The tutorial video wasn't particularly spectacular. The light representing Lokan seemed to fall to the lowest part of the world-tree, materializing as he tumbled down a mountainside. The premise was that a benefactor would find him and bring him to the village.
After Lokan regained his strength with the villager's help, he repaid the favor by assisting with small chores around the settlement, having nothing else to do. Up to this point, it was just a passive, cinematic perspective.
'Thank god. It's not too complicated.'
That's why most users usually ignored it, but Lokan maintained his concentration throughout the entire video, struggling to memorize the village's exact layout and geography.
And then, the village began to burn.
A horde of goblins attacked.
'It has begun.'
A burning village, a scene of slaughter. Mark, the benefactor, wounded after saving Lokan from the monsters. And goblins slowly advancing from all directions.
Oddly enough, this was the first moment that gave the user control of the character.
"Lokan, you run away too!"
As soon as he could move his body, the NPCs began their realistic acting. It was a part that tested many users. Would they run away, as instructed, or fight the goblins?
Trusting only the word 'tutorial', users chose to fight the goblins 98% of the time, only to immediately regret it. A Level 1 Human was as weak as a child. The goblins also lacked excellent physical abilities, but those new to actual 'battle' had no means to kill, and could not defeat even one, let alone many. They also started with bare hands.
In real life, a martial arts master might kill one or two, but if you died, it was all over, forcing you to restart the tutorial from the beginning. For that reason, the correct answer was generally to run away as suggested.
'Running away is the right answer, in general.'
However, even those who ran could be caught and killed if they took the wrong path. Players with good sense could potentially earn additional rewards by gathering evidence of the goblin attack. The tutorial reward varied drastically depending on the number of restarts and the completion method. An efficient escape route became the orthodox tutorial strategy.
… … Until a certain player appeared.
'Tolkien… … .'
This user confronted the goblins with amazing fighting skills, zeal, and great luck, achieving several hidden feats. Although he couldn't kill all the goblins, he succeeded in slaying many and saving his benefactor, Mark, earning a significant reward. Needless to say, he used this as a stepping stone for rapid growth, possible only with an innate combat sense. He grew quickly, was scouted by a reputable guild, received extensive support, and later became one of The Lord's leading gamers—eventually becoming a cornerstone of the forces hostile to Lokan.
'I can't let him get the same thing.'
The public release of Tolkien's tutorial strategy also played a part in his fame. Even knowing the strategy, it wasn't something just anyone could replicate, but his skills were recognized as more and more players started succeeding by following his guide.
'You bastard Tolkien… … Thank you.'
The strategy was already known to Lokan. But he had never executed it himself. In his first life, confident from playing other games, Lokan had simply skipped the tutorial, believing every minute in the main game was more important.
"What are you doing? Come on!"
Unaware of this, Mark shouted once more when Lokan didn't move, urging him to act.
"Mark, hide here. I will bring help soon."
Instead of running away, Lokan moved the wounded Mark to a hiding spot. According to the strategy, if Mark was moved while severely wounded, there was a high probability he would be discovered and killed, which would significantly drop the achievement rating. However, if hidden in this specific spot, he could survive for at least 30 minutes. That was ample time. If Lokan left the village within that period, he wouldn't be penalized by a drop in achievement rate from Mark's potential death, securing a minimum reward.
After persuading Mark to hide, Lokan immediately started running.
'30 minutes from now… … First, I have to get a weapon.'
But he didn't run in the direction Mark had pointed. He sprinted towards the location of the 'weapon point' he had memorized from the village's initial peaceful state. Without a weapon, with low stats and no skills, there was no way even Lokan, the future King of Violence, could achieve anything against the goblins.
'Ownership isn't an issue.'
There was no need to purchase weapons. Under the current circumstances, the village was a lawless zone. He could use anything without consent, as most villagers were already dead and ownership had vanished. In any case, everything would reset after the tutorial, but the immediate availability of resources was crucial.
'A little more, just a little more!'
Lokan was prepared to die here several times. The village structure was slightly randomized with each tutorial attempt, and the goblins' patrol paths changed, which was a major source of complaints about the tutorial's high difficulty. Lokan was planning to master it completely before that frustration even set in.
'As expected.'
While their lives were in danger from a direct encounter, the goblins, as predators with numerical superiority, mainly used the roads as expected. With the village almost fully occupied, their perimeter security was lax.
Weaving from alley to alley, straining his memory, he finally caught a glimpse of the weapon shop, its door smashed and interior burning.
