RememberMe was still talking about the duel he had with Broken, which he lost miserably.
"I'm certain his skill deals massive damage. It couldn't have been a critical hit; our level difference is too great!" RememberMe said confidently. "Somehow, he did it. Maybe he's a cheater, and I'll follow him to find out his tricks, hahaha. If we learn how to cheat in this game, we'll become strong quickly too!"
"There are no cheaters in this game, idiot!" Forev, the Asian female archer, retorted.
RememberMe, slightly taken aback, replied, "We can't be sure until we prove it ourselves."
The three of them continued to follow Broken, who was walking while Polly ran around in the grass.
PussyCat glanced at the fox and murmured, "The fox is so adorable. I wonder if he'll let me pet her," she said, giggling.
"Forev and I will help with the monster hunting," she continued. "I'm sure our new friend needs to level up quickly. He's still only level 26, right?"
"Are you sure?" RememberMe asked.
"Yeah," PussyCat replied. "I think we'd be able to do this much quicker if the two of us helped out. The monsters in the forest are, on average, higher level than us, after all."
The three of them decided to carry out the punishment together. Doing something different from their usual grinding routine was certainly not boring.
[RememberMe Lv. 78 - Battle Guardian]
[PussyCat Lv. 69 - Spell Weaver]
[Forev Lv. 72 - Shadow Hunter]
The three players had yet to reach level 100, the usual requirement for taking the advanced class quest. Nonetheless, Broken was an exception; he had acquired his class in an unconventional manner despite being only level 26. He had a higher grade of class than the others.
They soon stepped into the lush forest, the sun's rays slowly fading as the trees twisted into unnatural shapes. The trees seemed to shiver in their strange forms, and the undergrowth scattered in all directions, creating a hazy light that made the trees appear as if they were drowning in the distance.
The smell of the forest wafted into their noses, evoking a sense of entering a fantasy world. If it weren't for the monsters lurking around, they could have enjoyed the peaceful atmosphere of the beautiful forest all day.
Monsters can be found in various locations with varying levels of intelligence. Those with low intelligence tended to remain in the same area, while those with higher intelligence roamed around. Like most games, when a monster was killed, it would eventually respawn, making it easier to hunt them.
In addition to roaming outside, monsters could also be found within dungeons. These monsters were usually of higher levels and greater difficulty than those found outside. To enter a dungeon, players had to meet certain requirements and were limited to a certain number of entries per period of time.
"Master," RememberMe said as he walked over to stand next to Broken.
With a sarcastic tone, Broken replied, "You're quick to accept your defeat, huh?"
RememberMe chuckled. "I am a player with high integrity, so I will live up to my words. And you don't need to worry; I'm sure we can kill a lot of monsters in this place with the three of us. Do you want to level up immediately? Your level is still so low, after all."
However, Broken didn't seem to hear his question or intend to reply.
"Master, we will be your minions," RememberMe continued. "Are you willing to share the secrets of the cheats you used?"
"Where did that foolish idea come from? Your friend already explained that there are no cheats in this game, didn't she?"
PussyCat and Forev then joined the conversation.
"Immortal Legacy is built on a super AI," Forev said. "Since its development and launch three years ago, no bugs or cheaters have been found. That's common knowledge."
Forev then turned to PussyCat. "PussyCat should have known better."
But PussyCat quickly signaled with her index finger on her lips. Forev realized he had made a mistake and fell silent.
RememberMe continued, "But those stupid Divine Champions, they roam around the game with their ridiculous skills. I think that's worse than cheating."
He then turned to Broken. "Could it be that you're one of the Divine Champions, Master? Hahaha."
PussyCat replied, "The Divine Champions should all be top players by now, right?"
Forev responded, "Not all Divine Champions have revealed their identities. Some still choose to remain hidden. Although, I don't think it will be long before they're all known, especially since the Goddess of Sloth has chosen her Champion."
"The Sloth only has one Champion so far, right? There's still a chance she might choose another," RememberMe replied with a laugh.
As the conversation continued, RememberMe declared, "I'm determined to become the Sloth champion, hahaha. They say the Goddess is incredibly beautiful..."
Forev interjected, "That's just a legend. No one has actually seen her appearance."
RememberMe persisted, "But what about her chosen champion? They must have met in person, right? I've heard so many people talking about it and wishing they could have the same experience. Hahaha."
