Splurch!
Adam drove the sword tip in, twisting lightly. The boar's final breath faded.
Blood oozed from the wound, but didn't spray, Ler's suggested spot ensured a clean kill.
[Gained 15 Experience Points!]
A notification flashed on his status panel.
[Ability Panel]
[Talent: Player]
[Total Level: 2]
[Experience: 95/100]
[Jobs:
[- Basic Job: Genius, Level 1 (Fighter, Priestess/Priest)]
[- Mid-Tier Job: Sword Saint, Level 1]
[Skill Points: 0]
[Passive Skills: Item Box, Slash Damage (1%)]
[Active Skills:
[- Fighter: Instant Reflex, Fourfold Slash of Light, Swift Strike]
[- Magic: Minor Heal (Tier 1)]
---
Adam glanced at the panel only he could see. Just 5 more experience points to level up, faster than expected.
Killing a few beasts had done it.
But that made sense; his level was low. As he progressed, leveling would likely grow tougher.
"Hmph." Lizzie's earlier approval vanished from her face.
She'd thought Adam had heeded her advice, but clearly, he hadn't.
Adam pretended not to notice.
In the New World, humans reaching level 29 entered the Heroic Domain, ranking among the top in human nations.
Yet, even with exceptional talent and relentless effort, humans hit a racial ceiling around level 40, the so-called "Extraordinary" Tier.
This wasn't about talent or effort but the limits of the human race.
The four "Transcendent" Humans had, to varying degrees, transcended humanity to achieve their status.
For Adam, level 40 was merely a starting point.
This meant, when facing the Great Tomb of Nazarick in the future, no human could be his ally.
When he first arrived in the Royal Capital, Adam had debated prioritizing a Magic Caster or Fighter job over a balanced build, partly for this reason.
Without allies, specializing in either made him an easy target for Nazarick's forces.
"You're much smoother than when you started." Ler said, grinning at Adam's clean strike. He hoisted the lifeless boar to process it. "But a word of advice for you, magical beasts aren't like regular animals."
"Gotta start somewhere." Adam replied with a faint smile. He took a ceramic jar borrowed from Nfirea, pouring his water skin's contents into it.
He placed the jar over the campfire to heat.
"You really like hot water, huh?" Nfirea remarked, noting Adam's habit of boiling river water before drinking, his curiosity piqued after days of observation.
"Not especially." Adam said, sitting cross-legged with a smile. "It's more of a home tradition."
Nfirea nodded, satisfied, and didn't press further.
In this world, customs and faiths varied by region. Probing someone's traditions or beliefs was best avoided.
The dominant faith across nations was the Six Great Gods.
Humans owed much to these first Players to arrive.
Per the anime and novels, most events unfolded in human territories.
Human lands seemed vast, but this continent was immense. Humans clung to its northwest corner.
The central regions were dominated by demi-humans and heteromorphs, where humans were slaves or food.
Demi-humans and heteromorphs far outstripped humans in lifespan and level caps, making humans a frail, short-lived race.
Logically, humans should've gone extinct long ago, unable to claim even the northwest corner.
Six hundred years ago, they nearly did.
Then, the Six Great Gods arrived.
With overwhelming, unmatched power, they saved humanity, relocating them to the northwest to thrive.
This birthed the widespread worship of the Six Great Gods.
Sadly, all but the God of Death, an undead, were human and died within a century due to short lifespans.
The God of Death survived until 500 years ago, when the Eight Greed Kings arrived and killed him in battle.
Unlike the Six Great Gods, the Eight Greed Kings embodied Player chaos. Their name alone hinted at their continent-wide havoc.
Records from various races noted that, despite being mostly demi-humans and heteromorphs, the Greed Kings were oddly fond of humans.
Even now, despite their "infamous" nature, human societies held few tales of their evil.
"Six hundred years ago, the Six Great Gods arrived. Five hundred years ago, the Eight Greed Kings. Two hundred years ago, the Evil Deities and the Thirteen Heroes, with their lone Player. Other unknown Players likely reached the central continent." Adam mused.
"And soon, the Great Tomb of Nazarick."
Roughly every century, Players appeared in the New World.
The True Dragon Lords likely knew another arrival was imminent.
"Unlike past arrivals, where information was scarce and appearances sudden." Adam thought, "The Dragon Lords are probably prepared this time. But compared to the Six Great Gods, Eight Greed Kings, and the Thirteen Heroes' Player, Nazarick's collective strength dwarfs them."
A new idea struck him.
"If I could pit the True Dragon Lords against Nazarick early, I might profit from the fallout."
Even if the Dragon Lords lost, it would only benefit Adam, weakening Nazarick's reserves and forces.
***
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