[System: Congratulations on obtaining the server’s first Legendary weapon. You have been awarded 5 free attribute points.]
Kael grinned. This feeling was just too damn good.
But before he could celebrate, a booming announcement echoed across the World Chat channel.
[Server Announcement: Congratulations to player ‘Dawnbreaker’ for completing a Hidden Quest and obtaining the first Legendary weapon on the Earth server! We encourage all players to explore the many secrets of Godpath!]
[Server Announcement: Congratulations to player ‘Dawnbreaker’ for completing a Hidden Quest…]
[Server Announcement: Congratulations to player ‘Dawnbreaker’…]
The same message, broadcast three times in a row, sent the entire server into a frenzy.
[World Chat] TheRealGamerGod: WTF! A LEGENDARY WEAPON!?
[World Chat] Pwn_Star99: Dude, I can’t even afford a Common sword from the damn shop and this guy already has a Legendary?
[World Chat] BigSwordBob: Damn it, I knew something was up with just grinding mobs. There have to be hidden quests!
[World Chat] LFG_QUEEN: @Dawnbreaker, sell the quest guide!
[World Chat] Ghost_of_Nakamoto: Same! I’ll pay 100k USD or 0.01 BTC for the walkthrough!
[World Chat] WhaleLord69: I’ll pay 200k! DM me!
...
Kael was taken aback by the announcement.
He watched the messages flood the chat. Selling the walkthrough was a viable way to make a quick buck, but only with a massive level and gear advantage. Otherwise, he was just creating his own competition.
It wasn’t worth it.
In Godpath, weapon tiers were divided into Common (White), Rare (Blue), Epic (Purple), and Legendary (Gold). Beyond those were the true endgame rarities: Ascendant, Exalted, Mythic, and Divine.
The original quest reward had been an Epic weapon:
[Whisperwind (Epic)]
[Level: 1]
[Strength: +16]
[Agility: +41]
[Physical Attack: +131]
[Range: 25 yards]
But now, thanks to his insane luck, it had transformed into a Legendary:
[Whisperwind (Legendary)]
[Level: 1]
[Strength: +20]
[Agility: +50]
[Physical Attack: +200]
[Range: 35 yards]
A total of 70 attribute points and 200 attack power. For comparison, the starter bow offered +1 attack. Most bows had a range of 15 to 20 yards; this one reached 35.
For an archer, distance was life. This level 1 Whisperwind was more powerful than most Rare or Common weapons at level 15 or even 20.
And he had gotten it all for a single honey cake.
Kael glanced at the second cake in his inventory—an extra reward granted by his high Luck.
Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.
He had two choices.
If he gave this cake to Mara, he could trigger the hidden quest again. He would likely receive a second Legendary weapon. In the economy of the game’s first day, that could easily fetch $500,000.
If he ate it, he would gain permanent attribute points.
Kael made his choice. He tossed the cake into his mouth and devoured it in a few bites.
[System: You have consumed [Lucky Honey Cake]. Your five core stats (Strength, Constitution, Agility, Intelligence, Spirit) have been permanently increased by 5.]
With the cake’s bonus and the bow equipped, his stats skyrocketed.
Player: Dawnbreaker
Class: Archer
Level: 1
HP: 120 (CON x 20)
MP: 60 (INT x 10)
Strength: 26
Constitution: 6
Agility: 56
Intelligence: 6
Spirit: 6
Unspent Points: 5
Physical Attack: 252 (STR x 2)
Physical Defense: 8 (STR x 0.25 + CON x 0.25)
Magic Attack: 6 (INT x 1)
Magic Defense: 3 (SPI x 0.5)
Range: 35 yards
Luck: 999
Skill Points: 1
Class Passive: Marksman’s Instinct (Attacks deal bonus damage equal to Agility x 0.5).
With the bonus from his passive, Kael’s basic attacks would deal over 280 damage. Most players had around 100 HP. Even a tank who dumped all their points into Constitution would only have two or three hundred. His damage output was one shot, one kill.
