Chapter 4

"Where are you? Come to the blacksmith's shop," the discussion group was silent for a moment, and the future guild elder "Square Root Three" responded. Perhaps Proud Sword had once again suppressed the anger of the group, fulfilling Lu Li's request.

Not long after, the Hunter class Square Root Three saw Lu Li. Despite being mentally prepared, he was still startled.

This guy, who confidently claimed he could earn 20 gold in a week, was now left with only a system-mandated, non-durable pair of underwear...

However, Lu Li's expression was incredibly calm. No one had ever been so calm while naked, which gave Square Root Three a glimmer of hope. Without a word, he traded a dagger and ten small breads to Lu Li.

Sharp Short Dagger (Common): Damage 1-2, Required Level 0, Durability 8/10. Slightly better than a beginner's weapon.

"By the way, did you get the Seal Skill Book?"

Square Root Three shook his head, hesitated for a moment, and asked, "You're playing a Rogue, right? Why do you need the Seal Skill Book? Is it for a friend?"

"Seal Transformation," a Druid transformation skill book. The little Imps by the lake have a certain chance to drop it. The aquatic form has no extended skills, so it's not very useful for Druids, but Lu Li specifically requested this book.

"Yeah, I have a friend who needs this skill book. Just remember to keep it for me. Whether I can earn 20 gold in a week all depends on it," Lu Li casually replied, his hand with the ring subtly hidden behind his back.

"Don't worry, I'll organize more people to farm the little Imps," Square Root Three's expression became serious, and he immediately connected a private chat to arrange for people to farm the skill book.

"See you," Lu Li waved the newly acquired dagger and turned to leave the village to fight monsters.

Rogues start with three skills: Shadow Strike, Stealth, and Lockpicking. Additionally, the Night Elf race has an active invisibility skill—Shadowmeld.

Stealth: Instant, 8-second cooldown, allows the Rogue to hide until the stealth state is canceled.

Shadow Strike: Instant, 4-second cooldown, deals 2 points of damage, plus 120% additional normal weapon damage, awards one combo point, current level 1/1000.

Lockpicking: 10-second cast, 2-minute cooldown, opens locked chests and doors, current level 1/1000.

Lu Li didn't immediately charge at a monster but activated Stealth from eight yards away.

This is where the difference between Free Mode and Smart Mode comes in.

In Smart Mode, the system guides or even controls the player to use skills correctly, preventing skill failures due to operational issues. In Free Mode, any unexpected event can cause a skill to fail.

For example, right now.

For example, right now.

Snap! A dry branch was stepped on, making a crisp sound.

The baby boar perked up its ears, grunted twice, and immediately charged at Lu Li.

In his previous life, Lu Li was not a professional Rogue player, so he had no choice but to reveal himself and engage the baby boar in a real fight.

One slash at the boar, -6!

One charge from the boar, -9!

Back and forth, a complete blood exchange strategy.

Square Root Three, observing from a distance, couldn't help but frown. He wasn't very familiar with Rogues, but this guy, who failed to stealth and circle around, didn't seem like an expert at all.

In Smart Mode, stealth is almost flawless, and there's no risk of being detected by monsters.

The future vice president of the Star Moon Guild left disappointed, and in his mind, Lu Li was closer to being a fraud.

Square Root Three didn't see Lu Li's second monster encounter, or he would have had a better impression of him.

The second time, Lu Li's stealth didn't fail. He successfully approached a baby boar from behind, aimed at the back of its leg, and with a swift downward thrust, blood splattered.

-11!

System: Shadow Strike skill completion 82%, causing 93% skill damage, target stunned for 1 second!

Stunned!

This is Free Mode!

The mode that people both love and hate!

Don't think it was easy for Lu Li to achieve 82% completion. It was purely luck, like a blind cat bumping into a dead mouse.

