[Title: Dreamwalker]
Attributes:
All Druid NPCs' Favorability: +300.
Dark creatures targeted by your attacks: -8% attributes.
Panther Form: Energy consumption reduced by 10%.
Bear Form: Healing received increased by 10%.
Owl Form: Attack range increased by 10%.
Tree Form: Mana consumption reduced by 10%.
Description:
As the chosen envoy of the Druids, their loyalty to you is unwavering!
The stats were insane. Just the 8% reduction to Dark creatures' stats alone was a game-changer. Given how most Carnage Faction players were aligned with Dark creatures, this perk was a direct counter.
Add the other boosts, and this title felt like a gift straight from the heavens, providing an all-around upgrade to the Druid class. And that favorability bonus? It wasn't trivial, NPC relationships capped at 1,000 points, and this title handed over 300 points for free. Essentially, every Druid NPC he encountered would start off respecting him.
Still, Ethan wasn't grinding favorability just yet. He had bigger priorities, getting to the Main City. It was the gateway to better quests, gear, and growth opportunities. Sure, favorability mattered, but it could be farmed later. Missing out on early-game rewards locked behind level requirements? Now that was a mistake you couldn't undo.
He opened the guild chat. The usual chatter filled the channel, voices buzzing with excitement.
It had only been five hours in the real world since Ethan's Soul Journey, but for him, it felt like he had lived over 5,000 years. Seeing their conversations now gave him a sense of surreal detachment, as if he were watching a distant echo of his past.
Switching to his private messages, he noticed a note from Skyblade:
"Boss, handle your stuff first. We're taking some of the newbies to tackle a Level 5 boss today."
Ethan nodded to himself. Skyblade was as dependable as ever, just like in his last life. Even though they had reached Level 10, their gear was still lacking. Taking on a Level 5 boss would be challenging but manageable. He didn't bother offering advice. They'd appreciate their success more if they earned it through struggle.
Finally, he opened his friends list and noticed Moonbeam still online.
Ethan hesitated before initiating a video call.
It rang for a long time with no answer. He figured Lyla was busy fighting or handling quests, so he was about to end the call when it connected.
The moment her screen appeared, Ethan froze.
Lyla's in-game name was glowing dark red, indicating a severe Sin Value. How many players did she have to kill to reach that level?
"What's going on? Why are you flagged?" Ethan asked urgently.
Lyla was running, firing occasional shots over her shoulder. She spared him a glance before replying. "Some psychos showed up at the training grounds near the Starter Zone. They started slaughtering everyone in sight. My team got wiped, and they came after me too. I've taken out over twenty of them, but now I'm almost out of arrows with added damage effects. What should I do?"
"Who are they?" Ethan pressed, alarmed.
"They're from a guild called Unity Hall. At first, it was just one woman leading a team of thirty, killing anyone they saw in the Level 6 zones. But when players started fighting back, they brought reinforcements, around a hundred members. Now they're massacring everyone."
Unity Hall? A woman leading the charge? Could it be...
"Was the leader a Priest named Nightfall?" Ethan asked carefully.
Lyla froze mid-step, then glanced at him in shock. "Yeah. How did you know? Do you know her?"
Ethan sighed, a wry smile creeping onto his face. Of all the people he could run into, it had to be her. Fate really had a twisted sense of humor.
"Lyla, I'm sending you coordinates. Go there immediately and make sure no one follows you. Stay hidden and wait for me." He sent her the location of an old hideout he had once used while being hunted. It was well-concealed and defensible, with multiple escape routes. As long as she wasn't tailed, it was the perfect place to lay low.
"Got it, I'm heading there now. But, Ethan, are you already Level 15? Can you come help right away? And who the hell is Nightfall? How do you even know someone that psychotic?"
Ethan hesitated for a moment before responding. "You know her too, Lyla. And trust me, her psychopathy might have something to do with you."
"Wait, what?!" Lyla stared at him in shock.
Ethan chuckled bitterly before nodding. Her expression turned from confusion to realization in an instant.
"No way… Is it Ivy?"
His smile tightened as he nodded. He reminded her to stay cautious and to notify him once she reached the safehouse. Then he ended the call, ignoring the stunned look on her face.
Afterward, Ethan opened his private messaging interface and sent a quick note to Skyblade.
"Skyblade, I'm leaving the Starter Zone. You're in charge for now. Keep leveling up, though, reach Level 15 as soon as possible so we can regroup at the Main City."
Skyblade's response came swiftly:
"Don't worry, Boss. We've got this. Everything's under control here."
Ethan didn't doubt it. Their guild, the only Level 2 guild in Zone 1314, had already reached its member cap of 1,000 players. In fact, demand for spots was so high that players were willing to pay for a membership slot. They were unquestionably the dominant force in the area.
Ethan's message was more a formality than anything else. In his last life, Skyblade had almost single-handedly built their guild into a powerhouse. By the time they reached Harmony City, it had become one of the most recognized guilds, even taking down rivals like Unity Hall.
Unfortunately, the guild's success had attracted unwanted attention. Back then, Zachary had used underhanded methods to inject large sums of money into the guild during a round of financing. By the time Ethan realized what was happening, it was too late. Zachary had seized control, rebranding the guild as Overlord.
This time, Ethan wasn't going to let history repeat itself. No outside investments. He would build the guild with his own two hands.
Determined, Ethan cast a teleportation spell, leaving the Forest of Nature and returning to Zone 1314.
---
Ding…
[Global Announcement: The world's first Level 15 Survivor Faction player has emerged. The new expansion, "Conquest of the Main City," is now live!]
The announcement blazed across the skies of every Starter Zone. Players everywhere stopped what they were doing to stare up in awe.
Ding…
[System Notification: Congratulations on becoming the first Level 15 player. You now have the privilege to post one global message, anonymously or under your real name. Would you like to use this privilege now?]
Ethan considered it. Messages like these didn't come cheap later in the game. Posting a national message would cost a million gold coins; global ones were priced at ten million.
In the end, he decided against it. It was too early to draw attention. Better to keep a low profile for now.
Ding…
[System Notification: You have reached Level 15. You are now eligible to leave the Starter Zone. Beyond lies a greater world. Good luck, brave warrior!]
The familiar prompt echoed in his ears as Ethan made his way to the teleportation platform. It was deserted, unsurprising, since only Level 15 players could use it, and he was the only one currently.
As the platform lit up, dazzling light engulfed him. Moments later, the glow faded, and Ethan found himself in Harmony City.
He exhaled slowly, taking in the sprawling metropolis. He wasn't a stranger to this place. In his past life, he'd been here countless times, fleeing from pursuers and being forcibly teleported back to the Starter Zone when he dropped below Level 15. The cycle had repeated more times than he cared to remember.
But this time was different.