Equipment Rankings

Finally, after another day, she successfully reached Level 29.

However, all the magical beasts in the area had been wiped out, so reaching Level 30 was no longer possible.

"Open panel."

Name: Tokisaki Kurumi

Level: Lv29 (Experience 10%)

Life Level: Kabbalah Spirit (Four-dimensional growth attributes unlocked to 38.)

Talents: Zafkiel (Advanced Talent), Charm (Intermediate Talent)

Skills: "First Bullet (Aleph) LV.2", "Second Bullet (Bet) LV.1"...

Attack: 1367

Defense: 132

Health:

Time Value: 200

Attributes (Balanced Development): Strength 1322, Intelligence 1212, Constitution 1322, Spirit 1212 (Third Bullet Passive +10%), (Kurupai's Blessing: Strength +100, Constitution +100)

At Level 29, her attributes had increased considerably again.

Unfortunately, the Meta World still could not affect reality. Otherwise, Kurumi would have been able to feel the changes in her body more directly.

At the very least, her subhealthy body, worn down by long-term late nights and overtime in reality, could have improved somewhat from these upgraded attributes.

This week of frenzied leveling had left her feeling intense exhaustion every time she logged off.

Only after logging in could she escape that weak state.

Kurumi arrived at the cave entrance.

After changing Zafkiel's passive save point to the cave entrance, Kurumi gripped the Time Gun tightly with both hands and slowly entered the cave.

The cave was much darker inside, even darker than the environment where the first boss had been.

Fortunately, she had the passive effect of the Fourth Bullet. Otherwise, Kurumi would not have dared to enter at all.

She cautiously descended the steps.

The sound of her footsteps echoed.

Kurumi encountered no minor monsters along the way.

Only when she reached a wide-open space did she see a cluster of burning blue flames.

"Fire?"

There had not been a single torch along the way. How could there be fire here?

Kurumi cautiously stepped forward.

Hisss...

The blue flames suddenly scattered, transforming into a blue streak of fire.

In the pitch-black surroundings, two crimson vertical pupils opened within the blue flames.

Whoosh.

In an instant.

Blue light flashed.

"So fast! City of Eating Time, Flash!"

In the blink of an eye, Kurumi reacted swiftly, and she finally saw what the blue streak of fire truly was.

Nightmare Failed Creation: Blue Fire Snake

Level: 38

Life Level: Silver Grade Elemental Monster (Weakened State)

Health:

Attack Power: 1500

Defense: 0

Skills: Elemental Body, Spit, Constrict, Fire Element Affinity, Undead Summon, Will-o'-the-Wisp Corrosion...

After its strike failed, the Blue Fire Snake coiled in the distance, its red vertical pupils fixed tightly on Kurumi.

A nightmare monster...

It met the activation conditions for the Divine Brilliance Crystal.

The power of holy light flowed into the Time Gun, and the faint radiance illuminated the space.

"Fairy Bottle!"

System Prompt: You have obtained Favor of the Wood Fairy: Recover 1% of maximum Health per second, Damage Reduction +10%, Base Constitution +10%, Base Defense +10%, Remaining Time: 9 minutes 59 seconds.

Good, this buff was suited for prolonged battles!

Kurumi focused her full attention on observing this boss.

Its entire body was in ruins, white bones exposed. Flesh protruding through its scales still dripped with blood, blue flames clung to its wounds and back, and its eyes brimmed with hatred for humans.

The slowing power had little effect on this boss. It probably possessed slow resistance.

As Kurumi considered a strategy, the Blue Fire Snake seemed to sense the weakness of the person before it and arrogantly dove toward her.

"Second Bullet!"

The infallible slowing skill was dodged.

Hiss—!

-1205!

One bite took away a tenth of her health instantly, and she gained a Burning status that drained 30 health per second for one minute.

Moreover, there was a number 1 on this Burning status.

Obviously, this debuff could stack!

However, the next moment, the Time Reversal Shield took effect.

Her health was restored, and the debuff vanished as well.

Although the slowing effect could not affect this highly agile magical beast, the passive effect of the Fourth Bullet countered it perfectly!

Bang, bang, bang.

Facing the Blue Fire Snake's attack, Kurumi blinked to the edge and returned fire with three shots.

-2050!

-2100!

-1996!

