"Worthy of being called a masterpiece," Tony muttered under his breath as the new world unfolded before him.
The village wasn't simply a backdrop of textures and polygons like in older VR games; it was alive. Villagers moved with purpose, children darted between carts chasing each other, women carried baskets of herbs to market stalls, and smiths hammered iron with sweat on their brows. Even the dust kicked up by passing hooves looked real enough to sting his eyes.
And then there were the stares.
Dozens of heads had turned the moment he appeared—materializing in the heart of the village like a phantom. The kids especially froze, wide-eyed, some edging behind their mothers while peeking out at him with equal parts fear and wonder. Clearly, the villagers had already grown accustomed to players descending from the heavens, but the event still disturbed the natural order of their world.
Tony chuckled and opened his avatar screen to ground himself in mechanics. The translucent window displayed his stats with simple clarity.
Five Attributes:
Strength (St): Governs raw physical power. Increases attack strength and weapon damage.
Agility (Ag): Reflexes, dexterity, balance. Influences attack speed and movement.
Constitution (Con): Endurance, health, stamina. Determines HP and resilience.
Vitality (Vit): Affects recovery rates of HP and MP over time.
Intelligence (Int): Governs magical attack power and maximum MP.
Fifteen points waited to be spent. He leaned back against a wooden post, thinking like a strategist. His playstyle had always been speed and precision—a lone wolf who killed before the enemy could respond. Strength and agility would form his foundation. Constitution and vitality could wait until survival became harder. Intelligence… well, he wasn't planning to throw fireballs anytime soon.
He allocated the points decisively, shaping his fledgling warrior. The panel shifted.
[Name: Mad Demon]
Level: 0 (0/50 exp)
HP: 20
MP: 3
Strength: 5
Agility: 4
Constitution: 2
Intelligence: 1
Vitality: 3
"Not much now," Tony murmured, "but it'll grow. Just like me."
Before he could close the window, an elderly man shuffled toward him. His back was slightly bent with age, yet his presence commanded respect. Villagers stepped aside instinctively, bowing their heads as he passed.
"Young hero," the man greeted with warmth, "welcome to our humble village. If you have time, it would honor us if you visited our leader."
Tony studied him carefully. This wasn't just any NPC. The respect in the crowd's eyes said it all—status, authority, and wisdom clung to the elder like a cloak.
"Well then, Grandpa," Tony said with a grin, masking his excitement, "I'd be honored. Lead the way."
System Notification:Congratulations! Elder Isaac's favorability toward you has increased by 30 points.
The green mark above Isaac's head confirmed it. Favorability mattered in games like this; it could turn indifferent NPCs into allies, informants, or quest-givers. Isaac was already treating him as more than a stranger, and the villagers noticed too. Where others were waved off with instructions, Tony was being personally escorted through the streets.
On their way to the village center, Tony leaned closer. "So, Grandpa Isaac, anything I should know while I'm here?"
Isaac stroked his beard thoughtfully. "Our village is simple, but simplicity does not mean safety. There are small troubles that weigh upon us. Issues in the tavern, disturbances at the herb hall…"
System Notification:Quest received: Head to the Tavern.
System Notification:Quest received: Go to the Herb Hall.
Tony smirked. "Luck's on my side today."
Isaac glanced around before lowering his voice. "Since you seem trustworthy, I will share a secret. Only I and the village leader know this. Two retired masters live quietly here. One is Elder Hawk, who runs the dojo. The other, the blacksmith, was once renowned across the Empire itself. Befriend them if you can. Their help would be… invaluable. But do not tell anyone I said this."
Tony's grin widened. Perfect. One for weapons, one for skills. Exactly what I need to dominate early.
The leader of the village greeted him formally, offering minor quests and explaining the basics of life in the area. To other players, it might have felt tedious. But to Tony, every word was intel. He pieced it together like a map of future opportunities.
Outside the game, news spread like wildfire. Forums, news channels, and social media exploded with first impressions of Ancient Myth. Its realism shattered every preconceived limit of VR gaming. A phrase began circulating through the industry:
"Everything you can do in the real world, you can do here. Everything you can't do in the real world, you can still do in Ancient Myth."
No wonder then that villages everywhere were flooded with new players, storming quest boards, crowding shops, and pushing out of the gates to hunt monsters. Some fools even tried to steal from NPCs—only to be brutally subdued by level 10 guards and thrown into digital prisons. The system tolerated no cheats.
