CHAPTER 238: FIRST ENCOUNTER

[Please choose a name]

Logan didn’t have to think too much; he quickly went with the name he had used in previous games.

[Legendary Logan]

[Race?]

[Human]

After the name creation, there was much to do. Unlike other games, you couldn’t change your skin tone or appearance. Your avatar looked exactly like you in real life.

One of the advantages was that players didn’t have to worry about catfishing or pretending to be someone they weren’t. Everyone looked like their real selves—just slightly enhanced: clearer skin, healthier posture, and a subtle glow that made the world feel more alive.

The disadvantage, however, was obvious.

If you were ugly, you stayed ugly.

If you were recognizable, you couldn’t hide.

That was part of the realism that Realm of Ascendency was praised for. It didn’t let anyone escape their identity; it just gave them a new world to live in.

After creating his character, Logan was transferred right into the game, spawning close to a fountain.

He looked at his reflection in the faint ripples of the water. His curly hair, awkward glasses, and skinny frame were all there, though his skin looked smoother and his eyesight sharper.

He then glanced around and noticed he had spawned in one of three starting villages. More players were beginning to pop out of thin air.

From their amazed reactions, it was easy to tell they were newbies just like him.

"Fuck, did this game make me look ugly?" a girl exclaimed, flinching at her reflection in the fountain.

"Ugly, or is that how you look?" another chuckled mockingly. "If anything, the game slightly enhances your features, which means you’re even more hideous in person."

At that, the group of newbies burst into laughter while the girl ran to a corner, sobbing.

Logan watched the scene quietly, adjusted his glasses, and took his leave. People were already forming cliques and preparing for hunting, but he was too shy to approach anyone.

He tried a few times, but even in the game, it was difficult to talk to other players.

The only ones he felt comfortable speaking to were NPCs since they were just programmed data.

’First of all, I need to go register in the local Adventurer Guild,’ he thought. Logan had read some posts online where a professional gamer advised that the best way to level up quickly was by registering at the local Adventurer Hall.

After talking to an NPC, he was shown the way to the hall. His eyes darted everywhere as he walked.

The realism was breathtaking. The smell of baked bread drifted from a nearby stall. The chatter of merchants filled the air. Even the cool breeze brushing his cheek felt so genuine that he almost forgot he was lying in a pod back in his room.

All around, players were laughing, testing emotes, and posing for holographic selfies. Some tried jumping; others ran into walls just to see how far they could go.

That, unfortunately, wasn’t a bright idea, as most lost half their HP, and a few died instantly.

Logan smiled faintly at their misfortune. ’Thanks to their mistake, I won’t make the same one,’ he thought.

As he approached the Adventurer’s Hall, an elderly NPC with a long beard and dented armor greeted him.

"Ah, another Otherworlder," the man said. "You must be here to register as an adventurer."

"Yes, sir," he replied in a respectful tone.

"Smart choice." The old man handed him a parchment. "Sign your name here, and your journey shall begin."

He wrote Legendary Logan carefully, and the parchment glowed before vanishing into motes of light.

"There you go. You can take any quest from there." The old man pointed toward a nearby board and left.

"The NPCs here are not that hostile compared to other games. I wonder why that is?" he mumbled aloud.

Another player nearby seemed to hear him. "Seems you’re a newbie. Makes sense if you don’t know what happened here."

"What happened?" Logan asked.

"Months back, Sir Broken helped players deal with a boss-type monster that attacked Whitebridge City. Because of that, the NPCs are friendlier toward players now."

"That makes sense." Logan nodded and thanked the player before turning to the mission board.

He tapped one at random.

[E-Rank Harvesting Quest]

[Quest Type: Plant Harvesting]

[Location: Southern Gate of Whitebridge]

[Objective: Help Farmer Aiden Harvest Wheat.]

[Reward: +15 EXP, +1 Bread.]

He smiled and accepted. "Looks simple enough."

He went to the southern gate of Whitebridge. The moment he stepped outside, his breath caught in his throat.

Rolling hills stretched into the distance. Trees swayed gently under the golden light. A few low-level players chased slimes across the grassy fields, laughing like maniacs.

After a short walk, he reached a small wooden farmhouse. A sturdy man wearing a straw hat waved at him. "Hey there, Otherworlder! You must be one of them new adventurers, eh?"

"Yes, sir," Logan replied with a smile.

The farmer chuckled. "Well, I could use a hand gathering these sheaves before the sun goes down."

[Quest Accepted: Harvest Wheat.]

The work was easy—click, gather, stack. But the feeling was unlike anything Logan had ever experienced. He spent almost half an hour helping, watching his EXP slowly rise.

[You gained +1 EXP.]

[You gained +1 Bread.]

When he finally turned in the quest, the farmer grinned. "Good work, lad! You’ve got the makings of a fine worker. Come back tomorrow, I’ll have something better for you."

[Quest Complete.]

[You received +15 EXP, +1 Bread.]

[You leveled up! Level 1 reached.]

"The poster was right," Logan muttered, amazed. "It really is much faster to level up this way."

He opened his stat menu and distributed his five free attribute points evenly across all stats.

As he headed back toward Whitebridge, he noticed groups of players forming small parties. Some were already shouting for teammates.

"Need one more for Slime Hunting!"

"Healer here! Anyone farming east fields?"

"Looking for tanks!"

He hesitated, tempted to approach, but as soon as a few players passed by chatting like old friends, his courage faded.

’Maybe later,’ he thought quietly.

He sat near the fountain in the city square and pulled out the small piece of bread from his inventory. It looked ordinary but smelled freshly baked. When he took a bite, warmth spread through his entire body.

While munching, a shadow suddenly covered him. Logan felt a cold shiver as he slowly raised his head.

The person before him wore a mask concealing their features, but he could vaguely see strands of red hair and a pair of sharp blue eyes.