"This is the Starting Point of the Northern Region of God's Realm Online?" Malik asked himself while looking around.
"No... It's a starting point assigned to me by that damned system. Anything from that system won't be good. I better prepare myself for the worst."
"But I've to gather information about this place first."
> [Player CrimsonFlame. You've been assigned to a random Town. You can check your coordinates by using the voice command:
Open Map]
"Open Map," Malik said instantly, and his coordinates appeared right in front of him. There was a green icon representing him, and he captured the areas surrounding where he stood.
"I'm in the Town Square of Lont. A Tier 3 town under the Valcharis Empire."
"So now that I know... What am I supposed to do?"
"Storm the Valcharis Empire, turn it into nothing but chaos, and shove my middle finger at the Main God System."
"Of course, all this won't be possible with these pitiful stats I've got."
Status Page
> [Name —) CrimsonFlame
Class —) Cultivator
Realm —) Apprentice
Stage —) 0 (0/100)
HP —) 100/100
SE —) 26
Description: A fool that wasted a lifetime opportunity on reaching the peak of God's Realm]
"For real? This godforsaken system describes me as a fool." Malik didn't know whether to laugh or cry as he pulled up his attribute panel.
> [Strength —) 6
Agility —) 4
Endurance —) 3
Intelligence —) 1]
"This..." Black lines appeared on Malik's forehead as he stared at his attributes panel.
"I'm fucking weaker than a Level 0 Slime. Intelligence 1..."
"Really? The system is damn serious about tagging me as a fool." Malik nearly cried out when he pulled up his inventory panel, which was empty. He was dressed in nothing but layman clothing—no weapon or items for use.
"I thought I would be given a sword or dagger as a starter. Is this system really toying with me?" Malik gritted his teeth as he started moving forward.
"I better not look for trouble because I'm even weaker than a Level 1 noob at this point."
The base stats for every player in GRO are 10, no matter what class you pick. When Malik first logged into God's Realm Online, he had chosen the Swordsman Class, and his base stats were 10. He was also given a common sword and some other newbie items. Now in this Northern Region, his base stats were half of what they were supposed to be, and he had no equipment on.
'My starting point isn't a village but a town. The laws guiding a town can be easily breached. I can be ambushed by other players for reasons best known to them. I've got to be careful.'
'I should go look for a quest. Yes, getting a hidden quest will be best. But where can I get such? I haven't even met a single player here. Does it mean I'm the only player in the village? I'm the only rookie...'
Malik's eyes widened as he froze, realization dawning on him—but before he could lament, he heard the system's voice ring out in his mind.
> [Infinite Chaos Scripture has been activated — current location has been analyzed]
[You'll now receive 1 Qi point every ten minutes.]
"1 Qi point every ten minutes… As expected of a starter town. The energy density is so low."
"Young Adventurer," a voice called out, and Malik instinctively turned back.
"You've been standing there for a while. Is there anything the problem?"
'No icon on his head. Definitely he's an NPC. Goddess of Luck, you didn't forget me after all.'
"I'm new in Lont, so I don't really know where to go. So I decided to look around and observe," Malik replied respectfully.
"That settles itself. As a young adventurer, it's good to be observant. Is there anything you need my help with?"
The NPC asked, and Malik's eyes widened in shock. 'Is this NPC crazy? It's indirectly playing my role? I'm the one that's supposed to ask that question.'
"Yes. You see, I just arrived in town, and I don't know the current situation. I haven't even met any other Adventurer or natives of Lont," Malik replied, and the NPC nodded.
"That's only natural. The majority of the population in Lont is gathered in the Town Square."
"The Town Square... Isn't that place the Town Square?" Malik asked, pointing at the Starting Point where he spawned, and the NPC chuckled.
"That was before the Beginning Tower spawned in Lont Town. The area where the Beginning Tower spawned is now the new Town Square of Lont."
"The Beginning Tower? What's that?" Malik asked, confused, and the NPC arched a brow as he looked at the Adventurer.
"I've spent enough time with you. I need to go do other things," the NPC said as he was about to leave, but Malik quickly stepped forward.
"What other things do you want to do? I can help you out," Malik said to him, and he shook his head.
"I don't think you can. You can't even get past the first floor of the Beginning Tower at your level."
"So what can I do to be able to clear the first floor of the Beginning Tower?" Malik asked, and the NPC turned to him.
"So you're also interested in the Beginning Tower. Every Adventurer is interested in the Beginning Tower—even most of the knights. They all want to earn prestige points and boost their reputation, that they forget about the ordinary citizens," the NPC mused, and Malik's eyes twitched.
"I'm not really interested in the Beginning Tower. After all, it's for weaklings. Since you've filled me in on the current situation in Lont Town, it's only natural I help you out with whatever you need."
"Really? You can help me out?" the NPC asked as his face lit up but then died down instantly when he realized Malik was just too weak—and from his appearance, he didn't look like a noble.
"Since you insist. I'll tell you what's bothering me, Young Adventurer."
"My daughter has been missing for three days now. She went alone to the outskirts of Lont Forest to fetch herbs and hasn't been back yet. I've gone searching for her and even sent some Adventurers to look for her, but she has not been found. I'll be glad if you can help bring back my daughter."
> [Congratulations. You've triggered the hidden quest — Retrieve Gul's Daughter
Quest Description: Gul's daughter has been missing for three days, and Gul has been frantically searching for her but has not seen her. You are to look for his daughter and bring her back to Lont.
Time limit: 1 day
Quest Difficulty: A
Quest Reward: ??
Quest Penalty: Death]
[Do you want to accept this quest?]
[Y/N]
A-rank difficulty quest and the penalty is death. With these pitiful stats? The system must be kidding me.
"Looking for your daughter in the outskirts of Lont is something very hard, and the current me can't accomplish it," Malik said to the NPC, who had a pitiful look on his face.
"But I can only accept to help you on one condition."
'He's accepting to help despite the danger involved… or should I say he doesn't know the dangers involved in it… This is an opportunity I must not miss,' the NPC said to himself, ready to accept any condition Malik asked for.
"What condition?"
"I'm going to have to borrow your gear. It'll improve my combat power, and I'll have a higher chance of saving your daughter. It's a fair trade. Don't you think?" Malik said with a slight smirk at the corner of his lips. He had already activated the Eyes of Insight and saw through the information of the NPC.
> [Gul – Knight of Lont Town]
Level – 8
Attack: 200–250
Defense: 300–350
Description: A retired knight who has been depressed by the disappearance of his daughter, reducing his combat power.
"As a retired knight... Gul is sure to have some good stuff. I can't wait to lay my hands on them. Hehe..." Malik's smile intensified as he stared at Gul, who stared back at him in shock.
'This Adventurer is a sly individual.'