“Different magic spells are given as rewards for completing dungeons. Yada yada,” I flipped through the pages of a book. “First known dungeon… level ten?”

I closed the book in front of me and finished my research. I was currently back at the barracks next to Astoria Castle. Here, I could take in information about the game by talking to NPCs or reading this simple guidebook.

I was curious about magic so I went to the barracks to read up on it. Since magic was not a central part of this game, they integrate dungeons as a way to learn new magic spells. It would be too useful to know plenty of spells early on. Dungeons were supposed to bring some challenge, so the level shouldn’t be surprising. I wonder if I could finish one at this level.

I walk into one of the rooms with an NPC in it. She wore a dark grey tunic and held a shortsword in hand. There were two other players alongside me already asking questions. The NPC was quiet as the two players talked to each other.

“Sword techniques are pretty cool.”

“Yeah, they are.”

Their conversation piqued my interest, so I walked up to the NPC and asked a question.

“What can you tell me about sword techniques?”

The NPC smiled and spoke up while standing up straight.

“Sword techniques is a way to channel the celestials to execute an attack. The higher your level of experience, the more powerful attacks you can execute.”

Celestials, huh. That was a weird lore behind sword techniques. Since I couldn’t level up, I couldn’t use the sword techniques. At least with the game’s assistance. That I already tested beforehand. I could always do these attacks manually. Granted I practice with proper execution of it.

“Where can I learn sword techniques?” I asked.

“Once the captain at the barracks deems you experienced enough to handle a new sword technique, he shall teach you.”

So once other players learn the technique, I can just come over and copy them as they execute them.

“What other swords can I use?”

I rubbed my chin in thought. I wonder if there was anything else I should learn. Nah, I’ll find out eventually.

I walked out of the barracks and out into the forest surrounding the castle. I soon found myself on the dirt path back to Astor Village. There was a blacksmith there which I wanted to visit. Maybe there were different swords I could try out.

The blacksmith had a variety of swords ranging from level five to fifteen. Out of my reach… I looked towards the far left of the table displaying swords. There were three swords with level one labeled next to their names.

[Lv 1 Shortsword]

[Lv 1 Longsword]

[Lv 1 Rapier]

The starter sword I had with me seemed to be an arming sword as I’ve learned from the NPC from the barracks during the tutorial. The shortsword seemed to be more like a long knife. It must be easier to swing at the cost of its range. I wonder how much lighter it was to the arming sword. The blade of the longsword was as twice as long as the shortsword. Of course, its reach was more advantageous. I wasn’t fully aware of what a rapier was. It had a fancy hilt and its blade wasn’t that impressive other than the sharp pointy end.

I couldn’t decide on what to get, so I bought them all. I walked out of the blacksmith and tested the swords out. I opened my inventory window and reached in the slot of each weapon. I pulled out each weapon slowly and the window popped up for each weapon I pulled out.

[Shortsword Equipped]

I tried out the shortsword. It was about the same as the starter sword. It’s weight was a bit lighter but no difference. It’s blade was much shorter. I have no idea what advantages this sword holds.

[Longsword Equipped]

The longsword was a closer impression to a real sword by its weight. Not exactly heavy, but it weighed twice as much as the starter sword. I swung the sword with both hands and targeted a tree. The feeling of impact was very satisfying.

[Rapier Equipped]

My assumption with the rapier was that it was more specialized in stabbing than slashing. This was probably a different type of sword compared to the first three I’ve used. It weighs as light as shortsword since its blade was the very thin. I thrust the sword at a tree and it dug deep into it.

I had plenty of time before the support team from the game contacts me and eventually raise awareness among the developers of my situation. Might as well as have fun slaying slimes, right?

[Rapier unequipped]

I dropped the rapier into the inventory window. I thought carefully and decided to pick up the longsword. Since the weight of swords was a lighter version in real life, it’s added weight wasn’t too much of a disadvantage. I rather have a two handed weapon to keep both hands busy. In addition to the fact that the slimes were slow anyways.

[Longsword Equipped]

I walked away from the populated areas where players were slaying slimes left and right. Once I reached a quiet place to myself, I faced a slime that was ready to attack me.

[Lv 3 Slime]

[HP: 50/50]

I stared at the slime in front of me. I gripped the sword in hand tightly and slightly crouched. I adjusted my body into a stance with my right hand raised with my sword and my left vertical in front of me.

I mimicked the slash attack and without saying a word, I took a step forward with my right foot and swayed my sword in a horizontal direction. The new weight of the sword in hand gave it a feeling of a harder impact.

[Lv 3 Slime]

[HP: 45/50]

This time my attack was dealing five points rather than three when I fought the elemental slimes. I should be careful with higher level opponents.

