The path Ethan chose led away from the panicked crowd and towards a small, makeshift settlement that seemed to have sprung up out of nowhere.
It wasn't much, just a few wooden stalls, a sputtering campfire, and a handful of dazed-looking people who had the presence of mind to seek some kind of order.
A crudely painted sign hung over one stall, hammered into a tree.
It read: "Stormreach City - Newcomer Plaza."
"Plaza? More like a sad-looking farmer's market," Ethan muttered, gripping his [Petrified Ogre's Toothpick +1].
The club felt solid, but it was still just a glorified stick. He needed something better. Something with a point.
His eyes landed on the largest stall, where a thick-armed man with a soot-stained face was loudly hammering a piece of metal on an anvil.
The rhythmic CLANG... CLANG... CLANG... was the most normal sound Ethan had heard since he'd woken up here.
He walked over, his footsteps muffled by the grass.
The blacksmith didn't look up, just kept hammering.
"You selling weapons?" Ethan asked, trying to sound more confident than he felt.
The blacksmith finished his swing with a final, deafening CLANG that made Ethan flinch.
He wiped a sweaty brow with the back of his arm, finally looking at Ethan.
His eyes scanned Ethan's hoodie, his jeans, and then the monstrous-looking club in his hand.
"What do you think I'm doing, baking a cake?" the blacksmith grunted.
His voice was like rocks grinding together.
A blue name floated above his head: [Blacksmith Bill - NPC].
"I sell one thing. The [Crude Iron Sword].
It's cheap, it's ugly, but it'll poke a hole in something if you swing it hard enough. Five copper coins."
Ethan checked his inventory. The system had given everyone a small pouch with 100 copper coins.
"I'll take one." He paused. "You teach skills, too?"
The blacksmith squinted.
"Got one skill for newbies. It's called [Scrutiny].
Lets you see what you're up against. Might keep you from trying to fist-fight a dragon. Ten copper coins. You want it?"
"Yes to both," Ethan said, pulling out the coins. This was exactly what he needed.
Information was just as important as a weapon.
The blacksmith took the coins and tossed a short, dull-looking sword onto the counter.
It was barely more than a sharpened piece of iron with a leather-wrapped handle.
[Crude Iron Sword]
Rank: Crude
Attack: +5
Durability: 50/50
Description: It's a sword. Don't expect it to sing you a song.
Then, the blacksmith tapped Ethan's forehead with a greasy finger. A weird warmth spread through his mind.
You have learned the skill: [Scrutiny]!
[Scrutiny (Common)] - Allows you to view the basic attributes and names of targets below Level 10.
"There. Done," Bill the blacksmith grunted.
"Now get out of here. Don't come crying to me when you get yourself killed. I don't do refunds."
Ethan took the sword and walked a short distance away, his mind already racing.
He had a new weapon and a new skill. Now for the real test. He looked at the ugly sword in his hand.
Upgrade.
Target acquired: [Crude Iron Sword]. This will be its first evolution, triggering a Critical Evolution.
Expend 1 Primal Essence to proceed? [Y/N]
"Yes," he breathed.
His Primal Essence dropped from 99 to 98.
The sword in his hand lit up with a blinding, acid-green light.
It vibrated violently, letting out a high-pitched hiss like hot metal being plunged into water.
The dull, gray iron darkened to a menacing black, and strange, glowing green lines snaked across the blade, looking like cracks filled with poison.
The simple leather hilt morphed into a handle wrapped in some kind of tough, dark reptile skin.
When the light faded, the weapon was completely transformed.
Critical Evolution Successful!
[Crude Iron Sword] has evolved into [Sword of Caustic Vengeance +1]
[Sword of Caustic Vengeance +1 (Steel-Grade)]
Attack: +30
Durability: 200/200
Effect: [Corrosive Wound] - On a successful hit, there is a 50% chance to inflict a 'Corrosive Wound,' dealing 5 damage per second for 5 seconds.
Description: This blade weeps with a venomous hunger. It wants to bite, and it wants its bites to hurt.
Ethan's jaw dropped. From a +5 Crude sword to a +30 Steel-grade weapon with a damage-over-time effect.
