Chapter 9: Underground Lake!

Inch by Inch!

The New World Online forums are currently on fire, especially those rankers and some player threads. One thread had been talking about Maple and Knox. The players were clearly dumbfounded and at the same time, amazed by the duo's performance. The thread creator had even named it; ''The Mysterious 2nd and 3rd ranked! What're their builds?! [ Discussion ]"!

1. Name: Anonymous Spearman.

I made the thread, here. Let's talk about what we just saw. I participated during the event but I'm still dumbfounded when I saw them at the late broadcast. Luckily, I didn't experience fighting them or else, ha~h..

2. Name: Anonymous Large Sword User.

Yeah... I'm speechless to even think about what to say.

3. Name: Anonymous Dagger User.

Honestly, I think they're still worse than the ranked 1st Payne. Why do we have to talk about the 2nd and 3rd?

4. Name: Anonymous Spear User.

Because she was drawing in the start at the ruins and when she bit her tongue. It enlightened me, that cuteness could be so heavenly and magical. Ahh~

5. Name: Anonymous Bow User.

Don't exaggerate, just say she's plainly cute and that makes her so adorable. At first, we were worried that she's being mistreated but from the looks of it, they had a good relationship. That's the conclusion after some discussion and investigations we had. And there's really nothing we can do about it, so yeah.

6. Name: Anonymous Large Shield User.

Seeing her Unique Shield made me a bit jealous, I couldn't even finish soloing a dungeon, (had tried many times~ I assure you one is just as hard! And I won't give up! ) I'll try again in the future! Ah! by the way, I'm the ninth place ranker, cool right?

7. Name: Anonymous Spear User.

As expected from you! How can you do that using a large shield?! As expected from a veteran shield user, well~ congrats for getting a high rank! I wonder what's Maple-chan and Knox-kun status panel.

8. Name: Anonymous Large Sword User.

Well then, this is the summary: I had gathered from spectating and asking information about Maple-chan and Knox-kun while reviewing the video feed, you should thank me later~.

First Event Conclusion:

Maple : Ranked 2nd. Death Count: 0 Damage Received: 0 Number Defeated: 2025

Knox : Ranked 3rd. Death Count: 0 Damage Received: 9810 Number Defeated: 1861

Maple's main equipment is a mysterious large shield that seems to devour enemies, while her side equipment should be that ridiculous sheathed short sword that could release status debuffs on a large scale area of effect.

Her dark armor doesn't seem to exhibit ridiculous specs, but it might be because she hasn't used something on it.

We can conclude she had a [ Unique Gear ] set that made her much stronger than initially, we expected. If she infused a powerful skill with a large MP consumption, it isn't impossible that she could use it for a few more times, making her destructive ability equal to the highest-ranked pointer.

She already had ridiculous defense powers and could receive concentrated attacks from forty magic users, don't even include the range skills of physical damage users, they are much more useless to her defense. In the end, she used a skill, kinda like a taunt skill but had a very powerful aftereffect like a debuff as it could negate physical defense like butter.

On the other hand, Knox's equipment is his black sleek gauntlets on both his hands, from a closer look, it had a magical rune on it's back. Although he mainly uses the left one when using fire-related skills or others. He had a large arsenal of crowd-control skills and area of effect skill.

His gauntlet maybe could also devour skills every time that violet light appeared. He even had that ridiculous skill that could debuff making it impossible to approach from even near five hundred meters.

To add that, he could use some kind of barrier. It should be a magical barrier, although he had been hit and seems to take damage, the crowd of more than fifty range attackers wasn't able to deal with it. We can also conclude he had a [ Unique Gear ] set.

The thing that mind-boggled me the most is that he doesn't seem to run out of MP even when he spammed [ Fire Bullet ] towards all the players. MP potions aren't allowed on the event so the only close explanation I could think of is that he had some kind of gear or skill that allowed him to regenerate mana or recover mana instantly.

What I said are just assumptions! It isn't an impossibility of him cheating but in this VR game, cheating seems kinda unrealistic.

He could possibly boost his skills, to enhance skills damage which seems so ridiculous. He released a similar skill as Maple-chan, and could possibly have helped out during the last bout before the event had finished. In conclusion, they are overpowered. Although I won't stop trying to find or gain some information, these two are so interesting after all.

