Controversial Method

"I can't help but notice Mr. Sworn isn't joining us today?", the coach spoke during class.

Eyes moved towards Sol. A gleam of expectancy shone from the class and pressured an answer from Sol's lips. With a hesitant look he eventually broke, "He's grinding. . ."

"Is that so? Very well, I'll just mark him as absent for today. I trust he has a plan to make up for the loss in credits. If you all will return your attention to the screen for me? Good, today we will be reviewing various methods of executing Skills differently. Today's tech is referred to as Air Maneuvering. As you may already know several Skills can be used while airborne. This was to give players an alternative of escaping any combos aside from ragdoll cancelling. One good example would be. . ."

The coach's voice trailed off as Sol slowly stopped listening. His thoughts were filled with the times he played with Nimin. He felt that the theory he learned in camp was useful, but the occasional tips Nimin gave him made him improve faster than theory learning. Swift yet accurate split second instructions, judgement that didn't belong to a rookie player, and a certain confidence that he carried. This feeling was something he only got from watching the occasional Pro player in action. 

It was said that being coached by a Pro was a golden opportunity. Then what was this? A silver opportunity? Regardless it was something that Sol couldn't stop thinking about. In barely a week of constant grinding Sol already felt more confident. If he had months of practice? Perhaps he too could take a spot at the camp rankings. 

Sol suddenly pinched his thigh. He almost lost himself in fantasy. No matter what he needed to steel himself in reality. Once he lost himself in fantasy he wouldn't ever improve. This fact was molded into his brain. As if branded so he couldn't forget. One step at a time. He had an opportunity, his roommate was unnaturally skilled at Fractured Worlds. Moreover, that roommate was willing to provide tips to improve.

This opportunity was only temporary. Sol knew this in his heart. It was only a matter of time before Cole was noticed by someone, if he wasn't already, and scouted for a proper Pro team. Slowly more skilled players would surround him, and Sol wouldn't have the footing to continue standing by him. If he truly wished to continue improving, he would need more than the tips he gained occasionally. 

Yet by the time this realization came to him, class had already ended. Getting up from his chair he lifted his laptop and placed it into his bag. To his surprise an arm caught him in the middle of the motion. Startled he dropped the laptop only for it to be caught, "Sorry sorry! You just weren't responding to me calling you out so I thought maybe you hadn't heard me."

Carmen lifted the laptop and handed it back with an embarrassed expression, "Again I'm sorry."

Accepting the laptop Sol responded with his own apology, "I was deep in thought I guess I never realized you calling out to me."

Placing the laptop into the bag he then asked, "Okay you have my focus now. Did you need something?"

"Well what you said earlier today caught my interest. Cole is grinding? It's not often you see a camp member avoid classes within the first month."

"The camp rankings have put some pressure on him, so he's worried he'll be under-leveled.", Sol expertly avoided the topic regarding Strict Business.

"Haha, after that ordeal with his interview I'm surprised he feels pressure. Is he leveling in the new server?"

Sol nodded while shouldering his bag.

"Must be rough. I heard the top teams are tripling their efforts into the server. It's been a while since Organizations had such an influence on a server."

"They are?", Sol asked with a reflex interest.

"You don't know? Hmm, then forget what I said. If Cole needs help grinding let him know I've been making a build myself in that server and would like to join."

"Interested in his playstyle?"

"A little."

Carmen had an ulterior motive to extending a hand to help. Wanting to fulfill his own interest on the player with a 789 AIM rating. Especially a player with the confidence to accept a challenge from the top of the class. Despite originally attempting to mask this motive, he quickly revealed his true intentions the moment Sol caught on. These underhanded games were never his strong suit.

Sol considered declining the help. However two things stopped him from doing so. First was the thought that a top player of the class providing support would be a huge help. Especially from a highly coveted support class. Second, was the fact that it wasn't his place to turn down such intentions. After all it was him who suggested the camp rankings in the first place.

So he replied with these two thoughts in mind, "What level are you?"

"I've just reached 60 last night."

"Seems everyone is reaching that level. Is Red Zone hunting popular?"

