Alex decided to save up his points until he reached level five and unlocked the next portion of his 'Unlocking Potential' quest.
There had been one too many times in previous MMOs he had played as a kid where he just used his points as soon as he got them.
It wasn't a bad way to use skill points, but it was restrictive and locked you into playing certain classes or only being good at specific things. He couldn't afford to be a one trick pony.
The trek back to the village didn't take him long, but the heat of the Sun on his back definitely slowed his progress. Of course the Sun was also real, this wasn't a game. He had to constantly remind himself of that fact
He strode into the village with little fanfare, people hadn't been made aware that the plant problem was taken care of. Even so, there were still the Hydro-croks to deal with. Tendrassil would take some time to return to normalcy, and even longer to be prosperous again.
Alex also decided he wasn't going to turn in the completed quest yet. He had no idea if turning it in would actually affect anything, but he wanted to eliminate the other threat to the village before declaring that the issue had been taken care of, and that these people were safe.
Not having the exp and the items might suck for the time being, but the earliest levels in MMOs were always the easiest to get through, and using the boost from quests could gain him a whole level if he turned them in at the same time.
While the Adventurers Hall was a hot spot for newcomers, the tavern was where he knew he'd find his fellow party members. He had no idea how it actually worked, but the party system had a very useful function.
As long as you were within a certain range of your party members, you would have a near precise pinpoint on their location. In a larger area with more developed buildings and more people it probably wouldn't be that useful, but in Tendrassil? It was a homing beacon.
The rich aroma of smoked meat filled Alex's nose as he walked into the tavern. His stomach grumbled in response to the succulent smell, but his attention was drawn to the only table with patrons sitting at it.
Neither of them were conversing, both had drinks and if anything, they looked like they had just been told someone shot their dog. Alex took that as a sign that something bad had happened.
Agnor's expression was nearly unreadable, but Eliza's brows were furrowed and her lips were pressed thin. Alex didn't know much about women, but he knew that was never a good sign.
His thoughts were confirmed a moment later when Agnor waved him over. "Good. You're here." The monk was normally direct with his words, but the way he spoke hid a hint of worry. "I haven't been able to uncover the location of the beast's lair, but I did learn something about our Crok friends." Alex pulled up a seat and sat down with his party members, concerned about what the news would be.
Agnor spoke rather plainly, not holding anything back. "I don't know if the people of this village did something to piss off those creatures, but the croks have infested every water source for this village." He folded his hands under his chin and fixed Alex with a straight stare.
"It's not just one nest. It's an invasion." Alex froze. An invasion of Hydro-croks? That sounded awfully familiar to what happened with the Killer Plants. Were the quests just touted as simple things when in all reality they were much more difficult and complicated? Or was something more serious at play here?
Apparently Alex's mind must've been readable because Eliza finally set down her cup. "No. Quests in this game are pretty straight forward." Her more reserved self had been silenced by the two tankards of ale she had gone through, she was speaking with determination.
"They outline the exact details and parameters of what needs to be done. I could understand one of our quests being bugged and freaking out, but two of them?" She just shook her head in a way that dictated she didn't like the situation in the slightest.
The table was silent for a moment as everyone processed the words spoken. Alex in particular studied his companions, looking for signs that they might back out of the party because it was too difficult.
He didn't even consider that it was his fault things were drastically harder. It would only dawn on him later that one of his curses had taken effect and changed the very nature of the quests he had accepted.
Agnor was the first to speak up by slamming his hands down on the table, "Well. What are we waiting for? There are croks to hunt." That was all that was needed to mobilize the party into action. Eliza paid the tab for her and Agnor, they collected their gear, and then set off towards the nearest major source of water.
Earth, Valdenci Territory, District 14
"Fuck you." Amanda spat at her captor standing before her. Her words were rewarded with a backhanded slap that turned her already red cheek even darker. It had been nearly two hours since they came for her and walked her out of her apartment in cuffs with no explanation. A laugh came from behind her, "She's a feisty one, eh captain?"
"She sure is Clayton. It's a shame the boss wants to see her, but orders are orders." The captain, a man wearing the gray colored armor of the enforcers, knelt down and grabbed her chin with a gloved hand.
