Chương 2: Homebrew

— [NOTIFICATION: Obtain class features and ability score upgrades for EXP.] [Total available EXP: 180] [Class Features] [Ability Score Upgrades] — Joel stared. In the countless hours he had played, he had never come across this screen. Maybe it was something that the First Fantasy devs patched into the game. His eyes scanned down to the two options: Class Features and Ability Score Features.

"[Class Features]," he said. — [NOTIFICATION: Select a class to view its obtainable features] [Barbarian] [Bard] [Cleric] [Druid] [Fighter] [Monk] [Paladin] [Ranger] [Rogue] [Sorcerer] [Warlock] [Wizard] — With a soft whistle, he looked over how many classes they had added. Originally, there'd only been four classes: Warrior, Priest, Thief, and Mage. He tapped into the Fighter class. A myriad of Fighter features filled the screen, each with their own EXP costs.

"Weapon proficiencies, armor proficiencies, shield proficiencies, Fighting Styles, Battle Surge," he listed out, scrolling through the choices.

"Only level 1 features are available though. I guess that makes sense."

"Ya dead or something?" Gorum shouted, the old half-orc's head peeking from the opposite end of the hall.

"Uh, yeah. I mean, no. I'm not dead. I'm good," Joel said, swiping away the screen.

"Just taking a break before I get back at it." He could feel Gorum's gaze lingering.

"Get over here and sit down," huffed Gorum, waving Joel over.

"I'll get ya fed. Ya like pork stew?" As if sensing the offer, Joel's stomach grumbled. The pangs of hunger surprised him, unfamiliar from the last time he'd played. He dragged himself to his feet, using the broomstick to pull himself up. Joel hobbled down to the common room, where Gorum was already pouring ale into a tankard. The owner of the Berrygood Lodge shook his head as Joel, already rolling his sleeves, approached.

"I know it's been many moons since I've had someone to clear out the cellar. But ya look like shit," Gorum said, his flat nose wrinkling. The bearded barkeep wiped the jug with the end of his apron, heading over the counter to grab the bowl of hot stew.

"There's more of those vicious little critters than I thought. Hamsters caught me off guard though. I was expecting rats," Joel replied, taking a sip of the ale. He did his best to not wince at the taste as Gorum returned, bowl in hand.

"Rats? Oh no, not rats. Them hamsters have been coming in droves, out of the east woods," Gorum said as he placed the bowl of pork stew in front of Joel.

"I didn't mind them, at first, but now there's too many of them. Don't have the heart to get rid of 'em myself. Too cute." The woods to the east of the Berrygood Lodge had to be the Ulfenor Forest. It was a dense strip of forest, leagues long. The deeper you ventured, the more fearsome the beasts became. The forest was a common newbie trap, tricking lower level players to venture further in, only to get swamped by powerful monsters. He'd have to avoid going far east.

Joel sipped a spoonful of the warm broth, then munched some soft, salted pork. As the warmth filled his chest, he couldn't stop a smile from spreading across his face. Gorum had inherited some of his great-grandfather's cooking skills. In fact, whether it was his hunger or a new game update, the food tasted so vivid. Almost humming, Joel took another happy bite. — [HP restoring. HP: 51%] … … … [HP restoring. HP: 52%] … — Tasty food was always a fun way to get some HP back, though it was not quick or efficient.

"Take the empty room upstairs when ya clear out a good number of them," Gorum said, dropping a hefty copper key onto the table.

"Last door to the left." Returning a thankful nod, Joel continued to scarf down his food as he watched Gorum slowly stomp up the stairs. Once alone, he opened up the [Homebrew] menu again while taking a swig of ale. — [NOTIFICATION: Obtain ability score upgrades and class features for EXP.] [Total available EXP: 180] [Ability Score Upgrades] [Class Features] —"[Ability Score Upgrades]," Joel said between the mouthfuls. Another set of options cascaded down immediately.

— [COST: 1 EXP] [TOTAL EXP: 180] [MIGHT +1] [DEFTNESS +1] [VITALITY +1] [FOCUS +1] [SPIRIT +1] [RESOLVE +1] —"Huh." Usually, in First Fantasy, a player would have to train their stats up or get some items that would boost them. This would let him by-pass all of that. It was incredibly useful — but what to get first? Pain flared as he brought the tankard to his lips for another drink. Little red bite marks covered his arm. The hamsters had taken their tiny chunks of flesh out of him. Vicious little shits.

It'd take some time to heal, even with the food.

"[VITALITY +5]," he thought, still scooping stew into his mouth. If he remembered correctly, that should give him some more hit points by increasing his maximum. The total EXP dropped down to 175, the ache in his body subsiding slightly. — [5 VITALITY gained.] [HP restored. HP: 70%] —"Seems about right," Joel said, a smirk appearing on his face.

"Let's check those other class features again though." But which class features to take? He'd played all the original four classes, grinding them all to the maximum level of 20. There had even been some random multi-classes that 12 years old Joel thought were 'totally awesome'. If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. He could go with his old main class, Thief, or Rogue as they'd renamed it as. The class was what he had the most hours in.

