Chapter 6: Rising Strength Amidst the Chaos
After checking my identification and confirming my abilities, I decided it was time to head deeper into the wild. The goblins were behind me now—my anger and their pitiful screams were nothing but memories. But I hadn't come to this world to linger on one victory. This time, I wasn't just after levels; I wanted skills—useful ones that would push me beyond the competition.
I activated my Identification skill and moved through the dense forest, taking in every shadow and rustle. The creatures of this world were nothing short of fascinating, each with unique abilities that could spell death or fortune depending on who wielded them.
As I trekked through the wilderness, a group of humans came into view. Their voices carried through the trees, discussing their kills and plans. From a distance, I used Identification on them:
Name: Greg (Leader)
Level: 4
Talent: Berserker (Bronze Rank)
Name: Tom
Level: 3
Talent: Steady Hands (Iron Rank)
Name: Lily
Level: 1
Talent: Quick Step (Iron Rank)
Greg's name was notable—ranked 7th on the Global Ranking Board. I had no interest in joining their party, but before I could move away, Greg spotted me.
"Hey, you! Soloing out here? That's brave or stupid. Come with us—we're cleaning up the area!"
"No, thanks," I replied curtly.
Greg frowned, clearly offended. Tom muttered something under his breath, while Lily just stared, wide-eyed.
"Suit yourself," Greg said with a sneer. "Just don't come crying to us when something kills you out here."
I ignored them and headed deeper into the forest. Their arrogance was laughable. Did they think their rank and level meant anything to me? I had already killed a Goblin Lord; their petty talents weren't worth my time.
The forest grew denser as I ventured further, the air humid and alive with the sounds of wildlife. Slimes, kobolds, and other creatures crossed my path, but none had abilities worth my Plunder. I deactivated the skill, unwilling to waste its potential on abilities I'd never use.
Hours passed before I stumbled upon something unusual: a strange, bluish slime pulsing faintly under the dappled sunlight. I used Identification on it immediately:
Name: Defense Slime
Level: 3
Abilities:
Piercing Resistance: Reduces piercing damage by 2%.
Damage Resistance: Reduces all damage by 2%.
I paused, intrigued. While the creature's level and attack strength were unimpressive, its abilities had long-term potential. If I could stack these resistances, I could become nearly untouchable in battle.
"Perfect," I murmured, turning Plunder back on.
The slime wasn't hard to kill. Its resistance made it slightly tougher than a regular slime, but with my Damage Increase skill, it didn't stand a chance.
[Plunder: New Skills Acquired]
[Piercing Resistance Acquired: Piercing damage reduced by 2%.]
[Damage Resistance Acquired: All damage reduced by 2%.]
Satisfied, I searched the area for more of these slimes. They seemed to gather near water sources, and after several hours of hunting, I had killed dozens of them. Both abilities grew steadily as I absorbed more of their essence:
[Piercing Resistance: 80%]
[Damage Resistance: 50%]
But when I killed the next slime, something unexpected happened. My Damage Resistance didn't increase further.
[Chaos Talent Notification]
[Damage Resistance has reached 50%. Further increases require additional Chaos Fragments.]
A chill ran down my spine. My Chaos Talent rarely communicated directly, and its cryptic warnings were never without purpose. I hadn't encountered any "Chaos Fragments" yet, but this was clearly something I'd need to address later.
"Fine," I muttered. "Fifty percent is enough for now."
With that settled, I turned my attention back to Piercing Resistance. It didn't take long to hit 100%, making me completely immune to piercing attacks.
[Piercing Resistance: 100% - You are completely immune to piercing damage.]
With this new strength, I ventured deeper into the forest, hunting for creatures with unique abilities. My strategy was simple: if a monster's ability was useless, I turned off Plunder; if it had potential, I activated it.
Over the next few hours, I encountered a variety of monsters. Some were weak, others surprisingly strong, but I had become an efficient killer. Among the abilities I acquired were:
Eye of the Eagle – This ability allowed me to see further than the human eye should. I could now zoom in on distant enemies, tracking their movements with precision.
Dragon's Might – This ability instilled fear in weaker opponents. For those equal to my strength, it reduced their attributes by 10%. The lower their strength compared to mine, the greater their penalty, up to 50%.
Blood Reap – A life-stealing ability acquired from a vampire. Any damage I dealt to an enemy restored 50% of it as health to me.
By the time I reached Level 8, I had become a force to be reckoned with. I was faster, stronger, and deadlier than I'd ever imagined.
The Global Ranking Board updated soon after:
Shadow (Alex) – Level 8 – Talent: ???
Celestina – Level 7 – Talent: The One Beside Chaos (Mythical)
Carl – Level 6 – Talent: God's Strength (Rainbow)
John – Level 6 – Talent: Ruler's Weapon (Rainbow)
Jonathan – Level 5 – Talent: Arrogance & Pride (Gold)
The internet buzzed with activity. Discussions about "Shadow" dominated forums, along with speculation about my mysterious talent. People praised Celestina's rise as the second-ranked player, but I was the enigma.
The World Government announced recruitment efforts, trying to pull in those ranked between 10th and 6th. One name, Eric, gained attention. A commoner with a Rainbow Talent—Survivor—he had climbed to Level 5, drawing comparisons to the top-ranked players.
A single photo of Eric circulated online—a boy with white hair standing beside a figure cloaked in mystery.
Little did they know, this was just the beginning.