In this game, a [Potion Master] broadly refers to any player who has trained their [Potion Crafting] system to a proficiency level of five or higher.
Of course, if that were the sole criterion, then Yan, who had idly refined his potion skills to level five on the old server, would also count among their ranks.
Yet, he could never ascend to the pinnacle of [Potion Masters], unable to concoct special potions of the highest quality.
The reason lay in his chosen attribute allocation.
To become a top-tier [Potion Master], one needed to prioritize Technique and supplement it with Luck.
Yan, whose primary focus was Strength, could only ever remain a [Potion Master] with a level five proficiency.
Little Green, however, was no amateur like Yan.
The profession she revealed was that of a “pure artisan class [Potion Master].”
Refiner, Tailor, Blacksmith, Potion Master… in this game, all these were categorized as artisan professions, and countless players across the server practiced them.
However, if one were to add the word “pure” before “artisan,” only a handful of such players could be found throughout the entire game.
This was because the attribute allocation required for a pure artisan profession differed vastly from the combat attributes players typically invested in for monster grinding and leveling.
Attributes such as Technique and Luck offered absolutely no bonus to combat capabilities.
Once a player chose the path of a [pure artisan profession], it meant that even if they out-leveled a roadside monster by dozens of levels, they would normally have to circumvent it, fearing a single fatal blow from the creature.
Pure artisan players constituted such a powerless and utterly lacking in combat prowess group, a conclusion anyone familiar with the game would readily reach.
Yet, Little Green, who had ostensibly chosen the fragile pure artisan profession of [Potion Master], now stood brazenly before An Dong on the final arena stage of this inaugural event’s challenge tournament.
“Are you serious? You’re not pulling my leg, are you?”
An Dong, listening to Little Green’s words, gazed at her incredulously, struggling to comprehend.
“Of course it’s true! If you don’t believe me, I’ll show you my attribute panel.”
Little Green seemed to treat her attribute panel with complete disregard for privacy, easily spreading her hand open to display it directly before An Dong.
“Technique 502…”
An Dong stared at the panel, where almost all attributes were a baseline 1, save for the lengthy ‘Technique’ attribute point, which showed ‘502.’
His brow twitched stiffly.
‘Damn it, she really is a pure artisan class.’
“See? How about that? I wasn’t lying to you, was I~”
Little Green chuckled, a hint of pride in her voice, as she folded her slender arms across her chest.
“It’s actually true…”
An Dong let out a wry laugh, then his gaze caught the ‘Level 43’ displayed on her attribute panel, sparking a flicker of curiosity about Little Green’s leveling speed.
“It’s astonishing that you, a ‘pure artisan player,’ managed to reach over Level 40 before this event.”
“That’s all thanks to Fei Yi.
Without her terrifying area-of-effect magic for grinding monsters and leveling, how could I have caught up for this event? Oh, no…”
Little Green suddenly realized she had inadvertently spilled information about her best friend, quickly clamping a hand over her mouth and staring wide-eyed at An Dong.
‘Hoh, so the [Finisher Mage] Fei Yi, who was defeated by Xiao, specializes in area-of-effect magic.’
‘No wonder she didn’t have an advantage in the arena PK and was easily defeated by Xiao… After all, for a mage skilled in area-of-effect magic, team battles are far more advantageous.’
An Dong nodded in understanding as he mused, only then noticing Little Green’s pitiful, wide-eyed gaze fixed upon him.
“Wh-what is it?”
An Dong felt a shiver run down his spine under her clear gaze.
He had already come to realize Little Green’s true nature: a bona fide [Poison Maiden], a little girl who was deeply `腹黑` (TL Note: A Chinese term describing someone who appears gentle or kind on the outside but is cunning, manipulative, or even malicious on the inside.).
“Big Brother An Dong wouldn’t tell anyone, would he…?”
Little Green seemed to plead.
“No.”
An Dong sighed helplessly.
He was not one to gossip, and he certainly wouldn’t casually divulge information about Little Green’s innate ability or the [Finisher Mage].
“Phew, that’s good.”
Little Green, reassured, lifted her right hand and patted her small chest.
Seeing that purplish-brown stained palm against her body, An Dong couldn’t help but fear a piece of rotten flesh might suddenly fall from beneath her discolored skin.
‘Well, even though I know this [Toxic Skin] won’t harm Little Green herself, it still looks absolutely terrifying.’
“So, for Big Brother An Dong, who keeps secrets so well~ I’ll give you a little reward~”
Little Green tilted her head, her soft, emerald green hair falling against her face.
A mischievous glint, born of wicked delight, subtly appeared on her fair, charming countenance.
“The reward is for Big Brother An Dong to exit the stage early.”
The implication, of course, was that she intended to defeat An Dong.
“Hoh? You, a pure artisan [Potion Master], relying solely on [Toxic Skin] as your attack method—do you truly believe you can defeat me?”
An Dong spoke with a seemingly relaxed smile, appearing to question Little Green’s hubris, but inwardly, he felt anything but confident.
At that very moment, his eyes nervously flickered to his status bar; in another ten seconds, the [Poisoned status] inflicted by Little Green’s [Toxic Skin] would dissipate.
Though he didn’t know the exact ‘effect stacking’ mechanism of [Toxic Skin], An Dong instinctively realized he absolutely could not be touched by Little Green again while under the [Poisoned status]!
As the arena master, An Dong only needed to survive for thirty minutes!
Unfortunately, Little Green seemed disinclined to grant him that opportunity.
“[Divine Speed]!”
“Divine Speed Potion.”
Little Green spread the white glove on her left hand, and a pure white light emanated from her palm.
‘What!?’
