"WOODY"

Atnas's eyebrows arched in mild surprise as I reached for the long sword that hung resplendent upon the wall of weapons. He voiced his curiosity with an amused tone,

"Oh, I thought you would choose a mage or an archer. Many tend to opt for those classes, given their long-range capabilities. It's a choice that often ensures their survival."

The guild master's words lingered in the air, hinting at the conventional wisdom of choosing a ranged class for safety. However, my heart was set, and I couldn't help but smirk beneath the mask I wore as I focused on my choice.

Behind the mask that concealed my expression, I couldn't help but smirk. The thrill of anticipation coursed through me as I contemplated my newly selected weapon.

With a firm grip on the iron long sword:

[equipped iron long sword]

[+15 STR]

[skill: none]

[Sword mastery: 0%]

I stared at the notifications that flashed before me, my determination unwavering. The sword felt like an extension of my very being, a symbol of my chosen path.

"Well, not that I disregard the mage and archer; I know how important their role is, (I read it in novels!)" I replied with a grin, my voice filled with conviction. "But I'm the kind of person who prefers the front line over the back. I'm more of a 'they need to walk over my dead body first before they can reach my teammates' kinda guy"

Gripping the hilt of the sword tightly, I could feel the excitement coursing through me, ready to be unleashed. With each step, my resolve strengthened, and my footsteps echoed with purpose as I walked toward the door that led to the training ground.

"Haha, let's see if you're capable of handling that kind of 'position.'"

The guild master's teasing words echoed in my mind as I pushed open the heavy wooden door that separated me from the unknown. The moment the door creaked open, blinding light seared into my eyes. I instinctively squeezed my eyelids shut until they adjusted to the intensity.

As I gradually opened my eyes, I was greeted by the sight of a vast, spacious room that stretched out like a basketball court on a grand scale. Its expanse was daunting, and the emptiness held an eerie silence that resonated within me.

*crrk crrk*

Except for one conspicuous element—a wooden figure, a dummy, positioned right at the center of the room. It was constructed from logs and resembled a humanoid figure, complete with arms and legs. The dummy stood motionless, head bowed as if in slumber.

My heart pounded with anticipation as I stepped into the training room, my boots echoing on the polished floor. Suddenly, the dummy's head, which had been lowered, snapped up with a jarring mechanical precision. Its eyes lit up a menacing, bright red.

A yellow nametag hovered above the dummy's head, and my eyes locked onto it:

[WOODY]

A yellow name tag indicated that the dummy was five levels above me. The sight sent a shiver down my spine, and I couldn't help but glance around, as if searching for an escape route.

My breath quickened, and a single bead of sweat trickled down my face. The daunting challenge lay before me, and the weight of my choice as a swordsman pressed heavily on my shoulders. 

"Ah, this might be much harder than I thought." I muttered to myself, my eyes fixed on Woody, the yellow-named dummy that stood before me. I couldn't help but feel the weight of the challenge, the absence of crucial information gnawing at my confidence.

Normally, in the MMORPGs anime that I watched, you could not only see the name of your opponent but also their HP and MP. It provided a clear indicator of your progress in battle, a lifeline to gauge your chances of victory. But as I examined Woody from head to toe, I realized that this game operated differently. There were no visible HP or MP bars, just a menacing nameplate above its wooden head.

[WOODY]

"I see how it is, or at least what I think,"

I muttered, contemplating the situation. "Not seeing the MP and HP of your enemy will be really hard; it will become much more taxing for the player. 'How much HP does he have left? Is he even taking damage?' A lot of things will pop into a player's mind while fighting someone in this kind of condition."

"But It's fine," I whispered to myself, trying to bolster my confidence. "I've fought many times in this kind of condition. not knowing the opponents HP while fighting is what I'm doing everyday. " My past experiences had honed my ability to adapt to uncertain situations, and I knew that keeping a clear head was crucial in a battle of wits and skills.

Taking a deep breath, I focused on my inhales and exhales, allowing my racing heart to slow its pace.

Just as I began to grapple with the challenges ahead, the guild master's voice rang out, his laughter echoing through the room. "Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you that normally Woody is a white-named monster, but since I'm the one who tested you, it's yellow. KAHAHA."

My eyes narrowed with a complicated expression as I thought, 'I wish he had told me that earlier.' The stakes had suddenly been raised, and my determination was put to the test.

At least things couldn't get any worse, or so I thought.

"And one last thing," the guild master added, his voice growing more serious, "if you die in this trial, you will cease to exist in this world."

Silence hung in the air as the weight of his words sank in.

"…" My voice trailed off, my eyes wide with disbelief.

"I wish he told me that earlier!"