VRMMORPG [Brink]: For The Money

I don't know how long I've been here. I can't even make excuses to go when he brings drink and food so that he can continue telling his story. This old man probably lonely because his wife have been away for two months to his daughter's home. Looking out for their soon to be born grandchild. He told me that he wishes for a grandson so that he can teach his arts to him so his legacy can continue to the next generation.

After finishing his complaint we finally back to our course, which is me searching for a weapon. Then he asks me again what kind of weapon I want to use. I replied with a sigh and said "did you have a place where I can demonstrate it for you?" he actually had a three-floor underground probably more because I can still see stairs to a lower level floor.

"Here we are, this is the place for weapon testing. So it has many battle dolls laying around and my wives not here to clean the place, just pick one doll then chose the magic heart from the shelf there but be sure to check the number before putting it in the doll. It ranges from easy to hard, 1 mean easiest and 5 mean hardest. Chose one so we can move on faster. Don't waste my time young man."

Ugh, this old man dares to say that I waste his time. What about my time that has been wasted listening to your story? Though 30% of them interesting, still, you shouldn't say that old man. Now I know why the kid called him old grumpy. It's not because he's ill-tempered rather he makes other short-tempered instead.

Walking towards the shelves I noticed lots of different stones lying around not arranged at all. Wait, which one was the magic heart again? Turning around I yell at the old dwarf "which one is the magic heart? You need to give me a clear description with this, there are lots of stones here of different colors and size."

"Just pick one with green color and has number 1 imprinted on it. And it's as big as the palm of your hands."

Picking the stone I walk into the grumpy old man which I don't know his name is.

He looks like choosing a doll that I can use and tossing the broken one somewhere else randomly. Damn! This will takes several minutes. I can't help but comment on him "if you just toss it around here and there. When you need to use it you will need to search from the pile of broken one. Basically sorting it out. Why aren't you just clean this place up?"

"I'm a busy person you know." He replied with such a smug face.

'Arrgh!' My blood pressure will rise if I get here too long with him and what do you mean by busy? You were bored af from what I can tell and did you forget that you talk for hours with me telling your story? While screaming inside my head I glared at him.

Then he mutters in low voice "is it really messy? I thought it looks fine. What was the problem with this lad's heads? I really can't understand kids these days."

What? Now the problem was on me. Hearing what he said I can't help but feels that it was wrong of me coming here altogether. Still, I wonder what kind of woman his wife is, she can keep up with this man for whole thirty years.

The closer I get to him he tosses me a doll. The doll he tossed me made of wood probably one and a half meter high with a thumb-size hole in the middle of its body. It really carved to human-like possible and the head looks well proportion.

"What should I do next?"

"Put the stone at the hole than said these out loud: I'm the greatest smith in the world!"

What a shameless old man. Doing what he told me to. I yelled "I'm the greatest smith in the world!" but nothing happens. I look at him and he just said I don't put the intonation correctly. Yelling I don't know how many times then the stone in my hand is melting into a gooey-like substance and go through the hole. It only takes moments for all the substance to disappear into the hole. After that, the eyes start to shine in green and open its mouth spraying dust on my face.

I didn't notice the crack on its cheek because of the dim light but after its open its mouth and sprayed me with dust I want to know where it's got air from.

" G1 Standby! Back away kid, prepare your weapon and get ready."

Nodding I take out my weapon 'The stiletto of Massacre' take a stance and said: "I'm ready."

"G1 Start! Lad, you can attack the doll now."

When I get the approval I ran straight to the glowing green eye doll and do my best skill which is stabbed and push it with [Impact]. The closer I got I notice its green eyes following my movement even though I ran straight to it, I shouldn't… what was this feeling of something was wrong? Thinking no more I targeted its eyes and lower my body to the ground then I feint jump to the left before jumping to its left side and attack its left eye. The doll moves its head to the right and I know I'm screwed but with the inertia and my position in the air I somehow landed a hit with my foot to its left flank and get it fumbled.

With my hasty kick, I can balance my fall a bit and put my palm to the ground to reduce the impact and my time needed to get ready for either defending or attacking. But, my imagination and reality work too differently. I can't flip with one hand and dolls lying around doesn't help either. Hastily standing I look at the doll that standing motionlessly with its eyes watching me. It's not trying to attack or move closer to me.

"The doll has a human shape so of course I make it had closer response how to a human would react. Why would you try to attack its eye anyway? Attack its body it has more mass than the other parts. Like golem, you need to destroy their core to make them stop but then what about this doll? Remember the magic heart? That was its core before it completely fused with the doll so now it had no real weakness except you crush its body or it has had to sustain enough damage to make it stop. That's why I always said 'Knowledge is Power' gather it and you will have an easy life.

Relax it won't attack because you put the green and number one core inside that I only programmed to 'only defend' mode. One more thing why did you back-hand gripped your weapon? Is it a must for the skill you were using?"

"Erm... No?"

