Zhan Long Sword Tempest

Bzzz

My head went blank as I trembled with excitement. Finally, the noob goes pro! The game let me make a skill. Damn, that’s cool. If I equip a sword, I gain a 10% increase in attack damage. This skill is a little too strong. Although my attack right now was only 6-6, and a 10% increase would amount to nothing, later on, the effects would be monumental when I gained more strength and power. This buff is so good. What’s more, my weapon later on should be sword-related; if not, this skill would go to waste!

After pondering for a long time about what exactly I should name this excellent skill…

My mind flashed, and a name popped out – Sword Tempest!

This name is perfect. After you wield your sword, a massacre follows. This is only but the path of the sword. It’s the opening to the fight. I’ll use this!

Ding

System Notice: Congratulations, you have successfully named the skill. You are the first to create an SS skill in the entire server. Do you want to disclose your identity?

I immediately smashed the ‘No’ button. I must stay low-key. Low-key, not for fame or showing off, but to protect my life. Since olden times, those who are famous have always received jealousy. Once my identity is disclosed, who knows how many times I’ll get murdered? I’m not scared of publicity but instead scared of getting beaten. It’s pretty alright, being like this, a level 1 healer. The pros won’t even bother disturbing me. This feeling is simply spectacular.

Ding

System Notice: Congratulations, player xxxx has understood the SS skill – [Sword Tempest]!

Currently, the whole server was chaotic.

Very quickly, an icon of a sword flashed in my Skills tab. My first ‘obtained skill,’ also my second skill, was a SS grade skill. The other was the healer skill, [Hemostasis]. It was D rank and, indeed, the lousiest healing skill. However, it’s still decent, as I can heal myself.

[Sword Tempest] (SS): While wielding and using a sword, your attack power is increased by 10%. Does not consume any strength. It cannot be leveled.

[Hemostasis Lvl 1] (D): Heals 50 HP, costs 5 MP: 0/100 EXP, level 1.

After finishing my preparations, finally, I was ready to take on the world!

Finally, carrying my sword, I was ready to step out of the beginner village 24 hours after the game's opening. My inventory was utterly empty of supplies, or should I say, I could not afford to put any supplies into my inventory. Whatever, slowly, I’ll get whatever I want.

The clumsy players were killing the Straw Dogs near the forest outside the beginner village. The Straw Dogs are level 1-2 monsters, the lowest-leveled monsters in the game. These lousy players…

Escaping the crowd of players, I found another road. The north of Straw Dog Village was a secret forest, but the map showed little red dots. This means that the monsters are above my level, but who cares? I can still try since I have a natural advantage. I can hit and heal simultaneously and have [Sword Tempest] to help, even if it isn’t much help.

In the distance, a few players were bickering over a plain white tunic, loudly shouting: “This equipment can sell for 20 coppers; it’s ours! We are the main DPS dealers!”

I could not help but snicker: “What noobs!”

I see a bunch of copper coins sitting out in the sun, inviting people over. I quickly ran over and looked around. Great, there isn’t anyone. I started picking up the loot.

Oh! I’m rich! Looks like it’s my day.

I spent all the money before fixing my sword; I only had this one copper. Which idiot killed all the Straw Dogs but didn’t pick up the loot? Really, what a genius.

After going around the Straw Dog spawning areas, the players were few and far between. There were dense clumps of bushes and shrubs. The Straw Dogs rarely spawned.

After a few minutes, a low growl sounded. Finally, I’ve found a mob worth fighting. It was a ferocious Hyena. God damn it, all the mobs around this beginner villages are dogs.

[Hyena] (Common Monster)

Level: 3

Attack: 7-11

Defence: 3

Health: 150

Skills: None

Good, a level 3 monster. Just killing two of these will bring me to level 2. Let’s go!

Clang

I pulled the sword out of the sheath, and the [Sword Tempest] activated, giving me a 10% attack boost. Walking forward, although I wasn’t very near, the Hyena got aggro’ed and howled. It rushed out, and with no skills, it looked to open its mouth and bite me directly.

Rushing to react, my sword was already falling on its forehead before the Hyena bit me. Kacha a {12} jumped out. At the same time, the Hyena bit my leg and hung on, taking 25 hit points away from me. Hoho, it’s cleanly twice my damage.

I was not worried and continued to attack as I attacked faster than the Hyena, and it kept howling and growling. I immediately raised my hand when I took two hits, and a holy beam fell upon me. [Hemostasis]!

{+50}

Strong! Able to hit and heal, this is indeed the emperor’s path to success!

After some time, I killed the Hyena and shua, and my experience bar filled to 50%. At the same time, it growled and fell to the ground, exploding into two coppers. I quickly took them. It is not a bad reward…

After sweeping the second Hyena, shua, a golden light fell on my head, and I raised one level. I broke through the level 1 barrier and became a level 2 healer. All 10 points were added to strength as usual, but as a healer, the ten strength points only gave 5-5 more attack damage, as I had a 0.5x strength multiplier. If I were a berserker, it would be an 11-11 attack damage boost; this is so unfair…

Sword tilted at an angle, I walked on. I’ll farm to death!

