Edge of the Abyss (Respawn Trials Book #1) LitRPG Series Read online

  Current level: 10.

  …

  I glanced through the character’s main characteristics. Why go into the details? I’d just stand in for Denis and not level up anything. I noticed that Dan had a clear imbalance towards Strength and Stamina, while other characteristics were at baseline.

  Okay, what else could I find out?

  An advertising block suddenly appeared in my field of view in response to the mental query. The system was persistently encouraging me to switch to the new tariff plan.

  It turned out that Denis had a Trial account. I focused my gaze and received a hint. The first month was free, then fifty credits per month. Restrictions were that you couldn’t develop your character beyond level 20 but you could level up peaceful professions, for which certain skills and abilities were unblocked. Access was possible from any device. The Trial account (for introductory purposes) could be used not only by the registered user but also by their family members, whose social contacts were automatically confirmed.

  The next type of account, which the system was encouraging me to switch to, was a Standard account. Access was only through a VR capsule and the single restriction was that a character could reach a maximum of Level 100. The monthly fee was 500 credits. No way! That’s a solid amount of money in the real world!

  The subscription fee for the Advanced account was 1,000 credits. There was the ability to transfer game currency... I didn’t read any further since this obviously wasn’t for mere mortals.

  Following the links, I proceeded to study matters of interest. I was greatly surprised to find that millions of people all over the world owned a Standard account, according to the game statistics. I didn’t think there were that many rich people.

  Aha, so VR capsules could be rented! It turned out that residential districts in megacities had special entertainment centers where equipment rental was quite affordable for the average user.

  My nephew sure led a strange life. He didn’t have a job and yet had taken out a loan to buy a VR capsule, rather than just renting it. I glanced at the prices. The cost of the budget model started at 10,000 credits. The numbers didn’t add up in my head...

  Fine. I’ll figure it out later. There must be an explanation. But why doesn’t Denis pay for a Standard account, staying on the Trial one instead?

  Attention, you have a message!

  The letter icon flashed. I opened it. As expected, the letter was from my nephew.

  Hello. I’m fine. I’m guessing that you’ve logged in already. The most important thing is to play on low level. Don’t accept any quests, whatever you do! Keep an eye on the character’s progress. If you think that you’re about to go up a level — kill yourself. If you get to Level 11, you’ll lose the protection and other players will be able to attack you. Believe me, even safe locations are full of hardcore players and dropkicks.

  If you’ve got any questions, shoot me a line.

  Dan.

  Perfect timing. What did he mean by ‘kill yourself’? Jump off a wall?

  * * *

  I noticed that the sun had risen and it was time to get down to business. The town was gradually filling with people. Stalls were opening and pedestrians appeared on the streets.

  I found the list of tasks in a separate folder. Places were marked on the map. It was suggested that I visit several stores and then make a foray beyond the town walls. The reason wasn’t yet clear.

  The first control point was located nearby, only a hundred or so meters away. With the semitransparent minimap hanging in the right upper corner of my vision, there was no way to get lost. I followed the winding streets. Some were paved while others were mired in mud, creating a typical medieval environment.

  The mark on the map matched the Alchemist’s store. I pushed open the door and entered. Judging by the frame, a player stood behind the counter.

  “Hey there, Dan. Here,” he passed a heavy bag over to me. “Tell Hulk that the next batch will only arrive the day after tomorrow.”

  That was the end of the conversation. Seeing that I was still shuffling my feet, the merchant called Miserly_Borg raised an eyebrow. “Is there a problem?”

  “No, no, nothing.”

  “Then why are you standing here? Get a move on! Time is money!”

  How rude and confusing. I could hear the same dismissive tone as in the guard’s voice.

  I simply shrugged and exited the store, deciding to avoid asking any questions for now.

  The day was warm and bright. It was so realistic that it sent shivers down my spine! My mood improved again. I headed to the next spot marked on the map, staring at everything as I went past. Nobody paid me any attention. Stopping at the Smithy, I spent a long time watching the craftsmen, fascinated by their work. Where could one see such a thing in the modern world?

  I visited two other shops and received some food supplies and a dozen vellum scrolls. That’s it. My inventory was full and the weight was close to maximum.

  So, Denis works as a courier here? Sort of like a delivery service? None of the merchants demanded any money from me for the goods. Now I understood why Denis had spent all the available points on Stamina and Strength when he created the character.

  I checked the map. Yes, I’d finished all the tasks in town and now my route lay beyond the wall, first along the road and then down a forest path. I had to reach a marker in a small clearing before midday. It was going to be a long walk.

