《Hated by the RNG》 Ch-1 A new beginning Ethan''s eyes fluttered open to a blinding light, his senses overwhelmed by the sudden change in his surroundings. Moments ago, he was in his small apartment, clicking through the final cutscene of the MMORPG he had played for years. The game, "Estithae Online," was a sprawling open-world adventure that had captivated millions. But Ethan had achieved what no one else had: he had completed the game. Blinking rapidly, Ethan tried to adjust to his new environment. He found himself standing in the center of a bustling medieval town square, surrounded by cobblestone streets and vibrant market stalls. The air was filled with the sounds of chatter, the clinking of armor, and the cries of merchants selling their wares. "Welcome to Estithae," a disembodied voice echoed in his mind. "You have been chosen to embark on a new journey. Survive, thrive, and conquer." Ethan''s heart raced. This couldn''t be real, could it? He glanced down at himself, seeing his familiar avatar from the game. He was clad in basic leather armor, holding a rusty sword that was clearly labeled as a D-rank weapon. A notification appeared in his vision: Character Rank: D Weapon: D-Rank Sword Before he could process the information, a series of gasps and screams erupted around him. Ethan turned to see a player, wild-eyed and grinning maniacally, slashing through the crowd with a gleaming S-rank weapon. Players scattered in every direction, some already lying lifeless on the ground, their bodies remained right there. Some of their libs were severed A chilling realization hit Ethan: here, death was permanent. Ethan''s instincts kicked in. He needed to understand his situation better. A familiar command came to mind, and he opened his stat window. Alongside the usual attributes¡ªStrength, Agility, Endurance¡ªthere was a new entry:Skill: Inspect (???) - Allows you to view the stat windows of others. Testing it out, Ethan glanced at a nearby player who was frantically trying to escape the chaos.The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Name: Talia Hargrove Level: 1 Character Rank: C Class: None Weapon: C-Rank Bow Unique Skill: Quickstep [C] - Increases movement speed for a short duration. Ethan''s mind raced. This skill could be invaluable. He needed to know more about the people around him, to understand who could be allies and who posed a threat. A flash of movement caught his eye. A burly player with an A-rank axe was charging toward the crazed killer, only to stop abruptly, clearly evaluating his chances. The crazed player, with his S-rank sword, seemed unbeatable. Ethan glanced around, noticing others running for their lives. The atmosphere was thick with tension and fear. Ethan began to walk through the chaotic town square, trying to make sense of his surroundings. As he passed by different players, he discreetly used his Inspect skill, gathering as much information as he could. Name: Joran Thorne Level: 1 Character Rank: C Class: None Weapon: C-Rank Sword Unique Skill: Stone Skin [C] - Temporarily increases defense. Ethan moved on, noticing another player practicing spells with a B-rank wand, attracting a small crowd. Name: Mira Callahan Level: 1 Character Rank: B Class: None Weapon: B-Rank Wand Unique Skill: Fireball [B] - Launches a powerful fire attack. He overheard a group discussing strategies for survival, their faces filled with concern. Name: Lira Dennell Level: 1 Character Rank: B Class: None Weapon: B-Rank Staff Unique Skill: Healing Light [B] - Heals allies within a certain radius. "Stick close to others if you can," Lira advised another player. "It¡¯s dangerous to be alone, especially with lunatics like that running around." She nodded towards the S-rank player, who had just slain another unfortunate victim and was now striding confidently out of the town gates. Ethan continued to wander, absorbing the atmosphere and the snippets of conversation around him. The tension in the air was palpable, with everyone on edge, uncertain about their new reality. Prices for essentials had skyrocketed, and arguments broke out frequently over resources. "It''s going to take a while to get used to all this," Ethan muttered to himself. "But I''ll adapt. I have to." As the day wore on, Ethan found a secluded spot to rest, his mind racing with the day''s events. He had conquered Estithae once before, but this was different. This was real. And he was determined to survive and thrive, no matter the odds. Ch-2 Facing Reality The next day, Ethan sat cross-legged on the rough wooden floor of the small inn room, fingers drumming against his sword hilt. Think, Ethan. What¡¯s the best move? Then it hit him. His eyes widened as the word surfaced. ¡°Farming.¡± The idea was ridiculous on the surface, laughable to anyone with a more aggressive mindset. ¡°But not just any farming,¡± he muttered to himself, a small smile forming. ¡°Vegetable farming.