Chapter 14 (Assassin Reborn)

[Translated by ChickenBakuba]

Chapter 14, Astonishment

They still lacked a member for their team, and were currently recruiting. Their information could be found on the system’s group recruiting database. Xu Xiang, obviously, would not miss a chance to reunite with Wang Xue. Originally, Xu Xiang was worried about whether he would even meet with Wang Xue. The route this world was taking was completely different from the route of the previous world’s. However, it seemed like he had still met up with Wang Xue after all.

“Are you guys short of members?” Xu Xiang walked over and politely asked the girl of his dreams. The leader of the small group was Wang Xue, or better known as her online alias — the priest ‘Xue Han’. The warrior glared at Xu Xiang ferociously as Xu Xiang talked to Wang Xue, warning him with his eyes.

“En, we’re going to the grassland to grind some blue-eyed wolves. Currently, we have one archer, one warrior, and one priest. May I know your level?” Wang Xue’s pleasant voice seemed almost unfamiliar after so long. Wang Xue sized Xu Xiang up uncertainly. The man gave her a familiar feeling, like the red string of fate was at work. Wang Xue could not help but do a double take on the man.

“Level 4.” Xu Xiang replied. A quick estimate would put Wang Xue and her members at level 3. For them to attempt grinding blue-eyed wolves was a very bold move. But if they were not experienced with controlling the aggro range of monsters, it would be very easy for the entire team to be wiped out. But with Xu Xiang’s experience, attracting the aggro of one monster at a time was no problem.

“Perfect, you’re in.” Wang Xue delightedly added Xu Xiang into the team. At present, level 4 was the level of a professional. Xu Xiang glanced around. The female magician’s username was Fang Xin, and she was level 3. The male warrior was Number One under Heavens, and was level 4. Lin Xin, as before, was ‘Mingri Zhixin’, a level 3 archer.

The warrior was indeed extravagant in his spending. His entire set of equipment were all upgraded to level 4. However, equipment levels were not an actual estimate of a player’s strength. Xu Xiang had countless methods at his disposal to slowly toy the guy to death.
　　战士确实有狂妄的一点资本，具有全套装备和到达4级，都是在现在的玩家群体中处于上游的，但是等级装备并不就是实力，徐翔有无数方法可以轻松玩死他，战士克制盗贼又怎样，在高手眼中所谓克制只是弱者的借口罢了，只要你有能力，任何问题都不再是问题。
“Then, let’s set out. Has everyone finished their preparations?” Priests were just there for the experience early in the game. However, a priest as leader was vital to the team. Late game priests would be a limitless blood bank for the team, which was why everyone recognised the importance of priests.

The system even gave a team with priests an additional 10 per cent experience. Although this bonus would be nulled once past level 10, the experience boost was why nobody really objected to having a priest leeching off their experience.

There was also the experience distribution. Although later-game priests would not receive any less experience than other classes because of their powerful healing, the early-game priests would receive a lot less experience. If one added the experience bonus from a priest, it was not much different from not having a pries at all.

Everyone nodded. The team set off towards the grasslands, where the blue-eyed wolves resided. It required 10 minutes of walking from the novice village to the grasslands, so they discussed their strategies while walking. Wang Xue requested each of their stats to see if she could revise her strategy better.

“45-50 attack.” Wang Xue perked up as Xu Xiang bluntly stated his attack stat. For someone to attain an attack this high in the early stages of the game where everyone had low-levelled equipment was no mean feat. Furthermore, the majority of players that had attack as high as him were warriors, a profession built for high attack but low attack speed. Even late-game warriors who changed into berserker class with maximum points into attack speed would still have low attack speed.

But there was no way Xu Xiang had pumped all his points into strength. I mean, a thief without agility couldn’t be called a thief. Furthermore, the preferred weapon of thieves - the dagger - had a significantly lower attack than ordinary blade/sword type weapons. Wang Xue did a once-over on Xu Xiang’s weapon. At the very minimum, it was of bronze level.

Number One under Heavens was evidently taken aback. He shifted his gaze away from Xu Xiang. “With your attack this high, don’t blame me for not pulling aggro properly if we lose control of aggro and you die. Blame your low defence and HP stat instead.”

This male warrior also planned to become a berserker, but his build/distribution of attribute points was 7 points to strength and 3 to toughness. So he was slightly tankier, rather than going full attack. Adding up the boosts from his equipment, his attack was 30-35, and his defence was a little more than 20. It was considered decent.