Yet — whether it was the buzz from the cheap ale or the comfortable satisfaction of the hearty stew — Joel was feeling adventurous. Still, selecting something familiar to his old main class felt safer. He scanned over the set of classes again. So many choices. Then his eyes caught it.

"[Monk]," he said. He'd done his fair share of martial arts growing up, something his father encouraged. And he always loved those kung-fu movies. What was cooler than spinning kicks and counter punches? Class features popped out one after another. It didn't take Joel long to find what he wanted.

"[Martial Arts]." — [Martial Arts] [You gain Martial Arts Proficiency.] [You may use DEFTNESS for strikes and monk weapons.] [You may access Martial Art techniques.] [COST: 100 EXP] [TOTAL EXP: 175] [Confirm?] — A bit pricey but not nearly over the budget. It should be an edge over the vile vermin.

"[Confirm]." Joel felt a jolt that made his head twitch as if something had simply crammed information into his mind. Uncomfortable, but brief and painless. A sudden combination of curiosity, instinct, and newfound experience pushed him to throw three punches — swift and crisp — in front of himself. He knew kung-fu. Or whatever it was called over here. With 75 EXP left over, Joel had to be pickier with what he spent the rest on. Some of it would have to be used on DEFTNESS. That was the smart move after all.

He was about to tab back to the [Ability Score Upgrades] until he noticed it: [Quarterstaff Proficiency]. The large broomstick, if the brush was untied, could serve as such a quarterstaff. A simple, effective weapon.

"50 EXP, but it's a monk weapon," he mused, reading through the feature's description.

"Also, 5% attack and damage bonus. Yes, please. [Confirm]." Another jolt pinged through his head. Joel followed that with a controlled kick at the broom, knocking it upwards. His hand shot through the air, catching it near the brush end. He untied the twine, letting the bristles fall, before spinning the improvised staff expertly. The former broom stick didn't feel much lighter than before. But it was much more familiar, using it was second nature.

Like remembering how to ride a bike, his body understood how to manipulate both the weight and the momentum of the staff. He rose to his feet, still twirling it between his hands. His footwork was fluid, his body turning as he walked — a waltz with his new weapon. After having fun for a few more minutes in the empty tavern room, he planted the quarterstaff next to himself. A soft thud of the stave hitting the floorboards briefly interrupted the crackle of the fireplace's dying embers. This was perfect.

Even without grabbing some more DEFTNESS, he felt his confidence building.

"[Ability Score Upgrades], [DEFTNESS +25]." He lightly hopped side to side on the balls of his feet, brisk and rhythmic. The increased agility would help him avoid the relentless rodents. He felt the ability score gains, but wanted to make sure.

"[Status]," he said, kicking the bottom of the quarterstaff so it flipped onto his shoulders. — Name: Joel Early Class: Classless Level: 1 HP: 71% MIGHT: 45 DEFTNESS: 75 VITALITY: 45 FOCUS: 45 SPIRIT: 40 RESOLVE: 45 Anomaly: 1 — Classless made sense. He hadn't spent his level up on a class yet, noticing that the option to level a class still remained available. It was tempting to take a class right away, gain all of its features, but he was worried it might lock him out of the [Homebrew] option.

It appeared that his ability score investments did go through. The numbers were still nothing crazy, even with the added values. However, the confirmation sparked a tinge of excitement, aided by Joel's nostalgic feelings of discovering something new in the First Fantasy system. The sheer customization opportunities alone… But then his eyes paused at the bottom of his [Status] screen. Anomaly: 1. The word and number weighed down any earlier elation; they were an anchor of worry, grounding Joel.

It hadn't been there before, the first time he'd checked. Some threat or aggro calculator? Maybe it was for distinguishing who were leveled player characters? Used [Homebrew]? Joel looked around his surroundings, scanning for anything that might have changed. Moonlight snuck past the thin curtains, same as before. The fireplace's dying embers revealed nothing else. The worn down common room was as dreary as it was when he had woken up.

Taking his empty bowl and tankard to the bar counter, Joel glanced over for anything hidden behind it. Nothing, but the sour smell of an ale-soaked countertop, greeted him. Doubtful that Gorum would appreciate a stranger in his kitchen, it felt wiser to leave the dinnerware there. A good meal. He gave his stomach a content pat, glancing towards the hallway that led to the cellar door. It was time to hold up his end of the deal.

Picking up a nearby lantern with an end of his quarterstaff, he swung the pole back on his shoulder — his shadow cast long down the hallway. He ambled to the cellar door, stopping in front of it. The squeaking wasn't as loud but he could still hear their scurrying around the steps. Taking a deep breath, Joel opened the door. He immediately slapped a soaring hamster missile, smashing into the wall with a crack. His own reflexes surprised him, and he felt his confidence surge.

Softly dropping the hanging lantern onto the top step for even more light, he walked forward with the quarterstaff in both hands. [Hamster defeated. 5 EXP gained.] Two swift strikes with the end of the staff snapped, folding several hamsters in half. More pings notified Joel of his experience point rewards, every swing stacking his screen with more alerts. [Hamster defeated. 5 EXP gained.] [Hamster defeated. 5 EXP gained.] [Hamster defeated. 5 EXP gained.] …

Any hamsters that avoided the brunt of the staff, he caught with a jab or a kick. There seemed to be less of them as the swarm of furballs shrunk back from the storm of blows. Swinging and striking, Joel kept moving down the steps and pushed past the other lantern from his first attempt. As he saw the EXP accumulate, an idea crawled into his mind.

