Leaving the enigmatic Standing Stones behind, Drake, now Level 7, felt a solid sense of progress. His primary offensive skill, [Basic Slash], was locked at a potent 90% SCR, delivering 110% of its potential damage reliably. His shield defense, [Defend], was close behind at 87%, mitigating a substantial amount of incoming damage [Potential effect: 50% + (87-60)*2% = 104%]. Combined with his recent level ups and slightly improved gear including the Rare bracer, he felt capable of handling most threats the standard Verdant Threshold could offer. His next goal was clear: push through the remaining levels to reach 10 and challenge the tutorial's final guardian.
He decided the Gnarled Briar Patch, mentioned by Elara the herbalist as dangerous but also potentially resource-rich, would be his next destination. It lay east of his current position near the Standing Stones. The journey took him through moderately dense woodland populated by Level 6 Thorn Spiders and Level 7 Briar Wolves, slightly tougher variants of the Dire Wolves he'd fought earlier, with thorny protrusions on their pelts.
Drake moved through the woods methodically, engaging packs as he encountered them. His combat style was efficient, almost mechanical. Against a pair of Briar Wolves: Charge -> Activate [Defend] (87% SCR). THUD! << Damage Blocked: 52! >> << Damage Taken: 8! >> Counter -> [Basic Slash] (90% SCR). SHINK! << Damage Dealt: 33! >> Reposition -> Sidestep second wolf's flanking attempt. Attack -> [Basic Slash] (90% SCR) on the first wolf again. << Damage Dealt: 34! >> Defend -> Block second wolf's snap with [Defend] (87% SCR). Clack! << Damage Blocked: 50! >> << Damage Taken: 9! >> Finish -> Two more 90% SCR slashes finish the first wolf. Turn and engage the second. << Defeated Briar Wolf! EXP +120 >>
The fights were clean, fast. His guaranteed high execution via [Eidetic Execution] removed the element of random failure that could quickly turn a manageable fight into a dangerous scramble for lower-SCR players. He took minimal damage, conserving his resources. He continued pushing east, the EXP bar ticking steadily upwards with each kill.
He was just finishing off a large Thorn Spider (Level 6), its final legs curling up after a decisive 90% SCR slash, when he noticed movement out of the corner of his eye. Another player stood near the edge of the small clearing, partially hidden by a tree, clearly observing him. Drake couldn't immediately make out their gear quality or level from this distance, but they seemed hesitant to approach.
"Someone watching? Haven't seen many other players this deep off." He casually looted the spider (<< Acquired: [Spider Silk] x3, Copper Coins x15 >>) while keeping the observer in his peripheral vision.
The other player, seeing the fight was over, stepped out from behind the tree and walked closer, their own basic sword and shield equipped. Their gear looked like standard quest rewards or early drops – mostly Normal quality. Drake estimated they were likely Level 5 or 6.
"Whoa, hey man!" the player called out, his voice slightly awed through the game's proximity chat. "That was insane! You took down that spider so fast!"
Drake gave a non-committal nod. "Just clearing the path."
The other player walked closer, looking Drake up and down, then back towards where the spider died. "Seriously though, how do you do that? My [Basic Slash] whiffs like half the time, even on wolves! And you blocked almost everything that spider threw at you. Are you using some kind of special skill? Or like, amazing gear?" He gestured towards Drake's [Well-Used Longsword] and basic shield.
"He noticed the consistency. That's the problem with this talent... perfect execution looks unnatural if you know what you're looking for." Drake decided vagueness was the best policy. He didn't want attention drawn to his unique skill or his grinding methods.
"Nah, just standard Warrior skills," Drake replied calmly, keeping his tone neutral. "Just gotta really focus on the timing, you know? Practice helps." He deliberately omitted any mention of SCR or his talent.
The other player still looked impressed, maybe slightly skeptical. "Practice, huh? Must be a lot of practice. I've been stuck at Level 5 for ages 'cause these spiders keep wrecking me when my block fails." He brightened slightly. "Hey, since you're clearly owning this area, wanna party up? We could probably clear way faster together, split the loot and EXP?"
Drake considered it for half a second. Grouping could potentially increase clear speed, maybe allow tackling even tougher mob groups. But it also meant scrutiny. It meant slowing down to match another player's pace, potentially revealing his unnaturally consistent performance more obviously over time. And honestly, he just preferred the focused efficiency of solo grinding.
"Appreciate the offer," Drake said, shaking his head slightly. "But I prefer working solo for now. Just how I play." He offered a brief, dismissive wave. "Good luck out there though. Watch the acid spit, aim for the legs."
The other player looked a bit disappointed but seemed to accept the rejection. "Ah, okay. Solo player, gotcha. Well, uh, thanks for the tip, I guess. See ya around." He turned and headed off in a different direction, likely looking for easier prey.
Drake watched him go, a thoughtful expression hidden by his basic helmet. "That was close. People are noticing the difference. Can't afford to show off too much. Need to be more careful grinding near common paths." The encounter was a stark reminder: his [Eidetic Execution] was a double-edged sword. Immense power and consistency, but also a potential beacon drawing unwanted attention in a world where such flawless execution was supposed to be rare, if not impossible.
He pushed onward, deliberately moving into slightly more secluded parts of the woods as he approached the Gnarled Briar Patch area. He continued his grind against the Level 6 and 7 mobs, focusing on maintaining his high SCRs and efficiently converting enemies into experience points. After taking down a particularly resilient Level 7 Briar Wolf that required several well-timed blocks and numerous slashes, another loot bag appeared.
<< Item Acquired: [Traveler's Leather Boots] (Normal)! >> << Item Acquired: Copper Coins x19 >>
He quickly checked the boots.
[Traveler's Leather Boots]
Quality: Normal
Type: Feet Armor (Leather)
Armor: 10
Durability: 55/55
Requirements: Level 6
Stats: +1 Agility
"More Normal gear. +1 Agility is okay, better than the starter boots. Slowly replacing the initial junk." He equipped them. While not exciting, these incremental upgrades accumulated, adding slightly to his survivability and stats.
He spent the rest of the session grinding methodically in the less-traveled areas bordering the Briar Patch, the encounter with the other player reinforcing his preference for solitude. By the time he decided to call it quits for this session, his EXP bar was significantly closer to Level 8. He found a safe spot hidden in a thicket and logged out, his mind already processing the combat data, planning the next push towards Level 10.