Tristan was blissfully unaware of DarkSaber's brewing plans to cause trouble. He was still efficiently wiping out Granite Giants in the Granite Hills.
However, as his level increased, the additional experience from defeating high-level monsters began to diminish, and the experience required to level up grew substantially. Despite this slowdown, Tristan's leveling speed was still several times faster than that of an average player.
-6356! (Weak Spot Attack)
Ding! You have slain a level 10 Granite Giant, earning 150 experience points. Over-level bonus: +30 experience points.
"You have leveled up to Level 8!"
"You have gained 5 free attribute points!"
"The power of shadows gathers within you: +5 bonus attribute points!"
"Beast Blessing activates: +5 bonus attribute points!"
Tristan allocated all the points to agility, bringing his stats to a remarkable level:
[Attributes]: Strength: 17, Constitution: 12, Agility: 140 (+5), Spirit: 11
A faint smile crossed Tristan's lips.
With this agility, even the notoriously swift Wolf King couldn't escape his grasp.
The reason he had delayed confronting the Wolf King to complete his quest was simple—it was known for its speed. Not only did it attack rapidly, but it was even faster at escaping.
Unlike most bosses, the Wolf King lacked territorial instincts; once its health dropped too low, it would flee at full speed.
For players with insufficient agility, chasing it down was impossible.
But for Tristan? That problem no longer existed.
"Once I finish off the Granite Lord, it'll be time to deal with the Wolf King," he muttered, laying out his next steps.
At that moment, the aftermath of Tristan's slaughter was becoming evident. The glowing runes etched into the ground grew more pronounced, occasionally accompanied by faint tremors emanating from deep below.
The signs were clear—the Granite Lord was awakening.
After tallying up the number of Granite Giants he had defeated, Tristan estimated he was only a few kills away from fully activating the boss. It wouldn't take more than a few minutes.
But before he could act, he received a message from Drake:
"Blackshade, are you in the Granite Hills? DarkSaber's headed your way with his crew."
Tristan wasn't surprised.
DarkSaber was known for being petty. After being humiliated by Tristan's one-shot kill, it was only a matter of time before he sought revenge.
As for how DarkSaber found out Tristan was grinding in the Granite Hills, the explanation was simple.
Shadow Legion was a large guild with plenty of members. Even with players scattered across various starting villages, they could easily gather intel by sheer numbers alone.
The easiest method? Tracking the trail of monster corpses.
Most players were still farming rabbits, while elite teams were cautiously tackling boars. In contrast, Tristan was the only one venturing into high-level zones.
But this wasn't Tristan's main concern.
He was more curious about what trump card DarkSaber was bringing to the table.
DarkSaber might be vindictive, but he wasn't stupid. In fact, he was quite cunning. For him to march in with such fanfare meant he was confident in his chances.
As Tristan pondered, Drake sent another message:
"One of my guys says DarkSaber found some kind of scroll. Not sure what it does, though."
A scroll?
Understanding dawned on Tristan.
That item.
With that tool, DarkSaber would indeed have a decent counter against most assassins.
Tristan replied:
"Let me guess—DarkSaber's been running his mouth in the starting village, rallying a crowd to witness his so-called 'comeback?'"
Drake was taken aback.
How did Blackshade even know this? Had he dealt with DarkSaber before?
But if they had crossed paths, why would DarkSaber risk provoking him again?
DarkSaber was reckless, sure, but he wasn't an idiot.
After some thought, Drake offered:
"Do you need backup? If you say the word, the Iron Fist Alliance will stand with you."
Tristan declined politely:
"No need for that. Let your team keep leveling."
After a brief pause, Tristan added:
"Though, you might want to gather some cash. I might have gear for sale later—and this time, I'll need USD."
The Granite Lord, once activated, would guarantee multiple drops. Even if it didn't hit the jackpot, the loot would include several pieces of gear, some of which Tristan wouldn't need.
Converting Silver Grade equipment to in-game gold at this stage was impractical—the entire starting village's economy combined wouldn't cover the cost.
Better to trade for cash and upgrade his real-world living conditions. His current rented room was barely livable—it was time for an upgrade.
Drake quickly caught on and asked eagerly:
"Are you farming a boss?"
"Almost," Tristan replied. "If you're free, come to the Granite Hills, but don't get too close."
Drake immediately rallied his squad.
"Pack it up, guys. Forget the boars—we've got a show to watch!"
His teammates, seasoned veterans, instantly understood.
The assassin quipped, "So, Blackshade's about to clash with Shadow Legion?"
The archer speculated, "Drake probably told Blackshade about DarkSaber's plans, and now he's inviting us to watch. That means Blackshade must be confident—he's probably even stronger now."
Drake chimed in:
"Confident? Of course. Wait... hold on... is he level 8 now?!"
His squad was dumbfounded.
Wasn't it just a moment ago that Drake was marveling at Blackshade hitting level 7? How had he leveled up again so quickly?
Wasn't ExoGenesis supposed to get exponentially harder as you leveled?
This was absurd.
Before they set off, Drake turned to Holy Fire Priest Sophie.
"How much cash do we have on hand?"
Without hesitation, Sophie replied, "Just under two hundred million. Why?"
Drake casually waved it off.
"Nothing. Just, Blackshade mentioned he might sell me gear—and he wants cash."
Sophie paused, then offered her insight:
"If the Granite Hills have a boss, it's at least Bronze Grade. Given the lack of gold in circulation right now, selling for cash makes sense. Blackshade is quite the savvy trader."
Drake shook his head.
"If there's a boss there, it's likely above Bronze Grade. Bronze equipment is valuable, but it can fetch a fair price in gold, even if we have to wait a day or two. But Silver Grade gear? There's no way the current economy could support it."
The assassin and archer audibly gasped.
A Silver Grade boss?
If a Black Iron Grade giant rabbit had driven players to despair, how terrifying would a Silver Grade boss be?
"That thing could probably one-shot an entire squad of players," the assassin murmured.
Then he added, "Do you think Blackshade is baiting DarkSaber into the boss fight to let the boss handle them?"
Drake nodded thoughtfully.
"It's highly likely. Blackshade's damage is high, but his attack intervals are long. Taking out all of Shadow Legion solo would be a hassle."
Sophie interjected:
"Boss, we should have the other villages keep an eye out for general-purpose ranged AoE skill books. Blackshade will definitely need them."
Drake's eyes lit up.
"Brilliant idea, Sophie. You're truly my top advisor. Take charge of this task—no matter the cost, secure the books."