Klaus Park walked to a city fountain, filled his canteen with water, and then took a loaf of bread from his inventory.

As if starving, he devoured the whole bread in a single bite, but in reality, he was just in a hurry.

Nonetheless, at that moment, Klaus stopped for a minute and began to chew the soft bread slowly. The sensation running through his mind was definitely strange because he knew that in his mouth it was nothing more than a clump of data, but the bread tasted fantastic, and the texture of it was extremely close to reality.

“VR video games are really awesome.” He spoke with his mouth full.

As Klaus was close to Holinda’s exit, many users were on the streets; however, none of them even looked at Klaus, even though he didn’t care. Walking to the gate in only starter’s clothes, deprived of even breastplate armor, he practically showed that he was still a noob.

“We need a Healer Level 22 or above!”

“Hey, guys! We want to buy a Korra Cave map! We pay up to 5 silver coins!”

“We’re heading for a raid on the Webbed Woods! Does anyone wanna join us?”

“We need an archer, no matter the level! We just want someone capable of distracting some Black Vultures!”

,m Klaus Park got up from the bench he was sitting on, opened the system, and equipped the bow. “I think at least today I have some luck.”

In the same minute, the old bow appeared in his right hand, and a quiver with ten arrows appeared on his back. With that, Klaus finally felt that he was fully prepared to leave the city and approached the group that needed an archer; after all, a bow was his only weapon.

“Hello, I hear you need an archer. What is the purpose of the mission?” Klaus asked the man who was advertising.

The announcer was tall, strong, and wore metal armor, the only one among all four men in the group who wore such a set. Furthermore, he was the one who seemed to be the strongest as well. His nickname was Magma, and Klaus saw everything he thought was essential to see on Magma’s sheet with the <Analyzing Eye>.

‘Without a doubt, he is the most dangerous, and that title…’ Something was bothering Klaus.

[Statistics Screen

Nickname:

Magma | Class: Tank

Current Title: Killer | Profession: Group Leader

Level: 22 | Alignment: ? (Increase your relationship with this user to access this information) | Fame: 5.]

The group that wanted an archer looked ready to go into battle. All four men wore armor and weapons, but none seemed particularly dangerous except Magma. However, everyone looked at Klaus from head to toe, briefly judging him.

“What level are you at, man? Those clothes…” One of the men didn’t bother to ask.

“I died recently. I lost everything I had, I’m struggling to get good items again, but if you’re so curious, I’m level 14.” Klaus replied.

Since the other three men were between level 15 and 16, Klaus thought it best to say he was at a lower level to not intimidate them, and he didn’t want to bother Magma. If they let Klaus tag along on the mission, he would be able to kill some monsters as a group and evolve more easily than if alone.

If they let Klaus accompany him on the quest, he could hunt some monsters in a group, so he would evolve more easily than if he was alone.

“It’s all right. As I said before, the level is not an issue; even if you can’t kill Black Vultures with a single arrow, hitting them will be enough to intimidate them. But you really are an archer, aren’t you?” Magma asked, crossing her arms.𝑜𝐯𝓛xt.𝓬𝒐𝓂

Klaus stared at him for a second and replied, “I’m the best archer with my level in this city, I mean, for the right price, of course…”

Magma had long black hair, so his bangs partially covered the right side of his head. His face, but even that look and mannerism couldn’t hold back the smile as he listened to Klaus speak with such confidence.

“I liked you!” Magma wrapped his right arm around Klaus’s neck and pulled him like a little father. “We are going to the Void Forest. There are rumors of a treasure in the biggest Black Vulture nest there. Will we split the winnings evenly, one-fifth each, no matter how much.” whispered Magma and then extended his right hand to Klaus.

“A treasure? I accept!” Klaus instantly shook Magma’s hand. Money was all he was after anyway. “By the way, I am Kaizen.”

“It’s a pleasure, Kaizen. I’m Magma, and the boys are Guava, Proddy, and Lance.”

*

Although in Rise Online, there is a system of Classes and Jobs, there are no restrictions on the uses of different weapons. For example, a mage can use a sword if he wants to, just as a warrior can use a bow. Undoubtedly it is a flexible system that leaves it up to the player to decide how he will play. This is one of the reasons why Rise Online is considered the most open VRMMORPG of all.

However, a genuine archer’s growth potential is much greater than that of an improvised archer, since a genuine one will have Archer access to Class Abilities. In contrast, an improvised one will not have them.

Thanks to these factors, it would be normal if Klaus Park was a little nervous; after all, he had never played a bow in his life, nor did he have time to practice a little after buying the old bow, but he was confident that the idea that he had when he saw the bow would work. Klaus believed he didn’t necessarily need to aim to hit his targets.

Also, Klaus was too focused on the setting of Holinda’s exterior to think about things like that.

As soon as the high city walls disappeared from the group’s view, and the wheat fields were also gone, they entered this forest completely dominated by a dense creeping mist. The stillness of the forest was sinister, and the wind, which blew every few minutes high up in the bare trees, shook the branches, and the sound produced by this shaking was similar to disturbing laughter.

As the three leather-armored men in the group cowered in fear, Magma noticed that Klaus didn’t look scared.

“Have you explored this region, Kaizen?” Magma asked, as not only a way to balance the heavy atmosphere, but also to meet the temporary partner.

“Not yet.”

“Oh, I see. And have you ever fought Black Vultures?”

“Neither. How are they?”

Magma looked at the sky when asked, and even with much fog, he noticed the presence of a flight to the south, approximately one hundred meters away. Instantly, he pointed to the right and said,

“Kaizen, don’t worry. You will soon meet your targets. Guys, let’s go this way. The nest can’t be far.”

…

Edited by: DrHitsuji

If you want to see original illustrations of Rise Online characters, consider helping me on pa treon: Pa treon.com/NandoFalske

More character images in:

https:///bpqq9u4gS8

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