"It's always the feisty ones that are the most fun to break." Amanda just glared daggers at the helmeted figure, not letting a single ounce of weakness show. Whoever their boss was, he had saved her from torture, or worse, at the hands of these vile men.
The hand left her chin, but the man didn't stand up. "I'll ask you one more time. Where is Kieth?" The enforcer's voice was deep and serious, full of authority. This was a man who was used to getting what he wanted.
Amanda's lips parted in a smile, "Keith? Why didn't you mention him before? He's just around the corner and up. Your. Ass."
A snarl erupted from the captain and he finally stood up. "Inferior whelp." He nodded his head towards the unseen figures behind her, "You're going to learn to show your superiors some respect, and he's going to have much more fun making you break than we ever would." A cloth sack was put over her head and all she knew was darkness.
Vorcast, Outskirts of Tendrassil Village
Lvl 6 Hydro-Crok Snapper slain, +85 EXP
Lvl 4 Hydro-Crok Scavenger slain, +60 EXP
Lvl 7 Hydro-Crok Hunter slain, +95 EXP
Like a mechanical killing machine Alex plowed his way through the crok nest. The crocodile-like creatures stood no chance before his prowess and skill, getting cut down like wheat before a scythe.
The monsters were no bigger than actual crocodiles back on Earth, but the difference was in the color of their scales and their tails.
The Hunters had pointed spikes on the end of their tails that glistened with a sickly green color. Alex didn't need to get hit by those to determine that it was probably poison.
The Snappers had blunt club-like tails, the points ending in a spiked ball that could be used to club their enemies or knock them unconscious.
Last but not least, the scavengers had a normal tail, but the difference with them was the yellow stripe that ran along the beast's back. Its teeth were also slightly blunted as its main purpose was to scavenge resources for the nest, one close encounter with its jaws was more than enough for him to stay far away.
Lvl 5 Hydro-Crok Snapper slain, +78 EXP
The notifications of Alex's kill list flooded in faster and faster. He was on the third nest out of the five he needed to eradicate, and his crok slaying skills were at an all time high.
After the first nest that the party had wiped out together, they all agreed to split up and take on nests as individuals. According to Agnor, there were eleven total nests. As party leader, he was given the majority of that number, while the elf and the goliath were taking care of three nests respectively.
If Alex's rate of clearing was anything to go off of, they were most likely already done with clearing their nests.
He stabbed his sword down and killed the final remaining crok of this nest, the water splashing wildly as the crok spasmed and then died. At this rate, it would take at least another hour before he was done, but if his math was right, the final nest would be the push he needed to cross into level five.
Alex had experimented during the fighting, seeing if using his sword in different ways would grant him any new skills, but nothing had changed.
He planned to keep trying new moves and swinging his sword differently to see if there were any skills he could obtain, but this wasn't a promising start. He decided it would be worthwhile to get some skill books, and find a teacher if he wanted to learn more.
Interestingly enough, the croks had a very high drop rate. Nearly every one in four that he killed dropped a Hydro-Crok scale determined by their position in the nest.
They weren't really useful for anything as far as Alex could tell, but apparently they could be sold to merchants for a decent price, so they must be worth something to someone out there.
"Alexander." The voice scared the daylights out of Alex. It was just him out here, and outside of the snarls of the monsters he was killing he hadn't been prepared to hear another voice, least of all the one in his head.
"I fear I have some unsettling news." Virgol was seemingly breaking his vow of silence now of all times, and it was to tell him something bad? Great timing Virgol.
"I do apologize for my timing. I was instructed to not aid you once you stepped foot outside of the Hollowed Moot Inn." It really pissed off Alex how the voice in his head could read his mind so easily. He had honestly nearly forgotten about the Administrator until now.
"Ouch." The voice pretended to be hurt, unable to actually show emotion of any kind. "Regardless of how you feel about me, I am an aid for the Heroes. It is for that reason that I am disobeying direct orders to bring you a warning."
