As soon as 8 PM struck, Ye Hen put on the game helmet and connected to Sword of Dominion.
System: Since this is your first time entering the game, please choose whether to create an account.
Yes!
System: Please choose your birthplace.
In Sword of Dominion, there is no distinction between good and evil factions, but there are four countries: the Ling Tian Empire, the Loulan Kingdom, the Gran Kingdom, and the Ice and Snow Kingdom. Players can choose their birthplace either voluntarily or randomly. In his previous life, Ye Hen chose randomly and was assigned to the Loulan Kingdom in the western part of the Yilan Continent.
Without any hesitation, Ye Hen chose this familiar country again.
System: You have chosen to be born in Ming Sha Town of the Loulan Kingdom.
System: You have chosen the Assassin profession.
System: Please name your character.
"Ye Wu Hen!" Ye Hen entered a character name that closely resembled his own.
System: Please choose whether to adjust your character's appearance.
"Keep the original appearance!" Although Ye Hen didn't read much, he understood the meaning behind the phrase about bodily appearance being received from one's parents. Moreover, the game includes items like masks that can cover one's appearance, so there was no need to worry about anyone recognizing him in real life.
System: Character creation successful. Please choose whether to enter the game.
Yes!
With Ye Hen's selection, the scene before him suddenly changed, and moments later, he appeared in a small town in the desert. Surrounding him were buildings made of compressed earth, and from the deep impressions and weathered marks on the structures, one could see the town's long and storied history.
Though called a town, Ming Sha Town was as large as a small city, covering a vast area. At this moment, it was morning in the game, the sun was rising, and the streets of Ming Sha Town were bustling with people. Players had set up stalls along the yellow earth streets, creating two long lines with barely any empty spaces left. There were probably more than a thousand players setting up stalls in the town at this time, demonstrating just how popular Sword of Dominion truly was.
Ye Hen stood in the center of the street, looking around, feeling a surge of emotions. In his previous life, he had been randomly assigned to this desert town, and he had initially felt depressed, regretting not choosing the Ling Tian Empire, which represented traditional Chinese civilization. However, this feeling didn't last long as he became captivated by the vastness of the yellow sands. The four countries in the game represented four distinct civilizations, each with its own characteristics and unique charm.
Now, returning to this desert town once again, Ye Hen felt as if he were dreaming. Taking a deep breath of the dry, hot air, he opened his attribute panel.
Character: Ye Wu Hen
Profession: Assassin
Title: Apprentice Assassin
Level: Level 1
Basic Attributes: Strength 8, Constitution 5, Intelligence 4, Spirit 4, Agility 10.
HP: 100/100 (related to Constitution)
MP: 60/60 (related to Spirit)
Physical Attack: 9 (related to Strength)
Physical Defense: 5 (related to Constitution)
Magical Attack: 4 (related to Intelligence)
Magical Defense: 2 (related to Intelligence)
Perception: 4 (related to Spirit)
Movement Speed: 10 (related to Agility, load correction 0)
Attack Speed: 20 (related to Agility, weapon correction 0)
Load: 0/50 (related to Strength)
Critical Hit Rate: 5% (Assassin talent bonus)
Ye Hen frowned. The initial attributes for the same profession were all the same, and these starting stats were identical to his previous life.
"Hmm, I need to find the mentor to learn skills first."
Closing the attribute panel, Ye Hen turned and walked towards a low earthen house in the town. The first thing players need to do upon entering the game is to find their profession's mentor to obtain starting weapons and learn professional skills.
Ye Hen entered the earthen house with the door slightly ajar. The light inside was somewhat dim, and an old man wearing a black robe was resting in a wicker chair. He was the Assassin mentor, Adili, in Ming Sha Town.
"Mentor Adili, I'm here to learn the skills of the Assassin profession," Ye Hen said as he approached the wicker chair and slightly bent forward.
Most NPCs in Sword of Dominion are highly intelligent, especially those with combat professions; many are hidden masters.
Adili slowly opened his eyes, sharp light flashing from them as he scanned Ye Hen. Without wasting words, he lazily waved his hand, and a series of white lights descended upon Ye Hen, adding a novice dagger to his inventory.
Novice Dagger: (Basic Equipment) Attack 3–7, Level Requirement 1, Weight 5, Attack Speed 2.2.
"Young man, work hard. The glory of the Assassin will shine through you. Our Loulan has not seen a great Assassin in hundreds of years."
"Thank you, Mentor." Ye Hen pinched his nose; this old man was truly annoying. Every time a player came to learn skills, he had to recite this same speech. Yet whenever someone tried to pry for more information or explore the next quest, this old man would tightly close his mouth. Despite everyone trying their best to get him to speak, even as a reborn player, Ye Hen still didn't understand what this old man's words meant. After all, his time advantage was short, only half a year, and many of the game's mysteries and puzzles still had no answers.
Thinking this, Ye Hen lost interest in prying more information from Adili and stepped outside to check the skills he had just learned.
Dagger Mastery: Assassin specialty skill, proficient with daggers, increases dagger weapon damage by 10%, initial proficiency 0%.
Crossbow Mastery: Assassin specialty skill, proficient with crossbows, increases crossbow weapon damage by 10%, initial proficiency 0%.
Stealth: Enter a hidden state upon use, duration 5 minutes; after exiting stealth, it requires 30 seconds before it can be used again, consuming 10 MP.
Lunge: Deals 150% normal damage to the target, consuming 10 MP.
Backstab: Deals 280% normal damage to the target, can only be used from behind the target, skill cooldown 30 seconds, consumes 20 MP.
In Sword of Dominion, only professional specialty skills can be leveled up; other skills are fixed and unchangeable. Once proficiency reaches 100%, specialty skills can be upgraded to the next level. Starting from novice, there are intermediate, advanced, expert, master, and grandmaster levels.
Closing the skill panel, Ye Hen walked into the main street of Ming Sha Town. The sounds of vendors calling out their wares echoed on both sides of the street, and the sounds of bargaining between customers and sellers filled the air. The game had just opened, and players often fought fiercely over a few copper coins, enjoying themselves immensely.
Ye Hen scanned the stalls lining the street as he walked toward the eastern part of the town. Along the way, he saw quite a few excellent low-level items suitable for assassins. However, Ye Hen's purse was light, so he could only look.
TL Note:
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