PussyCat chimed in, "This game is so entertaining. They've designed every important character so exquisitely, both male and female. Some of the princesses and princes are especially attractive."
RememberMe couldn't help but retort, "It's ridiculous how people idolize virtual characters. You're all fools."
Forev shot back, "But you were the one who brought up the beautiful Goddess in the first place, you idiot."
They continued to traverse the forest, chatting among themselves, while Broken led the way, remaining silent.
Forev continued, "There is no way a Divine Champion has a low level. With their privileges, they can easily level up," she said. "Unless…"
"Unless what?" RememberMe turned to her.
"Unless they have just received the blessing and are in the process of gaining levels," Forev explained.
She continued, "But, if we're talking about magnificent skills, there are many factors to consider. Classes also have grades: Common, Rare, Elite, Epic, Unique, and so on. So far, no one has been known to receive a Unique-Grade Class. However, those with Epic-Grade Classes are already among the top players."
RememberMe then turned to Forev. "It's really frustrating. Is there any way I can get those Divine Champion skills and Unique-Grade classes using money?"
PussyCat chuckled and said, "Unfortunately, no."
"What's the point of having all this money if I can't just crush those poor players?"
Forev let out a disappointed sigh, "Tsk. We didn't sign up for this game to cater to your whims, you idiot."
After venturing deeper into the forest, they finally encountered what they were looking for.
"Prepare yourselves, monster attack." Forev shouted, prompting everyone to go on high alert.
Emerging from the underbrush was a creature standing 1.5 meters (4.9 ft) tall, resembling a rhinoceros at first glance. However, as it came closer, its features became more distinguishable.
[Rare - Wild Boar Lv. 80]
"Wait!" RememberMe exclaimed, shock evident on his face. "A Rare level 80 monster?! This is too risky!"
Given the monster's grade and level, it was clear that the creature posed a significant threat, especially since it was above the average level of the four players.
"We need to be extra careful," RememberMe warned. "One wrong move and we could be in serious danger."
Will the group actually work together, or is RememberMe going to make things worse?
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Broken immediately went on high alert when he saw the powerful monster appear, as did the other three players, who quickly got into position. Broken was still holding Polly, the little fox, but he noticed that Polly's body seemed to be weakening, and her eyes were not as lively as usual.
"Polly, are you okay? We will find food for you soon."
"I can still fight, Master," Polly said weakly. "I'll help in the fight... I can still do it."
"No, it's okay," Broken replied firmly. "You stay hidden, Polly. I'll defeat this monster and bring you the food."
He then ran to the side for a moment, gently setting Polly on the ground. "Go, take good care of yourself," he urged.
But Polly's eyes held a silent plea, staring blankly, still wanting to help.
"It's okay, you stay here, okay?" he said, then returned to the other three.
"I'll draw the monster's attention!" RememberMe shouted, moving quickly to attract the Wild Boar's focus.
Broken, sword in hand, positioned himself close to RememberMe, ready to strike.
Arrows rained down from the skies, shot by Forev. The arrows inflicted a speed debuff on the monster, causing it to move slower than before.
"Attack!" RememberMe yelled, leaping forward to land a powerful blow with his sword.
Broken also moved in to strike, attacking the monster from another angle. Meanwhile, PussyCat and Forev continued their ranged assaults, supporting the melee fighters.
Despite the barrage of hits, the monster remained strong, retaliating and sending RememberMe flying backward with one powerful blow.
Broken immediately unleashed a combination of his skills.
[Charged Attack (Active Skill) Lv. 1]
Broken shot forward and landed a solid hit on the monster, forcing it to take a step back. He quickly repositioned himself to deliver a follow-up attack from the side, avoiding the monster's potential counterattack.
[Quick Strike (Active Skill) Lv. 1]
He followed up with another attack that caused considerable damage. The wild boar staggered and was thrown against a nearby tree.
[Mystic Evasion (Active Skill)]
Broken quickly leaped out of the way as the monster lunged at him in an attempt to counterattack.
Meanwhile, RememberMe kept shifting position to come at the monster from different angles.
The Wild Boar ran around erratically before darting off in another direction.
"PussyCat, cast crowd control skill!" Forev yelled desperately, but the Wild Boar was already heading straight for the mage girl.
"Shit, PussyCat!" RememberMe yelled frantically, trying to reach her in time, but it seemed too late. The monster had the advantage: PussyCat had low defense and health, and a direct hit could be fatal.
