D.I.O

/This is the never-before-seen fantasy world, DIO (Dynamic Island Online)! Welcome to this interesting and adventure-filled island! Today is the grand opening that you’ve all been waiting for! However, since we’re lazy, there won’t be a special event or anything of the sort. We didn’t want to go through the effort of making an announcement, but due to some changes, we got around to posting an update announcement./

/Introduction of a Quest System.

1. Quests can be acquired at each city’s ‘Star Temple.’ You will be rewarded if you complete a quest, but you’ll receive a penalty if you fail.

2. Level-Up Test Recalibrated

1) The minimum experience required to take each level-up test has been substantially increased. For [Fighting] related tests, users must pass the test three times. A ten-minute break shall be given in between the three tests.

2) The Level 5 test and quest require the use of another language. Once a user enters another world to take the test, they must already be fluent in that world’s language or use a translation device. Otherwise, they will not be able to communicate with the world’s occupants.

3. Iron is being added to the DIO currency. Iron is below copper in value. Hence, the values will be one gold = ten silver = 100 copper = 1,000 iron.

4. The way IDs are displayed shall be changed as follows:

1) All users will have their names appear in white lettering. However, if a user enters a snowy area or anywhere with a general white background, the ID lettering shall be changed to black. Like users, NPCs will also possess viewable IDs; however, the IDs will show within a text bubble.

2) Non-aggressive monsters or those significantly weaker than the user shall have their names written in green lettering. Moderately weaker monsters will have a yellow font for their ID, and monsters with a similar power level as the user will have their name in blue lettering. Stronger monsters shall have purple lettering, and monsters drastically more powerful will be signified with red names.

5. The rate of spiritual power development shall be reduced.

6. DIO’s in-game time will now run twice as fast as before. In other words, 12 times faster than real life. Two hours in the real world will be 24 hours in-game.

7. There will be a greater variety of monster names, and…/

After reading this far, Merlin closed the announcement page. The rest of the changes were minor. Once he started playing, he’d find out anyway.

“Still, to need three successful attempts to complete a combat-based test….”

This testing change was implemented to counter users who relied solely on short-term or burst attacks to pass. Merlin was at a disadvantage since he used the Golden Pill Immortal Technique as his primary martial arts technique. It was great at outputting large amounts of power within a short period, but it also required a great deal of time to recover that expended power.

Of course, not everyone was like Merlin, but users like Jeros and Arc could prepare mass destruction spells for one use, allowing them to pass their tests in one go. For example, Jeros could prepare his mass destruction spells beforehand and then just chant them during the test. This was what the change was trying to prevent.

/You have acquired the Cultivation Technique, Golden Pill Immortal Technique!/

When Merlin started circulating his Golden Pill Immortal Technique without thinking, a text bubble suddenly popped up, hinting that Merlin did not have this technique moments ago. Merlin looked at the back of his right hand, and unsurprisingly, the gem wasn’t there.

Crackle!

/You have acquired the school of study, Seven Jewel!/

A new text bubble popped up as a magic circle began to form on the back of Merlin’s right hand. However, Merlin could only sense a small amount of magic power within it. His internal energy capacity was laughably small as well.

“Wow, my ability stats are really low.”

Perplexed, Merlin opened his status window.

“Damn, even my attribute powers have been reset. They probably reset all the skill ranks as well.”

Merlin mumbled complaints as he moved forward. When he first entered, Starting was relatively empty, but now, magic circles started appearing all over the city as users entered the game.

“Hey, it’s been a while~! Oh, how long I’ve waited to be here again!”

“All the new users are probably still taking their initial tests, right?”

“Ack! I can’t fly anymore since my ability stats have been reset!”

All the users who were materializing had been in the beta test. This couldn’t be helped since new users had to pass their initial test and the Level 2 exam to enter the main server. It seemed that some time would need to pass before they stepped foot in Starting.

“I should level up first.”

“Ah, yeah. I still know how to play the game, but I can’t stand my low ability stats. The items in my inventory aren’t even usable.”

As users started complaining and grumbling, Merlin could see various instances of spaces opening and doors appearing here and there, with the doors leading to level-up tests.

“Hmm, I should probably raise my level too, no?”

Merlin still didn’t know about the bonus points that were given once users passed a level test, but even so, he knew that leveling up would benefit him tremendously. The level-based restrictions and caps on ability stat categories were one reason, but another was the restrictions on item and gear usage.

“Let’s see… I can’t wear any of the Mithril plate items.”

Each of his Mithril armor pieces was categorized as 7th-tier items, so Merlin had to be at least Level 3 or above. Unfortunately, even if Merlin fulfilled the level requirement, he wouldn’t be able to use the Mithril set, as it required strength of at least 50 points.

“… Wait. Change title.”

/Your title has changed to ‘Divine Swimmer!’/

After the text bubble appeared, Merlin could feel his weak body grow more powerful. His HP, strength, and stamina rose 150 points each. Master titles were essentially cheats, and they were something that all users had as one of their main goals. It was the reason and motivation for their training.

“Alright. Now all I have to do is reach Level 3 to use my Mithril armor and bow. The Decian Bow requires a minimum ability stat of 300 points, so I can’t use that anytime soon… first off, Gear 1.”

