[SP-F1] «Earning a Living» [COMPLETED]

[Kaito 0]

In a dark black coat, a figure walks confidently through the streets of Starter City. Bad vibes and negativity fills the air, sound of cries are heard throughout the streets. So many people had stayed behind, believing that this was the best way to stay alive, waiting for someone to end the game. Kaito had taken notice that after a week with no one passing the first ten floors, no one will save them. The game is soon to be a disaster to us, except for Kayaba.

[Kaito 0]

Kaito has looked everywhere, he saw many players simply hanging out to kill some time. Some players were also too scared to leave Starter City, so they took shelter in a cheap inn close by. Many players spend all they're funds, or col, on the inns to hide. Kaito did his best not to join everyone who had a break down. Some players couldn't handle the fact that they were stuck in this game and took their own lives. There was nothing he could do to help them out. Mitoko was all he cared about.

[Kaito 0]

And yet, many players thought that Akihiko Kayaba was just bluffing and just leaped off from the first floor, with each passing day it would become more difficult to gain the basic necessities a beginner would need to survive. The scene was proving to be troubling indeed. Many players have told me that the first step to overcome this problem lies within the Profession Skills, creating items to sell to further enhance your Col supplies. But it was quite dangerous.

[Kaito 0]

Still, carefully weighing his options, Kaito could not help but decide that investing in this skill would be a necessity if he were to ensure the survival of himself and everyone else. Deciding which skill to invest in had taken some time though, as he had weighed each decision carefully. However, in the end he had decided to take the Smithing profession. He had been tempted to take up a crafting profession that would allow him to produce potions and crystals, but had discarded the notion.

[Kaito 0]

His play style was simply too different from that of an average MMO player, so being able to craft gear that benefited him would not go far in benefiting his solo career. With that thought in mind, he had decided that Smithing was the best choice. Having easy access to abundant weapons would make the game less dangerous, not to mention the prospect of such items as status ailment effects like parry, block, and other useful means for defeating enemies with greater ease.

[Kaito 0]

For a brief moment he imagined a chill at the thought of beginning their battle preparations so casually, yet he was quick to dismiss the sensation as being the result of an overactive imagination. Pushing such thoughts from his mind, Kaito quickened his step, his leather boots clacking on the simulated cobblestones that lined the central plaza of the Starter City. This was the central portion of the massive city, and as good a place as any to start his search.

[Kaito 0]

In order to get the profession, he would need to find a blacksmith, and officially accept the profession after a few text windows of information pertaining to what the skill would be used for. He was quite fortunate to find a blacksmith nearby, also he had a general idea of where he would find the blacksmith. Some players had difficulty finding their NPC, so he took his time to help the players find their NPC. He knew the general area of most of the NPC, so it wouldn't be a problem for him.

[Kaito 0]

Making his way back, he walk through the crowded area, Kaito spotted his NPC and walked through the crowd. With so many players deciding to become a blacksmith as well, he had a good time asking for some help as well. Most players were walking aimlessly around the central plaza of the Starter City. They all looked like zombies who were looking for a place to stay, as there really were a few places to spend their time. It was congested, but ultimately manageable even if some players were annoyed.

[Kaito 0]

Kaito finally stopped before the rather jovial looking NPC, a middle aged male wearing a rough cut vest and hempen tunic and trousers, and paused a moment for the system to recognize his ‘interest’. With a wide smile and twinkling eyes, the NPC, named «Griswald» launched into a rather common dialogue aimed at snaring any nearby player’s attention. "Ho lad, care to listen a bit about the Smithing profession?" he said, in a friendly tone as a pop up window appeared before Kaito with details on Smithing in general.

[Kaito 0]

After accepting the quest, Kaito headed out towards the dungeon to grab the materials for «Griswald». Strolling through the plaza he was able to find information about the dungeon. There were high level mobs in the dungeon, and Kaito was quite ready to take on high level mobs just yet. He looked around the grasslands, and was able to identify a couple of materials «Kaito» was looking for.

