[Instant Shadow Slash (Silver): Assassin Skill]
Effect: Dash in a target direction (up to 15m), entering Stealth for 5 seconds and dealing 3 rapid slashes to all enemies in the path.
Damage: Each slash adds 100 Attack Power; 100% guaranteed Backstab bonus.
Cooldown: 12 seconds (Current effective: 10.43s).
Silas held the skill book, and the knowledge integrated into his neural link instantly. "If I had this earlier," he mused, "the Entropy Dryad would have been harvested in half the time."
This wasn't just a move; it was a tactical reset. It provided mobility, AoE damage, and a seamless transition back into invisibility. Silas noted the dimensions: 15 meters long, 2.1 meters wide.
"Perfect for clearing packs. And with evolution, that range will only grow."
But before focusing on combat, he turned his attention back to his most vital tool: Hand of Greed. He had evolved it four times already. The cost for the fifth was 8 points.
"1, 2, 3, 5, 8... it follows the Fibonacci sequence," Silas realized. "Which means the next jump will cost 13. The deeper the evolution, the steeper the climb."
He didn't hesitate. He spent the 8 points.
[Consumed 8 Evolution Points. Hand of Greed: Emerald -> Diamond!]
Extra Loot Chance: 160% -> 220%.Tier-Up Chance: 20% -> 40%.
Silas took a sharp breath as the new stats settled. A 220% chance meant he was guaranteed two extra drops per kill, with a 20% chance for a third. One monster now equaled three. Furthermore, a 40% chance to upgrade the item's tier meant his gear quality would soon outstrip anything the world had ever seen.
"I have 4 points left. Time to sharpen the blade."
He turned to his new offensive skill.
[Consumed 3 Evolution Points. Instant Shadow Slash: Silver -> Platinum!]
Dash Distance: 15m -> 21m.Stealth Duration: 5s -> 7s.Slashes: 3 -> 5.Attack Bonus: +100 -> +200.Slash Width: 2.1m -> 3.1m.
The cooldown hadn't decreased, which was a slight disappointment, but the utility was now monstrous. With a 7-second stealth window and his high Agility, he could clear entire corridors while remaining a ghost.
Silas glanced at the remaining loot from the boss, a Silver-tier Warrior skill called "Battle Cry" that boosted team stats. In his past life, a Warrior with this skill would have been a god in the early game. Now, it was just more inventory clutter to be sold for lifespan.
He moved through the deep woods, the area now populating with Level 4 and 5 mobs. Three Crawl-Beasts crouched nearby, stalking the remains of the dryad. They didn't even see the shimmer in the air.
Instant Shadow Slash!
Silas's form flickered for a fraction of a second, appearing 21 meters away in a blur of obsidian light. Behind him, the three beasts were carved into five neat segments each.
-725!
-725!
-725!
They were dead before their bodies hit the damp soil.
[You have slain 'Crawl-Beast (Level 4)' x3.]
[Gained 240 XP.]
[Gained 15 Days of Tradeable Lifespan.]
Silas walked back and triggered Hand of Greed on each. Three corpses yielded nine rewards.
"At this rate," Silas calculated, a faint smile touching his lips, "Level 10 is only two hours away."
The Real World: The Aurelian Republic
As Silas prepared to "Speed-Run" to Level 10, the real world was waking up to a nightmare.
The first wave of Level 3 survivors had begun to "Synchronize" back into reality. The rumors of a global apocalypse were replaced by a far more terrifying truth.
"It's a game. A land forsaken by the gods."
"If you die in there, you lose your life out here."
"You can gain immortality, but the monsters... they hunt in packs."
"Did you see the leaderboard? Who is this 'Shadow' who's already Level 5?"
In the dorms of the Aurelian University, Lucia and Chloe sat huddled over their phones, reading the frantic posts on the Federation forums. The world had shifted on its axis. The era of money and status was over; the era of the God-Abandoned Game had begun.