Chapter 27

The world outside Northshire Valley is fraught with danger—especially for beginners:

Small wolf packs often travel in groups, goblin scouts are known to hide behind trees and launch surprise attacks with arrows, and even some vultures and eagles from the sky might join in the fun. For these mostly wild beasts or semi-wild creatures, the attitude of the Silvermoon Alliance is quite passive; they simply don't bother with them, as they don't cause much of a stir. Thus, they have always existed.

Fortunately, most of these monsters are just ordinary level 11 or 12 creatures, posing little threat to Alpha. Alpha can easily dispatch goblin scouts, who have thin skin and little health, with a single finger.

What a joke, a full-charged [Pressure Point Strike] can deal over 200 damage to a corpse, let alone these small monsters with less than 180 health.

However, most of the new players Alpha doesn't recognize anymore, as it has been a month. The people he led a month ago are now mostly over level 30, and some, like Bella, have even reached level 40. It's no wonder Alpha feels like a stranger in this place.

But this is for the best, at least no one recognizes him as the Northshire waste. Of course, Alpha has already transformed.

Life is unpredictable, and fate often deals a harsh blow when you are feeling confident. Just as Alpha was relieved that no one called him a Northshire waste anymore, a familiar voice came from not far away:

"Damn, don't you know to stab him in the ass from behind? Are you a wanderer or not? When you see an ass, you should attack it! Why are you standing there like an idiot, are you going to lick his hemorrhoids instead?"

Alpha couldn't help but frown. This person's words were too harsh, especially the last part about "licking hemorrhoids," which made Alpha feel nauseous. Could he not be so vulgar? However, in that moment, Alpha suddenly remembered who this voice belonged to, naturally because of the "licking hemorrhoids" part.

...The talented brother who was killed by Alpha's corpse explosion in the Evil Cave!!!

A month ago, the talented brother was a level 10+ mage that Alpha couldn't defeat. At that time, Alpha, with his high health, couldn't withstand the talented brother's spells, and his weak attacks couldn't deal any significant damage. If it weren't for the corpse explosion, Alpha would have been dead that day.

But now, Alpha is no longer the same. Although still level 10, his combat power has significantly increased. With 384 health and various martial arts, Alpha is no longer afraid of level 20 opponents.

However, Alpha wondered how the talented brother was doing now. Since he was already level 10+ a month ago, he should have reached level 30 by now.

Thinking about this, Alpha began to wonder why the talented brother was still in the area with level 10+ monsters. From the wanderer who was struggling with a dire wolf and the light-clad priest with a staff standing next to the talented brother, it seemed that the talented brother was still leading new players.

—Could this foul-mouthed and arrogant mage have a hidden attribute of being a Lei Feng?

Alpha is not someone driven by curiosity. Facing the talented brother, who had been tricked by him before, he chose to act low-key. He didn't need to pick a fight with such a clown.

However, things didn't go as planned. As Alpha tried to pass by without being noticed, the talented brother saw him:

"Kid, come over here!!!"

Alpha rolled his eyes, thinking this guy must be too full from eating and needed to do something meaningful.

He pulled up the hood on his head—this was a reward from Northshire Constable George for applying to go to the Defias Outpost, the [Traveler's Robe], a green enchanted item that adds 5 health points but has no other attributes. Alpha valued it for the hood, which could cover his face.

"Got any water packs?"

The talented brother was still in his red robe, but his staff had been replaced with a pomegranate wood short staff, not the original oak staff. He had changed a bit.

"Water packs" are the game's shorthand for water and bread. Water restores mana, and bread restores health. As long as you sit down and eat or drink these in a non-combat state, your mana and health will quickly recover, similar to Alpha's [Meditation] skill, but only outside of combat.

Most players carry some water packs to recover health and mana in non-combat states. The talented brother, leading two subordinates to level up, didn't bring any water packs and was waiting for others to provide them.

Moreover, he was so arrogant, as if others had to give him what he wanted.

In fact, most people wouldn't pay attention to the talented brother, not even to urinate, let alone Alpha, who didn't need water packs. With the [Meditation] skill that boosts recovery by 2000%, why would Alpha carry useless water packs?

"Sorry, I don't use those things."

