Extortion
'What is going on? When did I trigger all of these notifications? Now there are announcements? I might have found myself in a mess.' Jack was deep in thought.
"Oi! Greenhorn!" the old dwarf was practically nose to nose with Jack.
Jack was able to smell the strong smell of alcohol storming out of the dwarf's mouth.
"Greenhorn? Call me Intoxicated!" Jack was death staring the dwarf down.
The dwarf was about to say something but Jack cut him off after recalling his new title, "Who's your illegitimate son! You're your own Illegitimate son!"
The dwarf was bewildered for a moment, "Oooh! Haha! What, do you have a problem with it? The only person who could beat me in a drinking contest is my own blood!" the dwarf slurred.
Still laughing at Jack's expense, "You remind me of her too! Just call me Daddy Gerald!" he continued as he slurred.
Jack who had just taken a drink from a fresh beer strayed it all over Gerald. "Daddy! In your dreams!"
Jack was so angry he ordered more beer and chugged them all down.
* Ding, activated Under the Influence. All stats doubled.
Jack, who was now drunk again, felt like he had more control over his drunkenness. He looked at this character pannel again.
– Character Screen –
…
Attributes:
Health: 400
Strength: 40
Agility: 10
Mana: 100
Fortitude: MAX [A drunk feels nohting]
Stamina: MAX [Only blacking out can stop a drunk]
–
Seeing that Jack was ignoring him Gerald started to worry. "Oi! Now, now. Don't be mad at your father."
Jack only huffed.
Gerald was still panicking, he just found his 'son' so he didn't want to lose him. He pulled a hammer out of thin air. "Ere take'tis!"
Jack looked over, Gerald was holding a large hammer that looked almost identical to the hammer he used earlier.
Jack took it and looked over its details.
–
Name: Giant Ornate Blacksmith's Hammer
Bound to Intoxicated
Grade: Growth (Rare)
Damage: 200
Durability: INF
Special Effects:
Acts like a normal blacksmithing hammer.
Increases smithed item's quality.
Non-blacksmithing items hit by this hammer have increased durability loss
–
Jack looked between the hammer in his hand and the hammer resting on the edge of the bar. While they look the same Jack knew that Gerald's hammer's grade was far better than his own.
Jack then looked at the large gourd that hung on Gerald's side. He lifted an eyebrow then looked between Gerald's eyes and the gourd hinting at something.
"Whatsh dat?" Jack asked.
Gerald quickly hid the gourd behind him. "Nuffin".
"Nah! Look yu hid'it!" slurred Jack.
Gerald looked worried, he pulled out another but similar gourd out of thin air just like he did the hammer. "Ere! Dis one's mine." He was sweating bullets.
–
Name: Spirit Gourd
Bound to Intoxicated
Grade: Spirit
Durability: INF
Special Effects:
Holds an infinite amount of liquid.
Must contain a source stone for each liquid held. Can hold up to five source stones.
Source Stone Slots
1. Origin Spirit Water [Grade: Spirit]
2. Empty
3. Empty
4. Empty
5. Empty
–
Jack smiled and equipped the gourd right away. All types of alcohol need water as their base. Origin Spirit Water was a Spirit grade material, while he didn't know how high it was but it can't be a low grade.
"G'me more." Jack was greedy. If this dwarf wanted to be called daddy he was going to bleed him dry.
"Whaa? I gave'ye lotsh!" cried Gerald. He was bleeding inside. The hammer wasn't anything important but the Spirit Gourd was unworldly expensive!
Jack was still drinking, "I wan'giftsh. You owe me lotsh of giftsh!" he demanded as a child would to his parents.
Jack was going to milk this 'father' of his as much as he could, "Look at meh! Dwarf but no knowledge of smithing nor brewing!"
Gerald took a breath of relief, crafting manuals were plenty and it wouldn't hurt his pocket giving Jack some.
"Ere! Happy bir'day kiddo!"
Jack was going to complain until he read the two books he was handed.
–
Name: King Gerald's Blacksmithing Notes
Bound to Intoxicated
Grade: Legendary [Orginal Copy]
Grants player the knowledge that the great King Gerald's smithing knowledge. It contains every blacksmithing recipe with thorough notes of the processes and a list of all ingredients needed. Contains the knowledge of several grades of each item.
–
The next book was just as good.
–
Name: King Gerald's Brewing Notes
Bound to Intoxicated
Grade: Legendary [Orginal Copy]
Grants player the knowledge that the great King Gerald learned while becoming the world's greatest brewmaster. It contains every brewing recipe with thorough notes of the processes and a list of all ingredients needed. Contains the knowledge of several grades of each item.
Includes the recipe of the divine experience medical brew - Ambrosia.
–
'Orginal notes? I doubt he actually wants to give me the originals. That Ambrosia, I must try it.' Jack's internal thoughts were whirling.
Jack didn't want Gerald to realize his mistake and take back his belongings so he used the two books right away.
He quickly looked at the recipe for Ambrosia.
