Chapter 6: far from naive
[Orcs slain ×37]
[+370 XP]
[ Achievement (Orc slayer) completed ]
[ Achievement (master Craftsman) completed]
[STR +3]
[ Name: Ivan Golborne
Title: The Creator
Player Level: 3
Class: Game Developer
Game Developer Level: 2
Lives used: 3/???????
Xp: 1470 (tutorial rank:?)
Hp:60(-7)
Stats:
- STR: 14 (+3)
- AGI: 11
- INT: 12
- DEF: 4
- MAN: 0/5
Skills:
- Sword Mastery: D
- Eye of the Creator: F
Inventory:
- Beginner Sword: [Rank: F | Sword given to all new players]
- Mana potion: [Rank: F]
-Head spliter: [Rank: C]
Quest Log:
- Complete the tutorial: In Progress
Achievements:
- Master Craftsman: completed ( kill an entity with a weapon made using the Craftsman skill)
-Orc slayer: completed ( kill 25 orcs) ]
Ignoring the multitude of bewildered eyes fixed upon him, Ivan focused intently on his status screen. However, a heavy sigh of disappointment escaped his lips as he realized his stats still fell short of his expectations.
Remaining fixated on the hovering screen before him, Ivan became aware of approaching footsteps. A player from the group rushed at him, launching a punch. With his heightened agility and strength, Ivan swiftly intercepted the punch mid-swing.
"You bastard! You told us to come here. You and your team were aware of the trap and the secret passage, and now I've lost one of my lives because of you. I lost a life in the damn tutorial because of you!" The player shouted, his voice laced with agony, attempting to throw another punch, only for Ivan to effortlessly evade it.
"I didn't do anything. That's the nature of the game. If you're not careful, you die. It's as simple as that. I fail to see how you can blame me," Ivan retorted.
"You guys intentionally withheld information about the secret passage from us. It was wrong not to share it with the rest of the group," one of the spectators chimed in, referring to Ivan's team, who now stood amidst the crowd.
Ivan's footsteps became deliberate and measured as he approached the player.
"Oh, is that so? Are you implying that you have no secrets, Esther?" Ivan's voice resonated as he called out the name he had spotted floating above the player's head.
Esther started to voice her confusion, attempting to inquire about how Ivan knew her name, but he swiftly turned his attention towards the rest of the players.
"Listen up, all of you. Why don't we share our secrets since that seems to be the game we're playing? I'm aware that each one of you holds confidential information or hidden strategies. So, why not start divulging them to each other?" Ivan's words echoed through the crowd of players, but they were met with silence.
"That's what I thought. Each of us is in pursuit of personal strength. The weak perish while the strong survive. That's the rule of life, and this game is no different. My team and I will fight alongside all of you to survive, but our partnership ends there. Remember that," Ivan articulated with clarity.
His demeanor now starkly contrasted the naive and inexperienced player he had portrayed to his teammates and the rest of the group. Truthfully, he knew he could only maintain that facade for a limited time, as desperation consumed him.
In truth, anyone who willingly entered this perilous game had to possess a certain degree of desperation. But Ivan, in particular, hungered for strength, for he had nothing left to lose and everything to gain—a searing thirst for vengeance burning within him.
A female player emerged from the crowd and approached Ivan, catching his attention. Observing her, he noted that she was Level 4.
"You're correct. Frankly, we all have our own interests at heart. You seem to be straightforward and strong as well. I'm Scarlet, chosen as the group's leader. If you'd like, you could co-lead with me," the red-haired girl stated confidently, her smile brimming with assurance.
"I have no desire to lead anyone. As I mentioned before, I will fight alongside you all, but that's where my involvement ends," Ivan replied, swiping away his menu in a dismissive manner.
"Now, if we're done with idle talk, let's get moving. Other groups may have already reached the boss room," Ivan declared, his tone conveying his impatience.
"That's true. We should start making our way. But it reminds me, shortly after you and your team disappeared, we all received a notification that a boss had been slain," Scarlet interjected, her voice tinged with suspicion. Ivan halted abruptly upon hearing this, all eyes now fixed upon him, awaiting his response.
"There's no way you would know anything about this, would you?" Scarlet added voicing her outright suspicion.
"Ofcourse not, There's no chance I would know anything about that," Ivan retorted sharply. "Why would you even ask? Do you think that just the four of us could have taken down a boss on our own?" His eyes narrowed as he turned to face Scarlet, addressing her accusation bluntly.
"Haha, you're right. That doesn't make sense. It must have been a glitch. Well, let's start moving," Scarlet instructed, and the group began to make their way forward.
Ivan rendezvoused with Diorzo, Eline, and Denvar as they made their way to the entrance of the boss room.
"I trust that all of you will keep things to yourselves," Ivan spoke with a serious tone, seeking assurance.
"Don't worry, we're not foolish," Diorzo replied, conveying a sense of understanding.
As the group ventured through the dungeon, now devoid of orcs since they had cleared it, Ivan's mind was consumed by thoughts. It didn't add up that he was still alive.
He distinctly remembered dying, as three of his lives had already been depleted. Yet, where the remaining lives should be displayed, there were question marks. It was evident that he possessed more than three lifes, but he had no idea of the exact number. To make matters worse, his vitality had been reduced by half, he had a plan but he needed to be extra careful now.
Finally, Ivan's group arrived at the entrance of the boss room, where all five dungeons converged. Upon their arrival, they noticed that the other four groups had already gathered, awaiting them.
"What took you guys so long?" a player named Leon, as Ivan noticed above his head, inquired.
"The orcs posed some difficulty, but luckily, one of our group members proved to be quite strong," Scarlet responded.
"I see. Did you all receive the notification about the slain boss as well?" Leon questioned.
"Yes, it was strange. We're not sure what happened," Scarlet replied, her confusion mirrored by the others.
Suddenly, the same voice they had heard at the beginning of the tutorial boomed once more.
"Congratulations on clearing all the dungeons, and congratulations to the player who defeated Grommash, the brutal, the orc boss. This is an achievement unlocked for the first time," the voice proclaimed, igniting a flurry of whispers and commotion.
Ivan buried his face in his palm, letting out a mumbled remark to himself.
"Oh, crap."
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
omitted
omitted ....
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone