「1 week later...」
「PLAYER STATUS – [V777 (Vortex_7)]」
◆ Level: 15
◆ Race: Phoenix
◆ Class: [Locked] (Lvl. 30 Required)
◆ HP: 190 / 190
◆ MP: 250 / 250
◆ Aestrol Coins: æ67,500.00
— ATTRIBUTES —
◆ Strength (STR): 37
◆ Endurance (END): 40
◆ Dexterity (DEX): 41
◆ Luck (LUK): ★☆☆☆☆ [Fate Hates You]
— RANKINGS —
◆ Overall Value: 1,588th Place
◆ Location: Pyrros
◆ Allies: None
— ABILITIES —
Abyssal Rend (Lvl.7)[Active]
— INVENTORY —
5 / 30 Slots Used
Nico sat on a rooftop and looked through his system screen, thinking about his placement in Paradox of The Olympian Gods while scrolling through his system screen.
His progress had been faster than a regular new player, but this was mostly due to his extra training.
During his free time, he spent a few hours in the Adventurer's Guild training quarters, where he recieved a one time purchase daily training routine.
The routine consisted of muscle training, leg appraisals, callisthenics and endurance training.
With each routine he completed, he was given 3 system points, which he distributed as fairly as possible.
He secretly cursed how his strength was 3 points lower than his other stats, but it was an easy fix.
He also intended to try out the weaponry training programme that the guild had in case any player wanted to try a weapon out before buying it.
As intrigued as he was, he was also tired from the constant grinding and wanted to unwind.
'I haven't had a single beer in a long time,' he mused as he scanned his map.
There wasn't a single tavern in the area, but a safe zone that offered temporary peace and some drinks.
'Guess I'll give it a shot.'
Nico quickly jumped through the crevices of the building's alleys before safely landing on the ground.
He then trekked towards Sylvester's, hoping to buy himself a few cans of beer before calling it a night.
After a while, he stood in front of a charming one storey bar with brick walls, a trashcan on the outside, and a wide window, allowing Nico to see what was inside.
There was an LED sign with bold text that kept buzzing in and out of the light displaying the word, "Beer" on one end and "Shots" on the other.
Explicit graffiti and Greek key patterns were sprayed on the walls. Charming and surprisingly nostalgic.
'Reminds me of the tavern I used to hit up back when I was in my 20s.'
Nico casually pushed the door and stepped inside, the thick smell of old wood and cigarettes hitting his nose.
「You have entered a Safe Zone」
Inside, the bar was filled with a few people, drinking and chatting casually amongst themselves.
The ceiling was lit up by regular light bulbs and had brick walls for the aesthetic, similar to the exterior.
A few servers, who were clearly NPCs, moved table to table serving the few customers sharing drinks with their friends.
Nico walked to the bar and took a seat. He glanced at the holographic menu on the table and placed his order.
The man behind the bar was wiping the glasses when he noticed Nico paying for a regular beer.
He rolled his blue eyes and whipped his blonde hair back as he pulled a cold one out of the fridge and slid it to Nico.
Nico cracked open the can and took a swig.
His eyes widened slightly as he looked at the white can with a thunderbolt logo on it.
"This is probably the best beer I've ever had," he commented.
The bartender shrugged and smirked. "Yeah, but it's extremely boring," the bartender replied as he continued wiping his glasses, almost obsessively.
Nico ignored him and took another sip.
'Fucking worth the æ500.'
Then, he looked at the bartender and squinted his eyes, noticing the LED on the side of his head.
"You're a player?" Nico queried.
"Yes sir. And, this is my spot," the man replied with a proud smile. "It wasn't easy, but I did it."
"I assume you're Sylvester, then?"
Sylvester nodded.
"You're a player. And yet, you're running a tavern."
Sylvester's smile softened. "It's better than what's happening out that door, that's for sure..." he responded, his head knocking towards the door.