With the boost from the Divine Brilliance Crystal, light-attribute attacks perfectly countered the Blue Fire Snake's undead attribute and Elemental Body.

Each strike dealt as much as 2,000 damage!

Unfortunately, none of them crit.

Even so, the Blue Fire Snake did not last five minutes against Kurumi.

With Favor of the Wood Fairy, the Time Reversal Shield, and the Divine Brilliance Crystal's advantage, dealing with this boss was effortless.

"System Notification: Congratulations on killing Nightmare Failed Creation: Blue Fire Snake. Current Destroy Fallen Camp progress: 2/3."

"System Notification: Level increased. Current level: 30 (Experience 2%)."

"Your Kurumi Incarnation has unlocked the skill 'Fifth Bullet LV.1,' and your Theresa Avatar has unlocked the skill 'Holy Thunder Javelin LV.1.' Please check the details yourself."

As expected of a boss. The experience from killing a monster nine levels above her had directly raised her from level 29 to level 30.

Kurumi brought up her panel and examined the two new skills.

Skill: Fifth Bullet (Hei) LV.1

Cost: 50 Time Value

Active Effect: The struck target can briefly foresee the future. Evasion chance +50% for ten seconds. Cooldown: five minutes.

Evasion chance was the most overpowered attribute. Unless a skill possessed guaranteed-hit properties, once evasion took effect, one was invincible.

Unfortunately, this skill had a full five-minute cooldown, while its Time Value cost was as high as 50 points. With such restrictions, no matter how powerful it was, it could only be used at critical moments.

The Theresa Avatar's skill was nothing remarkable. Kurumi merely glanced at it before closing the panel.

Then, the system sounded another notification.

"Ding."

"World Announcement: A player has now reached level 30. This signifies that you are about to leave the beginner stage and begin exploring the 'Meta World.' To reward the brave and the pioneers, the world rankings will soon open."

"Ding. Dear player Su, your incarnation weapon, Time Gun, is ranked first in the world. Would you like to reveal your name?"

"Ding. Your current level is ranked first in the world. Would you like to reveal your name?"

"No."

There was no point in revealing it. She had no plans to establish a guild or any similar organization, so fame would be useless to her.

The sudden world announcements appeared three times in succession before falling silent again.

However, the chat channel became lively.

Everyone enthusiastically discussed which rich player had been the first to reach level 30.

Not long after, everyone in the chat channel was dumbfounded when they saw the rankings.

The name at the top of the level rankings was an asterisk, and the level was also 30. No one had much objection to that, since even the player in second place was already level 27. Reaching level 30 simply meant spending more money.

That was what they thought.

However, the equipment rankings left them completely baffled.

The top-ranked piece of equipment was an epic weapon?!

The server had only been open for half a month, and there was already an epic weapon?

The players were going insane when they saw it.

While most players were still wearing beginner gear, someone else was already using an epic weapon to slaughter monsters!

"Fuck, isn't Meta World being way too insane? The server's only been open for half a month! An epic weapon appeared after just half a month—won't the late-game stats completely explode?"

"Everyone, give this game a little report. Their monetization is disgustingly greedy."

"Upstairs, the government never recommended that we play this game in the first place. Who are you even reporting it to?"

"The player in second place only has a rare weapon. Where did this epic weapon come from? Did they pull some strings?"

"I'm numb. I've spent over a hundred thousand, and I'm still wearing a full set of blue gear. How much would you have to spend to get golden gear?"

"Anyway, I spent a million and still didn't get one. I only have two pieces of purple gear with active skills."

"No, don't be shocked about the epic weapon yet. Don't you think its stats are strange? Why is this weapon exclusive to Tokisaki Kurumi? And who is Tokisaki Kurumi?"

"Looking at the weapon's stats, she really does seem to be the Tokisaki Kurumi I know."

Players on the chat channels and game forums went wild with posts. After some people explained, most players finally learned who Tokisaki Kurumi was.

Mop God of War stepped forward and said, "My guess is that this player, like me, has the Dimensional Avatar talent and was also lucky enough to obtain one of Tokisaki Kurumi's core items. This weapon is also exclusive to the Kurumi Incarnation, but I don't know how they got it for now. I still don't even know how to unlock the stats of Agatsuma Zenitsu's Nichirin Blade."

With a precedent already established, and Mop God of War personally confirming it, everyone quickly accepted Tokisaki Kurumi's existence.