By the time Tony finished his tour, his quest log had swelled. He scanned the list, whittling it down to what mattered.
Quest 1: D-rank — Rats in the Tavern Basement
Kill the infestation.
Reward: 30 exp, 45 bronze, Special Reward.
Quest 2: C-rank — Protect the Herb Gatherers
Defend villagers from monsters outside.
Reward: 70 exp, 55 bronze, Potions.
Quest 3: E-rank — Healing Herb for a Sick Lady
Reward: Unknown.
Quest 4: B-rank — Investigate Cause of Sickness
Reward: Unknown.
The rest were trivial fetch quests. He ignored them. The last one, though—the B-rank—made his blood stir. It had weight, mystery, and it came hinted from Isaac. Those were the kinds of quests that hid treasures.
But for now, there was only one place that mattered: the dojo.
The dojo smelled of polished wood and sweat. Inside, villagers trained with wooden swords, striking dummies with uneven rhythm. At the far end, an old man with hawk-like eyes corrected stances with sharp words. His back was straight despite the years, his aura heavy.
Tony stepped forward, bowed lightly, and spoke with humility. "Good morning, sir Hawk. I'm Mad Demon. I'd be honored if you taught me skills that will help me survive outside."
System Notification:Congratulations! Instructor Hawk's impression of you has increased by 20 points.
Hawk studied him with narrowed eyes, then stroked the bird perched on his shoulder. "Not bad. Few young ones know how to show respect these days. But skills cannot be handed out like candy. Show me what you've got first."
Others might have been ignored, but Tony was given a chance. His lips curved.
He stepped to the center mat. His demeanor shifted instantly—calm, focused, cold. His breathing slowed, muscles tensed, posture perfect. Then he moved: kicks and punches flowed like water, efficient and precise, no wasted motion. Every strike carried purpose.
Hawk's eyes widened slightly. What control. He doesn't move like a novice. He moves like a soldier.
System Notification:Congratulations! Instructor Hawk's impression of you has increased by 50 points.
When Tony finished, Hawk clapped slowly. "Wonderful. Even in the Empire, geniuses like you are rare. Do not linger in small villages too long. Bigger stages await you."
Tony bowed again. "I'll remember that."
"Good. Then watch closely. I'll demonstrate a skill." Hawk adjusted his stance, ready to swing.
But before he could begin, Tony froze. Something stirred deep within him, like a current. His hand moved to the Humming Blade on instinct. The world dimmed around him as he entered a state half dream, half wakefulness. His body guided itself, the blade singing through the air.
One slash. Another. Faster, sharper, blurring into one motion.
Hawk stopped mid-step, eyes narrowing. Enlightenment? At his age? Impossible… yet real. He studied the boy's form and the black sword that radiated secrets even he couldn't decipher. If his skill is high tier, I will entrust him with my mission.
Tony felt clarity crystalize. The final strike snapped out—two slashes so fast they looked like one.
Ding! Congratulations, you have created a skill.
Reward: +3 to all attributes, 10 silver, 1 mysterious nickel.
System Notification:You are the first player to create a skill!
Reward: +1 level, 10 silver, Swift Boots.
System Notification:Skill created at level 0!
Reward: +1 level, 20 silver, Class-related Skill.
System Notification:Your strong will has raised your hidden attribute "Conscious" by +2.
System Notification:First player to raise a hidden attribute!
Reward: +3 to all hidden attributes.
The cascade of notifications almost made him dizzy. Levels, silver, items, hidden stats—his progress leapt forward in a single moment.
He nearly laughed aloud. What a jackpot. I just broke the game's first wall.
Ding! Please name the skill you created.
Tony thought for only a second. "Double Slash."
[Name: Double Slash]
Type: Action-type
Rank: SS
Rapidly deals damage twice.
Each slash deals 120% + 10 bonus damage.
Increases Bleeding effect by 20%. Duration: 10s.
Stacks up to 5 times.
Cooldown: 10s.
Tony stared at the window, a slow grin spreading across his face. "SS-rank? At level zero? With this and the Humming Blade… I'm unstoppable."
For the first time since entering Ancient Myth, he felt it in his bones. He wasn't just another player chasing quests. He was a pioneer, carving his own legend into the world.
And this was only the beginning.