Preparation

Ethan gained five stat points, while his MAG and WIS both increased by one point. It was one of the benefits of being a demon.

He distributed the available stat points by 1,2,2 for INT, DEX, and AGI.

Ethan decided to arrange his stats attributes in a hybrid fashion. That's why he wasn't concentrating solely on his core attributes.

Because his MAG and WIS were still good, Ethan increased his secondary attributes instead while also adding two points to AGI.

To him, a mage, especially a Witch should have better mobility.

Ethan also received one spell point (SP). Every time a level 10 player or below levels up, they gain one SP.

Quests and other events could also provide more SP rewards. One SP is equivalent to 10% spell proficiency, so it was very useful for leveling up a spell.

The maximum spell proficiency differed depending on the type and level of the spell.

For instance, level 1 Basic spells require 50% spell proficiency, Intermediate spells require 100%, and Advance spells require 150% proficiency to upgrade.

There are three ways to improve spell proficiency. The first was allocating the SP. The second was to use or cast the spell frequently. Lastly, the third way is to 'effectively' use the spell.

The third condition can be ambiguous, but Ethan understood what it meant. It simply encourages players to use their spells in combat.

While casting the spell repeatedly in safe practice can increase its proficiency, it was much a slower method than using the spell in combat.

The game system does not favor lazy leveling, after all.

For the time being, Ethan reserves his SP and checks his newly acquired title.

—

Apprentice of the Witch— A qualification ticket to become a Witch apprentice.

—

It was merely a title.

There are no attribute gains or anything of the sort. However, in the early stages of the game, it was the best title a player could receive.

Being an apprentice could also mean that a nameless Witch like him had the opportunity to have a professional title.

The professional title was distinct from the rest of the game's titles. Professional titles can benefit the user since they provide professional perks such as talents and bonuses related to their profession.

Ethan was also pleased after learning who would be teaching him, it was the Silver Witch.

In his previous life, the Silver Witch is a well-known Witch who only took one apprentice, and that player rose through the ranks after completing her lessons.

Ethan was overjoyed as he remembered these details, but he quickly calmed down because he still had a top priority in mind—earning money and treating himself with fine and tasty food.

He hadn't eaten anything delicious in a month, and he couldn't hold his food cravings any longer.

Ethan decided to hold the unique quest for the time being. After all, he wasn't competing this time.

Leaderboards? Fame?

'I missed the part where that's my problem.'

Ethan thought to himself as he closed his status window.

Finally, he becomes aware of the noise on his back and turns around. He tilted his head in confusion at what was going on, only to realize that their gaze was fixated on him.

He returns his gaze to the burned-out tree, thinking that these people were most likely witnessing this type of spell for the first time.

'Given that the game was still in its early stages, this is more likely the case.'

For Ethan, however, this is nothing out of the ordinary. This type of spell was relatively small compared to the spell in the later stages of the game.

A spell that can destroy a country, a spell that can instantly kill a thousand people, and several spells with destructive abilities. That was a little chaotic... Wasn't that the case?

However, the game remained balanced. If there are annihilation spells, there are also spells with strong defensive capabilities. After all, the World of Utopia is based on yin and yang principles.

'Anyways, I should get going now.'

Ethan makes his way through the crowd. Their attention remained fixed on him, and many were curious about his identity but he remained unfazed by it.

"Who is he? Is he a guild expert?" One of the onlookers asked.

"Dunno. He doesn't have a guild emblem, so he's probably one of those rankers," the elf person beside him speculated.

"Geh, rankers were monsters, weren't they?" The person in the mage robe asked, his eyes were in awe.

'Rankers, huh.'

As Ethan recalls, Rankers were self-sufficient individuals who achieved positions on the global leaderboards in every VR game even the lack of support from organizations and guilds.

Because of these reasons many players admire their talent.

However, some of them have bad personalities.

'They either prideful or arrogant hence the populace support was in half.'

Ethan thought as he remembers the rouge rankers he meet in his previous life.

While thinking about his previous life adventure, finally, he arrived at the hall exit. He already achieved his first goal and now it was time to run his next plan.

A notification rang out as he stepped outside. It informed him that he had completed one of the general tasks, which is to use the training hall.

The beginner village has 20 general tasks, but Ethan had no intention of completing them one after another.

It would waste his time, so he planned to graduate from the tutorial area by reaching level five.

After a short walk, Ethan arrives at the NPC shop that sells miscellaneous items like scrolls, talismans, and other related things.

"Can I buy four basic Haste Scroll, miss?"

Ethan asked the woman tending the store. 

"Yes, basic haste scroll, is it? Here."

The woman positively answered and gave him the four basic haste scrolls he requested.

"10 copper each," she added with a beaming smile.

When other male players on the sidelines saw this, they began to clamor; someone got a nosebleed.

Ethan ignores them and hands over 40 coppers, leaving him with only 8 coppers in his inventory.

Every new user who enters the game receives 50 coppers in their inventory as their starting capital.

It was a substantial sum of coins, given that the usual price of two pieces of bread is one copper.

So basically a basic haste scroll that cost 10 coppers is already an expensive item to purchase.

Spending your money on an expensive scroll instead of stacking potions and food supplies was really a bad idea.

In their eyes, he was a stupid newbie.

Ethan, on the other hand, ignored the stares and trotted out of the shop on his way to a specific street.