The sun dipped lower, bathing the plains outside Gaia in warm orange light.
The trio — Zack, Obi and Point pressed onward beyond the beginner hunting fields.
The distant chatter of other players faded, replaced by the rustle of tall grass and the faint sound of running water.
Zack opened his map. "This area's still blank… I'll prolly need to explore more to figure out its name and location."
They crested a small hill and suddenly, the landscape stretched out before them and there it was. A water mill, half-broken but still turning slowly beside the glistening lake.
The wooden wheel creaked rhythmically, scattering droplets into the air like tiny prisms. The scene was strangely peaceful until they saw the shadows moving in the water's reflection.
Dozens of monsters prowled nearby —
Water Foxes (Lv.3) and Mud Frogs (Lv.4) sleek, wet and aggressive.
Point groaned. "Yeah. Nice view… ugly monsters."
"They're too close" Obi said. "We'll have to clear the area before we can check the mill."
Zack scanned his surroundings, eyes sharp. "Makes sense, mini bosses, treasure chests, event triggers. Anything could be waiting for us in there."
"Or a death trap" Point muttered.
Obi grinned. "Either way, we'll find out."
Zack nodded. The party turned toward the mill. Moss climbed up its sides, vines dangling from the roof. The lake behind it sparkled faintly, hinting at something glowing beneath.
Zack's eyes caught a bronze chest glinting near the lake. He pointed it out to his teammates and excitement sparked in their eyes, their first chest.
"Chest?" Point asked hopefully.
"Maybe," Obi said, already stepping forward.
Still, Zack couldn't shake a flicker of caution. Is someone guarding it… or is it really just sitting there?
The trio pressed onward, trudging through the overgrown field as water droplets clinged to their boots. The faint creak of a wooden structure echoed ahead, a water mill turning lazily beside the wide, glimmering lake.
They advanced cautiously. Each step disturbed the water, sending ripples and soft splashes across the surface. As shapes rose from the shallows, Zack caught the subtle color tints above each monster's name tag as they emerged.
[Water Fox – Lv.3]
[Mud Frog – Lv.4]
Two Water Foxes (Lv.3) darted forward, sleek bodies weaving through the grass. Their fur glowed faintly, tails leaving faint ripples of light.
"Let me aggro!" Obi called.
He dashed toward the left fox, sword flashing. Clang!
-28 HP (Water Fox)
The right fox lunged past him, directly targeting Zack. Its muzzle glowed blue —
[Skill: Water Spit]
A ranged burst of condensed water. Magic-type damage.
The projectile smashed into Zack's chest, forcing him back.
-60 HP
Zack: 40/100 HP
"Whoa—!" He stumbled, rolling behind a rock. "That's a ranged magic skill, likely has a charge time!"
"Okay! Got it~" Point shouted, firing a glowing arrow.
Magic Arrow!-38 HP (Water Fox)
The fox howled, staggered. Obi followed up with a Fast Strike, sword trailing a faint blur.
Critical Hit! -72 HP
[Water Fox defeated]
The other fox snarled and circled Point, water swirling again in its mouth.
Point took the hit but stayed upright, countering with another Magic Arrow, finishing the second fox.
Zack raised his hand.
Heal cast on Point +40 HP
He didn't bother healing himself as he was outside the creature's attack range.
They paused for a moment to catch their breath as both monsters dissolved into drifting specks of light that vanished into the air.
Suddenly, three mud frogs hopped into the clearing, their slimy bodies bouncing with surprising speed.
Zack's eyes narrowed. Well, good thing I'm here, he thought, gripping his dagger.
As the Priest, he had the advantage of healing and supporting while keeping a safe distance. Carefully, he prepared a quick Heal in case anyone got hit.
"Next group, three frogs incoming," Zack informed , pointing toward the Lake's edge.
[Mud Frog – Lv.4]
Their wide, glassy eyes blinked lazily as they hopped closer, bodies glistening with mucus.
Obi struck first —
-20 HP (Mud Frog)
The hit barely made a dent. The mud frog's skin rippled, absorbing most of the impact.
"Damn, their defense is insane!" Obi muttered.
Zack's eyes flicked over the stats and patterns. "Looks like they have high physical resistance. Switch to magic."
Point nodded and fired a Magic Arrow.
