Just as Kael turned his back on the misty, Treant-infested grove, ready to leave the arduous Level 10 grind behind, a golden fanfare erupted in his ears, accompanied by a system notification that dominated his vision, shimmering with importance.
[SERVER ANNOUNCEMENT]: Congratulations to Player >>Kael<< for being the first Traveler to reach Level 10! Your dedication has echoed through Genesis! You have been awarded the Title:
Kael froze mid-stride, his heart leaping into his throat. A server announcement? With his name? He felt a flush of pride instantly followed by a wave of panic. He wanted power, yes, but anonymity was his shield. Now, every player online knew his name was associated with this server first.
A second, private message followed immediately:
[System]: You have been awarded the Title:
He quickly navigated the menus. He saw the title listed, radiating a faint golden aura. +1 to all stats was a small but welcome boost. He equipped it internally – the slight bump to his attributes was immediately reflected on his status screen. Display publicly? Absolutely not. He toggled the display option firmly to 'Off'. Hopefully, the Veil of the Novice displaying 'Level 3' would be enough to deflect any unwanted attention his name might now attract.
Taking a deep breath to calm his racing pulse, Kael forced himself to move. He couldn't linger. He pushed out of the corrupted woods, the oppressive mist gradually thinning, giving way to rolling foothills covered in tough grasses and scattered boulders. The air felt cleaner, fresher.
He encountered new wildlife here – stocky, badger-like creatures called Hill Strikers that burrowed quickly and attacked with surprising ferocity, and large Plains Hawks that swooped down from the sky. He engaged them cautiously at first, but quickly found that Level 10, combined with his newly allocated stats and the +1 from the Pioneer title, made a significant difference.
A Hill Striker burst from the earth beside him, claws swiping. Kael reacted faster than before, the slight Dexterity increase allowing a smoother sidestep. His fist connected with the Striker's head with his STR now effectively at 105. The creature crumpled instantly.
[System]: Hill Striker defeated! +150 EXP![System]: Loot Drop: Striker Claw x1[System]: Striker Claw detected. Transmuting via Absolute Assimilation... +45 EXP![System]: Loot Drop: Tough Pelvis x1[System]: Tough Pelvis detected. Transmuting via Absolute Assimilation... +30 EXP![System]: Total EXP Gain: 225 EXP. Applying 3x Multiplier... +675 EXP!
Level 10: 1380 / 4000 EXP
The EXP gain felt good – noticeable progress after the slog to Level 10. He dispatched a swooping Plains Hawk with a well-timed upward punch as it dove, its feathers transmuting into another burst of EXP.
Level 10: 2105 / 4000 EXP
He was moving faster now, covering ground. The terrain became more traversed. He noticed worn paths cutting through the hills, faint at first, then gradually becoming more defined. In the distance, he saw wisps of smoke rising against the horizon. Other players began to appear more frequently, mostly traveling in pairs or small groups, clad in basic leather or mismatched iron pieces, likely heading towards the same destination. Kael kept his distance, pulling his metaphorical hood lower, ensuring his 'Level 3' display was prominent if anyone glanced his way. Some gave him curious looks – his undergarments and bare fists were still an odd sight – but most were focused on their own journeys.
Finally, cresting a large hill, he saw it: Silverhaven Outpost.
It wasn't a grand city, but a sturdy-looking settlement nestled in a wide valley, built against the crumbling ruins of some ancient stone structure. A robust wooden palisade wall, manned by watchful NPC guards in gleaming silver-trimmed armor, encircled the core buildings. Smoke rose from chimneys, suggesting homes, a forge, perhaps an inn. The main gate was open, revealing a bustling scene within.
Compared to the untamed wilderness he'd spent his entire time in Genesis traversing, Silverhaven felt like a metropolis. As he approached the gate, the density of players