Titan

“ You know, Lyle. I haven’t really done too much combat yet. ” Titan said.

“ Nonsense, you’ll be absolutely great. I’m trying to craft this rare armor piece and I just need three Boar Pup Tusks. For a young lad like yourself? I promise you it’ll be a piece of cake. Just make sure you have those potions I gave you from earlier. You might need it as those pesky tusks don’t appear that often. ” Lyle eagerly retorted with vigor and a sense of support that Titan could slay a dragon right now, if he wanted to. 

The damn man had a way with words and Titan couldn’t help but know that he would have to face his fears sooner or later of combat. He wasn’t necessarily afraid of the combat portion but in a game where death meant the absolute end, how could he not be wary when he wasn’t comfortable doing anything more than plucking weeds with his spear. This was when he wished his Dad would’ve put him in Karate or some type of Martial Art, he wasn’t a fighter. The man sold hotel rooms for a damn living.

Today in particular, the blacksmith was particularly dirty and had a black soot covering quite a bit of the surfaces. He would remember when he had enough Col to recommend or purchase a deep, deep cleaning for Lyle. It would be the least he could do for someone who was setting Titan up to know how to play this godforsaken game, it wasn’t the elderly man’s fault the game played out the way it did.

“ It’s such a pleasure to see you again, Lyle. ” His words were kind as Titan continued forward, a smile and a nod as Lyle begun to speak and a pop-up appeared in the corner of his view with the quest description scrolling as he spoke with a grey accept button lingered only being acceptable once the man finished his monologue.

“ So what do you say, Titan? ” Lyle asked with a hammer in one hand and a prod for the flames in another.

“ I’m sorry, bullies your what? ” He was a bit thrown off by her wording, not sure what exactly someone who seemed so young and literally a whole foot shorter than Titan was. Did she truly have bullies in this game or had she been traumatized from life? He hoped no one here had been rude, it was mostly meant to be collaborative if they wanted to get out of this damn game alive. " I get it. I don't mind killing animals, they're pixels and stuff. It'll come naturally in a few weeks, i'm sure. " He still felt his spear awkwardly in his hand, Titan hadn't felt too comfortable quite yet for combat.

" How do we go fishing? Is there a quest we need to do to unlock it or something? " He hadn't even realized that fishing was a thing, that showed how much Titan paid attention. " I'm kinda just collecting things until I can't anymore. I have a feeling it'll end soon with Easter holiday ending up. " Plucking the eggs that he saw near him and pocketing them as well.

" You're the first newish player that i've met, maybe we should go quest or go farm for some experience? What do ya think? " He hadn't fought with another yet, he was certain there was something he could learn in a party. 

“ You sure it’s our dignity or yours? ” He teased back, Cheshire smile while the other seemed incredibly kind to let a small orphan boy yank at his hair for fun and entertainment. The youngins’ did need that interaction, it was impossible for the nuns who took care of them to give every single one enough time and attention all of the time, especially with how many of them there were. “ Nice to meet you, Solei. ” He extended his hand like his father taught him to, direct eye contact with an incredibly firm handshake without blinking or breaking his gaze until they both let go and Titan eased up. He spent years forced to practice his handshake, it was the very first impression others often had.

“ You too, Eito. I’m Titan and I probably was labeled a troublemaker too in my day, look how I turned out. ” He offered the kid a high five, it seemed like that would be enough to keep Eito happy. “ I actually spent a lot of time in the inn over there. Didn’t really do much, was in a bit of a funk. ” He glazed over the details as much as he possibly could. “ But, kinda just decided that we’re forced to play this game, might as well play it. Been about a week. ”

Titan sucked on his bottom lip as his eyes glanced toward the teleport gate. “ I mean… I’ve never used it before. Not sure I’m even gonna make it to the second floor and get obliterated. Kinda been eating away at me, when to head on up. ” He knew it was a lot to unload but he hadn’t seen anyone since that girl saved him in the forest and sometimes a man was simply the most dangerous with his thoughts.

Maybe being in the game for those who had been actively engaged was a good thing? Titan hadn’t expected the other to seem sweet, to be kind and have such a powerful grip on her sword. It was fairly alluring to watch, the flames were something he was curious about, was that a part of their sword arts that they could learn? He'd have to ask her eventually, curious on her technique or even the katana the woman used. He hadn't seen an option like that when he picked his weapon initially.

The other's firm handshake felt like it had been crushing Titan's poor hand against her grip. " I actually was just looking for easter eggs. I didn't realize strong monsters like this would be so deep in here, honestly. I kinda expected those lowbie wolfs and stuff to be here. I was incredibly mistaken. " He sighed, his spear still light in his hand as he placed it in a less aggressive position. " What about you? You seem a bit, uhh, stronger than a level 1 to be down here. "

Titan hovered near the teleportation pad with his dominant hand on the end of his assault spear. He was insanely curious of the other floors, met people who had traversed Aincrad and left the Town of Beginnings but it wasn't something that Titan felt ready to do yet. He simply wasn't ready.

