Beginners Arc: The New Arth Online

-chapter one-

LEALIS

ITINAAS KO ang kamay at mahigpit na hinawakan ang pana. Narrowing my eyes, I focused on the jumping goblin. With a relaxed breath and posturing my shoulders well, I prepared my bow for a quick shot.

The goblin's next jump had the arrow piercing just between his eyes. I relaxed as a holographic screen popped in front of me.

[Congratulations! You have finished the party quest: Kill 60 Forest Goblins. All rewards are moved to your bag.]

[You have reached Level 7!]

I closed the tabs before glancing at my friends down the steep I was standing on. As always nagkakagulo sila. QuatroㅡForrest's weirdass IGNㅡwas arguing with Vys about something dumb. Interesadong nakikinig sina Chae at Ansel sa kanila. They briefly remind me of Tita Chasmin and Tito Astro whenever Tita Feure starts an argument with somebody.

Ang kambal kong si Rae ay panay ang paghahanap ng mga monsters. EllaㅡFelicity's IGNㅡwas tinkering with metals. Wala akong ideya kung anong balak niyang gawin. 

Risu, our priest, was sleeping.

Nang mawala ang weird na NPC or game master, whatever he is, ay umalis na kami sa gubat. Because of the game's stupid rule, we chose to focus on reaching Level 25 before our parents could catch us. It was honestly a bit irritating. Bakit ba kasi may level requirement pa ang log-out button? Parang ang sarap patayin ng creator ng game na 'to.

Since we needed to reach that level fast, we started hunting monsters like our lives depended on it. Currently, we're inside Magissa Forest, situated in the western part of the Town of Erebus which is located in the Southern Continent. Dito kami nadrop-off ng game.

Walking down the grassy hill, sinipa ko pagising ang natutulog naming priest. Risu was jostled awake, brown hair bouncing as her pine-colored eyes snapped towards me. Handang-handa na siyang bumulyaw ngunit nang makita na ako ang gumising ay nawala ang tapang. 

Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin. "Anong ginagawa mo?"

"Sleeping?" she sounded confused.

"Really? You were sleeping while the rest of us are fighting for EXP's?"

Risu nodded, a smile gracing her lips when she looked at her statistics. "Oh my! Tingnan mo nga. Natulog ako na Level 5, nagising ako na Level 7 na. Miracle!"

"Miracle mong mukha mo, Risu!"

Napalingon ako sa sigaw ni Quatro na ngayon ay itinutulak palayo ni Vys na masama ang mukha. His red hair was a mess and anger flashed in his green eyes. Vys was in the same state, despite having the upper hand in their fight, because his dark hair almost looked like a bird's nest and his black eyes were killing Quatro with his glare.

"Malapit na akong mamatay dahil sa kapabayaan mo!" sumbat ng pinakamatanda sa'ming lahat.

"Oh come on," inikot ni Risu ang mata. "That's a result of your katangahan. Why would you even go and charge monsters when you're a mage? Feeling ka?"

"Mafi-feel mo talaga ang sakit kapag hinampas ko 'tong staff sa ulo mo!"

Bumuntong-hininga ako at hinayaan na lang sila dahil ayokong masali pa. Sinulyapan ko ang kakambal na hindi na nakikipaglaban pero... Kumunot ang noo ko. Rae was sitting on the ground while assuming a meditating position. Nakapikit ang mata at relax na relax.

Lalapitan ko sana siya nang pigilan ako ni Ansel na abala sa pag-aayos ng gear. His ash blue hair was slightly tousled and he raised his eyes at me, making me glance at him questioningly.

Umiling siya. "He's scanning the forests for monsters."

"In that position?"

"In that position," tumango siya. "Mas nakakapagfocus daw siya at mas nararamdaman niya ang monsters."

What a dumb idea.

Hinayaan ko na lang sila at umupo sa tabi ni Ella. Ang kulay light brown niyang buhok ay abot sa kaniyang bewang at ang hazel niyang mata ay nakapokus sa ginagawa. I frowned at her attempt to make a gun or something out of some metal.

"Ano 'yan?" turo ko sa ginagawa niya.

She glanced at me with one metal raised. "Ano ang ano?"

"Ano 'yang ginagawa mo?"

"Ito?" I stared at her as she tried to guess what I meant. "Ah," Ella chuckled. "Metal tapos mga gamit para gumawa ng small gun."

"Yes... I can see that. Why?"

"Ikaw naman kasi, hindi mo kinlaro." Naging kasalanan ko pa. "I'm aiming for the Mechanic job."

