"The phase of your training involves mastering other Catalyst's [Basic Skill]."

  With that, my Tutorial stage tinued.

  Ding!

  Clear!"Now, let's introduent. In real bat, you will not be stationary."

  And I kept going through it all.

  Ding!

  Clear!"For the final test of this session. You will face a simuted enemy. Use everything you have learned. Adapt, trol, quer."

  A massive figure of code and pixels gradually formed into a perfect creature. It lica of the hybrid dragon that served as the game's main enemy in the [Open World], plete with jaws and sharp cws.

  Even though it was a dragon, it had a humanoid appearance as tall as an adult man (around two meters or more?) with two arms and stood on two legs. Uhe usual image ons, this being cked wings, giving it an appearance simir to mythological of "Eastern region" dragons, but with a twist. Like a human being made to look like a lizard.

  The only difference from humans was its bck scales covered its entire body with an unnaturally bloated shape. Also, the hard skin jutted out behind its head like two pairs of horns.

  "That is a Pawn Grade hybrid," Noir interjected, "the lowest tier enemy suitable for a newer like you to fight."

  It was only natural to be given this enemy Grade at this stage. But in World: The in, with its realistic traits, the hybrid ahead of me wouldn't be like the mindless monster fodder in mames that were easy to kill.

  Did as usual, then.

  '.'

  The immediate challenge was the ndscape: running on uneven grou cumbersome, and losing bance could mean slipping or falling. Oher hand, my enemy likely had more advantages. Despite its bulky appeara might possess agility and speed beyond what its form suggested—a on trope in fantasy games where reality's straints didn't always apply.

  I o prepare for either sario: ahat was swift or ohat was slow.

  The factor was uanding the use of my Skill. [Ice Lancer] allowed me to create up to three projectiles simultaneously, with a Cooldown of five seds betweehe damage and performance depended on my [Stability] and [Reflex] stats (which were still painfully [F]). With a Casting Time of around one sed, it would take only that sed for all three projectiles.

  It was best to let the enemy make the first move.

  After a proloaring test, the creature charged. At a distance of twenty meters, I could have unched a projectile. Still, I held back, knowing my low [Grade trol] meant I needed precision. I studied its movement—slow pared to a human's sprint, likely limited to 2?m/s. The bulk of its body seemed to his mobility, with its feet occasionally sinking into the sand.

  When the distaween us lessened, I spread my fio cast three ice projectiles. My hand stretched out to aim as it got closer... even closer... its steps momentarily faltering in the loose sand—

  'Now!'

  Stab! Stab!

  —two ice projectiles struck right into its eyes with a siing squelch. But my triumph was short-lived as the st one missed its intended mark.

  Still, it was enough.

  The creature let out a deafening howl, stumbling backward with its hands wildly g at its face; it was loud enough to make my ears ring even from five meters away.

  I decided to maintain our distance.

  sidering a Pawn was the lowest enemy rank, it shouldn't have high intelligence or senses. Uo see, it wouldn't realize I was no longer where I was and wouldn't know where I currently was. Its instincts would lead it to the st pce it saw me.

  A straight dash.

  Like now, its mouth opened wide in anger as it ran straightforwardly with a loud howl while I was already walking away. Not wanting us to be too far apart, I summoned another ice projectile and shot it at its back—

  g!

  'Hard scales!'

  I wasn't sure if the enemy had a high defense or if my Grade was still too low to pee its skin. Or perhaps it was both. Either way, this meant I had to adjust my approach.

  Because of the attack, the hybrid knew where I was. With a surprised flinch, it turned around and sprioward me, its massive feet kig up clouds of sand. I moved from my position, hoping the sand would muffle my steps and erase my tracks.

  The monster ended up dashing behind where I had been.

  'How fortuhis sand dampen my step.'

  While sand could muffle the sound of movement, a quiet desert still carried the risk of footsteps being heard—uhere was a steady wind. Fortunately, my ditions seemed favorable; even a gentle breeze was enough to mask the sound of subtle movements like footsteps in the sand.

  I kept moving, biding my time for [Ice Lancer]'s cooldown as the hybrid reeled from my st feint.

  Subtly adjusting my path, I edged closer to its uable movements to e stayed within striking distance. Refog, I cast three more ice projectiles, keeping them ready while whistling sharply to catch the creature's attention. Alert, it perked up, its tiny ears twitg as its head turoward the sound: me.

  I tinued whistling as it approached angrily.

  Just about it lu me; I stopped whistling and dropped into a quick crouch. The creature's momentum carried it forward, its jaws snapping shut just above my head by inches. I aimed upward at the underside of its jaw.

  202019Those numbers represehe damage I had caused. That retty low, I realized. Perhaps this game didn't use high damage numbers after all.

  I rolled away as the creature cried out, g with the pain I caused. I readied myself for the cooldown of [Ice Lao end. Targeting its underside jaw was anamble; I didn't know where this monster's oint was. All I uood was that creatures with armored skin often had less prote around their mouths to allow for more flexibility.

  'But that didn't necessarily mean it was enough to kill the monster, right?'

  The cooldo, and my [Ice Lancer] was already floating in my hand. In the distahe monster was swaying slightly as if unsure of its move. Then, with a final miserable groan, it colpsed onto the sandy ground, and its body dissolved into tless pixels and faded into the air like mist.

  '...It is done?'

  I didn't think it would be this easy; I hadn't anticipated the fight with a Pawn Grade eo end... quickly. Yes, I know; my tactid timing were calcuted. But the actual oute seemed to unfold faster than I had mentally prepared for?

  "Oh, well, if the enemy is weak, then it really is just weak."

