<>

Adam leveled up after an hour of grinding. If he had been killing constantly, without waiting for his pet’s health to regenerate, it would have gone fast. But that was impossible, his pet was his tank. The points he added earlier increased his damage by one or two points while the spirit made his sightseeing vetter than in real life. This would make it easier to aim.Feeling he was on the right path, Adam added the allocated points from leveling up: strenght, agility and spirit; two, one, two in that order. He felt this was the best configuration for him as an archer.

“I’ve got quite a few drops from grinding, and although it was less than expected, I feel that my overall accuracy in archery has improved by shooting moving targets. Barely noticeable, but I can feel it. Fighting is definitely a better method than training. Maybe that’s why archers in the past were so godly, they shot to survive.” Said Adam to himself as he inspected the loot in his inventory.

(13x)

– Dog Jerky 

– Type: Consumable

– Quality: Common

– Effects: Restores 10 hp when eaten

– Classes: All

– Level requirement: 1

(1x)

– Tattered leather boots

– Type: Leather

– Slot: Boots

– Quality: Common

– Effects: 1+ Agility, 2+ Defense

– Classes: Archer, Assassin, Sniper

–  Level requirement: 1

(1x)

– Rusty shiv

– Type: Weapon

– Slot: Off-hand dagger

– Quality: Common

– Damage: 1-3

– Classes: Assassin

–  Level requirement: 1

"13 jerkies, a pair of leather boots that I’ve equipped, and a rusty shiv for assassins which I can't use. Better sell it.The drop rate is pretty low, at least for these brown dogs. Maybe it differs from mob to mob." Adam scrolled through his character screen as well. The total damage of 1-3, was now boosted by strenght, and had gone up to 2-4. 

Just as he was about to head into the city, someone shouted, “Hey, hey! What’s that! What’s happening?!”

Adam looked over to the one who shouted. Further away across the grassy field, a large dog spawned. It was one-eyed as well as a lot bigger than the other dogs in the field. Probably, it was twice or trice larger as normal ones. An intimidating aura spread. Most other dogs fled, running away from the one-eyed dog with their eyes Crimson.

“It’s a boss, it’s a boss!” yelled another player.

A system message flashed in front of every player in the training ground.

<

“It’s a boss! A real boss!” A paladin in a group of three screamed enthusiastically. “This is the first time I’ve seen a boss. It got to be some event, and we are lucky enough to be included in it!”

Of the same group, a priest laughed, “That’s right, it must be like that!”

The rogue of that group, an assassin, wielded his two knives, saying with a grin to his face. “Let’s go! We three brothers need take this chance to rise in fame. The boss should drop some good equipment! Nick, after you bro!”

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The paladin nodded, smiled, and swung his hammer against his shield. “Understood!”

He charged forward, accompanied by the assassin to the left. The boss, one-eyed Buster, lazily moved around, noticing the paladin and the assassin. They had entered Its aggro range. Growling, and baring its teeth, the gigantic dog barked, its eyes filling with a crimson color like the small brown dogs

“Holy smash!” shouted the paladin. His one-handed hammer surged with a yellowish, golden light as he arrived to One-Eyed Buster and bashed the weapon against the beast with all his force. A dull thud sounded out as the hammer hit its target. However, the smile that touched the paladin’s lips quickly changed, a grave expression covering his face. 

“Boom~!” One-eyed Buster’s paw swiped from the side, booming into the paladin and throwing him away like a ragged doll. The paladin, Nick, spurted up a massive amount of blood after landing on the ground.

“Don’t worry, Nick, I will quickly get you up to full!” The priest comforted the paladin. His hands began to channel a white radiance into his staff while he himself chanted loudly. “O' Goddess of light, Sheiya, I beg of you, bestow upon me the power to restore life— Lesser Heal~! He pointed his staff at the paladin, releasing a stream of pure, angelic mist that shot forward to Nick.

“It’s too la…” The paladin collapsed, his body dissolving, turning into nothing. The mist arrived to Nick, but instead healing him, it faded away as well. He died before the priest could heal him.

The priest’s face went pale, and the assassin, who was about to attack the boss, stopped in his tracks as if struck by lightning. “What the hell happened?! How did nick Die! What the f*ck!” cursed the Assassin. He hadn’t been able to see clearly and had only noticed his party member's health bar plummet to zero. 

All the players on the field gaped from shock, and some even dropped their weapons.

“What the heck!”

“That’s an instant kill?!

“Let me out, I don’t want to drop a level!”

“This boss is too strong!!”

Chaos spread across the field. The atmosphere, as quickly as it turned hopeful, transformed into a nightmarish even faster. Tens of layers were for their lives, away from the dog, trying to get into the city. But unfortunately, everyone’s fears came true. The area was now sealed and no one could exit.

“Why can’t we leave? A player asked in a frenzy, noticing that there was an invisible but very real barrier placed around the field. “Shit the system message didn’t lie! We can’t leave!”

“F*ck me!” A muscular berserker swore “I just hit level 2, come on!” 

Several people cursed their bad luck. From what they had seen, this boss was too strong for them to beat in this level. At first, before the paladin was killed, everyone thought this was a chance. An opportunity to get a headstart over everyone else. With maybe an uncommon piece of gear and a great deal of experience gained, they could catch up to the top rankers, who, at the moment, were about level 5. However, If a player was killed, he or she would lose a level and a piece equipment. Since the majority was level 2, they would drop to level 1 again. That was hours of grinding in vain! Why was the heavens punishing them? What had they done to deserve this?!

Adam, who was by the city gates, was also unable to leave. He was observing the events transpiring. To be truthful, he was a bit worried. He understood the situation, there was no need to distrust the system message. Until everyone were wiped out, or if the boss were to be defeated, the area would probably continue to be space locked– trapping players within. 

"Let’s wait and see what happens, There might be an opportunity, or there might not. Either way, I’ll just have to do the best of the situation. And it’s not like levels are so important for me right now, so it won’t be too devastating if I’m killed." Adam calmed himself and hunched down to quietly observe.