Episode 01

**Defense and First Battle** is the first episode of the Bofuri anime series.

## Summary

Risa convinced her friend, Kaede, to try out the new virtual reality video game NewWorld Online, even though Kaede doesn't have any prior experience with video games. However, Risa can't join Kaede on her first explorations because her mother forces her to study.

After booting up the game, Kaede decides to name her game character Maple. When given the option to choose her equipment, Maple decides on a shield to avoid damage that comes with a short sword and allocates all her points into defense. Once that was finished, Maple was then teleported to the starting town area. Immediately, Maple realizes how sluggish her character is; however, in comparison, she has high damage resistance. Considering her options, Maple decides to fight some monsters despite Risa being unable to help her.

Asking another play for help on where to find monsters, a player points out the direction where they're outside of town, and Maple heads to it. From there, Maple faces off against an Apple Bunny and gains the skill, **Total Defense** after it tenaciously attacks her, but deals no damage. To her dismay, Maple unintentionally uses her shield against the Apple Bunny, defeating it and allowing her to level up.

Later, Maple allocates her newly acquired Status points to her defense. Soon after, Maple encounters an Insect Monarch that can't damage her, but its poisonous fluid causes her to obtain a poisonous status affliction. Trying to escape, Maple falls over and learns that she acquired the skill **Poison Resist - Weak**. Taking advantage of her situation, Maple feigns weakness allowing the Insect Monarch to spray more of its fluid on her, evolving her Poison Resist skill to Moderate. Finally, Maple finishes off the Insect Monarch with her short sword. Maple then acquires the **Giant Killing** skill, she levels up to 8, and the Insect Monarch drops a Forest Queen Bee's ring. Putting her status points into defense gain; Maple lays on the ground as a swarm of monsters attacks her, but to no effect, and a player passing by witnesses this.

By dusk, Maple wakes up to learn she has gained the skill, **Meditation** after being attacked by monsters and flailing around her short sword; she levels up to 11 and gains the skill **Provocation**. Furthermore, Maple allocates her 15 new status points to defense, logs out, and realizes she must complete her homework.

Eventually logging back into the game, Maple realizes she wants better armor and shield, so she asks a fellow Shielder Chrome for help. Chrome informs Maple that his shield is custom-made and guides her to Iz, a crafter smith's shop. There, Maple is acquainted with Iz by Chrome, and because Iz's services are beyond her price range, they advise Maple to collect coins by exploring the nearby Poison Dragon Dungeon. Before heading off, Iz and Chrome exchange their contact information with her, and Chrome gave her some potions too.

Although they had hoped Maple wouldn't challenge the dungeon alone, she does and gains the skill **Shield Attack**. Reaching the end of the dungeon, Maple's short sword and shield are destroyed by the Poison Dragon's attack, and to stay alive, she uses her potions given to her by Chrome. By maintaining this rhythm, Maple gains the skill, **Poison Resist - Strong** and then **Poison Resist - Immunity**. From there, Maple starts to bite and eat parts of the dragon allowing her to defeat it and gain the skill **Hydra Eater** allowing her **Poison Immunity** skill to transfer to **Hydra**. Maple also levels up to 18 and again allocates her points toward defense and receives a unique armor, shield, and new capabilities that make her a poison-resistant tank. With that, Maple logs out of the game.

Talking with Risa about her game experiences, she was happy that Kaede was able to accomplish so much for her first time playing the game.

## Characters

* Maple/Kaede Honjou
* Sally/Risa Shiramine
* Frederica
* Drag
* Payne
* Chrome
* Iz

## Monsters

### Mobs

* Apple Bunny
* Giant Bee
* Suspider
* Wolf Cub
* Sakurapillar
* Slime
* Dandy Fluffs

## Trivia

* It's not really Maple's fault she's so dense in gaming; NewWorld Online doesn't offer a start-up/mandatory tutorial mission to teach basic RPG mechanics to new players. It works on a Figure It Out Yourself method.
* Getting exposed to negative status repeatedly will boost a character's resistance; Maple becomes outright IMMUNE to poison, all due to thinking on her feet (after making a massive blunder).