Chapter 49: First Player Kill

In my hand, the long sword radiated a faint blue luster. Its blade was engraved with a crimson dragon emblem, the legendary insignia of the Crimson Dragon Legion. The cutting edge gleamed with a biting cold light, forged from a single-molecular structure that made it exceptionally sharp and durable!

As my gaze lingered for a moment, the weapon's attributes immediately materialized—

[Legion Blade] (Quality: Blue)
Tier: Tier 2
Type: Single-Molecular Sword
Base Stats: Attack 145-200, Attack Speed 0.9 attacks/sec, Durability 2000/2000
Strength: +20
Length: 0.8M
Weight: 4KG
Blessing: Lifesteal +2%
Specialty: Armor Piercing, ignores 15% of the target's armor
Required Strength: 200
Detailed: A standard-issue sidearm of the Crimson Dragon Legion, crafted by a master swordsman and remarkably sharp.
……

Looking at the stats of the Legion Blade, I couldn't help but take a deep breath. This attack power was quite exaggerated, far surpassing the Vanguard Stinger, which only had 15-25 attack power!

Moreover, the Legion Blade possessed two extremely useful supplementary attributes: 15% armor piercing and a 2% lifesteal efficiency. Both were highly effective attributes for any melee class!

"Clack!"

I equipped it directly. In an instant, the shabby Vanguard Stinger in my hand was replaced by the blue Legion Blade. Simultaneously, my stats surged significantly, and with the replacement of my main-hand weapon, my overall combat energy level rose dramatically!

[Chasing Shadows] (Starry Sky Super Weapon · Sword Mastery · Tier 2)
Level: 22
Attack: 332-540
Defense: 110
HP: 8700
Critical Rate: 3%
Lifesteal: 4%
Damage Boost: 5%
Charm: 0
Yuan Energy: 100/100
Comprehensive Combat Energy Level: 1125
Potential Stat Allocation: Strength 280 / Agility 121 / Spirit 80 / Vitality 60
Achievements: 6
……

My maximum attack power had broken through the 500-point mark, and my comprehensive combat energy level had soared to a terrifying 1125 points. At the current stage of the game, most players' armor didn't even exceed 100 points. One could only imagine how painful it would be to take a hit with over 500 attack power!

Additionally, my lifesteal efficiency had increased to 4%, steadily improving my combat recovery capability!

"What did everyone else get from theirs?"

Axe sounded a bit excited. "I rolled a green Windwhisperer. Awesome!"

"Congratulations!" Zhang Ruolin smiled. "I got a green bracer. Not bad at all."

Ling Baiwei chimed in, "I'm doing okay too. I got two demolition grenades. How about you, Ding Han?"

"Well, I'd say I made out pretty well."

I didn't hide it and said, "I got a blue Tier 2 one-handed sword with a maximum attack power of 200, plus 15% armor piercing and 2% lifesteal."

"Holy shit..."

Axe was stunned. "That overpowered? Seriously?"

"Why would I lie to you?"

I raised my hand and waved the Legion Blade in my grip, its blue light flickering.

"It really is a blue one-handed sword..."

Ling Baiwei said, "The items dropped from your Boss Esper Crystal turned out better than ours. That must be related to your output during the fight, right?"

"Probably."

Ruolin answered for me. "According to the mechanics of *Star Abyss*, the hidden quality of the Esper Crystal in a Boss battle is distributed based on the output proportion. Ding Han dealt at least 50% of the mutant direwolf's health bar, so his Esper Crystal was bound to be better than ours, and the chance of rolling top-tier loot was naturally higher."

"I see..." Axe nodded, as if a lightbulb had gone off in his head.

"It's getting late. Let's head back."

I glanced at the surrounding wilderness and said, "It will be quite troublesome if we get targeted by mutants after dark. After all, mutants hold an absolute advantage in night combat, and we don't have many night-vision equipment items."

"Yeah, let's go!"

Axe nodded.

The group headed back to where we started, driving the pickup truck toward the phase teleportation array.

