After that scuffle in the forest and the crazy discovery that I could actually copy skills, I knew one thing: I needed loot. I need it fast to get stronger.
There was one place I remembered that had another hidden treasure chest. During a closed beta developer stream, they accidentally flashed a map segment showing a tiny question mark near the ruins of a collapsed watchtower, located a bit close to the Whispering Fields' location, a place that lived up to its name. Most players wrote it off as a texture glitch, but not me.
So, I headed east from the Colosseum of Petra to reach the Whispering Fields.
It was a three-day journey, and it wasn't that easy.
On the first day, I fought a Scrap Hawk that tried to steal my dagger while I was walking on the road in broad daylight. The next day, two Feral Wolves ambushed in the evening while I was roasting a bullfrog for dinner. And on the third day, three Crazed Bunnies pounced on me like assassins while I was taking a nap mid-daylight. Thank God those monsters were only level one, or I might've been dead meat.
Then I finally reached it.
The Whispering Fields.
The place was exactly like its name. It was filled with swaying violet grass that reached my knees, and giant stones with faint rune marks stood along the road. A low fog crept along the ground at my feet.
Then, the grass suddenly swayed faster, whispering all around me.
"She's watching."
"You'll always be a loser no matter what world you're in."
"Stop trying..."
I shook it off. "That's not getting inside my head. I'm already used to it!"
I pushed forward for about ten minutes, cutting down a level-one Cube Monster that decided my back looked punchable.
Then I arrived at the watchtower ruins. It sat atop a moss-covered hill, jutting out like a broken tooth. Cracked stones and gnarled roots littered the slope, the ground slick from recent rain. Thick vines drooped across the path like lazy tripwires, and each step sent a soft crunch through the quiet underbrush. The air smelled of damp earth, decaying stone, and a faint metallic tang, like dried blood.
"Finally..." I said, panting heavily, as I looked up at the top. "I'm here..."
A faint glow pulsed at the top.
"Did someone get here first?" I muttered, heart palpitating. "No way…"
At the base of the watchtower, an old metal ladder clung to the crumbling wall, its rungs slick with rust and rain. I climbed cautiously, gripping the cold metal with a worried expression. When I reached the top, the glow was bright and steady. And someone was already there.
I sighed deeply. "Talk about bad luck..."
A petite Russian woman stood at the edge of the broken tower, her silhouette framed by the glow behind her. She wore a black metal-plated corset with sharp, battle-worn edges. Her long white hair shone like silver thread. Her crimson eyes locked onto me, silent and judging, before she looked away.
"What was that look even about?" I thought. "She looks foreign... System, inspect the player in front of me."
A system window popped above her head:
[Player 7]: [Vladimir Alberka] — (Level 15)
From the treasure chest, she took out a crossbow that was made of black and gold, covered in crimson engravings. The moment she slung it up, a window message flashed:
[Treasure Chest Item Obtained]: [Warmonger] — (UNIQUE WEAPON)
I clenched my fists. "That was supposed to be mine, damn it!"
She aimed the crossbow at the sky and fired. Thousands of lightning bolts erupted upward, exploding into patterns that scattered birds and shook the clouds.
"What class is she?" I said. "System, inspect that player's class."
Another system window blinked into view:
[Class]: [Naval Commander]
My jaw dropped. "I-Impossible... T-That's a unique class!" I thought.
***
In Etherveil, there are only twenty-four unique items and classes that can only be found in hidden chests with a 0.1% drop rate. Each weapon and class comes with its own set of rare abilities that set it apart from all others. These chests are scattered across secret locations, often guarded by powerful monsters or sealed deep within dangerous dungeons. Only the most determined players ever manage to uncover them. Each class is said to be so powerful that even a low-level player can feel like a high-level player once they wield its abilities.
***
She turned to me, calm and unbothered, and activated a class skill: Mount. Thunder cracked as a massive flying warship descended from the clouds, its golden sails and glowing cannons gleaming. A shining platform appeared in the air, lifting her toward the deck.
She glanced down at me with a smirk. "That's what ya get for being late," she said. "Absolutely nothing."
"Let's see about that," I said, lifting my right hand, ready to copy the skill.
But a sharp red system message froze me in place:
[ERROR]: [Cannot be copied!]
I stared at it. "Of course," I thought. "Plot armor."
She giggled, her voice light but teasing. "Why'd you lift your hand like that?" Another giggle. "If you decide to be my lackey, I might let ya aboard next time!"
"Were you born to assume everything a man does?" I replied. "I was clearly stretching my hand because I strained it earlier!"
"Yeah, sure you were!" she called out, laughing. "Tell me your decision the next time we meet!"
The ship rose higher, the wind whipping around me as it disappeared into the clouds.
I stood there alone, staring at the empty chest she'd looted.
I sighed, shaking my head. "What a fucking looter..." I muttered—then paused. "Wait... I am too..."
Then, just as I turned to leave, a golden notification blazed across the sky:
[A New Dungeon Has Spawned in the lower level of Arkanos City!]
[Awaiting Brave Challengers!]
Cheers rose from a distance. Footsteps rushing off, desperate players and tryhard guilds already racing.
I tightened my grip on my dagger, watching the horizon.
"Tempting…" I said quietly. "But not yet."
I turned south, toward the woods.