Chapter 2
Chapter 2
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 2
Chapter Title: Tutorial Boss (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
1.
Exile Tower.
This place wasn't originally a hidden stage. It was a kind of trap zone that only existed in the early game after the beta test.
??? : "We're offering a special 90% discount for beginners, so why not give it a try?"
You know that old story, right? Some newbie gamer falls for a merchant's pitch, hops into a shady taxi, and ends up in a swarm of high-level monsters with no way out. Ends up deleting their character and everything.
'Back then, I'd lose my mind over a single item.'
⚔ ITEM ⚔ 📿 Accessory: Demon's Blessing ※ Increases natural HP and MP regeneration by 40% each when equipped. All other stats are doubled. ※ A pendant made by grinding the horn of an ancient demon. Sometimes, an unknown voice whispers from within. Truth be told, something similar happened to me.
Each race—human, elf, demon, dwarf, and so on—had its own special perks. For demons, it was this Demon's Blessing.
To be precise, there was a high-difficulty quest exclusive to demons that rewarded this blessing.
《 ~Stage~ Demon King's Labyrinth 》
You had to navigate a maze that took at least an hour to traverse even if you knew the way, dodge all sorts of monsters lurking inside, and reach the top of a tower to claim the Demon's Blessing.
'Why doesn't anyone do this quest?'
'It's early in the game, and only unpopular demon characters can even attempt it. Plus, the level restriction keeps high-level players out.'
I'd gotten a rundown on the quest from a high-level player, then challenged it with this Cyan character.
Luckily, I barely met the level requirement.
As the rumors said, the difficulty was brutal. The monsters were about 1.5 times stronger than the top-level players at the time—way beyond killing.
I was in the upper ranks myself, but even the trash mobs hit harder than your average field boss.
But humans have unbreakable will.
'Got it! I got it!'
After a week of grinding, I finally reached the top of the tower.
And snagged the Demon's Blessing item.
I snapped a screenshot right away and bragged on the community forums, but the reactions were... weird. Not what I expected.
—Whoa? Lol, another sucker got that one. Lmao.
—Bro, you're screwed now. GG.
—Auntie~ Add one more prisoner player to the barrel!
'......?'
Instead of congrats, people were mocking me, saying I'd be stuck in prisoner play.
Prisoner play? What the hell?
I had no clue at first.
But soon enough, I figured out why.
'Shit, how do I get out of here.'
I tried heading back to town, got shredded by monsters 13 times, and realized no amount of dodging would let me escape the Exile Tower stage.
—You can enter however you want, but leaving? Not so much.
I sent SOS calls to other players, but it was a personal quest map—no interference allowed.
Tried a town teleport scroll just in case. "Unable to use in quest area."
Part of me thought about deleting the character and starting over, but I'd sunk too much time and effort into Cyan. Couldn't do it.
"Haha, looking back, that was just a fond memory."
And so, I ended up trapped in an empty stage.
I hadn't noticed on the way up, but the terrain was designed so you'd always take at least one hit from a monster on the way down.
And killing them to clear a path? My level was too low—it took forever per mob, and most attacks missed anyway.
Worse, one solid hit from them meant instant death, no matter how hard I tried...
"......Memories my ass."
But they say even if a tiger bites you, stay sharp and you'll survive, right?
✨ LEVEL UP! ✨ [x3] 'Whoa, killing one gave me 3 levels at once.'
After endless grinding, I finally took down a trash mob. The massive level gap netted me a whopping 3 levels.
Now, even a hit from a monster left me on the brink but alive. Eventually, I reached the stage exit.
'Hold up.'
Right as I was about to leave, a thought hit me.
'Could I turn this into my private hunting ground?'
If I did, I'd level way faster than others and rake in cash. Outside, hundreds of players crowded limited spots—constant steal-fests, mobs dying the second they spawned.
But here?
No item thieves, and mobs overflowing like crazy.
Started slow, like a baby taking its first steps. Then specs improved, mobs got manageable, even fun.
Couldn't use shops, so potions ran dry fast. But the Demon's Blessing handled natural regen and boosted accuracy enough.
