Book 2, Chapter 11
Swamp

    After I got Phantom I started to grind in the monster forest. With the help of a "native", I found a crowd of Killer Trees soon enough. Identify reads that they're level 100 monsters, they attack their targets using mutated tree vines. Extremely high defense, cannot move, only weakpoint is fire. 

    They don't look much different from ordinary trees, the only problem is that they got several really long vines, and will immediately attack if you get close. It's a good thing they can't move at all. 

    Same practice. Lucky clears the way while Phantom gets inside me and cause fire everywhere. Because of the Ring of Stars my Intelligence now is 13, so my Magic Attack is quite good now. The wild fire tactic is super effective. I just need a small ember to turn these rotten roots and branches into a mess forest fire. Then my exp bar began to fill up like a water meter running full speed! 

    Lucky's fire is way more powerful than mine, so I stopped and began to check my Gather skill from my Blacksmith cla.s.s. I used Gather at a collapsed Killer Tree, and quickly got a pile of lumber. Why do I need lumber in this game? Since every tree I Gathered on can give me this lumber, it probably means this thing doesn't have much value. So I kept 10 units of lumber on me and discarded all the rest on the ground. 

    During my boring practice I acquired a block of black wood from a Killer Tree. It looks like burned charcoal. I checked the item, it's called "Darksteel Wood". That looks worth something, no idea what it does so I just put it away. 

    As I said I enjoy grinding. The clock reached 11:30 a.m before I noticed it. I checked my level. 78. Lucky is same as me. Phantom has already reached 66 now. Seems low leveled companion really goes up faster. 

    Through some more grinding, I noticed that those bigger Killer Trees with stronger attacks tend to give me more of those Darksteel Wood. I don't know what it is, but rare drop means valuable drop, so I put any piece I can find into my inventory. I got a total of 50+ Darksteel Wood by 2 pm. 

    I felt a bit hungry, called Lucky and Phantom back, and logged off. I saw Wayne on the bed with a helm on. Looks like my buddy has started his game! I went downstairs and bought a bunch of food, filled my belly, stored some in the fridge, and readied myself to play again. 

    Before I put on my helm Wayne called me. "You got out?" 

    "I played through the whole morning, of course I need to eat. The problem is you. Just reach 20 as soon as possible so I can help you!" 

    "I just created my character and looked around. Then I'm here to eat too. I haven't had anything since I got up in the morning!" 

    "So you have your character now?"

     "Yeah. Name is Soulless, Undead. Dark Mage, plus Mailman and Pharmacist." (The author used "Alchemist" here, mistake?) 

    "What is that name? Soulless? Terrible taste." 

    "You don't know the art of names! It took me quite some time to come up with it!"

     "Oh, So what's your level now?" 

    "Three! Now you mentioned it, the game is so f**king hard to level! There are people everywhere. I can find a good number of monsters but even more players. Then I tried somewhere high-leveled, and those monsters one-shot me twice. Thank G.o.d a rookie doesn't lose level when killed!" 

    "Really? Well I slaughtered myself a way just like that and I didn't have much trouble. And that Boar Cave! Haha! That cave is a heaven to grind." 

    "Boar Cave? A boar killed me with one hit! Nevermind. You can't find me anyway. I'll just try to reach 20 and you can drag me out of this h.e.l.l! Yeah right, find something to wear for me! I only got these initial gear which all look like beggar rags!" 

    "Forget it! I can help you grind all right, but not the equipment. I haven't filled up my slots yet! Maybe I can give your some shoes and robes and such, but not the other ones." 

    "That will do!"

     "Ok. I'll log out for food at 8 pm, try to get to 20 till then, I'll go find you something to wear. Now off I go!" 

    "Roger that!"

     I entered the game and called Lucky & Phantom. "Hey Phantom. Do you know any place around here where I find Dark Mage equipment? The Killer Trees here got nothing other than money." 

    "Male or Female?"

     "Is there a difference?" 

    "Of course there is! You haven't known? Apart from accessory, weapon and s.h.i.+eld, all other equipments are gender-specific. But you don't have to worry too much, the blacksmiths in the cities can change the gender of your gear. You will need to pay though, and the price is quite high if I remember correctly." 

    "I need male ones!"

     "I see. I know somewhere not far that can give you those, not guaranteed though. The place drops male mage equipment more but it's not 100%!" 

    "Ok!"

     Phantom took over the control and started to move deeper into the forest, while Lucky stay guard in the air. We reached the edge of the forest not long after. There were some singled out monsters on the way but they were all picked out by Lucky's air-to-ground a.s.saults

    It's a giant swamp outside the forest, there are bubbling water pits everywhere, and I think I saw will-o'-the-wisp (ghost fire) burning on the water! 

    "We're here. This is the Death Swamp, populated by Poisonous Swamp Flies and Tailless Crocodiles. Watch out for those pits. If you fall in you die! Those crocs will drop the equipment you asked for." 

    I saw a crocodile crawling out of a pit and used Identify.  "Tailless Swamp Crocodile", level 125, slow movement, high Attack and Defense, poor Magic Resistance.

    125! That's quite high. Me and Lucky are only 83 now. And Phantom is 80. This can be troublesome. 

    Lucky flew over and clawed at one of the crocodiles, 100 damage. It countered Lucky with a bite and caused 50 damage. d.a.m.n the high Defense part is no joke, a dragon claw didn't have much effect!

     Phantom said: "Forget about physical attacks, they're too hard. Spam your magic!" 

    I cast a Dark Flame at the crocodile, then a series of "20"s began to emerge above its head. Lucky also got into the air and started to drop lightning. We killed the ugly creature in several rounds and it dropped a pile of copper pieces here and there. d.a.m.n it can you at least put them all together? My back hurts after trying to pick up money all over the place! 

    After we finished this one, groups of crocodiles started to emerge from the pits. I began to set fire while Blinking about, and the whole area is burning. It looks like the flames of dark magic can't be put out with water, actually those water pits are on fire now!

     With the attacks from both me and Lucky, crocodiles died in waves, leaving piles of equipment on the ground.(*)  I started picking stuff. All useless ones went down into the pits. 

    Ha, good haul! The money I got summed up to around 17 Crystal pieces.

    I found Wayne a staff, Attack 2-7, Magic attack +10%, all spell level +1. A robe, Dexterity +3, Luck +1, and a Rattan Mail with 13 Defense. Man this guy is lucky. My own armor only got 9 Defense! 

    But I got myself something too. I found a shoulder armor piece. Wyvern Shoulder Pad, Defense 5 Dexterity 1. And a bracelet which gives 1 Attack Speed. It's junk but I equipped it anyway. better than nothing. 

    The time reads 5 pm. Not a very good place to train so I decided to move. After some walking I came to another forest.  This time it's no ordinary forest. It's pitch dark in there, I can't see anything. 

    Phantom explained: "This is Death Forest, the boundary of Lost City. The whole city is surrounded by this forest. If you go through it you will reach the world of the living ones!" 

    "I'm checking it out then!" Then I entered the woods.