An Dong’s eyes widened in astonishment.
“What’s going on!? Aren’t potions forbidden during PK status?”
[Divine Speed Potion], as the name suggested, was a potion with effects nearly identical to the [Divine Speed] skill, capable of significantly boosting a player’s movement speed.
This potion was not particularly rare; it could be crafted with a level five proficiency in [Potion Crafting] and was widely available in auction houses and on the market.
An Dong’s shock stemmed not from the potion itself, but from the fact that Little Green was able to use it.
It was common knowledge in PK that one could not use potions from their inventory.
Yet Little Green could… wasn’t this cheating?
“Relax, relax, Big Brother An Dong, don’t be surprised.
PK prohibits using [potions] on oneself, but there’s no restriction on using [potions] on items~”
“On items… using [potions]? What do you mean?”
An Dong furrowed his brow, utterly failing to grasp Little Green’s meaning.
Didn’t potions only take effect when consumed by a player?
Would a [Divine Speed Potion] splashed on a rock make the rock move faster?
“Hehe…”
Little Green smiled faintly and slowly raised her left hand, which shimmered with a pure white light.
[Companion Equipment: Mithril Gauntlet (Left Hand)
Innate Ability: Can attach the effects of potions used by the player onto the gauntlet.
Touching others will apply the potion’s effect.]
“Just like this…”
Little Green chuckled, gently gripping her own right arm with her left hand, which wore the [Mithril Gauntlet].
In that instant, the pure white light shimmering on the gauntlet, symbolizing the [Divine Speed Potion], transferred to Little Green’s body.
She then swiftly turned and threw her right-hand gauntlet, which had been tucked into her waist, towards An Dong.
‘?’
‘What the hell?’
An Dong watched the right-hand gauntlet float airily towards him.
What the hell?
Was she trying to bludgeon him to death?
That flimsy gauntlet clearly had no offensive power.
He looked at Little Green in confusion, only to see her slowly remove the left-hand gauntlet, a triumphant, wicked smirk playing on her face.
‘Oh, no!’
An Dong gasped, his body instinctively reacting, preparing to dodge the gauntlet flying towards him.
“[Flying Thunder God].”
Little Green’s petite figure, however, materialized before An Dong in the blink of an eye.
The right-hand gauntlet, which had just executed Flying Thunder God, automatically re-equipped itself to her right hand, while she extended her purplish-brown left palm towards An Dong, slamming it forcefully onto his body.
“Two layers.”
Before An Dong could even react, Little Green said, smiling.
An Dong naturally understood her meaning.
He glanced at the [Poisoned Status (2 stacks)] on his status bar, a flicker of panic stirring in his heart.
Facing Little Green, who was now so close, An Dong frantically shifted his greatshield, attempting to block her toxic left palm that was once again reaching out.
But he had forgotten that Little Green had already cast the [Divine Speed] skill and used a [Divine Speed Potion].
Her movement speed now was immeasurably faster than his own, a clumsy tank player who had allocated no points to Agility.
As he clumsily maneuvered the [Shield of Xuan Stone], Little Green’s small frame had already darted beneath his arm, moving behind him, and then her purplish-brown left palm landed on his back.
“Three layers.”
“Damn it.”
An Dong anxiously bit his lip, his brow furrowing in irritation.
Such a refusal to engage in a direct confrontation was inherently patience-consuming, especially when he couldn’t even touch his opponent, or worse, couldn’t damage them at all.
At this moment, An Dong, who had always won arena matches by simply being unkillable, finally experienced the profound annoyance of being thoroughly exasperated.
“[Shield Bash]!”
An Dong gritted his teeth, his cumbersome body suddenly spinning around with surprising speed.
He raised the [Shield of Xuan Stone] and slammed it heavily towards Little Green.
This was [Shield Bash], a targeted skill for shield tanks.
Its range was five yards, meaning that within a five-yard radius centered on An Dong, his Shield Bash would invariably hit, regardless of whether the opponent was in front or behind him.
Moreover, a successful hit would inflict a three-second stun.
An Dong watched the greatshield in his hand, poised to strike Little Green’s fair forehead, and involuntarily closed his eyes, a pang of reluctance seizing him.
‘My apologies,’ he thought.
‘Even though you’re just a tender little girl, once you step onto this arena and choose PK, we become opponents who must give our all against each other.’
Clang.
Hearing the sound of his shield striking an opponent, An Dong opened his eyes, surprised to see Little Green—who should have been stunned and immobile—still reaching out her purplish-brown toxic left palm towards him.
Slam!
“Four layers.”
Little Green withdrew her left hand from An Dong’s body, tilted her head, and said in a small voice.
“What’s going on!?”
An Dong was utterly bewildered.
“Oh? Is Big Brother An Dong talking about how I wasn’t stunned by [Shield Bash]?”
Little Green shook her head naively.
“Because I blocked it.”
Only then did An Dong notice that his forcefully slammed shield had been effortlessly caught by Little Green’s right hand, which wore the [Mithril Gauntlet].
‘?’
Meeting An Dong’s bewildered gaze, Little Green spoke with a smile.
[Companion Equipment: Mithril Gauntlet (Right Hand): Equipping this gauntlet (either hand) can nullify all low-damage attacks.]
‘Damn it?’
‘Both hands are equipped with such powerful Companion Equipment?’
An Dong’s eyes widened in utter shock.
‘You, of all people, are the strongest in the melee arena, aren’t you!?’
‘And you call this a pure artisan class [Potion Master]?’
As An Dong stood with his mouth agape, unsure how to react, Little Green’s left hand once again drew close, gently hooking onto his arm.
“You’ve become careless, Big Brother An Dong~”
“Five layers~”