-49 HP (Mud Frog)
"Yeah," Zack said. "Magic works best, they take heavier damage from it."
One frog croaked, its throat swelling before spewing a glob of muddy water that splattered Obi's armor.
[Skill: Mud Spit]
Applies Slow for 3 seconds, reducing movement speed.
-35 HP
Speed Down!
"Slowed!" Obi yelled, slashing clumsily.
Zack kept his eyes on the battle. Every two seconds, the frogs paused between hops. The gaps were perfect for repositioning.
"Point, stagger their patterns. I'll maintain Obi's HP."
He raised his hand, casting Heal periodically, the faint golden light keeping their frontline steady.
Heal +40 HP
Mana -10 (Total 20/50)
Obi managed to finish the first frog with a clean strike when Point's magic arrow shattered its health bar. The second went down soon after, leaving one croaking angrily.
But this one, it leapt higher than the rest.
[Mud Frog uses Splash Impact]
Area-of-effect landing attack. Damage based on height jumped.
"Move!" Zack shouted.
They dove aside as the frog slammed into the ground, sending a shockwave through the lake.
-45 HP (Obi)
-38 HP (Point)
Zack narrowly avoided it, then lunged forward, dagger gleaming.
Stab! -25 HP (Critical)
The final frog dissolved into faint green light. The trio stood panting, the lake's surface calm once more.
EXP Gained (Shared): +270 EXP each
Zack → Lv.1( Next: lvl EXP needed 555 )
The drop rates were pathetic. No equipment, no skills—just EXP and coins.
Obi sheathed his sword with a shake of his head. "We're lucky those frogs fire their abilities at random. If all of them landed that splash at once, we'd be paste."
Even as he spoke, the group understood there was no time to waste.
The treasure chest was theirs to seize… it was now or never.
Zack kept a watchful distance, prepared to spring into action if anything else emerged, while Obi approached the chest.
As soon as Obi reached the chest, ripples stirred across the lake.
Before he could react, a massive, slimy tongue shot out, slamming into him with brutal force.
[Damage Received: -80 HP]
[Obi The Limit-Breaker HP: 40/120]
Zack's eyes narrowed, his movements fast and controlled as he quickly cast Heal. A low, cold murmur escaped him. One more blow like that, and he'd be finished.
[Mana -10]
[HP Restored: +40]
[Obi The Limit-Breaker HP: 80/120]
[Spiked Frog – Lv.5 | HP: 750/750]
Its skin felt like wet stone, eyes bulging unnaturally and a wide, gaping mouth hinted at the horrors to come. Zack could feel the VR capsule simulate the oppressive aura heavier than anything he'd encountered so far.
Obi stepped forward confidently. "Stay calm. I'll hold aggro but this one hits hard."
Point nodded and moved toward the edge of the clearing. Zack followed, positioning himself beside Point. Healing priority: Obi first, then focus on dealing damage.
Obi The Limit-Breaker charged in, true to his role as a frontliner— bold, loud and swinging like the battlefield owed him something.
Spiked Frog Skill: Explosive Impact
Deals wide-area damage and mitigates part of incoming damage for 3 seconds during charging.
Obi swung his sword, the first hit registered 40% reduced damage thanks to the creature's mitigation buff.
The Spiked Frog countered with a thunderous AoE slam, knocking him back and dealing -120 HP.
Obi The Limit-Breaker HP: 0/120 — Wiped
Zack and Point froze in shock as Obi's screen flashed a respawn timer—30 seconds until he returned to Gaia. Two charms remained in his inventory, a perk for beginners.
( Author's Note : Here's how the system works: if you die and it's from the PvE or certain mechanics, you'll get a thirty-minute penalty before you can resurrect.
Player kills, though? Those are normal, you just respawn at the nearest town or graveyard with 80% percent EXP deducted. )
Point swore under her breath, backing up. "That… You've got to be kidding me, he got flattened in one hit!"
Zack's eyes narrowed, analyzing the spiked frog. Its massive tongue had recoiled, leaving it momentarily vulnerable and in stunned state.
The party just had to hold out for fifteen minutes until Obi could rejoin them but he'd have to move fast to make it.
Meanwhile, Zack and Point had no clue whether dying carried a penalty. But that uncertainty didn't slow them.