PussyCat had yet to master the art of fighting in a party, as she was overly reliant on using high-damage attacks rather than techniques that could hinder her opponents' movements. Ultimately, her impressive offensive power made her an easy target for the enemy's attacks. Additionally, the trio didn't focus heavily on leveling up; they mostly played together for fun.
Just as the wild boar was about to strike PussyCat, a fox figure leaped in, smashing into the boar.
"Polly!" Broken exclaimed, rushing to Polly as she shifted into her battle form.
"Multiple cutting edges!" Broken shouted, wielding his sword and swiftly slicing the monster's body, delivering a deep and devastating blow.
"Master, last hit!" RememberMe shouted, indicating the monster's health had reached a critical stage.
Without hesitation, Broken dashed forward and impaled the monster's neck with his sword. The wild boar flailed wildly for a few moments before ultimately succumbing and collapsing to the ground.
The monster's body suddenly became translucent, with numerous pixels forming and then dissipating. Several objects enveloped in green, yellow, and red auras rose from the ground and flew towards Broken as if absorbed into his body.
[You have successfully slain the Rare - Wild Boar Lv. 80]
[You have obtained 1 piece of Medium-Quality Wild Boar meat]
[You have obtained 1 piece of Medium-Quality Wild Boar skin]
[You have obtained 2 Rare - Wild Boar Monster Cores Lv. 80]
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" PussyCat said in a panic, examining Polly's body, which now lay in Broken's arms. Her face was full of regret as she continued, "Oh my, is the spirit beast okay? I got a bit too excited about dealing skill damage and drawing the monster's attention to me."
"It's okay. She's fine," Broken reassured her quietly.
Forev, the archer, stood beside PussyCat, her face now relieved after successfully finishing the fight earlier. However, RememberMe showed a different expression; his face was enthusiastic.
"Did you guys see that?" he said loudly, catching the attention of his two female friends. "There were two monster cores that dropped from the monster. I'm sure of it!"
Forev nodded slowly. "I also saw two monster cores, but it could just be a skill scroll or something, right? Maybe we were mistaken."
Broken remained silent in response to their questions, but his eyes were wide with excitement. He had obtained two monster cores from the monster earlier, and he knew that the Bountiful Harvest skill had given him an extraordinary advantage in the game. It felt almost like cheating.
He then placed Polly on the ground and promptly withdrew the monster core from his inventory. "Polly, can you eat this?" he asked.
Polly lifted her head and nodded eagerly. "I like monster cores," she said softly. "May I eat it now, Master?"
"Yes, of course," Broken replied nonchalantly.
Forev sat beside Broken, observing Polly, who was attempting to devour the monster core. "Spirit beasts have the ability to draw energy from the monster cores and monster souls they consume, granting them exceptional skills and the aptitude to harness the same elements as the monsters they eat," she explained slowly.
"Does the type of Monster Cores also need to be matched specifically?" he inquired.
"Yes, the type of Monster Cores, the type of monster, the element, and the skills the monsters possess—all these factors influence their growth in the future," Forev explained.
"Thanks," Broken replied. He then watched Polly, who had started to stand again, her eyes wide and blinking repeatedly. "Thanks, Master, I like the boar," she said.
PussyCat then sat down beside them and gently touched the tip of Polly's ear. "Hey, you saved me. I'll treat you with another Monster Core. Would you like that?"
Polly looked back at PussyCat with her round eyes, hesitating for a moment before turning to Broken. "May I, Master?"
"You shouldn't refuse someone's kindness, you know," Broken replied with a giggle.
He then turned to Forev, inquiring, "You seem to know a lot about spirit beasts. Do you possess one of your own?"
Forev nodded, a slight smile curling her lips, and at that moment, a movement stirred within the leaves. Suddenly, a hawk flew through the air, flying slowly before landing gracefully. "That's my spirit beast," she replied calmly.
She continued, "However, I'm certain your spirit beast has a higher grade. But don't worry, I'm not like that jerk RememberMe. I won't pry into your secrets."
"Shut up, Forev… you've known me longer; you should be supporting me," RememberMe complained. "You all saw it, didn't you? The monster dropped two Monster Cores. One is rare enough, but two? Are you still convinced he isn't using some kind of cheat?"
What would you do if someone kept accusing you of cheating in a game?
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