Silas stepped past the last row of corn and into the forest. The trees grew thick here. Their branches blocked most of the sunlight, leaving long shadows on the ground. The air felt cooler and heavier, carrying the sharp scent of pine and damp leaves.
A low rustle came from somewhere deeper in. He knew what waited inside. Anyone who dared step foot in this place would meet monsters that did not die as easily as the rats.
He kept his wooden staff ready and moved quietly between the trunks.
A white shape darted from behind a bush. Then another. Two Blood Rabbits locked their crimson eyes on him. Their small black horns glinted in the dim light. They were faster than the rats, and their horns could fire a deadly crystal shard that would kill most new players in one hit.
Silas did not freeze. He raised the staff.
"Fireball."
Fwish!
The orange flame shot forward and slammed into the first rabbit's side.
-26
The creature shrieked and tumbled, fur smoking. But it rolled back onto its feet and charged. Its partner came from the left, low and quick, horn glowing red as it prepared the crystal skill.
Silas twisted his body and rolled sideways. The red shard whistled past his ear and shattered against a tree trunk behind him. Bark exploded in a small burst. He came up on one knee and cast again.
Fwish!
Another fireball struck the second rabbit mid-leap. It crashed into the dirt, legs kicking. The first rabbit lunged at his arm, teeth snapping. Silas jerked back just in time. The teeth grazed his sleeve but did not break skin.
He felt the old sword-fighting instincts kick in even though he held a staff now. He stepped inside the rabbit's reach, swung the staff like a club, and cracked it across the side of its head. The rabbit staggered.
Fwish! Fwish!
Two more fireballs finished them both. The rabbits twitched once and lay still, bodies smoking.
"Phew…"
Silas wiped sweat from his brow. His chest rose and fell a little faster than before. These monsters hit harder and moved quicker than the rats. But his new spirit points made the fireballs stronger. He felt the difference with every cast.
A panel appeared over the first rabbit's body.
[Please select something to extract!]
Silas's eyes sharpened. He stepped closer.
[Blood Rabbit Fur (Common)]
[Horned Staff (Uncommon)]
[Red Crystal Skill (Rare)]
His breath caught. A skill. And it was listed as Rare. In Godfall, skills came in nine ranks; Common all the way up to Artifact. Rare was already a big step above anything most players would see this early.
He placed his hand on the rabbit's still-warm body.
"Extraction."
Ding!
[You have gained the 'Red Crystal' skill!]
[Red Crystal Level 1: Deals exactly 40 damage to target. Consumes 15 mana. 5-second cooldown.]
A small grin tugged at the corner of Silas's mouth. He now had two skills. Most players at this stage had only their starter one. The SSS talent was already paying off.
Before he could think more, another notification flashed.
Ding!
[Fireball has increased to Level 2. Base damage increased from 10 to 20.]
Silas tested it right away. He raised the staff toward a third rabbit that had crept closer, curious about the noise. The spell left his hand faster and hit harder.
Fwish! Boom!
-36
The rabbit died in two casts instead of three. He tried the new skill next.
Red Crystal!
A small crimson shard formed at the tip of his staff, sharp and glowing. He flicked his wrist and sent it flying. The shard punched straight through the next rabbit's head. The creature dropped without a sound.
He moved deeper into the forest. The fights came one after another. Rabbits leaped from bushes and dropped from low branches. Silas rolled, sidestepped, and cast without panic. Fireball followed by Red Crystal, over and over. The cooldowns lined up perfectly so he could keep pressure on them. None of the rabbits got close enough to use their horns again.
Two hours passed in a blur of flame and blood.
He collected exactly five Blood Rabbit furs for the quest. He also pulled a Horned Staff from one of the bodies. The new staff felt better in his hand. It added six points to his spirit. He equipped it immediately. His fireballs now hit even harder.
Ding!
[You have leveled up to Level 3. All attributes raised by 5. You have 4 free attribute points and 1 skill point.]
Silas put every free point into Spirit again. Damage was his priority right now. He checked his backpack. The five furs fit neatly inside.
"That should be enough," he muttered.
He left the forest and stepped back into the sunlit farmlands. The open fields felt safer after the tight trees. But he did not head straight for the village yet. He still needed money and more items to sell.
The Demonized Rats looked smaller now. One fireball dropped them in a single hit. Red Crystal finished any that survived. He moved through the crops like a shadow, killing eighteen rats in quick succession. Each time the extraction panel appeared, he took another Beginner Backpack or a Black Rat Helmet.
When both backpacks were full, he had five extra helmets and a second backpack that doubled his carrying space to ten slots.
"Good."
Silas smiled for the first time since entering the game. He packed everything neatly and walked back through the east gate.
The silver-skinned alchemist looked up as he entered the shop. Her eyes brightened when Silas placed the five Blood Rabbit furs on the counter.
"Oh! Very good," she said, nodding with clear approval. "You worked hard for these."
She handed him three small glass vials. One glowed soft green, one bright blue, and one deep red.
"Three potions as thanks," she told him. "Use them well."
Silas examined them quickly. The green one restored 150 health. The blue one restored 150 mana. The red one was a Poison Potion, one sip and anything with low health would die fast.
He slipped the potions into his backpack, bowed slightly in thanks, and stepped outside.
The main square buzzed with players. More newcomers had arrived. Some still fought rats near the gate. Others argued over teams. Silas found a clear spot near the center, sat down on the ground, and laid out his goods.
Five Black Rat Helmets.
One spare Beginner Backpack.
The green Health Potion.
The blue Mana Potion.
He took a deep breath and raised his voice so the crowd could hear.
"Cheap items! Cheap items! Useful for beginners!"
Heads turned. Players stopped what they were doing and drifted closer. Eyes widened when they saw the helmets and potions. Whispers spread fast.
Silas sat still, calm as ever, while the crowd grew around his little stall. He had what they needed, and they had the coins he wanted.
It was time to turn his early advantage into real money.