Chapter One:Welcome to the Kingdom

Hiroto Sakamura grinned as the VR headset settled comfortably over his eyes, the soft hum of the system vibrating against his temples. His friend's voice echoed in his mind, practically vibrating with excitement. "You're going to love Kingdoms of Legend, Hiroto! It's the best thing out there right now, I promise!"

He wasn't much of a fan of MMOs at first—his competitive nature was always more attuned to fighting games—but the allure of trying something new had won him over. Plus, his friend had hyped it up too much to resist.

With a deep breath, he activated the game. The virtual world unfolded before his eyes, a landscape so vivid and detailed it almost felt like stepping into another reality. The vibrant colors, the crisp air—it was like everything had come alive.

He stood in a small, grassy field under a sky painted with shades of orange and purple. A distant forest loomed ahead, its towering trees casting shadows over the land. Hiroto blinked and smirked, impressed by how immersive everything was. He was standing in the middle of the game's starter zone, "The Hollow Vale," a place where most new players began their journey.

A notification popped up in front of him, displaying his character's details.

Character Name: Shadowfang

Class: Rogue

Level: 1

Stats:

Strength: 5

Agility: 15

Intelligence: 3

Vitality: 5

Dexterity: 10

Luck: 7

Hiroto's grin widened at the sight of his in-game avatar. His character, Shadowfang, was everything he'd envisioned—a sleek, agile figure clad in dark leather armor with silver accents that glinted under the setting sun. His short silver hair swept back in a way that made him look both dangerous and cool. And those yellow eyes—they were sharp, alert, and ready for action.

He flexed his fingers, testing the twin daggers equipped at his sides—Nightpierce and Fangshadow. Perfect for quick strikes and agility. He could practically feel the weight of them, the balance in his hands.

"Alright," he muttered to himself, excitement bubbling up, "time to test this out."

With a few swipes of the wrist, he moved through the controls, his avatar smoothly responding to his commands. He dashed through the field, his footsteps silent against the grass, and quickly practiced a few dodges and light attacks. The game's mechanics were fluid, natural, and felt intuitive to him.

His friend's voice rang out again through his headset, breaking his focus. "Hey, Hiroto! You're gonna get lost out there if you're not careful! Come meet me at the starting town, I'll show you the ropes!"

"Yeah, yeah," Hiroto replied, rolling his eyes but smiling. "Don't worry, I've got this."

He knew he'd be fine. His high agility would make him a blur to any enemy, and his daggers were designed for speed and critical hits. It was time to see just how far this game could push him. A challenge was just what he needed.

He set off toward the town, the world of Kingdoms of Legend unfolding before him, full of possibilities, dangers, and, most importantly, adventure.

As Hiroto made his way toward the town, a dense, shadowy forest appeared on the horizon. Curiosity piqued, he veered off the main path, eager to explore. The trees around him were tall and thick, their trunks twisting in strange ways, their branches creating a canopy that dimmed the already fading light of the sun.

A few steps in, the air grew cooler, and the sounds of birds and rustling leaves filled his ears. His footsteps barely made a sound on the soft earth beneath him, a testament to his agility.

Suddenly, a notification popped up in front of him, the letters glowing in vibrant blue:

[Quest]

Objective: Kill 15 Iron Fang Boars

Reward: 150 Gold, 1 Experience Point

Difficulty: Easy

Hiroto raised an eyebrow. "Iron Fang Boars?" he muttered under his breath. He wasn't sure what kind of creatures they'd be, but it sounded like a simple task—especially for someone with his skills. A quick scan of his surroundings confirmed he was deep enough into the forest for the boars to be nearby.

He grinned. "Well, a little hunting never hurt anyone."

The mission was straightforward enough, and the reward seemed decent for a starter quest. Plus, it was a perfect opportunity to test out his new character's combat capabilities in the wild.

With a flex of his fingers, he drew his twin daggers—Nightpierce and Fangshadow—and began to move deeper into the forest, his senses alert for any sign of movement.

Before long, the sound of grunts and heavy footsteps reached his ears. Hiroto crouched low, blending into the shadows. Ahead, he spotted a group of boars—large, with dark, bristled fur and gleaming iron-like tusks. Their eyes glowed a faint amber, matching the color of his own.

