Dying In Real Life Is Another Way To Play

Zhang Shan was grinning as he felt good that his punch and sweeping kick connected. However, that feeling lasted only for a moment.

*Ka-cha* *Ka-cha*

His nerves felt a painful sensation similar to hitting a metal board. Both his left fist and right heel cracked after hitting their marks.

"AAAARRRRGGGHH-BLERRRGHH" Zhang Shan dropped and rolled to the ground

The pain from his hands and feet plus the vomiting sensation stated by the guide, both came rushing into his brain. he was both feeling the stinging sentation of broken bones and uric acid rising up in his stomach.

*wu..wu..wu..wu*

Saliva were drooling from his mouth and tears started building up in his eyes as he wriggled in pain in the ground.

"Ha!Ha!Ha! Not bad newbie, now stand up and wave it off like a man!" the attacker growled with deep voice.

"Ye Qing, stop making fun of him, can you see how painful that could have been for him" a sweet voice sounded behind.

"Hi newbie, my name is Lan Ranyan, you can call me Ran, let me help you up" Lan Ranyan stretched a hand out to help Zhang Shan.

It took about a quarter of an incense stick before Zhang Shan stopped rolling from the pain and got his bearings, finally he grabbed Lan Ranyan's extended hand to assist him as he stood up.

Tears, snot and saliva are still visible in his face as he said to Ye Qing. "You better have a good reason for attacking me or you better pray I don't hold grudges and hunt you in the future.."

"Is that a threat?" Ye Qing glared at Zhang Shan

"It's a fact" replied Zhang Shan while he leaned forward to Lan Ranyan like a limp.

"...."

Both of their sharp glares were aimed at each other, neither one is blinking, not giving up.

"Ha!Ha!Ha!" Ye Qing suddenly burst out laughing while relaxedly holding his sword downward with his right hand and his left hand clutching his stomach.

"I like this one Ran-ran, he's a feisty one" Ye Qing growled as he softly jabbed Zhang Shan in the shoulders with his left fist.

"I guess he passed right?" asked Lan Ranyan.

"Huh?What? Did I miss something?" Zhang Shan asked with a confused face.

"It's nothing really we're actually looking for a newbie to group with us and help us out in a quest" Lan Ranyan answered

"And this is how you select and recruit?" Zhang Shan asked with a not so amused face.

"Right on spot, we're looking for a newbie who is both fearless and valiant" Lan Ranyan replied.

"In short, a bait, huh?"

"Well, I wouldn't exactly put it that way... but it does seem to be similar along those lines.. Let me heal you up first and then you can decide if you want to join or not" as Lan Ranyan finished she started moving her hands rhythmically which started glowing with greenish aura as she started chanting in Slyvannic...

"Lazeh... Ara... Ekatu... Haas!" Lan Ranyan shouted and then touched Zhang Shan's Left fist and right heel in succession.

As soon as the damaged parts of Zhang Shan's body were affected by the glowing greenish aura, he started to feel warm and the pain subsided. A few more breaths later, Zhang Shan carefully tried to move his hand and feet and he can feel good as new.

"For a newbie, at the very least, I know you didn't really have to chant anything Slyvannic for a Level One Healing spell.." Zhang Shan said.

"Couldn't you have just played along with it? you're breaking my style, isn't this supposed to be a role-playing game?" Lan Ranyan grumbled annoyingly as she crossed her hands. " A simple thank you could have been nice.."

"Here we go again..." Ye Qing rolled his eyes with a face that looked as if surrendering.

"Anyway what's your decision?" asked Lan Ranyan

"Although I'm not sure what kind of quest requires a newbie to work with seasoned players... What's in it for me?"

"First off, this is a new species discovery. Second, Loot will be divided equally, however if we find any equipment it depends on the equipment type on who gets it. and lastly we'll pay you for your troubles, we'll give you 1000 Selas"

Unlike other games where in-game currency could drop from monsters, in this game, everything has to be exchanged with NPC merchants if you want it to be in the form of the local currency which is called "Selas". You would need to skin, dissect and take apart monster body parts in order to sell them back into town. Even minerals, herbs, potions, equipment and services works the same. One can say that it reflects the real world in this aspect. Further more discovery of new species will be awarded with equipment and in-game items accordingly and can be claimed at a GM station. GM stations are manned by in-game staff 24/7.

