To take down Gold Hook Jack, Tristan needed to unlock dual-wielding and equip the Bone-Cutting Twin Daggers. Without them, it would be nearly impossible to dodge his merciless hook.
That iron hook wasn't just a decoration—it was a precisely engineered weapon designed to fire at enemies. With Gold Hook Jack's stats, getting hooked would be a one-hit kill for anyone.
But the weapon master Edith introduced to Tristan seemed less than reliable.
The beggar on the floor, seeming to sense Tristan's doubts, snapped, "Kid, what kind of look is that? You wanna see me jump up and kick your knee?"
Tristan had no doubt the beggar was serious, but instead of responding, he pulled out Edith's seal.
The beggar's rage disappeared instantly. He dusted himself off, switched to a fawning smile, and said, "Oh, you're Edith's friend! What do you want to learn?"
Tristan, curious to see how far this would go, replied, "I want to learn dual-wielding."
The beggar waved him off nonchalantly, "Oh, that's all? Take this." He pulled out a skill book from who knows where and handed it over.
Dual-Wielding: A passive skill that allows the use of two one-handed weapons simultaneously, with the off-hand weapon having 70% of its stats.
Tristan couldn't believe his luck—this guy was actually a weapon master!
As Tristan took the book, he blinked, only to find the seal he'd been holding was now in the beggar's hands. The beggar cheerfully whistled, marched to the bar, and called out, "Give me the strongest drink you've got!"
Tristan received the game prompt.
"Ding! You have obtained the Dual-Wielding skill book."
"Ding! You have lost Edith's seal."
Tristan wasn't bothered by the loss. He knew the seal wouldn't be of much use at this stage anyway.
He immediately used the skill book. Afterward, he equipped the Bone-Cutting Twin Daggers he'd long been waiting for, and his attack power soared.
Glancing at his character panel, he could barely contain his amazement.
Nickname: Blackshade
Class: Shadow Assassin
Talent: Sniper God (SSS-level, LV1)
Level: 10 (Locked)
Attributes: Strength 39, Constitution 14, Agility 359+55, Spirit 13
Attack: 749
Defense: 184
Health: 2540
Mana: 340
Equipment:
Bone Cutter Short Sword (Attack +300, Agility +15)
Bloodletting Dagger (Attack +210, Agility +10)
Rabbit Leather Armor (Defense +20, Health +200)
Heart of the Mountain Ring (Health +200, Mana +200)
Wolfskin Leggings (Defense +100, Health +1000, Agility +10)
Wolf King Cloak (Defense +50, Health +800, Agility +20)
Skills:
Shadow Stealth LV4 (Bronze Grade): Enter Stealth state. Breaking Stealth Strike deals (Attack * 140% + 800) damage. Costs 5 mana. Cooldown: 16 seconds. Shadow Dagger LV1: Creates an energy throwing knife, dealing (Attack * 110%) damage. Costs 5 mana. Cooldown: 10 seconds. Shadow Strike LV1: Performs a powerful melee attack, dealing (Attack * 110%) damage. Costs 5 mana. Cooldown: 5 seconds. Rend LV1 (Black Iron Grade, Passive): Deals damage and causes bleeding, dealing (Attack * 20% + 20) damage per second for 3 seconds. Toxic Blood Plague (Gold Grade, Passive): Corrodes enemies with poisonous blood, dealing (Attack/Spell damage * 40% + 100) damage per second for 5 seconds. If the target dies during this time, Toxic Blood Plague spreads to enemies within a 10-meter radius. Dual-Wielding (Passive): Allows the use of two one-handed weapons. Off-hand weapon has 70% of its stats.
Tristan couldn't help but feel like he had just become unstoppable.
With over 400 agility at level 10—something that many players at level 30 might not even reach—his stats were already off the charts. And this was before he even had a full set of equipment! Once he found more Bronze Grade and higher gear, his stats would skyrocket even more.
As he reveled in his newfound power, Tristan received a private message.
"Blackshade, someone else just hit level 10!"
Tristan opened the leaderboard and, unsurprisingly, found Ivan's name there. It was likely Ivan also had an SSS-level talent.
"Time to pick up the pace," Tristan muttered under his breath.
As people left the tavern, Tristan tightened his cloak and disappeared, slipping out of sight. It was time to go after Gold Hook Jack.
He already had a plan in mind.
The Wild Arena was located across the Rift, directly opposite the Rose and Poison Tavern. The place was packed with shouting spectators: some excited, others jeering, and a few howling in agony. It was a battleground for combat enthusiasts, where desperate individuals risked it all for a chance at riches and a prestigious invitation from Gold Hook Jack himself.
But this same ambition was also the reason for the conflict between Edith and Jack. Years ago, a murderer fled into the arena after a killing spree at the tavern, and when Edith demanded Jack hand over the killer, he refused. The tension only escalated from there.
Now, it was Tristan's turn to take down Gold Hook Jack and complete his class advancement. Edith had given him the perfect excuse to take action.
ExoGenesis wasn't your typical MMORPG. The quests weren't static. They evolved based on a player's actions, offering new task types and rewards depending on how they approached things. This was what set it apart—it wasn't just an online game, it was a living, breathing world!
As Tristan neared the Wild Arena, he furrowed his brow, observing the busy environment. He realized that the moment he attacked Gold Hook Jack, he would be swarmed by the arena's guards. Even with Stealth and the Bone-Cutting Twin Daggers, he couldn't guarantee his safety.
So, he needed a distraction.
Recalling his previous battle with the Wolf King, where he had obtained the Wolf King Horn—a summon item for a giant wolf—Tristan knew just what to do. A wolf appearing in the stands would create chaos, and the arena's security would be completely thrown off balance.
After checking his plan one last time, Tristan avoided the patrols and stealthily entered the arena. He made his way to the audience section, and after a moment of observing, he blew the Wolf King Horn.
A massive gray wolf materialized with a howl.
The crowd, who had been eagerly waving their betting slips, froze in shock.
"Where did that come from?"
With a swift headbutt, the wolf sent several spectators flying. Some unfortunate souls fell into the arena, where the fighters, enraged by the sudden bloodshed, tore them apart.
The chaos spread like wildfire.
And then, a roar echoed through the entire arena.
"Who dares to cause trouble on my turf?!"