Second World Online

Before we truly parted in front of the main fountain of StoneBrook, I patted Arthur’s shoulder and stroked Alya’s furry head.

"Arthur, Yuuki, just use the silver coins I gave you earlier to buy Potions and prepare yourselves. Later, you can directly use the teleportation feature from the Temple of Resurrection in this city to jump to the Crystal of Area 2 Village," I instructed.

"Wait, Big Brother isn’t going to teleport with us?" Alya asked, tilting her fox face in confusion.

I shook my head slowly while smiling faintly, my hand reflexively touching the small tube containing the deadly liquid under my cloak. "I’ll walk through the Eastern Gate as usual, cutting through the Whispering Forest. I have a new ’toy’ from alchemy that I need to test directly on monsters in the wild. You two go ahead first; we’ll meet at the Waypoint later."

Although Arthur looked a little hesitant about letting me walk alone across the transition zone, he finally nodded in understanding, realizing that a number-one hero of StoneBrook like me must have an ace card that could not be underestimated.

After parting with them, I immediately directed my steps toward the Eastern Gate. Thanks to the system update last night, the number of players passing along this route had increased drastically. However, because the majority of them walked in large, noisy parties, I chose to take a detour route, going deeper into the dense and quiet forest area.

The air of the Whispering Forest felt damp, filled with the scent of moss and wet earth. The afternoon sunlight could only penetrate through the gaps in the thick leaf canopy, creating pillars of golden light that shone onto the forest floor.

My journey in Area 2 should have been full of tension, yet for some reason it felt far too easy. My level had already reached 18 thanks to yesterday’s dragon event. Far surpassing the average monsters in this forest, which only ranged from Level 10 to 15.

True to its name, this forest was filled with creatures that crawled in the shadows. Every time a giant poisonous spider tried to drop from a tree branch, or a Forest Zombie crawled out from a pile of rotting leaves to ambush me, I only needed to draw my Whispering Ash bow and release one or two standard arrows.

Even when a pack of Shadow Wolves and Vampiric Bats tried to swarm me in a small clearing, they never even managed to touch the edge of my cloak. I danced between the trees, releasing a series of arrows that accurately pierced their weak points.

Thud! Thud!

[Critical Hit! – 420 Physical Damage!]

[You have defeated Forest Zombie (Level 12). Gained 150 EXP.]

[You have defeated Shadow Wolf (Level 14). Gained 180 EXP.]

The monsters instantly shattered into particles of light even before they could let out their death roars. I exhaled a long breath, feeling a little disappointed.

"They’re too weak," I muttered while picking up several copper coins, wolf fangs, and spider silk that had dropped as loot. "My experiment still hasn’t found a suitable target. This [Corrosive Wyvern Toxin] has a limit of ten applications per bottle. It would be too wasteful to apply it to an arrow just to kill a slow Zombie or a low-level wolf that can die from ordinary arrows."

Because there was no meaningful challenge, I decided to pick up my pace. I used the skill [Wind Walk] periodically, leaping from one giant tree root to another, drastically cutting down the travel time through the nests of those bats and undead.

After nearly forty minutes of running through the dense forest, the scenery in front of me gradually changed. The tree canopy that had previously covered the sky began to open. The damp, mossy ground slowly turned into dry earth covered with knee-high green grass. A strong breeze carrying a fresh scent swept across my face.

I stepped out of the boundary of the Forest of Death, and instantly, my eyes were presented with a view that was extraordinarily vast and stunning.

This was Area 2.5, a transition zone known as the Whispering Plains. Unlike the dense and dark Whispering Forest, this place was a sea of green grass that swayed like waves every time the wind blew. In the distance, I could see several gentle hills, a small river sparkling under the sunlight, and herds of herbivorous-type monsters grazing calmly.

I used the skill [Eagle Eye] to observe the herds from afar.

There was a group of massive wild cows with sharp, curved horns. Above their heads floated the name [Iron-Horned Wild Cow – Level 18]. Not far from there, a group of wild horses with manes that seemed to glow as they were blown by the wind were galloping across the grassland, labeled [Plains Mustang – Level 20]. Thick-furred bison also appeared to be clustered near the river flow.

"Wild horses..." my eyes sparkled looking at the majestic equine monsters.

The world of Second World Online had an absurdly large map scale. Walking from one zone to another drained a lot of time and stamina. Having a mount was every player’s dream. Unfortunately, to tame and ride wild monsters, a player had to take the Sub-skill as a Tamer.

"It’s a shame I chose Alchemist and Carpenter as my main focus," I sighed softly, imagining how cool it would be if I could shoot arrows from the back of a galloping horse. "Maybe later when the mount auction feature is opened, I can buy one with my gold coins. But for now, I have to be content with my own feet."

Instead of immediately hunting and disturbing the calm-looking wild cow herds, I chose to continue my journey. My current destination was the new Waypoint point promised by last night’s Patch Notes.

I followed a packed-earth footpath that cut through the grassland. After about fifteen minutes of walking, the silhouette of a settlement began to appear at the end of the road.

