Chapter 282: The New Skill
Kai barely had the time to react when he saw the sky split open as beams of light rained down from the alien vessel!
"No..."
He immediately tried to hide since he knew that dying here meant that he wouldn’t be able to log back in for the next 24 hours!
Thankfully, as the bombardment shook Reverie Town’s foundations, splintering rooftops and sending shockwaves across the harbor, the defenders immediately acted...
A mage from the manor raised his staff, conjuring a massive barrier that glowed like glass, absorbing the next volley.
After that, warriors leapt forward as they intercepted the descending beams, cutting through the energy with their own skills!
One figure even soared into the sky. This person had wings of light from his back as he blocked the bombardment head‑on...
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The first assault was repelled, but the alien ship hovered ominously above, its cannons charging again.
Kai, or rather, Traceless, watched in awe.
"I guess this isn’t a normal beginner town, huh..."
Soon, the alien vessel unleashed another barrage, but this time humanity answered in kind. From the horizon, fast flying crafts emerged, their hulls gleaming with faction insignias.
Just like that, the residents celebrated!
As it turned out, it was their town’s aerial force!
They were called Skybreaker Frigates, Dawnwing Cruisers, Ironclad Gunships...
The ships moved into formation, unleashing volleys of plasma and artillery fire against the alien vessel. The sky became a battlefield with beams and explosions colliding in midair.
Kai’s heart raced. He had seen the cinematic introduction, but witnessing it firsthand was different. This battle was quite chaotic and terrifying.
Soon, the Alien Ship backed off...
Then came the monsters.
"Monsters! Block them!"
"Protect the wall!"
As the alien ship bombarded the town, it actually released a strange powder that drifted across the streets and fields. The substance shimmered faintly, and Kai overheard frantic shouts...
"They’re calling the beasts!"
"I knew it... Those powders are too suspicious."
The powder acted like a beacon, summoning every monster in the surrounding region.
From the forests and hills, mutated creatures emerged... wolves with horns and long fangs, scaled boars, and insectoid horrors that were rushing towards their town.
The alien ship had basically completed its mission, and just like that, it also withdrew into the clouds.
However, the human vessels pursued, vanishing into the distance. But the monsters remained, converging on Reverie Town!
"Protect the town!"
"They’re just higher in number! They’re weak!"
The defenders rallied at the walls. Adventurers scrambled to form parties, while guards barked orders.
Kai, still Level 1, was swept up in the chaos.
"You! Newbie!" a guard shouted, tossing him a sling. "Get to the wall! Throw rocks, anything! We need every hand!"
Kai blinked, then gripped the crude weapon. He climbed the battlements, joining dozens of other beginners armed with slings, bows, and improvised weapons.
Kai then found an opportunity to open his Newbie Gift Packs...
Soon, he got basic rations, a beginner weapon voucher, 5 healing salves, and 1 stamina potion... The reason he opened this while being attacked was to actually use his Weapon Voucher to get a spear!
Below, the monsters clawed at the gates. Kai hurled a stone, striking a beast’s shoulder. It wasn’t enough to kill, but an arrow pierced its head, and the system responded.
He had participated in the subjugation, and he was getting experience points despite not getting the last hit!
His eyes widened. "R-right... Even without the last hit... I still get points?"
Excitement surged through him. He hurled another stone, then another, each strike adding to his tally.
The defenders’ coordinated attacks shredded the monsters, and Kai’s steady contributions kept the notifications coming.
The battle raged for nearly an hour.
Kai’s arms ached, but he refused to stop. Every stone mattered, every strike counted his experience points...
Soon, the monsters fell one by one, until the last of them collapsed beneath the defenders’ blades.
Then, the system chimed.
[ Level Up! ]
[ Level Up! ]
[ You have reached Level 5. ]
Kai stared at the glowing notifications, stunned. "Already... Level 5?"
He laughed, exhilarated. "Wow... this is actually nice."
From the walls, he looked out at the battlefield.
The corpses of beasts littered the ground, and the defenders cheered their victory.
Reverie Town had survived the assault, and Kai, a supposed beginner, had benefited a lot from it
***
As the cheers echoed across Reverie Town, Kai couldn’t help but feel curious about the monsters below...
He wanted to check them out...
However, he noticed someone approaching.
From the stairway, a figure came closer. It was the leader of the guards.
His armor was dented from battle, but his eyes were filled with energy as he scanned the recruits who had fought on the wall.
When they landed on Kai, he gave a satisfied nod.
"You fought well, newbie," the guard leader said.
"I was watching. You didn’t hesitate to help us at all... even when the monsters pressed hardest."
Kai straightened as he didn’t expect to be appreciated like that...
"I... just did what I could."
The leader’s lips curved into a faint smile. "That’s enough. Name?"
Kai hesitated, then replied firmly, "Traceless."
The guard leader reached into his belt pouch and withdrew a rolled parchment.
With a flick of his wrist, he handed it to Kai.
"Then take this. You’ve earned it."
Kai unrolled the scroll, and the system immediately responded.
[ Skill Scroll Activated ]
[ New Skill Acquired: Armored Dash ]
[ Description: A guard skill that allows the user to surge forward with reinforced defense, reducing incoming damage while closing distance to the enemy.
Cost: 7 Energy Points per Activation ]
Kai’s eyes widened as the notification appeared.
His Active Skills list updated instantly, Armored Dash joining Spirit Pulse, Specter Step, and the others.
He clenched his fists, feeling the new energy ripple through his body.
’A guard skill... given to me directly?’
Then, curiosity gnawed at him. If he could gain skills here, would they carry back into reality? As if the system had heard his thoughts, another notification appeared.
[ Synchronization Notice: Skills acquired in Perfect World will be retained upon logout. ]
Kai froze, stunned. "So... I can take this back?"
The realization sent a thrill through him.
Perfect World wasn’t just a game... it was a gateway to real power.