"Red Zone?", Carmen didn't seem to understand the question at first, "I have it being power leveled."

"Ah, I thought you were making the build."

"I already have it made in theory. I just need the levels and equipment to try it."

A theory crafter! Sol slowly began to understand a few things just from this reply alone. Without prying further he gave an honest answer to the beginning question, "I'll let him know you offered."

"Thanks!"

Carmen swiftly made an exit to join with some friends. Sol watched as they happily chatted and left the classroom. At this moment he thought about what exactly Nimin's plan was, and why he was so silent about it. The more he thought about it, the less he understood.

How exactly did he plan to level quickly enough to handle Strict Business. That Organization was on the level of Pros. Ran by individuals who likely were dealing with real money! Even if he leveled quickly enough to fight on even ground, that alone wasn't going to deter them. They had power in numbers after all. Without a significant level advantage there was no way to face against them alone.

"I wonder what he's up to now. . .", Sol thought absentmindedly while leaving the classroom himself.

As for Nimin. . . he currently was getting on the hated list of many players.

Currently in an internet cafe, one of the two in the area that still were operating. He was playing on two separate computers. His main account with Godwit on the laptop provided by the camp, and an alternate account he purchased for the sole purpose of scouting.

Now it was technically against the user agreement of Fractured Worlds to sell already purchased Account Sticks. However rarely, if ever, did they reinforce this rule. Considering accounts were permanently locked to the access key of the USB stick they purchase, an account was considered a physical purchase. Therefor selling an Account Stick was no different than selling any other owned item. Granted these second hand accounts were good only for one thing, and that was to be throwaways. Pre-leveled accounts with no purpose.

Having purchased a level 50 account he swiftly transferred it over to the newest server and was using it for scouting purposes. Once the throwaway account spotted players fighting a Red Zone mob, he calculated their coordinates and found the best place to snipe using Godwit.

The effort required to pull off this strategy was more than simply grinding in the Red Zone. Additionally it relied heavily on luck as well. Despite these downsides Nimin persisted in doing this method for one sole reason. 

When it worked, it was incredibly efficient!

In just a few hours Nimin managed to snag a few Elite kills that gave him more exp than grinding normally. With each kill he stole, the more efficient he grew. More often than not, players who were fighting in the Red Zone would keep their mob in one area, or kited it in a single direction. From there it was merely an estimation on Nimin's part to aim Godwit in the right location and fire.

He missed more times than not. It was a given considering his current location. A place very few visited, due to how little there was to do. At the center of the level 50 Red Zone, there was a tilted clock tower. Occasionally the hands would jerk to a new location, grinding the gears inside. The tower itself was a mix of three different materials. An old eroded stone, a rusted steel, and a pristine white metal. Each time the clock hands moved, the materials shifted. It was like seeing a clock tower in three different points in time, and they blurred together. 

It was once a popular gathering spot, until an incident occurred making many avoid it. Eventually over time people realized that Red Zone mobs didn't spawn near the tower and used it as a safe haven, only to be hunted by those searching for weakened players. As its negative reputation grew, it became less visited by those needing a place to recover. In return those hunting players stopped camping it as well. Making it almost a ghost town.

Almost. Sometimes it was still visited by new players. 

Critical Shot was at the top. Climbing to the top of the tower required a certain level of skill most new players didn't have, so those who visited the area never actually got to see Critical Shot. This allowed him to have a relative lax on his focus with Critical Shot, and instead spend most of it searching for Red Zone mobs to steal.

Aiming Godwit he fired several times and waited patiently. Nimin's eyes glancing towards the internet cafe's pc monitor. Several bullets eventually arrived and embedded into the ground. One however hit the Elite mob's foot, and the damage multiplier took effect and finished the last of its HP. 

He never received any of the drops from his kills, but it was a price Nimin was more than willing to pay. Seeing his exp bar rise with each kill, and how quickly it was progressing, he wasn't mourning after the loss of items at all.

He had already gained a level, and was quickly progressing towards another. At this rate reaching level 65 was going to happen far quicker than he originally estimated!