9. Name: Anonymous Magic-User.

How much I look at it, I can only say crazy, hah I wasn't even able to talk to Knox-kun as I had seen both being talked by several players already!

10. Name: Anonymous Large Shield User.

>8

My kinda information and a little observation towards both gears of the two.

Maple-chan → Ha?

Large Shield → Well, there might be that kind of equipment…un! Totally unique to her of course! Just wish for something similar if you did have the ability to finish a dungeon.

Short Sword → Well, there might be more out there, not so sure as well.

The number one mystery is her skill build. I'm really curious although I was able to get some information from them, I want to know what synergizes her skill that much.

Next is Knox-kun.

Gauntlet?? → Uh~ I don't know if there's another pair of it but I'm sure it can be obtained from another solo dungeon conquest. Yeah~ I'm so sure about it? Yeah!

????????? → Well~ we haven't even seen him use his side weapon, nor anyone had seen it during the event.

How is it possible both seemingly were like a combination of a walking fortress and a battalion of artillery.

11. Name: Anonymous Large Sword User

Yeah literally, Maple-chan and that Knox have great teamwork, ha~ I'm so envious of that guy.

12. Name: Anonymous Bow User.

Yeah~ it looked like she received skills withstanding everything with only VIT stats. Even Knox-kun had to use a magic barrier to protect himself from the barrage of projectile skills.

I mean, isn't there someone who has an idea of what skill Maple-chan has? Or the time Knox had used something that made her shine? Like the time when she received the magic attack, she was shining brightly, so it's sure that she used some kind of skill.

The many times she used it, someone might know about it. It must be great to have a super amazing skill like that. You could easily flex it while making others really jealous of you, although, you have to prepare for getting hate.

13. Name: Anonymous Large Shield User.

Continuation of my not so accurate information about their skills… uhh.

Status Debuff → Idk. I didn't experience it nor would I try to experience it. So I don't know the specifics, maybe one player here might divulge it? Someone?

Defense Power → If there was a skill that makes it that hard... Then I surely got it, normally, but that doesn't count Maple-chan's probable massive VIT and a massive congregation of defense-related skills. Large Shield → Dunno, about her skills on that. I'm sure it's a unique special skill of sorts. Well~ as for the guy… I don't even know any mage build so I don't know how to depict Knox-kun skills.

14. Name: Anonymous Magic-User.

>13

This... Yeah true and does not know what skill Maple-chan have but she probably got the basic ones and stacked it to boost her defense. It probably had a synergistic capacity that improved her VIT to a large margin!

Let me give a run-down to the appearance of Knox-san's in the event.

Status Debuff → Many status debuffs? Normally mages had several skills of crowd control, it is normal for better players to have that many.

Defense Power → Like the other guy had said, he used a barrier or to be specific a magical barrier. I dunno about his fast MP regeneration though. Maybe unique skills that could only be used a few times a day?

Gauntlet → Yeah, I want to have one too~ It looks much better and cooler than waving a big staff.

Overall: Not to mention the revealed overpowered violet light and probably an enhancement skill in the last part. I'm just going to say don't try, just befriend and from the person above, you cannot cheat in the game.

The AI would instantly kick out the player if someone did it, the only real conclusion is that he knows what he's doing.

Even I as a mage build understood what role he wanted. He's like complementing Maple and supporting her.

15. Name: Anonymous Bow User.

If they had a 1v1 battle with the top ten rankers, they would easily dominate the charts! I don't know if they will be able to beat Payne-san though.

16. Name: Anonymous Magic-User.

That's probably true. As for Knox-kun, he would be able to deal with the majority of players with just the area of effect status debuff. He said Full Form [ Earth Wyvern ] something, it looked really cool and it might be high-tiered magic.

I could understand that Knox could refresh his MP since his a full-mage build but what about Maple-chan? Using that magic so lightly, and she's using a full build VIT right? MP isn't enough right, normally. Unless her gears are really unique.

17. Name: Anonymous Large Sword User.

That is〜… the large shield is really infused with a skill? Like charging what it ate as magic power?