It was the new Area 2 Village. This settlement was surrounded by a wooden palisade fence with sharpened tips, in stark contrast to the magnificent stone walls of StoneBrook City. There were two simple watchtowers on either side of the main gate, where several NPC guards armed with spears were standing watch.

As I approached the half-open wooden gate, one of the NPC guards in worn leather armor stepped forward and crossed his spear, blocking me.

"Halt, Explorer. You look unfamiliar on these plains. To enter and trade in Silvergrass Village, you must pay a security levy of 1 Silver Coin," the guard said in a heavy baritone voice.

"One silver just to enter the village? This system update really knows how to drain players’ money," I grumbled inwardly. However, without much protest, I opened my transaction panel and tossed a silver coin into the guard’s hand.

"Welcome to Silvergrass Village, Explorer. May the wind of the plains bring you good fortune," the NPC said while withdrawing his spear, giving me a clear path.

The moment I passed through the gate, the distinctive village atmosphere immediately greeted me. There were no multi-story buildings here. Everything consisted of wooden huts with thatched roofs or merchant tents pitched along the dirt road. Village resident NPCs walked about wearing simple linen clothes. Several players who also seemed to have just arrived were seen chatting or trading in front of the huts.

I did not waste time exploring the outskirts of the village. My goal was very clear. I walked straight along the main road toward the center of the village.

There, in the middle of a round square surrounded by several main shops, stood a giant crystal three meters tall that floated a few centimeters above a stone pedestal. The crystal radiated a bluish light that pulsed like a heartbeat, releasing strands of magical energy into the air. This was the [Teleportation Waypoint].

I walked closer and extended my right hand, touching the surface of the crystal that felt as cold as ice.

Ding!

[System: You have discovered and synchronized with the Silvergrass Village Waypoint (Area 2)!]

[Teleportation feature between StoneBrook and Silvergrass is now open.]

"Good. Now logistics will no longer be a problem," I muttered in satisfaction.

Since I still had free time, I decided to walk around the village square, peeking at the merchandise offered by the NPCs here.

The first thing that caught my attention was the absence of high-tier plate armor blacksmiths or sellers of gleaming weapons. Instead of war equipment, this village turned out to be a paradise for players who had taken the [Cooking] skill.

I stood in front of a wooden stall displaying giant wheels of cheese, wooden barrels filled with wine, and racks filled with bottles of spices.

A middle-aged NPC woman with a clean white apron smiled kindly from behind her stall counter. "Interested in the best dairy products from these plains, young one? Our Aged Silvergrass Cheese can make your body feel as light as the wind!"

I pressed one of the cheese wheels with my virtual finger to view its status.

[Aged Silvergrass Cheese – Consumable]

Effect: Increases HP regeneration by +5% per second while out of combat. Duration: 30 Minutes. Price: 15 Copper Coins.

Then I shifted to the neatly arranged bottles of red wine.

[Wild Berry Wine – Consumable]

Effect: Increases Mana regeneration by +10% for 10 Minutes. Side Effect: Vision will become slightly blurred (Drunk Status) for the first 3 Minutes. Price: 30 Copper Coins.

"Interesting," I muttered while stroking my chin. "These items are very useful as buffs before going into battle, but the side effect of this wine is extremely unsuitable for an Archer who relies heavily on visual accuracy."

I bought several pieces of cheese and a few packs of spices as inventory stock, then thanked the shop owner. Although these food ingredients were good, they were not my main priority. As an Alchemist, I preferred to rely on Potions that provided instant effects in the middle of combat, rather than food that only took effect outside of combat.

While I was putting the cheese into my inventory, my eyes caught the presence of an elderly NPC grandfather who was sitting leisurely in a rocking chair in front of a stall, calmly smoking a wooden tobacco pipe.

I walked toward him, intending to gather information. One of the golden rules in MMORPGs was: silent old NPCs always held important information or hidden quests.

"Excuse me, Grandpa," I greeted politely. "This village is quite far from StoneBrook City. Is there a larger settlement if I keep walking north through the other gate?"

The old man slowly exhaled his tobacco smoke, looking at me from behind his thick, whitened eyebrows.

"You intend to go east, young one?" His voice was hoarse yet clear. "Beyond these grasslands, through the steep rocky canyon, lies Area 3. That is where Granbell Trading City is located. That city is ten times larger than StoneBrook. However..." the old man gave a dramatic pause, "the road leading there is not a place for Explorers whose leg bones have not yet hardened. The monsters on that border move faster than shadows."

A big city? Area 3? My eyes immediately sparkled. If a transition village alone sold interesting culinary materials, the big city in Area 3 must have a far more magnificent auction house and rarer alchemy and wood materials!

"Thank you for the information, Grandpa," I said while tossing a copper coin into the bowl on his table as a form of courtesy, then hurriedly left.

Ambition and curiosity overcame my logic. I completely ignored the old man’s warning. Armed with Level 18 and my status as first rank in yesterday’s event, I felt tough enough to at least take a peek at what the route to Area 3 looked like.