"Since, I just started out, I don't have any specific job or class type yet. How can we distribute the equipment then?" Zhan Shan followed up.

"In this case we can go ahead and try to draw lots using the in-game dice function" Ye Qing answered.

"Sounds good to me, Can you tell me more about your roles?"

"Ye Qing functions more like a berserker than a warrior, he'll guard me from any possible mobs that attack me while I'm more of an AOE mage/support type that would be bombarding the monsters with spells. We do have another team member waiting at the pub, she's an archer and also Ye Qing's younger sister, she'll be making sure to help us out "

"Okay, how about my role?"

"For this quest, you'll be running about to attract the monsters towards our ambush site. These monsters are really slow and wouldn't be able to catch up to you. The main reason a newbie is required is because these monsters would burrow and hide as soon as they see any seasoned players. " Lan Ranyan added.

"I've never heard or read about these type of monsters." Zhang Shan asked in a suspicious manner.

In game discovery are awarded in Selas, ranging from 5000 Selas or more depending on the importance of the discovery, plus additional rare equipment and fame in the form crediting the name of the discoverers whenever it shows up in the interface. The rationale behind why some monsters and location are undiscovered as per the game company is due to the unique algorithm of the source code which creates randomly created creatures and areas.

"You're right, ever since the start of the game, these monsters have not been identified. The only reason that we found out about it is because, Ye Qing's younger sister who we tried to help in leveling up last month came with us when she was still a newbie."

"The location itself is in an area that can be considered a dangerous area for newbies who can never possibly reach during their initial phase. The only reason we have been able to discover that was when Ye Qing's younger sister accidentally wandered off on her own as we were resting. it was rather unfortunate that after a few runs and ambushes, Ye Qing's sister died when she was hit, and as you know, after your first death, you'll already be considered by the system as a seasoned player" Lan Ranyan explained.

"Wait, are you telling me that after you guys started the ambush, you have yet to kill any of this monsters?"

"Yes unfortunately, even after a few runs, we haven't killed one at all." Lan Ranyan answered dejectedly.

"How long have you been trying to kill these monsters?"

"If we're talking about in-game time, it was already around three incense sticks before Ye Qing's sister slipped and got caught in the monsters attack"

"How are you so sure that a newbie is required?"

"Well, we tried to deduce, when we came back to the spot, we can't find them. however when we asked my sister to go alone, they were there but when she approached them, they started burying back to the ground without any traces indicating that they were there in the first place" it was Ye Qing who answered this time.

"Okay, this means that there is a possibility that your deduction is correct. But if not then we will just be wasting our time."

"We'll still pay you either way, given that we can still hunt other creatures on the way." This time, it was Lan Ranyan who answered.

"By the way, where are the creatures located at?" Zhang Shan inquired further.

"It's a secret for now, we wouldn't want you telling others about it just yet. we still don't trust you enough." Ye Qing harumphed

"Hey newbie, we haven't asked for your name yet, care to introduce yourself?" Lan Ranyan asked

"My name is Zhang Shan, add me as a friend so that you can differentiate me with others under the same name."

"Sure thing, you do the same."

"Now that I think about it, your names both seem familiar..." Zhang Shan mentioned while thinking hard.

"Ye Qing... Lan Ranyan..." could it be? he thought to himself.

Zhang Shan tried to recall where he encountered reading or hearing those names.

... wait... discovery... ranking board...

"You guys wouldn't possibly be Ye Qing the Juggernaut and Lan Ranyan the Snow Queen?!? the number one and number two in the adventurers board right?

"He he he... Guilty! I'm surprised you know about us instead of the other well known rankers on the other boards like those on the PVP and Guild leader boards." Lan Ranyan playfully stuck her tongue out while winking.

"Of course I know you guys, you both dominated roughly 13% of all the known discoveries in the game so far!!!" Zhang Shan replied excitedly