Ashes of the Fallen

So for now, the most important aspect was to train our proficiencies, to learn how to utilize our abilities in actual combat, and to master the system. It wasn't easy to learn how to be a swordsman in a couple of weeks, but the game helped out a little there.

I couldn't explain it and I didn't really understand it.

The game had a way of speeding up a person's natural rate of absorption when it came to learning and acquiring new skills. One of the many things we tested in the Alpha and Beta phase was how rapidly we could learn something previously unbeknownst to us.

The rate was astounding… what would take someone months if not years could take weeks within the game, and after a few months of experience we were almost on par with an average swordsman who had spent half his life training.

That didn't necessarily translate outside of the game, but inside it, we were Gods.

My vague understanding of the system was of no matter though, for the end result was the most important thing. I could compete in close combat with melee weapons, I could utilize magic in unbelievable ways, and I had physical abilities beyond the normal scope of human limitations.

In this game, we were all well on our way to becoming superhuman.

And I loved every second of it.

"If you've got a few hours every day to grind this place, I think we should all do so, with the same group," I said as we reached the exit. "With this comp, we could probably start some serious speed runs and clear the entire place within two hours."

"If we knocked this place out in two-hours… that's at least two levels per run," said Alan. "I mean, it would slow down eventually, but we could hit level fifty in a week at that rate. I'm in, every evening I'll make myself available."

"Yeh, no better way to grind proficiencies than 'ere anyways," said Barik.

"Same time?" asked Ethan.

"Yeah, I'm good with that if you all are," I replied while glancing at the frost mage that rarely spoke. "How about it, think you can make it?"

"No problem, I'll be on," he stated calmly as he stood by the portal, waiting to exit.

"I'll see you guys tomorrow then ey?" I stated more than asked as I gave a half-assed salute-like wave goodbye. As the group parted and exited one by one, I went through the dungeon portal last and found myself standing amongst a dozen parties looking to enter.

Three of our five members were wearing masks to cover our mouths and noses while inside the dungeon, and a quick glance at the crowd gathered in front of the portal brought a smile to my face. We weren't the only ones wearing masks here… that most likely meant I had made a small sum of copper coins back in town.

I was succeeding on multiple levels at the moment and that made things exciting.

Especially the fact that we were progressing so smoothly through the dungeon, having finished the fourth boss and to now be on the fifth part of the quest chain… that was something I never expected when I first set out to answer the Call to Arms.

Ah, the thought of being able to hit level fifty within a week was tempting.

I wanted to grind nonstop until I couldn't grind anymore, but there was little reason to do that. No one had reached level fifty yet, though the leader boards showed quite a few nearing it at forty-seven. I was only thirty-four at the moment, though in effective level I was much higher thanks to the attribute bonuses of the Ultra-Realism program.

Even so, I was still woefully behind.

Barik was already forty-one, as was his healer friend Alan. The frost mage was at level thirty-eight and Ethan the fire mage was already thirty-nine.

That left me at the bottom, so to speak.

I wasn't holding them back any, but I was somewhat behind considering my advantages. Well, I couldn't complain, I invested so much of my time on extra-curricular activities while they all focused on their levels.

So, in reality, I was still way ahead of the curve.

What bothered me though, were the ones at the front of the leaderboards, the ones from the large guilds that were clearing through dungeons and claiming territory at a breakneck pace. It wouldn't be long before they started to attempt to conquer the surrounding weaker territories… the time was coming, everyone was aware of it, it was a question of when, not if.

That was human nature… and that was one of the large draws of the game. This was never meant to be a game with only a Player versus Environment aspect to it, Player versus Player was supposed to be equally as prominent. Of course, there was the whole immersion aspect as well, which I personally found the most enjoyable.

To me, this game was an adventure game, an escape from my pathetic reality first and foremost. Secondly, it offered me the things I couldn't have in my real life… and then lastly, there was the entertainment factor. The game was all-encompassing,  and so far, I had no complaints.

My only wish, was that I had a bit more time in the day to do everything that I wanted. There simply wasn't enough time… but that was life in general.