A few days have passed. Specifically, three days.
In that short span of time, Yuuji had grinded himself up to level 20 by completing quests and challenging groups of monsters, each well beyond his current level.
And now that he had reached the milestone, he finally opened a new skill slot to equip a skill.
"Guess it's time to go find the Martial Arts NPC."
From Argo's information of the NPC's location, it would most likely take him a better part of the day to travel alone.
"Well, no way around it."
He left Urbus early in the morning, right after the sun rose just above the horizon, and made his way to the southern edge of the second floor.
Yuuji defeated the monsters he encountered swiftly even as he traversed through mountains and plains and forests.
Though this time, with speed of travel being his main focus, he ignored monsters that weren't worth it in terms of experience points for his level. So, he mainly focused on the experience-points-rich Windwasps, Storm Hornets, Trembling Oxes, and Trembling Cows. The last one he especially made sure to kill since it dropped milk, which might be usable for baking.
Although he planned on using this skill slot for the Martial Arts extra skill, he was still fully intending to take on cooking in this world and research as many recipes as he could.
After all, although he was on a mission to clear this death game, he still wanted to enjoy this world and play all that it has to offer.
Not to mention his competition with Asuna. After all, as the best cook in the Multiverse Group Chat, he had his pride.
With Ai helping him with direction as well as Argo's guide, the journey that would've taken others a whole day, only took Yuuji a few hours.
With the sun blazing right above him, Yuuji arrived at the highest mountain on the southern edge of the second floor.
And there, standing on top of the flat mountain peak, was a humble wooden hut with a small garden on the outside, and a rocking chair on the patio, swaying softly in the wind.
"This must be the martial art master's hut…"
Yuuji approached the humble hut and knocked on the wooden door.
A few moments later, the door opened to reveal a weathered man with long, scraggly white hair and a bushy beard, dressed comfortably in a robe that slightly revealed the muscular physique beneath that belied his age.
Upon the opening of the door, Yuuji put down his hood to reveal his appearance as courtesy.
"Oh my! Hohoho! What a surprise! I didn't expect such an exceptional youngster to appear on my doorsteps this morning."
Yuuji didn't miss the brief probing the martial arts master did the moment they met. But he didn't mind it and lowered his head politely in response.
"Good morning, old master. Forgive my intrusion."
"Hoho, polite as well! Good good! Well, I'm sure you've gone through great lengths to come this far to my humble abode! Let's talk inside! I can at least serve you tea. I grew and dry the tea leaves myself!"
"You are too kind. Then, please excuse me."
Yuuji followed the old hermit into his home and noticed the humble, simple, yet cozy interior. It was what anyone would expect from a simple hermit far from civilization.
He sat down on a wooden chair. Most likely one the old hermit had made himself. In fact, all the furniture here, even the hut itself, was most likely built by the hermit himself.
The old man placed a steamin wooden cup of tea on the table before Yuuji before taking the opposite seat and sat down with a groan and the same wooden cup of tea in his hand.
He took a sip and let out a sigh of satisfaction. And Yuuji followed suit, sipping the freshly brewed cup of tea
"Now then, young man! Why have you come here and visit this old man?"
"I am here to learn martial arts."
Yuuji smiled calmly and answered.
"I have heard of legends of a martial master who had chosen to seclude himself in the mountains south of Urbus. And so I searched these mountains in hopes of finding you and learning from you."
The martial master observed him briefly, his wizened eyes gazing deeply at Yuuji's figure.
A sparkle seemed to flash across his old eyes, before he nodded.
"Very well. Follow me."
He raised to his feet, bringing his tea with him, and walked out of the hut. Yuuji followed closely, choosing to leave the cup on the table since he would be starting his quest.
The martial master led him in front of the massive boulder that stood 2 meter-high and 1.5 meters-wide in front of the hut.
He placed a hand on the boulder, then turned towards Yuuji.
"Split the rock into two using only your hands. Do this, and you shall learn the very essence of martial arts itself. Until then…"
He took out a small tin can from his robes. Strangely prepared.