The jump in power was insane.
This SSS-talent was even more broken than he'd imagined.
"Hey! Look at me!" a loud, arrogant voice boomed from nearby, shaking Ethan out of his thoughts.
He turned to see a tall, handsome guy with perfectly styled hair standing on a large rock.
He was wearing a brand-name athletic outfit that looked completely out of place.
A glowing 'B' was floating beside his name, [Marcus Lee].
"All of you F-rank losers, listen up!"
Marcus shouted, pointing at the small crowd.
"I am Marcus Lee, and I have awakened a Heroic-rank talent! B-Tier! [Kinetic Burst]!
It lets me charge my movements with explosive force!" He grinned.
"While you're all figuring out how to tell if wood is damp, I'll be out there slaying monsters and getting all the best loot. Try to keep up!"
A few people looked impressed, while others just looked annoyed.
"What a jerk," someone whispered.
Marcus ignored them and leaped off the rock.
"Watch and learn, peasants! I see a monster over there! Time for the hero to get his first kill!"
He pointed towards a small, twitching creature near the edge of the woods.
It looked like a fat, furry rat, but bigger, with oversized, dark-looking teeth. Ethan used his new skill.
[Gloomfang Vole]
Level: 1
HP: 50/50
Skills: [Vicious Bite]
"A Level 1 vole? Pathetic!" Marcus laughed. "This will be easy!"
He charged forward. "Kinetic Bu...AARGH!"
It happened in a flash.
The Gloomfang Vole, which had seemed slow and dumb, suddenly shot forward like a furry bullet.
It was impossibly fast. It dodged Marcus's clumsy, glowing punch and sank its teeth deep into his ankle.
Marcus screamed, a high-pitched shriek of pain and surprise.
He kicked out, sending the vole flying, but the damage was done. A dark purple color was already spreading up his leg from the bite wound.
Player Marcus Lee has been afflicted with [Paralytic Venom].
"What? My leg… I can't feel my leg!" he stammered, falling to the ground. His face was pale with terror.
"My talent… it doesn't work! Help me! Someone, help!"
No one moved. They were frozen in shock.
The vole landed on its feet, hissed, and charged again, leaping onto Marcus's chest and biting at his throat.
He gurgled once, his eyes wide with disbelief, and then lay still.
A moment later, his body dissolved into particles of blue light.
The clearing was dead silent. A Heroic-rank player, the most powerful person they had seen so far, had just been killed by a Level 1 rat in less than ten seconds.
The brutal reality of their situation hit everyone like a physical blow.
Death was real.
Ethan looked down at his new sword, then back at the spot where Marcus had vanished.
He understood now. Talents were great, but equipment and knowledge were what kept you alive.
Marcus had been arrogant and stupid, and he paid the ultimate price for it.
"Did you see that?" a soft voice said beside him.
Ethan turned.
A young woman with sharp, intelligent eyes and long, dark hair was standing there.
She was holding a simple wooden staff. Her name was [Samantha Croft].
"It's too dangerous to be alone," she said, her voice steady despite the horror she'd just witnessed.
"My sister and I are forming a team. We're looking for strong people to join us. You seem like you know what you're doing."
Ethan looked at her, then glanced at a younger girl with wide, nervous eyes hiding behind her.
[Emily Croft]. He recognized her from one of his classes.
He thought about it for a second. Teaming up meant safety in numbers.
But it also meant sharing experience points.
Sharing loot. And right now, he needed every single advantage he could get. He couldn't afford to slow down.
"Thanks for the offer," Ethan said, his voice flat. "But I work better alone."
Samantha looked disappointed but nodded. "I understand. Be careful out there."
"You too," Ethan said, turning away.
He walked past the terrified crowd, past the spot where Marcus Lee had died so pathetically, and headed directly for the entrance to the forest.
The sign above the path was weathered and ominous.
Entering The Gloomwood.
Warning: Player vs. Player Combat is enabled in this zone.
Ethan gripped the handle of his [Sword of Caustic Vengeance].
Other players were just another kind of monster. He took a deep breath and stepped into the shadows.