Nico understood how Sylvester felt.
The endless bloodshed, the horrifying sounds of metal clanging and people begging for their lives or for stronger men to stop.
It was mentally taxing, so Sylvester chose to stray away from that path.
"How long have you been here?" Nico asked.
"Longer than I can remember," Sylvester responded as he hung the wine glass on the ceiling hangers.
"What do you do about these monthly events?" Nico inquired curiously, hoping to find a loophole in case anything was to happen.
"Let's just say I've scratched the right backs. Monthly events are a cakewalk to me," Sylvester answered with a soft smile.
'That doesn't exactly tell me what I need to know...' Nico said to himself in a bitter voice. 'Better luck next time, I suppose.'
The bell chimed and Nico glanced in the direction of the door. His eyes widened as recognition kicked in.
Her long black hair that was silky smooth was now braided neatly into a ponytail and her forest green eyes were still as mysterious as the day he first saw her.
Her lips were slightly pink and relatively smooth, her voice as silky as a cat's fur and seductive like an attractive older woman.
She casually sat down and smiled at Sylvester, greeting him as he served her her usual drink.
She noticed Nico staring at her and smiled softly.
"Sorry, sweet cheeks, I'm not a hooker. But, I do know a gal of exceptional quality and service," she said to Nico, who only glared harder.
"You stole my coins on my first day here. I should beat the shit out of you right now."
The woman put on a serious expression for a few seconds before she burst out laughing, slamming her hands on the bar counter.
"Stop that!" Sylvester scolded her.
The woman sighed and wiped a tear from her eye. "Wow. And they say comedy is dead. I don't know what's funnier; that scary look on your face or the fact that you think I fucking care."
A vein popped up on Nico's cheek as he felt his anger rising.
He then sighed heavily and looked away from the woman, deciding that the exchange wouldn't be worth it.
'Just when I thought I could enjoy a nice, cold beer in peace, one of the people who made my first day here hell on earth pops up like a zit,' he complained internally.
His eyes narrowed as he took multiple sips of his beer, his heart burning with silent hatred.
He wanted to be the bigger person, even if it meant swallowing his pride.
This was why he ignored her but cursed her in his head.
The woman, however, had other plans.
She dragged her stool closer to Nico and chuckled as the stool refused to move smoothly.
She cleared her throat, placed her elbow on the counter and balanced her face on her palm as she looked at Nico.
"Do you feel like you have the strength to taunt a level 47 player?"
Nico rolled his eyes. "If I cared about that, I wouldn't have even started you."
"Aw, you are adorable. You're like a chihuahua taunting a pit bull," Elayne teased with a baby voice and puffed up cheeks.
Nico's nose wrinkled as he cringed at the woman's comment. She laughed hysterically and nudged Nico on the shoulder.
"Syl, I'll get 2 more of whatever he's having and my usual again, please," she said as she paid. "I think I'm about to make a new friend."
Nico lifted an eyebrow as he finished the last drop of his beer.
"The last thing I'd want is to be associated with a person like you," Nico retorted.
The woman laughed. "You think survival makes you noble? Baby, murder's murder. Don't act like your knife's cleaner just 'cause you cried after," she teased with a smile but a deadly aura.
Nico was right about this woman.
Beautiful but poisonous. 'This woman is a rose with thorns...'
But, he still couldn't categorize himself in the same tier as her.
She preyed on the weak while he was only trying to survive.
Sylvester delivered 2 cans of Nico's beer and one drink with red and orange colours known as a tequila sunrise cocktail.
The woman raised and dropped her eyebrows constantly while urging Nico to drink up.
He swallowed his pride and cracked open a can before drinking.
"By the way, the name's Windriver. Elayne Windriver."
"... Nico..."
Elayne smiled and chose not to pry further. "Syl, hit us with a round of your special gold tequila! 4 shots each!"
"Are you trying to kill me?! Drink that salty bullshit yourself!"