That could work, I'll give it a name like 'Devour Magic' or something like that. It'll be awesome to have a skill like that.

18. Name: Anonymous Spear User. Then, several crystals are probably that. Some kind of mana that could be used for a duration. I'm sure that it shattered when she used magic.

Ahh! I remember seeing Knox also had gems similar to Maple, I'm sure they both had a similar skill!

19. Name: Anonymous Large Sword User.

It means that Maple-chan has a ridiculously high defense that could negate damage to make it all zero.

Trying to damage her in long-range is ineffective while attacking at melee range, the player would be used to boost/charge her MP.

Afterward, be crushed with her status debuff. It's that easy~

As for Knox-san though, he had a relatively same pattern. Albeit enemies would earn magic spells on their faces, similarly tragic when experienced. Kuh~!

20. Name: Anonymous Spear User.

Yeah... Totally on point!

21. Name: Anonymous Bow User.

Both are freaking devilish〜 The guy is also much more fearsome.

22. Name: Anonymous Large Shield User.

But it is said that she might have a skill still hidden. Even Knox could possibly hide his skills since Maple took all the reward points in the end. I wonder..

Did anyone damage her? Knox had been damaged but clearly, his barrier had been taking all the brunt force. It's unknown because no one had experience damaging her, although her HP might have been damaged at the bout it might have quickly regenerated and isn't noticed by anyone.

It even clearly said in the ranking summary she isn't in the lightest got damaged.

23. Name: Anonymous Magic-User.

I really want to know Knox-kun's build though. Remember when we found that guy. Look at him now, he's already comparable to Maple, they are even related with a close relationship to the real world. How does fate work and what are the odds?

24. Name: Anonymous Large Sword User.

Well~ I'm the first one to find him, I felt even laughing remembering my expression when I saw that guy.

Thinking about it now just made me a little better. Hey~ they just started playing and overpowered and are a couple of rookies. That's how it works, they had that special attribute between themselves. Heh!

25. Name: Anonymous Magic-User.

Their specs are too high, coupled with that gear and ridiculous skills.

26. Name: Anonymous Bow User.

In reality, they already one of the top players right〜… Best of all, Maple's too cute and she's also strong., really that guy, I want to stran- ehem~ I mean I'm just a little-...

27. Name: Anonymous Spear User.

Let's just continue observing.

We just have to gather information while at the same time do not engage ( Especially don't antagonize that guy! ) Just don't meddle and only observe.

While observing! Remember this! Don't cross the line of their privacy. Do your information gathering when they're in public.

Seriously guys if you're much curious about their builds and stuff, just befriend them, it's that easy.

As for our first task of protecting Maple-chan, she already had the guy so there isn't much we could do.

28. Name: Anonymous Large Sword User.

Yep, we can only do that.

I'll count on you guys with individual investigation from now on too yow.

29. Name: Anonymous Bow User.

ROGER!!

30. Name: Anonymous Magic-User.

ROGER!!

31. Name: Anonymous Spear User.

ROGER!!

32. Name: Anonymous Large Shield User.

ROGER!!

- - -

Currently, Gram and Kaede were being invited to tea time with several players who they might have both seen during the first event. Of course, he had some thoughts regarding others being about privy for their skills so unless he knew or had some relationship with them, he would automatically refuse.

"So yeah, care to join us for a little time?" The guy asked again while being polite, his hands behind his back.

Gram softly waves his hand as denial, "I think we'll decline, for now, we have been playing the game for some time so we'd like to take a rest."

"I'll hope we could be friends in the future." The guy knew he won't be able to ask even if he tried to get a little more forceful, they also understood they won't win against these two. Of course, many people wanted to find out their secrets, after all, mage build is popular while defense build is like something interesting to explore.

"Yeah sure... Then. we'll go now. Let's go." He just nodded, Gram held Kaede's hand and headed inwards the inn. He talked about Kaede about those poachers and that they were trying to invite them due to an opportunity to learn their secrets.

She easily understood and thereby had listened attentively while she nodded cutely. He heavily noted not talking to strangers, with a rather suspicious face, he's just removing the smallest odds.

"I'm not stupid to fall to easy tricks! Hmm~!" Kaede thought had pouted although she understood why he's being over-protective this time.