  * * *

  I strolled through the forest, admiring its beauty and breathing the dizzyingly clean air. The level of authenticity in the digital world continued to astound me. The scarcely visible path gradually led me deeper into the trees. I began to come across mossy roots, shadows gathering overhead among the dense branches. I felt like I was in a national park, a place that no longer existed in the real world. Now I understood why most players rented VR capsules. It was a completely different level of perception! All the senses: touch, smell, the breeze, taste… I picked a berry, tried it and spat it back out. It had a bitterly sour taste.

  …

  You have sustained mild poisoning (10 seconds - 1 HP/sec).

  Would you like to obtain the Herbalist skill so that you can identify plant properties?

  …

  I selected ‘No’. My nephew had explicitly asked me not to level up the character, which meant that he wanted to get Dan_23214 back in the same state as I had received him.

  Well, I was fine as it is. In the gray reality, I had forgotten the very word ‘nature’ as cities grew rapidly in size, throwing tentacles of communication towards each other and the technosphere sucked up all the resources, turning whole regions into wastelands. It made this world look even brighter and more attractive. This world had a ban on technology. It had been replaced with magic, which I hadn’t seen any evidence of so far.

  I was deep in thought, admiring my surroundings. Like a child, I examined the thicket with unfeigned interest, touching the tree bark and feeling its texture.

  So unbelievably real!

  Even the fatigue was gradually making itself known. Another realistic aspect of immersion, since I hadn’t gone on any extended walks in a long time. Oh, and I’d stopped limping! I couldn’t feel the effects of my injuries at all.

  I focused on three indicators in the interface. One was showing the current number of HP (health points). The second and shortest one showed the amount of mana (mental energy). The third bar was currently wavering in the middle. This was my physical energy, known as Stamina in gaming slang, which was spent on every action but quickly regenerated. The Stamina parameter was responsible for it.

  My thoughts were interrupted by a noise. Someone was crashing through the undergrowth! What was I supposed to do?

  While I was trying to think of something, an enormous bear entered the small clearing. The surrounding frame was red, with a skull symbol. The mob exceeded me significantly on all levels!

  I stood still, hardly daring to breathe. My only weapon was a dagger.
Even my distant knowledge of gaming was enough to mentally curse Denis for his carelessness. Daggers required a high level of Dexterity while Denis had spent all his points on Strength and Stamina! He’s just a mule! I looked around and spotted a thick tree branch on the ground. Maybe if I grabbed it and used it as a club, I would inflict much more damage than with the teeny knife?

  This was a grave mistake. Getting into a fight with an adult brown bear turned out to be a stupid idea from the beginning. The difference in our levels was too great but I had been startled by the bear’s sudden appearance. My reflexes kicked in — there’s a reason people say that the self-preservation instinct manifests as two extremes — fight or flight.

  Grasping the heavy branch, I received several messages at once.

  …

  You are overloaded (you have exceeded the maximum transportable weight possible with your current characteristics).

  Your mobility is reduced by 50%.

  You cannot effectively use the club (you lack the Heavy Crushing Weapon skill).

  …

  “AAAAAH!”

  I discarded the useless branch and bolted away.

  …

  You have used a war cry. Your Strength and Stamina have temporarily increased by 1. The aggro radius of the NPC enemy has increased by 10 meters.

  You have attracted the attention of the adult brown bear.

  …

  A spine-chilling roar sounded behind me.

  The mob became completely enraged for some reason. A crushing blow of its paw snapped the pine trunk where I had stood just a second ago. A sweet woody scent filled the air.

  I ran at breakneck speed, crashing through the blackberry brambles. The prickles tore at my skin and clothes. System messages appeared one after another. Luckily, the message window was located in the lower part of my field of view so the signs didn’t obscure my vision.

  …

  Outfit durability is reduced by 20%. Protection from physical damage reduced by 2 points.

  You are injured. Bleeding 30 seconds (1 HP/sec).

  …

  The bear’s roar sounded closer and closer.

  The thicket suddenly ended. I found myself on the steep shore of a relatively narrow but turbulent river. A mossy log lay over the rapids. Quick, to the other side!

  I was roughly halfway across when I slipped, lost my balance and fell. I felt a chill in my chest, there was a fountain of droplets and my breath was knocked out of me. The strong current immediately began to drag me over the rocks.

  …

  Injury from falling 25 HP. Stun negative effect for 10 seconds.

  …

  The bellowing of the disappointed bear came from behind me. I had passed a bend in the river by this point and was tossed into the deep. I was drowning!

  The branches of a weeping willow hung over the pool. I grasped desperately at the thin branches that reached down almost to the water, but they slipped through my hands, leaving only leaves behind.

