17: Skill Upgrade, Damage Boost
Tristan was not the type to dilly-dally.
If he auctioned off the two pieces of equipment, he could indeed fetch a much higher price. Combined, they might sell for over 40 gold coins—possibly even more if the bidding turned intense, potentially breaking the 100 gold mark.
But it wasn't worth it.
Thirty gold coins were already sufficient to unlock his quest. Moreover, fetching a higher price required waiting for major guilds to pool their funds, which would take time—unless he opted for cash.
Instead of waiting around, Tristan figured it was better to kill a few more wild boars and level up.
After all, he now had two pieces of level 5 gear. Once equipped, his leveling efficiency would only accelerate. Reaching level 10 quickly and activating the teleportation portal to the main city would grant him access to even more opportunities.
Compared to this, squeezing out an extra 10 to 20 gold coins was insignificant.
When ExoGenesis merged with reality, the strongest players in the game would hold everything in their grasp.
Right now, this was just an appetizer.
---
While waiting for Drake to finalize the deal, Tristan didn't sit idle.
He had earned 1 skill point from defeating the boss earlier, which he could now put to use.
There was no hesitation. He immediately upgraded Shadow Stealth.
"Ding! Shadow Stealth upgraded, LV1 → LV2!"
[Shadow Stealth LV2 (Black Iron Grade): Enter stealth mode. Breaking Stealth Strike deals an additional (Attack 120% + 100) damage. Mana cost: 5. Cooldown: 18 seconds.]
Unlike advancing the skill's grade, leveling up didn't enhance the damage multiplier—it only increased the base damage value.
Still, it was a solid improvement. Especially with Deadshot multiplying every bit of damage, even the smallest upgrades couldn't be overlooked.
At a 50-meter range, Weak Spot Attacks could now deal a whopping 1,590 damage—truly formidable.
---
Drake worked efficiently. Within minutes, he sent a message: "We've got the coins."
Tristan didn't hesitate, initiating the trade and pocketing 30 gold coins.
Once the deal was done, Drake sent another message: "Bro, let me know if you ever get more great items. I'll make sure the price is worth your while."
Tristan replied casually, "Sure."
Without wasting time, Tristan left the beginner's village and headed into the wilderness.
---
This time, Tristan didn't plan to return to the Wild Boar Plains.
The reason was simple: his damage had completely surpassed the area's requirements.
"If Rend benefits from Deadshot's bonus, my total damage will approach 2,000!"
He froze for a moment, realizing that such high damage was actually a problem—it made testing his new skill difficult.
"Even the level 10 wild boars only have 1,500 HP. They wouldn't survive the direct damage from Shadow Dagger, let alone Rend's follow-up."
Reducing the distance to lower his damage was feasible, but unnecessary. Tristan knew of a perfect spot—one filled with elite monsters, all at level 10, offering substantial experience rewards.
---
Meanwhile, Drake's squad set off again with their shiny new gear.
They returned to the Wild Boar Plains, hoping for another encounter with Blackshade. Chatting with him could only deepen their camaraderie.
But when they arrived, they found the area completely devoid of boar carcasses.
"Blackshade isn't here?" Drake asked, puzzled.
Holy Fire Priest Sophie was equally confused. "The monsters here are high-level, and there aren't many players around. It's a perfect grinding spot."
Unable to figure out the reason, the group continued their training.
---
Tristan's destination was Granite Hills, located north of the beginner's village.
There, a sheer cliff dropped into an abyss, surrounded by elite monsters. The area was typically avoided by players.
But for Tristan, it was ideal.
Heavy footsteps echoed in the distance, accompanied by faint tremors in the ground.
Crossing a hill, a familiar sight came into view: towering Granite Giants, each over four meters tall, lumbering back and forth. Every step left a deep imprint in the rocky terrain.
[Granite Giant (Elite)]
Level: 10
HP: 3,500
Attack: 150
Defense: 400
Skills: Boulder Toss, Earthquake Smash
Their HP was over twice that of level 10 wild boars. But the real challenge lay in their defense—an astonishing 400, higher than the Black Iron Grade Giant Rabbit Boss.
For ordinary players, these monsters were walking nightmares: tanky, strong, and time-consuming to kill.
Most found it more efficient to farm level 10 wild boars instead.
This was why the boss in this area—a Silver Grade creature—hadn't been discovered until two months after the server launched.
To summon the boss, a player needed to solo 100 elite Granite Giants, an impossible feat for most.
But for Tristan? It was laughably easy.
"First, let's test the damage from Rend," Tristan muttered.
Spotting a Granite Giant in the distance, he flicked a Shadow Dagger.
-1,590! (Weak Spot Attack)
Despite their solid rock exteriors, the Granite Giants had a core weak point located on their heads.
While the dagger struck true, Tristan entered Stealth and repositioned.
The enraged giant roared, pounding the ground with its massive fists and hurling a boulder at empty air.
Nearby giants watched their companion curiously, seemingly wondering if it had lost its mind.
Tristan observed from the shadows, noting as Rend began taking effect.
-120!
The damage numbers floated above the Granite Giant's head, and Tristan felt a wave of relief.
Rend indeed benefited from Deadshot's bonus!
Though he had been confident in this theory, confirming it brought reassurance.
-120!
-120!
In just three seconds, Rend had dealt an additional 360 damage. Coupled with the initial hit from Shadow Dagger, the Granite Giant was already down to less than half its HP.
"Two daggers are enough," Tristan concluded.
As soon as his cooldown ended, Tristan launched another attack.
-1,590! (Weak Spot Attack)
With a resounding crash, the Granite Giant crumbled into rubble, disappearing into the rocky hills.
"Ding! You have defeated a level 10 Granite Giant. Experience gained: 150. Bonus for a level 6 difference: 90."
The reward was rich, as expected.