The shimmer of stealth faded, and Trafalgar emerged once more amidst a thick tangle of shrubs.
Guided by the glowing map etched in his mind, he had reached the second chest's location. Sure enough, nestled between the gnarled roots of a decayed tree, a gray chest waited silently.
Prismatic light burst forth as the system chimed in his ears:
[Gray Chest Opened — Absolute Drop Rate Triggered!]
[Acquired: 200 World Coins]
[Acquired: Spirit Necklace (+8 Spirit, Tier One)]
[Acquired: Body-Tempering Pill (+10 Constitution)]
[Acquired: Skill Book — "Hawk Eye Vision" (Tier One, Req. Spirit ≥10. Enhances visual perception for 30s, Cooldown: 120s)]
A fierce gleam ignited in Trafalgar's eyes.
Without hesitation, he clasped the necklace around his throat, swallowed the blazing-hot pill, and tore open the skill book, absorbing its knowledge in a flash of light.
Heat coursed through his body like a roaring tide. His vision sharpened to inhuman clarity—ten meters away, he could see the fine veins on a leaf, the droplets of dew trembling on its edge.
He pulled up his status panel:
——[Personal Status Panel]——
Name: Trafalgar
Level: 1 (28 / 100)
Strength: 22
Agility: 14
Constitution: 26
Spirit: 14
Skills: Eye of Insight Lv.2, Stealth Lv.1, Hawk Eye Vision Lv.1
Equipment: Greenclaw Cleaver +2 (Attack +15, Strength +6)
Agility Ring (+8 Agility)
Spirit Necklace (+8 Spirit)
Combat Power: 167
World Coins: 420
Trafalgar's tongue brushed across his lips.
167 Combat Power.
Among novices, it was already an untouchable, terrifying number. Just one more chest, and he would have the strength to take on a Level One beast head-on.
Two hours passed.
While the others still floundered—scrambling to form parties and haphazardly hunting Greenclaws—Trafalgar had already circled through nearly half the marshland's outer region, every step cautious yet unwavering.
When Trafalgar reached a field of jagged rocks, his pupils suddenly contracted.
Between the cracks, a faint azure glow pulsed like a heartbeat.
"A… Bronze Chest…" His breath quickened, eyes blazing with fire.
Treasure chests ranked from lowest to highest: Gray, Bronze, Blackiron, Silver, Gold, Darkgold… and above even those, rumors spoke of "Legendary" and "Mythic."
In his past life, across ten long years, Trafalgar had never once laid eyes on a chest above Gray. He had only heard tales—like the Japanese player Nakamura, who once opened a Darkgold Chest and obtained a Tier Six weapon along with a hidden class, shaking the entire server.
And now, such a prize stood before his very eyes.
But the chest was not unguarded.
Lurking beside the rocks, a beast slouched in grim silence. Its body was cloaked in obsidian scales, its frame ape-like yet crowned with a wolf's head. Each swipe of its claws carved deep gouges into the stone.
Trafalgar held his breath and raised his hand, activating his skill.
[Target Identified: Stone Ape Beast (Lv.1)]
[Combat Power: 260]
[Traits: Solitary; Scale Armor; Venomous Claws; Sluggish Movements]
[Skills: None]
[Drop Rate: 0.1%]
"As expected…" Trafalgar murmured inwardly.
The Stone Ape was leagues stronger than a Greenclaw, yet it roamed alone. If it had been three or five Greenclaws instead, he might not have had the chance to contest the chest at all.
Lowering his stance, he scanned the surroundings to confirm no other monsters lurked nearby. Then—
[Stealth Activated]
His figure blurred, fading into the air as he silently circled behind the beast.
The Greenclaw Cleaver flashed cold light, its edge aimed straight at the vulnerable nape.
Boom!
The blade slammed home with a heavy crack, scales shattering, blood gushing like a fountain.
The Stone Ape howled in agony, twisting to its feet, blood-red eyes locking onto Trafalgar. With a roar, its venom-tipped claws descended in a savage arc.
"Hawk Eye Vision!"
His vision stretched, the world slowing to a crawl. Every twitch of muscle, every arc of motion from the beast's claws appeared crystal clear before his eyes.
Trafalgar dropped his stance low, agility surging as he slipped past the venomous strike in an instant. With a swift reversal, his blade carved once more into the gash already torn into the Stone Ape's neck!
Blood sprayed in a crimson arc. The monster roared, thrashing violently, its massive claws smashing into the rocks, sending shards flying in all directions.
Yet Trafalgar remained icy calm.
Dodge. Thrust. Retreat. Slash again.
Each strike landed unerringly on the same wound, his precision merciless, leaving the beast not a heartbeat to recover.
Half a minute later, Hawk Eye Vision faded into cooldown. The Stone Ape was drenched in its own blood, movements faltering, its rage burning into desperation.
At last, its knees buckled, and with a thunderous crash, the colossal body collapsed into the rubble.
[Kill Confirmed: Stone Ape Beast (Lv.1) → Energy Points +12]
[Absolute Drop Rate Triggered: Loot ×6 stored in Void Backpack.]
Standing amidst the shattered rocks, blood dripping from his blade, Trafalgar's gaze was as cold as steel, his lips curling in a faint, predatory smile.
"The Bronze Chest… is mine."