After seeing the NPC group arrived and begun tearing down the ruined houses, we left them to their own businesses. It is amazing how they were able to traverse so quickly in this rough route while bringing all those materials. There were no roads or whatsoever in this vicinity, so I was worried if our village can even function properly.

I asked one of NPC who seems to be assigned on this project about this problem. However, he only answered that they already have plans for it.

On our side, our Guild Leader told the other guild members in the guild chat to set their spawn point in Estro. Sooner or later, Clouded Marsh and other surrounding areas will be filled with the members of Gold Paradise, but that is for the near future.

Tonight, it is only us four, but we have a level 30 in our group. Richest Asian have levelled up once more since I checked him last time. At his current rate, I won't be surprised if he becomes a part of the top 1000 in world ranking next month.

How he is doing it, is something I want to know. It is simply impossible to level up that fast alone. With the help of money maybe, but I doubt a strong party can be created just by using one. It is more likely he is a part of a group which is on the same level as he is.

'What is his purpose in creating this guild?'

I wanted to know since part of me tells me that he can do more outside instead of handling this randomly built guild. Yet, I have no luxury to be concerned about others because I have more things to worry about myself. As long as he does not turn to the dark side, then I should be concerned about it.

"Let's proceed to the next area"

Richest Asian said as he killed the last insect using his well-designed broadsword.

No group of monsters could last half-a-minute with the help of his high damage and high attack speed. Just by watching him fight through the crowd, I am convinced that this guy is really deserving of his ranking and not just someone who bought his way to the top.

The monsters here were above Level 28, but it did not satisfy our guild leader's hunting experience nonetheless. There were also no Boss monsters spawning to interest him,

He only waited for us to level up one time before moving to the valley which we were planning to go to before we stumbled upon the village.

But before all of that, I am now able to equip the 'Gloves of the Venomous' after putting all my free stat points in strength. This would be the first exceptional armour that I would be equipping that befits my level.

So now my character page looks like this…

[Name: Cherry Winter

Level: 26

Title: None

Reputation: 9

Health: 734/734

Defence: 72

Strength: 51 (+35)

Vitality: 46 (+5)

Stamina: 61 (+8)

Agility: 86 (+20)

Dexterity: 81 (+10)

Stat Points: 0

Money: 9098g]

**Equipment Page**

[Ethereal Bow]

[Grim-Veiled Hood]

[Grim-Veiled Robe]

[Gloves of the Venomous]

[Moonfall Leggings]

[Boots of the Hunter]

*No Set Bonus

**Skills Page**

[Lv.2 Quick Hands]

[Lv.2 Light Steps]

[Lv.1 Stable Mind]

[Lv.1 Strong Heart]

[Lv.2 Fortified Body]

[Moonlight Blessing]

[Lv.3 Rapid Shot]

[Lv.3 Charge Arrow]

[Lv.1 Illusion Charge]

Just like that and my strength is my third highest stat. My arrows should have an increase in damage dramatically because of it, but I worry about my actual weapon. At the end of the day, it is still a level 20 weapon even if its slowing properties are godlike.

Besides that, I have no problem with my stats and equipment. There are obvious ways I can still get stronger like having better shoes or lower body armour, but that would be easy to solve.

However, since the Epic grade greaves come much later in level 40, I should still probably find a decent substitute for the meantime.

"Sigh~ I need to go back to Twilight City tomorrow."

"Something wrong, Cherry?"

"Nothing."

As much I want to say that I am strong now for my level, I cannot help but notice my lacking set of skills. This should not come to me as a problem when I meet Captain Emily as soon as possible tomorrow.

That is for later but for now, we left the Clouded Marsh biome. Having a change of scenery was quite relieving after leaving the stuffy place overgrown with nothing but tall grass and muddy soil. We can now finally properly see the sky which has turned dark a little while ago.

We do not need to light a candle lantern for the meantime since the moonlight was enough to guide our way to the valley.

"I wonder if we can reach the peak of these mountains."

"There's no place you can't go to in New World according to them. But if you want to try Michelle, we can leave you here."

"You know I'm dragging you two along with me."