¡± To anyone else, that meant days of pointless work in the dirt for meaningless rewards. For Ethan, it meant Research¡ªthe hidden skill that no other player bothered to touch. ¡°It¡¯s true. It¡¯s the best skill for a run like this,¡± he murmured, standing. He clenched his fists as if grounding himself. A no-class player has no choice. I¡¯m already weak... so I¡¯ll play smart. Estithae Online relied heavily on classes to guide players. Everyone followed the system¡¯s unspoken rule: choose a class early, boost your stats, and specialize. Swordsmen gained Strength and mastery with a blade. Mages earned boosted Intelligence and access to combat spells like Fireball. But Research was different. A hidden early-game skill that let a player learn any ability from any class. Mage fireballs? Swordsman strikes? Archer tricks? Ethan could take it all¡ªat a price. ¡°It scares off the others,¡± Ethan muttered, a bitter laugh in his chest. ¡°Because to get it, you can¡¯t choose a class. Not ever. No stats, no bonuses, no easy path.¡± He opened his map with a sharp command. The window blinked into existence¡ªa pale, half-finished view of the starting town. Most zones were faded into obscurity, only the beginner areas marked: Pulling on his ragged starter gear, he made his way to the far edge of town. The wooden farmstead loomed ahead, weathered and forgotten... except not quite. Three figures stood in the field when Ethan arrived, their presence catching him off guard. He slowed his steps, narrowing his eyes as he scanned them. What are they doing here? ¡°Check status,¡± he murmured, activating his skill. The information lit up instantly. The first was a woman. Her long, jet-black hair flowed down her back, a streak of white wrapped through like a scar. Her dark mercenary outfit looked worn yet functional, her body balanced in the poised stillness of someone used to combat.Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. Name: Astrid Roseworth Rank: A Class: Mercenary Weapon: B-Rank Daggers Ethan grunted to himself. ¡°She¡¯s fast. Stealth? She could be a problem in the future.¡± The next figure was the complete opposite¡ªclumsy and jittery. A young man with short, snow-white hair fumbled awkwardly with a glowing tome strapped to his side. Small potion bottles clinked together as he adjusted his belt, giving the distinct impression he¡¯d fall over if you so much as bumped him. Name: Philip Hyckman Rank: B Class: Mage Weapon: C-Rank Staff Ethan tilted his head, brows raising slightly. ¡°That Magical Research skill... Hm. Better than it looks if he survives long enough to use it.¡± And then his eyes landed on the third player. At first glance, he looked unassuming¡ªplain, worn clothes matching Ethan¡¯s, as though the game had mocked both their luck. But the dark blue hair, casually tousled, the strong posture, and the twin swords strapped to his back suggested otherwise. Something about him carried an air of calm confidence¡ªlike someone who knew he was special. ¡°Who¡¯s this guy?¡± Ethan muttered warily. The stats appeared. Name: Jack Hawkfire Rank: S Class: None Weapon: A-Rank Enchantable Sword The list went on. Ethan¡¯s jaw tightened. His grip around his blade hilt trembled as he reread the window, each line mocking him. An S-rank character. An A-rank weapon. Rare skills¡ªMental Barrier... ¡°Blessed by RNG...¡± he whispered bitterly. He glanced at his own window. D-Rank. A single combat-useless skill. The words blurred together. He blinked hard, fists clenched as an embarrassing sting hit his eyes. For just a second, the resentment crept through¡ªfiery and real. He couldn¡¯t hold it back. His face contorted into something ugly. Ethan slapped his cheeks, the sting jarring him back to focus. ¡°Relax. Stick to the plan.¡± He straightened his posture and inhaled sharply. Still, as he passed Jack Hawkfire on the way to the farmer NPC, his eyes darted to Jack¡¯s stats one final time. His lips twitched bitterly, and an unspoken thought rang through his mind. I hate you already. He goes to talk to the farmer NPC and start doing basic quests like, collecting vegetables, and terrain cleaning. The reward for those missions are some vegetables, farming exp and a bit of money. In this game u can insta sell every item in the market or u can put them for auction. The items given as rewards on these farming quests may look like shitty items, who would ever keep carrots, lettuce and other vegetables. ¡°I just need to collect and keep the correct items for the hidden quest to appear. This will be easy, i have already finished this game once¡± Ch-3 New gear acquired Ethan spent the last week chipping away at farming quests, methodically collecting vegetables, clearing terrain, and earning small rewards for his efforts. Each new task brought him closer to the goal. Research. The drudgery barely fazed him; after all, he¡¯d already walked this path once. This morning, a quest window had appeared, confirming he was finally on track: Find the lost animals of the farm Ethan smirked at the notification. ¡°Here it comes,¡± he muttered. ¡°The first real obstacle for this build.¡± But he wasn¡¯t na?ve. He¡¯d need better gear and skills before tackling it. The farm could wait.

