? ?

Xin didn't know what to say. He was busy with his level shooting to five with just a single Crab. The EXP he got was in the hundreds, and his stat increased as his level increased as well.

Xin read that the points added to [STAT] every level-up depends on the race and class, but since he didn't have a class yet, his were completely random.

He wondered if this would affect his progress later on.

Xin shrugged the matter off. It was just a game. What could go wrong? The important thing was his stat was increasing.

He wasn't an avid gamer, nor was he obsessed with perfection. If he had to define himself, he would say he was more of a "go with the flow" kind of guy.

He also took some time to learn about experience points (EXP) and leveling up. He discovered that as he gained levels, the amount of EXP he received would gradually decrease. This meant that progressing to higher levels would become more challenging over time.

Curiosity piqued, Xin decided to check the leaderboard to see the achievements of other players. To his surprise, the highest level reached by any player so far was LV. 104.

Xin couldn't help but wonder if that was considered impressive or not. After all, the game had been available for four years already.

Realizing that there was no limit to how high players could level up or how powerful their stats could become, Xin understood that the game was designed to be endless. The developers were constantly introducing new content and updates to keep the players engaged and the experience fresh.

Triton laughed and pulled Xin out from his screen.

"No need to praise me. Here I'll give you this."

[ACQUIRED!

? Crustacean Carapace (Rare)

This sturdy armor is crafted from the thick and durable shell of the Giant Crab, offering excellent protection against physical attacks. It boasted a unique design, resembling the intricate patterns found on the crab's exoskeleton.

When worn, the [Crustacean Carapace] provided enhanced defense and resilience, making it highly sought after by warriors and defenders in the game.

CONS +10

NOTE!

Only a male (non-mage class) could wear this.

Need STR +5 to equip it or suffer AGI -5 ]

There were other items and gil as well, but this was the first ever equipment that he received, and Xin immediately equipped it before he forgot.

"I'm supposed to give you a weapon according to your class, but since you don't have one yet, I'll give you that armor instead."

"Thanks."

Triton slapped Xin's back. "Ahahaha! No need to be modest! We're buddies, after all! Just ask away, and I'll help you with the monsters on your path!"

[Triton wanted to FOLLOW you to make sure that you reach Seagull's Nest safely!]

Was this part of a quest? Xin wondered and pressed

"Splendid! Now, let's get going!" Triton exclaimed, brimming with enthusiasm. He reassured Xin, "Don't fret about experience points, gil, or items. You can have them all. I have no need for such things. I'm already mighty and powerful, after all! Bwhahahahaha!"

"Is that so?" Xin replied dully.

"Yes, indeed! Let me regale you with one of my thrilling adventures," Triton began, his voice filled with excitement. "Once, I faced a fearsome sea serpent that emerged from the depths of the ocean. Its monstrous size and ferocious nature was unmatched. With my trusty Halberd in hand, I engaged it in an epic battle that lasted for hours. The waves crashed around us as we clashed, each strike reverberating through the air. In the end, I emerged victorious, triumphing over the mighty sea serpent and securing peace in the waters. It was a glorious victory!"

As Xin and Triton walked away, the unusual sight caught the attention of nearby players. Curiosity piqued, they started whispering among themselves, observing the NPC trailing behind Xin.

"Hey, did you see that? An NPC is following him," one player remarked, pointing towards Xin and Triton.

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"That's Triton, the NPC who offers fighting tutorials and helps players reach level five," another player explained. "But I had no idea he had a quest to give."

"I wonder what that guy did to trigger it," a third player wondered aloud.

"Let's go ask him," one of them suggested, their curiosity driving them closer to Xin and Triton.

========================

The DEVELOPERs Distress

========================

Watching the NPCs as they gave Xin their most prized item as soon their [Relationship Level] increased to [FRIEND] and [INTIMATE] made the developers clutch their heads and howl in frustration.

"*sigh . . . from all the NPC . . . why does it have to be Triton."

"Is something special about him?"

"Triton is in charge of teaching newbies the basics of fighting, so we made his stat high. He is the most buffed NPC in the Abundant Shore. See that Giant Crab. Its DEF is almost a hundred."

"And you put it on a Newbie Village?!"

"It's not supposed to be defeated by a player, to begin with. Triton will kill it and then offer a piece of basic equipment to the newbie as our gift for playing the game. fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com

"But . . . Triton actually went with him."

"What would happen now?"