Axel rummaged through the ruins and found a few more useful items:
[Bronze Helmet (F-Rank)]: Head Defense +7, Durability 130/130
[Repair Patch]: Restores 120 durability of an item
[Milk]: Restores 30% HP
[Rapid Stab (F-Rank Skill Book)]: Stab a target three times with a weapon, each hit dealing 110% damage. Cooldown: 15 seconds. (Dagger-class only.)
A skill book!
Without hesitation, Axel learned it immediately.
A system prompt appeared, showing that he had four skill slots—
Similar to MOBA games he had played before.
"Three small skills and one ultimate, maybe?"
Axel chuckled to himself.
With the ruins fully looted, he left and entered the dense forest nearby.
Despite his permanent invisibility, Axel still moved cautiously, making sure to avoid any unnecessary noise.
Before long, he spotted three wild hounds resting under the thick foliage.
[Large Hunting Hound (E-Rank)]: 250 HP
[Small Hunting Hound (F-Rank)]: 78 HP
[Small Hunting Hound (F-Rank)]: 78 HP
Axel smirked.
"Three wolves? More like three free kills."
Currently, he was fully equipped—a bronze helmet, bronze wrist guards, and most importantly, he had just learned a new skill.
He stepped forward silently.
The large hunting hound lay still, completely unaware of the hidden predator approaching it.
"Time to test my skill."
A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
"Rapid Stab!"
Axel’s dagger lashed out three times in succession, aiming directly for the hound’s skull.
[Critical Hit! You struck a weak point, dealing 96 damage!]
[Critical Hit! You struck a weak point, dealing 96 damage!]
[Critical Hit! You struck a weak point, dealing 96 damage!]
In one swift combo, the large hunting hound was dead!
However, attacking immediately canceled his invisibility—
The two smaller hounds reacted instantly, their sharp fangs bared as they lunged at him!
Axel instinctively raised his arm, blocking with his bronze wrist guard.
[You have been bitten by a hunting hound. HP -9. Wrist guard durability -10.]
[You have been bitten by a small hound. HP -13. Wrist guard durability -10.]
He barely felt anything.
"Seems like pain is dulled in this game. That’s good to know."
Without hesitation, he stabbed the first small hound.
[Critical Hit! You struck a weak point, dealing 91 damage!]
It collapsed instantly.
His movements felt fluid, sharper than usual—
A clear effect of the +5 all-attribute bonus he had gained from killing his teammate earlier.
The last remaining hound lunged again—
Axel effortlessly sidestepped and delivered a precise stab.
[Critical Hit! You struck a weak point, dealing 91 damage!]
All three hounds—dead.
At that moment—
A treasure chest materialized where the monsters had fallen.
[Treasure Chest (E-Rank)]: Open it to receive an E-Rank reward!
Axel’s eyes lit up.
"Finally, something better than F-rank trash!"
In battle royale games, F-rank gear was basically level 1 armor—weak.
But E-rank?
That was like level 2 gear—a significant upgrade.
He opened the chest.
[Choose one item:]
[Silver Longsword (E-Rank)]: Attack +35, Durability 360/360
[Silver Armor (E-Rank)]: Full-body Defense +30, Durability 300/300
[Sprint (E-Rank Skill Book)]: Dash 10 meters in a straight line. Cooldown: 8 seconds.
"Only one choice?"
Axel clicked his tongue.
"Stingy system."
The longsword and armor were tempting, but he quickly decided—
He took the Sprint skill book.
Why?
Skills were rarer than equipment.
Weapons and armor could be looted off dead players, but skills couldn’t be taken—once learned, they were permanent.
[You have learned Sprint (E-Rank).]
Satisfied, Axel tested it out—
A quick burst forward, covering 10 meters instantly—
Without breaking stealth.
"Nice. This is great for positioning and escaping."
----------------------------------------
Axel left the forest and entered a small farmstead—
Two small two-story buildings stood silently under the night sky.
Scanning the area, he saw no signs of movement.
"Might as well loot it."
He picked one of the houses, opened the door, stepped in, and shut it behind him.
Inside—
* Three rooms on the first floor.
* Two rooms on the second floor.
* Dim lighting, but loot was still visible.
In one of the rooms, a pile of hay concealed several valuable items.
[Silver Greatsword (E-Rank)]: Attack +36, Durability 320/320
[Bronze Armor (F-Rank)]: Full-body Defense +10, Durability 140/140
[Heavy Strike (E-Rank Skill Book)]: Swing a heavy weapon, dealing 100% damage in a 4-meter area and stunning enemies for 2 seconds. Cooldown: 12 seconds. (Heavy weapons only.)
Another skill book!
Axel grinned.
"Noice. This game keeps getting better."