New World Online: The Forbidden Quest

New World Online: The Forbidden Quest

A sharp gust of wind rushed past Alex as he stood in the middle of a vast open field. The air smelled fresh, the grass beneath his feet swayed with the breeze, and the distant mountains loomed like silent guardians of the world. If he hadn't known better, he would have thought this was reality.

But it wasn't.

The game interface was still visible in the corner of his vision, displaying his basic stats:

[Name: Kaze]

[Level: 1]

[HP: 100/100]

[MP: 50/50]

[Class: Novice Warrior]

Alex or rather, Kaze, his chosen in-game name let out a slow breath. His mind was still trying to process what had just happened. He had picked the hidden quest, and in an instant, he had been transported here wherever here was.

"System error detected," the voice from earlier had said. "This is not part of the beta test."

If that was true, then he had stumbled upon something that wasn't meant to be found. A forbidden quest.

He clenched his fists. This was exactly the kind of thing that excited him about gaming. The unknown. The mystery. The thrill of being the first to uncover something no one else had.

"Alright," he muttered. "Let's see what this world has to offer."

The first step in any RPG was always the same: get stronger. He opened his inventory empty, except for a basic iron sword, a small healing potion, and a simple set of beginner armor. Nothing special.

He needed EXP, and that meant fighting monsters.

Looking around, he spotted movement in the tall grass. Small, rabbit-like creatures with sharp fangs Fang Hares hopped about, unaware of his presence. Low-level enemies. Perfect for getting started.

Kaze drew his sword and slowly approached one of them. The moment he stepped closer, a red marker appeared over the creature's head, and it let out a sharp screech before lunging at him.

"Here we go!"

He sidestepped just in time, the hare's fangs barely grazing his arm. Swinging his sword, he struck its side, reducing its HP bar by half. It hissed and leaped again this time, he slashed mid-air, landing a critical hit. The hare collapsed, disappearing into pixels.

+5 EXP gained.

It wasn't much, but it was a start.

After an hour of grinding, he had leveled up twice. [Level: 3] His sword swings were getting sharper, and he was getting used to the game's realistic combat system. But something was still bothering him.

This place was too quiet.

In most MMOs, there would be other players around, especially in beginner areas. But he hadn't seen a single one. Was this area restricted? Had the game separated him from the rest of the beta testers?

Then, as if in response to his thoughts, a new notification appeared in front of him.

[New Quest Unlocked: The Forgotten Guardian]

His heart skipped a beat. This was it the forbidden quest.

The description was vague:

"A path once sealed has been opened. The Guardian of the Lost awaits. Seek the ruins beyond the western cliffs to uncover the truth."

A hidden dungeon? An elite boss? He wasn't sure, but there was only one way to find out.

Taking a deep breath, Kaze turned west, towards the towering cliffs in the distance. His real adventure was just beginning.

Kaze tightened his grip on his sword as he made his way westward. The cliffs in the distance loomed high, jagged like the teeth of some ancient beast. The sun had started to dip lower in the sky, casting long shadows over the field. Despite the beauty of the world, a strange feeling settled in his gut something about this area felt off.

There was no background music.

Most VRMMOs had some kind of ambient music, whether it was peaceful town tunes or intense battle tracks. But here? Nothing. Just the wind, the rustling grass, and the distant sound of his own footsteps. It made him uneasy.

As he approached the cliffs, the terrain changed. The lush green fields gave way to rocky paths, and the air grew colder. A new notification appeared in the corner of his vision.

[You have entered: Forgotten Ruins]

A new area. That meant he was making progress.

Kaze scanned his surroundings carefully. The ruins were ancient, with crumbling stone pillars and moss-covered statues. Strange symbols were etched into the stone, their meaning lost to time. At the far end of the ruins, he spotted what looked like a massive stone door, covered in glowing blue runes.

That has to be the dungeon entrance.

He stepped closer, but the moment he did, the air shifted. A deep, rumbling sound echoed through the ruins, and a shadow moved at the edge of his vision.

[Warning: Guardian Detected]

His body tensed. The quest had mentioned a "Guardian of the Lost." He had expected a boss fight, but he hadn't expected it this soon.

The ground trembled as a massive figure emerged from behind a broken pillar. It was a knight clad in blackened armor, at least ten feet tall, with glowing red eyes beneath its helmet. A massive sword, cracked and weathered, rested in its hands.

[Corrupted Guardian - Level ???]

Kaze's breath hitched. Level ???. That meant the enemy's level was far beyond his own. This wasn't just a regular dungeon boss this his was something far more dangerous.

The Guardian raised its sword, the air around it vibrating with dark energy. Kaze's instincts screamed at him to run, but his feet refused to move.

Then, the Guardian charged.

Kaze barely had time to react. The colossal blade came crashing down, slamming into the ground where he had been standing a second earlier. The impact sent a shockwave through the ruins, kicking up dust and debris.

"Damn it!" He rolled to the side, heart pounding. One hit from that thing would probably delete him.

This is insane! How am I supposed to fight this?!

He needed a plan. Fast.

His sword was useless there was no way he could deal enough damage. Running wasn't an option either; the Guardian was too fast. His only chance was to use the environment.

His eyes darted around the ruins, searching for anything he could use. Then he saw it one of the pillars near the dungeon entrance was cracked, barely holding itself together. If he could lure the Guardian close enough…

It's risky, but it's my only shot.

Taking a deep breath, he sprinted towards the broken pillar. The Guardian roared and followed, its heavy footsteps shaking the ground. Kaze's heart pounded as he neared the pillar.

Now!

He pivoted at the last second, dodging to the side. The Guardian's momentum carried it forward, and its massive sword slammed into the weakened stone. The pillar collapsed, sending a cascade of rubble crashing down onto the giant knight.

For a moment, everything was silent. Then, a notification appeared.

[Corrupted Guardian - Status: Stunned]

Kaze didn't hesitate. He gripped his sword and charged.

The Guardian was pinned beneath the rubble, struggling to rise. This was his only opening. He leaped onto its massive chest, raised his sword high, and plunged it straight into the glowing red core in the center of its armor.

The Guardian let out a deafening roar as cracks spread across its body. Its red eyes flickered, and with a final shudder, its form shattered into a million pixels.

[Quest Complete: The Forgotten Guardian]

[You have leveled up! Level 3 → Level 5]

[New Skill Unlocked: Phantom Step]

Kaze collapsed to the ground, breathing hard.

He had actually done it.

A slow grin spread across his face. If this was just the beginning, then New World Online: The Forbidden Quest was going to be the adventure of a lifetime.

To be continued.