MMORPG: Shattered Land

2:00:00

When Marius logged back into the Shattered Lands he was back on the map surrounded by Stone Goats. Without a second thought, he restarted his hunt.

Marius worked his way through a dozen herds of Stone Goats. He managed to tame most of his targets with only two or three tries.

All in all, it was a much more efficient hunt than the previous session

He then started a rotation for the Stones Goats in his Monster Slot, Refining them all to Obsidian Rank.

After an hour he had spent a dozen Mana Pills and had improved his Beast Taming by a whole level, reaching Level 2.

So far, he had farmed 26 Stone Goats, Refining five of them to the Obsidian Rank. He was about to place his Pet Stone Goat back into his Moster List to Refine it when Super Nova messaged him.

"Sir, are you still grinding at the level 15-20 map?"

"Hello, Super Nova. Yes, I am here," Marius replied politely. "You will be joining me?"

"Actually sir, I was hoping you could come and get me. There are a lot of Mountain Bears here and I don't think I will be able to get through."

Nodding, Marius replied. "How about we meet up in the City? Are you out of combat?"

"Yes, sir. Are you sure it won't be a nuisance? You only play for 2 hours at a time."

"It's fine. We might as well have a sit-down and talk about some ground rules." Marius sighed as he finished the Stone Goats refinement to Lord Rank.

After each Refinement and therefore Rank up, the Monster would show signs of change.

For example, when the Stone Goat rose to the Obsidian Rank, its coat turned pitch black and its Horns grew larger and more rounded.

After becoming a Lord Ranked Monster, it grew to twice it's original size, with silver patterns snaking along its chest and face.

Stone Goat - Level 10 Lord Rank

Health: 1000

Mana: 400

Attack: 80

Defense: 20

Intelligence: 10

Spirit: 20

Dexterity: 150

Skills: (Fleet foot - Increases movement speed by 25%)

(Lord's Headbutt - Deals 120% of base damage and has a 10% chance of stunning target for 2 seconds. Cooldown 0 seconds)

(Thundering Charge - A single charge that deals 150% damage and deals 30% AoE damage. Cooldown 30 seconds)

And it's statistics went through the roof.

After admiring his new Pet for a moment, Marius teleported back to Iron Mountain City.

"Sir?" a voice asked behind him.

Turning, Marius saw Super Nova standing behind him.

Marius smiled. "We need to get better equipment."

Super Nova looked at Midnight Solitude and laughed. The two of them were both wearing the same old Level 5 Grey Wolf Set.

"Where do you suggest?" Super Nova asked. He was concerned about buying equipment in the game. After all, he was here to make money, not spend it.

"Marius smiled. "The best Cloth Equipment is in the Darkwoods, while the best Leather Equipment is at Frost Gate. Do you have a preference?"

Super Nova blanched. Was this guy seriously planning on going to another City just for equipment?

Marius laughed again. "Though to get there, we will need to be at a much higher level. It should be safe at around level 25 right? To have a chance of surviving the Level 35-40 area?

"Sir, you are kidding right?" Super Nova asked. "We'll never get through at that kind of level."

Marius looked at the young Assassin with a look of exasperation.

"You need to stop calling me sir. Just call me Midnight or Solitude. Calling me 'Sir' makes me feel old.'

Super Nova looked at the old man with a strange glance. Marius clarified.

"I am here, playing this game to feel not old, get it? This is my escape from reality and my last chance to be anything other than a decrepit old buzzard. So please, stop with the 'Sir'."

"Ok. But how about Soli? You know, nicknames and all that."

Marius was taken back. Did kids still do nicknames?

"Sure?" Marius replied uncertainly. "Are you expecting me to call you Nova?"

Super Nova shrugged. "Well, you've invited me to accompany you, so I figured we might as well either be subordinates or friends. If you don't want me calling you sir, then friends it is, right?"

Marius laughed at the young man's logic. "Ok, friends it is Nova. But now, I think its time we got down to business."

Super Nova became serious, nodding his agreement.

"Alright," Marius said, "I suggest we lay it out on the table. What we are wanting to do and how we plan to do it. As I said last time. I am old and I want to enjoy this game as much as I can."

