"This trait is... absolutely insane," Kaelen murmured, a fierce, burning hope igniting in his eyes. *Miracle Engine* had shattered limitation after limitation. If he couldn't make something of himself in this game with such a power, then he truly deserved his fate.
"No more delays," he declared, gripping the Frostbite Blade. "Time to level up and get out of this starter zone."
His gaze swept across the empty plains, settling on the local wildlife—**[Corrupted Goats]**. They were bulky creatures with coarse black fur and wickedly sharp horns, looking thoroughly unpleasant. The area was deserted; no other new players had ventured this far yet. To avoid any nasty surprises, he pulled up his status panel, assessing his and his companion's strength.
**`[Kaelen]`**
**`Level:`** `1`
**`HP:`** `320/320`
**`Attack:`** `67-79` `(After allocating 15 free points)`
**`Defense:`** `27-30`
**`Reputation:`** `1000`
**`Luck:`** `3`
**`Skills:`** `[Heavy Blow], [Inspect]`
**`Description:`** `A rookie with the gear of a veteran.`
——
**`[Heavy Blow]`** `(D-Grade)`
**`Effect:`** `After a brief wind-up, strike an enemy for 150% damage.`
**`Cooldown:`** `15 seconds`
**`[Inspect]`** `(Common Skill)`
**`Effect:`** `Reveals basic information about creatures or items up to 20 levels higher than you.`
——
**`[Ancient Dragon Heir · ??? (Unnamed)]`** `(Kaelen's Companion)`
**`Level:`** `1`
**`HP:`** `500`
**`Attack:`** `50-50`
**`Defense:`** `30-30`
**`Skill:`** `[Tail Whip]`
**`Description:`** `The genuine article, an heir to the Ancient Dragon lineage. Its potential is limitless.`
——
**`[Corrupted Goat]`** `(Common)`
**`Level:`** `5`
**`HP:`** `60`
**`Attack:`** `12-15`
**`Defense:`** `5-8`
**`Skill:`** `[Charge]`
**`Description:`** `Goats corrupted by baleful energy. Their temperament is now vicious and cruel. Watch those horns.`
——
*Pathetic,* Kaelen thought. The goat's maximum 15 attack couldn't even scratch his 27 defense. Reassured, he charged into the herd like a wolf among sheep. His Frostbite Blade descended on the nearest goat.
**-52!**
A single strike nearly emptied its health bar. The goat bleated in rage and tried to retaliate, but Kaelen was faster, landing a second, finishing blow. A single copper coin clinked onto the ground.
Beside him, his dragon companion joined the fray. Its arm-thick body lashed out like a whip, its **[Tail Whip]** also dispatching goats in two hits.
**`> System Alert: You have killed [Corrupted Goat] (Common). Experience +150%!`**
**`> System Alert: Your companion [Ancient Dragon Heir] has killed [Corrupted Goat] (Common). You gain +50% experience!`**
...
Twin pillars of golden light enveloped them. Both Kaelen and his dragon shot up to Level 3 simultaneously. The surrounding goats, enraged by the intrusion, surged toward them.
"Still not fast enough," Kaelen muttered. He allocated the 10 stat points from his new levels, plus the 5 he'd held back, entirely into Attack. His offensive power soared to a terrifying **67-79!**
*Ssching!*
**-68!**
**-1!**
**-1!**
A red damage number popped up. The lead goat died instantly. The others' attacks barely registered, plinking off his armor for negligible damage.
*Obliterated.*
A fierce joy surged through him. He made quick work of the remaining herd, his level quickly reaching 4. Without a second thought, he moved on. Staying to farm Level 5 mobs with his god-tier gear and a divine pet was a waste of his time.
Beyond the plains, he entered a rocky canyon. The sounds of frantic shouting and savage wolf snarls echoed from within.
"Almost there!"
"Focus it down, boys!"
*Others are already here?* Kaelen's sense of urgency spiked. *Of course. A million-credit pack is an impossible dream for most, but for some, it's pocket change.* The extreme wealth gap of the modern era was on full display, even here.
Creeping closer to the commotion, he saw three players, all equipped in gear comparable to his own, desperately fighting a massive, wolf-like creature. Its fur was matted, its eyes glowed crimson, and under the trio's assault, its health had already fallen to 60%.
**`[Summer's End]`** `(Lv. 5)`
**`[Galeslice]`** `(Lv. 5)` *// The portly man from the village//*
**`[Autumn's End]`** `(Lv. 5)`
**`[Corrupted Wolf Alpha]`** `(Bronze Boss)`
**`Level:`** `10`
**`HP:`** `591/1000`
**`Attack:`** `80-95`
**`Defense:`** `40-50`
**`Skills:`** `[Minor Bloodlust], [Razor Claws]`
**`Description:`** `A wolf king driven mad by corruption, the nightmare of local villagers.`
...
