Compared to the class chat full of newbies, those hardcore gaming groups were completely different.
Almost everyone who had played Calamity immediately thought of leveling up!
They also understood that the age of players had arrived!
Only by growing stronger could they become more competitive and survive greater calamities.
[Level 7 magic swordsman looking for a party. Guaranteed powerhouse. Need a speed-leveling team!]
[Level 6 spirit summoner, pretty face, sweet voice, big boobs. Any strong experts who kill monsters fast willing to carry me? I'll absolutely send you to heaven~]
[Buying talent cards and ordinary equipment. DM me if you have any. Fair prices.]
[Level 10 qigong master offering monster-farming carries. DM me. Payment in kind accepted... married young women preferred.]
Chen Nian was a lurker.
Even if he spoke in the group, he would never expose his identity.
After all, he was Buyu, the god in the hearts of every Calamity player.
One careless move and someone could trace his social media accounts to his real identity. That would be trouble.
He would just keep leveling.
His primary goal was to keep raising his level. Running into a field boss would be even better, since killing field bosses usually yielded generous rewards!
These included, but were not limited to, rare equipment, skill scrolls, and advancement crystal cores...
For two full days, Chen Nian stayed out in the wilderness, killing monsters.
Dusk fell.
Level 35!
Chen Nian's level had already soared to 35!
His leveling method was both the most efficient and the most sustainable.
First, he gathered a wave of monsters, then blasted them all to death in one go.
Although each use of Word Spirit consumed the extraordinary power within him, leveling up increased his power again, striking a balance.
Others got tired and needed rest.
He did not.
After leveling up, he unlocked several more Word Spirits, and his combat ability leaped forward.
Sequence 9: Eagle Eye Sequence 19: Flame Explosion Sequence 33: Wind Demon Slash
At the same time, Chen Nian had acquired a full set of fine-grade equipment, greatly increasing his stats!
Chen Nian: Word Spirit Sage (unique) Genetic rank: tier 1 (level 35) Constitution: 46 Agility: 42 Extraordinary: 42 Bonus attack: 110 Bonus defense: 260 Combat power rating: 25 stars
With his current defense, he could completely ignore attacks from low-level tier 1 monsters without taking any damage.
Chen Nian no longer needed to activate Word Spirit to kill monsters, either. He could simply use physical attacks, making things even easier.
This was the advantage of a high level!
Two days had passed since the game Calamity merged with reality, and the city had largely stabilized.
Among the extraordinary individuals with talents, some had been recruited by the security force, some had become private enforcers for companies, and some had gone outside to level up...
From Chen Nian's observations, anyone above level 20 was now put on a pedestal wherever they went!
Those big companies casually offered monthly salaries of over five hundred thousand!
But Chen Nian knew that working for someone else would only slow his progress toward becoming stronger and leave him less room for future growth.
"Hey, brother, are you out here killing monsters too?"
Chen Nian was sitting on the ground, enjoying the breeze, when a three-person team suddenly approached from ahead.
Two men and one woman.
The man in the lead smiled. "We're Calamity players too, and our levels are pretty high now. Want to party up?"
"No, I'm used to being alone," Chen Nian declined flatly.
In a party, experience points were split evenly.
He could kill monsters effortlessly on his own, so why share with anyone else?
"Brother, being a lone wolf isn't easy these days. You can't respawn if you die in reality. Think it over carefully."
"Thanks, but no."
Seeing that Chen Nian would not budge, the man gave the woman beside him a meaningful look.
"My big brother is a level 21 magic swordsman. You're lucky we're inviting you. Not only will you level up fast, you'll also get to challenge powerful monsters."
The woman looked thoroughly proud. She believed that once she mentioned level 21, this man could not possibly refuse!
Who didn't know that everyone above level 20 was a top expert?
"Not interested."
"You?!"
"You really don't know what's good for you!"
The woman was furious. She had never expected him to be this arrogant.
Unable to persuade Chen Nian, they had no choice but to leave.
After they had walked a short distance, the woman could not help spitting and began complaining.
"What an asshole! Does he really think he's somebody?"
"Forget it. It's not like the three of us can't fight that boss. I was going to bring that kid along as cannon fodder, but he turned out to be pretty wary."
"The more I think about it, the angrier I get. Once we finish the boss, let's go back and slaughter him!"
"The real world's already in chaos anyway. Even if we kill him, no one can do anything to us! We might even get to steal something useful."
"Haha, you've got a point, little sister!"
The three entered the forest and made their way forward, cautiously approaching their target.
Ahead stood a five-meter-tall treant!
In Calamity, its official name was the Calamity Treant.
Its branches could transform into sharp swords that pierced armor, and both its attack and defense were terrifying.
Its level was as high as tier 1, level 70, making it a high-level existence among tier 1 monsters. As a boss monster, it also had additional stat boosts!
It was extremely difficult!
Who knew how generous the rewards would be if they defeated it!
"We're only a little over level 20. Can we really kill this level 70 treant?"
Xu Meng chuckled. "Forgotten who I am? I soloed this boss back in the game. Its attack patterns are simple. We just need to stay careful and whittle it down from range!"
"And if some treasure drops, we'll be rich!"
The other two's eyes immediately lit up.
They both followed Xu Meng. He had been a big shot in the game, so they were sure to live the good life!
"Attack!"
All three attacked at once.
At first, the Calamity Treant's attack patterns stayed within their expectations.
Gradually, however, they began struggling to keep up.
Performing all those movements in reality consumed stamina. In the game, it did not!
They had overlooked the fact that they were fighting in person, not operating a keyboard and mouse.
"Aah!!"
A branch like a steel rod pierced the woman's thigh.
"No... we're no match for it... aah!"
The other man was also viciously whipped away, a bloody wound opening across his chest as he crashed to the ground.
Xu Meng could not hold out alone. The weapon in his hand was twisted out of his grip, and his expression turned extremely grave.
The second difference between games and reality.
Injuries noticeably impaired their ability to move, rather than merely reducing an impersonal health bar in a game!
For the first time, the three felt the fear of death.
Just then, a slender young man leaped down from a tree and stood in front of them.
"If you don't have the strength, don't come looking for death."
Chen Nian's face was expressionless, his tone indifferent.
"It's him... that guy from earlier!"
The woman was utterly shocked.
Not only had this man been lurking in the shadows watching them, he actually dared to come out!
Before them was a level 70 boss monster!
Even the three of us together couldn't beat it. Had he come to throw his life away?