Chapter 1

A few hours before the release. Eren received his beta key in an email, setting up his PC for installation. Beta testers are players who tested out the game before release. Those who got their beta keys also received a dream ring by mail.

Eren lived in an apartment, his brother Allen lived with their mother. They couldn't live with each other since their parent's divorce. Eren and his father moved to Greenville, SC while Allen and his mother stayed in Gahanna, Ohio. Separated for 5 years, Eren now 19 and his brother Allen is 17. What kept them close were online games. Their favorite type of game was RPG's, creating their own characters to look like themselves and fight alongside each other. After installing the game on his PC, a video call came through his monitor.

"Hey Bro! Did you get yours!?"

Allen appeared on Eren computer monitor showing how excited he was.

"Never mind. I know you got it! You don't have to tell me, bro!"

Given Eren no time to respond.

"I'm All set, meet you in the game ok. I'll see you on the other side, bro!"

He hung up on Eren without letting him get a word out. Eren sighed, knowing that whenever a new game comes out, Allen waste no time. In the small box they received only had a greeting card and the Dream Ring, Eren grabbed the card and began to read it.

"Hunt Or be Hunted!"

The greeting card was very odd as it didn't sound like a greeting but more of a warning. After setting everything up, Eren put on the device and laid on his bed as the dream ring glowed, Eren eyes started to get heavy and he fell asleep. Everything was quiet for a moment, when he awoke he was on an old bed and next to him was an old woman.

"Hello. Young blood."

The old woman spoke while rocking in her chair. Eren looked, noticing he was not in his room but in an old home, having cobwebs, dust moths and candles that filled the corners of the room. The old woman was using a wool machine, she wore an old gown, a tattered hood that covered most of her head and had grayish hair that covered half of her face. He sat up, having an uneasy feeling about this woman.

"Take it easy I don't bite. What is your name?"

As Eren was about to respond a digital screen came up asking for his name. Eren typed in just his first name and hit enter.

"That's a nice name."

The old woman smiled crookedly leaning forward to get a better look at Eren.

"So, you're a hunter, but what kind of hunter are you?"

She pointed to an old dusty table across from her were 3 weapons laid on the table covered in cobwebs. An old rusty Shotgun, Rifle and Crossbow, as he looked a notification came in his head.

(Bell Noise)

Vocation

"There are 3 vocations that you can choose from, each is separated from the other but can be very useful to your playstyle.

Warrior: Wielding a Hatchet and Shotgun, Warrior's are a high Strength class. Their primary role is group protection, drawing enemy attention away from the defensive while dishing out heavy damage. Warrior's do not have range skills and are therefore forced into using their tactical skills, pulling and taunting foe's out of reach. Warrior's gain their experience, with their bravery and skill.

Strider: Wielding a Rifle and Dagger, Strider's are a high Dexterity class, focused on swift and powerful melee attacks and ranged gun attacks. They can hold their own on in a party, relying on parry and dodge to evade enemy attacks. Striders have a very balanced growth as they gain experience, with their cunning and skill.

Seer: Wielding a Crossbow and Spear, Seer's are a high Intellect class, focus primarily on range attacks with both their crossbow, traps and bombs. They are great at support, giving aid in battle by buffing their party with drugs or with a wide range of powerful elements such as fire, ice and electricity. The seer gain experience with their wisdom and skill. Once you pick your vocation you can no longer choose the other. Choose wisely."

Shaking his head as the voice went silent, Eren pondered on what class to choose since it will be permanent, finally he made a choice. Grabbing the rifle Eren felt something warm around his body, as a menu appeared in front of him.

"Name: Eren

Vocation: Strider

Rank: 0

The rank system is a stat that represents the level of experience or expertise in a specific vocation, increasing your rank requires time and effort."

Gear

Weapon 1: Empty

Weapon 2:Rusted Combat Rifle 5 attack 25 magazine

There are only 2 weapon slots that you can use. Choose your weapon carefully before going on a hunt.

Armor: Tattered clothes 0 armor 0 resistance

Armor reduced physical damage such as melee weapons and guns.

Resistance reduces natural damage such as fire,ice, poison and electricity.

Head: Empty

Chest: Empty

Arm: Empty

Leg: Empty

Back: Empty

Base Stats

HP: 124

ST:120

Strength 2 - increase melee weapon damage.

Intellect 1 – increase traps and Elemental damage.

Dexterity 3 – increase Gun weapon damage.

Endurance 2 – Increase resistance to damage and status effects.

Agility 3 – Increase Stamina and reload speed.

Skills

none

Items

Rifle ammo x30"

"Hmm. So that's what you are? Then I'm happy to have been making this for you." Finishing up on her last knit she then took the hanging string and bit it off with her teeth. Getting up from her rocking chair, she presented him with folded clothes and a sharpen dagger on top, grabbing the items from her he then sat back and put on his new clothing.

"You received Hunter clothing undergarments +10 armor/+12 resistance, and Hunting Dagger 6 attack +1 Str."

"Now lets begin. Here is your target." The old woman smiled as she rocked in her chair pointing to the wall next to him. It was a hunting board with a single piece of paper and on it was a picture of a dark figure.

(Bell Noise)

"Welcome to the hunting board. These boards will be posted in other villages and farms, each having a monster that needs to be hunted down and killed. Monsters in Darkest Ground are difficult to kill and are scale on their difficulty called Grade levels, a numerical rating that not just shows a monster's strength, but also their dangerous habitats and other powerful monsters living alongside them. A grade level does not refer to just its fighting strength but their environments, rarity and obstacles."

"Hunt: Tainted Siren Grade 0, being one of the daughters of the taint it seeks followers to worship it, spreading its dark wisdom with its voice. Lost Cabins was its last location. Completing this hunt will earn you 5 Scratched coins, 1 new weapon and 1 skill. Do you accept it? Yes or no?"

Without hesitation Eren accepted the hunt by grabbing the wanted paper and putting it in his pocket, Eren turned around and saw the old woman opening her cabinet grabbing something.

"You can't leave yet without something to treat your wounds or protect yourself."

Grabbing some bandages and greenish herbs, putting them in a bag as she tosses it to Eren.

"You received Greenish herbs x5 restore Health, water flask x4 restore stamina, bandages x5 stop bleeding and throwing knives x5."

"Go north east, from here you will reach that accursed swap and meet that beast! Now hunt and bring me whatever is left of it!"

The women's voices change to a much more aggressive tone.

Eren nodded and walked out the door, closing it behind him slowly staring back at the women rocking away as she shed a tear. It was dark out in the forest, as the cabin lantern was the only thing giving light around the area for him to see. He then noticed a lantern sitting on the side of the door, he needed a source of light to see in the dark so he took the lantern and clip it on the side of his belt.

(Bell Noise)

"You received a lantern, emitting light to see in dark places. Lasts around half an hour before needing to be refilled with oil."

Eren wondered where his brother was, looking around the area he couldn't believe that this was all in a video game. It felt so real and he wanted to share this feeling with him. Leaving the cabin Eren ready himself and entered the forest for his first adventure alone.