A translucent Attribute Panel appeared before my eyes, finally allowing me to lower the heart that had been lodged in my throat. Thank goodness, thank goodness. At least now I could integrate into this world with a rather noble identity.
Feeling relieved, I carefully examined this translucent Attribute Panel.
Name: Wu Fan
Class: Druid (Redeemer)
Level: 1
Experience: 0
Experience to next Level: 5000
Strength: 15 Dexterity: 20 Vitality: 25 Energy: 20
Attack: 0-1
Life: 55 Stamina: 84 Mana: 20 Defense: 11 (Others omitted)
Redeemer? Experience to next Level: 5000??
"How is it?"
Lars, who was beside me, saw me staring blankly and asked impatiently.
Seeing their expressions, they likely couldn't see my Attribute Panel, which made me greatly relieved.
"Yeah, it opened," I said vaguely. "But I'm only Level 1 now, with 0 Experience. It takes a lot of Experience to level up."
"Haha, my dear Wu, don't worry," Lars said with a hint of envy. "It's just a mere 5000 Experience. I believe with your current age and talent, plus enough diligence and luck, you'll definitely cross the threshold of Level 24 before you turn 30."
So everyone starts with the same amount of Experience for the first level. I just don't know if others have that "Redeemer" identity after their Class. I can't think of a topic to probe them about it right now, so I'll just let it go for now and figure it out myself later.
"Oh, is that so? I'm that amazing?" I replied with a silly grin. Being humble at this point would probably be counterproductive.
Next, guided by Lars, I successively opened my Inventory, Skill Log, and Quest Log. By this point, that was all the basic knowledge Lars could teach me. The rest I would have to slowly figure out through combat.
The dark clouds covering the sky finally dispersed. I lay quietly beside the bonfire, casually plucking a piece of Wild Grass and chewing on it. After my repeated requests, Lars and the other two finally agreed to let me try standing watch. It seemed that my ability to successfully open the unique panels of a Class Holder had finally given them a sliver of confidence in me, this rash Class Holder. Of course, the trust built between us over the past few days also played a significant role; otherwise, no matter how capable I was, they wouldn't entrust the night watch to someone they weren't familiar with.
Of course, I couldn't stand watch for the entire night. Although it wouldn't be a big issue for me, tomorrow's schedule was still packed, and lack of sleep would definitely slow everyone down. So, I was responsible for the relatively easier first half of the night, while Lars would take the second half.
The Red Moon, blood-red and hanging high in the sky, constantly reminded me that this was not a Game, but a real world. Because here, people could not be Resurrected after death.
But the menu bars that only existed in Games, which appeared tonight, confused me once again. Was this truly a real world, or just a Game that was very close to reality?
These two thoughts struggled and intertwined within me. Doug's enthusiastic loud voice, Lars's steady yet subtly sharp words, and Geoff's quiet, outwardly cold but inwardly warm personality flashed through my mind one by one. I suddenly grinned.
Damn it, living, breathing people were right before my eyes, and I was still doubting if this was a Game world. It seemed my cowardly personality hadn't become much stronger despite the tempering of the past few days.
I had just been escaping reality.
Perhaps every world had its unique rules and laws. Just like if I were to bring the three of them back to my original world now, what would they feel seeing airplanes in the sky and computers on desks? They would probably be tens of millions of times more surprised than I was seeing these menu bars.
Actually, life is very simple. As long as you can accept the facts before you, you will naturally get used to them and consider them to be naturally existing. To put it crudely, life is like rape; if you don't want to be depressed, you have to learn to accept it.
Thinking this through, the frustration and helplessness that had been bothering me seemed to ease. Although they hadn't completely disappeared, it at least allowed me to calmly accept everything before me.
A faint sound of footsteps came over, steady and rhythmic. I knew who it was without turning around.
"Uncle Lars, it seems the first half of the night isn't over yet."
I looked up at the Red Moon in the sky; it had only just risen two-fifths of the way.
"Go on, go on, kid," Lars said, glaring at me for my unappreciated kindness. "Sleep a bit more, so you don't fall behind tomorrow."
"Hehe~~" I chuckled a few times triumphantly, accepted Lars's good intentions, and burrowed into the tent Lars had lent me.
