Chapter 6: 2nd & 3rd Closed Beta (2)

The message was about the start of Forgotten Legend’s second closed beta. It was the kind of notification informing all users who participated in the first one could do so without submitting another application.

Of course I can’t say I cultivated good concentration and memory because of playing Forgotten Legend once, and there was no hard evidence to prove it.

So, I concluded by intuition that I could do so because of Forgotten Legend.

That was why I had been anxiously waiting for Forgotten Legend until now without playing any other game.

I immediately took out the popular 2nd generation VR adaptor that I had stuck in the closet and hooked it up to the computer.

Then I accessed the homepage and entered the new 12-digit alpha-numeric access code, which came along with the message.

Since I had been there already, I could quickly proceed.

Like before, it took seven hours to update the game.

The opening of the second closed beta would be at 10:00 AM, the same time as the first one.

But I was much more thrilled this time, which I didn’t feel when I participated in the first one.

I had been waiting for this second for more than six months.

With thrill and anxiety, I watched the slow updating process of Forgotten Legend.

Of course I completely forgot about the chemistry equation that I memorized a moment ago.

10:00 AM the next morning.

“Set alarm for 12:20 PM.”

I set the alarm ten minutes prior to my lunch time at 12:30 PM because I didn’t want to let anybody know that I was playing the game.

Then I lay on the bed after putting on the 2nd generation popular VR adaptor that had just finished updating.

“Execution!”

<VR adapter is now on.>

The small island lush with green grass and trees that I had set up when I accessed the first closed beta came into my view. Not caring about it, however, I shouted quickly.

“Confirm downloaded details!”

<These are the downloaded details that you have now.>

: Forgotten Legend (Execution available)

“Forgotten Legend Execution!”

Since I was already wearing the VR adaptor, I shouted loudly.

Then an intro video before my eyes, which was different from the one the first closed beta.

The video showed monsters ranging from the very low-level ones like oak and cobolts to giant monsters like ogres, trolls, basilisks and drakes charging at the long walls defended by humans.

It was a jaw-dropping scene, but I immediately skipped the intro video because I was impatient.

“Skip!”

Then that vast wheat field that I saw in the first closed beta appeared again.

Glossing over the description of the second closed beta like I did in the first, I accessed it right away because there was little difference between the two.

Of course, there were more areas than before, which required more monsters, items and skills.

The level restriction was increased to 200.

However, there was one thing in common between the first and second closed beta, namely the two-week duration of the game.

I skipped that too, because it was not important.

And I made the vow like I did before that I would be totally absorbed into it.

Was it because of the memory and concentration that I suddenly gained while playing this game?

Nope. It was part of the reason, but I had another reason.

Namely, it was interesting, so much so that I didn’t want to pay attention to other games.

I was so into it that I didn’t even want to waste my time eating or sleeping or going to the restroom.

“Shoot three Ice Arrows in a row!”

Three ice arrows accurately pierced through two giant spiders.

A message instantly popped up.

<You have leveled up!>

“Hm.”

Since I became stronger than before, I should be happy about it, but I just murmured because I was in doubt.

Two weeks of playing the second closed beta was the same as the first one, but there was one difference. Unlike the first one, the max level was 200 in the second one.

At first I thought that there was a prepared monster for the user to take advantage of to attain EXP easily or level up quickly.

As a matter of fact, the EXP I could attain was increased because higher-level monsters than the ones in the first closed beta were released this time.

But it didn’t do me any good. Along with leveling up, my EXP, which was needed to move up to the next level, also increased.

However, I soon had a smile on my face because it was too easy for me to attain Level 100, the max level of the first closed beta.

I liked this level of difficulty because I had a goal that I could achieve.

I became more and more absorbed into hunting, imagining myself to be much stronger than before.

“Ice Field!”

<You dealt damage to the giant spiders by using the 20% speed reduction debuff.>

historical

Although the damage was not huge, compared to other ice spells of the same level, Ice Field could reduce the moving speed of the opponent by as much as 20%.

So, I used it often, especially when I hunted those monsters moving in groups like the giant spiders. Then I used the strongest skills that I owned at the moment.

“Downpouring Hail!”

The hail pellets were a bit smaller than my fist. They rained down on the giant spiders who had to slow down because of the Ice Field.

As my skills were intended for a wide range of different monsters, the damage dealt to the giant spiders was not as big as my single-target skills.

But I invested in intellectual power all the remaining stat points I earned after I leveled up in the first closed beta, and chose the items mainly useful for increasing intellectual power.

As a result, the giant spiders collapsed even without coming near me after avoiding the Ice Field and the hail.

“Lol.”

I could not help but smile, watching the giant spiders falling one by one, dropping EXP, golden rings, and sometimes miscellaneous items on the way.

I smiled because it was interesting to say the least.

While other users were complaining about the second closed beta, saying it was difficult to level up, I was absorbed in hunting monsters, even cutting my sleeping time.

Two weeks later, I got a message.

<The second closed beta of Forgotten Legend has closed. Thanks to all the users who participated in the game.>

Then the message went off, taking me back to the wheat field on the start-up screen.

I was triumphant because I reached Level 200, the max level of the second closed beta.

Almost half of the users gave up reaching level 200 in the middle, but I attained it faster than anybody else.

In other words, I enjoyed the hunting a lot.

I could not understand how the other users that I met in the game became tired of hunting.

Why? Because the character I chose, which was like my alter ego, became stronger and there were no drawbacks even if I hunted monsters. Besides, I unconditionally received EXP, golden rings and miscellaneous items, although the number of the points differed according to the level of the monster.

Sometimes I received items that I never expected.

In any case, I always received the benefits without incurring any losses.

So, I could not understand why other users became tired of it and even complained it was boring.

It was such an interesting and thrilling game.

Besides, there was the level of difficulty called Level 200, the max level that made my heart beat excitedly.

Anyway, I didn’t intend for it, but I could have my name on the ranked list again. I was not just in the upper, but the highest rank.

So, I received lots of requests for helping them with monster boss raids or teaming up with me in the dueling field.

I accepted their requests except for the dueling field and enjoyed all the contents just like I did during the first closed beta.

And I was much more satisfied with this than the first one.

I soon closed ‘Forgotten Legend’ completely and turned off the 2nd-generation popular VR adaptor.

Then I cautiously approached my desk.

“Whew..”