[Kaito 0]

New information flooded the window, basic information on how an Blacksmith would take basic materials and create the basic leveled equipments. After grabbing the materials, Kaito headed back towards the city to hear about low level players who ventured into the dungeon without gear, and blew up into million of polygons. In this world, HP falling to zero would equate a real death. Kaito now knows that he must find a way to craft strong equipment to fight his way through this horrid game.

[Kaito 0]

Kaito finally arrived back to his destination. He gave Griswold the materials and paused for a moment. A window popped up, Quest Completed. Griswald started describing the use of an anvil, and materials of all sorts. If he should ever purchase a house or a shop, he could get an anvil, and so on and so forth. It was quite unnecessary at this time and place, even in Starter City, settlements were quite pricey. No matter, one day he'll buy a house with a less crowded area.

[Kaito 0]

A few minutes of information later, the info box before him reached its final screen, displaying the fateful message. followed by simple < O > < X > options. Having endured the entirety of this explanation simply to pick up the profession, Atlas was quick to accept. "Congratulations, you are now an Blacksmith. Take these materials and create a long sword for me." Griswald quickly replied.

[Kaito 0]

Kaito nodded, his eyes fixed on «Griswald» before him. Certainly realistic, but the facial software, specifically expressions, was sometimes a little strange. One might say it was to better capture the dramatic essence of the game, who knew. All he knew is that the smiling face seemed incorrect, imperceptibly off by a fraction, just enough to make him uncomfortable. His eyes flicked down to the semi-transparent window before him, where he continued.

[Kaito 0]

A notification of received items pinged on Kaito's HUD, and quick check showed the addition of two basic materials to his inventory. No doubt this was intended as an introduction to the crafting system, a rather common occurrence in most MMO's. «Griswald» quickly gestured towards the nearby anvil. Kaito did not need to be told twice, and ran his way over ot anvil. Most in the Starter City wouldn't bother with something like smithing, not when they needed to save as much Col as possible to keep paying for food and lodging, so he did not have to wait.

[Kaito 0]

After a long process, Kaito had created his first basic weapon, which he gave to «Griswald» as the final step in the quest. He was not able to keep the long sword, as it was just a learning process. But that didn't mattered, he had memorize the recipe by heart, and the materials were common drops found in the grasslands. «Griswald» gave him a few advice, pointing out that as he smelt more equipment, his skill would continue to rise. Given how poorly the advice would, he still knew that he could still smelt items and level his skill.

[Kaito 0]

No matter, he had taken the skill for practicality’s sake, but also enjoyment. If it meant spending a few hours a week grinding these simple steps for more equipment to use, or even sell, then so be it. It was all a part of the plan after all, the plan that would enable Kaito, to survive this horrid game. So long as it was in service of that goal, he did not mind so minor an annoyance. He had his crafting skill, now all he needed to do was start gathering materials.

[Kaito 0]

The easiest course would have been to simply purchase the required ingredients from one of the many shops. But that would be a drain on his resources, one that could be potentially devastating later. It would be far more beneficial to farm the ingredients himself, benefiting from the experience points in the field at the same time, and saving his money to stretch as far as possible. He had a plan after all. Kaito remembers a quote when he was at school, but it was quite irrelevant.

[Kaito 0]

Then, and only then, after replacing his basic gear with the next equivalent tier, they could venture into the dungeon. The dungeon would provide more respawning mobs to farm for experience points, as well as the chance for treasure chests. The key would be not rushing too fast, trying to ascend to the higher floors too quickly would only put him in greater danger as he will be forced into higher level areas before he were able to level, or keep his gear suitably maintained.

[Kaito 0]

Yes, Kaito certainly had a plan, this might have been a game that was a high tech battle for life and death, but it was still a game. He had played many VRMMO’s in his time. He had to believe that the approach that had allowed him to thrive in these games would carry over here, if not for his sake, then for the players who are terrified. Ah well, for the time being, there was no other option but to move forward, no matter the danger. Checking the Information Broker's guide, he was sure that in order to get his most basic of materials, he should focus his attention on farming the «Frenzy Boars» that could be found outside Starting City.