Starting from Zero

Heavens! Why must you treat me this way?! I’ve already been going around this d.a.m.ned forest for an entire day! After getting my jobs authenticated yesterday, I’d rushed into the forest to mine in excitement, but found that I had, unfortunately, not prepared a Recall Scroll. Now, I can only either find my way back, or find a monster to kill me and then revive back at the city. But dying in will cause a drop in levels, and every death would result in one level being lost. I don’t want to fall in levels!

While thinking, I suddenly realised that the trees in front seemed to be rather s.p.a.ced apart. This sort of situation normally only appears at the border of forests; could it be that I’ve found my way out?! I charged forward in excitement… I’m saved!

“Crash”. I’d just rushed out of the forest when my head collided with something. Although the pain felt in will be reflected by 50% before it reaches a level that endangers lives, I still felt like I had been run into by a container truck! There are so many stars in the sky! Why is the ground so uneven? It’s making me slip and fall again right after I’d just stood up!

“Bzzz.” A loud sound that sounded like it was released by a train engine saved me from my dizziness from the collision. Shaking my head, I realised that I was facing the forest. In my vertigo just now, I’d unconsciously turned to another direction. Hurriedly turning back, I withdrew my sword, preparing to teach whatever had knocked into me a lesson.

“Clang!” Everyone need not be surprised since that was the sound of my Novice Sword falling onto the ground. Would you like to know why even a warrior like me would actually drop my sword? See what I just saw and you’ll know.

“Dragon!!!!” I shrieked and drew back. This fellow in front of me was at least as long as a bus. Along with its movements, its white-blue scales reflected a ripple-like light. “Don’t…Don’t come over! I’m a warrior, I… I’m not scared of you!” While spouting lies even I myself didn’t dare to believe, I picked up my Novice Sword, though this thing seemed a little too unskilled to go against a dragon!

“Wuu! Wuuuu” This guy in front of me was actually letting out sounds that resembled a terrified puppy’s.

I kept retreating back to the forest until my back hit a large tree. The fellow in front of me still hadn’t attacked me, it had only continued to stare at me incessantly while mewling. Gradually, my brain recovered to a state where I could think. Thinking carefully, I recalled that even though had over ten billion monsters, there were in-depth introductions to the few strongest ones on the website, and I seemed to have seen the introduction regarding dragons.

Carefully, I recalled the introductions regarding dragons. Dragons are the strongest creatures in , and are a type of level 1000 Boss. Fully grown dragons have an average body length that surpa.s.ses a hundred metres. They are also fluent in human speech, as well as the languages of each and every monster. Every fully grown dragon knows all the magic that are of the same attributes as it, as well as other unrelated magic that are not top-notch. Adult dragons’ physical attacks are averagely over 10000 points and have a 75% chance of bypa.s.sing defences, and even a newly-born young dragon can attack for 300 and above!

Thinking of this, I was both happy and sad. I was happy that this dragon in front of me which was around ten metre in body length and only knew how to snort was obviously a baby dragon, but sad that even if it was a baby dragon that didn’t know magic, its physical attacks were more than 300. Let alone me, even a level 100 who was fully-equipped with the best items would definitely be finished in a few hits. He wouldn’t even have the chance to regenerate HP!

Looks like I’m definitely dead today! Sigh! How am I so unlucky? Even the outrageous first place on the rankings is already level 54. Originally, I still had a chance of surpa.s.sing him, but now that I’m lost and killed once, my dream of becoming first has no hope of getting fulfilled!

Forget it, since I’m lost, and I’ll have to be killed to return to the city, it doesn’t matter who’s the one that kills me. With this layer of enlightenment, I was no longer scared.

“Dragon bro, I don’t have many things, these are the two Fire Dragon Beasts I’ve just killed (Level 18 small monsters) and had originally intended to leave for my supper (Even though not eating anything in won’t result in death from starvation, eating something can still hasten HP and MP regeneration for a certain amount of time, so it’s somewhat considered a converted medicine), but I’ll give them to you. As a tradeoff, you have to kill me later, and make it quick. Don’t let me suffer in pain for half a day and not be able to finish me off in one bite!”

I threw the two Fire Dragon creatures over forcefully, and the little dragon swallowed both Fire Dragon monsters in a single gulp. Closing my eyes as I prepared to wait for my impending death, I suddenly felt my face turn ice-cold. Opening my eyes, I saw that it was actually licking at my face.

Hey, hey, this chap seems like it doesn’t intend to kill me.

Maybe I can make it bring me out of here! As I was thinking, the little dragon suddenly convulsed with an “Atchoo!”. The scenery in front of my eyes suddenly became blurry, and my entire person was thrown into a large tree by a powerful impact, causing all the bones in my body to feel like they were going to fall apart. This guy actually sneezed at me! Which jerk designed this program? Aiyo… my waist! d.a.m.n it, only 3 points were left from my 930 HP! This d.a.m.ned thing is really also too perverted, almost instakilling me with a single sneeze. Dragons are strong, but they don’t have to be strong to such a perverse extent! I was about to stand up, when I realised I’d been frozen up. Oh dear G.o.d, it can’t be this way, can it?!

