Chapter 7: Liberty Online
< Welcome to Liberty Online >
[ Respawning into a random starting village ]
Ding!
[ Entering Timber Village ]
Ashen opened his eyes to find himself in the heart of a bustling village. Timber Village was a humble place, with quaint wooden houses lining the cobblestone streets, lively shops full of chatter, and small stalls selling various items. The scent of fresh bread and roasted meats filled the air, while the sounds of people going about their daily lives mixed with the distant rustle of the trees surrounding the village.
"So, this is Liberty Online," Ashen muttered under his breath, still getting used to the realism of the game.
He raised his hands, flexing his fingers. The texture of his skin, the cool breeze brushing against him—it all felt astonishingly real. Every tiny detail seemed to be a perfect replica of the real world, down to the crunch of the dirt beneath his boots. It was a stark reminder of just how advanced the technology of this game had become. Liberty Online wasn't just a game; it was a new world.
"This... this is insane. It feels like I'm really here!" Ashen could barely contain his excitement. He wasn't the only one.
All around him, new players were marveling at their surroundings, some whispering to each other in disbelief. For most, this was their first time diving into a full-dive VR game, and they were clearly overwhelmed by how lifelike everything felt. Many had anticipated a revolutionary experience, but this was beyond anything they had imagined. Some were already praising the game's creators for achieving something that once felt like an impossible dream.
However, there was no time to waste. While many were still coming to terms with the immersion, some players had already rushed towards the outskirts of the village, eager to begin their adventure in the monster zones beyond. Ashen, too, felt the itch. His hands twitched, and his heart raced. He needed to fight. He needed to see how well he could fare in this world.
Liberty Online was unique in that the players' in-game stats were partially influenced by their real-world physical abilities. What Ashen didn't realize, however, was that his combat experience in real life had given him a significant advantage. While most players began with an average of 6 or 7 points in their key stats, Ashen's real-world combat proficiency pushed him far beyond the ordinary. Unbeknownst to him, he had been labeled a "monster" by the system due to his superior physical skills. His stats were high for a new player, almost bordering on expert level. In fact, professional fighters or elite athletes in the real world would have only slightly higher starting stats.
Eager to test himself, Ashen ventured outside the village and into the forest where low-level monsters roamed. He didn't have to wait long before his first challenge appeared.
A [Timber Wolf] emerged from the underbrush, its eyes gleaming with a feral hunger. It was larger than any normal wolf Ashen had seen, its muscles rippling beneath its coarse fur as it snarled at him. The beast's breath was visible in the cool forest air, a warning that this was no ordinary animal.
[ Timber Wolf ]
Level: 2
Hit Points: 50/50
Skills: Bite, Swipe
Ashen stared down the wolf, unarmed and unarmored, yet completely unshaken. His confidence came from years of martial arts training in real life. He was a fighter first and foremost, and this virtual world wasn't about to change that.
The Timber Wolf, seeing Ashen as an easy target, lunged at him with frightening speed, jaws wide open, aiming to sink its fangs into him. But Ashen moved with the grace of a seasoned warrior. He sidestepped the attack effortlessly, his body reacting with the precision and instincts honed over years of practice. His focus never wavered.
"You're fast, but not fast enough," Ashen murmured.
With the wolf still in mid-lunge, Ashen twisted his body and delivered a powerful roundhouse kick to the side of its head. The blow connected with a sickening thud, sending the wolf sprawling to the ground, dazed.
Critical hit
- 16 HP
Despite the strength of the attack, the wolf staggered back to its feet, growling and shaking its head to clear the dizziness. Ashen couldn't believe it.
"Seriously? That kick would've knocked out a full-grown man in real life. How is this thing still standing?" he muttered, clearly frustrated.
But he didn't have time to overthink it. The wolf shook off the dizziness and prepared for another assault. However, Ashen wasn't about to give it another chance. With a series of rapid strikes—kicks, punches, elbows—he barraged the creature relentlessly, each blow landing with brutal efficiency.
- 8 Health Points
- 8 Health Points
- 8 Health Points
...
Before the Timber Wolf could react or defend itself, it collapsed to the ground, dead. Ashen stood over it, catching his breath.
Ding!
[ You have learned a passive skill: Martial Arts LVL1 ]
Ding!
[ You gained 25 experience points ]
Ding!
[ You killed a monster of a higher level ]
+ 25 experience points
Ding!
[ You are the first player to kill a Timber Wolf ]
Experience gain will be doubled.
+ 100 experience points
Ding!
[ You have leveled up ]
Ashen took a deep breath, feeling a rush of exhilaration as the notifications filled his head. A smile crept onto his face as he glanced down at the fallen wolf. His first battle, and it had gone exactly as he had hoped.
His attention was drawn to a glinting object on the ground beside the wolf. He crouched and picked it up.
( Timber Wolf Tooth Knife ) [ Common ]
Physical Attack: 8
Magical Attack: 0
Attributes: None
"A weapon... perfect," Ashen said, equipping the knife. He opened his character screen to check his stats.
---
Name: Ashen
Race: Human
Level: 2
Experience Bar: 0 / 200
Hit Points: 50/50
Mana: 25/25
Physical Attack: 5-8 | + 8
Magical Attack: 5
Physical Defense: 5
Magical Defense: 5
Job Class: None
Sub Class: None
< Strength: 13>
< Agility: 18>
< Intelligence: 5>
< Vitality: 5>
Attribute Points Remaining: 5
Skills: Martial Arts
Titles: None
[Items]
Weapon :
( Timber Wolf Tooth Knife ) [ common]
+ 8 Physical Damage
Torso: None
Belt: None
Shoulder: None
Gloves: None
Bracers: None
Legs: None
Shoes: None
Accessories
Amulet: None
Earrings: None
Rings: None
Trinkets: None
Pet System
Pets: None
Mounts: None
---
Ashen gripped the knife in his hand, admiring its crude yet effective design. A smile spread across his face as he looked out at the forest.
"This world… it's more than I ever imagined," he said to himself, ready for the challenges that lay ahead.