Chapter 0004. Hunting Babies

As I was already on the outskirts of Azler town, I decided to move a bit further, where low-level mobs spawn, since it was a beginners hunting zone.

[Great Bee's Nest]

The text above notified me that I had reached my destination.

Although this hunting ground was far away from the capital city of Crisedia, it was still pretty popular among the newbies as the bee monsters here were low leveled and were easy to hunt.

They even gave more experience points than the usual low-level monsters. Instead, their gold and item drops were low and almost useless.

As I walked around the lush grassland, I could see a lot of newbies hunting the small bee monsters.

The monsters looked exactly like a normal bee, just they were bigger in size, almost 1 foot long as they flew around.

There were males and females mixed amongst them. The male bees were named Great Drones, while the female ones were simply named Great Bees.

The new players would often confuse the harmless drones with bees and lash out at them without realising the difference.

Compared to the Great Bees, Great Drones didn't have a stinger. They could only tackle someone if they were attacked.

As the hunting ground was meant for beginners, the monsters here won't attack unless provoked.

The best way to hunt them was to get a single monster's aggro, kill it and then move on to the next one.

Players from level 1 to level 20 and even some level 25 can be found here, although the higher level players can barely get any experience from these types of monsters.

I walked towards a corner of the hunting ground, where the number of players was relatively low.

The players would keep glancing here and there, excitedly looking at other players as this whole experience was new to them.

I was like that too when I first joined the game. I couldn't believe the technology which could make everything so realistic. From breathing to touch, everything felt as natural and real as on earth.

So it was a pretty normal thing to be looking here and there. But it'd be a big mistake to do so when hunting a bit higher-level monsters. They don't wait for you to attack them first, as their aggro is attracted just by going near them.

I took out Eclipse as I didn't have any other weapon. Most newbies would be given a weapon of choice at the start of the game. Unfortunately, although my level has reset, I was still not considered a newbie by the game.

Walking towards a baby Great Drone that was half the size of an Adult Great Drone, I stabbed it with Eclipse without even giving it a chance to retaliate. The baby drone died as it turned into blue particles and disappeared.

[You have defeated a baby Great Drone.]

[You have acquired 1,200 experience points.]

[You gained a level.]

[You gained a level.]

[You gained a level.]

[You gained a level.]

Although I didn't show it, I was internally shocked. Killing such a small fry gave me so many experience points.

The experience boost was no joke.

As I was busy getting happy about the level up, the players around looked at me as if I was something disgusting.

What?

That's when I heard them whispering among themselves how I was a heartless guy. The girls who came to play with their boyfriends even pointed fingers at me while complaining to their boyfriends.

What's your problem? It's not some cute teddy that I murdered…. It was a monster put in by the developers to become a chunk of experience points for the players.

Ignoring the crowd, I went ahead to kill more of the baby drones.

The experience points I got had considerably dropped.

The crowd who despised me began to heat up. Not like everyone was against me as some players minded their own business by hunting the monsters, while others gathered around to call me 'Butcher', 'Heartless', and whatnot.

I couldn't care less about these people, but after reaching level 10, the experience from the baby drones and bees got way too low.

Finally, I decided to hunt adult….. Great Drones.

Of course, I'd hunt drones since they were way easier to kill. I can easily tell apart the drones from the bees, so killing them would be a walk in the park.

As I started killing the adult drones, the crowd giving me nasty looks got busy amongst themselves.

Killing the drones still took just a single hit as they turned into blue ash one by one.

I hit level 20 in a matter of minutes. There was not a single monster that dropped any gold or any other item, but I was still satisfied.

Previously, It had taken me a week to level up to 20. While now, I became level 20 in just 30 or so minutes.

Around level 20, players would start to feel the limits of this hunting ground, as the experience points after each kill would become too low to level up.

But for me, this wasn't the case just yet, as I got 275% more experience than any other player.

A drone I killed finally dropped an item. It looked like it had dropped one of its legs.

As I hummed happily while walking ahead to pick up my first item drop, I suddenly felt a shadow behind me.

The players around me suddenly moved away from me as if I was a plague.

I moved back and saw a huge bee, around the same height as an average human, looking down on me.

Its name was written in red, unlike the normal monsters whose name was written in yellow color, indicating that it was a boss monster.

There were many types of boss monsters in Mayhem. From bosses who occupied an area by themselves like Wyvern Prytiz to field bosses that would appear once in a while as an evolved form of the monsters on that particular hunting ground.

The monster in front of me was a field boss.

[Great Queen Bee]

[Field Boss, Level 40]

[20,000/20,000]

Yeah, fuck.

I didn't even get a chance to do anything as it punctured its stinger right through my stomach.

[You have lost 198 HP.]

[The Great Queen Bee's stinger has caused you to get 'Poisoned'.]

[Status conditions don't work on a legend. You have successfully resisted the poison.]

After stinging me to almost half health, the Queen bee went ahead and picked up the first drop item that I got.

The Great Queen Bee put the leg near her…..chest? What the heck are you doing?

"Uwaaaaaaaaaaaah."

One of the girls around started crying loudly. When another girl asked her why she was crying, she replied.

"That murderer killed the poor bee's husband, and now she's crying with whatever remains of him."

What bullshit!

"WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!! Such a heartless man"

The other girl who asked her started crying even louder than the earlier one.

Soon, everyone around seemed to be against me as they rooted for the monster to kill me.

Are you all dumb? Is this how a Chinese protagonist feels every time? What the heck is wrong with you guys…..sheesh.

I stood up and dusted off my clothes.

I took out Eclipse again, which I had put in inventory to pick up the drop, not expecting a sudden attack.

[ Name: Shura

Level: 20 (12,204/20,000)

Jobs: Night Alchemist

Class: Dulwak's Heir

*The probability of dealing additional damage while hitting a weak spot has increased.

*All blade-type items can be equipped with some penalty if level requirements aren't met.

*Magic and Physical power can be used simultaneously.

*Grants a special job (Night Alchemist)

Titles - (Legend)

*Resistance from all types of status conditions.

*NPCs will easily recognise you.

*A rebirth after every death.

Health: 259/457

Mana: 119/119

Physical Attack: 257

Magic Attack: 97

Physical Defense: 33

Magic Defense: 29

Stats

Strength: 19

Intelligence: 12

Vitality: 9

Agility: 10

Dexterity: 8

Special Stats

Luck: 10.

Perseverance: 3.

Sharpness: 3.

Sensitivity: 2.

Dignity: 2.

Undying: 1

Insight: 2.

Remaining Stat Points: 200.]

I didn't need to use any skills for the other monsters, as they all died in a single hit, but that won't be the same for the Queen Bee.

It had an enormous amount of HP, and as a field boss, it would have high defense too. I'd need to be careful with it.

As I was thinking as to how to attack the huge bee, something unexpected happened.

The Great Queen Bee looked towards the girl who was crying loudly and instantly flew towards her. Before anyone could react, the girl had already turned into blue ash as the bee punctured its stinger through her.

The other girl who was crying immediately quietened down and ran away along with the retreating crowd.

'That's what happens when you misplace your priorities.'

I couldn't help but comment inwardly.

They were such busy feeling sympathy for a boss monster that they forgot what a boss monster is.

[Skill: Camouflage

Type: Active

Cost: 10 mana per second.

Cooldown: 5 Minutes

Makes the user enter a Camouflage state. Target lock skills won't work on the user during the camouflaged state.

Movement speed will increase by 30%. There is a low chance of an attack dealing 150% extra damage when used in a camouflaged state.

Getting hit by an AOE skill or Attacking someone will cancel the camouflage effect.]

I instantly used camouflage as my figure turned blurry under a transparent fog.

With Eclipse held backward in my right hand, I rushed out towards the Queen Bee with increased movement speed while it was still distracted by the crowd of people.