Honestly waiting for seven seconds, my freeze finally ended. This dragon is already so OP even when it’s young, it’s going to be crazy when it’s grown up. Whoever wants such a magic pet must be happy even if he dies! Oh right! My brain suddenly flashed with insight. Since there’s no point standing around and wasting time, why not I try to catch it! Hehe! Slowly walking up to the front of this “little guy”, with a “Be good!”, I suddenly used the Breeder skill on him — Capture.

The little dragon jerked its body and retreated a distance away, staring at me with hostility. So this was why the elf beauty had said that catching high leveled Bosses was not recommended — it was because using the Capture skill on them might agitate them! Since I’m not planning on living anymore now, I used the Capture skill on it yet again.

“Ding!” The system prompt sounded. “Player Zi Ri has successfully caught the Ultra-Boss Ice Blood Dark Dragon King! Player Zi Ri has become the first person in this game to catch a magic pet, and will be accordingly rewarded with a treasure.” With a ding, a ring fell with only the word “ring” displayed. Its model looked a little like it had come from that movie, The Lord of the Rings. The system sounded yet again. “Player Zi Ri has become the first player to defeat a level 1000 Boss, and will be rewarded with five skill points and a treasure.” Ding, and another ring fell from above. However, this time, the model looked more special, it was of a bat that stood atop a black gem. The bat’s eyes were inlaid with red gemstones that shone with a mesmerising force.

These skill points were really good stuff. They were different from stat points in that stat points were for basic attacks and defense, but skill points could be used to upgrade skills. Under normal circ.u.mstances, players who wished to upgrade their skills had to frequently use these skills and these skills would rise in levels according to the experience acc.u.mulated. Each skill could only rise to a maximum of level 100. Every player that has surpa.s.sed level 20 will also be able to receive a skill point with every ten levels that they gain. Each skill point will allow a skill to rise by one level. This time, I’ve gained five skill points in one go. I’m really too blessed! Considering that I had not come by these five skill points easily, it was still better to leave them to level up skills that were hard to level in future!

The system prompt still continued.

“Player Zi Ri’s Capture skill has risen to level 2.

Player Zi Ri’s Capture skill has risen to level 3.

Player Zi Ri’s Capture skill has risen to …

Player Zi Ri’s Capture skill has risen to level 13.”

Haha! Haha! I’ve struck gold this time! While laughing crazily, I suddenly realised that my precious dragon was gone. Rushing around hurriedly to look for it, I found a white ball! Wait up, could this be a dragon egg? I hugged the egg for a long, long time to see what would happen, yet nothing resulted of it. Finally, I gave up studying it and decided to keep the dragon egg back in my inventory.

Just sitting around was simply too boring, so I began to study my surroundings. The surroundings was just empty land and behind, there was a cliff. I rushed up to it, and realised that above the cliff, there was a large cave. This must be a dragon cave! Hehe! Legends tell that dragons have a habit of collecting gold and loot, maybe here….!

All the way, I rushed madly into the depths of the dragon cave. Haha, there really is stuff here. Heavens… What are all these! d.a.m.n, they’re all trash that aren’t even much stronger than my beginner’s equipment. I suppose they haven’t gathered much treasure yet since the game has just started! After rummaging through for a long while, I found a White one-handed heavy sword that attacked for 5-10 (Equipment in are categorised according to their grade. In sequence, they are White equipment, Special equipment, Gold equipment, Elite equipment, Holy equipment and G.o.d tools); black, iron armor that had 9 Defense, which was also White equipment; a Special equipment, Glory Leg Protectors that gave 4 to Defense, and had the property of increasing moving speed by 5%; a pair of leather boots that added 1 to Speed which was pretty good; a pair of arm protectors that had Defense 2 and bore the property of adding 5% to attack speed; and lastly, a shield that had 7 Defense and gave a 25% chance of blocking attacks. Although their properties were all not very good, they were already considered not bad, since everyone is still wearing beginner equipment.

After emerging from the dragon’s cave, I suddenly remembered that the system seemed to have some sort of a.s.sistance function. Quickly opening the chat function, I found that a.s.sistance was the first selection. After selecting it, a sound that sounded like I was using the phone instantly rang by my ear. “h.e.l.lo! This is the customer service a.s.sistance system, phone operator number 2237 at your service!”

“h.e.l.lo! I’d like to make an enquiry. I’ve just captured a pet, but it had suddenly disappeared!”

“May I ask if you see a white egg anywhere nearby?”

“Egg? Oh! Right! I did find a white ball near the place I’d lost it!”