An hour later, the phase teleportation array loomed vaguely in our field of vision. After returning the pickup, Axe and I walked side-by-side toward the array.

"You guys go on ahead," Xiaobai said. "I just saw some level 15 mutant beasts appear to the north. Ruolin and I still have plenty of ammo left, so we're planning to grind our basic shooting proficiency levels over there."

"Alright then."

I nodded. "Be careful."

"Don't worry, this place is close to the teleportation point and the market. There are people from the Crimson Sky Alliance maintaining order for the players, so nothing will go wrong."

"Good to hear."

Axe and I stepped into the teleportation array together.

Axe had incredible luck; while killing the Devourer, he had obtained an Esper Crystal and rolled a white submachine gun, so he eagerly headed toward the exchange market. I lingered for a moment, planning to stock up on some ammunition.

"Old Ma."

"Ding Han."

Old Ma rubbed his nose. "I've told you eight hundred times, my damn last name is Liu, not Ma..."

"Got it, got it. Old Ma, do you have any RPG-32 high-explosive grenades?"

"I do have them, but they're expensive—8,000 credits each. How many do you want?"

"Holy crap..."

My eyes widened in regret. That single shell I fired on the Morningglow Plain had indeed felt exhilarating, but the price was so heavy it turned out to cost 8,000 star credits a shot! That was simply outrageous!

"Well, do you want them or not?" Old Ma looked at me teasingly.

"Ahem..."

I was momentarily speechless, desperately trying to think of a way to brush it off and cover up my embarrassment.

Right at that moment, the still-open team chat channel transmitted Xiaobai's voice: "Ding Han, Axe, Ruolin and I are being PK'ed! The other side are people from Twilight of the Gods, sob..."

The next instant, Xiaobai let out a muffled grunt, and immediately after, a system message appeared in the team channel:

[Team Notice: Member [Xiaobai] was attacked by player [YeahRightRightRight], entering the Lightly Wounded state!]

"Damn it, something's wrong!"

Without a second thought, my expression changed drastically as I bolted. I immediately forked over 1,000 star credits to select Morningglow Plain and teleported back instantly. With a "shwoosh," my figure materialized at the other end of the phase teleportation array. I opened the mini-map and spotted Ruolin and Xiaobai's coordinates; they weren't far, located in a patch of shrubland just a mile away.

"Swish!"

I rushed out at maximum speed, simultaneously opening the star map and shouting, "YeahRightRightRight, I am Chasing Shadows. The person you are currently PK'ing is my friend. Please show some mercy. We're all players here, there's no need to drive them into a corner. She's already injured, and keeping up the attack might kill her."

As a result, inside the star map, the people from Twilight of the Gods remained completely silent.

"Dammit!"

I gritted my teeth and spoke into the team channel: "Give me your coordinates—where are they?"

Zhang Ruolin immediately reported the enemy's location. To my surprise, their position was actually closer to where I was. I drew my sword and sprinted straight toward them.

Ahead, night was falling, and the sharp, distinct sounds of gunfire echoed through the air. As I charged out of a grove of trees, I spotted the firing point. There were three of them, all lying prone on a low hill, while in the distance, Zhang Ruolin and Xiaobai were pinned down in a patch of bushes on open ground!

Only one of the three enemies was continuously firing bursts with a submachine gun. The "tat-tat-tat~~ tat-tat-tat~~" sounds rang out relentlessly, sending sparks flying from the brush every now and then as bullets slammed into Ruolin's shield.

It was obvious that the person shooting was genuinely trying to kill Ruolin and Xiaobai!

"I'll say this one more time!"

Inside the star map, I burned another 1% of my experience points and declared, "I am Chasing Shadows. You are attempting to murder my friend. If this continues, I will be forced to take action!"

At that moment, the player named "YeahRightRightRight" finally spoke, sneering, "These two bitches shot first and stole a Devourer from me, and even dropped a green necklace. Today, even if the Jade Emperor himself spoke, it wouldn't matter—I'm going to waste these two! Chasing Shadows, don't put on a front. If you've got the guts, make your move. We people from Twilight of the Gods don't start trouble, but we sure as hell aren't afraid of it!"

