Chapter 2: Training Camp
The status window was where players could check their characteristics and statistics. However, unlike in other games, Paradise's initial statistics were proportional to his real-world physique. It was an over-developed technology that made the helmet read players' physical conditions and allocate their starting stats.
This meant that those with a good physical build had an advantage when starting Paradise.
It was precise because he knew this, Litch did not expect much when he opened his status window; after all, he was in a hospital bed, so how could his status be high? However, his initial expectation was shattered when he saw one statistic of his in particular.
'My intelligence is at 20?!'
Strength, endurance, and speed, his criteria for initial points were not difficult to guess. However, unlike them, intelligence had a completely random pattern. The few things known about intelligence were that it was extremely useful in the area of magic and that it influences mana.
Also, considering that the average starting stat was 10, and even the fastest runner in the world would get at most 15 speed, his 20 intelligence was something that could put him at the top of those on the same level.
'...Should I consider becoming a Magician?'
The moment that thought crossed his mind, it was quickly erased. Even before he received the virtual reality helmet, he had already decided on a melee class, he did not wish to change his initial plans so suddenly.
Cooling his head, Litch opened the map to find out where he appeared. A mini-map appeared in front of him floating.
[Current Location - Red Dew Village]
"Red Dew?"
He tilted his head and thought about the name, but could not remember any information about it.
He took a deeper look at the map, and found that he was in the central square of Red Dew, and also found the next place he should go.
'The training center.'
Litch meved. The second step in starting the game - getting a class!
Unlike other games, certain requirements had to be met to get a class in Paradise. And, in each Starting Village, there were places where you could meet those requirements and earn your first class. The place where Litch was going was one such place, the Red Dew training center.
As he walked along, Litch couldn't help but keep looking around.
It was a very different sight from what he normally saw. Medieval buildings and houses were everywhere. In addition, he was also paying attention to the people on the streets. Somehow, he could easily differentiate between NPCs and players...
"My son has been called into the Kingdom army. He is eager to serve the Kingdom and can't even sleep."
"What? You managed to rise to level 15 in two days?!!!"
"Oh my. I wish my son was like that and also got called into the army. He just keeps sleeping all day, I don't know what to do with him anymore..."
"Hahaha! What? Are you jealous? Come, you can cry here on my lap if you are sad, hahaha!"
"Huaaa... geez, mom. Give me a break..."
"Holy shit! Those bastard rabbits almost killed me this time!"
"Huhuhuh! Are you still hunting Angry Rabbits? That's why you're still at level 6. Yesterday I killed a Blue Footed Wolf and got an Uncommon grade sword!"
He could differentiate very well...
'It's pretty busy.'
It was a pretty busy village, perhaps because of the players.
Litch quickly arrived in front of a huge building with a sign written 'Training Center' hanging in front of it.
Without waiting for a second, he stepped inside.
Kwajuk!
Clang!
Clang!
As soon as he entered, metallic noises reached his ears.
Taking a short inspection, he saw several people with weapons striking scarecrows, or just training with air. From their armaments and the way they held their swords, about ninety percent were players and the rest were probably soldiers from the village.
Litch smiled and took a few steps inside. It was at that moment that he heard a slap of tongue.
"Hey, a new one? Tsk, tsk. Aren't you guys done?"
".....?"
As he turned to the unfamiliar voice, he saw a man slumped on a table holding a bottle of an unknown alcoholic beverage and with a sword at his waist. He appeared to be drunk.
'An NPC?'
He didn't look like a player, so it was probably an NPC.
"What? Why are you staring at me so much? If you lose," the man spat.
"What's the matter? I can't stare at you?"
"No."
"....."
Litch decided to ignore the NPC and turned to a weapons section. There was a great diversity of weapons, from swords and shields to spears and bows.
'Which one should I choose?'
Litch looked at each of the weapons and pondered seriously.
Should he choose a sword? He could become a Swordsman. It was the most standard weapon possible, he could find tutorials on how to handle it easily. Besides, it was one of the perfect weapons for close-range combat.
Or maybe daggers? He could become an Assassin and easily attack the weak points of others, from the shadows.
'No.'
Neither. After some thought, Litch moved toward one of the weapons.
And he grabbed it.
Clank!
Its long wooden shaft averaged two whole meters, and its sharp point was made of an iron-like mineral.
As soon as he grabbed it, Litch checked its information.
[Common Spear]
[A completely ordinary spear, there is nothing special about it.]
Litch had a smile.
'Just like the sword, a perfect weapon for close range. Also, depending on who uses it, it doesn't lose to a bow at long range.'
It was relatively heavy, but he would increase its stats in the future.
[You fulfilled a condition to get the Spearman class.]
[Conditions for the Spearman Common Class
1/1 Hold a spear.
0/10 Cut with the spear ten times.
0/5 Drill with the spear five times.
0/1 Throw the spear once.]
Litch quickly read the conditions for acquiring the Spearman class and moved to one of the surrounding scarecrows.
Standing a medium distance away from the scarecrow, he put his right foot back and his left foot forward. He lowered his gravity axis and prepared the spear by holding it with both hands. Since it was his first time, his posture was quite crooked and he had a thousand things to improve, but Litch prepared himself.
"Hey, your posture sucks. Even my 10-year-old niece can do better, hahaha!"
"....."
Litch was speechless. What was wrong with this NPC? Shaking his head and focusing again on the scarecrow, he took a deep breath and stepped forward with his right foot.
Turning the shaft of the spear slightly, he fired it with all his might towards the scarecrow.
Woooossh!
The spear rushed forward tearing the air and quickly approached the scarecrow.
Kwajuk!
[You have dealt 1 damage to the target.]
"....."
Although he had hit the scarecrow, he had missed badly. The spear that was supposed to have pierced the scarecrow's stomach and left a deep hole there, grazed the scarecrow's left shoulder and fell to the ground horribly.
The drunken man laughed at its result.
"Pft. Hahahaha! You throw like a little girl!"
"Old son of a bitch..."
"Huh? Did you say something?"
"Nothing."
Litch calmed down. What good would it do him to be angry with this NPC?
He walked over to where the spear was and grabbed it from the ground. Holding it in his hand, he took a step back and readied the spear again.
Jeong!
[You have dealt 5 damage to the target.]
His spear descended diagonally making a huge cut into the scarecrow's stomach.
"Pu~~~hahahahahahah! What was that cut? It barely did any damage to the scarecrow!"
Ignoring the drunk man's comment, Litch once again swung his spear toward the scarecrow.
Jjejejejejeoong!
Jejejejejejejejeeeong!
[You have dealt 5 damage to the target.]
[You have dealt 5 damage to the target.]
[You have dealt 5...]
[You...]
He completed the third requirement quickly. Immediately afterward, he threw his body forward while thrusting the spear.
Jeong!
[You have dealt 7 damage to the target.]
The spear hit the scarecrow's belly, but it was not enough to pierce it. Litch soon thrust his spear again, faster than before.
Jejejeeong!
Jjejeeejejeeoong!
[You have dealt 7 damage to the target.]
[You have dealt 7 damage to the target.]
[You have dealt...]
[You...]
Your spear slowly sank deeper and deeper into the scarecrow's belly, until...
Jeeong!
[You have dealt 21 critical damage to the target.]
The spear went through the scarecrow's belly and its tip came out the other side.
At that very moment.
[You have fulfilled the requirements for the Common Class - Spearman]
A blue screen appeared floating in front of you.