Chapter 2

On that day, the same voice echoed throughout the world, as loud as thunder.

"I am Lin Bo. You can call me Dr. Lin. 'Global Monsters OL' is officially launched, and the Earth will enter game initialization in ten minutes... So, enjoy the last moments of peace!"

This prank-like announcement did not attract much attention.

However!

Ten minutes later, the sky was filled with auroras, the wind howled, and the earth shook.

Humans were plunged into complete panic...

...

Year 3 of the Monster Era.

Zhao Nan cautiously crouched in the reeds at the edge of the riverbank, a necessary path to the Demon City. As a 49th-level swordsman, he had to complete the task of transporting cloud crystals to the Demon City to qualify for a class change. Only by reaching level 50 and undergoing a second class change could Zhao Nan survive in this screwed-up world.

There was less than two months until the next game update, when the monsters in the world would evolve to varying degrees, significantly increasing the difficulty of the game. Those below level 50 would only be cannon fodder.

At the start of the game, due to his confusion, Zhao Nan chose the balanced swordsman class. However, in this real game based on the original physical data, with his half-otaku body, even as a swordsman, his data points were lower. This made his later development inherently insufficient. As the levels of human players gradually increased, this gap widened.

In short, if someone was a soldier or a tough guy before the game started and chose the swordsman class, with both at level 49, the difference in base attributes would be almost double, and three Zhao Nans wouldn't be able to beat one of them.

"After the class change, I can reset my attributes and choose another class. The swordsman is not suitable for me," Zhao Nan thought to himself.

Now, he had to pass through the small forest in front of him to get to the Demon City. It was a safe zone where monsters would not attack human players. However, to cross the forest, he had to pass through a group of Lickers' territory.

Lickers... After the game initialization, they were zombies transformed from humans. The level of Lickers generally fluctuated around level 40. As a 49th-level warrior, as long as he didn't get caught in a group of Lickers, Zhao Nan was confident he could successfully cross the forest.

It was night, not the best time to move. However, the task deadline was approaching. If he continued to wait, this transportation mission would likely fail. Zhao Nan had traveled from the distant Demon City, almost using up all his savings to complete this task!

This mission absolutely could not fail.

The river rippled, and the cold moonlight shattered on the water. Zhao Nan took a deep breath and sprinted into the forest at full speed.

Using the shadows in the forest, Zhao Nan activated a swordsman skill called "Divine Speed," which increased his speed by 20% for 30 seconds.

He could hear the sounds of Lickers moving through the forest. Zhao Nan's heart raced. He had no defense at all, wearing only a beginner's white shirt with almost zero defense!

Suddenly, a sound broke the air! It turned out that Zhao Nan had accidentally stepped on a branch, which was caught by the Lickers' keen hearing!

"Damn!"

Dozens of Lickers suddenly appeared from all directions, their sharp claws visible on the trees and the ground.

Level 40, Level 39, Level 41, Level 40...

Zhao Nan smiled bitterly, knowing a battle was inevitable. He took another deep breath, gripped his longsword, and activated "Divine Speed" again.

"Triple Slash!"

At the same time, the intermediate skill of the swordsman burst out. In the darkness, a bright silver sword light erupted from his shoulder, and Zhao Nan's body quickly flipped in the air, slashing three times! Three damage values appeared before his eyes.

-456!

-439!

-398!

The blood bar of the Licker in front of him instantly dropped by a third! As soon as Zhao Nan landed, he used "Triple Slash" again.

At the same time, the Lickers around him pounced.

"Blade Dance!"

The sword in his hand burst with a golden light, and a one-meter-wide circle of light appeared under Zhao Nan's feet. At the edge of the circle, dozens of sword lights shot out simultaneously.

This was a group attack skill that a swordsman could only master after level 40. However, the mana cost was also terrifying. After one big move, Zhao Nan's mana was almost halved. But the effect was obvious, with dozens of huge damage numbers appearing, and the blood bars of Lickers below level 40 were instantly cleared.

Zhao Nan had no time to check the number of kills and the items obtained. Taking advantage of the Lickers being pushed back by the skill, he quickly moved forward.

He was alone, without any godly equipment to solo these Lickers. If he didn't leave quickly, he would be asking for trouble!