The next day of the event. After learning the distribution of information regarding more damage reduction skills, Kaede decided to browse through the NWO forums early before they dived into the game. She was recording all the damage reduction skills that have been found until now, and their skill requirements.

And right now, it had been just more than a month after the game had been released. Together with that, there will be a large-scale patch tomorrow. A few skills and items will be added. That also made the internet on fire, but that was not the highlight.

The highlight was, the players that could defeat the dungeon boss on the north end of the map will be able to move forward from there towards the new level that will be added after the update.

The good thing is that even if it was challenged by solo or by party, they would be able to advance to the next level.

"In simple words, we just have to defeat it." Gram said via video chat while glancing at the busy Kaede at his phone, taking notes at certain forums. He's also looking for certain elemental 'forms' and thinking what elemental type he would get.

Of course, he would prioritize making new offensive skills, he'll expand his offense first as [ Fireball ] is seemingly a little underpowered while he only uses [ Fire Bullet ] as his main spam spell.

'Fire Blaze, Fire Flare, Fire Shower, Firestorm, Water Bolt Barrage, Water Jet, Wind Cutter, Triple Wind Slash or should I find a variant elemental skill and combine two elements, that'll surely be interesting.'

"I think I'm focusing on getting more defense skill, look~ here." Kaede was also thinking of going there after she gained skills.

"Today I will try acquiring [ Large Defense ]!" Kaede eagerly said, but she quickly found one problem. The [ Mirror of the Dark Night ] has the deadly [ Bizarre Eater ] skill that devours everything it touches, she essentially needs to activate the usage of the skill before she's able to gather the skill.

"Then just empty the infused [ Bizarre Eater ] usage?" He recommended and then looked at one spell he had found from a certain game.

'Thunder Breathing? Shadow Clone? Wind Style? They are a little complicated... Hmm.'

"N〜nn.. I'll do that, but it'll take time for me to use it.." It certainly would take time since when she infused the skill, it had a whopping thirty times usage. Although it triggered the skill every time someone touches it, it could be triggered to catch skills as well.

Kaede, who was already thinking for some time, had gained a brilliant idea. "I wonder if it would go well?"

"What would go well? You have a plan?" Gram quickly got interested in her sudden idea. Kaede quickly relayed it out to him.

Kaede rested her head on her both hands while imagining, "U~n! I just thought of getting another shield, so that I could use the other to devour..U~mm... Do you think it could work out?" She looked at the screen waiting for an answer.

He collected the phone and playfully said with a teasing grin, "Mah~ that is possibly helpful in your case. It's a great idea and you want to collect large shields now? Hehehe."

"Mou~ I won't do that! I might… in any case, let's just head to the game!" Kaede looked at him with a leer before eagerly diving into the game.

As soon as a few minutes had passed, they already got in and were heading towards the Izu's tavern store that they had been brought to by Crom before.

"Ara! Welcome. You two surely had become famous huh〜 So what do these two skilled players needed from my workshop?" Izu winked at Gram but quickly turned her sight to Kaede with a smile on her face.

"Thank you very much! There's something I want to talk about today…although it's okay if you decline..." Kaede put her hands and felt a little timid, she knew that any commission done had an unimaginable price and the materials were still held by the client so she's already skeptical if it would work, but with her assuming personality that everything will work out, she just decided to continue.

Saying that as a prelude, Kaede started talking about it. Izu, who heard what Kaede wanted, started reciting it to check.

Izu tapped the table while saying, "You want set equipment, its specs could be unconsidered and you just want it white and detailed. To make that, how much will it take…huh. Let me think…if there are some materials for the commission you could lower the price for around a million a set. Depending on the materials you bring, if you brought high-level materials then we could push the specs to a large degree."

Kaede thought she would use another set of gear because her main shield would quickly use [ Bizarre ] Eater ] if it touched anything.

Because of that, Kaede decided to have another set of equipment as a backup in case she didn't want to trigger [ Bizarre Eater ], it's a really useful skill, she didn't want to waste it every time.

She also wanted to consider how it looks and that's why she didn't think of buying cheap shields. Now that she had gathered some attention, she wanted to be a little fashionable for a public appearance.

