God-Tier Enhancement: My Upgrades Never Fail-Chapter 231: Episode _A Hero is Made in Turbulent Times (3)

Chapter 231: Episode 231_A Hero is Made in Turbulent Times (3)

4.

The monsters of 『Fantastic World』 are fundamentally intelligent. It varies by level and species, but each individual creature can think. Furthermore, high-grade, non-respawning named monsters can gain experience over time, even leveling up by killing players or NPCs. This might be the most captivating aspect of the 『Fantastic World』 system.

When these monsters are tamed, they become even smarter. They break free from the mold of a typical monster and escape the repetitive patterns they were programmed with. Moreover, by spending time with their master, they observe, feel, and learn human behavior and thought. If even a dog at a village school learns to recite poetry after three years, what about a monster?

And so, the rabbits Simin had set loose developed minds of their own. Their rising levels also brought a slight increase in intelligence.

"Kkyu kkyu kkyu!"

In Simin’s absence, the rabbits cleaned the area around the territory as they always did. If monsters loitered nearby, they swarmed and beat them, dismantled the corpses, and brought the parts back to the territory. If players left trash, they would pick it up and dispose of it. After spending their time like this, the rabbits gathered together and began a discussion.

"Kkyu kkyu?"

"Kkyu kkyu kkyu!"

"Kkyu kkyu kkyu kkyu kkyu kkyu?"

’Why hasn’t Master come for us? It feels like it’s about time. How long did it take last time? Could he have abandoned us? No, Master would never do that. That’s right. Master cherishes us so much.’

Though they could communicate and hold conversations of a sort, the rabbits were, unfortunately, still quite simple-minded. They were convinced that the weapons and armor Simin had made for them were proof of his infinite affection, and his constant doting had earned him their absolute loyalty. Such a suspicion could never cross their minds. Instead, they steered their reasoning in a different direction.

"Kkyuu?"

"Kkyu kkyu!"

’Or maybe... he’s not pleased with the amount of weapons and armor we’ve collected? That could be it. The quality of the things we’ve been picking up lately hasn’t been great. We haven’t seen many items Master would like.’

The one thing they had learned at their master’s school, the one thing they did better than biting and tearing, was looting items. They were certain that was where the problem lay. And so, the rabbits made a decision.

"Kkyuu kkyuu kkyuu!"

"Kkyu kkyu kkyu!"

’Let’s go! Let’s find and gather them ourselves! Yes! Master trusted us and left, how disappointed would he be if we collected nothing! We are strong!’

And so, one day, the ninety level-70 rabbits—a force that rivaled most rankers—vanished from the Rich Territory.

*

The rabbits’ journey was grueling. Even with all of them at level 70 and equipped with Simin’s custom-made armor and fangs, the monsters they began to hunt as a pack were of a similar level or higher. Moreover, the fundamental difference in their nature was significant. No matter how much of an advantage their stats gave them, when the level difference was small, factors like size, accumulated combat experience, and inherent physical advantages were bound to play a larger role.

Thanks to this, the rabbits faced constant hardship.

"Grrrawr!"

"Kkyu kkyu kkyu!"

Their standards had been raised by being at Simin’s side; they judged that he wouldn’t like the hides or parts dropped by mediocre monsters. So they hunted deep in the north. While they could take down one or two monsters by swarming them, if they happened upon a pack, they had to flee without a second glance. But running away only worked for so long. No matter how fast a rabbit was on certain terrain, these monsters had lived here their entire lives.

Fortunately, no rabbits were sacrificed, but after a few days of hunting, they realized they had a serious problem and convened another meeting.

"Kkyu kkyu."

"Kkyu kkyu kkyu!"

’This isn’t working. We need to find another way.’

As much as this was for their master, life is precious to everyone. And these were Han Simin’s rabbits. They knew the value of their lives better than any other rabbit in the world. Of course, they wouldn’t hesitate to lay down their lives for Simin, given their overflowing loyalty, but this was just a battle for his pocket money. To die for that would be a truly pointless death.

After much deliberation, they changed course.

"Kkyu kkyu!"

The rabbits turned from north to south. And they ran. They ran and ran. Even when the Rich Territory came into view, they didn’t spare it a glance and kept running. After a long journey, the rabbits arrived at a place filled with their brethren: the beginner hunting grounds. By then, the armor and fangs they wore had vanished.

"Kkyu!"

Among the ninety similar-looking rabbits, the smartest one shrugged its shoulders. It might have been a trick of the light, but for a moment, a hint of Han Simin’s wickedness seemed to glint in its eyes. Rabbits that take after their master! Without a soul noticing, they blended in with the ordinary rabbits.

*

The popularity of 『Fantastic World』 grew day by day. Even now, a year after its launch, every day felt like its peak, with new users constantly pouring in. The idea that they were witnessing a moment in history was spoken of as fact, and people accepted it as such—an astonishing record. This wasn’t some simple 2D game; it was a virtual reality where each day was another life, a game with countless variables that had managed to satisfy nearly all its players for over a year, compelling them to recommend it to others.

Thirty million concurrent users! The number of accounts was in the hundreds of millions. Considering the capsule’s high price and the monthly subscription fee, it was astronomical. And it just kept growing. Over time, the barrier to entry for the capsule lowered as they began to appear on the second-hand market, and Goggle Inc. accelerated its efforts to popularize them.

