“If I combine my points of intelligence, luck, attack, agility, vitality, and defense, my point total will be… Twelve points? The base statuses in this game are ridiculously low, aren’t they?” Klaus wondered, looking at his attributes screen.

After spending almost all of his stamina climbing up the hill to get out of the Shadow Gatun spawn area, Klaus needed some rest, and he took that moment to think a bit about his build.

“Well, think about it… That scary Boss is level 30, but it is only of mutant nature, the second weakest. Hum! Up to what level is it possible to get in this game?”

Klaus knew there was a recent professional setting of Rise Online, and the professionals were probably those of the highest level within the game. However, was there anyone who had already reached the top level?

“Anyway, there’s no point in thinking about that now. I’m just at the beginning. For now, I’ll look at the items I picked up from those guys.”

Using his right index finger, Klaus quickly fiddled with the system, opening the item inventory with two simple swipes.

[You earned ‘Old Blue Leather Tunic.’]

[You earned ‘Huko Arrows.’]

[You earned ‘Fire Stone I.’]

[You earned ‘Dagger.’]

Klaus Park’s eyebrows rose, because he was not expecting to gain so many good things just by looting his former party members.

Klaus threw both hands to the sides and uttered to himself with a cynical tone:

“Better them than me. I’m not going to get so friendly and involved with player-killers. Yeah, I must stay away.”

Klaus had no doubt that the title ‘Assassin’ that Magma carried on his sheet was due to Magma having already killed at least one other user who did not fight back. Otherwise, if Magma had only challenged or fought in an ordinary PVP Battle, he would unlikely earn a negative title like that. Klaus knew it from his past experiences in several other MMORPGs.

[Old Blue Leather Tunic was equipped, you gained +1 on the Defense Attribute].

“As I figured, putting on armor parts increases the defense attribute. There must be other types of armor that buff other attributes…” Klaus analyzed as he tested the resistance of the coat by trying to pull it on. “This is soft and warm, it won’t protect me against a sharp sword, but it’s better than having nothing.”

[Item: Dagger (Attack Weapon)

This Dagger used to belong to the user ‘Proddy’. Unfortunately, its blade is cracked and requires repair.

Class: Primal.

Item Level: 1 of 5

Attack: 10

Defense: 0

Physical Fitness Level needed: 3]

Just as the Dagger’s description said, Klaus could see with his own eyes a large crack running up from the Dagger’s handle to the middle of the blade. This was a shame for Klaus, who thought the weapon was excellent, even though it was simple.

According to Klaus’ research, the Strength Attribute multiplies the Attack Attribute of weapons, which means that if he, with six in strength, could use this Dagger, he could apply sixty damage with any measly blow. In addition, Klaus learned while shooting at the Black Vultures that the standard attack damage could even be doubled depending on the location of the body hit by the attack.

‘If I can repair this dagger, a fifty-strike combo will be enough to kill the Shadowcat…’

To think that such a thing was possible bordered on madness. A combo of fifty consecutive blows, without taking a single hit, was beyond anything anyone had ever achieved in Rise Online, not to mention against such a fast Boss with the power to control shadows. However, for the greed of Klaus, who did not wish to share the rewards for killing the Boss with anyone, this was not madness, but a possible alternative.

“Urgh! Well, I’ll see the rest of the items I got at another time…” Klaus Park squirmed his spine as he stood up from the trench he was hiding in. “For now, I think I’ll explore some of that region after I kill a few more birds. Everything is so quiet, and I haven’t seen any other players yet. It might be an area that hasn’t been fully explored.”

Although the information about the treasure in the Black Vulture’s nest was not true, Klaus was still motivated. He managed to get a whole level up just by killing a Black Vulture with a single arrow, so maybe he would get a few more levels the same way.

This time, he would have to be a little more careful than before and could not afford to miss his arrows. Seven arrows were left in his quiver, so he would have to kill seven Black Vultures before returning to the city.

*

[Critical hit!]

[You eliminated a Black Vulture. +200 XP.]

[Your understanding of the Bow went up 5%.]

One message after another resounded in Klaus Park’s mind. He hit another arrow precisely in the eye of one of the blackbirds in the great flock, so it was hit-kill.

‘Yes!’ Klaus mentally celebrated.

From where he stood, Klaus felt he could shoot one more arrow without revealing its location, so he positioned another arrow on the rope, pulled the rope back until his arms felt the weight of the tension, and let go.

At that moment, Klaus used <Telekinesis> to constantly adjust the trajectory the arrow followed and propel it with force and speed.

The arrow flew into the sky in zigzags as if it were a stunned bird, and the stricken Black Vulture, before it died, could only hear the hiss of the arrow dancing in the air.

[Critical hit!]

[You eliminated a Black Vulture. +200 XP.]

[His understanding of the Bow went up 5%.]

Next, Klaus ran out from behind the tree, where he was camouflaging himself. ‘If this bow wasn’t crap, I would only need to make minor adjustments, and I could save some MP.’

Luckily, the Misty Woods was the perfect region for archers like Klaus to farm. The mist that covered every corner of the forest was undoubtedly the greatest ally of long-distance players and the greatest enemy of melee players.

Wisely, Klaus waited at least two minutes before launching another attack. That time was enough to diminish the sense of alertness of the flock.

Once again, he checked that he had enough mana to use his Inherent Skill, took an arrow, positioned it in his bow, and shot upward with as much force as he had. Soon after, he used <Telekinesis> to control the arrow in the air, hitting his targets masterfully.

[You eliminated a Black Vulture. +200 XP].

[You eliminated a Black Vulture. +150 EXP.]

[You eliminated a Black Vulture. +150 XP.]

Klaus used this same sneaky tactic over and over again to keep leveling up, until a message that made him smile appeared on his screen:

[Congratulations! You have just leveled up to level 1!]

*

*

*

[Statistics Screen

Nickname: Kaizen | Class: Psych

Current Title: Newbie Transferred | Profession: Tramp

Level: 1 | Alignment: Neutral | Fame: 0.]

[Attributes

HP: 100 | Vitality: 1

Intelligence: 6 | Luck: 1

Attack: 8 | Agility: 2

Charisma: 0𝑜𝐯𝓛xt.𝓬𝒐𝓂

Defense: 1

Magic resistance: 0 | MP: 15

PR: 120.]

…

Edited by: DrHitsuji

If you want to see original illustrations of Rise Online characters, consider helping me on pa treon: Pa treon.com/NandoFalske

More character images in:

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