Zhao Nan's heart was almost jumping out of his chest. He could vaguely see a clear scene ahead! He was almost through this small forest!

Behind him, hundreds of Lickers were chasing him frantically. Zhao Nan was almost racing against death.

Two hundred meters... one hundred meters... faster!

Fifty meters...

Thirty meters...

At this moment, a huge figure blocked Zhao Nan's path, three times the size of an ordinary Licker!

"Can't be this unlucky... Licker King!"

The golden name—Licker King Level 45!

Zhao Nan felt like dying. A level 45 king monster was definitely a boss that required a second class change and a decent set of equipment to solo!

This was a real game, not a virtual one. Once you died in the game, you were truly dead!

"Finally made it this far, almost succeeded... I can't accept this!"

Roaring, Zhao Nan quickly took out a bottle of instant health potion from his bag... He had spent most of his savings on this, and he only had one.

Because once a player's health bar was depleted in the game, it meant real death. The value of the instant health potion was obvious. It was almost equivalent to a life!

Zhao Nan gritted his teeth and thought quickly. He was no longer the high school student from three years ago; three years of gaming had transformed him into a calm and rational thinker.

Lickers, whether ordinary or king, had a weakness: their hearts were exposed outside their bodies. Once the heart was attacked, they would take 300% damage. However, Lickers generally moved in a crawling position, making it extremely difficult to attack their hearts.

At this moment, the ordinary Lickers had stopped moving. Because of the Licker King's presence, they were lying on the ground, making submissive sounds.

Zhao Nan calculated quickly. Clearly, defeating the Licker King was not realistic for his current situation. What he needed to do was to avoid the Licker King's attacks and run into the safe zone as quickly as possible.

This thought process took only two seconds but felt like years. At this moment, the Licker King moved.

It crawled towards Zhao Nan at an angle. Even with the "Divine Speed" skill, a 49th-level swordsman would hesitate at this speed!

But this also gave Zhao Nan a perfect opportunity! He just needed to take the direct path to the safe zone!

The Licker King was less than ten meters to his left front, crawling at an angle. Zhao Nan held the instant health potion in his hand, activated "Divine Speed," and moved like a mad dog, taking a straight path!

Twenty meters—

Fifteen meters—

Time seemed to slow down in an instant.

Sssss—!

Zhao Nan felt a piercing pain in his back. The Licker King's tongue, like a spear, instantly pierced his back, causing his health bar to drop to a dangerous level. The tongue was also poisonous, causing continuous damage that ordinary health potions couldn't keep up with!

Zhao Nan endured the pain and quickly took the instant health potion! Without looking back, he had only one thought: reach the safe zone fifteen meters away!

"Almost there!"

As he thought this, Zhao Nan checked his health. His face turned pale instantly! His health had only recovered by 50%!

At this moment, the health potion in his hand had changed.

"Instant Health Potion (Fake), can instantly recover 50% health..."

"Damn, I was cheated! If I had known, I wouldn't have been so greedy..."

But it was too late. The Licker King's tongue pierced Zhao Nan's back again, and his health quickly dropped to zero.

Zhao Nan gave a bitter laugh, a fierce determination rising in his heart. He instantly turned around and, with all his strength, threw his sword forward!

It was just a last-ditch effort before death.

The sword unexpectedly pierced the Licker King's heart.

As Zhao Nan fell, he suddenly heard the system announcement.

"Congratulations, player Zhao Nan, for defeating the Licker King and obtaining money... obtaining equipment... obtaining a unique special hidden item, Double Card..."

"Obtaining 123234 experience, but because the player did not complete the class change task, unable to level up!"

"Player Zhao Nan, dead!"

"Damn—!"

...

"Damn you, animal—!!!!"

A roar like a wild beast echoed.

"Zhao Nan, what are you saying! If you really find my class so boring, then please leave!"

In front of Zhao Nan, a middle-aged man with an angry face, his face pale and his hands trembling.

Zhao Nan was stunned... Where was this...

At the same time, a nightmare-like voice echoed from outside the window, like thunder.

"I am Lin Bo. You can call me Dr. Lin. 'Global Monsters OL' is officially launched, and the Earth will enter game initialization in two hours... So, enjoy the last moments of peace!"

The page turned, and the ad began.

The page turned, and the ad ended.