Don selected the dagger without hesitation. A soft metallic clink echoed faintly from within his inventory space, the subtle confirmation that the weapon had been stored. He didn't take it out immediately.
Around him, the farmland had already begun to descend into chaos. Players poured in from every direction, their movements hurried and impatient, eyes locked onto any monster that dared to spawn.
Voices overlapped, calls, curses, shouts of frustration, as competition intensified with every passing second. In a place like this, where everyone was scrambling for the same limited resources, standing out too much was dangerous.
A tall tree catches the wind. Drawing attention now would only invite unnecessary trouble, kill steals, hostility, maybe even early rivalries. Keeping a low profile was always the smarter choice.
With that thought in mind, Don quietly equipped the dagger. The weapon materialized seamlessly into his grip, its weight settling into his hand as though it had always belonged there.
The blade was simple, nothing flashy, nothing extraordinary, but there was a certain sharpness to it, a quiet lethality that resonated with his build. He moved forward without another glance behind him and slipped out of the chaos.
Behind him, the once manageable farmland had turned into a crowded battlefield. Players collided into one another, scrambling to tag monsters first, their attacks overlapping in messy, inefficient bursts.
Some had already discovered Farmer Arnon, rushing to trigger the same quest Don had completed earlier. But reality hit quickly, too many players, too few monsters. Even landing a single hit had become a struggle.
Don didn't stay to watch. Instead, he drifted toward the outskirts, his pace steady and unhurried as he approached the entrance of Yiersa Village. The difference was immediate.
The further he moved from the central farmland, the quieter it became. The noise faded, the pressure eased. Only a handful of players lingered near the edges, most of them unaware of the opportunity they were overlooking.
His lips curved slightly. 'Perfect.'
A nearby grasshopper was perched lazily near the edge of a broken wheat patch, its attention still fixed on its meal. It never saw him coming.
The dagger flashed, a clean, precise arc, then another. Two strikes, sharp and efficient. The creature's body stiffened, then collapsed.
The difference was immediate. With the dagger equipped, everything felt smoother. His attacks were sharper, faster, more controlled. Each strike carried a sense of precision his bare fists had never quite achieved.
He moved from one target to another, his body flowing naturally through each encounter. There was no hesitation in his steps, no unnecessary movement. Each attack was deliberate. Each kill calculated.
Within a short time, his experience bar surged once more, and a familiar golden light descended.
[Level 5]
The warmth of the level-up washed over him, restoring his body and sharpening his senses. Almost immediately, a system notification followed.
[Your level has reached Level 5.]
[Please proceed to a nearby village and find a Rogue Instructor to learn basic skills.]
A faint flicker of excitement passed through Don's eyes. Among the countless beginner villages scattered across the Saino Kingdom, being ahead of the majority, even by a single step, was already an advantage. And in a game like this, small advantages stacked. A quiet chuckle escaped him, low and almost sneaky, before he continued forward into Yiersa Village.
The village itself wasn't large, and it didn't try to be. Everything about it spoke of survival rather than comfort. The buildings were worn, their wooden frames weathered by time and conflict.
Roof tiles were cracked and uneven, some missing entirely, replaced by makeshift patches. Weeds crept along the edges of walls, pushing through gaps in stone and wood alike. Scars lingered everywhere, deep gashes marked certain walls, remnants of past battles. Arrow dents, blade cuts, burn marks. This was not a peaceful village. This was a place that had endured.
Don's gaze swept across the surroundings briefly, taking it all in before focusing on his objective. It didn't take long to find what he was looking for.
Standing just outside a slightly larger building was a young man holding a bow. He wore brownish-gray leather armor, fitted but flexible, clearly designed for mobility.
His beige hair fell neatly to his shoulders, framing a face that was sharp yet composed. There was a quiet confidence about him, not arrogance, not intimidation. Just control.
Above his head, a line of text hovered steadily:
[Rogue Instructor Viren]
[Level 40 - Enhanced Boss]
Don raised an eyebrow slightly. Even a beginner instructor was Level 40. Not bad. He stepped forward. "Uncle,"
Before he could finish, Viren's brow furrowed.
"Kid," he cut in calmly. "Do I look that old? Just call me Teacher."
Don paused, then coughed lightly. "Right… Teacher. I'm here to learn Rogue skills."
Viren's gaze moved over him, slow and deliberate, assessing, measuring. Then he gave a small nod.
"You're faster than the others. Not bad." He turned slightly, gesturing inward. "Come. I have what you need."
A translucent interface unfolded before Don's eyes. His gaze swept across the skill list, then paused. His expression shifted slightly.
'That's it?'
From Level 1 all the way to Level 40, there were only a handful of skills available, seven, eight at most. And for his current level, only three. Minimal. Almost restrictive.
But as the initial surprise faded, understanding followed. Fewer skills meant something else entirely, less reliance on flashy abilities, more reliance on execution, positioning, timing. Player skill. A faint smile tugged at his lips. 'Perfect.'
He examined them without hesitation.
[Backstab: A positional strike, high damage from behind.]
[Consecutive Slash: Fast, reliable burst.]
[Dagger Mastery: A flat increase to attack.]
He purchased all three. The system confirmed the transaction instantly, and his funds dropped sharply, two silver coins and ninety copper, nearly everything he had. But it was worth it.
He silently thanked Farmer Arnon. Without that quest reward, he wouldn't have been able to afford any of this.
As the skill interface faded, Don turned slightly, preparing to leave. But before he could take a step, Viren's voice stopped him.
"Kid."
Don paused, then turned back. Viren had crossed his arms, his posture more relaxed, but his eyes carried a different weight now, more focused, more intentional.
"Do something for me."