Chapter Eleven: Keeping the Promise, Ascending

In truth, when Lion Madness uttered the words “Snatch a monster right in front of me,” he had already lost. He focused solely on his advantages in attack, speed, and defense, neglecting the far greater advantage he had unwittingly granted me—the only monster truly recognized was the one actually attacked by the challenger. As long as I seized upon this, it was as if I’d already secured an invincible position.

Why did I wait so long, then? Simply because I wanted to win more decisively, more gracefully.

…

“I’ve lost!” As I finished off the slime, Lion Madness walked over. “Don’t worry, I’ll honor the agreement we made earlier. They won’t bother you again.”

I nodded calmly. This was what I had fought for; there was no need for gratitude, nor did it matter, for had I lost, I too would have been obliged to leave.

After Lion Madness turned away, he indeed kept his word. Including Comic Young Master, none of the seven approached again, and I was content to be left in peace, darting between four or five slimes. In less than twenty minutes, I collected three hundred experience points and advanced to level two.

Once more, I invested all my attribute points in agility.

Boosting agility didn’t just slightly improve attack speed and movement speed—it also increased my inherent defense. More importantly, I felt my body’s speed beginning to catch up with my mind’s reactions.

I believed that once agility reached a certain threshold, I could fully recover the speed I possessed in the real world… Though my strength lagged behind, I could compensate with weapons. As long as I unleashed all my combat skills, it should be very helpful for leveling up in these early stages.

Sure enough, as my speed increased, the slimes’ respawn rate could no longer keep up with my attacks. Each one that appeared was instantly dispatched, but then I had to wait ten seconds or more for another to refresh.

“It seems it’s time to find a new hunting ground…”

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Gazing at the twenty green crystalline shards and forty-three silver coins lying quietly in my backpack, I finally felt ready to leave this place—the slimes’ experience had dropped from ten to eight points, their spawn rate was clearly slower than before, and in any case, I’d already completed the Strong Acid Crystal collection quest. Besides…

I glanced at the short dagger in my hand; its integrity had dropped from eighty-seven percent to sixty-eight. According to Brother Bai, if it fell below sixty percent and I didn’t take it to the blacksmith for repairs, its attributes would start to decline, and after prolonged use, it might even become damaged—unable to be fully restored even after repair.

Though this dagger was a low-grade civilian weapon, I couldn’t afford anything better for now. Most civilians used it only after completing quests and reaching level three.

Still, before returning to the city, I decided to max out the remaining two hundred experience points—level three was within reach…

…

By the time I returned to Frost City, dusk had already fallen.

Night was about to descend, and I rushed straight into the apothecary where I’d accepted the quest.

Once again, I was greeted by that merchant’s cunning face. At this moment, I finally understood why he flashed such a sly smile when players accepted his tasks.

After slaving away for more than an hour, I’d barely managed to collect twenty Strong Acid Crystals, only to be rewarded with three tiny bottles filled with red potion—small healing elixirs.

If not for the leveling opportunities along the way, players who took this quest were essentially selling their labor for peanuts…

With a sigh, I quickly handed in the quest and left the apothecary, heading toward a civilian equipment shop I’d seen earlier.

The shop was located not far from the city gate, as its name implied, it sold only gear and weapons usable by civilians.

Because of this, the only people bustling through the store were newbies under level ten. I, clad in the black cloth shirt and trousers bestowed by the system, was naturally the greenest of them all.

However, before entering to repair my short dagger, I noticed that outside the shop stood a dozen or so players in finely crafted leather armor and boots, wielding steel swords or bronze weapons.

Each had a small stall in front of them, displaying battered axes, swords and knives marred with nicks, roughly made beast-hide bracers and boots, and on some stalls, a pristine white leather armor that attracted a crowd of civilians, all asking about the price.

I had no money, but seeing that beautifully made white leather armor, I couldn’t help but draw near.

“This level five axe costs one hundred twenty silver coins? It’s already so damaged…”

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“The price is already low. Don’t want it? Fine. I could get sixty silver just selling it to the shop. If you want something brand new, go inside and buy one yourself.”

“Tsk, if I had five gold coins, I’d have bought your Snow Wolf Leather Armor already, instead of haggling over this broken axe. Damn the drop rate—after two days of grinding, I’ve barely scraped together a hundred silver… Come on, man, do me a favor, lower the price a bit.”

“Don’t whine about being poor; we’re all in the same boat. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be here hawking junk… Final price, one hundred twenty silver coins—take it or leave it.”

While the stall owner haggled with a newbie whose level I couldn’t make out, I squeezed forward to examine the axe and Snow Wolf Leather Armor.

Slightly damaged axe: Attack 3–4, Strength requirement 5, Agility requirement 5, Integrity 58%, Level requirement 5.

Beside it was a price tag: 120 silver coins.

I rolled my eyes. Level five gear with such pathetic stats, and priced at 120 silver? No wonder no one wanted it.

However, the Snow Wolf Leather Armor beside it was beautifully designed, with a pale wolf’s head engraved on the right chest. Its attributes were impressive:

Defense 2–4, Strength requirement 3, Agility requirement 5, Integrity 100%, Level requirement 5.

Wearing the Snow Wolf Leather Armor would make battle much safer, but I wasn’t high enough level to equip it, and as for its price…

Damn it—five gold coins! (500 silver coins)

Even grinding slimes all day wouldn’t earn me that much.

What a rip-off!

Just as I shook my head and prepared to enter the equipment shop, a surprised voice called from behind me:

“Xiao Lin, you made it to level three!”

Turning around, I saw Bai Valentine and Red Tea had returned to the city as well.