I tilted my head, staring at her with interest. I moved to face her, adjusting my cross-legged position and placing my weapons on the grass. Beginner's equipment ito na nakuha namin mula sa Baby Wolves. Binigay noong nakaabot ako ng Level 2.

"Mechanic job?"

Tumango siya. "Ang explanation kasi ng NPC is mayroon daw two categorizations. First is ang class mo, which alchemist sa'kin. Then next is ang job mo which is under your specific class. Iyong sakin is alchemist, mechanic, scholar tapos... uhm... hindi ko na maalala eh."

Bumuntong-hininga ako nang maalala ang game master na NPC daw na nasa character customization ko. He was weird and beyond annoying. Pagkatapos pagdesisyonan ang character ko, he didn't even bother explaining the game to me. I don't even know why he's a game master at this point... He should be fired for his incompetence.

The ground suddenly vibrated, putting me on alert. Kunot-noo kong inikot ko ang tingin sa paligid. Bakit biglang gumalaw ng ganito ang lupa? It wasn't a constant vibration, but a strong movement in the soil that briefly stopped at some point. Tapos babalik ulit. It came from a specific directionㅡfrom our left where the trees were also shaking at the force.

Agad akong napatayo, ang mga mata'y nakatuon lang doon. Ella sent me a confused glance before following suit. Nang sulyapan ko ang mga kasama ay malapit na akong suminghal dahil iba't iba ang pinagkaka-abalahan nila. Only Vys caught my eye, who was as wary as me as he scanned the surroundings.

He has a higher perception than any of us due to his rogue class. Iyon din ang napansin kong fino-focusan niya. At mula sa narinig kanina kay Ella, mukhang may alam din siya tungkol sa jobs na 'yon.

I clenched my fists at the sides, getting irritated at the thought of that game master again. Ako lang ba talaga ang walang alam tungkol do'n? Damn you, you stupid and dumb game master! May pastory-story at legend pang nalalaman pero hindi naman kayang ipaliwanag ang basics ng game.

My quiet rant was shortlived when I saw the giant rock head from afar. Hindi ko na kailangang makita ang kabuuan niya para malaman na isa siyang high-level monster. Its every step made the ground quake and the trees to groan under its feet. Please tell me this isn't realㅡ

"Bitawan mo nga ako, Ansel! Bakit pa ba kasi siya nagpriest kung matutulog lang naman!"

"Oh come on, Quatro. Sandali lang- bakit ba ganiyan pangalan mo? Saan mo ba nakuha 'yan?"

Although I was also curious, I think we have a bigger problem here. Napaatras ako't napatapik kay Ella nang mas naging malapit ang higante. It really was coming our way. Pero nakakapagtaka na pupunta sa'min ang monster na mataas ang level. We're only beginners! We shouldn't be able to attract high-level monsters!

"Duh! Hindi mo lang 'yan gets kasi lagi kang natutulog sa klase. Okay, ganito 'yan. 'Di ba Forrest ang pangalan ko?"

"O tapos?"

Napasinghap at napahawak sa'kin si Ella nang matanaw ang higante.

"Anong unang syllable sa pangalan ko? O 'di ba, For? Four din 'yon. Kaya Quatro! Ang genius ko, 'no?! Ako na talaga ang pinakamatalinong tao sa mundo!"

"Oo, tamang-tama sa'yo ang Quatro. Kasi quatro segundo na lang ang mayro'n ka sa buhay mo. Ah, quatro din pala score mo doon sa 100 points quiz kaya gets ko kung bakit relatableㅡah, aray!"

Nang nilingon ko sila ay tinutulak ni Quatro ang ulo ni Risu pababa. The girl kept on cursing with her head ducked. Kita mo nga naman, mamamatay na lang kami, iba-iba pa ang binibigyan pansin.

"Guysㅡ" naputol ang pagtawag ko sa kanila nang biglang tumayo si Rae at umikot paharap sa'min.

"I found it! I found a monster!"

He announced it so proudly and loudly, unaware of the giant stopping behind him. His smile vanished when a threatening growl left the giant's mouth. 

"Yes, we know," ngumiwi si Chae. "It's right behind you."

Malakas na napalunok si Rae. Taking a deep breath, he looked at us seriously. "Okay. On one..."

"Two..." nanginginig na dagdag ni Quatro.

"Three!" sigaw ni Risu at naunang tumakbo kaya agad kaming sumunod.