'He must've already expected my request…'
In the quest's lore, having the small tin can with him and ready must've seemed like that the martial arts master had already anticipated the player's request and prepared for it. But in reality, the game item must've been permanently held by him.
The martial master opened the tin can and dipped his finger into some sort of paint inside it. Then, he drew three streaks on either side of Yuuji's cheeks, like a whisker.
"You will have these whiskers on permanently until you are able to split the rock."
Yuuji blinked, not expecting this development. A whisker drawn on his face with a quick-drying paint. Aika and the girls would've never let him forget about this if they ever knew.
'Ah… Could it be… Argo…'
Then, something clicked in Yuuji's mind. The whisker seemed similar to the one Argo had on her face.
'I'll have to ask her about this later.'
Yuuji noted in his mind.
Then, a pop up notification appeared before him. A quest acceptance message.
Yuuji naturally accepted it and bowed to the martial master.
"Very well. I shall not disappoint."
The old master nodded and stepped back, before making his way to the rocking chair and sat down, watching him from the shade of his patio.
Yuuji then turned towards the massive boulder, and took a stance.
In reality, such a small rock would be easily split with a flick of his finger. But with the game limiting his physical prowess, he would have to actually try.
Yuuji focused, taking a slow, deep breath to fill his lungs, and exhaled.
Sounds disappeared. Even the tingling heat of the sun against his skin and refreshing breeze vanished from his perception.
Only the boulder and him existed.
He moved his right palm back, slowly, purposefully. Then, in the next instant, he unleashed a palm strike right at the boulder.
*BOOM!*
The ground shook. Clouds of dust and dirt blew off into the wind as the rock trembled before his palm.
He hadn't split it, as the master instructed. But he had moved the boulder a few centimeters back.
Yuuji let out a deep breath from his lips.
There was no disappointment. His mind didn't even consider it. Instead, he thought of his previous failure, and made adjustments.
He took a step forward, went into his stance once more, and took a deep breath.
*BOOM!*
The ground trembled once again. The sound echoed, reverberating far into the distance, shaking the distant leaves and canopy of the forest below. The cloud of dust and dirt lifted off the ground once again, before falling back slowly.
The rock slid back a few more centimeters. But it didn't split.
He had failed once again. But there was no change in his expression nor in the focus reflected in his eyes.
"Remarkable."
The old martial master muttered under his breath, slowly stroking his beard as he observed Yuuji's progress.
He took another sip of his tea as yet another boom reverberated, its shockwave blowing against his beard and hair.
A small smile appeared on his face.
'At this rate, he would be able to complete it even faster than me or my master.'
The old master thought, reminiscing in his own memories of the past.
His first time meeting his own master. His first assessment of splitting a large boulder. His tutelage under him.
But as he reminisce, a sudden burst of explosion resounded, snapping him out of his reverie.
He looked, and saw the massive boulder that stood taller than even the young man before it, had split perfectly in half. And where the young man had struck it with his palm, was a massive crater.
Yuuji let out a deep breath, and relaxed from his stance.
It had taken a few tries. The rock was actually quite hard, perhaps bordering the hardness of an actual "Immortal Object" in this game.
But with his proficiency in martial arts in decent time.
The whiskers painted on his cheeks disappeared. And a pop up notification appeared before him, notifying his achievement in completing the quest.
Then, another message appeared. This time, rewarding him with the Extra Skill, Martial Arts.
"Hohoho! What a surprise! I certainly didn't expect you to be able to split it in just a few tries! Even in this old age, it seems there are still things in this world that can surprise me!"
Yuuji turned to see the old martial master walking towards him with a hearty laugh.
"Thank you very much for this opportunity, old master."
He bowed, and the old master nodded in satisfaction.
"It is my privilege to be able to see such genuine and monstrous talent and skill in this old age of mine."
He placed a hand on Yuuji's shoulder, still powerful and firm despite his wrinkly skin.