Alpha lowered his voice, not wanting the talented brother to recognize him.

Being killed by a level 10 waste mage with a group of monsters, the talented brother's frustration probably lasted more than just the hour in the resurrection temple. In fact, for the past month, the talented brother often wondered why the devil zombie leader in the newbie village didn't attack the waste mage but instead led a group to gang up on him.

"What the hell? Coming to level up without water packs?"

The talented brother started cursing. Alpha was wearing the [Traveler's Robe], which was easily recognizable. Given the talented brother's character, it would be abnormal for him not to curse at a newbie. However, cursing Alpha for not having water packs, what did that make him?

Familiar with this person's nature, Alpha didn't bother to say anything, shook his head, and turned to leave.

"Are you playing mind games with your dad? Water packs!!!"

As he spoke, the talented brother waved his hand, and a visible transparent vortex of air blew toward Alpha. This was the 2nd-level evocation spell [Wind Blast], which can blow enemies away and cause damage. The damage from this spell is not high, but its main effect is to blow enemies away. If the strength is insufficient, it can even knock them down.

Using [Wind Blast] on himself, the talented brother clearly wanted to embarrass Alpha. After all, how much strength does a mage have?

Unfortunately, the talented brother had chosen the wrong target. Alpha is not a mage with low strength; on the contrary, Alpha's strength is quite high. Therefore, this [Wind Blast] only reduced Alpha's health by 40 points and had no other substantial effect.

—Of course, except for the hood being blown off.

-42!!!

"You have been attacked by player 'Talented Brother.' You have 5 minutes to defend yourself."

"Damn, you're not falling, damn... I'll f*** you, you waste mage!!!"

Suddenly recognizing Alpha's face, the talented brother cursed. This guy had a good memory and immediately recognized Alpha. Alpha didn't waste words; it was time to act. Without a word, he raised his hand and fired a [Hidden Arrow].

The talented brother immediately retaliated, a torrent of flames erupting from his fingertips. It was still the 1st-level spell [Burning Hands].

As a fire evocation spell known for its damage, [Burning Hands] is even more powerful than 2nd-level attack spells, making it a favorite among mages before they learn 3rd-level spells at level 30. After level 30, the 3rd-level spell [Fireball] becomes the dominant attack, with its high fire damage and explosive effects.

"Still [Burning Hands], and not even level 30 after a month..."

Alpha judged, feeling a bit sad for this arrogant but underpowered talented brother. What was the point of playing the game for him? Was it just to act big in the newbie village and bully new players? Staying at level 20+ for a month, Alpha wondered if this guy had a mental or psychological issue.

The golden short arrow pierced through the flames. The two were very close, so neither could avoid the other's attack.

The flames from [Burning Hands] engulfed Alpha, but the three people on the other side of the flames didn't notice that Alpha's body was covered by a faint light membrane. The seemingly violent flames didn't even singe a single hair on Alpha.

This was the effect of [Internal Energy Shield], which negated all fire damage. After taking this [Burning Hands], Alpha only lost about 240 internal energy points.

"Still the same old bear,"

Alpha couldn't help but give the talented brother a low evaluation. Indeed, at level 20+, the damage from [Burning Hands] hadn't increased much from when he was level 10+, which was quite unbelievable.

At the same time, the talented brother was hit by the [Hidden Arrow].

The talented brother didn't take it seriously, still preparing his spell. To him, it was just a [Magic Missile], and a little arrow damage couldn't do much. Not to mention the [Protection from Arrows] spell, which absorbs arrow damage, and the [Mage Armor] spell, which reduces physical damage.

The talented brother was now preparing the 2nd-level spell [Electric Burst], a spell with moderate damage but a terrifying effect.

However, when the golden short arrow completely pierced the talented brother's chest, he realized how wrong he was.

The [Protection from Arrows] spell, which should have absorbed 20 points of arrow damage, couldn't stop this short arrow at all. Normally, a simple arrow with about 10 points of base damage would fall to the ground when it hit [Protection from Arrows], but this short arrow not only didn't fall but also pierced the talented brother's chest.

The golden light enveloping the arrow penetrated the talented brother's left chest with unstoppable force.

---

End of Page

---

Start of Page

---