– Brewing Recipe
Name: Drought of Ambrosia
Grade Divine
Grants experience points upon drinking. Even the gods relish the taste.
[Common Grade Drought of Ambrosia]
Half liter of Origin Spirit Water
One Crystalized Iron Ore - Crushed
One Soul of a Pure Being
5 Stocks of Hundred Year Old Earth and Haven Lilly
2 Stocks of Blazing Jasmine
4 Ounces of Enchanted Yeast
Makes 4 Droughts each granting 750 experience points each.
–
Jack had to keep his mouth from hitting the floor. By the game's current standard that was a few levels. He could probably catch up to the Rankers if he drank enough!
'But what the hell? A Soul of a Pure Being? Am I supposed to sacrifice a virgin?! I can't make this any time soon.' he thought.
He browsed down to the highest grade Drought.
– Brewing Recipe –
[Divine Grade Drought of Ambrosia]
Half liter of Condensed Primal Chaos Essence
One Crystalized Adamantite Ore - Crushed
One Soul of a True Dragon
One Feather of a Pure Blood Phoenix - Crushed
5 Stocks of Million Year Old Earth and Haven Lilly
2 Stocks of Ying Yang Jasmine
4 Ounces of Divine Living Yeast
Makes 4 Droughts each granting 1,500,000 experience points each.
–
'The F*CK! Impossible! Simple Impossible! I'm not even looking at high-ranking Droughts anymore. True Dragons? Phoenixes? No thanks. The Common Grade will be annoying enough!' cursed Jack.
"Moare!" Jack demanded! 'Daddy?! More like Sugar Daddy! I need something to increase my level. He must have some Ambrosia!'
"No!" Gerald roared. He was bleeding. If he gave anymore he would die!
By this point, both of them sobered up.
"I'll call you Daddy Gerald right here right now if you have something that can level me up. I can't even do the most basic quest nor kill the weakest monsters around this village! Do you want a dog son?!" Jack was determined.
Gerald bit his lip. Did he really have to expose his secret?
He looked around the bar, there were some people watching them as if it was a show. He couldn't expose his secret drink to anyone.
He looked towards Jim, "A backroom please."
Jim led them to a private room and shut the door behind him as he exited.
"Here! No more after this! You're one expensive son!" Gerald then slammed a tankard filled with golden and glowing liquid onto a table.
'Here it is!' Jack was celebrating in his head. But he still needed to play dumb.
"What is it? Can this even be drunk?"
"Yes! It is called Ambrosia, even the gods want to drink this! Do it quickly before anyone notices its aura!" Gerald commanded.
Jack notice Gerald's seriousness. 'Aura? Is this a disaster in disguise?'
He lifted the Drought and quickly examined it.
–
Name: Drought of Ambrosia
Grade: Uncommon
Consumption grants the player 25,000 experience points.
–
Jack clicked his tough, 'Cheapskate'.
Regardless, Jack quickly finished the Drought and let the notifications roll in.
* Ding, activated Under the Influence. All stats doubled.
* Ding, the player has leveled up.
* Ding, the player has leveled up.
…
* Ding, the player has leveled up.
Jack instantly leveled up to level 10.
'Who needs to farm monsters. I'll live of Droughts somehow!' Jack pledged to himself he would one-day mass produce these Droughts.
* BOOM *
Jack instantly blacked out due to how to string the alcohol was. He woke up a few minutes later and found his 'Father' slapping him silly. 'He must be taking out his grief'
"You can stop now.."
* Slap *
"Ops. My hand slipped"
'Sure it did old man' Jack thought.
–
* Announcement * The first player has hit level 10.
* Announcement * Teleportation from Starter Villages to Novice Village will be free for the next 72 hours. Teleport location will be Novice Village Number 42.
* Announcement * The player is awarded 5 honor points.
* Announcement * The player is awarded 1 silver coin.
* Announcement * The player shall receive the title: I'm the Quickest!.
* Announcement * Novice Dungeons have been revealed. Minimum requirement ranges between levels 5 and 15. Check the development blogs for more information.
–
Jack kept getting notifications.
* Ding, the player has received the title: I'm the Quickest, please check the details.
* Ding, you have gained 5 skill points and 10 attribute points.
* Ding, class change quest is available… Recalculating... [ERR: 9909] Cannot change class.
* Ding, changing class change quest to class advancement quest.
* Ding, Quest Offered: My First Source Stone!
* Ding, Quest automatically accepted. Check the quest log for more details.
'That is a lot of sh*t. Guess I better start reading.'
– Title –
Name: I'm the Quickest!
Description: You are the fastest in terms of experience points!
Effect:
When in the top 5 in the Leader Boards gain an extra flat 5 experience points per kill, 25 experience points per item craft when the item grade is epic or above.
When below the top 5 in the Leader Boards you will receive 15% fewer experience points per action.
–
.
.
– Quest Details –
My First Source Stone!