After killing tens of Hyenas, I saw that my MP was very low. A [Hemostasis] costs 5 MP; my max MP was only 60. With no immediate healing items, I would probably die here. Luckily, at that moment, I leveled up and reached level 3. My HP and MP filled back to full, and I continued adding the ten stat points I gained to strength. My character became a fighting priest.

[Xiao Yao Zi Zai] (Novice Healer)

Level: 3
Attack: 11-13
Defence: 4
Health Points: 120
Magic Points: 70
Charm: 0

Although a healer is naturally weaker than the others, if I change to a good weapon, I can break through the monster’s defense if they are at the same level. If I can break through, it’d be great since I can heal myself, then I won’t have to worry about dying. After a prolonged battle, I’ll have better survival capabilities than any other class. Though I added all my points to strength and not magic, I don’t have enough MP. I need healing items; if not, I can’t fight for long.

Mm, I’ll stay here and kill some more. After earning about 50 coppers, I can buy some potions. The potions allow me to go deeper into the woods and kill higher-level monsters.

Kacha

After slicing through a Hyena’s head, another two coppers exploded, and I quickly grabbed them swiftly. I moved onwards to kill more mobs. After leveling up, my attack power increased, and killing the Hyenas proved to be less hassle than before. It’s pretty useful.

Crossing some plains, then moving forward some more, I saw a Black Bear wandering around the trees in the distance. It’s level 5, and its attack, defense, and health stats are all ridiculously high.

Tightly grasping my sword, I took a deep breath. Let’s try killing it; if I don’t manage to kill it, I can run!

About 10 yards from the Black Bear, it got aggro’ed and came sprinting after me, its massive body flying through the plains. Its furs stood on end, and it raised its paw, ready to attack.

Pam

The fresh blood splattered everywhere. The combat in the game is so realistic; my shoulder got a large wound, and blood pooled, dyeing it red. A damage number popped up –

{42}

God damn, it hurts!

I quickly raised my sword to attack, which only dealt {15} damage. I continued to attack, and simultaneously, the holy light of [Hemostasis] shined upon me, healing 50 health. Once it went off cooldown, I immediately used it again.

Gu

The Black Bear ferociously opened its jaws and took a big bite of my arm, leaving it dangling. Again, it took a large amount of hit points.

{82}

My god, I could only get hit once more.

I got scared and quickly took to my legs and ran. Who in the world would be idiotic enough to stay there?

After running for my life, I took two steps backward and managed to aggro the Black Bear again. It ran after me, and in the short period where I wasn’t being attacked, I raised my sword and healed myself for {50} HP with [Hemostasis] simultaneously. I continued to attack the Black Bear in this manner.

It was only a level 5 normal monster, yet it took me 30 seconds to beat it. At last, the Black Bear let out a deathly cry. I only had 41 HP left when it ended.

Paafuu

The bear dropped to the ground and disappeared. I heard the sound of items dropping, but it wasn’t the clear tinkle when copper coins dropped. Wow, I even got an equip, not bad. That looks like a dumb wristguard, though.

Rushing to grab it and see, I realized it was average.

[Black Bear Gloves] (White Equip)

Type: Armor

Defence: 7

Required Level: 4

Armor, huh? I can’t equip it anyway, so I’ll sell it. It’s always a white piece of equipment, so I doubt anyone would want it.

On the ground, there were also five coppers. High-level monsters are so much more generous than those Hyenas. I picked it up, turned around, and left. I’m not killing more bears since their attack is so high, and I’m squishy. I can’t take the hits. Currently, I have no equipment besides my sword. Some random guy with no armor will simply be killed anyway.

I continued killing the Hyenas. At level 3, killing level 3 mobs becomes so much easier. In only an hour, I reached level 4. At the same time, my inventory was 47 coppers heavier. It seemed like it was going to explode.

Looking behind me, quite a few players were training here now. I probably can’t stay here for too long. I’ll go back to the village to sort my items, buy some potions, and then find higher-level places.

Carrying my sword, I walked past the plains with my head lowered. At this moment, several people passed, and a level 6 barbarian carrying a battleaxe rushed up to me and asked: “Hey, dude. Did you get any equipment in this grinding spot that a berserker can use?”

I discreetly removed the armor gloves from my inventory and said: “White equipment, no class specifications. Do you want it?”

The barbarian guy smiled: “7 defense, huh? Being a tank, of course, I want it. How much are you selling for?”

I looked around. “The shop buys it for 21 coppers. Can you pay more than that?”

“Of course!” The barbarian smiled happily. “I’ll give you 50 coppers, how’s that?”

“Okay, deal!”

A few seconds later, I walked away with my sword, my inventory close to 100 coppers or a single silver.

Returning to Straw Dog Village, I took out the level 2 armor I got from killing those Hyenas and their skins and other white equipment and sold them all. At last, my inventory had 121 coppers! I took a look around the shop. Level 2 tunic, +2 defence, 70 coppers. That’s too expensive. No thanks, I’ll wait for mobs to drop some equipment.

I reached the potion shop. A level 1 blue potion healed 50 MP and cost five coppers each. In one breath, I bought 23 and repaired my sword as well. Again, I was broke, having only one copper left. Yet again, I was like a noob.

Leaving the place, my path to becoming a fighting priest has begun!