Hacking the Game Didn't Go as Intended

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Fantasy

To make ends meet after losing his parents, Daisuke picked up a job at a local convenience store while learning code. His aim? To sell top-of-the-line hacks for video games and strike it rich. When Sehreneti Online, the world's first fully immersive...

#action #adventure #darkfantasy #fantasy #foryou #foryourentertainment #haxks #litrpg #magic #matureaudience #maturethemes #mmorpg #overpowered #recommend #romance #rpg #superpowers #system #thestrongactingweak #transmigration #videogame #virtualikesai #vrmmorpg #weaktostrong #wounds

CHAPTER 37: The Cusp of Revenge

Start from the beginning

by VaughnSchneider

Daisuke grunted as the pup collided into his chest like a cannonball, sending them both crashing to the ground. As they lay vulnerable, the beast unleashed a deafening roar and charged forward, wielding its massive club menacingly.

Daisuke paled.

Just below his own, a small window depicted Zephyr's HP and MP—and both health bars just went down significantly.

The world of Sehreneti Online was nothing more than a rendering of a 3D virtual reality. But for Daisuke, it was more than just a game. His entire existence was a complex interplay of ones and zeros within this digital realm.

As far as he was concerned, this virtual landscape transcended mere simulation; it was his reality, and everything within it was undeniably real.

To that end, while his health bar being reduced was nothing more than a collection of numbers that showed his hit points, it held profound significance far beyond simple data.

Securing Zephyr into his clothes, Daisuke pushed to his feet and desperately started retreating along the beaten path. The troll immediately gave chase, its predatory instincts triggered by the fleeing prey. But when it found itself plummeting into a gaping pitfall, the line between predator and prey suddenly blurred.

The troll grunted in outrage. It leaped as high as it could, but its hands couldn't reach the upper rim of the hole. As it looked around urgently for a foothold, it noted the layers of dry foliage that coated the inner walls of the pit.

Stupefied, the beast looked up, hoping to make sense of the situation through Daisuke's facial expression. But his face was entirely blank; only traces of contempt and malice could be seen, and the promise of a grim fate.

Enraged, the troll hurled its club at the cheeky human, but Daisuke simply stepped back. The weapon crashed into the canopy of the trees overhead, and then Zephyr stepped forward, his maw aflame.

The troll's eyes widened in dread, the glow of many fireballs reflected in them. It shielded its face from the fiery onslaught, but its body wasn't the target of the flames.

The moment the foliage caught fire, the beast went on a rampage, but its fury couldn't alter the course of its predicament. And it roared and grunted a curse as Daisuke started sealing the hole with a blanket of leafy branches he had woven together beforehand.

As powerful as you are, especially with your crazy regenerative abilities, your physiological makeup is just like ours. You need air to breathe and survive, and no hulking muscles or sharp teeth can change that.

As the flames of revenge consumed their adversary, Daisuke rested beneath a nearby tree, his hand gently caressing Zephyr's head as somber thoughts overshadowed savagery.

He couldn't deny the gratitude he felt for becoming a player, but after spending twelve years in the game and losing everything in the real world, Sehreneti had started to feel more like home than the world beyond its virtual borders.

The heads-up display, or HUD, was a constant presence in his field or vision, providing graphical and textual information such as health bars, minimaps, and notifications.

While it made the world resemble a proper game for the very first time, it also draped a shadow of depression over him. His existence now seemed trivial and insignificant, with the perpetual sight of his health bar leaving him in a perpetual state of unease.

Consequently, he couldn't help but disable most of the visual effects, choosing to focus solely on essential information like monster details and reward notifications. These were the few sources of good news that brought him comfort amidst the gloom of his virtual existence.

All of a sudden, a world message appeared on the screen.

[Haxks has slain the Field Boss «Exiled Hilitroll Chief».]

[Level Up!]

[The title «Devoted Hunter» has been acquired.]

[Sturdy Club has been acquired.]

[Small HP Recovery Potion x2 has been acquired.]

[Vitaberry x8 has been acquired.]

[Troll Essence x3 has been acquired.]

[Exiled Hilitroll Chief Tusk x2 has been acquired.]

[Horned Rabbit Hide x7 has been acquired.]

[Forest Imp Tail x12 has been acquired.]

[Malevocroak's Legs x4 has been acquired.]

[Lipanthyer's Fang x16 has been acquired.]

[8 Gold has been acquired.]

[Zephyr's level has risen!]

"10 levels and world recognition for hardly doing anything," Daisuke said in disbelief. I know it was a level 17 Field Boss, but 10 levels are kind of... and why did I get materials from other monsters too?

"Anyway," he remarked, a wry smile tugging at his lips. "I suppose that just goes to show how much the tables have turned now that I'm a player. Well then, let's see what this new title is all about."

[Devoted Hunter]

[Rank: Epic

A hunter invests a significant amount of time and effort in studying their prey—observing their behavior, strengths, and weaknesses, as well as their habitats and habits, all in order to effectively capture and eliminate them.

Title Effect:

▪︎ Monsters ensnared by traps are susceptible to a 50% increase in both physical and magical attacks.]

"Whoa~ that's pretty overpowered," exclaimed Daisuke, "but I can't say I'll be using traps as much as I did today."

"Kyu~"

"You little powerhouse," Daisuke ruffled the canine's tiny head. "You managed to land 4 levels as well."

"Arf!"

Daisuke didn't need to assign Zephyr to the party; Companions automatically received EXP, or «Experience Points», in battle once they were summoned and within range. Additionally, EXP distribution could be toggled on or off, or adjusted as needed. Presently, Daisuke had it set at a ratio of 4:6 for Zephyr and himself, respectively.

[Name: Zephyr

Level: 7 | EXP: 3,947/7,656 (51.55%)

Race: Divine Beast

Species: Wolf

"I see your Stats are as abnormal as ever," Daisuke murmured as he scratched the back of his head. "Though I guess I'm not one to talk. Mmm..."

For each level gained, players received ten Stat Points that could only be distributed to their Main Stats.

But judging by these changes, it seems that Zephyr not only gains 20 Stat Points per level, but they can also be allocated to any Stat, Daisuke noted. Well, I guess that's fair—you can't use equipment like we can, after all."

GROWL~

"I'm starving," whined Daisuke, cupping his belly. "How about we head back to town for now?"

"Rawrwu~"