Chu You's tall, slender figure materialized within Xinshou Village, his gaze drawn irresistibly towards the distant, imposing peak that pierced the sky – Wangshan Mountain.
In a moment of resolute decision, Chu You knew that this mountain would be his inaugural destination following his transfer.
Yet, what perplexed Chu You was the revelation that many people had opted for this location as their birthplace. After all, the system's cautious recommendation had painted Wangshan as an unsuitable choice for fledgling adventurers. However, as Chu You observed the steady influx of eager players, bathed in an ethereal white light, he couldn't help but remain silent. It appeared that, contrary to expectations, the challenge seemed to beckon more souls to this location.
For the players, the allure was undeniable. The system's ominous warning only seemed to provoke their sense of daring and adventure.
In his previous life, Chu You had refrained from selecting this place as his starting point. Therefore, he was unfamiliar with the terrain, the fastest leveling spots, the locations of treasure chests, and mission objectives.
With a subtle mental command, Chu You summoned his character attributes to assess his current situation:
Player name: Silent Nocturne
Country: Dayan State
Occupation: Warrior
Level: 0
Constitution: Fighting God: All attributes permanently increased by 10 (with additional changes every 10 levels).
Strength: 23 (Base 13, Constitution bonus 10)
Agility: 21 (Base 11, Constitution bonus 10)
Intelligence: 21 (Base 11, Constitution bonus 10)
Stamina: 40 (Base 30, Constitution bonus 10)
Health: 390 (Base 270, Constitution bonus 120)
Magic Value: 110 (Base 60, Constitution bonus 50)
Attack Power: 35 (Base 25, Constitution bonus 10, Training Sword +2, Strength increases by 1 for every 1 increase in strength)
Hit: 22 (Base 12, Constitution Blessing 10)
Critical Strike: 20 (Base 10, Constitution bonus 10)
Critical Fatal Damage: 20% (Base 10%, Constitution bonus 10%)
Magic Resistance: 20 (Base 10, Constitution bonus 10)
Perception: 20 (Base 10, Constitution bonus 10)
Attack Speed: 21 (Base 11, Constitution bonus 10)
Movement Speed: 22 (Base 12, Constitution bonus 10)
Chu You contemplated these attributes, pondering how best to exploit this unique constitution to flourish in what was promised to be a challenging starting zone.
Players receive 5 attribute points to freely allocate with each level up, but these points can only be invested in strength, agility, and intelligence. Other attributes cannot be increased through this allocation, leaving equipment attributes as the sole means of enhancing those specific stats.
As Chu You took his first step, his virtual form coalesced into a distinct entity.
"Wow, you're tall!" A nearby female player gazed up at Chu You in amazement.
"Did they set the character to move slowly and appear sluggish?"
Players rarely alter their body shapes, and those with exceedingly unusual features, such as dwarves or giants, are adjusted to more typical proportions.
Chu You noticed the glances from other players, and indeed, his towering stature had drawn their attention. In his eyes, a hint of disdain emerged, as he failed to grasp the significance of such an adjustment.
As a reborn player, his ultimate aspiration was to attain an unbeatable position within the game world. The world's gaze had always been from the godly perspective, looking down upon others. Looking up was a concept he found difficult to fathom.
Players rarely alter their body shapes, and those with exceedingly unusual features, such as dwarves or giants, are adjusted to more typical proportions.
Chu You noticed the glances from other players, and indeed, his towering stature had drawn their attention. In his eyes, a hint of disdain emerged, as he failed to grasp the significance of such an adjustment.
As a reborn player, his ultimate aspiration was to attain an unbeatable position within the game world. The world's gaze had always been from the godly perspective, looking down upon others. Looking up was a concept he found difficult to fathom.
The immensity of Wangshan Mountain could easily impose a profound sense of awe upon those who remained still. Chu You couldn't resist the urge to make this point unmistakably clear. With a subtle smirk, he departed from the birthplace, driven by a mischievous spirit.
"Is he moving quickly?" The girl's gaze remained fixed on Chu You's towering figure. She was astonished to see him swiftly overtaking numerous other players.
Indeed, at the beginning, players typically start with the same base speed, so the girl found the situation perplexing, her adorable eyes reflecting her confusion.
"Simpleton, he must have some movement speed bonuses from the system," chimed in a friend from the side, his eyes tinged with envy as he watched Chu You.
Starting with a movement speed bonus was undoubtedly a significant advantage, one that would save a considerable amount of time.
Chu You wore a longsword at his waist and donned the most basic novice attire, which constituted the lowest-tier equipment in "Tian Shi." Equipment levels in the game ranged from ordinary, green, red, platinum, black diamond, master, to sacred, in ascending order of rarity and power.
The novice equipment felt more like mere decorations, barely qualifying as basic gear to cover one's body.
Chu You observed the bustling activity around the NPC, with numerous players engaged in conversations and even groups wielding knives and wooden sticks venturing outside the village. It elicited another sigh from him.
"No, no," the elderly NPC on the sidelines appeared both impatient and helpless. Despite having no missions available to offer, players around him remained skeptical and unconvinced.
The elderly NPC watched with a heavy heart as players incessantly chatted and debated. He felt an ache deep within him, unable to endure the unending stream of voices and arguments. He dared not speak because he knew that once he did, it would only further embolden the players as if they had been injected with a surge of energy, and they would be even less inclined to depart.
