Adam remained hidden in the dense foliage his sharp blue eyes focused on the player BlockHead. The man's fighting style was simple basic sword swings and predictable movements.
It was efficient for a beginner but it reinforced Adam's feeling that he was on a completely different level. His unique Administrator class and his Mark and Attack skill meant he could achieve far more in a fraction of the time. There was no reason to waste valuable hours grinding weak creatures like slimes.
"Slimes are just stepping stones," Adam thought. He stepped away from the tree leaving BlockHead to his slow grind. His true targets were larger more dangerous and deeper within the forest. That was where he would find significant experience and valuable loot.
As he ventured further into the woods the vegetation grew denser. The trees towered high their branches intertwining to form a thick canopy that filtered the sunlight into soft dappled patches on the forest floor. The air was rich and earthy filled with the scent of damp wood and fresh leaves.
The distant chirping of crickets was replaced by the constant soft rustling of foliage in the wind. Adam moved quickly and carefully his steps light and quiet on the soft earth. His black outfit designed for stealth made him difficult to see. Unlike other clumsy players his movements were fluid and precise a result of his real-life fitness and the thousands of hours of muscle memory from the original game.
His mind quickly reviewed his knowledge of the creatures in this beginner area his greatest advantage. Slimes were Level 1-2 perfect for beginners.
Fang Rabbits were Level 3-5 a step up known for their speed and agility. Red Wolves were Level 5-10 the true predators of this forest fierce fast and highly aggressive.
They were far beyond the abilities of most new players. Adam smirked. "I'm not an ordinary player" he thought. He would go straight for the most dangerous prey. If he wanted to level up quickly he had to take bigger risks.
As he moved deeper into the woods memories of his past life surfaced. He recalled the powerful guilds that controlled all the important hunting grounds even in these beginner zones. They charged weaker players fees just to be allowed to farm monsters. If a player refused the guilds would hunt them down relentlessly.
Adam had once been one of those weak players forced to grind under their oppressive rules. He remembered the anger and powerlessness. He clenched his fist. "Never again," he thought fiercely. He would never be weak again. The guilds thought they controlled the game but they had never accounted for an Administrator.
He moved even deeper into the forest his steps measured and controlled. "This place feels familiar," he thought "like I've been here a thousand times before." In his memories he had been. He had explored every inch of this forest fought every type of monster and found every hidden spot. But this time was different. He was not a clueless beginner.
He had incredible knowledge of the future that no one else possessed. He moved with the confidence of someone who knew exactly where he was going. His sharp blue eyes constantly scanned the dense foliage for any sign of movement. He heard it then a faint rustling noise in the distance that was not the wind. A low deep growl followed. It was a predator.
Adam's lips curved into the smirk of a predator who had found his prey. His fingers brushed the hilt of his knife. He crouched low behind a massive tree trunk his breathing steady and controlled. The rustling grew louder. He peered carefully past the edge of the tree. His gaze focused on a small pack of monsters in a tiny break in the trees ahead a pack of Fang Wolves.
There were five adults and three younger pups. Their sleek muscular bodies moved with quiet power. Their sharp fangs glistened in the filtered sunlight. At the front stood the leader a striking female wolf. Her piercing yellow eyes constantly scanned her surroundings. Her body was noticeably larger her posture radiating dominance.
Adam's smirk widened. This was his first real target. A Level 1 player would have no chance against a pack of Level 5-10 Fang Wolves. But Adam was not just any player. He was AlphaBoss. He pulled the hood of his cloak further down his head and mentally activated its basic stealth magic.
A faint shimmer rippled around him helping him blend into the shadows. It was not perfect invisibility but it gave him the advantage he needed. His fingers gently touched the five daggers strapped to his belt.
He had bought them from Mister Being with the coins from his first wolf hunt. They were good quality steel blades sharp and well-balanced. He drew two of them smoothly.
His eyes locked onto the pups playing near the water. They were the weakest targets. Taking them out quickly would sow confusion. Keeping his movements slow he whispered the command "Mark." Glowing red symbols appeared above the heads of two of the splashing pups.
The game system had locked his next attacks onto them. Gripping the first dagger tightly he drew his arm back and threw. The blade sliced through the air with a soft hiss and hit the first marked pup on its head. The young wolf let out a short yelp and collapsed into the shallow water.
The second pup turned surprised by the splash. Before it could react Adam's second dagger was already in the air. It hit its mark burying itself in the back of the second pup's head.
The creature fell silently onto the muddy bank. A faint blue glow appeared in his vision as game messages confirmed his kills two Level 3 pups defeated for a total of 400 XP.
The adult wolves froze as the sounds reached their sharp ears. Their heads snapped up. The fur along their backs stood on end. Low dangerous growls rumbled from their chests. They reacted with incredible speed forming a tight half-circle around the last whining pup. "They're smart," Adam muttered impressed by their defensive formation.
While they were focused on the riverbank he slipped away from the oak tree. He moved silently through the bushes to another large tree 20 meters to the side giving him a new angle of attack.
Crouched behind the new tree he drew two more daggers. He had three left. He whispered "Mark" again. This time the red target symbols appeared above three of the adult wolves. It was a riskier plan. He threw the two daggers simultaneously one from each hand.
Thwack! The first dagger hit a large male wolf between the eyes. It collapsed instantly.
Critical Hit! 500 Damage dealt to Adult Fang Wolf.
Congratulations! You have defeated [Level 5 Adult Fang Wolf]. Reward 500 XP.
Bonus XP Awarded +200 XP (Single-Strike Kill on Elite Monster!)
700 XP from one kill. A huge amount. As the big wolf fell the remaining wolves three adults and the terrified pup burst into angry snarls. Their defensive formation broke as they finally pinpointed the direction of the attack.
Adam quickly moved again ducking lower behind the tree. Even if they were scared trapped wolves fought hard. They were now aggressive and ready to attack anything that moved.
From his new hiding spot he watched their frantic movements. They sniffed the air heads whipping back and forth scanning the trees their growls echoing louder.
"They're smart reacting fast but they're still predictable animals," he thought a cold determined grin on his lips. His last dagger felt cool and solid in his hand. He needed perfect aim. He ignored the unmarked wolves and carefully targeted the remaining adult wolf that still had a glowing red symbol above its head. It was pacing nervously near the pup.
"This ends here," he murmured. The deep shadows of the forest almost hid him completely as he adjusted his grip on the final dagger. The fight was not quite over. But Adam was ready.