"Screw your mother!"

I frowned, my legs exerting explosive force. The moment I surged out of the bushes, I activated my bio-optical stealth skill. My body instantly vanished into the foliage, and I sprinted fiercely toward the nearby hillside!

"Wait..."

On the hillside, a player clutching a sniper rifle frowned. "I heard footsteps. It sounds like someone's coming over, but why can't I see anyone?"

"Could it be a Phantom Assassin?"

Another person asked in astonishment.

Meanwhile, "YeahRightRightRight" reloaded his magazine, aimed at the bushes a hundred meters away, and resumed his frenzied firing. "You two little sluts, watch how I finish you off!"

I didn't hesitate a second longer. I gently raised my hand and directly released my SS-grade skill—Creation of Heaven and Earth!

"Swosh~~~"

20 points of Yuan Energy transformed into a drizzle of golden light that seeped into the bodies of the three enemies. The exact moment they reacted, my figure moved like lightning. With a "boom," I triggered my Burst Qi Charge, piercing straight through all three of their bodies and stunning them right on the spot!

Simultaneously, a combo of Basic Attack + Earth-Piercing Slash + Basic Attack landed on YeahRightRightRight. His health bar immediately trembled wildly, and damage numbers bounced all over the place!

"772!"
"2034!"
"765!"

Creation of Heaven and Earth had reduced their armor by over 40%, and the Legion Blade shaved off another 15%, leaving the target virtually naked beneath my blade with no armor left to speak of!

"You..."

YeahRightRightRight turned pale with fright, never expecting me to charge out so abruptly. He scrambled to turn around, attempting to sweep the area with his submachine gun!

"Swish!"

Utilizing Stepping Slash, I instantly materialized at his rear right flank. I whipped around and unleashed a sequence of Basic Attack + Blood-Siphoning Frenzy + Basic Attack, triggering even more massive damage numbers!

"742!"
"771!"
"1045!"
"3028!"
"712!"

The third strike of Blood-Siphoning Frenzy scored a critical hit. Combined with the damage from my first combo and the Burst Qi Charge, I had dealt a cumulative total of over 10,000 damage to the target in the span of just three seconds!

Furthermore, YeahRightRightRight was a firepower specialist. To ensure survivability and wield heavy weapons, such builds usually mix points into Strength, Agility, and Vitality. Even with a decent amount of Vitality in that hybrid build, his maximum health pool capped out at around 8,000+. Under such an overwhelmingly destructive combo, his health bar was instantly depleted!

"Thud..."

YeahRightRightRight rolled his eyes back and collapsed straight to the ground. Four shades of red text—Light Injury, Heavy Injury, Near Death, Death—flashed sequentially above his head.

His throat was slashed open, sending a jet of blood spurting out that stained my clothes a brilliant crimson.

"Killed... killed him?"
"He... he's dead?"

The other two Twilight of the Gods players stared in dumbfounded shock.

"He's dead."

I nodded. "Did either of you two have murderous intent just now?"

"N—No..."

One of them replied helplessly, "We don't have any deep grudge with Ruolin and Xiaobai, and since we run into each other all the time... but 'Yeah' over there has a rather narrow mindset. He probably wanted to loot their gear, so... we couldn't talk him out of it, and there was nothing we could do..."

"Get lost!"

I gripped the blood-stained Legion Blade, fixing the two of them with a cold glare. "Even though neither of you struck the blows, watching from the sidelines makes you half accomplices. Go back and reflect on yourselves—is this really how players should butcher each other?"

"Alright..."

The two of them scurried away in disgrace.

As for me, I quickly swept all the loot dropped by YeahRightRightRight into my extradimensional storage space, then dashed straight toward the bushes where Ruolin and Xiaobai were hiding. I pulled out Randle's Shield and said to the injured Xiaobai, "Let's go. Ruolin and I will escort you back to the teleportation point!"