"However," Marius continued, "what I didn't tell you is that I have a bet running with the game owner. I bet him that I can break his game before I die. He accepted and now I am here. Your turn."

Super Nova was stunned for a moment. Break the game? How did someone break a game?

"Ah, I am playing to earn money. I took on the Gather Occupation so I could gather high-level materials and sell them at high prices. If I can, I'll earn enough to pay my way through University. Once I've done that, I just plan on, living?"

Marius nodded. "Good and concise. Are you worried about the types of Material you gather?"

Super Nova shook his head. "What did you and the Game owner bet? I mean, I don't know how you would break a game like this so how can you win? The alternative is you lose but that means you'll be dead. What would he get out of it?"

"Bragging rights," Marius smiled. "And a win-win situation for me."

Marius continued, taking some delight at the confusion on the young man's face.

Thank you, Rajan, for giving avatars facial expressions.

"I have a plan that I've been preparing to execute," Marius continued. "If you join me, I will need to adjust it somewhat but I can promise you this. I will be attacking high-level maps, so you can also Gather materials there. Now that I have the Beast Tamer Occupation I plan on increasing my Level until I reach Beast Master. I will Refine high-leveled and high Ranked support Pets. That means that when we get to Level 30, I'll have a Pet ready for you. In return, I need you to have my back. Sound good?"

High-leveled and high Ranked Pets? Super Nova wasn't sure if he could believe what he was hearing. Was this old man insane?

Still smiling, Marius summoned his Lord Ranked Stone Goat. The sight of it made Super Nova step back.

"What the hell is that?" he said in shock.

"This is what I can make in an afternoon," Marius replied, putting the Stone Goat away. "But, I also need better resources, like you do. Without high-leveled monsters to Tame, I'm just be wasting my time here and without high-leveled materials, you are just going to be struggling with the other Gathers."

Super Nova nodded. He was convinced now that this old man was incredible. Maybe he was insane, but so what? It was a game. Can't we all be as insane as we like in a Virtual Reality game?

"Whats the plan?" Super Nova asked.

"It's very simple. We raid high-leveled maps. Get the best equipment and Refine our weapon's as fast as we can And most importantly if we find anything that gives us an advantage, we take it without question."

Super Nova smiled. "Are you really Marius Greyston?"

Marius smiled. "From this moment on, consider that man dead. I am Midnight Solitude. That old man has no place here. And Midnight Solitude has no place out there. Understand?"

Nodding, Super Nova felt a tingle of excitement in his belly.

"Understood."

"Will you continue to play after I log off?" Marius asked.

"Yes. I will be able to continue gathering Materials, that way I won't slow us down." Super Nova was already planning how he would rework his schedule to work along the old man before him.

Marius nodded. "In that case, you will need to be prepared. Do you have much money? In game coin I mean."

"I have a few silvers. Not a lot though."

Marius nodded, tossing the young man his wallet. "Go and buy yourself as many Storage Stones as you see fit. Also get Whetstones, Health Potions, Mana Pills and the Mineral Coat from the Alchemist Shop. I won't be returning to the City very often and if we are working together, neither will you. We need to be prepared out there."

In the hour Marius had been online, he had slaughtered his way through enough Stone Goats to earn him a few more than 60 silvers. It was far from what the young man would need to buy all those things but it would be a start. Besides, Marius had stocked up for at least 3 months, he could always lend the young man a few items.

"But, Soli. This is nowhere near enough."

Marius smiled. This kid would go far.

For the next while, the two walked around the City, collecting what they needed and selling items that they didn't. As they walked, they planned, compiling each other's knowledge and arguing which directions would be best.

Super Nova even started complaining about some of his papers, about business models and whatnot that he had a test on. Marius laughed, remembering old bits and pieces of certain models and cases, recalling real-life examples of how they were proven. Including a few cases where the models became totally worthless and ruined whole industries.

They talked the whole time, up until Marius had to excuse himself due to his time limit.

When he logged off, Marius took a few long moments to contemplate his predicament. In the end, he had to admit it. The boy reminded him far too much of himself when he was young. And his youth really was infectious.