Description: A great Drunkard not only drinks but creates his own! Make a Common Grade Alcoholic Source Stone.
Time: INF
Rewards: Crystal Catalyst and ???
–
.
.
Jack looked over everything was pleasantly surprised. It seems like his class is already at peak condition since the game wouldn't let him get a class change quest. Instead, he had to create a Source Stone.
He quickly peaked at a crafting recipe in Brewmaster recipes. A common Source Stone didn't look too hard. The only difficult part would be getting the Crystalized Iron Ore.
That item was shared with the common grade Drought of Ambrosia. He was slightly worried he might need to make a hard decision when the time comes.
After thinking about it, he felt it would be best to have an infinite amount of beer to keep his intoxicated passive active.
As for the title, the condition for not being in the top 5 is quite harsh compared to the marginal buff it gave to his experience gain. He felt it wasn't overpowered and well-balanced, especially when the patch makes gaining experience points easier. A flat increase is more balanced compared to a percentage increase.
He quickly looked over his status panel. He increased his health points from 200 to 250 (each point adds 10 points) and the final points increased his strength from 20 to 25.
'No need for agility right now. I get an increase to invasion rate from two of my skills anyway.'
He didn't know what to do with the skill points. The only skills he can increase are Drunk Boxing and Throw. He felt uncomfortable adding points to skills that he is unaware of their performance so he decided to hold off on using them quite yet.
.
.
Just as Jack was drowning in experience points and levels a huge wolf was killed by a group of 20 individuals.
They were the top 20 people on the Leader Boards. Instead of directly fighting over who would be the top dog all of them agreed cooperation was for the best. A lot of the game's base features didn't activate until players hit level 10. Things like the Guild System, Auction House, Currency Transfering, Dungeons, and a handful of other systems.
They decided a fair competition was for the best. While sweeping the wild, whoever killed to most got the most experience points, etc.
The giant wolf had died a few seconds after Jack hit level 10. Scarlet, Iceburgh (Hary), and Herald leveled up to level 10.
Just as Scarlet was going to celebrate being the first level 10 the announcements that Jack caused had rung out.
Instead of the expected cheering, only Hary, Karl, and Thomas were making any noise. They were laughing hard.
"What's so funny? Several of us lost the chance to become the first. Hell, Herald lost the third-place reward for hitting level 10 because of this Intoxicated guy.
Everyone was looking at Herald now, who had a sour face.
Hary was wiping a teardrop from his eye from all of his laughing. "I think I know that guy. He should be our friend and his character name fits perfectly. How the hell did he manage to beat us to level 10?"
Boyd was curious, just who else could be friends with the heir to the Manson Group? "You know him?"
"That drunk? I can almost guarantee it." Hary replied.
Thomas has also was dying from laughter, "He'd rather drink than fight anything. What did he do? Drink his way to level 10?"
Karl picked himself off of the ground, "Normally I'd say that is impossible but knowing him he managed to find a way."
"Alright, three of us have hit level 10. As we agreed we will go our separate ways and the natural rivalry shall officially start. Thomas, Karal let's go I'll bus you to level 10 so we can go find that drunk and beat him to death."
The rest of the group watched them walk into the distance. After the group disappeared from their vision they all looked at each other and said their goodbyes. Hary was right, the real fight to be the top dogs just started.
* Ding, Iceburgh had invited you to a group chat. Accept / Deny?
"Accept"
– GC, Iceburgh, Kril, Zen, Intoxicated –
Iceburgh - How'd you do it?
Intoxicated - Do what?
Kril - Don't play dumb.
Intoxicated - Would you believe me if I said I drank my way to level 10?
* Ding, group chat has been named 'Horizon'
–
.
His three friends once again burst into laughter. Sure enough, they thought.
– GC Horizon –
Zen - We do! I'm surprised you didn't hear us laughing!
Kril - Right?! I almost laughed to death!
Iceburgh - lol. So how many drinks did it take?
Intoxicated - One.
Kril - Bullsh*t
Intoxicated: Shared Item Description
.
–
Name: Drought of Ambrosia
Grade: Uncommon
Consumption grants the player 25,000 experience points.
–
Zen - 0.o
Kril - Cheater! Hacker! You scam artist!
Iceburgh - Do you have any more? -_-
Intoxicated - You wish! Do you think these Droughts grow like cabbages?!
Kril - Can I just have a little sip?
Intoxicated - ^.^ Nope. All gone. To slow!
[ Silence ]
Intoxicated - Well, in the future there might be more.
–
After he shared the item description of his 'gift' he laughed and closed the chat. He was positive they were trying to bombard him with questions after his vague sentence.
Jack bid his goodbyes to Gerald, who demanded to be called 'Daddy', and Jim. Jack called Gerald 'Daddy' in the most sarcastic fashion he could and left the angry Gerald in the dust.
He spent several silver coins buying as many alcoholic drinks as he could then started walking towards the wild outside the city. It was time he tested his strength.
* Ding, activated Under the Influence. All stats doubled.