I walked toward the northern gate of the village, the gate opposite to the direction I had arrived from. There were no guards collecting a fee to leave.

The moment I stepped out of the village’s safe zone, the landscape gradually changed again. The lush green grass began to thin, replaced by coarse sandy soil and karst rocks protruding from the ground. The trees here looked more like dry, thorny bushes. The air also felt hotter and more scorching.

I had only walked a few hundred meters from the village gate. The distance was not yet far; I could still see the roof of the village watchtower if I turned around.

Suddenly, my sensitive Elf ears caught a very strange sound.

Drap. Drap. Drap.

It was not the heavy sound of horse hooves, but the sound of two-toed footsteps landing on the sandy ground at an extraordinarily high frequency. Extremely fast!

I immediately spun my body toward the sound, my right hand reflexively moving to my back to draw the Whispering Ash bow.

But I was too late.

From behind a two-meter-high karst rock formation to my left, a brown shadow shot out like an arrow fired from close range. Its speed was truly unreasonable! Even my [Eagle Eye] skill needed a full second to lock onto the creature’s form.

It was a giant bird. Its height nearly reached two and a half meters, with a long featherless neck, a sharp curved beak like steel scissors, and a pair of thick muscular legs covered in hard scales. Its form was very similar to an ostrich from the real world, yet with a far denser killing aura.

An orange ID indicating an aggressive and far stronger enemy floated above its head.

[Desert Strider (Terror Bird) – Level 26]

"Level twenty-six?!" my eyes widened in horror. The old NPC had not lied. The monsters on this border were truly Area 3 monsters!

The distance between the two of us, which had previously been about twenty meters, was closed by the monster in less than two seconds. The giant ostrich leaned its body forward, opened its beak wide, and charged straight toward my chest.

Panic immediately overwhelmed me. The distance was now less than one meter! Using a bow at such close range was suicide. The animation of drawing the bowstring would leave me wide open to its fatal attack.

In a life-and-death situation, my survival instinct took over. I canceled my intention to draw the bow, throwing myself backward in a back-roll motion to avoid its beak that nearly beheaded me.

As my body rolled across the dusty sandy ground, my right hand lightning-fast reached for my waist belt. My fingers clenched the handle of a small knife, a basic hunting dagger that I usually used for gathering herbs.

That knife was no ordinary knife. Before entering the forest earlier, I had coated its blade with [Corrosive Wyvern Toxin] just in case!

The ostrich did not give me a chance to breathe. The moment its attack missed, it spun its giant body with terrifying agility, then lifted one of its massive legs that had sharp hook-like claws, preparing to stomp on my body that had just finished rolling.

"Die, you damn fowl!" I roared.

Instead of dodging again, I slammed my foot into the ground and charged forward to meet that giant leg. With all the strength I possessed, I swung the hunting dagger, slashing straight toward the Achilles tendon on the monster’s ankle.

Sretttt!

My iron blade pierced through the thick feather layer and the scales of the monster’s leg. The physical attack from a Common knife belonging to an Archer barely caused any meaningful Damage. The Terror Bird’s HP bar only decreased by a hair’s breadth.

However, it was not the knife slash that was dangerous.

The moment the black-and-emerald-green gradient liquid from my knife blade touched the open wound of the monster, a very terrifying hissing sound immediately rang out, followed by a thick purple smoke rising from the bird’s leg.

Hsssssshhhh!!

SKREEEEAAAAAKKKK!!

The Desert Strider screeched with a high-pitched sound that deafened the ears. It canceled its stomp and staggered backward, flapping its small wings in panic.

The [Corrosion] and [Paralyzing Decay] effects from my Epic-level poison immediately took over its defense system! The hard scales on its ankle melted like plastic poured with strong acid. The flesh underneath instantly blackened.

[Toxin Effect Active! 30% of enemy’s Physical Defense ignored!]

[-250 Nature Damage!]

[-250 Nature Damage!]

Still in a crouching position, I stared in awe at the enemy’s HP bar. The thick red bar of the Level 26 monster was drained at an unreasonable speed, as if being sucked by a whirlpool! Every second, the poison gnawed at the monster’s life without mercy.

Because the Paralyzing Decay effect reduced its movement speed by 20%, the giant ostrich that had previously been as agile as lightning now staggered, completely losing its balance. Not long after, its remaining HP was completely depleted. The giant ostrich collapsed onto the dusty sand with a heavy thud, then exploded into particles of light.

[You have defeated Desert Strider (Level 26). Gained 1,200 EXP!]

I could finally breathe in relief. My knees felt a little weak from the sudden surge of adrenaline. I sheathed my hunting dagger that had just saved my life, staring warily at the remaining black liquid on its blade.

"The power of this poison is insane... but this area is not yet suitable for me," I muttered while picking up the loot dropped by the enemy. "My poison is indeed deadly, but I nearly died because I couldn’t respond to its speed in time."

Aware of the limitations of my class when playing solo in Area 3, I immediately turned around and ran back toward the northern gate of Silvergrass Village.

The border region was too dangerous.