At the Armory

The wooden door creaked as Ethan stepped into the dimly lit armory. The air smelled of oil and heated metal, a hint of something faintly acrid hanging in the corners. Weapons lined the walls¡ªgleaming swords, sleek bows, and wickedly curved daggers¡ªall neatly organized and practically daring someone to choose wrong. Behind the counter, a burly man polished a steel blade with steady hands. Livan Ironsmith. His bald head gleamed faintly in the torchlight, and the broad leather apron he wore looked more ceremonial than practical¡ªthere was no shirt beneath it, only skin darkened by soot and old scars. Ethan hesitated, watching the man silently for a moment. He startled me in the game, but now... He¡¯s downright intimidating in person. Livan¡¯s sharp gaze cut through the silence, pinning Ethan in place as if assessing his worth. ¡°You gonna stare all day, kid, or are you buying something?¡± Recovering quickly, Ethan stepped forward, his voice calm. ¡°I need a sword. Decent, within 1000 gold.¡± Livan set down the sword he¡¯d been cleaning and leaned forward on the counter. ¡°A thousand gold, huh?¡± His intense stare didn¡¯t waver. ¡°At best, you¡¯re looking at a C-Rank normal sword... or maybe a D-Rank katana. That¡¯s your budget¡¯s limit.¡± Ethan kept his face neutral, but inside, something twisted. A lie. A C-Rank sword barely scraped 700 gold. This guy thinks I¡¯m an easy mark. He leaned forward slightly, meeting Livan¡¯s glare with a small, knowing smile that sent an involuntary shiver through the smith. ¡°Maybe I wasn¡¯t clear,¡± Ethan said smoothly. ¡°I want a real sword. Something worth the effort. How about the Soul Sword?¡± For the first time, Livan blinked, his confident smirk faltering into surprise. Then, unexpectedly, he barked out a laugh. ¡°Hah! Been a long time since I had someone in here who knew their stuff. Wait here, brat.¡± Livan disappeared through a rear door, returning moments later with a weapon that seemed to breathe. The Soul Sword. Its hilt glinted faintly in the dim light, the pommel set with a crimson gem shaped like an eye that almost seemed to blink. Its blade shimmered faintly, the faint tendrils of ghostly mist trailing its edge. ¡°Take a look,¡± Livan said, setting it down. As Ethan approached, a window flashed: Name: Soul Sword Rank: C-Rank Unique Skill: Soul Gathering [???] Lv1: For every hit, gain souls based on damage. Souls enhance your level for a limited time.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. Gather 100 souls to unlock weapon potential. Progress: 0/100 Reward: Soul Stone Upgrade. Ethan nodded, impressed despite himself. ¡°Exactly what I need,¡± he muttered. He handed over the gold and moved to leave, but Livan stopped him with a gruff chuckle. ¡°Hey, brat,¡± he said, his tone unusually serious. ¡°One more thing¡ªdon¡¯t trust people who look like they¡¯d never betray you.¡± Ethan paused, glancing over his shoulder. He said nothing but gave a quick, dismissive wave before stepping into the street. Was that just a warning? Anyways i''ll keep that in mind. Stepping out of the armory, Ethan inhaled sharply, the cool air biting against his skin after the warm haze of the smithy. The faint clang of a distant blacksmith¡¯s hammer echoed through the street, mingling with the murmur of players and NPCs bartering at nearby shops. He adjusted his grip on the Soul Sword¡¯s sheath, his gaze scanning the town¡¯s uneven cobblestones. And then he saw him. A figure stood near the fountain, tall and familiar, the sunlight glinting off his spear. Ethan froze, his pulse quickening as he stared. Anthony. No way. It had been a long time since Ethan had seen him. The recognition stirred something uneasy within him, both relief and hesitation. He wasn¡¯t the same person anymore, and neither, Ethan imagined, was Anthony. Still, instincts prevailed. Before taking another step, he murmured, ¡°Check status.¡± Name: Anthony Hellspear Rank: C Class: Spear Warrior(2nd tier warrior) Weapon: B-Rank Spear
  • Calmness [B] Lv4: Grants composure during tense situations.