Relying on their paid stat advantages, the three worked in unison, holding their own against the Level 10 Boss. But the Alpha wasn't finished. As its health dipped below 50%, a faint red aura enveloped it, and its power visibly surged.
**`> System Alert: [Corrupted Wolf Alpha] uses [Minor Bloodlust]! Attack +20%, Attack Speed +20%, Life Steal +5%. Duration: 1 minute!`**
"Oh, crap!"
The battle's rhythm shattered. The three players scrambled, their coordination breaking down. Even with a steady supply of potions and the healing from a temporary Forest Sprite familiar—likely from lottery tickets—they couldn't stabilize their health bars.
*The Boss is enraging,* Kaelen realized.
*"Mewl!"*
Beside him, the little dragon, flitting through the air like a fish in water, flew to his shoulder and let out an insistent squeak, pointing a tiny claw at the struggling Boss.
"You want me to intervene?" Kaelen asked, his expression turning curious.
The dragon shook its head, then nodded vigorously.
"You mean... you want me to wait and..."
This time, the dragon nodded firmly.
Kaelen was taken aback. *Incredible. The intelligence of a divine-tier pet is on another level.*
"The Boss still has a lot of health. There's no rush," Kaelen explained patiently, as if to a child. "If we help them now, do you know what will happen?"
The dragon looked curious.
"We'll get a 'thank you'," Kaelen said flatly. "That's it."
"..."
"And more importantly," he continued, his voice turning analytical and cold, "if we interfere now, they'll just think I'm trying to steal their kill, to take a share of the loot. They'd turn on me in a heartbeat."
It wasn't that he was heartless. These three were clearly whales. Failure here was a minor inconvenience for them. For Kaelen, it was different. He needed to seize *every* opportunity, no matter how underhanded, if he wanted to change his destiny.
Listening to his master's ruthless logic, the little dragon's golden eyes widened, its gaze growing increasingly strange and... perhaps impressed.
*SCHRACK!*
Suddenly, the Wolf Alpha's Razor Claws found their mark. One player, Autumn's End, crumpled, his health bar evaporating. His body dissolved into a ghostly apparition, forced to spectate.
"Dammit!" a thin player named Summer's End cursed, looking at the Boss's remaining 30% health. "We should have waited until Level 8!"
With their formation broken, the remaining two, including Galeslice, could only make a last stand. They managed to whittle the Alpha's health down to 25% before they, too, fell to its fangs.
"Agh, so close!" Galeslice sighed in frustration as his body faded. "Let's go. We'll come back at Level 8."
Their spectral forms drifted back towards Humblebrook to resurrect.
*Rustle...*
As the trio departed, the Corrupted Wolf Alpha, now without a target, began to pace, its health slowly regenerating.
Seeing his chance, Kaelen—now Level 4—allocated his new stat points straight into Attack. Then, with the patience of a predator, he waited for the perfect moment. As the wolf turned its back, he burst from the rocks, his Frostbite Blade aimed squarely at its hindquarters.
*Ambush!*
**-60! (CRITICAL!)**
Incredible luck. His first critical strike in the game couldn't have been more perfectly timed. As the Alpha whirled around in pain and fury, Kaelen channeled **[Heavy Blow]**, the force of the impact staggering the larger creature.
**-44!**
Two hits. The Boss's health, already low, plummeted to under 200.
Enraged beyond reason, the Wolf Alpha swiped with its claws, moving to eviscerate this new foe. Kaelen braced to trade blows.
But he wasn't alone.
*THWAP!*
A small, scaled tail, moving with impossible force, slammed into the Alpha's side. The massive wolf was lifted clean off its feet and thrown against the canyon wall with a sickening crunch.
**-204!**
A colossal, crimson damage number exploded above its head.
Kaelen stared, dumbfounded.
**`> System Alert: You have killed [Corrupted Wolf Alpha] (Bronze Boss)! Rewards: Level +2, 1 Silver Coin, Reputation +20!`**
**`> SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: You have achieved the First Blood on the Bronze Boss [Corrupted Wolf Alpha]! First Kill Rewards: Free Attribute Points +20, Reputation +1000, [Coin of Destiny] (A-Rank Rare Skill)!`**
**`> WORLD ANNOUNCEMENT: Congratulations to player [Kaelen] for achieving the world's first Bronze Boss kill!`**
**`> WORLD ANNOUNCEMENT: Congratulations to player [Kaelen] for achieving the world's first Bronze Boss kill!`**
...
Golden light washed over him twice in rapid succession, propelling him straight to **Level 6**. The little dragon chirped proudly, circling his head. Kaelen looked from the dissipating body of the Boss to his companion, a slow, fierce grin spreading across his face.
The hunt had truly begun.