"Well, a white equipment set. Are you sure we could pay that off?" Gram knocked on her head before she could imagine herself wearing the equipment.

"Muhh~" Kaede pouted while rubbing her head looking at him as if she had been betrayed. If anything, it didn't even do any damage to her.

"At least we could try. Mah~ at least we now knew how much it would take for a set of new gear. Thanks for having us!" Gram and Kaede thanked Izu. She waved her hand nonchalantly as she saw them leaving the store.

To find out where to get the materials needed for the equipment that she wanted, they decide to look at the information bulletin.

First of all, a pure-white hardy material is needed as the main component. Kaede saw two materials that could perfectly describe the material she needed.

The first one is the White Crystal. But, Kaede knew that she couldn't mine it with her [ DEX 0 ], it's the same for Gram.

That's why they headed towards the other location. The material is under a wide underground lake south of the town.

There had been rumors regarding the mysterious things under the lake, but suspicious things like that hadn't been found and can only be regarded as a type of quest to be discovered.

Her target is a fish that swims in groups, it has snow-white hard scales. One of them is a blue-colored leader that is almost transparent in water.

"There was that kind of story in elementary school right〜!?" Kaede asked Gram who's walking side by side to her.

"Yeah.. probably some kind of old tale, well. I'd rather play games than read a book." He nodded seriously while patting the energetic girl's head.

"You really don't like reading neh~ I remember that time you're given an assignment and you just throw the booklet because it's to--" Kaede who's reminiscing got instantly chopped at the head with a 'pow' although she wasn't hurt, she looked at him with pout while slightly dissatisfied and afflicted with the curse of cuteness.

She looked at him with a light leer, "It's domestic violence! Even against his girlfriend~ How uncouth."

"Don't make any commotion!"

After buying basic fishing tools, she eagerly tried to walk faster but she seemingly didn't overtake even him walking about relaxedly.

They reached the cave, Gram sat on the ground around five meters away from Kaede, as she had started fishing.

During the time Kaede was fishing, Gram decided to add three more spells on his arsenal, although he had a big MP consumption, had enough damage to be used on a good basis. Using [ Spell Creation ] he started imagining the process. (AN: Recommend spells or skills to gain here~ Thanks.)

"Well then…Fishing, Let's go!" Kaede looked at him for a moment and seeing him busy she started fishing. She didn't notice how much time had passed for some minutes, there still wasn't a fish that took her bait, but she didn't lose any motivation.

[ Skill [ Fire Flare ] had been acquired ] ( Requirements to gain: Spell Creation. Fire Mage Tower Quest Reward. )

[ Spell [ Wind Boost ] had been acquired. ] ( Requirements to gain: Spell Creation. Wind Mage Tower Quest Reward. Finishing Jett's given Quest: Freedom!.. INT: 300 above. )

[ Skill [ Fire Bullet Barrage ] had been acquired ] ( Requirements to gain: Spell Creation. Masterful Fire Mage Advancement Reward. )

[ Fire Flare ] Release 15 homing flaming arrow in one cast, deals damage, and burns enemies. Users can't move during the casting. Casting time of 4 seconds. 200 MP peruse.

[ Wind Boost ] Envelops the user's body with wind elemental particles adding flat 20 AGI and 20 DEX for 10 minutes. 100 MP per cast. Using [ Wind Manipulation ], the skill will only improve the duration and not the AGI status itself.

[ Fire Bullet Barrage ] Create floating multiple enhanced fire bullets around the user that can be fired at will. Successfully hitting will give the enemy double [ Burning ] debuff damage and [ Tracking ] debuff status. 50 MP consumed per one floating fire bullet. Maximum of 10 fire bullets. Currently at 0/10, using one, a refreshing time of 30 seconds is needed before being able to create another fire bullet.

Gram nodded at himself, "This should do it for now. I'll think of more spells tomorrow, I should plan it out first."

He looked at the fishing girl and teased, "It's been a little more than 10 minutes and you haven't caught any yet?"

"That's because I don't have any AGI or DEX if I had many~ It'll be so easy to get them!" She's clearly focused on the line waiting for something to get hooked.

