Chapter 20: Combo Strike (Universal Melee Technique)

Seven copper coins and a small piece of turtle shell.

“This turtle shell really does look exquisite.”

Perhaps it was because he perfectly killed the little stone turtle this time; even the copper coins rewarded were noticeably more. Huang Yunshuo turned over the delicate turtle shell in his hand, about the size of a spectacle lens, and checked the details.

Turtle Shell (Little Stone Turtle): Material

Used for forging heavy armor and protective gear, possesses extremely high durability.

“Could this be used as a material for my alloy battle armor?”

Huang Yunshuo’s heart skipped a beat—this turtle shell was the very first material he’d encountered since arriving in the Reforged Era.

“I’ll just keep it for now.”

Beaming with delight, he tucked the turtle shell away with care, his spirits high as he immediately set out to find a second little stone turtle.

“Prepare to die!”

Huang Yunshuo swung down his wooden stick with force.

-61!

A huge, bold, red damage value leapt out. The fully healthy little stone turtle was killed instantly.

“What the—what just happened?”

Huang Yunshuo quickly checked the damage log.

A double critical hit?

No wonder the damage was so insane—when he landed a regular critical, he could deal around 25 to slightly over 30 damage to the little stone turtle. With a double, it was only natural for it to be instantly wiped out.

“That felt good, but the chance of a double crit must be abysmally low. I’ve killed so many monsters and this is the first time.”

The probability of a double crit probably wasn’t even 0.1%. Huang Yunshuo shook his head, dismissing it as practically useless.

On the ground, eleven copper coins, a turtle shell, and—a book?

“A skill book actually dropped!”

Huang Yunshuo’s eyes widened in ecstasy, and he eagerly examined it.

Combo (Universal Melee), Level 5

Combo: After a normal attack, immediately triggers a second strike dealing 40% of the previous attack’s damage; cooldown 120 seconds.

Current Level: Lv1 (0/100). Next level effect: Second strike deals 50% of the previous attack’s damage, cooldown 110 seconds.

“This is great!”

Huang Yunshuo clapped his hands in excitement. His main headache was the lack of skills. Although the cooldown was a bit long, being able to land a follow-up blow at a critical moment could be invaluable.

“Is it that little stone turtles in the level 2 monster area drop skill books, or is this a reward for a perfect first kill?”

Huang Yunshuo couldn’t quite figure it out, but he hoped for the latter. If level 2 monsters regularly dropped skill books, this Combo skill wouldn’t be valuable at all.

The skill itself wasn’t special, but the key was that it was a universal melee skill—meaning no class requirement. After equipping gun-type weapons, apart from special skills from his Frosty Hawk class, he’d be able to use this one as well.

If he leveled up, multiple combos would be truly terrifying.

Cautiously skirting the edge of the grass, two hours slipped by without him noticing. Huang Yunshuo had already gathered fifty turtle shells. The turtle shells, like the little chick down feathers, were practically always dropped—no doubt there was an NPC in the village waiting for them.

He’d also collected three Slow Gem Fragments, still a long way from the nine needed for the first synthesis.

As for skill books, he’d obtained another—this time a Knight skill book.

Hold the Line (Knight Universal), Level 5

Hold the Line: Consumes 12 mana to raise a large energy shield with 20 armor value in front; after the shield breaks, defense increases by 8 for 2 seconds; cooldown 10 minutes.

“This skill’s cooldown is so long, 600 seconds! But no wonder—early on, it’s insanely powerful. It basically converts mana into life, and when the shield breaks, you get extra defense. It could save a whole group in a critical moment—a textbook boss-fight skill.”

Now Ye Piaoxue would be delighted. Ye Piaoxue, a tall beauty at 1.75 meters, didn’t play mage or archer, but chose the path of a brutal, strength-agility-focused damage knight.

With her charge and dash, Ye Piaoxue could put on a real show in the arena.

In Glacial Glory, if everyone’s equipment, skills, and stats were leveled out, just in terms of PK ability, she was even fiercer than Huang Yunshuo’s sword-wielder or Chu Jun’s strength-agility assassin.

So soon enough, Ye Piaoxue saw the level 5 skill book Huang Yunshuo offered her in the trade window.

