Rivalry: Infinite Buff

Chapter 6- Heal

Ivan couldn’t believe what had just happened. He had lost his skill before he even had a chance to try it. At least he got one new skill, he clicked on the Stats and found Heal under his Skills. 

Lesser Heal, an active skill was measured by heal value.

Cooling time: N/A

MP: 5

Proficiency: 0/300

Heal value: 10

He was glad that he could restore 10 HP for the cost of 5 MP. It was better than nothing and he didn’t have to think about the cooling time during the game, which could earn him significant time. Ivan’s only concern was how could he learn skills without transfer or class. 

Looking at the young man in front of him, Mr. Bowen sighed, "I didn't expect you'd be chosen by him. Anyway, since you helped me with my Flying Tiger, it would be rude if I let you leave empty-handed. You know what? As a part-time Priest, this is all I can do!”

System: Congratulations! You’ve gained Average Heal!

Average Heal: Get twice skill points per heal; get more skill points after healing high-level players.

It was finally clear to Ivan, players in Rivalry who wanted to reach higher levels had to improve their skills through continuous practice. 

"Mr. Bowen, what do you mean when you said I was chosen? Chosen by whom? And, can I refuse the offer? I think I could still be a qualified tamer. Can I get that class back?” Ivan couldn’t give up his proficient skill.

Mr. Bowen shook his head, “Sorry, I’m afraid it is not possible. Now that I have made the decision, what’s done is done."

Ivan continued, "Well, I guess I can’t argue with you. I know I shouldn’t but… can I ask one last favor? Do you know, by any chance, how to get out of the novice village?”

Mr. Bowen walked in a circle around Ivan, "What level are you again? Only 3, isn’t it? I would stay in the village to find more missions if I were you. Look at me! With a level over 100, but I am still here.”

"Over 100..." Ivan repeated his words.

Mr. Bowen finally saw the persistence in Ivan's eyes, "Forget it. How could a young person become mature without being through all amazing yet ugly things in the real world? Here you are. Show this letter to Tough Blazer," Mr. Bowen said, after taking a letter out of his robe and handing it to Ivan.

System: Would you accept the mission "Out of the Village"? ACCEPT or NOT?

Ivan didn't hesitate.

System: Mission "Out of the Village"! Find Tough Blazer and showed Mr. Bowen's letter to him.

Mission Tip: Tough Blazer is a tall guy with right leg disability. He often showed in the eastern village.

Mission Difficulty: d

Mission Time Limit: N/A

Mission Award: XP+150; Coin+60

"Good luck, young man!" Mr. Bowen waved casually.

"Goodbye, Mr. Bowen!" Ivan politely responded, then walked east of the village. As he was doing so he glanced at the Flying Tiger's Stats.

Flying Tiger

Level:10

Quality: Celestial Beast

HP: 9000

ATK: 1500

……

Holy s**t! Ivan thought. He believed that Mr. Bowen was exaggerating. Then he decided to click on Mr. Bowen’s stats. 

Mr. Bowen

Level: 115

HP: N/A

ATK: N/A

System: You’re not allowed to see the Stats of a high-level player.

"s**t! Ivan, you’re so stupid! How could you not seize this chance?” Ivan said to himself. He shook his head and smiled bitterly, "Forget it, Ivan, you need to go and find Tough Blazer."

Ivan gasped and rushed to the woods east of the village in less than twenty minutes. However, he found nothing except for the mountains and sunset. It turned out that there’s a dynamic weather system in Rivalry.

"Why can’t those NPCs just stand at the same point, waiting for players talking to them? Holy s**t!” Ivan grumbled. He took out the wild fruit he had picked on the way there. His SP would fall to 0 if he didn’t get something in his stomach. His SP went back to 10 and so he started to wander around looking for Tough Blazer again.  

After thirty minutes he still hadn’t found anything. Ivan had to admit that Rivalry had done a great job on the weather design, with alternate day and night or four seasons. However, Ivan was really not in the mood after searching for so long to enjoy any of it. 

"Tough Blazer, where the hell are you?" Ivan cried.

There was no response but the wind blowing around, which made sense.

“I swear I will do whatever I have to do as long as you show yourself now!”

There was a giggle coming from not far away. Ivan couldn’t stay calm anymore after hearing someone laughing on the mountain ridge. He looked up and saw a girl holding a dagger and hanging upside down with her legs wrapped around a branch. 

Ivan’s legs were trembling, he stuttered, "Are you human or ghost?"

Seeing Ivan’s terror, the girl in the tree teased, “I am a ghost, of course! It’s time for us to collect more souls.”

Not knowing how to respond, Ivan just stood watching her. He was assuming that he was played by another player or an NPC in the stupid game. He swiftly lifted his foot and then kicked the trunk of the tree, the girl started falling to the ground. 

The girl fell directly on Ivan, knocking him to the ground. Her lips landed on his, he had reached out to help the girl but instead, he accidentally grabbed her breast. 

Crack! The slap to his face brought Ivan back to reality. He touched his nose awkwardly and then got up after the girl climbed off of him. He had confirmation that she was an actual female player instead of NPC, FallenAngel. 

"Well, that was my first kiss. You didn’t lose anything," said Ivan. 

The girl slapped him again, she was expecting an apology. However, she assumed she just put too many expectations into the game. After all, it was not real life, or else people have been laughing at the situation. 

"Hey, are you sure you still want to hide? Just come out!” It seemed the girl was talking to a third person there.

Suddenly, another person appeared out of nowhere, flying through the air and laughing out loud.