"Skill?"
"Those changes were actually Jiu Chen's skill?"
"Skills can do that?"
Wind Snow Traveler was rocked to the core.
In his understanding, no matter how powerful a skill was, you still had to fight with an actual weapon. Even a Doctor's skill only improved their ability to heal people.
Xiao Fan's move had shattered everything he knew.
A skill could create something like this? Boost speed, restore health, and grant buffs?
It was a completely different path!
And... it was incredibly powerful!
Wind Snow Traveler suddenly felt that skills in Cloud Sea were meant to work the way Xiao Fan's did.
He remembered that Xiao Fan had admitted earlier that his first skill was a Heaven-Tier Skill.
So this was a Heaven-Tier Skill? No wonder it was so powerful!
Wind Snow Traveler exchanged glances with the other veteran players. They could all see the shock in one another's eyes.
But the battle was still underway. After a brief moment of astonishment, Wind Snow Traveler and the others returned to fighting the Fierce Beasts.
The injured novice players had been lying on the ground, trembling. Suddenly, they realized their HP was steadily rising.
As their health bars filled, their wounds slowly healed, too.
"What is this? Why is this happening?"
They were puzzled, but getting better was a good thing. Without dwelling on it, they picked up their weapons and returned to the fight.
Everyone was fighting desperately. No one noticed the Black-Clad Girl behind them, staring in disbelief.
"A Heaven-Tier Skill! It really is a Heaven-Tier Skill! Someone here actually created one during the novice stage!"
Her fingertips turned faintly white from the force of her grip. Shock and excitement filled her expression, along with something harder to read.
She wanted to get up and go help, but then she remembered that she was just a level-zero nobody without any skills. With a self-mocking smile, she sat back down. But the despair in her eyes was gone.
After the thirty level-six Forest Shadow Bears were wiped out,
Mom Is Not Home wore a miserable expression. "Village Chief, there aren't going to be more Fierce Beasts after this, are there?"
Honestly, level-six Fierce Beasts were already their limit—the limit of what they could survive...
Wind Snow Traveler hesitated for a moment. "You level-two players shouldn't take part in the next battle."
The meaning was clear: the Beast Tide wasn't over yet.
At his words, despair showed on the faces of all the novice players.
What difference did it make if they didn't take part? If the veteran players couldn't hold them off, they'd die anyway.
Ignoring them, Wind Snow Traveler turned to Xiao Fan. "That just now... was your skill?"
Xiao Fan nodded. "That's right."
"How many times can you use it in a day?" Wind Snow Traveler asked.
"I can keep using it all day, but it has a 90-second cooldown," Xiao Fan answered honestly. His MP had already passed the ten-thousand mark, and it kept increasing as he restored HP during the battle. At this rate, he could use his skill nonstop not just for a day, but for a week.
"What?" Wind Snow Traveler's voice suddenly rose. He'd lost track of how many times he'd been shocked that day.
Such a powerful skill, with a cooldown of only 90 seconds—and he could use it nonstop all day.
So this was a Heaven-Tier Skill? No wonder the four players who had possessed Heaven-Tier Skills had all become powerful figures.
It was ridiculous!
The Fierce Beasts came again. As expected, this time there were thirty level-seven Fierce Beasts.
Even for veterans like Wind Snow Traveler, these beasts were a challenge. Xiao Fan's team was even more on edge.
They were stronger than the other novice players, but they were only level four. With the three-level gap, a single hit from a Fierce Beast could kill them.
"Brother Chen, you have to keep using your skill," Garfield Without Fat pleaded.
Xiao Fan nodded.
He didn't need them to tell him. He knew he couldn't let his skill lapse.
The Constitution boost had a huge impact on their strength. Against the level-seven beasts, every veteran except Wind Snow Traveler was falling short on damage.
The longer it took them to kill the beasts, the greater the pressure became.
Fortunately, Xiao Fan's skill was there. With the shields, healing, and recovery effects, they finally wiped out the level-seven Fierce Beasts.
Xiao Fan had wanted to take the chance to ask Wind Snow Traveler how many waves of beasts the Beast Tide would bring.
But as soon as the level-seven beasts were killed, level-eight beasts arrived one after another, leaving no time for anyone to rest.
The Fierce Beasts were attacking harder!
Fortunately, Xiao Fan's skill could clear negative effects.
The level-eight beasts were putting Xiao Fan's team under enormous pressure.
Han the Person had been injured several times. Only Xiao Fan's healing and shields had kept him alive.
Wind Snow Traveler's group wasn't faring any better. They were relying entirely on Xiao Fan's skill to hold on.
The skill's cooldown was the hardest time for them to endure.