/You have reached Level 2 of the Golden Pill Immortal Technique!/

Disregarding the message, Merlin changed his gear. He felt weird wearing the beginner's clothing.

/The magic item has greater requirements than your current level. The functions of the magic item will not be operable./

“Huh? Why? This is a beginner-level mage clothing set… ah, right. They were enhanced.”

His originally blue mage clothing had become red long ago, as Merlin had placed them into some processed tyrannosaurus blood, infusing it into the clothing. Although this made his clothes a little heavier, it increased the number of spells his clothing could hold and reinforced their durability, making it challenging to pierce them even with a sword strike. The mage robe had changed names from ‘Trainee Mage Robe’ to ‘Mage Robe’ and rose to a 7th-tier item after processing. Additionally, his Wicalein Ring had also been enhanced and upgraded, so Merlin couldn’t summon the spirit within it.

“Excuse me, Mr. Merlin.”

“Ah, yes?”

Merlin was momentarily surprised when he heard an unknown swordsman call his name, pointing at the ground behind Merlin.

“You dropped an egg.”

Merlin’s egg, which was slightly larger than a basketball, was on the ground. The spirit within his 6th-tier Wicalein Ring was supposed to be carrying the egg, but since the Wicalein Ring was inactive, it had fallen.

“Ah, thank you. I must have forgotten about it.”

“No worries. Have a nice gaming session.”

With a large bastard sword on one hip, the user gave Merlin an encouraging smile before turning around and walking away. Merlin scooped up the egg, but before that, there was a text box floating above it stating [Merlin’s Item]. Once he picked up the egg, the text box vanished.

“To get to 50 points, I still need 30 points, so I have a long way to go before I can free myself from these ability stat-based restrictions… I can’t use my Mithril plate armor or the mage robe, and I also need to carry this egg around manually… I need to reach Level 4 or higher as soon as possible. Then, there’s nothing else to think about! Test Room!”

As Merlin shouted and swiped the air with his hand, a space opened in front of him.

“Enter.”

After he stated the designated keyword, the horizontal slash soon opened wider to form a cross shape.

/You are now entering the Test Room. You are immobile for the next 30 seconds. You will be vulnerable to outside attacks, so if you’re not in a safe space, please cancel the entrance and prepare accordingly./

“Oh, I almost forgot. I should activate the other planets of the Golden Pill Immortal Technique. Dang, I’m going to be busy for a while.”

While Merlin was mumbling to himself, the opening in space that he walked through soon shrunk before vanishing completely.

***

Sss.

Like grains of sand in a vast desert, around ten or so gold pieces rolled away as Arthur shifted his feet to move around in the mound of treasure. There were many powerful magic-infused weapons buried under the treasure mound’s gold, and at the center of the room was a glowing red magic stone, which was considered the ultimate magic stone, a Dragon Heart.

“Oh my… god. Four thousand gold pieces?”

Yet, Arthur wasn’t interested in the magic weapons or the Dragon Heart. All he could see was the money. The only things that entered his sight were the piles of gold.

“Four thousand gold means… 200 million Won? Eh? That doesn’t make sense. I need to recalculate… wait, I don’t need to recalculate… since one gold is 50,000 Won, 4,000 gold is 200 million Won, right? Am I seeing things?”

These riches weren’t something that should’ve been given after defeating one monster. Obviously, the red dragon that he killed was exceedingly formidable, and if he were asked to do it again, he’d have to run away, but did it make sense to get 200 million Won for besting one monster?

Also, when he defeated Igniz, he wasn’t the only survivor. Cruze also lived through the ordeal. And while Arthur had done most of the work, he was given the Dragon Heart, so the gold distribution should have been relatively even.

“I shouldn’t waste any more time… I need to convert this to real money quickly….”

Since he had grown up poor and only knew of poverty from a young age, Arthur couldn’t help but feel weak in the knees after seeing so much money. He quickly started putting the gold into his inventory. Notably, the shaking of his arms probably wasn’t from the ability stat reset.

“This… this isn’t just a normal game.”

Once he closed the door behind him, it started folding in half, and then again, and then again until it was the same size as a credit card. This was a Type D Housing Card, and it’d been given to him as a reward for defeating Igniz. Before this, Arthur didn’t have a housing card.

“So weird. An unknown organization suddenly appeared and started selling this mysterious game… also, each country’s government readily allowed the game to be immediately available.”

Arthur thought that DIO’s grand opening would be delayed since it would most likely take some time to get approval from the various governments. Most people didn’t know about virtual reality games, and the scientific knowledge and technology needed to log in with only headphones went beyond modern understanding. Of course, DIO was extraordinarily fun and addicting, so many people would likely clamor to play the game, but it was still weird that no government had imposed any additional rules.

“Well, it’s not like my thoughts and opinions will change what governments do.”

Anyway, Arthur now had plenty of money. Outside of the gold, he’d also gained a tremendous amount of experience points. If he were still in the beta test, he could have shot up to Level 15 from Level 1 in one go.

“This much experience might not even be enough to reach Level 10 now. Damn… the game really got more difficult.”

Unfortunately, life was never something so simple or easy.