Alpha Realm Online - Book I - The Beginning

Chapter 3- Beginnings and Friends

I grinned as I spawned in a village. It had a medieval design, with stone brick buildings lining stone paved roads. Looking out in the distance, I could see massive castle walls in the distance.

That would explain the design. We must be in some sort of giant castle!

I was standing on a raised elevated platform with steps lining the entire perimeter of it. At the foot of the steps, four roads branched out in all four directions. Three of them were quiet and deserted, but the fourth one directly behind me was bustling with activity. I decided to check it out.

[Castle of Beginnings: Market]

The notification flashed before me as I stepped into the busy street. There were market stalls selling various items on either side of the path. I strolled down the lane, staring in awe at everything around me.

Finally, I stepped out of the castle, and into the wilderness beyond.

[Floor 1: The Plains]

Another notification popped up. It was only then that it occurred to me to check my Inventory. I opened it, and hovering over my armor and weapon, the words [Paladin's Armor] and [Paladin's Broadsword] appeared respectively.

"Generic, but they'll have to do for now," I commented, drawing my sword effortlessly.

I strode through the grass, looking for a creature to fight. Then a tiny, winged creature suddenly flew in front of me.

[Fairy: Level 3]

A fairy, eh? I thought, gripping my broadsword tightly, a grin spreading across my face.

And it's a... I checked the symbol beside its name. It depicted a little plant.

A Nature-type. So based on what I saw in the class selection, my elemental powers should just do normal damage to it.Not worth the trouble.

We circled each other, sizing each other up. Then all of a sudden, the flying creature leapt at me, sparkles trailing behind it as it flew.

I barely put up my sword to defend in time and block its attack. Knocking into the flat of my blade, the Fairy reeled back, dazed. Seeing my chance, I swiftly swung my weapon to counter-attack.

My blade hit it directly in the side, taking its Hit Points (HP) to 0 in one blow. It vanished into multicoloured pixels that drifted away into the wind.

[Level up! 1 -> 2]

I smiled at the message. This is fun!

I turned, about to start looking for a new creature to battle when a piercing scream rang out from behind me.

I spun back around, eyes widened. What was that? Someone needs help!
Dashing in the direction of the scream, I scanned the area frantically. Just trees, grass and-

What the fudge?!

A huge, hulking shadow stood over a girl from the Hunter class, cornering her with her back against a large tree. She was obviously terrified, but kept firing arrows at its chest, though they seemed to have no effect and bounced off harmlessly.

[Golem: Level 12]

I gasped as I saw its level. 12?! This is the first floor! There's no way this could be here!

Spotting me, the girl screamed, "Just go! I'll respawn anyway! You're a Paladin, it's a Earth-type, you'll stand an even less chance against this!"