Zack surged forward, his iron daggers flashing with precise, controlled strikes.
Point took advantage of the stunned boss, continuously casting her spells. Glowing Magic Arrows streaked through the air as she kept her distance while steadily chipping away at the monster's HP.
-42 HP
Zack noticed the monster taking more damage on its tongue so he focused attacking there -38 HP.
He dashed in, stabbing and dealing damage as quickly as he could, before the monster shook off its daze.
-33 HP
-55 HP [CRIT]
-50 HP [CRIT]
Crits were landing more reliably on the monster's weak spots, each strike sending numbers floating across its massive HP bar.
The monster's stunned state ended abruptly. Its eyes flared red as it lunged toward Zack, who sprinted to avoid the attack.
The pair circled the monster, Point pulling aggro whenever her DPS spiked and together they fell into a lethal rhythm— kiting, dodging incoming hits, dropping heals and striking back hard.
Slowly but steadily, they wore down the monster's enormous HP, their attacks relentless and coordinated.
Zack's gaze remained cold, always anticipating the next attack. He didn't intend to go down like Obi.
Spiked Frog HP: 750 → 180
Spiked frog Used: Tongue Grab
Captures a target, immobilizing for 5 seconds.
Suddenly, the frog's throat swelled and a long, sticky tongue with spikes shot toward Point. She screamed, dodging by a hair's breadth but the boss's reflexes were precise as she got snagged halfway.
A red -60 HP floated above her head.
At that moment, Obi reappeared, diving in with a Fast Strike.
"My turn" he quipped, unleashing a rapid flurry of blows. The sudden torrent of hits disrupted the monster's skill, forcing it to flinch.
Point sank to one knee, gasping for air, her hands trembling. "Th-Thanks!" she cried, a mixture of relief and adrenaline flooding her voice.
Obi smirked briefly. "Don't mention it. Just don't get caught again."
Zack thought to himself, good timing. That could've been much worse
Obi The Limit-Breaker HP: 120/120 | MP: 35/40
"Payback time!" Obi muttered, diving back in with a Fast Strike combo.
Zack stayed close to Obi,
Zack Damage Stab: -11 –12 per hit
Heal on Obi: +40 HP per cast
The coordinated assault finally wore the monster down.
With one final Fast Strike from Obi and a synchronized Magic Arrow, the monster let out a deafening croak and dissolved into glittering particles.
Spiked Frog defeated!
EXP Gained: +500 each (shared among party)
The loot hovered in the chest window, each item glowing faintly with its rarity color. The party got excited even Zack with his cold face was expecting good drops.
The trio reached the spot and Obi opened loot distribution panel, checking the drops.… 2 gears dropped and 1 skill book.
Carved Blade – Lv.2 (Common)
Attack Power: 25-30
Strength: +5
Wind Boots – Lv.2 (Uncommon)
HP: +20
Special Option: +20 Agility for 20 seconds (Cooldown: 1 min)
Zack eyed the boots carefully. A mobility boost like this could make dodging AoEs and kiting monsters far easier.
Skill Book: Explosive Impact
Effect: Deals 250% physical damage
Charge Time: 2 sec, (Takes 50% reduced damage while charging)
Cooldown: 1 min
Obi laughed cheerfully, shaking off the effects of his recent wipe. "Well, at least the mini-boss gave me something for dying," he said, tapping the loot window.
Then he tossed the item toward Zack. "You're going to need this," he added, passing over the Wind Boots. "There's no way we'd have finished that boss without you."
Point gave a soft laugh. "Doesn't matter that I got nothing. I'm still alive, so that's a win."
Not to mention we still have the chest, she thought.
Zack cast one last glance over the tranquil lake, weapon at the ready in case anything else appeared. The water rippled once more, then settled; the mini-boss guarding the chest was gone, leaving only the slowly turning waterwheel.
The three-party members exchanged brief nods.
Zack sheathed his dagger. "Alright… time to open the chest. No telling what else this place hides."
Obi smirked. "Let's just hope there isn't a field boss waiting for us."
Point raised her staff. "Please don't jinx it."
Night enveloped Gaia, casting pale light across the clearing. Shadows stretched long and dark and deep within the mill's foundations, a faint blue glow began to coruscate…