MMORPG: The Almighty Ring Chapter 3 - In-Game Encyclopedia

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Prior to diving in, Jiang Fei chose to steady his mind and orient himself. Drawing a deep breath, he brought up his status window.

Name: Verdure Glider

Level: 0

Class: Beginner

Profession: None

Experience Points: 0/100

Health Point: 110/110

Mana Point: 100/100

Physical Attack Power: 10+1

Magic Attack Power: 10

Physical Defense: 5+1

Magical Defense: 5

Strength: 10 (Determines a character’s Physical Attack. Human race Physical Attack gain 1.0, Beginner Physical Attack gain 1.0.)

Agility: 10 (Determines a character’s Attack Speed, Movement Speed, and Dexterity. Human race Agility gain 1.0, Beginner Agility again 1.0.)

Vitality: 11 (Determines a character’s Health Points and Physical Defense. Human race Health Point gain 10, Physical Defense 0.5. Beginner Health Point gain 1.0, Physical Defense 1.0.)

Intelligence: 10 (Determines a character’s Magic Attack and Magical Defense. Human Magic Attack gain 1.0, Magical Defense gain 1.0. Beginner Magic Attack gain 1.0, Magical Defense gain 1.0)

Spirit: 12 (Determines a character’s Health and Mana point regeneration speed, Skill Mastery speed. Recover 1 Point of Health and Mana every 5 seconds in out of combat status per Spirit point. Recover 0.1 points of Health and Mana every 5 seconds in combat status per Spirit point. Beginner gain 0.)

Skill: Focus Strike

Focus Strike: Attacks the enemy instantly, dealing 120% damage. Increase 10% Critical Chance for 10 seconds. Cooldown: 5 Seconds.

Typical Human Beginners receive two free system items—a wooden sword and a cotton shirt—equipped automatically. They provide scant attributes, leaving him virtually defenseless.

Jiang Fei scanned his surroundings. The Beginner’s Village offered no spectacles. It contained merely the standard basics of any MMORPG—the everyday essentials. Twelve NPCs lingered nearby, with nine quests up for grabs. A rapid cycle of chats and accepts let players snag every single one effortlessly.

“O great Adventurer! You have arrived! Our restaurant has exhausted all our food supply! Could you please help us collect 10 pieces of Chicken Meat? You would be duly rewarded!”

“O great Adventurer! You have arrived! We have used up all the leather in the tailor’s shop. Could you please hunt and gather 10 pieces of Deer’s Skin? You would be duly rewarded!”

“O great Adventurer! You have arrived! We have run out of herbs to make medicine for the people! Could you please gather 10 Briarthorns? You would be duly rewarded!”

It was all identical... The same opening line, the same response selections... Nothing ever grows stale.

...

“This is getting out of hand. We’re way too overpopulated!”

Jiang Fei heaved a sigh. Beginner Village quests were naturally simple. The true headache stemmed from the lopsided player-to-monster numbers. A monster scarcely survived half a second before a player in the teeming horde severed its head, trampling the remains into dust. Resistance was impossible for them. Snatching the drops first was fast turning into a real ordeal.

Moments before Jiang Fei could erupt in frustration, he noticed a monster still without a companion. He charged forward. Then, something fascinating unfolded.

Plymouth Rock Chicken (Beast, Normal)

Level: 1

Health Point: 50

Attack Power: 5

Skill: None

Note: Beginner’s Village weak monster. Low hostility. Related Quest “Collect Chicken Meat.” Quest Initiator: Restaurant Owner.

“Woah! What the-? That’s a lot of detailed information!”

Jiang Fei came to a sudden halt, fixated on the floating info window. He'd researched Dawn Break before logging in. Public details indicated that only Identification skills revealed a monster's name, level, and Health Points. Regular players lacked such access!

Yet, Jiang Fei viewed comprehensive monster details, including quest connections and even the quest starter! It functioned like an in-game encyclopedia! Jiang Fei eyed the ring on his finger.

The ring pulsed softly with a faint glow, as though recognizing his awareness.

“Could this contraption be a hacking tool...?” Jiang Fei muttered under his breath.

“Argh!” Jiang Fei smacked his cheek lightly. “Can't pause to overthink this every time! Time to farm and power level!”

Jiang Fei was never one to turn down some excitement. Any puzzle he couldn't figure out right away got shoved to the back of his mind and ignored. Grinding now had his complete focus!

“Ding! You have killed Plymouth Rock Chicken. Obtained 2 Experience Points. Obtained 1 Quest Item Chicken Meat!”

Within the game, quest items automatically landed in the player’s inventory. Stuff like potions, equipment, and miscellaneous items demanded manual collection. A fresh kill's corpse glowed softly if loot remained available.

With a new target in sight, Jiang Fei didn't hesitate and pounced on the next unfortunate chicken. Every player received this skill from the Village Chief.

“Ding! You have used Gathering and obtained 1 Chicken Meat!”

Item secured, Jiang Fei launched into his very first grinding run in Dawn Break.

...

“Ding! Congratulations! Player Verdure Glider has reached Level 1! All Attribute Points +2!”

The notification chime rang in his ears, but Jiang Fei’s thrill evaporated in an instant. That name. That laughable name. Had he foreseen this, he’d have chosen far better! Still, deleting the character meant waiting a full week to start anew! Jiang Fei refused to throw away so much time! He had no option except to choke down his embarrassment.

Characters under Level 10 in this game saw their Attribute Points spread evenly. Each level granted 10 Attribute Points. Before Level 10, every Attribute rose by 2 points. Beyond that, the 10 points divided: five auto-distributed evenly, five left for the player to assign freely.

“WOOHOO! Time to kill!”

Leveled up and a bit spryer, Jiang Fei dashed toward a patch of Wild Rabbits.

“Ding! You have killed Wild Rabbit! Obtained 5 Experience Points! Obtained Quest Item: 1 Lucky Rabbit’s Food!”

“Ding! You have used Gathering and obtained 1 Delicious Rabbit’s Meat!”

...

Two hours in, Jiang Fei had climbed to Level 4. During his spree, he picked up extra gear—a tattered Cloth Armor Lower Pants that hid more than it protected.

Then the system warned his inventory brimmed full. Plenty of items had shifted to the enigmatic ring’s storage. One hitch with the ring: ground loot couldn't go straight in. He needed to transfer from his character’s inventory first. To smooth out play, Jiang Fei stashed all miscellaneous items in the ring and kept only quest items on his character.