Now, there are still people who choose Free Mode, but their completion rates generally don't exceed 50%. A 50% completion rate only brings 40% skill damage, far below the 100% of Smart Mode.

In his previous life, Free Mode didn't become mainstream until three years after the game's release.

In the following monster kills, Lu Li's highest completion rate was around 60%, and his efficiency was even lower than that of ordinary players. After all, he wasn't a proper Free Mode player in his previous life.

So, while rebirth gave him many advantages, it didn't make him omnipotent.

He wasn't in a hurry, steadily farming baby boars and practicing his skill proficiency and completion rate.

Being a professional player is a very tedious job. Sometimes, patience is more important than talent, and Lu Li, who relied on farming monsters for gold in his previous life, was an extremely patient person.

His completion rate kept improving. By the time his 0-level experience was full and he reached level 1, his completion rate had stabilized at over 70%, and his skill damage was close to 90%, narrowing the gap with ordinary players.

The 30 baby boar teeth required for the quest were long since completed.

He picked up 40-50 copper coins and about ten baby boar skins, but no equipment.

After completing the quest, he received 300 experience points, 20 copper coins, and a Cloth Cloak (Common): Armor 3, Required Level 1, Durability 10/10.

Selling each baby boar skin for 2 copper coins, Lu Li's personal assets reached one silver coin.

However, after repairing his equipment and buying ten breads, the newly acquired silver coin was significantly reduced, leaving almost nothing.

In the game "Dawn," each level-up grants five free attribute points.

After hesitating, Lu Li bit the bullet and added all five new attribute points to Agility.

Although not as effective as Strength, Agility also increases attack power and movement speed. Most importantly, for Rogues, Agility enhances critical hit damage and dodge probability.

In "Dawn," Rogues are mainly divided into two schools: the Agility-focused Subtlety Rogues and the Strength-focused Combat Rogues. Neither is definitively better, as each has top-tier players. However, for Lu Li, who prefers solo play, the benefits of Agility are higher.

After leveling up, two new quests appeared: Nightblade Panther Fur, which requires killing level 2 Nightblade Panthers, and Corrupted Moss, a gathering quest in the Moonshadow Lake area.

First, kill thirty baby Nightblade Panthers to complete the remaining level 0 quest, then go after the Nightblade Panthers.

Nightblade Panthers are excellent leveling monsters. They have low health and average defense. For a Rogue who strikes first, it takes at most two hits to kill a monster. Additionally, Nightblade Panthers drop fur and some equipment, and there's even a chance for a Mage's "Frost Lance" or a Druid's "Rake" and "Seal Transformation" skill books.

Of course, this depends on luck, and Lu Li's luck wasn't extraordinary. He farmed for half an hour without seeing a skill book.

Stealth, Shadow Strike, -19!

Shadow Strike skill completion 73%, causing 81% damage. Two more dagger stabs, and the Nightblade Panther fell with a cry.

A ding sounded, and Lu Li's heart skipped a beat. It wasn't the sound of copper coins; it was equipment, and it was a weapon.

Kicking aside the Nightblade Panther's corpse, a one-meter-long, emerald-green staff appeared.

Apprentice Staff (Common): Damage 5-7, Required Level 2, Durability 3/10.

Absolutely a good find. Although still a common item, its damage is frighteningly high. For a level 2 weapon, it's top-tier equipment.

With equipment, there's motivation. Lu Li couldn't resist and farmed monsters even more enthusiastically.

Not long after, a second piece of equipment appeared.

Fisherman's Tattered Felt Hat (Common): Armor 2, Required Level 1, Durability 8/10.

Though much worse than the staff, Lu Li could use it immediately. Wearing it increased his armor, reducing the damage he took from monsters, indirectly improving his farming efficiency.

While farming, Lu Li suddenly felt his waist sensor vibrating.

He quickly killed the monster, picked up a copper coin, and confirmed the chat request.

"The 'Seal Transformation' skill book you wanted has dropped..."