"[Homebrew]," he said while dodging a hamster that leapt for his shins. The tubby hamster crashed into a pile of the dead brethren with a loud squeak. — [NOTIFICATION: Obtain ability score upgrades and class features for EXP.] [Total available EXP: 80] [Ability Score Upgrades] [Class Features] —"[Ability Score Upgrades], [DEFTNESS +80]." Joel smiled as he watched his available EXP drop. In response, he felt his body become lighter, his speed and accuracy increasing. He could improve like this in combat?

It was always true that you gained stats in hard fights — assuming you survived to reap the benefits — but not this quickly. Hamsters began to fly everywhere, rattling against his attacks or bouncing against the walls and steps. Tufts of their fur filled the air as small piles of the dead hamsters formed, littering the staircase. By the time Joel arrived at the cellar floor once again, the vast majority of the hamster swarm had been splattered.

Those that remained were scattering to the crevices between the barrels and crates. He was almost alone. Almost. A faint squeaky chant came from the far wall. It sounded like a melodic calling. Joel's eyes adjusted to the dimmer light, searching for the sound's origin. He choked back a chuckle once he saw it. On a stacked barrel on the far wall, there stood six hamsters. Their tiny, ridiculous attire elevated their cuteness. Some of them were dressed in stylized armors and brandishing miniature weapons.

Others held staves and wands, the light around them distorted strangely. They stood there, on their hindlegs, staring at him. A beige hamster — dressed in metallic plate, emblazoned with a crimson strawberry — appeared to be praying. Their hands were raised high, pleading to something above. Luminescent pink light formed into a wispy orb above its paws. Beams of light shot from it, bathing all six of the costumed hamsters in its light. Joel instantly recognized that as the spell, [Grace].

It was a classic 1st level spell from the old Priest class that added a percentage of your stats to others. However, to bless six individuals meant liftcasting it to a 6th level spell. Tapping into a level 6 spell charge was serious magic. He barely moved his head out of the way as a dark-furred hamster zipped by. A sliver of a cut appeared on his cheek, a trickle of blood leaking out. [Damage taken. HP: 69%] [Cunning Dash]. A Thief skill. They were quick. Exposing your back to a speedy rogue could be risky.

But Joel didn't even bother turning around. Chasing that one would be a waste of time. Better to thin the mob, and that meant attacking whoever you are more likely to hit. He looked to the five remaining hamsters, still perched on the far barrel. His eyes narrowed on the beige hamster, basking with strawberry pink light. Joel sprinted forward, closing the gap in two bounds. He leapt through the air, vaulting off the quarterstaff to go higher. Pivoting mid-air, he shot out a spinning back kick.

His heel connected with enough force to send any hamster flying, an echoing crack confirming the blow. Yet two hamsters remained there, the rest having scattered. The beige hamster survived, despite flinching away. Standing in front of them was a burgundy hamster, half-naked in a loincloth, a greatsword on their back. Their muscular arms stood high in a closed guard, much like a boxer. The resilient rodent coughed up a bit of blood from its tiny mouth, wiping it away.

They glared at Joel before letting out a furious roar, more akin to a bear than a hamster. Before he could react, Joel felt a trio of fireless explosions blast into his side. Small pelts of magic eruptions forced him to stagger back. [Damage taken. HP: 68%] [Damage taken. HP: 67%] [Damage taken. HP: 66%] The force damage was familiar enough to remind him that this was the [Arcane Arrows]. It was a Mage spell that almost always guaranteed a hit. Joel's eyes darted around quickly, trying to gather his senses.

Where was the little spell caster? It took a brief moment before he found them, on top of the opposite corner's crates. A tubby grey hamster, wearing large horn-rimmed glasses, was pointing a wand at him. The reflective, electric blue pointed hat and robe made him stick out like a neon firefly. No way they were fast enough to have sprinted there. Damn mages. It could've been a [Shunt] spell or some other teleportation magic. There was no time to waste.

Joel punted the end of his dropped quarterstaff, sending it rifling straight at the hamster. A sickening crunch and a burst of grey fur signaled what the alert verified. [Blueberry defeated. 150 EXP gained.] A wail squeaked behind Joel. Then a shadowy flurry of small slashes struck Joel's thigh, a cluster of cuts. He grunted, gritting his teeth as he missed his counter swat. [Damage taken. HP: 66%] [Damage taken. HP: 64%] [Damage taken. HP: 62%] [Damage taken. HP: 60%] [Damage taken. HP: 58%] A growing brightness crept above Joel, forcing his gaze upward. In the centre of the light, a golden furred hamster — clad in knightly armor — soared. Brandishing a gleaming axe in the air, the faithful hamster let out a blaring squeak. Its axeblade was radiating with a blinding shine. The entire room flooded with thunderous light as the diving hamster's axe fell.