But his stats were already slightly lower than Xu Xiang's from the beginning. His equipment were made out of deer leather from grinding level 2 deers. Although Xu Xiang's equipment were unenhanced and level 0, Xu Xiang's was clearly superior as his equipment had dropped from higher-levelled monsters. Xu Xiang's defence was hence higher a few points by the warrior's.

Xu Xiang regarded the warrior's existence as air. He only cared about Wang Xue and Lin Xin.

Another few minutes of walking saw them the blue-eyed wolves' area. The people in the blue-eyed wolf area were not many. Xu Xiang shifted his eyes to the two teams attacking the blue-eyed wolves. The grassland stretched out before them, a carpet of mossy green. The wolf king was still at his position, guarding his treasure chest. Xu Xiang believed that many people had already spotted, but there was nobody able to take it.

Currently, most players were around level 2-3. If one continuously grinded, he would be level 3. The highest would be level 4. The grassland was still relatively void of players as groups would pick the area of the red-tailed snakes to grind. Red-tailed snakes could not take the initiative to attack on their own, and it was hence safer grinding red-tailed snakes.

The original job of pulling the aggro of the monsters was the thief's. However, since this small team of theirs only had the capability to deal with 1-2 blue-eyed wolves, the archer pulling the aggro of the monsters was more efficient.

"Swoosh!" An arrow shrilly whistled as it cut through the air. Lin Xin's chest jiggled as she released the bow, making Xu Xiang who was watching her firing raise his eyebrows.

Lin Xin was also considered a top-quality beauty. Her body was also smoking hot, and it seemed like her leather armour would explode from the strain. Xu Xiang had always wondered if it was tiring to walk with all that weight on her chest.

Lin Xin's archer skill was obviously not low. Apparently, she was a member of an archery club in real life. However, Xu Xiang had never met her in real life before, so he did not really know if it was true. An arrow sprouted on the claw of a blue-eyed wolf. Incensed, the blue-eyed wolf bounded over while growling. Number One under Heavens stepped forward.

"Brainless beast!" Number One under Heavens executed a taunt skill, pulling the aggro of the wolf towards him. Who would've thought the warrior actually had a skill? Xu Xiang had no idea if he had managed to pick it up or buy it. If it was bought, then it was the work of his rich parents. However, if it was picked up, then one had to admire his luck. Although the monsters in novice village had a chance of dropping junior skill books, according to the calculations made by players in his previous life, the odds of dropping a skill book was the equivalent of the odds of Xu Xiang going through a rebirth.

The blue-eyed wolf swiped at Number One under Heavens's face. '30' damage floated from his head. Because warriors used plate armour, they had the greatest effectiveness against attacks from blue-eyed wolves. However, if warriors met with magic it would be a tragedy. Number One under Heavens smashed his sword onto the wolf's neck. '20' damage floated from the blue-eyed wolf's head.

30 points of damage was not considered much to warriors. Number One under Heavens HP had probably dropped by 1/10th. The hit was practically harmless. Xu Xiang, Lin Xin and the magician Fang Xin began to launch attacks with relief. Wang Xue just stood at one side and watched.

'35' '18' '26' 3 damage signs drifted from the blue-eyed wolf's head. 35 points of damage was from Xu Xiang. His high attack, complimented by his passive backstab skill, naturally did a lot of damage. The 18 points of damage were from Lin Xin. Mediocre equipment meant mediocre damage. The 26 damage was from the female magician. Magic's damage was particularly effective against monsters like the blue-eyed wolves who had zero magic resistance.

Xu Xiangs's attack greatly passed Number One under Heavens. The blue-eyed wolf's aggro turned to Xu Xiang, but Number One under Heaven quickly pulled back its aggro with a good hit. Within a few moments, with the diligent teamwork of 4 people and one doing nothing (Author's note: diligently doing nothing?), the blue-eyed wolf was quickly taken down. However, it did not drop anything.

"Ding~ Congratulations for killing the blue-eyed wolf. You have gained 450 experience. Monster killed was 1 level higher, experience gained boosted by 10 per cent. Team's experience increased by 30 per cent, total experience 643 points." The experience was pretty decent, but it was still slower than Xu Xiang soloing. However, with Wang Xue by the side, Xu Xiang did not really mind.

The magician sat down to recover her mana. The warrior sat down to recover his HP. But Lin Xin continued to search for monsters. She pulled out an arrow and nocked it, before shooting the back of a blue-eyed wolf accurately.

Just as they turned to face a blue-eyed wolf, a second blue-eyed wolf burst out from another end. The two blue-eyed wolves charged towards them!

Chapter 14, END

Sigh, lost all hope in story. Maybe I'll put this story as side project and take up another novel. There won't be daily releases anymore if that happens though.