There was just one problem. He was missing a crucial piece of equipment: arrows.
The system gave every new archer a quiver with 20 arrows, but he’d given all his starter gear to the mysterious man.
Kael was flat broke. Hidden quests had a quirk: they gave unique rewards, but no gold coins and no experience points.
It is time to earn some money.
Kael returned to the village spawn point and approached the Village Chief. "Hello. Is there anything I can help with?"
The old man nodded. "The wild rabbits outside the village are running rampant. Many of our crops have been eaten. Can you hunt 5 rabbits for me?"
[System: Quest received: Kill [Wild Rabbits] x 5 OR bring back [Rabbit Teeth] x 10.]
[Reward: 50 Copper, 50 EXP.]
The game had been open for nearly five hours, yet the area around the Chief was still packed with players just logging in. Following standard progression, the first task everyone received was helping the Chief kill rabbits.
Kael headed to the village farmlands. The fields were swarming. This novice village held about three hundred thousand people, and right now, it felt like every one of them was crammed into this tiny leveling zone.
"The player count far exceeds the spawn rate," Kael muttered, scanning the crowd. Trying to kill five rabbits here would take at least three hours...
Just as he was thinking this, a white light flashed near his feet. A rabbit spawned right next to him.
[White Rabbit]
[Level: 1]
[HP: 180]
[Physical Attack: 10]
[Physical Defense: 6]
...
"Hey! That rabbit is mine! Back off!"
"I saw it first!"
"I hit it first!"
"My foot was on the spawn point, it's mine!"
"Who the hell just touched my ass?!"
Kael had spotted the rabbit immediately, but he had no arrows and couldn't attack from range. By the time he stepped forward, the rabbit was buried under a dogpile of players.
No, this won't work. I need to find a different spot.
Kael turned and headed toward the west side of the village.
The western fields were a patchwork of meadows, flower patches, and streams—the designated area for life skills like herbalism and fishing. Since it was launch day, almost no one was focused on crafting, so the area was deserted save for a few explorers.
Kael searched the area, relying on his memory.
Soon, he found several small holes on an earthen slope. Obscured by weeds, they were impossible to spot without looking closely.
Rabbit holes. The inhabitants were Grey Rabbits, but killing them counted toward the mission objective all the same.
Kael gathered dry grass and piled it in front of a hole. He took out his candle and lit the pile. Thick smoke billowed into the burrow, and a coughing Grey Rabbit scrambled out to escape the fumes.
Kael was ready. He raised his bow—not to shoot, but to swing. He brought the Legendary weapon down directly onto the rabbit.
-188
Instant kill!
This was the power of a Legendary weapon. Even without arrows, using it as a melee bludgeon dealt massive physical damage.
[You have slain a Grey Rabbit. Gained 10 EXP.]
[You obtained: Rabbit Tooth x 1]
[System: Luck bonus triggered! Extra drop: Rabbit Tooth x 2.]
Killing one rabbit rewarded him with three teeth. Under the influence of his maxed-out luck, even grinding quests became trivial.
Kael continued to wait by the rabbit holes. At this efficiency, he would complete the novice quest in five minutes tops.
Soon, a group of laughing female players approached. Noticing Kael’s strange behavior and appearance, they began whispering.
"Heehee, look at that guy. He’s not leveling up; he’s playing with fire out in the wild."
"Exhibitionist! He’s shirtless and only wearing boxers. He doesn’t even have pants!"
"Maybe he’s just an idiot."
...
Kael had no intention of engaging with them. But as they passed, he noticed one girl with pigtails remained silent, her eyes fixed on him.
"Hazel, what’s wrong?" one of her friends asked.
The girl seemed dazed, whispering to her companion, "His weapon... I think it’s something special."
"Using a bow as a melee weapon?" Her friend scoffed. "God, that’s not special, that’s just stupid! Forget him. He’s definitely a newbie who wasted all his starter arrows. He’s not cut out for this game."
