The Earth After Rebirth

Children were running around playing all sorts of mundane games. This seemed like any busy street in a suburban area.

Then without warning. Kiro appeared abruptly in the middle of the street. He was absolutely naked in that white room so he instinctively hid his goods. When he noticed he was now fully clothed he was relieved. Nobody batted an eye at his sudden appearance, which was a reminder that this was a game and they were all NPCs.

The weather was beautiful, the air softly brushed through Kiro's hair and skin. 'Isn't this just a bit too realistic?' He thought to himself. He was in tattered cloth armour for beginners, he had no weapon. Which was strange because, he should at least get a beginners staff.

He was sure other classes got something. "System, where's my weapon?"

Ding!

[You need to buy one. Classes like archery, mages and sagehood only get armour at the beginning.]

Kiro noticed that it wasn't the same voice as before. He was glad that, that rude thing was only at the character creation stage.

Kiro tested the reactions for this game and head gear, he sent a command to his brain to clench his fists, and it worked. He jumped, spun around, yelled. Okay, everything worked almost as it would in real life. There was a second's lag, but it was so trivial it was barely noticeable. Kiro was too excited! The lack of a weapon was now something he pushed at the back of his mind.

This was his first time ever playing this game, and he was already obsessed. The interface was not user friendly at all, as he wanted to add Hiro but couldn't find anything suggesting how to do that.

"System, how do I search for someone in-game?" He said, trying his luck.

[Who do you want to search for?]

The voice replied, in his head instead of out there, like how the world voice would. Which caused him to jump and look around. When he realised what it was, he sighed.

"Hiro" He said simply.

[Found, do you wish to add the Dwarf Hiro to your friends list?"]

'He chose the Dwarven race? I was so sure he'd pick an Elf. But its not a bad idea, although Dwarves can't fight that well they are sturdy tanks. I'll be the damage dealer and he'll be a tank, all we need is a priest for healing and our party will reign supreme.' Kiro was already so far in the future he didn't consider anything else.

More than this, Dwarves were craftsmen. He'd craft weapons and armour. Alchemy was also part of the deal, for potions and everything. He could sell these.

'He'll sell weapons and I'll sell information. We're gonna be rich. Hahaha' Kiro thought to himself, delighted. He had forgotten all about the setback, of possibly being in an alternate world.

"Yes Please!" He answered the system.

------

On the other side of town. A dwarf could be seen walking around with his mouth agape, walking aimlessly. He was taking in the view and the realism of it all. He couldn't believe how amazing this was. It was enough to qualify it as a second world!

'I wonder why Kiro isn't done yet with his character creation. This thing was pretty straight forward, I never took him for a slow learner.' Hiro thought to himself.

"Well, the system did try to argue with me about choosing a dwarf. Maybe he's in the same situation." He mumbled.

He then decided to go to a beginner's training ground. This may be his first time in a game but even he knew that there should be something to get beginner's stronger.

LET THE JOURNEY OF ME BEING A GOD OF CRAFTSMANSHIP BEGIN. He shouted internally.

"But how to get to the beginner's training ground? Why did they make this damn interface so hard to navigate anyway!"

"Map! I need a map!" He yelled not expecting anything to happen. But the map for the whole kingdom sprung up, the parts outside beginner's village were greyed out. He then asked for a more specific place, it showed him where the grounds were.

He cursed himself for saying the system was hard to navigate. Yelling commands was pretty convenient in anything really.

Just as he was about to enter the training grounds, the system announced a new notification.

[The Dreki, Kiro wishes to be friends with you, do you accept?"]

Finally, "yes!"

Soon after Hiro received a call, "where are you?"

"I'm about to enter the beginner's training ground."

"No, don't go in yet. Go to the smithy and poach some quests. Once we're level 5 we'll be eligible to enter the D ranked Labyrinth. These are only available in beginner village."

The call disconnected before Hiro could ask him anything. He deeply sighed, and decided to trust his friend. He looked up on the map where the smithy was, it was on the edge of the village, just where he'd been. He mumbled a curse.

There were no transports in Asgard, you either have a travelling skill that takes you from one place to another, a return crystal which are extremely rare or you walk. So that's what he did, he walked. Navigating through the busy streets, getting hungry at the smell and sight of virtual food. Too bad he didn't have money.

He finally arrived at the smithy. The shop wasn't at all impressive he didn't have any hopes that he'd get any stronger here.

He knocked gently on the door, "Hello?"

A voice growled from the inside, as if to say come in. Hiro however didn't catch that, he didn't catch what the voice had said, so he knocked again. The door flung open, a dwarf was standing on the other side. Already looking annoyed.

"Of course it's my kin, do you have wax in your ears greenhorn?" The man growled. He was as short as Hiro was, his beard was long and red, he was bald!

Hiro just stood there, extremely surprised how real it all felt. For a second he forgot this was a game, he shook himself out of his stupor.

"Please take me as an apprentice. I want to learn craftsmanship." He said so abruptly that the dwarf was shocked in turn.

The old dwarf snorted and turned around, at least he didn't shut the door in his face. That was good sign. He went inside, the place was really quite small, it was dingy and hot. It was hard to even breathe.

------

Kiro went to the other side, to the village chief. When he got there, the chief had a worried expression on his face.

"Hello Chief, what can I do to ease up your worries?"

The chief looked at him. He didn't believe the kid could be of any help. He thought the kid was weak, but he was a hero chosen by the gods, surely there was something special about him.

"Kid, this old man's worries are beyond your reach."

Playing hard to get then? "This kid may look weak, but he is skilled. It would be a shame to not use a hero sent by the gods themselves."

The chief gave him a second glance, he sighed and started, "the village has been plagued and terrorised by mountain ducks. We've prayed to the gods and they've sent you, the hero. Please kill them all and make my village a place where fear doesn't exist anymore." the chief said solemnly.

Ding!

[Mountain Duck Quest: the chief has entrusted you with the security of his village. Kill a 100 mountain ducks and make the village safe again and you'll be rewarded handsomely.

Ranked: F

Failure: your relationship with all NPCs in power will reach a negative number

Do you accept?]

"I accept. I'll do my best chief, rest assured." Kiro said.

He walked out, he knew he couldn't just go out there in the field, he didn't have a weapon. He hadn't learned a single martial arts skill, so he was more of a sitting duck than the mountain ducks. He decided to first weigh his options, he was glad that, the quest didn't have a timer.

"Status Window"

Name: Kiro

Level 1

Race: Dreki

Class: Sagehood

Subclass: -

HP: 50/50

MP: 50/50

Attack: 30

PDEF: 20

Strength: 5

Vitality: 5

Dexterity: 5

Stamina: 5

Intelligence: 5

Equipment: tattered cloth armour.

Skills

Staff Wielder

With a staff you can do things many can't. The skill gives you 20% more damage.

Sages started with 5 on all attributes since they're all about balance. Other classes depended on what they excelled at. Every level up gave 10 AP (attribute points) and 5 SP (skill points) on the first quest. After that, every level up gives out 3 points.

'Then, shall we go around fishing for quests in that busy street?' That was his plan to earn money and gain strength. He needed either one, if he got both, even better!

Every NPC could give out quests. It could be to fetch them some water or anything trivial like that, you just needed to know how to talk to them.