Xinshou Village boasted a network of broad and narrow roads leading towards the slopes. The absence of fences in this place meant that there were open paths in every direction, waiting for those willing to venture forth.
From a godlike perspective, players radiated outward in all directions, with the village as the epicenter of their burgeoning adventures.
Chu You's first stop was a humble grocery store. The interior was relatively deserted, with only a few players browsing. Upon birth, every player received an initial 10 copper coins, equivalent to just 10 cents in real currency. For Chu You, this wasn't a significant concern. He purchased some bandages, scanning the store once more before realizing there were no weapons available for sale. Disappointed, he left the store and proceeded uphill.
Within this village, players had no option for health restoration other than bandages. These took a full 10 seconds to apply, an uninterrupted process that needed to be restarted if interrupted. Moreover, the bandages worked slowly to restore one's health.
The hill was deceptively short, connected to distant mountains, its peak obscured from view by its sheer size.
Beyond the village's boundaries, a multitude of players exerted their physical prowess to break into a run. As their stamina dwindled to zero, they were forced to slow down to a walk. Some players chose to sit and rest, speeding up their stamina recovery.
Chu You, with a surplus of 10 stamina points compared to typical players, combined with his natural swiftness, allowed him to put even more distance between himself and the others. With calculated composure, he began his ascent up the hillside, steadily distancing himself from fellow players. It didn't take long for him to look around and realize he was entirely alone, with other players just vague specks in the distance.
Taking a cautious approach, Chu You moved carefully, creating a small splash of mud as his tall form abruptly sprinted into the uncharted forest of the mountain. In the early stages of the game, any unusual behavior could potentially attract unwelcome attention. Chu You aimed to maintain a balance, not wanting to arouse suspicion due to his extraordinary speed.
Such an approach would only attract unwanted attention.
Chu You had been sprinting relentlessly, eventually venturing into a level 1 experience zone. Despite being a level 0 player, typically, others would have no difficulty handling level 1 monsters, albeit with slower efficiency.
However, due to Chu You's godly attributes, he had his sights set on surpassing level 1 creatures and aiming for a higher experience zone. The primary objective was to reach level 10, the threshold required to complete the transfer and exit Novice Village.
As Chu You's stamina dwindled to zero, he halted in a tranquil bamboo forest, completely devoid of other players. When a gentle breeze swept through, he couldn't help but savor the refreshing sensation, making the virtual world feel remarkably close to reality.
In that serene moment, a faint rustling sound caught Chu You's attention. He turned his gaze towards the thick bushes nearby, where a conspicuous snake was slowly slithering.
It was a level 3 Flower Snake and non-venomous.
"Amongst the endless heaps of corpses, you'll be the first ambush target beneath my feet," Chu You muttered under his breath.
Withdrawing his training sword, Chu You cautiously approached the edge of the bush, poking at the Flower Snake hidden within.
"-46!" The damaged figure stunned Chu You. Such a severe injury was beyond his expectations, causing his eyes to widen in disbelief.
He pondered the potential effects of exceeding the damage limit. Chu You's base attack power was merely 25, so what could happen with a doubled value of 50?
The answer lay in the critical strike fatal damage bonus. A higher hit stat increased the likelihood of landing a critical strike, resulting in potentially catastrophic damage, particularly when equipment and attributes came into play.
In simple terms, a critical hit maximized attack power, while critical damage pushed past the attack power limit. The larger the critical fatal damage attribute, the more devastating the damage output.
Fortunately, combat information remained within the player's view. Without forming a team, others couldn't see the damage caused by you. If fellow players wanted to gauge your effectiveness, they could only estimate based on the target's health.
What Chu You was currently engaged in could be aptly described as "beating the grass."
With his swift attack speed, he slashed again before the Flower Snake had a chance to retaliate, delivering a consecutive slash!
A towering figure loomed over the bush, repeatedly slashing his sword into it.
"-25, -23, -24," the numbers kept tallying up, punctuated by occasional critical hits, showcasing the tremendous effect of Chu You's earlier critical damage.
Chu You's success in landing hits was thanks to his high-hit attribute. Typically, lower-level players struggled with low-hit stats, often resulting in missed attacks and slow progress. Furthermore, critical hits and critical damage were only possible when engaging experienced monsters, and the chances of these occurring increased with better hit attributes.
The critical strike fatal damage effect of his initial training sword made for an excellent starting point. The Flower Snake, with its bowed body and wide-open mouth, attempted to strike Chu You.
Observing the creature's lifelike appearance, it closely resembled real-world snakes, especially in maps and scenarios designed to induce fear, prompting many female players to hesitate about solo adventuring.
With a deft sidestep, Chu You managed to evade the snake's attack.
Can you still avoid the attack?
In this game, it mimics reality to an extent where getting hit would naturally mean you'd be affected. While the players may be at a low level with relatively lower physical sensitivity and slower reflexes, the attacks from these creatures currently fall within a manageable range.
However, at the outset, many players may not have fully adapted yet, resulting in some initial struggles and moments of bewilderment.
The Flower Snake met its demise swiftly, with Chu You spending less than 20 seconds on the encounter. Glancing at the experience bar, he noticed a slight increase, just a hint, despite defeating a level 3 monster. He remained at level 0, and his luck with the critical hit was a fortunate stroke.
This instance highlighted the significant challenge that lay ahead for leveling up in this game world.
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