  A shadow flashed through the water and I even managed to read the frame.

  Carnivorous catfish, Level 15.

  …

  The Swimming skill is available. Would you like to select it?

  …

  NO!

  The Stun debuff had passed. I managed to grab the exposed tree roots, cling to them and climb onto the shore.

  I lay there completely exhausted, gasping for breath. My clothing was in rags and my whole body was burning. The Life bar had shrunk by two-thirds, taking on an alarmingly orange color.

  After a little while, I caught my breath and sat up, my back against the tree trunk. I stretched out my arm — the fingertips were shaking slightly. I listened apprehensively to the sounds of the forest, in case there came the crunch of a branch or the rumble of an animal.

  The water gurgled softly, the trees rustled overhead and the birds trilled their songs.

  Right, so what do I do now? While my HP slowly regenerated, I opened the location map, first reading and deleting the annoying message,

  Life support system recommends: urgent exit.

  No way. Firstly, I feel relatively okay. Secondly, I had business to attend to.

  I’d lost my way. The route trodden by Denis was somewhere off to the side. Now I’d have to make my own way through the woods.

  Oh, and this place was called the Peaceful Forest according to the map. I wondered what the traveler could expect in the Wild Lands, whose boundary was about twenty kilometers north of here!

  I should have found a weapon more appropriate for my character! It was too late now to regret my carelessness. I had thought that I would stroll through the forest, breathe the clean air and complete a simple task, combining the pleasant with the useful, but it was not to be.

  The leaves rustled as something crawled by. To be honest, my heart jumped at the noise. Keeping completely still, I read the frame.

  Adder. Level 7.

  It didn’t notice me and disappeared among the dense patch of ferns.

  I wonder if mobs attack each other? Or do they only attack players?

  I approached a witch hazel bush and used my dagger to cut off a long branch. Using a piece of rope that I found in my inventory, I attached the blade to my improvised spear and looked at the result.

  A crooked makeshift spear. Cannot be thrown. Stabbing damage 2-5, multiplied by the current Dexterity score. Special attack: deep lunge. Chance of critical hit 1%.

  You have successfully created an item. You have gained 30 Exp. The Craftsperson skill is available. Would you like to accept it?

  …

  I selected ‘No’.

  I hadn’t managed to trick the game with my makeshift spear. The modifier was still Dexterity, which my character had at the base Level (5). Hence, the spear’s damage was 10-25, which was the same as the dagger.

  Having rested and waited for the Life bar to regenerate completely, I headed into a tangle of ferns, moving in the direction of a wooded hill a couple of kilometers away, where the coveted marker glinted in a small meadow.

  * * *

  I must have met the bear by accident. I had simply been unlucky. I spotted only a few small animals on my way, which I easily avoided.

  A withered tree drew my attention at the foot of the hill. It stood out so clearly against the background greenery that a person simply couldn’t pass it by. I became curious, of course, so I came closer and saw a circle of yellowed grass and rough-hewn rocks that jutted out from the ground.

  …

  You have found the location Mysterious Hill.

  Quest available: Dried Up Spring. Type: normal.

  Find and remove the rock that is blocking the spring.

  Reward: 100 Exp, +1 reputation with the residents of the nearby village.

  …

  I didn’t have time to lug around rocks. I had to deliver the goods first and then decide if it was worth coming back here.

  A few steps later, I stumbled across some yellowish bones peeking through the moss, as well as a rusted pickaxe with a rotted wooden handle lying beside it.

  …

  Quest available: The Secret of Forest Hill. Type: normal.

  Find out whom the pickaxe belonged to.

  Reward: 500 Exp.

  …

  I didn’t disturb the remains. I was intrigued, of course, but there was no time left for a search. Work was waiting and I was running late enough as it is! Yet I still lingered. Something glinted dully in the grass. Interesting... I squatted down and saw a large, teardrop-shaped crystal with a simple amulet beside it, adorned with the stylized image of a shield. I picked up both objects and examined them.

  …

  You have obtained the Soul Crystal.

  Unrecognized artifact. You do not have enough Intellect to determine its properties.

  You have obtained the Guardian’s Amulet. Unrecognized artifact. You do not have enough Intellect to determine its properties.

  The Secret of Forest Hill quest has been up
dated. The quest type has changed to personal.

  Find out if the Soul Crystal and the Guardian’s Amulet are somehow related to the miner’s remains.

  …

  I placed the amulet straight in my inventory but examined the crystal, noting that a tiny and delicate flame had sprung up inside from the warmth of my palm. I looked at it more closely. What a strange flame! It was edged in black.