Just as only four level-eight beasts remained, before anyone could breathe easy, level-nine beasts appeared in the distance.
The Fierce Beasts were attacking even faster now.
Wind Snow Traveler's expression darkened at once.
"If you can't keep going, fall back." Wind Snow Traveler looked at the four members of Xiao Fan's team.
Honestly, he was already shocked that they'd held out this long, all the way to the level-eight beasts. Nothing like this had ever happened before.
In the past, even novice players who'd spent a year developing in Zone 18 couldn't survive the Beast Tide in any numbers.
But Xiao Fan's team had been there for less than a month. Not only were they still alive, they'd fought alongside the veterans all the way to the level-eight beasts.
It was a miracle!
Garfield Without Fat had no choice but to retreat. They'd already reached their limit.
Against level-nine beasts, even a flawless performance wouldn't be enough. And with the five-level gap, they could barely deal any damage.
"This is the last wave. Hold on."
Wind Snow Traveler spoke to the veteran players beside him.
"Boss, with Jiu Chen's skill, killing these level-nine Fierce Beasts is only a matter of time."
Blade Shadow smiled at Xiao Fan. After such a long battle, his face was covered in blood and no longer recognizable. Only his white teeth stood out under the lights.
Xiao Fan felt a sudden pang.
"Jiu Chen, thank you."
Wind Snow Traveler's voice wasn't loud, but Xiao Fan heard him clearly.
"Don't mention it. I'm part of Zone 18, too."
When the last level-eight beast was killed, the level-nine beasts had already reached the entrance to the village. Wind Snow Traveler and the others kept fighting.
It took a long time to kill level-nine beasts.
And with Novice Village behind them, Wind Snow Traveler and the others couldn't retreat. Even if they were injured, they couldn't fall back.
Because if they did, Novice Village would be lost.
They had no choice but to take the beasts' attacks head-on and keep fighting.
The battle was brutal.
But they had no choice!
Xiao Fan watched the skill's cooldown closely. The instant it was ready, he used it, afraid that if he waited even a second, someone would die.
For my next skill, I have to create one that deals area-of-effect damage.
Xiao Fan made up his mind.
There were more than thirty level-nine beasts. After half an hour, Wind Snow Traveler's group had killed less than half.
At least no one had been injured.
According to what Wind Snow Traveler had said earlier, this should be the last wave of the Beast Tide.
If nothing went wrong, they could hold on!
The novice players behind them stood together, anxiously watching the battle ahead with red-rimmed eyes as they silently prayed.
It was the only thing they could do.
Something went wrong.
Just as Wind Snow Traveler's group of veterans had cleared away most of the beasts, the ground beneath their feet suddenly shuddered. The heavy tremors spread up through their legs, and even the air seemed to tighten.
"Thud, thud, thud..."
As the rumbling drew closer, everyone's expression changed.
"How could this happen? Before, the Beast Tide always ended after we killed the level-nine beasts."
Xiao Fan couldn't see Blade Shadow's face anymore. He could only hear the sheer terror in his voice.
Why were there more beasts after the level-nine ones?
As the sound drew closer, information about the approaching beasts appeared.
Name: Heaven-Devouring Tiger
Level: 10
HP: 2000/2000
Level-ten beasts! More than thirty level-ten beasts!
"It's over!"
Every face went pale.
They hadn't even finished off the level-nine beasts, and now level-ten beasts had arrived.
"Why are there level-ten beasts? The Beast Tide never used to go past level nine."
"It's over! We're really finished this time. We're all going to die!"
At that moment, even the veterans who'd survived several Beast Tides broke down, let alone the novice players.
"Waaah, I'm going to die."
"I miss my mom. I'm sorry, Mom. I won't be able to make it back alive."
"Damn Cloud Sea. I shouldn't have entered the game in the first place."
The area was filled with voices of regret and despair, and with sobbing.
"Get a grip, damn it! We're not dead yet. Keep fighting!" Wind Snow Traveler roared as he hacked at the Magic Beasts.
"Even if we can kill these level-nine beasts, what about the level-ten ones after them? There are more than thirty level-ten beasts, and only twenty of us. We can't win."
"Boss, there's no point." Despair filled Blade Shadow's voice.
Xiao Fan stared at the level-nine beasts in front of him and the approaching level-ten beasts, his fists clenched.
Even dealing with the level-nine beasts was difficult for Wind Snow Traveler and the others. They had no chance of beating level-ten beasts.
Am I going to die right after coming to this world? I still have so many awesome skills I haven't created...
Skills! Right, I can create a skill!
I have 9,540 Core Power right now. I only need 460 more to reach level five. Once I do, I can create a new skill.