Michelle was able to relax around because there were no other creatures around except flew flying birds who were, fortunately, not monsters. It would be difficult to fight flying monsters even for me who is a bow user.

It was unusual for a place to have no enemies roaming around especially areas that are much farther away from the city. The reason maybe because of the remaining evidence of people using this path.

"Players have already reached this place?"

"No, it looks like these are from NPCs. There are a few tracks that came from carriages."

"So we are the first players to explore this place."

"I believe so. This path is unusual in the first place. Clouded Marsh is not a popular place for players to grind because of the difficult terrain. The tall grasses and muddy ground are too much for average players to handle"

"What! I thought it was a good place to grind for experience."

Aria was shocked by our guild leader's revelation.

I already knew from the start since there were too little players hunting in Clouded Marsh after days ever since we grind in that place. It was even lesser now compared to the first time I set foot into that area.

Our battles only felt easy because our group was able to adapt quickly and minimize the environmental factor. It was not easy at first, but our perseverance paid off. Although for the record, the conditions barely hinder me because I am used to it before I even came at the marsh.

"So where did guild leader hunt?"

"A place called Calisto Desert. A totally different place compared to Clouded Marsh. It is approximately 40km away if we walk a straight line from here."

"That far?! It should not be that better compared to Clouded Marsh right?"

"It spawns more monsters rapidly, Boss spawn rate is the highest in that place, drops are quite forgiving, and more importantly, it would be easier to fight in a dry flat terrain."

"Geh! That much better?!"

Another hit to Aria since she is the one who suggests hunting in Clouded Marsh in the first place. At this point, she is walking weakly. Michelle who saw this cannot help herself but tease Aria more. I needed to stop both of them before they start their pulling hair.

"But this is probably better-- You girls might not know it, but almost every high ranking guild in every city has one goal in mind."

"?"

His sudden change of opinion stopped the ruckus that we were doing behind his back.

"Rumours has it that the first guild to reach the Capital will bring many rewards to help solidify their position on the top."

Richest Asian should be talking about Opidelhm. The centre of the whole Kingdom, literally and figuratively.

I heard this place from the NPCs, and it seems like the New World community in the forums barely talk about it. I thought only a few people seem to care what this place is supposed to be, but I guess that is not the case. I do not know the basis of his rumours. However, if it came from a mysterious player like Richest Asian, there might be some backing to it.

Although that being said, it is also one of my current goals in this game. The NPC who gave me the quest [The Curious Imperial Lord] told me to meet him in Opidelhm.

"There should be NPC merchants who travel between cities right? People can simply follow them or even hitch a ride while they're at it."

Aria who has already composed herself asked an obvious question which I also want the hear the answer to it.

"If it was that easy, players should have already reached the capital a week ago. But because the guards who are protecting these merchants are hostile towards us, following them will be impossible. Not even a high levelled assassin can sneak past the eyes of the normal knights. Once you are seen, the best-case scenario will be jail time for players. Not to mention, the monsters are much stronger the further they are from the city and closer they are from the supposed location of the capital."

"Pretty strict, huh. I wonder why they don't let us."

"That's is why there are rumours and a race for the centre of New World."

Richest Asian did not speak anymore after saying that. I can see a rare emotion from the face of our Guild Leader. Opidelhm is more serious business for the hardcore players more than I thought. Since he is still our guild leader, he probably wants to have this advantage-- And he believes that this road is should lead us to the capital.

He must be saying that this path we chose has a chance for a shorter and easier route that leads to the capital. It is all just blind hope that he is holding yet I can somehow sympathize.

But as long as there are monsters to be killed at the end of this path, we will find ways to get stronger even if we go into uncharted territories. This dedication within me has made me look back before I just started playing this game.

As we silently proceed, the landscape before our eyes is as beautiful as what I saw when I first stepped into this fantasy world. Join that by the thrill of going to a place where no player has reached yet, it was something I never thought I will be looking forward to.

I thought I would just be playing only for fun, and I pretty unsure of my direction on where I want to go in this game. But New World has that something that made me attach to it which makes me want to explore more.

It was a short journey yet I have experienced many things I have never experienced before. Although that journey has just begun as there are more opportunities in the future to meet new people, and new encounters waiting to happen.