< KEYNX > We've arrived, take out your weapons. What are you using?
< FUGO > MP41
< KEYNX > The type of weapon affects the difficulty level of the animal we'll be hunting. The MP41 can only reach medium difficulty. If it's hard, it will take a long time to kill it. We might end up getting attacked.
< FUGO > What weapon do you usually use to hunt animals on hard difficulty?
< KEYNX > Heckler Koch. But you have to buy the weapon for about 15 Odds in the store.
< FUGO > Haha, I only have 25 Odds left. I just topped up, I don't want to spend it all right away.
You received a 50 Odds package from KEYNX!
"Huh?!"
< FUGO > Don't give me any more, what about you?
< KEYNX > Relax, you're a new player. You need a lot of equipment. Hurry up and buy the gun, we'll start looking for animals in the forest.
< FUGO > You've helped me a lot, thank you.
< KEYNX > Relax, it'll be really helpful later.
Kijoo smiled faintly, muttering. Are there people that are kind at games? Even if we don't meet them in person. After that she bought a Heckler Koch.
< FUGO > I've bought it.
< KEYNX > Load the ammo first.
< FUGO > How many?
< KEYNX > As many, if you want 100 straight away, that's fine.
< FUGO > That's it.
< KEYNX > Let's go into the forest. If an animal approaches, there's usually a red warning sign on the screen, so be careful.
< FUGO > Okay.
KEYNX hunts an easy-level curse spirit, getting an energy potion!
< FUGO > Did you just kill the animal?
< KEYNX > Yes, an easy-level animal is wandering near us.
WARNING! EASY-LEVEL ANIMAL APPROACHING!
Kijoo immediately pointed her cursor at the animal.
FUGO hunts an easy-level curse spirit, getting an invisibility potion!
< FUGO > What's the difference between a regular curse spirit and a wind one?
< KEYNX > They're siblings. The lowest level is the regular one, while the wind one is the second level. The first is the fire curse spirit, and they'll usually attack us first.
< FUGO > How many siblings are there?
< KEYNX > 4, another one is leaf, it rarely appears.
WARNING! MEDIUM-LEVEL ANIMAL APPROACHING!
Kijoo quickly drew her gun and fired at the animal, which suddenly shot her character's arm slightly.
"Ouch, I got hit again."
FUGO hunted a medium-level 'chicken fire' and got a healing potion!
< KEYNX > Hey, treat your character's arm first. It could affect your EP if left untreated.
< FUGO > I just got a healing potion, should I use it?
< KEYNX > No, your wound is just a cut. Just use the band-aid in your bag. Healing potions are only needed if your wound is serious, as they don't appear often in rewards.
< FUGO > Phew, I almost used it.
< KEYNX > By the way, no matter how many animals you kill according to the difficulty level, you can increase your level and rank unconsciously.
< FUGO > Oh yeah?
< KEYNX > Just look at your profile. I'm level 15 now, and rank 160 out of 300 active players.
< FUGO > Huh, my rank is still low, 270.
< KEYNX > That's understandable, since you're a new player. But now you're level 5, which is quite an achievement for a beginner.
< FUGO > Ah, you're right.
Kijoo opened her bag, using a band-aid to cover her character's left arm.
< KEYNX > Want to split up? Since we're at different levels, we'll have to find suitable hunting animals too.
< FUGO > Ah, you're right.
< KEYNX > Do you want to turn on your mic? That way we can meet up at the rendezvous point later.
< FUGO > Oh, sure, of course.
She opened her microphone, granting speaking access only to the KEYNX player.
"I'll go to the right, you can go the other way if you want."
"Okay,"
Kijoo flinched slightly when the voice she heard was a man. Damn, since my game character is a man, my voice had to be neutral!
"You know, at first I thought you were a woman in disguise, you know? But it turns out your voice is actually a man's."
Kijoo's eyes widened. My voice was mistaken for a man's? Good.
"Yes, I am a man, how did you think I was a woman?"
"I don't know, it was just a hunch, maybe it was the way you type."
Thankfully, this person was a bit of a dumb.
"Our meeting point was in front of the forest before we entered, okay? Don't forget. The more animals you kill, the higher your rank will be."
"Sure."
Kijoo wandered around the forest. She was immediately attacked by a spirit curse fire beast that nearly burned her, so she quickly shot at it.
"Ugh, he's so agile!"
Kijoo squeaked in annoyance, then shot randomly at the spirit curse fire.
FUGO hunted an easy-level spirit curse fire, and got a protective shield!
A protective shield? So if I use this, it can ward off enemy attacks?
Kijoo was confused for a moment, then used the item.
This item only lasts for 30 seconds.
Not bad, at least it can protect me from enemy attacks.
A few minutes later, Keynx suddenly turned on his mic.
"Are you done?"
Kijoo choked slightly at the suddenness of his voice. She quickly turned off her microphone.
< FUGO > Sorry, my neighbors are noisy.
< KEYNX > Do you live in an apartment?
< FUGO > Yeah, like that.
Damn, I lied! I'm afraid I accidentally let out a shrill sound!
< KEYNX > It's okay, we should go back home now. It's getting dark.
< FUGO > Is something going to happen?
< KEYNX > In short, animals roam everywhere, rarely easy, most often appearing in medium and hard levels. I've even encountered expert ones.
< FUGO > Expert?
< KEYNX > Yes, attacks from expert-level animals instantly deplete our energy. It takes an hour to recover up to 1000 EP, so if you're impatient, at least keep your EP to full.
< FUGO > What happens if we kill one?
< KEYNX > It's actually difficult, but it can actually boost our rank drastically.
< FUGO > Oh yeah?
< KEYNX > You've probably heard of a player nicknamed 'JK,' right? He was the first person to successfully kill two expert animals when he was down to 40 EP. That's how he managed to reach rank 2, having previously been at 70.
< FUGO > Wow, that's crazy. Two experts in one game?
< KEYNX > Unfortunately, he only lasted a day. When he played the next day, he was killed by a medium-level animal because he hadn't filled his EP.
< FUGO > They say that if someone is in the top rank for three days in a row, they get 1 million won, right?
< KEYNX > That's right, but no one has gotten that money yet, at most, only that player 'JK'.
< FUGO > Have you ever played with him before?
< KEYNX > He always plays alone, and he doesn't accept anyone to play with him.
< FUGO > He's so arrogant.
< KEYNX > That's it. I have to go back now.
< FUGO > I think so too.
< KEYNX > I'm going to shut down my device. Want to add mine? So if we want to play together again, you can join my private server.
< FUGO > Oh, sure.
< KEYNX > You're quite the guy, you seem shy, huh, haha.
What? Shy?
< FUGO > Not really.
< KEYNX > Hahaha, okay. See you later, FUGO.
< FUGO > Yeah, see you later.
KEYNX left the server.
Kijoo also quickly exited the server and closed her gaming device. She leaned back against the head of her gaming chair, sighing tiredly.
"Phew, as expected, playing games for too long makes you sore."
Kijoo looked at the game she downloaded two hours ago on her laptop. She had found a fun friend so she could play with him again the next time. Kijoo glanced at the clock on the wall, which read 1 a.m.
"I should go to bed soon."
She shut down her laptop and quickly got up from his gaming chair, stretching. As she walked to the bathroom to brush her teeth, she remembered how she used to dislike games, thinking they were a pointless hobby. But now, she felt there was no harm in playing again the next day. Kijoo quickly finished her business and got into bed, charging her phone on the small table next to the bed.
Kijoo had only one thought in mind:
Tomorrow after work, I want to play again.
She fell asleep in the pouring rain outside. Who would have thought it would rain this hard in autumn?