Hacking the Game Didn't Go as Intended [Part Two]

CHAPTER 210: The Colossal Frost Treant

As Daisuke watched her walk away, his thoughts shifted from regret to sifting through a spell of internal conflict. My damage output might have improved, but there's something that's been bothering me for a while. Just like in the real world where people—normies—are free to choose their profession, NPCs can do the same.

They can become mages, archers, warriors, and more. They can even pursue special classes, similar to how normies strive to become doctors, pilots, or engineers. And once they decide, they dedicate themselves to studying and practicing to master their craft.

A warrior trains their body, a mage hones their mana core, and a cleric builds their faith. The one thing that both normies and NPCs share is that some level of interest and devotion is required to truly pursue that profession.

My Status Window only opened after I proved to the System that I was genuinely committed to putting my life on the line to become a player. After that, I made a conscious choice to fight in my own way, the roundabout way, just to stay alive. Is that the reason most of my skills are utility-based?

In SO, players are granted skills that reflect their personality, play style, and a variety of other factors. But in general, they have a wide range of attack skills they can cycle through during combat, skills that supplement and maximize their damage modifiers for greater DPS.

And then there's me. I've got an epic class, but not much else to show for it. Is it possible that I need to rethink my entire mindset and approach to fighting?

"Haxks?" Tiphanna called worrisomely from ahead, noting the faint lines creasing his forehead. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," he reassured, holding her curious gaze. "By the way, what can you tell me about this Treant? Is there any way to track it?"

The elf puckered her lips, mulling over the question. "Well, like regular plants, Treants draw their nutrients from the soil and sunlight, so they rarely have a reason to move."

Daisuke stroked his chin in thought. "And since it's winter, they're probably conserving energy."

"Precisely," she chimed, her voice tinged with mild frustration. "These Treants remain indistinguishable from ordinary trees until they decide to move, which makes them nearly impossible to detect. That's why Glacium Heartwood is so rare—and so expensive."

As Tiphanna spoke, Daisuke was already scanning their surroundings through the Eye of Verity. His perspective shifted, lifting his field of vision several meters above the mountainous terrain.

From the monochrome lenses of the Evil Eye, he observed a variety of monsters scattered across the vast expanse, their yellow auras standing out against the stark black-and-white world.

Then, something unusual caught his attention.

Roughly 500 meters northeast, a familiar yet unexpected hue emerged—a vibrant green, the telltale sign of a Field Boss. But something was off. Auras typically conformed to the shape of their owner, yet this one was different. The green light was spherical, diffused over a wide area, as if whatever lay beneath it refused to be confined to a singular form.

Is it underground or something? he wondered, his eyes narrowing. I can't see past the treetops, so there's no way to tell—not from this angle, at least.

As he scoured the immediate area, trying to unveil more than just a boogeyman of preconceived shapes and shadows, his gaze eventually caught onto something else nearby—a distinct yellow silhouette, towering and unmoving.

"...I think I found something," Daisuke murmured, dismissing his ocular ability. As color flooded back into the world, the sudden contrast made Tiphanna's face seem even more striking than before.