That's how I shot into the top ranks way ahead of everyone else.
Until the devs patched it—blocked the quest and item—then I finally left.
"That wild ride was all thanks to this guy."
I examined the red pendant around my neck.
Up close, it was silver with an embedded red gem—stunning.
Even helped me barely beat Fallen Transcendent Delatros, whose potion cooldown was doubled.
......Thinking of deleting it back then? Maybe I was out of my mind.
"But first things first."
That was the game.
This? No way it's anything but reality.
The feel in my hands, the fresh breeze on my skin—VR my foot.
-Creak!
"What the hell is this place?"
I walked to the window and peered out.
Outside stretched a vast blue forest.
"No way... Did I really get sucked into Novel Online...?"
This was the tutorial stage—the first spot new characters spawned.
《 ~Tutorial Stage~ Twilight Forest. 》
The mythical birthplace of all creatures—no, all races in this world.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ 2.
《 ~Tutorial Stage~ Twilight Forest. 》
Stepping outside the window revealed a forest.
An endless, colossal one.
Taller than humanity's tallest skyscrapers, so vast even from the Exile Tower, its scale was unknowable.
"This really is the tutorial stage."
I staggered weakly to a chair and slumped down.
If this was truly the game world, what now?
Any way back to reality? Missing work on day one as a newbie? No thanks.
I'd aced that interview—no way I'd get fired over getting trapped in a game.
"......Not a dream, huh."
Checked my body again.
Good-sized chest, toned figure.
Flawless white skin, sharp eyes—total cool beauty vibe.
Head to toe, this was my Cyan.
One difference, though: In my memory, Cyan wore a red coat, not this black robe.
"Guess that makes me the tutorial boss Cyan."
In Novel Online, there were two Cyans.
My player character, and the NPC tutorial boss...
Specs were identical, basically.
The devs had asked for my fully geared stats to match her perfectly.
"Usually, you'd open a menu or inventory here. How?"
Wondered if my items carried over.
Just the equipped gear was top-tier Holy Relic stuff.
Even in a game with 5 million peak players, my custom + limited items were priceless rarities.
Couldn't trade 'em, though...
"......No keyboard, no mouse. No idea."
Tried voice commands like "menu" or "inventory." Just embarrassment.
Almost felt bad for Cyan.
This wasn't how I played her, but lore-wise, she was a haughty, cool demon archmage.
Wandered the world for ages, chasing truth and "Transcendents"—god-like beings.
A demon born with immense innate power and magical talent, growing ever stronger.
Untouchable. But after endless research, she learned a Transcendent planned to end the world.
"Pathetic mortals, you tried. But this is the end. Your dimension and this world cease today." ⟨ Fallen Transcendent - Delatros ⟩ She sensed doom, rallied the world's heroes into an alliance. But the Transcendent's power overwhelmed them all...
"Hope remains." Heroes fallen, she stood alone.
"Gather all seven Shards of the World..." She'd collected them on her journey—legends said the creator god left them to sustain the world.
The power to move universes.
Surely enough to hurt even a Transcendent.
And it worked.
"Ah, no... How...?!" ⟨ Fallen Transcendent - Delatros ⟩ The fallen Transcendent was sealed.
......That was the ancient past.
Before Novel Story began.
The MMO RPG Novel Story follows the descendants of those heroes.
Finding Shards of the World scattered across the lands to keep the seal intact against those seeking the Transcendent's revival.
Hard to believe it was crafted in just five years.
Thanks to player collaboration and dev friendliness.
They even sent out figures—director's passion, clear as day.
"So what do I do now......?"
Separate issue: my future looked bleak.
That story was fun as a gamer. But living it?
Monsters attacking people, god-like beings hellbent on apocalypse...
Survive that madness? Like some survival show?
"Haha."
Forced a laugh, walked back to the window.
Desperate, sure. But optimistically? Not the worst.
"......Sky's gorgeous."
Time to sort thoughts, enjoy the view.
Not cloudless, but the white puffs added life.
Rare moment of peace.
Maybe step outside?