"Go forth to the world, young man. Rather than limiting you with my own teaching, go ahead and explore the vast world of martial arts and pave your own way. For the path you pave will definitely shine brighter and further than my own ever will."
"Thank you very much for your guidance. I wish you a well and peaceful life. I hope to see you again in the future."
The old master patted his shoulder.
"I can hardly wait to hear your legends in the future."
--------------------------------X--------------------------------
"So your whiskers really are from that quest?"
Yuuji muttered into the air as he sprinted his way back to Urbus. In his mind, a familiar voice responded.
["Yeah. I never succeeded with it, and it got stuck with me. And over time, it just became part of my image, you know?]
Yuuji could notice the helplessness and acceptance in Argo's voice through the friend call feature.
"Well, it certainly suits you. Are you planning on trying it again?"
["Nah, I'm fine. I plan on getting other skills. Unarmed combat isn't my thing either."]
"Fair."
["By the way, did you really complete it already?"]
"For the third time, yes I did. Is it that hard to believe?"
["Yes! Yes it is! Hah… If it's not, I wouldn't have these whiskers as part of my image! People normally spend days trying to complete it!"]
"Well, I guess I'm lucky to not waste that much time on it."
It had taken quite a long time to reach the mountains. If he were to spend days on tyring to get a single skill, while it may still be worth it, Yuuji would rather spend the time exploring the entire floor, learn about the monsters, or perhaps find some hidden quest.
Maybe even entering the labyrinth early to maximize his farming time.
"Well, I'll be returning to Urbus now. Tell me if you're in town."
["Sure. I'll contact you while I'm not busy. See ya!"]
The call ended, and Yuuji continued on his return to Urbus.
The orange red sun had colored the sky in its reddish hue. And as to not waste the time he spent travelling back, Yuuji also cleared any and all monsters he encountered in his path.
By the time he arrived back in Urbus, the sun had fully set below the horizon, and the moon had begun rising up into the sky.
After selling off his extra loots and buying more supplies for his plans for farming tomorrow, Yuuji made his way back to his inn, and retired for the night.
The next morning, Yuuji went out of his inn and walked around the town in search for a player with leveled skills in blacksmithing to upgrade his Anneal blade.
While farming since he arrived on the second floor, while the current level of enhancement of his blade was still adequate, he would much prefer it to become +7 when he would enter the labyrinth.
It would definitely make his farming much faster and more efficient.
He walked around for a bit, observing the players who had chosen to enter the second floor to either explore it or raise their levels.
When just then, he noticed a familiar beautiful, long, orange-brownish chestnut hair.
"Asuna?"
Hearing his voice, Asuna turned with eyes widened in shock, before her lips curled into a smile.
"Ah, Yuuji!"
They approached each other. Asuna naturally stood close to him as they fist bumped.
"What a coincidence! You'd normally be out of the city by this time. Looking around the city?"
Having been with Yuuji for a few days, Asuna naturally knew of his usual schedule. He would normally wake up early, and by this time, already be far out in the wilderness or the labyrinth to farm.
Yuuji nodded at her.
"Yes. I'm searching for a blacksmith who can upgrade my sword."
Asuna's eyes widened.
"Really? Me too!"
She took out her Wind Fleuret, the rapier she got as an item drop when she was farming with Yuuji in the first floor's labyrinth.
"I want to upgrade this girl to +4, but I haven't seen many blacksmiths around here."
"Yeah. Most players tend to focus on leveling their combat skills to survive. Few chose to spend their time mainly to level up their blacksmithing or other support-style skills."
"Mm. How about we search together?"
Yuuji nodded.
"Good idea."
Asuna came to his side and walked alongside him naturally as they chatted.
Just then, a distraught shout distracted them from their conversation.
"Hey! What in the world happened?!"
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AN: I hope you guys enjoy this chapter~! Please comment your thoughts~! I would love to hear what you think about it~!!!!
Also, if you'd like to read additional chapters ahead and get a pdf version (Light & Dark), please feel free to check out my at patr_eon.com/verglasx ~!
Thank you~!