I remember Wind Snow Traveler saying that novice players can trade 1,000 Core Power a month.
With that thought, Xiao Fan ignored the danger and ran over to Wind Snow Traveler.
"Loan me 500 Core Power, right now."
"With our strength, we can't beat the last wave of the Beast Tide. Give me 500 Core Power, and I'll reach level five and create a new skill. I'm confident I can make one that deals with these beasts."
As soon as Xiao Fan finished speaking, the system notified him that Wind Snow Traveler had transferred him 1,000 Core Power.
"I'm counting on you," Wind Snow Traveler said solemnly.
He had no choice but to trust Xiao Fan now.
He created such a powerful Heaven-Tier Skill. He should be able to make an even stronger one, right?
Wind Snow Traveler thought.
As soon as he received the Core Power, Xiao Fan bought 10,000 experience points and reached level five.
D: Jiu Chen Level: 5 (0/20000) HP: 560/560 MP: 10374/10374 (+9809) Strength: 10 Intelligence: 14 Spirit: 19 Agility: 22 Constitution: 20 Traits: Saint Gardener Skills: Halo of the Saint Gift of the Holy Mother 4 Equipment: None Core Power: 540
"Congratulations, player. You have reached level five and unlocked your second self-created skill."
"Would you like to create a skill now?"
Seeing Gardener among his traits, Xiao Fan nearly burst into tears.
Gardener? What kind of ridiculous trait was that?
Damn game! At a critical moment like this, you give me a Gardener trait? Are you trying to kill me?
Could it be because I've been growing Seven-Colored Flowers lately?
That seems likely. In my previous life, I died saving someone, and the system gave me the Saint trait.
So traits were determined by a player's recent actions.
Damn it. If I'd known, I would've spent the past few days playing with Thunder Fire.
Xiao Fan couldn't help regretting it.
The elements of Thunder and Fire were the most domineering. If he'd updated a trait related to Thunder or Fire, he could have created plenty of large-area damage skills and gotten out of his current predicament.
But he'd been growing Seven-Colored Flowers lately to farm mana.
Saint, Gardener—he could only create skills based on those two traits now. Otherwise, he might fail.
"Jiu Chen! Are you done creating it? Use the skill first!" Wind Snow Traveler called out, his voice slightly urgent.
"Almost." Xiao Fan saw that Gift of the Saint's cooldown was over, so he activated the skill first.
"Gardener, Gardener, how the hell am I supposed to create a skill?" With the level-ten Fierce Beast getting closer and closer, Xiao Fan was so anxious that cold sweat ran down his face.
This chance to create a skill was different from the last one. If he failed, the entire Novice Village—including him—would die here.
This was his last chance, and the last chance for everyone in Zone 18.
"Damn it, I'm doing it!"
Xiao Fan spent 30 Core Power to raise his Intelligence from 14 to 20, then bought one point in Spirit.
His Intelligence and Spirit had both reached 20.
Xiao Fan opened the skill creation interface.
Create a skill for your character.
Xiao Fan quickly finished writing the skill.
Creating this skill will cost 10 Core Power. Confirm creation?
Confirm.
"Skill creation complete. Upon inspection, this skill has not previously appeared in the game and requires system review. The review may fail. Would you like to continue?"
Yes.
System review in progress. Please wait.
It has to succeed. Xiao Fan stared fixedly at the panel before him, his fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles had turned white.
"Jiu Chen, hurry! We can't hold out much longer!" Wind Snow Traveler roared.
The level-ten Fierce Beast's appearance had shaken the confidence of many veteran players.
The teams that had been fighting with all their might were now showing signs of collapse.
"Almost! It's almost done."
Xiao Fan's Adam's apple bobbed as he forced himself to swallow.
"Hurry up! Damn system, hurry up!"
Ding.
Congratulations, player! Skill creation successful. View it now?
"It worked!" Xiao Fan took a deep breath.
He checked it immediately.
Skill Name: Flower Grafting Skill Rank: God Rank Skill Description: Consumes 200 mana. Marks a designated area with two sigils, [Flower] and [Wood]. After 5 seconds, all units within the range of the two sigils will swap their health and all attribute resistances. This state lasts for 3 minutes. When the skill ends, all allied units will be restored to full condition; enemy units will instead take a large-area spell attack and be afflicted with the "Weakened" status for 5 seconds (reducing their attack and defense). Additionally, if an enemy unit dies while the skill is active, it cannot be revived after the skill ends. [Note: This skill only affects targets no more than 5 levels above your own level.] Cooldown: 24 hours Creation Attributes: Intelligence 20 (+) Spirit 20 (+) Constitution 20 (+) Agility 20 (+) Creation Trait: Gardener (Unique)
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