MMORPG: Rebirth as an Alchemist Chapter 4

Following days of handling his paperwork and wrapping up enrollment, Ren at last acquired the gaming pod for COVENANT. This was the most basic model, nothing like the lavish gaming pods that pros and wealthy individuals purchased, complete with tailored designs and top-tier materials. Nevertheless, it would serve just fine.

Once the payment was settled, the shop dispatched it straight to his dorm, where Ren fidgeted from foot to foot while the technicians assembled his pod. The game's official launch was tonight, perfectly timed with the pod's delivery.

Sleep was no concern for him since the game activated during slumber. In-game time differed vastly from the real world—one day inside matched only an hour outside, making room for the countless features and quests across COVENANT's vast realm.

Ren trailed his fingers over the pod's smooth exterior. Sliding inside released a sleep-inducing mist, complete with an optional wake-up timer. It was completely safe, and Ren knew of no deadly pod failures despite the warnings from traditionalist elders.

Even after the setup crew departed his room, Ren kept staring vacantly at his pod.

This was his personal pod.

His very own . . .

Ren chuckled softly.

It marked the priciest purchase he'd ever made for himself, but he swore it wouldn't be the final one.

People claimed money couldn't deliver real joy, and they were correct—yet Ren would rather sob in a Bugatti than on the roadside.

He'd once believed that toiling diligently and staying honest guaranteed success.

Wrong!

It was merely a scam to restrain the poor, while the elite exploited every tactic and asset to ascend the ladder with minimal exertion.

To seize the heights of triumph, Ren intended to exploit cheats and underhanded moves with his prior life's insights, and nothing could block his path to fortune and a revamped destiny.

Fame held no interest for him. Money was his true goal, for the world truly spun around those bills.

After showering and finishing dinner, Ren awaited the eight PM hour. His heartbeat pounded harder with every tick of the clock.

The game's developers stayed hidden to guarantee fairness, stopping bigwigs from buying influence. But they were sly as hell—they hyped the game without revealing the precise launch, stunning everyone one morning when COVENANT buzzed on every lip.

This led to just a handful of players joining at the start, snagging countless first clears and forging god-tier avatars down the line.

“Yosh.”

Ren settled into the gaming pod and sealed the glass lid. With shaky fingers, he pressed his palm to the surface, summoning a holographic interface as a woman's robotic voice echoed through the space.

The interface stayed basic for now, though future updates let you swap the robotic tone for voices from favorite artists, singers, or voice actors.

Ren tapped yes, and a mist of white, fragrant vapor filled the chamber. Cool and mint-scented, it eased him into sleep in mere moments.

. . .

. . .

As Ren's awareness returned, he discovered himself in a stark white chamber, facing a huge screen and a hologram of his own form.

Players got choices to adjust hair and eye colors, plus add race-specific accessories. But changing core facial features was forbidden.

COVENANT preserved players' real faces to heighten immersion, making the virtual world feel just like reality. It also curbed bad behavior since identities were fully exposed.

Appearance meant little in the game—even monstrous looks didn't matter. Dominate as a top player, and everyone, women included, would chase after you.

Still, plenty of gear existed to mask your looks if anonymity was your aim.

And once towns opened after a month in-game, parlors and stores allowed tweaks to hair, skin, eye colors, and props—features aimed mostly at female players.

Ren flexed his fingers and tweaked his cheek. Sensations felt identical to his real body back on Earth. Only pain levels differed, capped at ten percent to prevent brain overload.

Humans formed the default race, with the guide offering just basic info. Yet Ren knew hidden races awaited later, where your pick could trigger rare or world-spanning quests.

He recalled a hot forum thread where players lamented overlooking race choice, missing out on exclusive quests or even rarer lineages. Some went as far as remaking accounts.

“Hmm . . . Let’s see . . .” Your race choice was permanent, locking in your path forever.

In COVENANT, players couldn't switch races or make multiple accounts. The pod acted as a scanner, detecting even blood type and DNA. This made it impossible to use the same body for another account.

The only option was to delete your account and start fresh. However, all hard-earned items and gils vanished, sending you back to the newbie village. Plenty of players had taken this route before, just to unlock rare races and quests in the mid-to-late game.

This explained why so many players regretted not thinking carefully about their race choice. Yet, the developers, being cunning as hell, kept details scarce in the guidebook and on their website.

Ren remembered humans offered balanced attributes. Elves shone in speed and stealth. Beasts and Orcs dominated early-game strength. Dwarves boasted top defense, and Sprites led in magic damage and MP.

Humans came with the highest number of quests. Ren wasn't sure if developers picked that to honor humanity. Still, he selected the Sprite race, seeing his ears sharpen to points as his skin lit up like a glowing moon.

Hell no!

Who'd want that? Ren mused, shaking his head. He skipped extras like wings, horns, and the rest. Pointy ears and shiny skin sufficed.

Sprites suffered the lowest defense early on but ruled with supreme magic power and MP. They had the least class choices too. Usually, girls picked this race for its beauty and extra props, but Ren had different motives.

The real reason was the upcoming question.

Ren grinned slyly.

He picked this race exactly for the Mage class, unique to Sprites alone.

In COVENANT, races locked specific classes. Humans stuck to Swordsman and Thief.

Elves were limited to Archer.

Sprites got Mage.

Dwarves took Guard.

Beasts had Animist and Monk.

Orcs wielded Brute.

Of course, many classes split into subclasses.

Ren hit cancel.

With firm resolve, Ren pressed cancel, and the screen reset to normal.

He skipped subclasses for a good cause—targeting a hidden Mage subclass down the line.

The developers, sly as fuck, hid this info, so nearly everyone grabbed a subclass right away. Players groaned later in mid and late game upon learning rare subclasses required skipping the initial pick.

This drove some players to remake their accounts.

Those elite subclasses unlocked only without an early subclass choice, by chatting with key NPCs—often via secret quests.

Time Mage, Necro Mage, Arcanist, and Seer—all hidden gems under Mage.

Ren eyed Alchemist, Arcanist's ultimate evolution. First step: Arcanist.

An Arcanist seemed plain at first glance, relying on spellbooks and scrolls for offense and defense. Other Mage paths led to Chrono Mage, or chances at Elementalist, Summoner, Necromancer—yet Arcanist just went Scholar.

Its skills felt mostly worthless and tough to upgrade. That's why few picked it. But the masses missed the truth: Arcanist's ability ranked OP in the game, letting users wield any spell or skill book/scroll beyond race/class limits—at over half power for a limited duration.

Still, OP as hell. Picture hurling blue mage spells or summoning summoner-exclusive beasts.

Evolving to Scholar added a passive to reveal every item's details, even those listed as (?). No more scams from fake or counterfeit goods in trades—a big issue after in-game currency launched.

With Ren's money-making aim, it fit perfectly!

Sure, it didn't dazzle on paper, but it was the sole path to Alchemist—the Arcanist's secret pinnacle class!

No one Ren knew hit Alchemist in his previous life. Yet NPCs with it forged god-tier gear and legendary artifacts!

Better yet, Alchemists crafted anything given materials and tools—weapons, armor, accessories, potions! Ren could hawk or auction them sky-high!

Truly, the ideal class for him!