“A skill book! Huang, I love you!”

Just as expected, Ye Piaoxue’s voice changed with excitement.

For a damage-focused knight like her, learning new skills as early as possible meant gaining strength sooner and earning greater rewards in the Second World’s PK events.

“One hour?” Huang Yunshuo asked.

Ye Piaoxue thought for a moment. “Let’s make it two.”

“Alright, I’ll leave you to it!”

Huang Yunshuo ended the chat. That meant an extra half hour of monster hunting—fantastic.

Each little stone turtle gave 15 experience; after killing just over 50, Huang Yunshuo had already reached level 7.

Simpleton, Level 7

Class: Frosty Hawk

Human, Blood Value: 0

Constitution: 22

Strength: 63

Agility: 36

Intellect: 9

HP: 110

Mana: 45

Attack: 16-20

Defense: 9

With 10 points invested in strength, at level 5 his strength was 47—now it had skyrocketed to 63. Both upper and lower attack limits had increased by 5 points. As long as he landed a crit, the little stone turtle wouldn’t even have a chance to retaliate before being slain.

“I wonder where my current power level ranks in the Reforged Era.”

He laughed heartily. Indeed, a head start means every step is ahead. Without the attribute advantages from Frosty Hawk, he wouldn’t have been able to grind and earn coins and gear in the little chick area, let alone get so far ahead.

On returning to the beginner village, he headed straight for the blacksmith’s shop.

Inside, a short, burly old man, giant hammer in one hand, towel in the other, was taking a break, wiping sweat from his brow. The nearby forge radiated sweltering heat, making the entire shop stifling.

“Adventurer, looking to buy equipment?”

The old man’s gruff voice echoed.

“The blacksmith sells equipment?”

Huang Yunshuo smacked his forehead. Of course, the blacksmith forges iron precisely to sell it! He’d only had the general store in mind.

Not that he could be blamed—everyone knew the prices in the beginner phase; even the general store was expensive, and iron equipment at the blacksmith’s was unimaginable, not even worth entering to check.

He quickly glanced at his copper coin balance—378 coins. That’s how much he’d made in two hours!

“With 78 copper, I conned over ten yachts. Now, with nearly 400, how much more could I scam if I went all out?”

His fingers itched, but today he was determined to spend these hundreds of copper coins; any he’d send (or sell) in the livestream tomorrow would have to be earned later.

He checked the blacksmith’s equipment list, and his eyes lit up.

Tattered Iron Buckler, Level 5

Defense: +6

This was so much better than the basic wooden shield!

In fact, Huang Yunshuo’s wooden shield had just broken from wear. It barely added defense, took up an equipment slot, and was bound from the start, making him long for its removal.

A straight 6-point defense boost came at a steep price—120 copper coins.

That price was outrageous. The world of the Reforged Era was tough, and copper was precious in the beginner area. Even with 6 extra defense, little chicks would still deal 14 damage per hit, not much different from 20. For the same price, forty vials of 20-HP spray—that’s basically ten extra lives for a regular player—would be a better deal.

But Huang Yunshuo didn’t lack money. Copper coins, unless exchanged for credit points, were already worthless to him; might as well just spend them.

Tattered Thin Breastplate, Level 5

Defense: +8

Price: 160 copper coins.

Tattered Thin Skirt Armor, Level 5

Defense: +4

Price: 80 copper coins.

Buy, buy, buy!

In a flash, 360 copper coins gone—Huang Yunshuo was left with just 18.

After swapping out the nuisance armor, his defense dropped to 6, constitution to 20, and HP back down to 100.

Once he equipped the breastplate, skirt, and buckler, defense soared to 24!

Now, little chicks and little stone turtles couldn’t even scratch him.

He could stroll into the level 3 rabbit area and basically steamroll his way through.

“As expected from a cheater’s era! With this full iron defense, the monsters in the beginner village are nothing but lambs to the slaughter!”

Standing in the blacksmith’s shop, Huang Yunshuo laughed into the air. With his defense leaping upward, the high attack of monsters that had troubled him for so long was no longer an issue. Now, it was time for a wild harvest.