They were slowly grazing in a clearing, unaware of his presence. Hiroto's heart raced with excitement as he crouched lower, his body tensing, ready to strike.

"Alright, Shadowfang," he whispered to himself. "Time to see how fast I can take these guys down."

Hiroto's heart raced with anticipation as he observed the boars. Their slow, grazing movements gave him the perfect opportunity to strike first. He took a deep breath, steadying himself, and began his approach.

With his high agility, he moved silently through the underbrush, his steps light and calculated. He positioned himself behind the nearest boar, keeping his body low to the ground to stay hidden in the shadows. The wind rustled softly in the trees, but Hiroto's focus was absolute.

In a flash, he darted forward, closing the gap between him and his target in the blink of an eye. With expert precision, he slashed his twin daggers across the boar's exposed flank. Nightpierce cut through the tough hide with ease, while Fangshadow followed through in a quick follow-up attack. The boar let out a startled grunt before it collapsed, a glowing number of damage indicators appearing above its head.

Critical Hit!

Iron Fang Boar: -38 HP

Hiroto barely had time to enjoy the success of his first strike before the other boars around him noticed the commotion. But he was already in motion, effortlessly blending into the shadows again, using the trees and underbrush to mask his movements.

One by one, he systematically took down each boar, exploiting their weaknesses with speed and precision. Each swing was a blur of motion, his daggers flashing like lightning as he danced between the boars, avoiding their clumsy attempts to retaliate. His agility allowed him to dodge their attacks with ease, his movements fluid and graceful.

Another boar charged in his direction, tusks aimed at his chest, but Hiroto sidestepped the attack effortlessly, thrusting Nightpierce into its side as he moved past. The boar let out a shrill squeal before crumpling to the ground.

Critical Hit!

Iron Fang Boar: -42 HP

It didn't take long before only a few remained. Hiroto felt the thrill of the hunt surging through him, his competitive nature coming alive. His adrenaline kept him sharp, the satisfaction of each successful strike propelling him forward.

As he finished off the last boar with a swift, graceful spin, he couldn't help but grin. The quest was practically over before it had even begun.

Quest Complete

Iron Fang Boars Killed: 15/15

Rewards: 150 Gold, 1 Experience Point

The moment the last boar collapsed, Hiroto took a moment to catch his breath. He had barely broken a sweat. His quick, hit-and-run tactics had worked perfectly, the speed of his daggers and agility making him a blur in the forest.

With a satisfied smirk, he checked his inventory, the gold and experience already added to his total. "Not bad," he muttered. "This game's got potential."

As the forest settled back into its natural rhythm, Hiroto was already thinking about what to do next. The first quest had been easy, sure, but the deeper he went into Kingdoms of Legend, the more challenges he'd face—and that was exactly what he was after.

Hiroto stretched his arms above his head, feeling the pleasant ache in his muscles from the quick combat. It was a small victory, but it had fired up his competitive spirit, and he was ready for more.

He glanced down at his virtual wrist, a sleek, glowing interface appearing with the flick of his hand. The world map unfolded before his eyes, showing a vast, detailed landscape. Mountains, forests, rivers, and villages dotted the map, each area more intricate than the last.

His eyes immediately landed on a small, clustered area at the edge of the forest. A tiny dot was highlighted, labeled "Town of Orenshade." Hiroto narrowed his eyes.

"That must be the starter village," he muttered. It was the only town nearby, surrounded by dense forest and open plains. A quiet, peaceful area where most new players probably gathered to begin their journeys. Hiroto had been expecting something like this—somewhere safe and easy for players to level up before they ventured out further into the world.

He scrolled the map, zooming out just enough to see a larger kingdom to the north. It was sprawling, with massive stone walls and structures visible from a distance. The kingdom was marked with a bold, glowing name: Valdonis Kingdom. Hiroto could see various points of interest scattered around the kingdom—towns, dungeons, and more.

"That's gotta be where I join guilds and get more serious quests," he mused, eyes gleaming with interest. The prospect of guilds, where he could test his skills against others and take on more challenging missions, sparked a sense of excitement in him. This was where things would get real, where he could dive deeper into the game and rise to the top.

Hiroto smirked, already plotting his next move. "Alright, let's check out Orenshade first and see what it's got to offer. But after that, it's time to head straight for Valdonis. I've got a feeling this game's gonna be full of surprises."