Before venturing out from the base, Sterl had done his homework.
After a brief consideration, he headed towards the southeast.
Armed with the evolved [Flamestorm], a spell capable of massive area damage, he was set for rapid leveling in monster-dense areas.
Near the base, strong creatures were periodically cleared out, resulting in lower monster density and strength. The southeast and southwest were the farthest from the base, hence had more monsters and stronger ones.
However, knowing that official forces were leading newbie players in monster hunting in the southwest, Sterl opted for the southeast.
Not long after setting off, Sterl noticed scattered solo players or small groups engaging monsters. Right ahead, three players were ganging up on a monster—
a swift wolf lunged forward, viciously biting the arm of the player blocking its path, causing him to scream in agony.
Although "Transcendence" is a game, its combat is as real as it gets, with no health bars.
So, Sterl watched as the unlucky player, severely injured, had no choice but to fall back and let his two companions finish the wolf off with their swords.
The wolf howled in pain before dissolving into an experience orb, absorbed by the two players who dealt the final blows, leaving the injured player with nothing.
Later, he said in pain, "I can't fight monsters anymore because of my injuries. You guys keep going, I'll go back to the base."
"I really took a hit this time. With injuries this bad, it'll cost at least ten or twenty thousand credit points to heal... and all I got was a few dozen experience points."
Sterl, observing from a distance, wasn't surprised.
In "Transcendence," especially for lower-level players, life was tough.
Even level 1 monsters typically had all attributes around three, with specific strengths varying by creature type.
For example, the agility and strength of the wild wolf are both four points, the mental constitution is three points, and there is also a skill called [Tear: Causes additional bleeding effect].
Therefore, players must at least be led by the base to level three before they can have the ability to practice outside, and even need to form teams.
Killing a wolf granted roughly 10 experience points, shared among players dealing the final blow.
A scene that Sterl just witnessed was where two players each gained five points of experience.
In Transcendence, level one to level two requires 100 experience, and then each level requires 1.5 times more experience. It is said that high-level players have an additional increase in experience for each level.
That poor player who got bitten earlier really had it rough. He was at least level three, meaning he needed over 200 experience points to level up. A few dozen points didn't even make up a quarter of what he needed for the next level, yet he had to fork over thousands of credits for treatment...
Before becoming a player, the average person's savings would be just a few thousand credits.
After becoming a player, grinding low-level monsters like wild wolves could occasionally drop items like Wolf Pelts or Wolf Fangs, each worth a few thousand credits.
Early on, players tend to team up for leveling, sharing the profits. Getting injured could mean losing a week or two's worth of earnings.
Brutal, isn't it?
Sterl, however, didn't show any sympathy.
That's just how ruthless the game [Transcendence] is. Without cheats, relying solely on a D-grade [Attribute Amplification], he'd be in the same boat—
Leveling up is a life-threatening ordeal, constantly risking injuries and spending a fortune on treatment.
Along the way, Sterl happened to walk past that injured player heading back to the base. Their eyes met, and they nodded at each other as a form of greeting.
Then, two other players, seeing Sterl, approached him, asking, "Hey dude, wanna level up with us?"
"We're one person short."
"No, I've got plans with other friends," Sterl made up an excuse on the spot. He couldn't risk exposing his [Flame Storm].
The two players, disappointed by the rejection, had no choice but to leave sulkily.
No sooner had Sterl walked away than those two players were targeted by new monsters.
Low growls of beasts filled the air.
Two wild wolves, one in front and one behind, had them completely surrounded.
The color drained from their faces, "Damn, where did these two come from?"
"We can't beat them, run!"
Without hesitation, the two players took off. They were only level three or four, barely matching the wolves in attributes.
In a two-on-two situation, the players could win but risked losing their lives. Why not give up?
Seeing this, the wild wolves' ferocity was ignited, and they chased after the players…
The three players, who were leveling just moments ago, one injured and two fleeing like their lives depended on it.
Unaware of what transpired after he left, Sterl took a few steps forward when suddenly, an intense stench hit him.
Pairs of dark green eyes suddenly appeared in the jungle ahead, one, two, three, four…
A total of eight low-level wolves sprang out!
Any regular newbie player team would freeze in fear at the sight of so many monsters and run for their lives.
But Sterl was thrilled:
"All gathered in one spot, nice, saves me some time!"
He uttered two strange syllables.
[Flame Storm]!
In an instant, a raging fire ignited, turning into a terrifying airflow that enveloped the pack of wolves.
Sterl just used one skill covered the entire area, all eight wolves were trapped and burned by the flames!
They couldn't escape. The vortex and suction force of the storm dragged these monsters towards the scorching center!
Their low growls turned into screams.
They were pulled into the air and incinerated!
The air was filled with the scent of charred flesh. In just a few moments, the wolves' fur was completely ignited, turning into torches, then they fell, wailing in agony…
Afterward, most of the forest turned into a firestorm under the whirlwind's influence!
Ten seconds!
It was all over in just ten seconds!
Eight wolves, no, even a level two goblin that was a bit farther away got caught in the flame storm, turning into charcoal.
A single one could give multiple players a run for their money, and two could have three players running for their lives. This is the "Wild Wolf" that an entire group or even a squad of a dozen players wouldn't dare mess with.
Faced with Sterl, they were all wiped out in an instant!
…
Meanwhile, the three players who had escaped earlier looked back at the forest now engulfed in flames, a horrific sight.
They were stunned, then relieved as if they had narrowly escaped disaster: "Was there a boss spawn in that forest?"
"Or maybe high-level players encountered a formidable enemy! How else could there be such a terrifying effect?"
"Lucky we ran fast. If we got caught in that battle, we'd definitely be goners!"
They were the same team Sterl had encountered earlier, who had just escaped the two wolves and were resting.
Now, the flames from the forest had scared them, prompting them to flee back to the base.
Not just this team, but many players leveling in the southeastern area, upon seeing the terrifying flames in the forest, gritted their teeth and gave up on the nearly defeated monsters, running away.
They all knew one thing, Such a terrifying power erupting in the forest meant a powerful being had arrived!
This... if they get caught in that, they 're dead for sure.
What else was there to hesitate about?
Hurry up and run!
…
Sterl didn't know that with just one skill he had, he had caused so much trouble.
He saw a series of strange lights flash before his eyes.
[Congratulations, you have killed the monster [Wild Wolf] and gained 10 experience points.]
[Congratulations, you have killed the monster [Wild Wolf] and gained 10 experience points.]
…
[Congratulations, you have killed the monster [Goblin] and gained 20 experience points.]