Gram approached Kaede and lightly patted her shoulder to use [ Power Augmentation ] to her DEX and enhanced it to DEX 400, and in tandem used [ Wind Acceleration ] without being bothered. It boosted her DEX to a whopping 800, she looked at him happily. He joined fishing with her, at the side and started doing the same thing she did. While he used [ Wind Boost ] and [ Wind Acceleration ] at himself.

"You didn't get any skill?" Gram asked momentarily, she nodded. It seems that maybe the developers had caught up to the skill and removed the ridiculous gains with it, making it much more balanced.

At least they didn't change the cooldown or the effectiveness of it which relaxed him, feeling that it didn't get patched or something.

After just a moment of him boosting her stats, quickly caught something and started an easy tug of war.

"Ah! Knox! I hooked something! I hooked something!" Kaede put on some strength and pulled the fishing rod rather easily. The splashing waters echoed through the silent underground lake, and, in just a quick second, the fishing rod caught a pure-white fish, as it flopped behind her.

After leaving it like that for a while, it vanished and was replaced by a five cm scale. It's the drop of the monster, the chosen material for her gear. The scale is so small, but as she thought about it curiously, she had already put it in her inventory. She still needs to fish a lot, but they had school tomorrow.

"Woah~ that's quick... As expected of boosting stats points!" Gram made a smug face, Kaede reinstalled another bait.

She glanced at the side looking at the male who was fishing, she said in a low tone, "Hehe~ That's because you're too good for me. Ah~ another one! I'm so fast ahaha~" In just a moment she quickly got another hooked clearly enjoying herself, it seems her current stats, she could fish every one minute. It was so fast that it could be comparable to fishing based non-combat players. Besides that, fishing still relies heavily on the rarity of the bait and the fishing rod quality itself.

By the end of the boosting, she already gathered enough, they had classes tomorrow but before they left the dungeon.

They decided to take a quick bath on the lake. Although, he thought it's a little regretful because they couldn't change equipment, seemingly wanting to see her in a swimsuit. Regardless, they were able to have fun.

After putting the shield on the side, she tipped her feet against the water and said, "It's still a little cold."

Although, he surprised her.

"Take this! My full charge attack! Water Spout!" Gram, who had been submerged, had taken the chance that she wasn't paying attention, had made a rather funny sight that made her laugh out loud.

"You're not Squirtle! Iya~!" He quickly held her hand and dragged her to the water to get submerged.

After she got out of the water, he took a quick peck on her lips, that made her ruddy once she realized what happened, hotter than the cold water itself, and with a heavy breath looked at him with a cute leer.

"Taking advantage of me so quick~ Hmm.. Take this!" Kaede calmed herself and surprised him with cold water on his face but he was able to dodge that made him grin.

"Dodged!" Gram looked at her adoringly. Hearing that made her much more flustered as she had begun putting out much water against him but only heard a burst of satisfied laughter. In the end, she started making a dissatisfied pout telling that he was cheating ''Easily doing things like that... He's so sneaky...'

During the time he even noticed a weird hole on the bottom as he had used [ Perception ] if there was a lake, there sure would be an actual real treasure, and boy, he even saw a circling distortion of blue mana around.

Looking at the demure girl, he changed the topic and rubbed her silken black hair, "There should be a dungeon in the bottom, we should look at it tomorrow or something."

"N~nn. You're so… I hate you.." Kaede said so lightly that he couldn't hear her speak, she held her hand on his front chest and started punching it without any strength.

They couldn't neglect real life just for the sake of the game. They already spent some time in the game and although they could continue, they really needed to take some time and rest for tomorrow's classes. They will come tomorrow or the next day when they have free time again as even Risa might come and join them in surprise.

"Yeah, there might be another surprise exam in my class... Hopefully, it doesn't happen." Gram chatted.

"Well~ you just said it so you just jinxed it." Putting a slipped out tongue emoji, Kaede hugged the pillow. But she remembered the event earlier and that made her flustered and a little fluttery, she rolled for some minute before sending a sleeping emoji.

"...Aa~ahh... So embarrassing." Touching her soft lips, she quickly submerged herself under the pillow, wanting to forget the event. She couldn't even imagine telling it towards her best friend. After an hour of rolling around, she began to tire out, she's able to sleep afterward.