The path down the mountain was steep and rocky. Mark approached it carefully, sliding his Taskmaster’s Iron-Plated Boots on the loose gravel and mud. The cool night air smelled wonderful and fresh. Above Mark’s head, the two moons cast long, mysterious shadows over the forest below.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwtnybX6Dt6
When he reached the bottom of the mountain, the landscape suddenly opened up. The trail led into a wilderness of tangled roots and colossal trees. The blue magical lights from the ruins were gone, replaced by moonbeams piercing the tree leaves.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFxnhfWG8y4
Mark pulled out his mini-map. The blue lines marking the dungeon doors and connecting corridors were gone. In their place, the rectangular area around him was covered by the dark green mass of the jungle. One narrow trail stood out, leading to the distant yellowish glow Mark had seen from the cliffs.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiAv6yqNA7M
"Keep a tight perimeter," Mark reminded himselfself, adopting the standard pace for scouting missions. Combat in Earth’s jungles was one of the harshest experiences a soldier could undergo. Reduced visibility and the peculiar acoustics of the place made one extra noise-sensitive. Not to mention that danger could come from all sides, including from above.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxLGedCqHgh
Mark unstrapped his iron-tipped spear from his back and took a battle-ready stance. The extra length was helpful in such cases, allowing him to poke around large clumps of bushes before opening them.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmFFI9BrslD
After walking for about twenty minutes, his Tactical Awareness notified him of something suspicious. The usual sounds of the forest were gone. The chattering of the little creatures that inhabited the bushes was replaced by an unusual silence.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsIZktaHBEM
Mark stopped, bending his knees. He tilted his head to the right, listening.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyLAux8EQll
Snap!26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjV7dgNwpid
The dry twigs broke under someone’s step. Then the strange clicking noise began. It resembled the animal’s chattering but was slower and deeper. Mark raised his spear, staring into the darkness between two enormous trees.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE0Iq3rn3P3
“Inspect,” he thought, narrowing his eyes. He had not waited for this, but his senses did not make mistakes.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ23izmwXP3x
Initially, there was nothing. Then the darkness to his right cracked under pressure, and two spots of pale blue light appeared. A text box hung above the space where the creature’s head should be.
[Forest Strider – Level 4]26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn8QGzPOzsB
[HP: 110/110]26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6IfJh0VuP9
[MP: 10/10]26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqJzx5BzomZ
[Description: A giant insect that preys on everything it can smell on the ground. Its long, sharp legs can pierce even the thickest armor.]
Before Mark could finish reading the description, the creature pounced at him.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7M22C4cV2a
Its body resembled a giant praying mantis, but its exoskeleton was covered with brown scales that made it look like a piece of the forest itself. The Forest Strider was more than six feet tall, with four long legs, and a pair of oversized pincers that looked like broken saber blades. It rushed at Mark, its pincers clicking furiously.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSYMPYC1Ksx
“Not this again,” Mark muttered, sidestepping to the right and then forward. Dodging to the side was a bad idea, considering the creature’s reach. He needed to get inside its swing. Instead, he rushed forward and to the left, diving inside the Forest Strider’s space.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtD6Q2NXu2Q
The creature’s right pincer hammered the ground where Mark’s head had been, burying three inches of its blade into the dirt. Mark rolled on his side, bringing his spear up in a staff-like position. He drove the butt of it into one of the creature’s front legs.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNCrvfhcq0h
“Minor Cleave!” Mark shouted, and his mana surged through the spear. A crescent-shaped arc of energy lashed out from the weapon, cutting the insect’s leg at the knee.
[Skill Used: Minor Cleave! You dealt 28 points of physical damage to the Forest Strider]26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLTJQqpPFeX
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBu57SdiOLv
The green liquid jetted from the wound, splattering on the ground. The Forest Strider stumbled to the right, growling. Its remaining front pincer slashed wildly, trying to decapitate Mark. The soldier dove to the side, his stomach almost brushing the ground. The Forest Strider’s pincer missed, but the force of the swing cut a thick branch of a tree from the middle.
While the monster was busy growling at the tree trunk, Mark took advantage of the lull in the attack. He pulled himself up, raising the spear over his head. With all of his might, he drove it downward, aiming at the creature’s diaphragm.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcdHVCPNnB2
The iron tip of the weapon pierced the Forest Strider’s ribs, going straight into the thick mass of its belly.
[Critical Hit! You dealt 38 points of physical damage to the enemy.]
The Forest Strider reeled back, spewing green liquid from its wound. Mark took a step back, twisting his body and keeping the pressure on the spear. He used his considerable Strength stat to wrench the weapon, tearing a big chunk of the creature’s insides. The Forest Strider’s health bar decreased significantly, turning red.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIJdOjzR4G4
Realizing that it was losing the fight, the giant insect growled, trying to get away. Mark jumped back, freeing his spear from the wound. Instead of chasing the Forest Strider through the woods, he switched to his short sword, drawing it out from his belt with one smooth motion.
“Heavy Strike!”
The glowing blue aura enveloped the blade of Mark’s iron sword. He jumped forward, avoiding the last angry swipe of the Forest Strider’s pincers. Then he drove the glowing blade downwards, splitting the insect’s skull in half with a single powerful strike.
[Heavy Strike! You dealt 56 points of physical damage to the Forest Strider.]26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhiDIirR7sy
[Forest Strider (Level 4) has been defeated.]26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjcxuyWqrSU
[+85 XP received]26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ410LyBH2ZQ
[Current XP: 330/300 needed for Level 4]
[Level up conditions have been met!]26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ076V5RoGKq
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A warm feeling of triumph surged through Mark’s chest, spreading from his core outwards. He felt his tension drain away, and the fatigue from the long hike down the mountain simply vanished.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsNdbglpT2K
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmsvpWgHCwJ
[LEVEL UP!]26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4sc1AwWIga
[You have reached Level 4. All health and mana are restored.]26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtfT5iKW8rA
[+5 Attribute Points]26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLd71wSip35
[+1 Skill Point]
Mark smiled, letting out a steady breath. He kept the tip of his short sword on the ground as the Forest Strider’s body began to turn to gray ash. “Level 4,” he said, looking at his new stats. Everything was great, and he only had good words to say about the game’s character creation system. His previous life had not prepared him for this, but now he felt more powerful than ever.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQhBjwqqc8Z
Mark took a closer look at the place where the creature had died. The Forest Strider’s body was already dissipating into the dirt, leaving behind a single item – a long, green-tinted shard of its chitinous shell.
[Chitin Fragment (Common Material): A sharp piece of a giant insect’s exoskeleton that can be used for making various weapons.]
Mark picked up the fragment, adding it to his inventory. He decided to wait before spending the attribute and skill points. It was best to get to the city and figure out the build he wanted before proceeding further into the dungeon.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkazftDsIOd
Looking at his mini-map, the distant yellow light did not seem so far anymore. In the gaps between the trees, Mark could see the black silhouette of the wall and the smoking tower. He was approaching the edge of the wilderness.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpmJbmNnv2C
Mark wiped his blade, sliding it back into its sheath, and shouldered his spear. With a confident step, the soldier left the dark woods, heading towards the city.
然後按「加至主畫面」