The next few days were still a tedious and boring journey. What's worth mentioning is that during an operation to eliminate Rotting Corpses, a White Wooden Club unexpectedly dropped. Lars immediately, with an attitude completely unbefitting a Paladin's steady, humble, and honest qualities, boasted to me about the accuracy of his exclusive information. After gloating for a full half hour, he suddenly shoved the White Wooden Club into my hand.
"Uncle Lars, this..."
I was just a bystander standing on the side. According to the rules of this world, I had no right to share in the Loot. Seeing Lars shove the club into my hand—although it was just a White Wooden Club, judging by the Equipment drop rate over the past few days, even a fool could calculate the value of this club.
Here, I have to talk about some classifications in this world.
Without dividing by race, but only by category, this world is divided into these types of people:
Commoners: The most numerous, generally low in ability, unable to fight the Hell Forces. But they are the most important, of course. Class Holders also have parents; without Commoners, do Class Holders just fall from the sky?
Soldiers: Much stronger than Commoners. With good coordination, they can inflict a certain amount of damage on Monsters.
Mercenaries: Stronger than Soldiers. Their Strength is between that of Soldiers and Class Holders. Like Class Holders, they undergo extremely tough training, but simply cannot become Class Holders due to lack of talent. Although they cannot learn a large number of Skills like Class Holders, they can already use some suitable Equipment. Furthermore, compared to Class Holders, they have a major advantage: their numbers are far greater than Class Holders.
Class Holders: No need to explain this. Although their numbers are smaller, they are definitely the backbone force resisting the invasion from Hell.
Next are items. Items in this world are divided into two major categories.
The first category is Common Items, which do not come with any Attributes.
The second category is Equipment, which comes with Attributes and is divided into many different Levels.
Commoners can only use Common Items, such as ordinary Pig Slaughtering Knives, Fruit Knives, XX coats, X leather shoes, X leather covers, etc. The most direct example is the Fur Coat I'm currently wearing; it has no Defense and can only be used for warmth. These Common Items cannot be called Equipment at all because they don't come with any Attributes. For example, a strong butcher taking a Pig Slaughtering Knife to fight the lowest-level Fallen, which also has the lowest Defense, can at most only leave a scratch.
As for what can be called Equipment, it refers to items with Attribute descriptions, even if they are White. For example: a rusty, broken wooden knife with a chipped edge, Damage: 0-0.1, Durability infinitely approaching 0.
Yes, as long as it has this Damage: 0-0.1, no matter how low, it can be called Equipment.
Only items that can be called Equipment can cause significant damage to the invaders from Hell. The reason Class Holders are noble is not only because of their powerful Skills, but also because of this Equipment. Only Class Holders can use this Equipment (actually, Mercenaries can too, but their Equipment usage is very limited). Commoners cannot use it. Even if they have enough Strength to hold it, they cannot unleash the Equipment's Attributes. For example, a Commoner holding a top-tier Unique greatsword and wearing a full Green Set would not be stronger than a bare-chested big man holding a Pig Slaughtering Knife. And there's a prerequisite: his Strength must be sufficient to lift that sword and bear the weight of the Green Set.
How do Class Holders come about? They are powerhouses who have talent and have undergone countless trials, whose Strength, Dexterity, Energy, and Vitality are many times stronger than Commoners, and who can only undergo the Class change after receiving divine affirmation. Even a Level 70 or 80 Class Holder might not be able to use a top-tier greatsword and Green Set. You expect a Commoner to be able to lift them? You've read too many novels.
Getting back on topic, because of these factors, Commoners are destined to be unable to go to the battlefield, while a Class Holder is especially precious. The Equipment used by Class Holders is also very valuable because of the low drop rate and the fact that no one can craft it. Therefore, even a White item is extremely precious.
Speaking of White items, I have to classify Equipment again. From bottom to top, they are White, Blue, Gold, Unique, Green. Finally, there are the legendary Mythical Items. Here, I have to severely criticize Blizzard's irresponsible attitude once again. As expected, the realism of the Games it produces is just like its classic line: "XX Game will be officially released at XX time." It's completely unreliable.
*Cough cough* Actually, I've said all that just to prove one thing, which is that this seemingly unremarkable White Wooden Club is actually very precious. I really feel unworthy of receiving it!
Although I thought that, I still quickly accepted the club. My speed was definitely no slower than Doug's movement when he accepted the Ring that day. Doug watched with a sigh, lamenting that there were many like him among our generation, and his gaze towards me became one of mutual appreciation.
(end of chapter)