Chapter 6
The Starting Village.
"Wow! This is New World!"
"This is insane!"
Newly joined players were fully immersed in the virtual reality world of New World.
It was natural, given that the world they had only seen in fantasy movies was now realized in such detail.
"Look at that armor over there!"
"Wow, it looks just like the one from that movie!"
Beginner players roamed around the Starting Village, enjoying the immersive virtual world of New World.
"So, what class did you choose?"
"I went with Warrior. When starting, it's always best to go with Warrior."
Capsules were expensive, so most customers played in capsule rooms.
Naturally, many played with friends rather than alone.
In fact, over 60% of the beginners here were playing with friends.
"Then we should head to the Swordsmanship Training Hall, right?"
According to New World community beginner guides, Warriors should definitely go to the Swordsmanship Training Hall.
It was crucial for acquiring basic skills early on and for getting equipment and leveling up.
The problem was they didn't know the exact location of the training hall.
"Let's just wander around. We'll find something."
They wandered aimlessly for a while until they saw a small stream.
"Hey, I think we're lost."
"Yeah, it would be great if we had a map."
In New World, maps were items you had to purchase to view. It was perfectly normal for beginners to get lost.
"Hey, there's someone over there."
"Yeah, let's ask him."
By the stream, they saw a person filling a bucket with water. Since there was no name tag above his head, he was probably a player.
[Player Information]
- Nickname: Hoon
- Level: 11
- Class: Martial Artist
He was indeed a player!
"Let's ask him!"
"Yeah, let's go."
The two beginner players approached the player filling his bucket with water.
"Excuse me, can we ask you something?"
"Huh? Do you have any business with me?"
"Ah... We're looking for the Swordsmanship Training Hall, but we don't know where it is. Can you help us? We'll repay you later!"
They asked as politely as possible.
"Oh, you're heading in the wrong direction. From the square, take the left path, and you'll find the Swordsmanship Training Hall right away."
"Got it! Thank you so much!"
"No problem. Take care."
What a kind player.
Thanks to him, the two beginners found the training hall without further trouble.
"Who was that guy?"
"I don't know, but how did he know the location so well if he's not a Warrior?"
At level 11, it meant he hadn't been playing for long. Yet he knew the location precisely.
"Are you newbies?"
An NPC instructor was checking the identities of those at the entrance to the training hall.
"Yes!"
"We'll train hard!"
Both beginner players had chosen the Warrior class.
"Both of you are Warriors. No issues. You may enter."
With the NPC instructor's permission, the doors to the training hall opened.
"Let's begin today's training."
Jeong-hoon set the bucket down. It had been three days since he started training under Dokgo Joon.
[Player Information]
- Nickname: Hoon
- Level: 11
- Class: Martial Artist
- Title: Perfect Beginner
[Detailed Stats]
- Strength: 21(+2) ➛ 23
- Agility: 21(+4) ➛ 25
- Endurance: 21(+4) ➛ 25
- Defense: 21(+2) ➛ 23
- Wisdom: 21(+2) ➛ 23
- Mana: 21(+2) ➛ 23
- Holy Power: 21(+2) ➛ 23
- Mental Strength: 10(+1) ➛ 11
- Bonus Stats: 10
[Passive Skills]
- Steadfast Will (Rare)
- Unyielding Body (Normal)
- Enhanced Concentration (Normal)
[Active Skills]
- Vital Strike (Normal)
- King's Fist (Unique)
There had been progress.
In three days of training, Jeong-hoon's Strong Body and Agile Body had fused into Unyielding Body.
The fusion condition was met when passive skills met specific criteria and Steadfast Will activated, merging the skills and slightly boosting stats.
He also acquired a new skill, Enhanced Concentration.
[Enhanced Concentration]
- Type: Passive
- Level: 1
- Grade: Normal
- Effect: Mental strength is boosted by +1.
- There is a very low chance that Mana and Holy Power stats will increase by +1 with each level-up.
Repeated tasks requiring concentration were needed to acquire Enhanced Concentration.
This skill would play a crucial role in increasing Mana and Holy Power in the future.
[You're doing it too perfectly for me to say anything...]
Dokgo Joon watched Jeong-hoon perform the first stage of King's Fist with a speechless expression.
He had only shown it once, yet Jeong-hoon had not only replicated it but also made it his own.
As time passed, he executed it more precisely, as if finding his true self.
Dokgo Joon had always thought Jeong-hoon had innate talent, but mastering the first stage of King's Fist in just three days was beyond his expectations.
'He's not just someone who will stay in this dojo.'
He had believed that properly nurturing Jeong-hoon would make him a dragon, but he was beyond measure.
Watching Jeong-hoon made Dokgo Joon ambitious.
He wanted King's Fist to be recognized as the best martial art in the world, something he hadn't achieved in his lifetime.
Understanding this, Dokgo Joon felt his body gradually becoming transparent.
He called Jeong-hoon after much contemplation.
[Disciple.]
"Yes."