Dahil sa biglang pagtakbo at pagsigaw namin ay sandali pang naglag ang higante. He stared at our spot for a full minute before growling because we weren't there anymore. Nang habulin niya kami ay halos tumalon din kami kasabay ng lupang lumulundag sa bawat paghakbang niya. Ang mga ibong payapa ang tulog ay nagsiliparan sa sigaw ng higante at namin.

Hindi ko alam ba't nakikisigaw din ang higante. Kaaway niya sa pinakamalakas na boses si Risu at Quatro.

"Watch out!"

Dahil sa sigaw ni Vys ay naiwasan namin ang hampas ng higante. But the trees that received the impact were quickly uprooted. Nawasak din ang ibang bahagi ng gubat na nasali.

I frowned when Vys suddenly appeared beside me. Umikot siya patalikod at binato ng dagger ang higante. The giant cried out in pain but did not stop chasing, making Vys mutter a soft curse.

Nang magtama ang mata namin ay binigyan ko siya ng nagtatanong na tingin. Umismid lang siya't hinatak ako para mas bumilis kami sa pagtakbo.

"Fucking hell!" sigaw ni Quatro nang malapit na siyang madapa. "What the fuck?! Why is a fucking giant out here in a Beginner's town?"

"Dapat ang tanong mo ay kung bakit niya tayo hinahabol!" pasigaw na sagot ni Rae. "We're low level players!"

We halted when a shadow loomed over us. Nang tumingala ay isang malaking paa na ang pumalit sa maginhawang kalangitan.

"Dodge!" Rae shouted.

We all dodged towards different directions, managing to get out of the giant's feet. Pero dahil low level pa lang kami at malakas ang kalaban namin, malaki ang naging apekto no'n sa HP, losing about 20 to 40 percent life.

I swiftly pulled an arrow out from my quiver. Humanap ako ng magandang katatayuan at itinaas ang bow, aiming my arrow right at the giant's eyes. We can't land a hit on its body, hindi lang sa low-level kami, but we have no proper equipment and strength to fight such a monster head-on. Our only advantage was thatㅡthe body may be made of stone, but the eyes are not.

Before I could shoot the arrow, I noticed the giant's hand flying in my direction. The action made my fingers tremble, my breath hitching, until Ansel charged and pushed the hand. Gamit ang beginner shield at medyo maayos na defense, he successfully managed to pry the hands away.

Ngunit nasama siya sa paghampas nito. With his low health, he screamed in pain as his body hit the tree.

"Ansel!" sigaw ko nang makitang unti-unting nawawala ang katawan niya.

Kung hindi niya ako tinulungan...

Sinulyapan ko ang mga kasama na hindi rin makapaniwala habang nakatitig sa katawan ni Ansel. Our first death.

"Shit! Ru, bakit kasi hindi mo kami ni-heal?!" singhal ni Quatro.

"Kasi wala na akong MP! I can't cast healing skills."

Kumunot ang noo namin doon.

"Ru, you've been sleeping this whole time. Paano mo nagamit MP mo?" kalmadong tanong ni Rae.

Risu gulped and averted her gaze. She's guilty about something.

Chae sighed and rolled her eyes. Her pale violet hair danced with the wind. Matalim ang boses niya nang magsalita, "Kanina noong tumatakbo tayo. She's been chanting spells to herself. Nagpanic ata."

Marahas akong bumuntong-hininga sa narinig, averting my eyes when Risu tried to get her way out by pouting.

Muli kong tinitigan ang mata ng higante. Nang mahanap ang tamang posisyon, timing at ihip ng hangin, huminga ako ng malalim at binitawan ang pagkakahawak sa palaso. The arrow shot through the rustling trees, cutting through leaves, and landing right between the giant's eyes. The giant roared in pain, clutching its eyes.

"Nice, bal!" manghang tugon ni Rae, ngunit ang ngiti niya ay agad ding napawi. "Or... not. Everyone, run!"

Mabilis kaming tumakbo. Dahil sa sakit na natamo sa mata ay nagpagewang-gewang ang higante. Hindi na nito nakikita ang dinadaanan dahil sa pagtatakip ng mata. The giant stumbled over the trees, until it tripped, losing its balance. Mas lalo kaming napabilis ng takbo nang dumilim ang sa taas namin dahil sa pahulog na katawan nito.

We hurried to get out of its way. But the giant was so huge that we had no chance of escaping. We felt the pressure of air above us and the bending of trees before we were crushed to death.

Just our luck. Not even an hour in this game, namatay na kami.

-chapter end-