Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Ye Kong was like a ghost, and with every step, he drew closer to the two players in front of him…
“Hey, pomelo, where do you think that lacuna could be hiding now?”
The Ranger, sleeplessnight, started to grumble. “We’ve been looking for him for ages, and we haven’t found a single trace of him. He’s probably not even in the Dark Mist Forest any more, don’t you agree?”
The other player, the Sentinel named goldenpomelo, shook his head. “No, in the vicinity of Qingmu Town, the Dark Mist Forest is the only area suitable for players from levels two to four. The mobs in the Eastern Plain are at too low a level, and the mobs in the Luna Lake area haven’t been refreshed—The Luna Lake incident hasn’t occurred yet, so the area is still empty.
“If that lacuna was intending on training to level up, he can only stay in the Dark Mist Forest. He can’t be anywhere else!”
Hearing this, sleeplessnight nodded in agreement. “That’s true. The Teleporters between city-states aren’t operating yet, so that lacuna couldn’t have gone to a different city. He had no choice but to remain in the vicinity of Qingmu Town, and the most suitable training area is the Dark Mist Forest.”
The territory of the Starry Duchy was very large, and its eight cities were spread out in all directions, so Qingmu Town was a long distance away from its neighboring cities. Even the closest settlement, Yanan Town, would take players several days to reach by foot.
Furthermore, there was a secluded mountain range running between the cities. The average level of mobs in that map was level 15, so any player entering the mountains at this point in the game would be immediately killed.
To sum up, in the early stages of the game, players’ only option was to stay in the nearby maps around the city and begin their adventure hunting mobs. The Yokai Legion Guild members, therefore, found it strange that they hadn’t found so much as a trace of “lacuna,” even though they had been searching for him for a long time. It was almost as though he had evaporated into thin air.
“It’s really strange, but I think he must be lying low.”
Sleeplessnight said disdainfully, “He’s just a mere level four player, and he even chose the Swordsman class, yet he dares to mess with the Yokai Legion Guild? The moment we took serious action against him, he went off the radar, obviously scared for his life. Hmph, he’s just a piece of trash!”
“That’s right!” Goldenpomelo added in agreement, “Boss aota had already done his research. In the Conqueror of Lands Guild and the Red Maple Guild, there’s no player named ‘lacuna.’ Hmph, how dare a solo player like him provoke a large guild like ours?”
Saying this, goldenpomelo shook his head. “My guess is, he’s probably hiding in a corner somewhere, trembling in fear, isn’t he? Hehe, if he knew this was going to happen, why did he cross us in the first place? Now that things have blown up like this, he won’t be able to get off so lightly…”
However, before goldenpomelo could finish saying the word “lightly,” his pupils contracted, and his mouth gaped wide in an “O” shape.
“What’s wrong with you?”
Just as sleeplessnight sensed in his heart that something wasn’t right, he felt a sudden strong gust of wind from behind him, and hurriedly turned around—
Bang!
A silver flash rammed violently into his body!
Sleeplessnight was caught off guard by the blow, but when he saw the identity of the player who ambushed him, his face immediately lit up—
“We’ve found that lacuna…”
However, his delight was short-lived, as in the next moment, his expression changed to one of horror!
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A frightful number had popped out of the top of his head!
It should be pointed out that sleeplessnight was a Ranger, and his maximum HP was only 50 points!
From just a single blow, his HP had dropped to a single digit!
“Help me!”
Sleeplessnight couldn’t help but panic.
Thankfully, goldenpomelo was standing close by him, and was a Sentinel—
“Roar!”
Goldenpomelo took decisive action, using the Sentinel’s signature skill – Taunt. The moment he did so, Ye Kong’s sword strike was diverted, and his attack was drawn into goldenpomelo’s shield—
Bang!
Tap, tap, tap!!!
Goldenpomelo was pushed back a couple of steps, and he had an appalled look on his face. “How can his Resistance stat be so high?!”
It must be known that goldenpomelo had chosen a Stamina-type class, and his main attribute was Stamina, with Strength as a supporting attribute. His Strength was therefore at nine points, which provided him with nine points of Resistance!