" C'mon, just go. " His words meant to aid, to convince the man that he was ready to at least peek at the second floor but he was too rational not to finish the quests on the first floor and prepare his inventory with the tools needed as a contingency plan. He felt a little deflated, a loud sigh exhaled from Titan's lips as he slumped back to town to head back to some of the quests he had still been hesitant to finish.

That was until he spotted a grey-haired fellow with a child on his shoulders beckoning the man forward as if he was a vehicle of sorts. " How much you paying for a ride? " A huff as he cocked his face to the side, a casual smile as he took in the sight with mild delight. " Looks mighty fun. "

He wasn’t close enough to death to see every memory of his life flash hauntingly before his eyes but boy, did he come to the edge of nearly defecating himself, at least the feeling. His avatar had no reason to do any of that anymore. He mostly showered for the sense of relaxation that it brought him. Titan had decided he would turn and face the boar head on, it’s all he really could do as he spun on his heel while turning his entire body with both hands on his spear.

The entire scene happening in a flash, the stranger’s long ivory hair blew with her speed, an eager blade and a single strike before the flames lit up the boar and decimated him in a matter of seconds. “ Holy s%&$. ” The man was enamored by his savior.

“ You know, you didn’t have to do that. I was about to turn around and fight the boar myself. ” Puffing up his chest a little, walking closer to the girl who still seemed to be leagues from where Titan had been standing. “ But, I appreciate it though. You have my sincerest gratitude. ” He wasn’t about to make an enemy of a girl who could simply delete him in one swing of her katana.

“ I’m Titan. What’s your name? ” He offered a hand and a warm smile; he sure was getting lucky in meeting so many powerful and beautiful women since he started. He could already tell they were going to get the charmer into quite a bit of trouble simply for existing.

“ Oh. ” Honestly? Titan was a little bummed that the other girl had been doing the exact same thing that he was. He couldn’t help it, probably in the same way that she couldn’t either. These felt important, like they’d turn into something glorious as trade-ins and perhaps give them both a boost they hadn’t realized that they needed.

 “ Well, here. I’m going to add you to my friend’s list. As soon as either of us figures out what and where we need to go for them. Let’s message the other. ” Titan brought up his system interface and sent over a friend request to the woman. Even if she forgot to, it'd be a resource for quests later on down the line. " Pleasure. " Titan noticed a limp wrist, a delicate handshake from the other which he almost expected it to be a ploy for now. He was certain that behind it all, she was powerful and mighty.

" I've been shying away from combat for now. Seems a bit daunting but might as well just jump in, huh. " Letting out a thick sigh, he felt comfort in their both being around the same level. " This is good. We can share tips with one another but what I like to do? I'm not sure still. I wasn't really living before now, stuck in a pretty thick haze. I'd probably like fishing in the game though. Pretty relaxing stuff. What about you? "

Another pile of eggs, another quick pick-up into his pocket for later. 

Quest: The Second Lesson, Is Also Free

It was a fairly interesting couple of days since he finished meeting with Zackariah and completed the very first portion of the introductory quest to welcome adventurers and players into the world of Aincrad. Titan couldn't believe some of the people he met, the armor they wore and how fanatical some of them seemed to be with their equipment and skills in this game. Still, Titan hadn't felt entirely sure of his combat abilities and figured that this quest would lead him down that dangerous path. Perhaps, it'd ease him kindly. The spear he had in his hand felt comfortable, the man was still slightly awkward with the weapon but the system seemed kind enough and forgiving for combat. It was simply an angle and a charge, the weapon did most of the hard work and yet, Titan still didn't have the weapon art mastered that apparently unlocked with his first rank up. 

Titan gripped tightly against his spear, opening the door once again to Tyle's blacksmith while being greeted by a kind old man, the golden exclamation point still hovering like a siren's call for his second quest. 

Despite her being a little further ahead in levels, it seemed as though they were still incredibly the same when it came to where they were in progress. “ Ahh, I just started a week or two ago. Kinda was in a slump before then, honestly. Decided it was time to start caring more, fight for our own right to live. ” He wasn’t trying to get deep or share his life stories with the girl, but it was like a switch had been activated within him to finally try and do. He was finally returning to true form and it felt glorious to feel like himself once again. “ I’ve been collecting the eggs as they shopped up but, I don’t know what they’re for. ” He laughed; the noise bellowed a bit louder than Titan initially anticipated. “ I figure someone would fill me in later. ”

With his final words, he brought a hand to shake Hinatao’s for a proper introduction. “ I’m Titan. It’s nice to finally meet a new-ish adventurer. Got any tips? I just finished that damn mat gathering quest for Tyle. It took me hours to find enough weeds for that potion. ” In the corner of his eye, Titan spotted a cluster of easter eggs and quickly picked them up before turning back to the girl. It was all fair in conversation and eager eggs.

