"Damn it!"
"Who stole my kill?!"
"Why the hell is this rabbit so quick?!"
"Feel the power of my Fireball!"
Outside the Starter Village, Rylan leaves town and arrives on a patch of grassy plains.
[You have entered the "Rookie Plains."]
[Rookie Plains, recommended for Levels 1–5.]
The system notification rings out. Rylan sees quite a few players chasing monsters around the field. The small area is crawling with players, and there aren't many monsters in sight—clearly more people than creatures.
Rylan shakes his head. Fortunately, he hasn't accepted any monster-hunting quests. He takes a few steps forward, not even considering staying there, intent on leaving.
Suddenly, a flicker of light streaks across his path, and in the next moment, a gray rabbit appears right in front of him.
——————————
[Grassland Rabbit]
[Level: 1]
[HP: 50]
[Physical Attack: 3]
[Defense: 0]
[Speed: 2]
[Skill: Hind Kick]
——————————
Rylan uses Eye of Insight to scan the rabbit's stats. Just as he's about to respond, a loud shout comes from beside him.
"This one's mine—don't touch it!"
A moment later, a player wielding a newbie longsword charges up, lunging toward the Grassland Rabbit before Rylan can react.
[-4]
A small red number floats overhead. As that player basks in the triumph of "kill stealing," Rylan has already skirted around him and headed off to a higher-level area. Truth be told, Rylan was never planning to fight rabbits in the first place.
He has more important plans in mind.
Officially, it's recommended that everyone start by hunting around the village to learn combat skills and familiarize themselves with the controls, but for someone reborn like Rylan, that's a non-issue.
In his past life, he managed to become a top player in Myth with only a D- tier support talent.
Now that the game has just launched, he's definitely the most formidable player around in terms of control. That's the confidence you get being reborn.
——————————
Rylan crosses the [Rookie Plains] and quickly arrives at the next leveling zone.
[Corrupted Forest, recommended for Levels 5–8.]
But as soon as Rylan steps inside, a few players come stumbling out, looking rattled.
"Dude, don't go in there!"
"The monsters inside are insanely strong. My defensive talent boosts my base HP to three times the usual, and I still got one-shotted!"
Seeing Rylan is only Level 1, one of them tries to warn him. Rylan just nods and says nothing.
"Oh well, let him figure it out. Once he dies a few times, he'll learn."
"If he's Level 1, he should be properly learning the ropes out on the plains. What's he doing over here?"
Muttering under their breath, they shuffle off. The one with good intentions glances at Rylan again, then leaves with the group.
Rylan marches into the [Corrupted Forest] without hesitation. The scenery around him changes dramatically: where wide-open plains once stretched out, towering trees now block the sunlight. The air is noticeably cooler, and the atmosphere grows eerie. If someone were using a B-rank or higher pod, they'd even catch the smell of damp soil.
Fewer players wander the forest compared to the Rookie Plains.
In Myth, players are usually stronger than the monsters around the Starter Village, and as levels increase, the monsters' stats leap significantly higher.
At Level 1, stepping outside the village is practically a death sentence against any wild creature.
——————————
Keeping his guard up, Rylan activates Eye of Insight, recalling three collection quests he picked up back in the Starter Village. Most of the items are found right here in the [Corrupted Forest].
Following a wooded path for a short while, he spots a small herb growing by the roadside.
[Healing Herb]
Exactly what he needs for one of the collection quests. Rylan quickly moves to pluck it, but—
Swish!
A rustling noise comes from a nearby thicket. The next second, a glint of cold steel flashes out of the brush. Almost simultaneously, Rylan sidesteps lightly, letting that blade skim right past his ear. In the same breath, he reaches down and grabs the herb.
Only then does he finally turn back to see the creature that attacked him: a black rat clutching a small, gleaming dagger.
——————————
[Assassin Rat]
[Level: 5]
[HP: 500]
[Physical Attack: 138]
[Defense: 2]
[Speed: 19]
[Skills: Rapid Rush, Assassinate]
[Traits: Timid, Cautious]
——————————
"Squeak…squeak…!"
Having missed its attack, the Assassin Rat squeals in anger, its beady red eyes glaring at Rylan. Yet the moment Rylan steps forward, it squeaks again, spins around, and scurries back into the undergrowth.
Rylan can only shake his head in resignation. He was actually hoping to get himself killed once more, but his instincts saved him. He doesn't bother chasing the rat. He simply continues searching the forest for useful materials.
...
Half an hour passes.
[Ding!]
[Newbie Quest: The Herbalist's Request is complete!]
[Newbie Quest: The Blacksmith's Request is complete!]
[Newbie Quest: The Drunkard's Request is complete!]
Eye of Insight proves invaluable, and Rylan quickly gathers all required items. Along the way, he encounters numerous monsters. Besides Assassin Rats, there are tree spirits disguised as regular trees; any unwitting player who ventures too close is bound and then finished off.
Rylan has the skill and experience of his previous life, but he never actively avoids the creatures. In fact, he's quite happy to get himself killed. Over the course of that half-hour, he's died twenty times.
Because he remains Level 1 with zero experience, resurrecting on the spot incurs no real loss. Meanwhile, the monsters that kill him once or twice trigger the newbie protection feature and get teleported away to different areas. Standing there and letting them kill him repeatedly just isn't an option.
"All three gathering quests are finished. If I remember correctly, there might be a hidden reward if you turn in higher-grade materials."
"I can probably find those in the next area, and I need to reach the deeper part of the Corrupted Forest anyway."
Standing among the towering trees, Rylan eyes the sinister-looking woods up ahead and makes his decision. He strides forward.
[Ding!]
[You have entered the depths of the Corrupted Forest.]
[The recommended level for this map is much higher than yours. You're advised to turn back immediately!]
"Sorry, system. Your advice is wasted on me."
He ignores the prompt, holds his head high, and continues on his way.