Yet even with these attributes, he was “pushed back” by his opponent!
How could he not be shocked by this outcome?!
Evidently, goldenpomelo was unaware that Ye Kong had the Sword of Thorns equipped. Not only was Ye Kong’s Attack a whopping 37 points, but he also received a bonus of Resistance +4, bringing his Resistance attribute to a whole new level!
Just in terms of Resistance, even a Strength-type class wasn’t necessarily stronger than him!
At the same time…
Sleeplessnight took the chance he was given to quickly activate the Ranger’s Innate Skill – Windwalk!
Windwalk: When activated, the user’s Movement Speed is increased by 35%. This effect lasts for 20 seconds!
Windwalk was the Ranger’s active innate skill, and also their signature skill. When Rangers activated Windwalk, in addition to their high movement speed as a Dexterity-type class, it could be said that they reached a higher plane of existence, instantly becoming the class with the highest mobility!
A Ranger under the effects of Windwalk had unparalleled mobility, which not even a Swordsman or Assassin could catch up to!
“I’m ready!”
Sleeplessnight kicked off lightly with his feet, and he explosively launched himself backward, pulling away from Ye Kong at a mind-blowing speed!
As he did so, he silently congratulated himself. “He let me activate my Windwalk. Now, as long as his Dexterity isn’t above 20 points, it’s impossible for him to catch up to me…”
Bang!
Ye Kong also kicked off the ground, and he shot forward like a cannonball, hurtling towards sleeplessnight, who was caught by surprise—
“How is he moving so quickly?!”
Sleeplessnight’s eyes grew wide, and he backpedaled as if his life depended on it. Then, at that moment, he realized that at the place he had been cut, small thorns were entangling him, slowing down his movement speed!
It was the bonus effect of the Sword of Thorns!
“What the hell is this…”
Sleeplessnight barely had time to react, when a silver gleam came flashing toward him, lighting up his dumbfounded face—
Swish!
In that instant, the two players crossed paths.
Bang!
Sleeplessnight’s HP bar was emptied, and his body exploded into sparkling dust!
“Sleepless!”
Goldenpomelo couldn’t help crying out in shock. He couldn’t believe that in a short moment, lacuna had beat down sleepless, who was alive and well before, right before his eyes as he watched on helplessly.
He was a Sentinel, for crying out loud.
The Sentinel class’s core purpose was to “protect their teammates”!
For the first time in his life, goldenpomelo felt defeated about the class he had chosen.
The damage that lacuna could dish out was absurdly frightening!
Was he really a Swordsman?
The Swordsman class was supposed to be “rubbish”!
Unfortunately for goldenpomelo, Ye Kong didn’t give him time to think. Instead, he stepped off the ground lightly and rushed straight toward him—
“Now it’s your turn!”
Bang!
Goldenpomelo barely had the time to raise his shield before the enormous force smashed into him, the impact sending him staggering backward. His face was so full of terror he almost looked sinister. “What on earth is his class?!”
Swish!
Ye Kong stabbed toward goldenpomelo’s waist, using this action to inform his opponent what class he was—
A Swordsman!!!
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Seizing this opportunity, Ye Kong activated “Cleave” and landed a solid blow on goldenpomelo’s body, dealing horrific damage!
“What is this damage?!”
Goldenpomelo was shaken to his core.
Even though he was a Sentinel, his maximum HP didn’t exceed 90 points. In a single hit, Ye Kong had dropped his health to below half!
Swish!
Ye Kong followed up with another slash from his sword, and goldenpomelo raised his shield in panic. He got knocked back by the blow yet again, exposing an opening in his defenses—
-29
-27
Ye Kong smelled blood, and as easily as following a recipe, he took away all of his opponent’s health.
Bang!
With a look of unwillingness to accept his loss, goldenpomelo exploded into a shower of sparkling dust.
The fight had come to a close, and Ye Kong walked over to where the sparkling particles had scattered onto the ground. Then, he bent down to reach forward…
When suddenly…
Swish!
Ye Kong instantly raised his sword and activated his Interrupt skill—
Ding!
He had stopped a dagger in mid-air!