“That’s the pet egg! In the game, all magic pets will instantly fall to level 0 and become a pet egg the moment they are caught, and players only need to drip their blood onto the egg to complete the owner recognition ceremony. Of course, you can also sell it. A pet that has recognised its owner will hatch straight away, and after being born, it will automatically rise by one level. After which, a pet which fights in battles with its player will rise in levels until it reaches the level limit. Additionally, each pet’s level limit is different. Of course, each pet has a certain probability of surpa.s.sing its original level limit, but this sort of probability is very low. This chance of success will depend on the player’s luck value. Please note that once a magic pet recognises its owner, it can no longer be replaced, so please do not carry the notion of getting a pet for a single use. When a magic pet dies in battle, it will automatically revive, but it can not be summoned again for the next twenty minutes. Magic pets will also fall in level when they die.

“I understand now. Thank you!” Now I know it’s a ownerless pet egg, and that it can either be sold or used. But need this even be thought through? To sell it would merely be a single instance of transaction, but if I keep it to help me train, wouldn’t that make gold coins fill the sky! “I’d like to confirm and make it my own pet.”

Cutting my finger open with the Novice Sword, I dripped the blood onto the pet egg, and the system prompt instantly sounded. “Player Zi Ri confirms the recovery of the magic pet. Please give it a name.”

“Name?” I thought through it carefully. He has already given me so many benefits within such a short period of time, so he will definitely be an unrivaled lucky star. “Luck! Let it be called Luck!” Hopefully, he’ll bring me more pleasant surprises in future.

“Player confirmation success. Player Zi Ri is now in possession of the magic pet Dark Magic Dragon King, Luck.”

Crack! The egg in my hand began to split open, and a small, dark-headed thing crawled out. After it saw me, it immediately crawled onto me and rubbed affectionately at my face.

Haha! The next time I go out for a stroll with my dragon, the chances of making it back is an absolute hundred percent! Haha! Haha! The more I thought about it, the happier I got. However, why is it black? It was clearly blue when we were outside just now! Could it have turned black because of my profession? Who cares, in any case, black is still pretty handsome! Oh right, it seems like I still haven’t seen Luck’s stats! I conjured Luck’s status box.

There was still another notable box beneath.

Defense aside, HP regeneration is increased by 10 points per second

Magic resists 75%

f.u.c.k, such perverted stats… Even though I’m such a lucky b.a.s.t.a.r.d to have caught one, my main priority will still be to walk around a dragon when I see one in future! High attacks, high defenses and high magic resists, HP regeneration is so fast too. From now on, I should establish an equation in my mind: Dragon = Dangerous Creatures = Death = Drop in levels and equipment. However, looking at Luck’s height that was currently less than even a third of a metre, it really was mismatched with its stats!

While looking, I suddenly realised that Luck actually had an inventory as well. Could it be that it had equipment too? I shouted at the sky, “Luck’s equipment inventory.”

Sure enough, an interface floated out. He actually had a headband as well as a necklace! I quickly looked at its stats. The necklace was the Protection Collar I had been awarded, and the headband was named Dragon King Head Ornament, and there was only a line of words for its stats, which were: Doubles the dragon’s attack and defense.

Bite me. Could it really be that Luck is a dragon king? Continuing, I looked below. Luck actually had a 300 slot inventory s.p.a.ce that had no weight limit, while my inventory s.p.a.ce was only 120! Hehe! From now on, Luck will be my transportation vehicle!

Suddenly remembering that I had been rewarded with two rings, I took them out to take a look. The black ring had a completely unadorned band design. After using n number of Identify on it until I had used up all my MP, my Identify skill had risen to level 4, but I was still unable to Identify the ring. There was nothing to be done about it, I’ll let Luck lead me out of the forest first. Even though it had become smaller, its intelligence did not seem to have declined. As I walked, I waited for my MP to regenerate. In any case, as I get enough MP for Identify, I’ll use it once.

When we had finally left the forest successfully, I had also finally Identified the ring. The ring instantly changed from black to dark red. The ring was called Hermit’s Ring, and it added 1 to Luck. It also had two other properties, one of which increased the special attribute Wisdom. Because this was an equipment based skill, Wisdom’s level could not be raised. Looking at the explanation, it seems that this so-called Wisdom could increase experience gained by 5%. It’s a high quality item! (Both my eyes had become￥shaped) The other property was that it removed the player’s as well as all the player’s equipped weapons’ listings from the ranking chart. The players’ magic pets were also removed from the magic pet rankings. No wonder it was called the Hermit’s Ring, it concealed so well. Lastly, if a player wore this ring, no matter how high level others’ Identify skills were, they would be unable to see that player’s stats. Moreover, this ring had no prerequisites for equipping, and a player of any profession can wear it. Hehe! There’s really a feeling of being above everyone else in the world! What a pity that the other ring still could not be Identified successfully!

Note: Special Equipment (属性装备) translated literally would be Property or Attribute Equipment. Presumably, this means that the equipment in this rank will begin to have special properties.