  • Javelin(Class skill) [B] Lv2: Allows the user to throw their spear for extra damage and recall it up to 12 meters.
  • Lie Detection [A] Lv1: Detects untruths three times daily.
Ethan frowned at the last skill. Lie Detection. The words lingered in his mind, like a warning in Livan¡¯s gruff voice: ¡°Don¡¯t trust the people who look like they¡¯d never betray you.¡± He clenched his fists briefly, forcing the unease aside. If Anthony truly was here, it was worth the risk to see if some part of their bond remained intact. ¡°Hey, Tony,¡± Ethan called as he approached. ¡°How have you been?¡± Anthony turned, his eyes narrowing slightly in surprise before recognition lit them up. A small grin spread across his face. ¡°Wait... Ethan? Is that really you?¡± He chuckled softly, lowering the tip of his spear to the ground. ¡°Man, it¡¯s been a long time. I¡¯m doing as fine as I can be in this mess of a game. How about you?¡± Ethan hesitated for a fraction of a second before answering. ¡°Fine.¡± He gestured vaguely to the sword at his side. ¡°Just doing some quests. Bought a new weapon today.¡± Anthony nodded, studying him briefly, his grin softening. ¡°Looks like you¡¯re giving it everything you¡¯ve got. That¡¯s good.¡± His voice grew quieter, more serious. ¡°Do you have some time to catch up? Feels like forever since we last talked.¡± Ethan¡¯s grip on the sword tightened unconsciously. He glanced at Anthony¡¯s status window again, his eyes lingering on Lie Detection. Even though we¡¯re friends, Ethan thought warily, I¡¯m not telling him about my skill. Livan¡¯s tip wasn¡¯t meant to be ignored. ¡°Not today,¡± he replied, shaking his head. ¡°I¡¯ve got a lot on my plate. This week¡¯s already packed, and I need to finish something important.¡± Anthony¡¯s smile wavered for a moment before he nodded slowly. ¡°I get it. It¡¯s just... been a while, you know? Let¡¯s talk when you¡¯re free.¡± ¡°Yeah, next time,¡± Ethan said with a faint wave as he turned to leave. He felt Anthony¡¯s gaze on his back as he walked away, his thoughts swirling. The temptation to stop and reconnect, to just talk like they used to, gnawed at him. But trust was a luxury he couldn¡¯t afford, not here. Not anymore. Ch-4 The first fight The Cave of Lizards was as foreboding as Ethan remembered from the game¡ªa dark, jagged scar in the rocky hillside. He tightened his grip on his sword and exhaled slowly. This was the place. He¡¯d known it from the moment the quest began, but that didn¡¯t make walking into it any easier. ¡°This damn cave,¡± he muttered. ¡°The only spot where the animals could be, and it had to be here.¡± The cave was notorious, not for wild beasts but for its inhabitants¡ªmercenaries, assassins, and betrayers. In the game, players often warned each other about its dangers, sharing horror stories of ambushes and bloody battles. But knowing didn¡¯t make the reality any less horrifying. The air inside was damp and cold, carrying the acrid scent of blood and decay. Ethan¡¯s boots crunched against scattered debris¡ªbroken weapons, empty potion bottles, and torn pieces of cloth. As he ventured deeper, the remnants of violence became more grotesque: a severed hand pinned to the wall with a rusted dagger, and limbs carelessly strewn across the floor. He forced himself to keep moving. ¡°This isn¡¯t how it was in the game,¡± he muttered, his stomach twisting. ¡°It¡¯s worse. So much worse.¡± The narrow passage opened into a larger chamber dimly lit by glowing crystals embedded in the walls. Ethan ducked behind a jagged boulder and peered into the room. Three figures stood near a set of cages. Inside the cages were the quest animals¡ªwild creatures pacing anxiously behind enchanted iron bars¡ªand, at the back, the shepherd dog he was sent to rescue. Ethan¡¯s gaze shifted to the figures standing guard. Two were clad in standard mercenary armor, weapons slung lazily over their shoulders. The third was different. The way he held himself, the confidence in his stance¡ªit felt eerily familiar. Ethan¡¯s breath caught in his throat. ¡°Mark,¡± he whispered, his voice barely audible. Mark Lowcut. A name Ethan had never thought he¡¯d associate with betrayal. They had played this game together for years, part of a team of friends who trusted each other implicitly. But the man standing there now, flanked by mercenaries, was a stranger. His daggers gleamed menacingly in the dim light, and blood stained his leather armor. Ethan¡¯s HUD flickered as Mark¡¯s stats came into view: Name: Mark Lowcut Level: 12 Character Rank: B Class: Assassin (2nd Tier)(7 player kills) Unique Skills: Stealth [A] Lv4, Quickstep [C] Lv5, Berserk [B] Lv3 Ethan¡¯s jaw tightened as he scanned the details. Seven player kills. Seven. Mark had chosen the path of a killer. His thoughts raced as memories of their gaming days flashed through his mind. The Mark he remembered wouldn¡¯t have done this. What changed?Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Ethan shook his head. This wasn¡¯t the time for questions. The animals were here, and so was Mark. If he didn¡¯t act fast, he¡¯d lose them¡ªand possibly his life. He adjusted his grip on his sword and waited. When the two mercenaries turned their backs, Ethan surged forward. His blade moved in a blur, cutting both down before they had a chance to react. 2 souls obtained. Number of souls: 2. Mark turned sharply, daggers at the ready. His eyes widened in recognition. ¡°Ethan?¡± ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s me,¡± Ethan said, his voice steady but cold. ¡°Why, Mark? Why did you choose this path?¡± Mark¡¯s lips curled into a smirk. ¡°Why not? It¡¯s simple, really. Killing players is the easiest way to level up and get better gear. Don¡¯t tell me you haven¡¯t thought about it.¡± Ethan clenched his fists. ¡°I can¡¯t let you keep doing this.¡± ¡°Then try and stop me,¡± Mark said, his grin widening. ¡°If you dare.¡± Ethan didn¡¯t wait. He dashed forward, his sword slicing through the air. Mark moved faster, sidestepping the attack and retaliating with a quick slash. Ethan felt the sting as Mark¡¯s dagger grazed his arm. 0.05 souls collected. Number of souls: 2.05. Mark¡¯s Stealth skill activated, and he vanished from Ethan¡¯s sight. Ethan spun around, his guard up, but it wasn¡¯t enough. A sharp pain exploded in his back as Mark¡¯s dagger found its mark. ¡°Damn it!¡± Ethan hissed, stumbling forward. ¡°That Stealth skill is broken.¡± Mark laughed. ¡°This is how the game works, Ethan. RNG decides everything. You rolled low, and I rolled high. It¡¯s just bad luck.¡± Ethan gritted his teeth. He couldn¡¯t see Mark, but he could feel him circling. He closed his eyes, focusing on his other senses. When Mark struck again, Ethan moved instinctively, evading the attack and grabbing Mark¡¯s wrist mid-swing. Mark¡¯s eyes widened in shock. ¡°What the¡ª?¡± A notification flashed across Ethan¡¯s HUD. High Instinct [S] Lv1 - A passive skill that improves perception of hidden enemies and enhances reaction speed in critical moments. Ethan smirked. ¡°Thanks for the assist, Mark.¡± With a swift motion, he twisted Mark¡¯s wrist and slashed his sword across it. Mark cried out, leaping back and clutching his wounded hand. 0.20 souls obtained. Number of souls: 2.25. Mark¡¯s face twisted in fury. ¡°You¡¯ll regret this, Ethan!¡± he roared, activating his Berserk skill. His veins bulged, his muscles swelling as raw power coursed through him. Mark charged, daggers flashing wildly. Ethan¡¯s new skill kicked in, allowing him to dodge with precision, landing counterattacks whenever he saw an opening. 0.25 souls obtained. Number of souls: 2.50. But the fight wasn¡¯t over. In a moment of desperation, Mark lost reasoning completely and aproach Ethan too fastly. He swings his daggers strongly at Ethan''s chest hurting him badly. After that, he threw his own daggers, misleading Ethan and throwing a powerful kick right in his chest. The force of the blow sent Ethan crashing into the wall, coughing blood. ¡°Damn it,¡± Ethan muttered, struggling to stay upright. ¡°This is bad¡­¡± Mark let out a feral roar, charging again. Ethan tryed to stay conscious and raise his sword to keep fighting, but he can''t. His end seems to be near. Ch-5 Every bug can be patched Ethan slumped against the cold wall of the cave, his chest heaving. Blood trickled down his arm, pooling beneath him. His vision blurred, but one image remained seared into his mind: Mark¡¯s lifeless body, felled in an instant by a figure who moved like a phantom. It wasn¡¯t that time had stopped. It was that the newcomer, a swordsman wielding a gleaming katana, was simply too fast for the eye to follow. The moment came rushing back. The swordsman¡ªJack Hawkfire, Ethan recalled¡ªhad walked into the room, his steps deliberate, almost casual. Mark had turned, his eyes wide with terror as Jack unsheathed his katana. The blade gleamed once, and in the same instant, Mark¡¯s neck opened in a spray of crimson. By the time the katana was sheathed, it was over. Ethan, pinned against the wall by his injuries, had stared in disbelief. ¡°What the fuck just happened? Who... who are you?¡± Jack had glanced at him with a faint smirk, his presence as imposing as his weapon. Ethan, ever the strategist, activated his Inspect skill. The information flooded his vision: Name: Jack Hawkfire Level: 23 Character Rank: S Class: None Weapon: A-Rank Enchantable Monohoshizao (Katana of Sasaki Kojiro) (Named Katana) Unique Skills:
  • Tsubame Gaeshi [S] Lv1: Allows the user to perform a vertical cut from up to down and then instantly from down to up.
