The rain poured down in torrents, filling the air with the constant rhythm of droplets. Amidst it, a lone figure was focused on training in the yard of a secluded house. Under the downpour, Qin Ming threw punch after punch, each hit sending sprays of water through the air, the heavy droplets scattering like mist.
However, his practice today wasn't the military-style combat he'd learned from the Punisher, but rather Muay Thai techniques he had just begun studying. Where did he learn them? Well, there were tutorials online.
After a few sets of punches, he stopped, breathing deeply as he looked up into the rain-filled sky, closing his eyes for a moment before opening them again with a sense of conviction.
His hunch had been right: doing specific training in the real world was indeed effective for learning new skills. With enough practice and real experience, it seemed possible to trigger new basic abilities on his own. Unfortunately, the discovery came a bit late for him. He'd already spent his goodwill points learning the fundamentals from the Punisher, so the insight no longer held much practical value.
But still, this was no loss. It might take him years to independently gain three E-rank skills like those he'd learned in two days with the Punisher under Nightmare Space's accelerated learning effect. After all, it wasn't like he had easy access to firearms here in China to practice shooting.
Wiping rain from his face, Qin Ming prepared to head inside. Since returning to the real world, he had relocated from the busy, camera-laden city to a more isolated area in the suburbs, better suited for keeping a low profile. The last thing he wanted was for his abilities to attract the attention of special departments or other adventurers.
In Nightmare Space, the real world was considered a kind of open-kill zone, and killing other adventurers could reward one with a bloody key. Qin Ming had no desire to get involved in real-world conflicts, nor did he want to end up as someone's trophy. For now, he was content to stay hidden and out of sight, doing everything he could to avoid an encounter with any mid or high-level adventurer.
But fate seemed to have other plans. Just as he turned to head back indoors, a familiar sound rang in his ears—the alert tone from Nightmare Space.
Qin Ming froze in shock, eyes widening in surprise. Typically, the only alert in the real world was the one before entering the next mission. Receiving a prompt now, unprovoked was unheard of.
"Ding! Nightmare Space has detected the death of a nearby mid-level adventurer. As per protocol, this notification is being relayed to five nearby low-level adventurers. The deceased adventurer's bloody key is up for grabs. The rough location is Dogjia Village, H County, City A. The exact coordinates will be revealed in half an hour."
The words lingered in his mind as Qin Ming stood silently under the rain, his brow furrowed in contemplation.
"A mid-level adventurer? A full-fledged veteran who's survived ten missions?"
That nearby such an experienced adventurer had died was astounding. What had taken them out?
Qin Ming weighed his options carefully, wrestling with whether he should take the risk. If this had happened in Nightmare Space, he would've gone without hesitation. Competing with four other low-level adventurers for a valuable item like a bloody key was no problem—he'd just eliminate them if necessary. But here, in the real world, where his items, equipment, and even titles were unusable, it was an entirely different scenario. Without his gear, he was just a slightly above-average human with a strength of 9, physique of 21, agility of 10, and spirit of 10—hardly enough for an overwhelming advantage.
After a moment of deliberation, Qin Ming gritted his teeth. He wasn't willing to let this rare opportunity slip away. He'd scout the place first, see what he was up against, and withdraw if necessary.
A quick check on the map showed Dogjia Village was only about twenty kilometers away. Pocketing his phone, Qin Ming quickly packed a few things into his bag, including a pair of gloves to avoid leaving fingerprints. Dressed in a long coat, gloves, a black mask, and sunglasses, he vaulted over the courtyard wall and began sprinting through the trees.
The village, located in the quiet rural outskirts, was largely asleep by now, with most lights off. Avoiding the main roads, he moved swiftly along drainage ditches and hidden paths, finally arriving at his destination in less than twenty minutes. His enhanced stamina and agility allowed him to arrive without breaking a sweat.
Gripping the edge of a wall, Qin Ming climbed onto a nearby rooftop, where he crouched low, glancing at his watch. All he had to do now was wait.
After what felt like an eternity, the promised half-hour passed, and Nightmare Space's voice chimed once more in his ear.
"Ding! Half-hour mark reached. Revealing exact location. The inheritance site is at: Fifth house in the third row of Dogjia Village."
Qin Ming immediately straightened, eyes scanning the surroundings until he found his target.
"There it is, third row...and fifth house…"
But just as he counted out the fifth house, Qin Ming froze, lowering his body close to the rooftop. Someone else had also climbed onto a nearby roof, heading in the same direction at full speed. The figure's rapid movements gave away his position.
Seeing the competitor, Qin Ming clenched his fists but didn't move, opting to stay hidden as he scanned his surroundings for others. There should be three other adventurers here—where were they?
As he lay in wait, another figure soon emerged, sprinting along the road toward the fifth house. Yet, for some reason, no other figures followed. Qin Ming kept still, listening for any sounds until a loud bang shattered the silence.
From his vantage point, Qin Ming saw the fifth house's front door burst open, and a figure went flying out, skidding across the ground.
Two other people appeared in the doorway, grappling with each other over a small object in their hands. The man who'd been kicked out of the house quickly recovered, sprang to his feet, and lunged back into the fray. In the courtyard below, the three of them were soon engaged in an all-out brawl, each trying to wrest control of the item from the others.
Witnessing the escalating fight, Qin Ming knew he couldn't wait any longer—the scuffle had already attracted the attention of villagers, and lights were beginning to flick on.
Finally making his move, Qin Ming jumped from the rooftop, landing in the muddy ground before racing toward the courtyard.
(End of Chapter)