'Two minutes to get here.'
Lokan had been counting the time since hiding Mark. Time was the key. But there was a variable.
'Damn it, I guess… … .'
He spotted two goblins loitering near the weapon shop entrance, making entry difficult. No matter how experienced Lokan was, a Level 1 character with bare hands couldn't deal with two armed goblins.
Time ticked by even as he hesitated. 10 seconds, 30 seconds, a full minute. He waited patiently, but the two goblins showed no sign of moving elsewhere, squeaking and joking with each other.
Should he give up and try another location? But deviating now would make it difficult to stay on schedule. Several thoughts raced through his mind. Lokan's gaze sharpened, focusing into the weapon shop. The flames, now spreading thanks to the broken door, acted as illumination.
'Do it.'
Resolved, Lokan moved stealthily. Slowly, but not too slow. He approached while monitoring their line of sight, then burst into motion like lightning.
Whish! Thwack!
"Keeek!"
A stone, picked up earlier and thrown with a proper rotation from the waist, struck the back of the head of the goblin who was turning around. The creature staggered, bent over in pain.
"Wake up!"
Stones were easily ignored, but except for durability, they were a great early-game weapon, comparable to any beginner armament.
'Not enough?'
It was a critical hit, but not lethal. Blood seeped from the goblin's unprotected head, but it clutched the wound, still alive. But that was okay. It was just to buy time.
"Chio!"
Instead of following up, Lokan swooped towards the other nearby goblin. As it flinched, Lokan's raised right hand hesitated, creating a feint. Then—
Fwish!
A handful of sand from Lokan's left hand sprayed into the second goblin's face. A misdirection attack using a time delay! While it caused no damage, the goblin, its vision obscured, rubbed its eyes and stepped back in confusion.
Lokan didn't miss the opportunity. He dashed past them and into the weapon shop.
"I got it!"
He seized his chosen weapon.
[Power level is low. Weapon usage restrictions applied.]
[Attack speed reduced by 20%.]
[Attack power reduced by 30%.]
[Increases stamina consumption by 50%.]
"Tch." The low base Strength stat imposed limits, but it didn't matter. He wasn't planning to use it extensively yet. Lokan roughly stowed the weapon in his inventory and grabbed for another.
"Chit! Queek!"
At that moment, the angry goblins stormed into the shop. One charged with a dagger, the other wearing crude leather armor, both screeching.
Whik! Thuck!
But a small hatchet greeted them. The sharp blade sank precisely into the first goblin's forehead. With thrown weapons, without the proper skill, the hilt often just bounced off, but Lokan could throw that much with his eyes closed; the hatchet was his favorite secondary weapon.
"Now it's just the two of us."
Squelch… … .
Lokan gave an evil smile to the surviving goblin.
"Kit!"
But the goblin didn't give up. Recognizing the human was dangerous but emboldened by having killed most villagers, it rushed forward courageously.
A moment later, it joined its companion as a cold corpse, its forehead split open.
"Cheeky little bastard."
Lokan stepped on the corpse, pulled out the hatchet, and exited the weapon shop.
But there was no level up. Experience points weren't accumulated during the tutorial. Instead:
[Excellent achievement! You defeated an opponent stronger than yourself.]
[You have acquired the title 'Natural Fighter'.]
[Natural Fighter] [Normal]
Awarded for defeating an opponent 3 or more levels stronger. You can be proud of your talent in fighting.
[Hold Effect]
-Strength +1
He felt a weak but distinct surge of power. This was the 'title effect'—a hallmark feature of The Lord. It was the 'achievement system' that had forged Lokan into the King of Violence and created numerous superhumans. A system where special actions or near-impossible feats granted stat increases or unique effects.
This was why one couldn't reach the top simply by grinding monsters of a similar level. Conversely, by accumulating tremendous achievements, a player could walk the path of the Absolute, even as a latecomer or a solo player. The ten strongest individuals who walked this path were called Royal Lauders, meaning those closest to The Lord.
Lokan had been one such Royal Lauder in his past life (a term he used for distinction, unsure if he had truly died and returned). He was granted the title of King and reigned as an object of fear. Naturally, all other Royal Lauders had achieved their own "unbelievable" feats. Although he eventually discovered his own relative weakness, leaving him with little but a pretentious title.
But this time was different. He now knew the path to acquiring strength far surpassing his past self, and how to become the true King of Violence.
This was just the beginning.