  Ding!

  gratutions!Tutorial Stage pleted!

  EXP received884Gold received3,000With a long sigh, I wao close that notification; however, just as my ha up, it was repced with another s that kept ing.

  Ding!

  Achievement Unlocked!Master of BasicsSuccessfully master the Basic SkillGrants a passive +10% experience gain for all as until Level 10Ding!

  You have shown average on trol!Stability Point +22/5 points to Grade F+ on StabilityYou have shown excellent strategy!Tactics Point +50/10 points to Grade E on TacticsYou have shown good tration!Focus Point +33/5 points to Grade F+ on FocusYou have shown average reas!Reflex Point +22/5 points to Grade F+ on Reflex'Too much text!'

  I averted my gaze to see Noir approag me, g her hands. The simution room also returo its inal state—a vast room with a giant holographic globe.

  "Excellent work. Now, you may proceed with your ask to maintain your Mount. I will leave the care to Daniel in the Gear Department. I have marked the location for you."

  Ding!

  New Quest!Get your own Mount

  TaskVisit the Gear Department and talk to "Daniel"Location428mTime limit-PrizeMou-up; EXP +50Wele to your new adve is time to get your first Mount to help you travel faster and reach more pces. Go to the Gear Department in Vaughan Academy and find Daniel. He is the equipment expert and will help you get set up. With your new mount, you will be ready to explore even more of this world!"My duty to guide you has ended." Nave her trademark military salute. "Have a safe trip, and good luck with your mission, student Luo."

  Then she began to walk away—

  Ding!

  The tutorial stage is pleted!You ow explore freely'Damn it! Why does this game have so many notification ss?!'

  Rather than paying attention to them—including the notifications from the pleted Tutorial stage that were still popping up—I walked down the hallway to exit the building.

  As soon as the elevator in front of me opened, I rushed in and found someone already inside. And that "someone" seemed surprised to see me after being immersed in... his cell phone? Yes, a phone! Wheered the lift, he quickly looked up to meet my gaze.

  This game seemed to be set in an Old Era. Since, iy, people used cell phones like that before switg to Helios.

  It was around a thousand years ago!

  ces were he was also an NPC, as he held a non-pyer object like that. But why did he keep looking at me with such shoever mind. I gnced iher dire and looked up.

  Fourteen floors? Pretty high, and with the slow pace of the lift...

  '...this gonna take time.'

  Standing in a small space with strangers felt awkward, so while waiting, I checked my earlier notification s to close it—Wait...

  Item Gained! Spiritual Ring (Rare)Required Level0 Cost20A beautiful ring that amplifies charm if it es in tact with spiritual powerAdding DP Recovery +9%; healing effectiveness +50%

  'A rare item?!'

  "Excuse me."

  Surprised, I looked behind me and noticed that "someone" was nervously peeking at me. Why would an NPC talk to me out of the blue? A random event? Closing the previous s, I turned around to face him properly.

  But my as... ah, yes, that expression.

  Fear.

  He inched away, looking down. Well, he seemed nervous by holding his own arm. How nostalgic. I hadn't seen such a rea in a long time. And the reason for such a reason might still be the same.

  'My eyes.'

  Most people couldn't bear to look me in the eyes. Weird that an NPC would respond like that, too. Whereas Noir seemed normal when seeing me. And modifying the avatar's eyes was a on thing, no? So, even though mine seemed intimidating in the real world, it should be "normal" here.

  But this was useless; I couldn't gain anything if he kept silent. Instead of tinuing, I turned away, and ohe lift showed I had reached the first floor, I quickly went out.

  Stepping out of the building, I found myself amidst Vaughan's bustling streets. Pyers on their Mounts, including motorcycles emitting blue-white energy, zipped past, their engines harmonizing with the murmur of groups mingling here and there.

  The presence of a crowd outside caught me by surprise.

  Out of curiosity, I approached, cutting through the crowd of pyers and NPCs to see what had attracted such attention. With each step, the heart of the gathering came clear—a group of people lined up led by... Noir?!

  'She went straight there, huh?'

  In this game, NPCs, such as Noir, were uhere was only one iire game world. If pyers wao i with them, timing was necessary; they o be aware of the NPCs' schedules, which varied and were desigo imitate real-life dynamics. Some were said to roam freely, while others remained in one location.

  Growing more and more curious, I walked over—

  Thud!

  —but instead crashed into an invisible wall.

  Oh, e on, it had only been a few hours since I started pying, yet I was already ridiculously bumped into something. Twice! What was wrong with me today?! Ugh. Instead of thinking about it (it was my own fault, after all), I turo look ahead; I noticed the transparent wall was giving a red notification.

  Access Denied!ReasonInsuffit Main GradeRequired Grade for Raid ParticipationCCurrent GradeF'Raid, huh?'

  The sight before me began to make sense.

  A small group of pyers stood beyond the barrier. They were high-level, evidently from their impressive equipment. A select few prepared to take on the Raid while the rest—including me—remained behind, uo join. Even the NPCs mingling within the se outnumbered those pyers, highlighting just how exclusive Raid participation was.

  This exclusivity wasn't just about skillfulness; it was tied to the device required to py World: The in. The game could only be accessed using the VR:Ser. Yet, its produ had been distinued several months ago (around six months) for reasons that remained a mystery. That made participation is like these an eveer symbol of prestige for the few.

  And one of those few insides was... looking at me?

  Now, it felt like I was eye-to-eye with her? A long silver-haired girl with golden irises that were quite soft, making it seem like—Nah, it was just my feeling at best, like... the dire of her gaze was this way, but her focus wasn't on me. I'd better work on the Quest.

  I began to walk away.