconds. 

[Minor Curative Potion]: Type: Consumable, Effect: Drinking or eating it can amend bones and cure illnesses, as well as getting rid of some minor weakness statuses.

As he slowly restored himself with, he took a sit and calmly waited for the NPC corpse to rot away, as if a ritual of hate. 

The corpse disappeared after a while and looking at it become mud disappearing down the dirt, he found a light blue colored shining coming from where the corpse was previously lying down at, it was seemingly 'hidden' by the motherfucker even then. As he stood up to pick it up, he found:

[Valuable Throwing Dagger](x15): Type: Throwable Item, Grade: Valuable(Light Blue), Attributes: Physical Power+6. Should be used to throw only. Using it as a normal dagger, besides looking stupid, you'll also die faster.

'Oh, what a nice surprise. I'll make sure to give the same treatment to all your brothers the same way I just teached you, oh thankful soul.'

Rising his head to the path to follow, not knowing whether the bandits in the inner section where of higher level and on which to which compared to those of the outer section, he let bygones be bygones as he strolled forwards ready to have nice talks with all of them. 

 

...