"Then why are you doing it like that? From what I was seeing over here you only do a normal stab then give it a burst with your skill right? If so you can hold your weapon normally then do the stab after that put your palm on the bottom of the shaft then release your skill."

Proceeding with what I've been told. I ran again toward the unmoving doll and stab forward to the center of its c.h.e.s.t but it easily redirected it to its left side. Knowing I can't pull my arm fast enough I try to strike its body with[Impact]but it deflects my hand as well, with my arms outstretch I knee-kick the doll's body but it responded with the same knee-kick then it jumps back retreating.

I know with my reaction time versus that thing reaction time was slower by few beats probably more. With only direct confrontation I can't feel myself winning or landing my trusty pierce-impact skill. I look at the glowing eyes of the doll then active [Stealth]to make it lost my position.

Slowly I back away from my current position then I'll circle it and attack the doll from behind. It was hard to move without making a sound or accidentally knocking the pile of the inactive dolls. Looks like the doll doesn't have an anti-stealth cognition because of its eyes still at my previous location. After almost than six minutes I got a great position with less obstacle behind the doll.

Again, I prepared myself then sprint without making many noises. The distance between me and the doll was separated only by five meters. With my sprinting speed I only need a moment to land a hit to its back and push it with Impact but, that thing still, responds by turning its body toward me. Facing me so close has no chance to put up a defense with its hands giving it c.h.e.s.t undefended I stab with all my might then I supplement it with Impact sending it tumbled by the dolls junk on the ground.

"Good job! Now let's see what damage you did to the doll. G1 Standby!" giving his command the doll looks a bit slumped but still standing straight. Then the old dwarf rummaged the doll. Looking for the damaged I did to his doll here and there.

I can't help but interrupt and said "why are you looking around up and down? I only land a clean hit on its c.h.e.s.t."

"What did you know about battle doll to interject me? I'm looking for the other damage besides the impact point." Inspecting the doll with all his might.

Half an hour has passed and he's still not finished yet.

"Excuse me old man but wasn't the reason we were going down here so that I can demonstrate my skill so you can recommend me a good weapon to use?"

"I know I know! Where is your patience? You were an assassin, right? Then you need to be patient. …okay I'm done! Looks like you only damage the outer part of the doll and it's not significant at all. If this was human and you target their heart they probably dead. Still, the power is lacking if I said so; look, you sprint for momentum then you stab after that you gave it an additional power with your explosive palm skill. Base on that you only use 60% of its potential, not a waste but amateur. Heh!" he closed his lengthy explanation with a smirk.

What a man… Argh! My patience is running out. Wait, if I think it through why am I losing my patience' easily when I'm talking with him? It's not like me at all. Is it because of his story?

Taking a deep breath I ask him sincerely "what can I do to improve it Mr…?"

"I'm Verm Mountainpeak now you take an interest in me, young man? Sorry but I'm straight and I had wives and a daughter, she will have a child soon I think I already told you that. Right?"

『Your relation with Verm Mountainpeak turn into Trusted.』

『Congratulation! With your current relations, you can get a hidden quest reserved for you.』

What the heck is wrong with this old man's head?

So I only need to ask his name to increase my relations with him. What a cheap old man; from what I read in the forum it said that I need to complete hundreds of quest to get a 'Trusted' relation with the said NPC.

"Right! You ask me for guidance right? Okay, I know my awesomeness does not restrict only on smiting but insight as well. So listen to me carefully okay. When you ran to get your momentum isn't entirely wrong but what if you got a limited space on? Like in a cave or something. Which means you need to search for a way to get more momentum or maybe to get a speed related skill.

Another thing is when you got close to your target don't get too close, what if your target has a skill that can attack you because you were too close. The last thing, this one can improve your damage by 20% to 30%. You hold your weapon in one hand to stab then, the other one is for boosting it with your skill like you usually did but for this, you need to bent your hands and then push it with your skill plus your weight on it. While one of your feet position need to be placed in a forward motion to make you get more momentum. You need to make sure your forefoot has the center of gravity then you only need to push it and wait for the result.

After that release your hand that has been holding the weapon and let your other hand push the sword like putting a nail with a hammer. The downside is with that stun full fledge attack you need to have lots of spare weapons and if your enemy counter-attack you then you will get screwed."

Wow! He really guides me seriously.

"Sounds easy but I bet the practice won't be as easy. When I tried to land a hit to that doll I devise lots in my head but none turns out like I imagine it should. Well, I did land a hit but, I don't know, it just felt like something wasn't entirely place-in."

I sincerely answered.

"Well, that's just how worlds work. You can plan everything but who knows which one will turn out okay. And one of the reasons why I said: Knowledge is Power. With enough knowledge, you can either destroy or create nations, maybe bigger than that."

I can't understand this old man, sometimes he looks so wise, though most of the time he's just annoying. Is this what they called 'with age comes experience'? I don't know which label I should put on him in my head.