Chapter 3: A good swindler
*ding*
[Test complete.]
*ding*
[Calibrating developer level.]
*ding*
[Calibrating player level.]
*ding*
[Calibration complete.]
[Player will be transported to the tutorial.]
Ivan's eyes fluttered as he struggled to adapt to the sudden surge of light that enveloped his surroundings. As his vision cleared, he noticed a crowd of individuals standing alongside him.
"What the hell was that, and how am I still alive?" Ivan exclaimed, his voice filled with panic.
"By some stroke of luck, the game gods must be on my side. I really managed to dodge a bullet there," Ivan said, his voice gradually calming as he tried to compose himself.
"So many new players... No one seems to fear for their lives anymore," Ivan mused silently, his thoughts filled with a mix of curiosity and nostalgia. With a familiar motion, he swiped his fingers to summon his status screen, its interface instantly appearing before him.
Name: Ivan Golborne
Title: The Creator
Player Level: 1
Class: Game Developer
Game Developer Level: 1
Lives used: 3/????????
HP: 100/100
Stats:
- Strength (STR): 6
- Agility (AGI): 8
- Intelligence (INT): 12
- Defense (DEF): 4
- Mana (MAN): 0/0
Skills:
- Sword Mastery: F
- Eye of the Creator: F
Inventory:
- Beginner Sword: [Rank: F | chosen weapon given to all new players]
- Health Potion x3: [Rank: F | Health potion given to all new players]
Quest Log:
- Complete the Tutorial: In Progress
Achievements:
- Dungeon Explorer: 0/1 (Ongoing)
- First Blood: 0/1 (Ongoing)
- Master Craftsman: Locked
"Damn, these stats are terrible. What happened to my old account? If I still had it, I would easily dominate this game. I'd be ridiculously overpowered," Ivan muttered, rubbing his chin as he scrutinized the blue screen before him.
"But I didn't register, so how does the game know my name? And what the hell was that in the beginning with floor one hundred? I remember only making floor twenty-five, and the last update only had thirty floors before the game went rogue," Ivan said, his brows furrowing as he scrolled through his menu.
"Eye of the Creator? I don't remember this skill," Ivan muttered, clicking on it to read the description.
[ ]
{Eye of the Creator}
The eyes of the game's creator allow
the owner to see the truth of all in the
game.
[ ]
"Seems being the game's creator comes with perks," Ivan said with a devious smirk, intrigued by the newfound ability.
"But I still can't figure out how it knows all these things, though," Ivan pondered, finally raising his head to observe the other players around him who were also engrossed in their player information.
Ivan squinted his eyes in confusion, thinking he wasn't seeing straight. But even after rubbing his eyes, the words remained clear—player names and levels displayed above each individual.
"Is this a new feature or the Eye of the Creator's doing?" Ivan wondered to himself, both intrigued and perplexed by the revelation.
"Welcome to New Oasis. This is the tutorial that will prepare you for your grand adventures," a resounding voice echoed through the room, prompting the previously sealed doors to open, revealing the entrance to the first floor of the tutorial.
"You will encounter four tutorial floors, each featuring a distinct boss and five dungeons. Once all the dungeons are cleared, the boss room will unlock. Defeat the boss to proceed to the next floor. When all floors are conquered, the tutorial will conclude, and you will be transported to Gozarts town. May the guides of the realm be with you on your journey," the voice concluded.
Instantly, players began forming teams, grouping up with fellow trainees from various guilds. Ivan initially had no intention of joining a team, given his comprehensive knowledge of the tutorial. However, considering his lackluster stats, it seemed more convenient to join forces with others.
As his eyes scanned the surroundings, he stumbled upon a group that piqued his interest. Each member boasted an impressive level 3, a rarity to achieve even before the tutorial had officially commenced.
Ivan approached the group of three individuals who appeared to be acquainted with each other prior to the start of the tutorial.
"Hi, I don't currently have a team, so I was wondering if we could join forces," Ivan said politely, trying to appear as genuine as possible.
The two men and the woman scrutinized Ivan, assessing him carefully before responding.
"What's your class and level?" one of the men inquired.
Ivan hadn't given much thought to his class until now. The fact that he was a game developer, which wasn't a standard class option, presented a predicament. He couldn't reveal his true class since it didn't exist in the game.
"I'm a level 2 healer, and my player level is 3," Ivan confidently lied, not allowing anyone a chance to doubt him.
"Oh, that's impressive. You must have a substantial amount of mana," the girl remarked.
"Yes, a whopping 20!" Ivan fibbed again, his mana level actually being zero. In fact, even as the creator of the game, he wasn't aware that a person's mana could be that low.
"Well then, welcome. I'm Diorzo," one of the men introduced himself, shaking Ivan's hand.
"I'm Eline," the girl introduced herself with a warm smile.
"And I'm Denvar," the other man added.
"We can't disclose our classes due to guild regulations, but we are all level threes," Diorzo explained.
"No problem at all. I completely understand. I'll rely on your expertise then," Ivan replied, masking his excitement at successfully infiltrating a competent group despite being potentially the weakest individual in the room.
With introductions complete, Ivan and the others commenced their movement, unaware that while he may have been the least powerful, he possessed the most crucial knowledge and a strategic plan to swiftly become the strongest.
As all the teams gathered together to plan their approach, they decided to split into groups of five. The concept was to assign a couple of teams to tackle each individual dungeon, thus maximizing their chances of success. Ivan observed the discussions, listening attentively as strategies were proposed and debated.
Eventually, it was time for Ivan's group to voice their preference. He cleared his throat, drawing the attention of his teammates.
"Actually, I think it would be advantageous if we head to Dungeon Three first," Ivan suggested, a glimmer of determination in his eyes. "Based on my knowledge of the game mechanics, Dungeon Three offers a unique reward that could greatly benefit us in the long run."
His team exchanged puzzled glances, momentarily unsure of Ivan's intentions. However, they trusted his judgment as their healer and decided to follow his lead.
As Ivan's team along with the other teams in the group made their way towards Dungeon Three, excitement and anticipation filled the air. Each step brought them closer to the challenges and treasures that awaited them. But just as they approached the entrance of the dungeon, a sudden click echoed through the corridor, followed by a faint rumbling.
Without warning, a massive stone ball was triggered from the side of the wall, hurtling towards Ivan's group at an alarming speed. Panic surged through the team as they scrambled to dodge the impending danger.
However, amidst the chaos, a knowing smile played on Ivan's lips. He had anticipated this trap and saw exactly what he had been searching for—the secret passage hidden behind the space from which the ball emerged.
"Quick! Follow me!" Ivan shouted, his voice filled with a mixture of excitement and determination.
His teammates, caught off guard but still trusting in Ivan's instincts, swiftly followed his lead leaving the rest of the group. They darted towards the concealed entrance, narrowly evading the menacing stone ball that thundered past them.
As they entered the hidden passage, the air grew damp and chilly. The faint flicker of torchlight illuminated the corridor, revealing a path that diverged from the main route. Ivan led his team through the winding tunnels, relying on his knowledge of the game's design to navigate with confidence.
Finally, they arrived at a chamber bathed in an eerie glow. A treasure chest, adorned with intricate engravings, stood at the center, emanating a tantalizing aura. However, this was not Ivan's goal.
Little did they know that this was just the beginning of Ivan's ambitious journey to reshape the game and leave his mark as the ultimate player and creator of New Oasis.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
omitted
omitted Creation is hard, cheer me up! VOTE for me!
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone