Yan poured all his available attribute points into Swiftness, bringing that particular attribute to a formidable 524 points.
Now, it was ready for specialization.
He clicked the newly appeared button beside his Swiftness attribute on the panel, selecting the specialization option.
****
[Please select the branch of the attribute you wish to specialize.]
[Movement Speed]
[Attack Speed]
[Skill Cast Speed]
[Evasion Rate]
****
The system prompt interface materialized before him, plunging Yan into deep contemplation.
‘Which branch attribute should I specialize in?’
While Yan understood that spearmen required a base investment in Swiftness, his lack of experience with the class left him uncertain about which specific branch would yield the greatest benefit.
‘Movement speed? I’m no assassin; there’s no need for exceptionally high movement speed.’
‘Attack speed? That’s even less necessary. In reality, I’m a successor to traditional spear martial arts. Among the mainstream spear styles, I’ve never encountered one where every technique consists solely of rapid thrusts (a Spearman’s basic attack in Companion God Realm). While there are quick, continuous stabbing moves, I can’t possibly rely on those exclusively…’
‘The essence of the long spear lies in its imposing length and the unpredictable versatility of its techniques. Unlike short-handled weapons that demand close-quarters combat, it offers ample room for flexible engagement, earning its reputation as the king of cold weapons.’
‘Evasion rate is also largely unnecessary. I’ve already specialized in HP; even if a boss lands a hit, I won’t need to rely on an unreliable chance to evade for survival. Taking a direct blow won’t kill me, which provides ample room for tactical maneuvers.’
‘With all other options dismissed, only Skill Cast Speed remains as a viable choice.’
‘This “Skill Cast Speed” differs significantly from a mage’s chanting speed. It doesn’t shorten the wind-up animation before a skill is cast (which, for magic, is the chanting itself), but rather accelerates the actual execution of the skill’s action.’
‘With accelerated skill actions, I could leverage my own spear arts to swiftly chain into the next move or ability, creating seamless combos.’
‘Hmm, this one it is.’
Pondering this, Yan selected the Skill Cast Speed specialization.
With this, he would become a player with three distinct attribute specializations.
“This lady is going offline to eat lunch now.”
Qing Bai savored the last aromatic sip of black tea before slowly rising from her seat.
“Something’s come up in real life, so I might not be able to log back on this afternoon.”
A fleeting shadow of melancholy crossed her eyes, only to be instantly replaced by a carefree, unburdened smile.
“Hmph, hmph, you just keep grinding those levels, Mr. ‘Game Addict’.”
“You… you rascal…”
Black lines seemed to sprout from Yan’s forehead as he slowly raised his hand, forming it into a blade, barely suppressing the surge of anger within him.
“Pfft, pfft, I’m outta here!”
Before Yan could make a move, Qing Bai playfully stuck out her tongue, then swiftly pulled up the logout interface. Her form dissolved into a scattering of blue light particles, gradually fading from existence.
“Ah, seriously…”
Yan sighed, a touch of resignation in his voice.
He truly couldn’t discern if this young lady’s actions were deliberate or simply a reflection of her inherent personality; her eccentric behavior often left Yan struggling to follow her train of thought.
‘Well, never mind. As long as we can enjoy playing together, that’s what matters.’
“Oh, it’s already lunchtime…”
Tian Jiu belatedly set down her fork, noticing the nearly empty cake plate on the table. A satisfied smile graced her lips; the dessert had clearly brought her immense pleasure.
Yet, in-game food could only temporarily alleviate hunger. To truly replenish her body, she still needed to log off and eat a proper meal.
“I’m going offline too.”
Tian Jiu announced.
“Mm.”
Yan remained seated across the wooden table, watching the petite figure rise. For some inexplicable reason, a pang of loneliness suddenly struck him.
He recalled old acquaintances from the Flaming Dragon Guild. Even within such a united and amiable guild, there were still players who, due to real-life circumstances, simply vanished without a word.
One ordinary day, they would log off as usual.
And then, they were gone.
Yan’s melancholic expression seemed to catch Tian Jiu’s attention. Instead of logging off immediately like Qing Bai, she circled the round wooden table in front of her and moved closer to Yan.
“Don’t worry, Yan…”
Tian Jiu extended her right hand, gently placing it on Yan’s head. The magic ring adorning her right pinky finger glinted brightly in the sunlight filtering through the window.
“I’ll be back online this afternoon, so remember to bring me along for more leveling then!”
A gentle, almost maternal smile graced her face, subtly tinged with a hint of excitement.
‘Perhaps, having always been the one whose head was petted, she simply wanted to experience what it felt like to pat someone else’s head.’
‘Come to think of it, if Yan hadn’t been seated, she wouldn’t have been able to reach the top of his head at all, given her petite stature.’
“Of course, it is.”
Yan chuckled, then, as if in playful retaliation, he raised his right hand and thoroughly ruffled her short, pink hair.
“Then… then I’ll log off for now.”
Her face flushed, and she swiftly brought up the logout interface, exiting the game.
‘She shows no reaction when she pats someone else’s head, yet she becomes this shy when her own head is petted.’
‘How utterly charming.’
Yan gazed at the spot where Tian Jiu’s figure had vanished, a gentle smile gracing his lips.
‘Speaking of which, even though Tian Jiu claimed she didn’t mind being petted, ever since I started teaming up with Qing Bai, I’ve rarely touched her head.’
‘After all, it wouldn’t do to cause any misunderstandings…’
He mused with a helpless sigh.
‘Even if I don’t pay it any mind, Tian Jiu surely would, being a girl and all.’
‘Well, I’ll try to be more mindful of it in the future.’
“Everyone’s gone; what are you still spacing out for?”
Alice’s voice drifted softly into his ear.
“Haha.”
Yan let out an awkward chuckle, scratching the back of his head.
“Is Yan going offline to eat now too?”
Alice tilted her head, her gaze fixed on Yan.
“Nah, there’s no rush right now.”
Yan glanced at the time; it wasn’t even half past eleven.
‘He wondered why those two had logged off so early for lunch; perhaps they had other engagements before their meal.’
Yan typically ate around 12:30. With his mother home these past couple of days, she would invariably have a meal ready and call him downstairs when the time came.
A wave of gratitude washed over him.
Reflecting on his mother’s stern yet unfailingly meticulous care, Yan’s expression softened into one of profound gratitude.
‘Well, now that I’m still young, I can indulge in playing to my heart’s content. The time to repay my parents will come when I’ve grown into an adult.’
‘As for now…’
“I’ll just level up for a bit first.”
Yan said to Alice, a smile playing on his lips.
“Mm.”
Alice nodded.
“Where to?”
“Hmm…”
Yan glanced at his current level, 34.
“Let’s head to areas around level forty for some leveling.”
He offered a smile as he spoke.
If he were to bring Tian Jiu and the other along, Yan worried he might inadvertently expose his ‘bug.’ However, with both of them absent, it was the perfect opportunity to power-level.
Exploiting the experience bonus for attacking monsters within ten levels above or below his own, fighting level 44 monsters would undoubtedly be the quickest path to advancement.
“Oh.”
Alice acknowledged, falling into step behind Yan.
****
Windflow Hills – Bit Lava Region
The two traversed a descending mine shaft to reach this region. As they emerged from the tunnel, a scorching gust of wind immediately assailed them, the intense heat threatening to roast Yan alive.
“Every single time I come here, I’m convinced the developers have a twisted sense of humor. Couldn’t they have just put level 40 monsters in a normal map?”
Yan adjusted the dark red armor he wore, attempting to alleviate the oppressive heat his body struggled to endure.
This entire ensemble was his ‘graduation’ set from the old server (signifying the best equipment obtainable at the level cap of 150). Originally a gleaming silver advanced set, he had specifically visited the synthesis workshop to alter its appearance, preferring not to draw undue attention.
Its attributes and effects remained entirely unchanged; only its appearance now resembled a set that might drop from a boss around level 35.
With this, he would never again face the predicament of insufficient mana. The equipment from the old server felt incredibly intuitive and effective to wield.
“Level forty monsters in a map like this, and they’re incredibly difficult for players of the same level to defeat. What on earth was the GM thinking…?”
At that moment, he surveyed the churning lava that flowed everywhere before him, barely discerning a narrow path of red rock, hemmed in by the molten streams, where he could safely step.
“After all, most players can specialize one attribute once they cross the level 40 threshold. Level 40 is essentially a significant milestone in Companion God Realm.”
Alice offered her explanation.
As he listened to Alice’s words, a sudden realization dawned upon Yan.
Indeed, by the time players reached their early forties from account creation, their accumulated attributes would just surpass 500 points, making attribute specialization possible.
It was only after players had specialized the attributes best suited for their companion-tier skills that the true depth of Companion God Realm began to unfold.
“That’s why the GM would design such a brutally difficult map to challenge players. After all, growth feels far more rewarding when it’s earned through hardship, doesn’t it?”
Alice offered a slight smile.
“Well, then why don’t you come down?”
Yan retorted, a hint of helplessness in his voice.
Despite Alice’s grand explanation of the map’s design, she remained floating effortlessly in the air, showing no inclination whatsoever to set foot on the scorching rock pathways.
“Hot, hot, hot…”
The metal boots of his armor possessed excellent thermal conductivity, and the game’s immersive design for player sensation was so realistic that the heat made it impossible for Yan to stand still. He could only hop forward, alternating between his left and right feet.
“You’ll get used to it~ You managed to get through it just fine in the old server, didn’t you, Yan?”
Alice watched Yan’s comical predicament, covering her mouth as she let out a delicate giggle.
“That’s one way to put it, but if one can avoid suffering, who would actively seek it out?”
Yan sighed, reaching into his inventory for a prepared dish: a small earthenware bowl filled with shaved ice.
[Camphor Fruit Shaved Ice] Type: Dish
Grants immunity to high temperatures for 30 minutes after consumption.
“It’s a good thing you remembered this dish!”
Alice tilted her head, a smile spreading across her face.
“Well, back on the old server, new players would often hit level 40, so we always had to have this prepared for them, didn’t we?”
Yan chuckled, a hint of resignation in his voice.
This particular dish wasn’t a random recipe he’d discovered through his cooking skill. Instead, it was sold by an NPC in Windstar City, specifically designed to help players navigate this very map.
Poor Yan, he only discovered this dish after reaching over level 100 on the old server. Before that, at level 40, he had brute-forced his way through the level 40 threshold, enduring the heat, before relocating to a less brutal level 45 map.
Yan consumed the shaved ice. The sweet, refreshing coolness permeated his mouth and spread throughout his entire body, instantly shielding him from the oppressive heat of his surroundings.
With this dish, traversing the map became significantly easier.
Freed from the unbearable heat, Yan felt a surge of relief. He proceeded leisurely, strolling deeper into the map.