35: Bone-Cutting Twin Daggers

Tristan approached eagerly, collecting the two loot items.

[Bone-Cutting Dagger (Main Hand): Silver Grade, Attack +300, Agility +15, Equipment Requirement: Level 10 (Set 1/2)]

[Bloodletting Stiletto (Off Hand): Silver Grade, Attack +300, Agility +15, Equipment Requirement: Level 10 (Set 1/2)]

The basic attributes of the items were identical to the Bloodsucking Blade Tristan was using, which made sense since they were both level 10 Silver Grade equipment. The only difference was the additional set bonus.

This was the true power of the Bone-Cutting Twin Daggers, making them comparable to Gold Grade equipment.

[Set 2/2: Attack +200. Activates Frenzied Dash, moving quickly in the target direction while creating a blade storm that deals (Attack * 200%) damage to enemies in the path. Cooldown: 30 seconds.]

Not only did the set bonus increase attack power, but it also activated a special effect: Frenzied Dash. This was a signature move of Ross—the combined "Shifting Shadows" and "Frenzied Blades"!

This was the active equipment effect unlocked when both Bone-Cutting Daggers were equipped, and it was the key element that made this set irreplaceable in the early game.

Tristan's focus was on the "Shifting Shadows" effect. While he could use Stealth seamlessly, if an opponent was prepared, they could counter him with AoE (area-of-effect) skills. If the range and number of skills were large enough, Tristan could be overwhelmed and killed, even in Stealth.

The Bone-Cutting Twin Daggers were one of the few options Tristan had at this stage to gain mobility.

In fact, this wasn't part of Tristan's original plan. Equipment drops in this game were highly random. If he remembered correctly, Kampakro's loot table had over twenty items. Even if each drop was different, it would take many attempts—twenty or so—to get both daggers.

Tristan didn't think it was worth it. It was too time-consuming.

In simple terms, the dash effect was a temporary replacement. Later on, he'd need to rely on proper movement skills. But those were not available to low-level players yet.

Thus, the best course of action was to level up.

Before the fight, Tristan had already mentally prepared himself. If the Bone-Cutting Daggers dropped, great. If not, or if they didn't come in pairs, no big deal. Trying to force a set drop would slow his progress, and that would be unwise.

Tristan gathered his thoughts and stored the daggers. At this point, he couldn't dual-wield, and equipping just the main-hand dagger was pointless.

As he pondered, the voice of the Vampire Baron echoed through the crypt.

"You actually defeated Kampakro? Your strength truly surprises me."

"Come, join me, and let us enjoy eternal life together!"

A game prompt appeared.

[Ding! You have activated the hidden side quest – A Difficult Choice!]

[Choice 1: Kill the Vampire Baron. Quest reward: None.]

[Choice 2: Accept the Baron's suggestion. Quest reward: Unlock the special class Crimson Assassin based on your attribute focus. Life span increased by 300 years.]

The second choice was clearly much more rewarding than the first. Because of this, some uninformed players might choose to join the Vampire Baron.

But Tristan knew that the lavish reward came with a trap!

Before the ExoGenesis integration into reality, players couldn't feel the difference, and some even gained stronger combat abilities due to the special classes.

But once the integration began, and the Vampire Clan descended on Terra, everything would change dramatically.

Even if the Vampire Baron were killed by then, the players who accepted his offer would already be transformed, doomed to become pawns of the Vampire Clan, spreading chaos and bloodshed.

Tristan knew all this, but there was little he could do to stop it. After all, why would other players believe him?

It was just a game, after all. Why should they listen to him?

What Tristan could do was post an anonymous message on the ExoGenesis forum. If he could save even one person, it would be worth it.

…

Shaking off his thoughts, Tristan sneered and said, "Baron, clean your neck and wait for death."

[Ding! You have made your choice. The Vampire Baron will now become your eternal enemy.]

The prompt flashed by, and Tristan paid it no mind. He walked toward the corner of the crypt, kicked aside the scattered treasures, and revealed the hidden floor tiles beneath.

He stepped lightly, and the sound of a mechanism activating came from the stone wall.

Crack!

The chains holding the bronze coffin began to loosen, and the entire coffin slammed to the ground, causing the floor to crack and form a deep, bottomless pit.

From the pit, Tristan could hear anguished wails, curses, and the sound of liquid flowing.

There was also a suffocatingly strong scent of blood.

Below was the Vampire Baron's lair—the blood pool.

The sounds just now were the vengeful spirits of the sacrificed victims.

…

Gazing at the dark, ominous pit, Tristan quickly found a raised ledge and leaped across, descending rapidly.

After falling for dozens of meters, he landed on solid ground. Ahead was a passageway leading to a glowing crimson opening.

The Baron's voice, thick with restrained fury, echoed through the cavern.

"Invader, this will be your tomb!"

"Let your blood fill this soon-to-dry blood pool!"

After Tristan made his side quest choice, the Vampire Baron prepared for battle.

Tristan used Stealth as he approached the opening, hiding behind the stone wall to observe.

This was essentially another crypt, but much darker and more sinister.

There was not a speck of dust on the obsidian floor.

At the center, a pool of blood rippled ominously.

The Vampire Baron sat at the edge of the pool, a look of indulgence on his face.

Beside him stood the once-Wolf King, now transformed into a death knight.

[Vampire Baron Ghibbobo (Golden Grade)]

Level: 15

HP: 1,500,000 / 1,500,000

Attack: 6000

Defense: 4000

Skills: Crimson Pact, Life Transfer, Blood Pool, Blood Tidal Wave, Toxic Blood Plague

Description: The Vampire Baron, awakened from his long slumber. Though his strength has waned, he is still unmatched. It's not too late to submit to him.

…

[Resurrected Wolf King (Silver)]

Level: 10

HP: 350,000 / 350,000

Attack: 1500

Defense: 1200

Skills: Rabies, Fatal Bite, Wild Call

Description: The Wolf King who entered the Baron's lair, killed and resurrected by the blood clan's magic, now a loyal guardian of his former enemy.

…

Two BOSSes!

The Vampire Baron had a whopping 1.5 million HP!

Honestly, if it weren't for Tristan's Sharpshooter talent, even the Vampire Baron would have taken ages to defeat with his high HP.

Moreover, after players discovered the Vampire Baron, it took a long time before he was finally killed. His HP was terrifying, and his level was even higher than the newbie village's cap—level 15!

And this was with his power diminished from his long slumber.

Tristan estimated that the Vampire Baron he was facing now was only about a tenth as strong as the true Vampire Baron.