Alex sheathed his sword and finally stepped out of the marshwater, happy to finally be free from its grasp. His silence was apparently the green light for Virgol to keep talking because the voice explained its reasoning. "There is a traitor in Fareon City who is working directly with the enemy. Unfortunately they are well concealed from my masters, and they are unable to divine who it is, but whatever this person is up to, it can not be good."
Great, Alex thought, add it to the list of my ever growing problems. "I only warn you because I feel it is my duty, but this will most likely be the last you hear from me for some time. The gods do not like being disobeyed."
A hint of uncertainty entered Virgol's monotone pitch, and despite how annoying Alex found the voice to be, he appreciated the warning.
It made sense that there would be traitors in a war that spanned countless realms, it just sucked that Alex had to be the one to deal with it.
"Thanks Virgol. It means a lot that you did this for me." Alex genuinely meant it. He might not like having another entity in his head, but it was useful to have a guide. Dying and being reborn was no joke.
"Of course. I see great potential in you. I wish you luck young He-" Virgol was cut off and Alex was left entirely alone once more, the sound of buzzing flies his only companion.
***
After some time, Alex finally approached the final nest of Hydro-croks. The fourth nest had been a pain in his ass because it was just full of Hunter croks, which seemed to have been the strongest so far.
It took a little more effort than he expected to clear them out, one of them had even managed to get a good attack in, the proof of which was the aching in his side. The teeth hadn't gone deep, but having a crocodile's sharp teeth graze your skin wasn't a pleasant feeling.
His exp bar was just over ninety percent full, this nest would definitely push him over the brink and bring him to level five. That thought spurred him on.
He was tired, ready for a warm meal and a comfortable bed, but there was a rush of adrenaline that filled him every time he leveled up. It made him feel more alive.
He drew his bronze sword as the first layer of defending croks made their appearances, the ghost of a smile tugging at his lips.
The first crok lunged at him, using its powerful body to leap at Alex. A quick slash relieved it of its head, green blood spraying everywhere. A follow up swing impaled the gaping maw of a crok hunter that had tried to sneak up on him.
Within seconds, four crok corpses littered the shore of the small water crossing that was their nest. There were bound to be more, but Alex wanted to take his time and savor finishing this quest.
He slaughtered his way through the nest with reckless abandon. The more he killed, the wilder his attacks became, and the more frantic his strikes were.
He threw caution to the wind as he worked his way through, his usual style of playing it safe had been discarded in favor of powerful strikes and violent kills. Nothing could stop him in his wholesale massacre of the creatures.
His side felt like it was on fire, and for the first time since entering the nest, Alex paused his wanton killing of croks.
[Warning! You have been poisoned by Hydro-crok venom.]
The warning was late, but at least it came, and provided him with the reason why he felt like he was about to pass out. He took another step forward and stumbled, dropping to one knee in the water.
The coldness helped to bring some clarity back to his poisoned body, and his eyes flared open. He needed to get out. He needed to run. He couldn't fall here. But he couldn't move. The poison had taken its course and paralyzed him.
Shit. Shit. Shit, shit, shit! Alex was panicking. How could he have been so careless? Of course a simple wound that hurt more than it should have meant he needed to investigate it.
He would have slapped himself for his own stupidity if he could. Is this how his end would come about? The Hero of the Realms, brought low by poison from a grazing wound.
He could hear his own heartbeat now. It was getting slower and slower. His body was getting weaker, and he fell face first into the water.
[Warning! You are underwater and will drown in 30 seconds if you do not resurface]
Alex could do nothing as his heart slowed. All of his fears, all of his doubts. All of his pain. At least it will be over now. Some other poor soul can be the Hero.
Shouldn't the croks be tearing at his flesh by now? Shouldn't he be getting torn to shreds by razor sharp teeth? It didn't matter, he was going to die, it was just a matter of time now.
Amanda, I'm sorry. I wish we could've had more time. You were always the strong one between the two of us. His thoughts were cascading and deteriorating, the only clear thought coming through was of his sister.
[Warning! You will drown in 5…]
Amanda.
[4.]
Please.
[3.]
Forgive me.
[2… 1…]
Alex faded. His eyes fluttered shut, and his body gasped its last breath, the water submerging him completely. The last thing on his mind as he stopped breathing was his sister, and how he failed her again.