  • Weakness Detection [A] Lv3: Highlights vulnerabilities of targets.
  • Lie Detection [A] Lv5: Can detect lies three times per day.
  • Fast Switch [B] Lv3: Enables swift weapon switching for seamless combat flow.
  • Mental Barrier [S] Lv4: Grants resistance to mental and illusionary attacks.
  • Medium Sword Proficiency [D] Lv5: Enhances sword combat dexterity.
  • Combat Reflexes [A] Lv4: Accelerates reaction time to incoming attacks.
  • Battle Clarity [B] Lv3: Reduces combat stress, improving decision-making under pressure.
  • ...
Ethan¡¯s fists clenched. ¡°The RNG carried guy. Of course he¡¯d have a legendary katana and skills stacked to the heavens.¡± Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. In that moment Ethan¡¯s body gave up and ended up fainting. Ethan woke two days later, his body still sore but his wounds bandaged. As he sat up, memories of Jack¡¯s intervention returned. His jaw tightened, frustration bubbling up. ¡°Fucking RNG guy,¡± he muttered. ¡°Why did he have to save me? Of all people...¡± A quest notification drew his attention, and he opened his menu: Status: Completed Reward: 100 Gold, blank pages of a mysterious skill book. Ethan¡¯s brow furrowed. ¡°At least that¡¯s done.¡± As he pocketed the reward, another thought crossed his mind. The gacha machine. The caf¨¦ was dimly lit, a faint hum emanating from the gacha machine tucked in the corner. Ethan approached it with purpose, carrying several small items he had specifically purchased to exploit an old bug he remembered from his gaming days. He smirked as he adjusted the settings. If this still works, I¡¯ll walk away with an accessory worth ten times what I paid. He placed the items in a specific sequence, following the steps that once guaranteed a high-tier accessory. Finally, he inserted the 100 gold and pulled the lever. The machine whirred and clicked erratically, its lights flickering. Ethan watched expectantly as it began to shake. ¡°Yes, yes, come on...¡± Suddenly, the machine sparked violently, shaking as if it were about to explode. Ethan stepped back, a sinking feeling in his gut. With one final jolt, the machine spat out... an egg. An egg. Ethan froze, staring at the object as it rolled to a stop at his feet. Picking it up, he inspected it, his brow furrowing. Race will depend on chance. Potential races:
  • Human (50%)
  • Dwarf (40%)
  • Elf (10%)
Ethan let out a frustrated groan. ¡°What the hell? Did they patch the bug? Damn developers. Well... what even is this?¡± The egg shimmered faintly, its surface covered in runes he couldn¡¯t decipher. He stuffed it into his pack, muttering, ¡°Figures. RNG again.¡± Back at the farm, Ethan continued grinding until the final hidden quest appeared. Reward: Blank pages of a mysterious book, 1000 gold, and 5 levels in a skill of your choice. Ethan read the notification twice, a shiver running down his spine. ¡°The Keeper,¡± he muttered. ¡°This is it.¡± He glanced at the egg tucked safely in his pack. ¡°Looks like it¡¯ll hatch during the labyrinth.¡± As he prepared for the journey ahead, a faint smile tugged at his lips. No more RNG. It¡¯s time to carve my own path.