This slime’s attack pattern was very simple. A slow headbutt attack into an idle animation for about five seconds. In that timeframe, I could lane five hits as I can swing my sword without direction. This time was different. I focused on my stance to mimic the slash sword technique.

I slew a few level three slimes while I try to master the slash attack on my own. After each swing, I feel like my attacks were faster and more effective movement wise. No matter what I did, it always dealt five damage.

“Slash!” I yelled.

With a horizontal swing, I finish off a level three slime. This time there was no difference between a manual slash attack and the sword technique.

Perfect.

I sighed in relief. Even though there was no physical restraint in this virtual world, I felt the mental impact of concentrating on my posture and execution.

“I feel like I could take on the world!”

There must be something more difficult to fight. I started running away from the castle and further into the forest. I passed by a few dirt paths that lead to the nearby villages but I strayed away from them. As soon as I felt like I ran far enough, I searched for nearby monsters.

[Lv 5 Slime]

[HP: 75/75]

The level five slime stood before me. It was much larger than the other slimes I’ve encountered. I ran at it without a second thought and immediately swung my sword at it.

Then it dodged.

“What?!” I screamed.

It can’t be. Slimes with better AI already?

As soon as I recovered, the slime attacked me with a headbutt.

[HP: 90/100]

I looked up at my hit points. Frustrated from taking damage, I took another swing.

“What are you doing?”

I froze in place as if I was caught doing something embarrassing. The other player’s stare broke my stunned self. He wore an armor similar to mine but instead he had a cleaner coat of arms on the chest. I looked down and noticed mine was much more worn out. Maybe he was further down the questline than I was. The other player had shorter hair than mine and held a longsword in hand.

I dropped my arms and took a step back away from the slime. The slime started ignoring me and slid away.

“Uh, I’m just fighting some slimes,” I finally responded as I nervously laughed. “You distracted me. I was about to kill that slime.”

“But you’re just level one. That slime was level five.”

That was right. Other players could still see my health bar with my level and name.

“Well, gotta start somewhere. Right?” I continued to laugh nervously.

“Esther, right? What are you doing here?”

I read the other player’s health bar.

[Lv 6 Buster]

[HP: 195/195]

“Buster?” I tried to contain my laughter. All that leaked out was a smirk.

“Anyways. You should just level up by doing the quests. You wandered really far out here,” Buster said while pointing towards the castle in the distance. “There should be Astor Village in that direction.”

“Well. You see, I already did the quest at Astor Village.”

“The Wizard’s Tower? But you should’ve gotten exp points already.”

“That’s my problem. I can’t level up.”

“Yeah, right.”

“You’ll see,” I said while looking for a level five slime.

[Lv 5 Slime]

[HP: 75/75]

I readied my stance. This time I was going to be patient. The slime jumped at me and I dodged to the side. Then I went for a manual slash attack.

“So you can slash a sword, impressive,” Buster said sarcastically.

I was dealing only five damage at a time. Which was surprising since this was two levels above the last slimes I was facing which dealt the same amount. Maybe it had the same defense while having increase health, damage and AI?

It took a while to defeat the slime. It was a bit embarrassing since Buster stood there watching me make a point. After a three minute fight which would’ve taken Buster a good four hits to slay, I defeat the monster.

[25 Experience Points Gained]

I then look at Buster with my arms wide open.

“See? It gives a hundred exp points to slay this level five slime. And look at me, level one.”

I gave him the ‘I told you so’ face. He had a confused look on his face. He sheathed his sword and thought to himself.

“I see. So you have a bugged character I assume.”

“Yeah, it’s been a huge pain so far.”

“How did you last this far out here?”

“Well,” I paused. “This slash sword technique helped out a lot. And reading the monster’s attack patterns were really easy so far. It just takes a while to slay monsters at a higher level.”

“Interesting.”

This time, Buster had an impressed look. He then paced back and forth while talking to me.

“So, you’re just going to play the game as a level one player?”

“I guess until I get a response for my report ticket. Someone on the company has to realize this stupid mistake.”

“What if until then, you try out playing this game as a level one? You know, like those level one playthroughs of those action RPGs?”

I raised my eyebrows. I challenged myself to try it out earlier but Buster really motivated me this time.

“I was only just messing around, but that sounds like a good challenge.”

I reached out my arm for a handshake and Buster responds.

“You should add me to your party. In case things go wrong, you know.”

“Of course.”

I waved my arm to open the main menu. I look for the social button and click on add friends. Then once Buster accepted my friend request, I tapped on his name and added him to the party.

Below my health bar in the corner of my eye was another health bar showing Buster’s name, hit points and mana.

“Let’s go, Esther,” Dustin said as he lead the way beyond the forest.