Jeong-hoon stopped practicing King's Fist and stood before him, wondering if it was time to enhance the skill.
Every moment he spent in this dojo was to achieve King's Fist.
'It's truly a game-breaking skill.'
He had thought he reached the pinnacle as All-Master before the regression, but he was wrong. There were many unseen strong individuals like Dokgo Joon.
If he had fought them with the same weapons and without the advantage of being an All-Master, he would have lost.
Even the King's Fist he had just learned was formidable.
In close combat, Jeong-hoon couldn't match Dokgo Joon's skills.
Could he really be called an All-Master?
Thinking this far made the title of All-Master from his past life seem shameful.
[I want to give you everything about King's Fist.]
So soon?
He was honestly surprised. He had expected at least a week of repetitive training.
A red exclamation mark appeared above Dokgo Joon's head.
[You have completed the hidden quest.]
[King's Fist is enhanced.]
[King's Fist has been upgraded from Unique to Legendary.]
Now, King's Fist was Legendary.
[King's Fist]
- Type: Active
- Level: 1
- Grade: Legendary
- Effect: Unleash the King's Fist created by Dokgo Joon.
- The skill can be upgraded to a maximum of 10 stages.
King's Fist had evolved from a maximum of 8 stages to 10.
Lee Hwarang's 8-stage King's Fist, which had entered Jeong-hoon's hands, had now evolved to 10 stages.
"Thank you!"
[And there's one more thing I want to give you.]
As Dokgo Joon spoke, a rainbow-colored question mark appeared above his head.
'Rainbow...!'
A secret quest.
More challenging to unlock than hidden quests, only four had appeared in New World to date.
Jeong-hoon checked the quest with trembling hands.
[Secret Quest: Walk the Path of the King]
- Restriction: The only disciple of Dokgo Joon
- Reward: [Title] Disciple of the King
- Description: Inherit the power of Dokgo Joon.
Another title here...?
The string of rewards left Jeong-hoon speechless.
Dokgo Joon burst into hearty laughter at Jeong-hoon's dumbfounded expression.
[I had wanted to revive this dojo... but my mind has changed. I've decided to entrust everything to you.]
"What... entrust everything to someone you've known for only three days?"
Jeong-hoon asked in shock.
Even if he was an NPC, wasn't this too much?
He would gladly accept, though.
Dokgo Joon's face was serious.
[Yes. But promise me one thing.]
"A promise?"
[Let the world know that King's Fist is the greatest.]
"That's it?"
[Yes.]
There was no lingering attachment in Dokgo Joon's eyes.
"...I understand."
[I entrust you with this.]
As Jeong-hoon accepted, the question mark above Dokgo Joon's head turned into an exclamation mark.
[You have completed the secret quest.]
[You have acquired the title 'Disciple of the King'.]
With the reward received, Dokgo Joon's figure disappeared completely.
Jeong-hoon closed his eyes and offered a silent prayer.
Level 347 Bowmaster
Lee Hwarang arrived at the Starting Village!
The arrival of a named user caused a stir among beginner players.
"Is that really Lee Hwarang?"
"No way... it really is!"
When he appeared in the square, it was already bustling, but it became so crowded it seemed ready to burst.
"Move! I want to see Lee Hwarang!"
"There's no room, stop pushing!"
The Starting Village housed players ranging from level 1 to level 40.
For low-level players, high-level players were akin to gods, so the excitement was natural.
Lee Hwarang was an officer of the Myth Guild.
Myth Guild
Even people who didn't play New World had heard of this powerful guild, one of the strongest.
Founded by Sword King Sa Jae-hyuk, one of South Korea's top seven players, it was famous.
Lee Hwarang was a prominent figure aiming to become a divine archer, making headlines.
The square, now paralyzed, showed no signs of clearing.
"Excuse me, can I ask you something?"
Lee Hwarang approached a player.
The player, a level 38 novice mage, responded eagerly.
"Yes? Of course! I'll answer whatever I can!"
"Is there a training hall here?"
"A training hall?"
"Not the usual one players use. I think it's a small, old place."
"Wait a minute..."
The novice mage glanced at a novice warrior beside him.
Lee Hwarang's eyes sharpened.
"Do you have any idea?"
"Yes... I'll explain."
The novice warrior reluctantly recounted a recent event, omitting the part about losing a PVP match to a level 11 player.
"...Thank you."
Lee Hwarang ran towards the dojo the novice warrior mentioned.
"What's in that dojo?"
The novice warrior, Cheol-min, muttered.
The novice mage, Han Deok-gu, shook Cheol-min's shoulder as if he had realized something.
"Hey! I get why you lost to that level 11."
"Damn it, what is it?"
"Why do you think Lee Hwarang came to the Starting Village looking for that old dojo? There must be something there."
"...So, that level 11 guy had something special?"
"Exactly."
"Damn, you made me mess with a guy like that? Want to die?"
"Hey, didn't I buy you a pork cutlet? You're not going back on your word, are you?"
"Ugh... I need another pork cutlet to cool off."
"Tsk tsk, let's go."