Therefore, even now, as the third act of the main scenario quest was about to begin, there were far more new users than there had been in the game’s early days. It might be because it was now easier for beginners to play. Gold was easier to obtain than before. Although the exchange rate had increased by more than 1.5 times, it was a world of difference from the days when you couldn’t buy it even if you had the money. Furthermore, all manner of information and tips were plastered on the community forums’ front page without even needing to search. The sheer volume of information—so vast it was said to take a week just to read and understand it all—didn’t deter new users but rather sparked their interest.

That’s how fascinating this world was. It was more fun if you knew what you were getting into. With that information available, they could dive in without feeling burdened. Hunting, too, was incredibly easy and convenient for beginners.

"Alright, new users! This way, please. I’m a helper from the Kaini Guild, here to help new players get adjusted. I won’t be doing much, just covering the basics, the right mindset for hunting monsters, how to kill them, and some fundamental party compositions and know-how."

Many people offered help to new players. It wasn’t for any reward. While it was undeniable that they hoped the new players they helped would join their guild or improve the guild’s image, this kind of time investment was often a net loss for players of a certain level. It was purely out of affection. Affection for the game. A desire to show newcomers the beauty of this world they lived in—a world of zeros and ones that had become another reality. A hope that 『Fantastic World』 wouldn’t become a game played only by the old guard.

Such things created a heartwarming picture. Today was no different. A level 40 player from a guild was leading a group of level 1 players to the beginner hunting grounds. When they arrived at a meadow just a three-minute walk from the castle walls, countless rabbits were hopping about. Numerous players were mingling among them, a scene of combat set against the peaceful atmosphere.

"Okay, okay, don’t be too nervous. This is a common sight in FW, so get used to it. This is a beginner zone, so the other rabbits won’t attack you first, but in most hunting grounds, monsters will attack on sight, so always be aware of your surroundings."

The player from the Kaini Guild stepped forward confidently with a gentle smile. He walked right past the rabbits, and nothing happened. Seeing this, the new players mustered their courage and followed him one by one.

"Whoa."

"This is amazing."

Gasps of admiration erupted simultaneously. In fantasy novels, rabbits were just level 1 monsters you beat to death with a wooden sword right after logging in, but that was absolutely not the case in 『Fantastic World』. Even if you had that thought, seeing a rabbit in person made you doubt you could actually do it. They were that cute and plump. The first thought that came to mind was, ’How could I possibly kill that?’

"Don’t touch them, though. They might consider it an attack."

The joy of teaching naive users was indescribable. It was a tremendous feeling of pride and accomplishment. ’Is this why people want to become teachers?’ The Kaini Guild player, who had once dreamed of being a teacher, smiled and began his friendly explanation.

"Monsters are nimble and quick. Even a rabbit, the lowest-level and simplest monster in FW, will fight for its life if attacked, and if it thinks it can’t win, it’ll bolt. That’s why you have to kill them in one hit. The same goes for other monsters, but the best way to hunt is to kill them in a single blow."

"Ooh!" the new players exclaimed.

It was an obvious statement, but only a level 40 player could kill a rabbit in one hit. It was nearly impossible for a level 1 player with a basic wooden sword. This was essentially a performance, meant to instill hope in the bewildered newcomers.

The Kaini Guild player raised his wooden sword. As he infused it with a bit of mana, the sword glowed faintly and vibrated.

"Ooooh!"

The new players’ admiration deepened. He felt a surge of pride. ’This is it.’

’I’ll show them. The dignity of a level 40 player!’ Even if it wasn’t a high level.

Still, it might take new players months of hard work to reach this point. If they didn’t pay to win, they’d have to earn money, farm, and hunt, so it could take even longer. He felt confident. He could kill a rabbit as stylishly as the level 100 Specialists.

The Kaini Guild player turned his back and scanned for a target. All rabbits were more or less the same, but since this was a performance, he had to find a big, plump one. Killing an impressive-looking rabbit would surely earn him a bigger cheer.

His eyes landed on a rabbit just a few steps away. It was slightly larger and plumper than a normal rabbit, and its eyes were drowsy and unfocused.

’That’s the one!’

Bigger targets were easier to hit. It was a low-level rabbit, so there was no chance of any variables. Still, he needed to focus a little. It was unlikely, but if it dodged and he didn’t kill it, its higher health might allow it to survive.

"Hyaap!"

He let out a loud kiai as he swung the wooden sword down. The swift strike was clean and without any wasted motion.

"Wow!"

Another round of gasps erupted. Empowered by their admiration, the wooden sword struck the rabbit. Or rather, he thought it had.

"Huh?"

The confusion was brief. The rabbit that should have been right under his sword was gone.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa?"

The urgent voices of the new players reached him before he could find it. He turned his head back and followed their gaze downward.

He gasped.

There, the rabbit that had dodged his sword was leaping into the air—straight for his tender neck.

Crunch!

His vision went dark.

[You have died.]

And so, the level 40 player died. To a rabbit. That was the beginning. The beginning of a strange rumor that started to circulate throughout 『Fantastic World』.

*