EASTER EGG LOOT: 

Gods, Titan couldn’t help but devour every curve of the other’s body with his gaze. It was incredibly unbecoming of a man like himself, someone who considered himself a cut above the rest but something about her seemingly shined as though being a frontliner cleared ones pores, moisturized and included a natural shimmer. He was certain that deep down, beside the fact that they all seemingly looked the same due to being avatars in a death game, what made the girl radiate was her desire to live and the fact that she had been fighting to do so. “ Of course. ” Titan hadn’t cared about repercussions at all during the last few years while in the game, he often asked remiss or down right uncaring to those in the Town of Beginnings because he simply could, because he had nothing to live for. With this new perspective on life, every person who he met was a resource and on top of that, he was still incredibly weak. The one thing he would take from this interaction was tact because the flames that lived beneath the woman’s azure gaze had been intense and would light Titan on fire if she hadn’t had the grace to reel it in. For whatever reason, Titan seemed to be pardoned.

“ I’ve been down here for quite a while, haven’t seen too many people from the higher floors returning down here. ” He wasn’t lying but he also was much more of a recluse since about a week ago since he decided to follow Lessa’s lead to finally live. He sensed the slight hesitation, his acute listening was a bit surprised, but the man was also a stranger, could he blame her for being a bit cautious. To watch the girth of the weapon rest against her other hand, a tawny hand peeling out for a handshake, she seemed incredible.

“ Nice to meet you too, Lessa. ” He gave the woman a quick nod and bow as it was customary to do back in Japan, it’s where he assumed most of the players had come from. “ That armor looks pretty cool. Did ya craft it or something ? ” The question seemed to blurt out without a rhyme or reason, his eyes wrapped around them once again in awe, she looked way too cool to have any friends on the first floor.
 

The forest area to the North of the Town of Beginnings was absolutely vast with lush, verdant leaves that turned the under canopy into a well-enveloped dense scape with tiny holes of sunlight making it through. The NPCs seemed too murmur something about great training and huge animals in the forest, something the adventurer wanted to test a bit more now that he had leveled up a bit. His fighting still hadn't been the greatest but he would work on it, this would be a step-by-step process.

A giant grunt could be heard from deep within the breathing forest, the noise bellowing through the trees and reverbed against the base sounding like it was coming from everywhere at once. It was enough to make Titan clench that was for sure, he brought his spear up in an offense position until the crunching of leaves could be heard and the red beady eyes of the monster seemed to be charging directly at Titan. " Oh ^*%*! " His voice rose in pitch as he began to sprint back to town while this noise behind him seemed to be catching up. " Someone HELP ! " His own voice boomed within the forest, his legs worked double-time while his eyes turned, who would've thought he would be done for in a matter of one overly ambitious bout into a dark forest. He hoped that Heaven at least had a hot springs, because he was certain he didn't have enough to take on the boar at all. 

@Cordelia 

Wild Boar Stats:

Titan's Stats:

Titan wouldn't necessarily say that he was getting the hang of things quite yet, especially with combat but nevertheless, the man allowed his spear to rest on the ridges of his shoulder blades and proudly took up much more space when he walked than he would normally was. Due to his upbringing, there was a saunter in his step while meandering through the town curiously ready to and willing to head back onto the quests he had been simply putting off for the sake of linear progression. 

That was until his eyes caught the gaze of a blinking green avatar, he hadn't met anyone else yet in this town and was honestly surprised as she was wearing somewhat basic armor and weapon which either meant she was new or pretending to be new. Titan read her screen name, Hinatao as a confused look washed it's way over the adventurer's face.

" Excuse me, miss. " He rose his hand, extended his arm to its full length for the sake of show as he closed the gap between himself and Hinatao. " Sorry, I haven't seen too many players down here in the Town of Beginnings recently. Have you just kind of started too? " It was more of an eagerness that lead him to ask than anything else, it would've explained why he had a hard time collecting so many materials for his first quest.

@Hinatao

EASTER EGG LOOT:

TITAN'S INVENTORY:

The bright exclamation point hovered so brilliantly on the top of Tyle's head, a beckon to bring him into a quest line of teaching and learning the Aincrad methods. Something about it felt too linear for his liking, luckily for Titan he wasn't obligated to rush through it all like a sprinter wanting to win the 100 yard dash. " Thanks Tyle, I'll be back, alright! " An anxiety crept up from under his fingertips straight for his neck as a feeling of suffocation began to consume and overwhelm.

In his mind, Titan knew the beaming sun hadn't been real or the kind breeze that felt as though it caressed his face as he walked. Everything inside of this world had been a system of numbers set to trick and fool those minds to being transported to another dimension but something about it's similarities to Earth did ease his often anxious mind. Each step he took, each new civilian he passed still, after all this time, felt real.

In a daze, Titan absentmindedly slammed into the person in front of him, his own body was sent skidding against the cobblestone pathways of the Town of Beginnings as he looked up to meet the person's gaze in defiance. " Watch where you're going, would ya? " His eyes slowly panned up the other's body, a bit surprised when he noticed it was a beautiful woman. " I mean, uhh, sorry. I wasn't paying attention. My mind seems to be getting be more in trouble these days. " Titan blurted out, words a flurry after he pushed himself off of the ground, patted the dirt off of his hands against his legs and offered a handshake. " I'm Re- I mean, Titan. What has the likes of you down here with the newbies? " @Lessa