Mandatory Task

"The Barbaric Charge is a D+ level attack skill. At this stage, most players are only at level two or three. If one takes the brunt of this attack, they'd either be dead or severely maimed.

Leng Yun and her group were completely shocked. "Is this level of destruction even possible for a human?"

Zhang Mu picked up his pistol, ejected the magazine, and checked it. Only five bullets remained.

The chubby one yelled, "Boss, some of them are still alive!"

A few of the thugs were severely injured, vomiting blood and suffering broken bones, but they were still alive, struggling on the ground. Seeing Zhang Mu approaching without a word, they immediately knelt down and begged for mercy.

"We know we were wrong. Please, have mercy and spare us!"

"Please don't kill me! I don't want to die!"

"It was all Black Brother who forced us into this!"

Zhang Mu, indifferent to their pleas and curses, methodically ended their lives.

"They're defenseless," commented a tall, stout middle-aged man with a gentle demeanor. "Isn't it a bit excessive to kill them all? They're just underlings after all."

Zhang Mu replied coldly, "They committed heinous acts shortly after the disaster struck, proving their inherent evil nature. If they recover, they'll undoubtedly continue their wicked ways, especially harboring a grudge against us. There's always the risk they'd seek revenge. The world has changed. Either you don't act, or you act decisively. We shouldn't leave any threats lingering."

Just yesterday, these individuals were law-abiding citizens, each engaged in their respective professions, playing their roles in society. The idea of taking a life was beyond their comprehension. No one is born a killer; there's always a process of mental transition. We now live in an era where human lives are as worthless as grass, where there are no legal restraints. The darkest sides of human nature are on full display, and oftentimes, no justification is needed to kill. If you don't kill, others will kill you. In these chaotic times, there's no room for compassion or pity.

Dispose of all the bodies."

The plump man began with an introduction: "Let's get to know each other. This impressive fellow here is Zhang Mu, also known by the nickname 'Wood'! Have you seen the posts on the forum? Yep, those were shared by our very own impressive leader!"

The group expressed their astonishment. The short-haired girl exclaimed, "You're the one who made those posts? Impressive! Where did you get all that information about the monsters?"

The plump man beamed with pride, "That information? It's nothing! If it weren't for the boss here, I'd be long gone. Stick with him, and you'll see the benefits!"

"Can you talk less?" Zhang Mu tossed a monster manual to the group. "I'm a senior student from the Chinese Literature Department at Jiangcheng University."

The short-haired girl was both surprised and delighted, "I'm also from the Chinese Literature Department at Jiangcheng University, just a freshman. My name is Qin Min. I remember now, you're that famous talented student in our department, Senior Zhang Mu!"

Leng Yun, while flipping through the monster manual, expressed even greater astonishment, "You're that Chinese Literature student who writes those thrilling horror stories? I'm a second-year graduate student from the Medical School of Jiangcheng University and currently work at the affiliated hospital. I and my roommates have read your works!"

Zhang Mu began writing thrillers five years ago and has since gained a modest reputation within Jiangcheng University. It's surprising how people can equate a talented young student with a cold-blooded killer.

The plump man exaggeratedly exclaimed, "So, the boss is a mystery writer? No wonder he's smarter than most! From now on, I'll follow you wherever you go, conquering every challenge and ruling the world!"

Zhang Mu, uninterested in the plump man's dramatics, turned to the tall middle-aged man, "What's your name?"

The amiable-looking middle-aged man replied, "I'm Sun Bing, a chef."

From Zhang Mu's demeanor, it was evident he wasn't a malevolent person, which slightly eased the group's apprehension towards him.

"Pang Ren, find us something to eat.""Man, I'm starving!" exclaimed Zhang Mu as he took a seat, turning to his companions to discuss their capabilities.

Qin Min is a Summoner, while Sun Bing chose the Knight class. In the early stages, Summoners are considered weak due to their low attributes and the rarity of their skill books, making it difficult for them to progress. However, once they master a few powerful summoning spells, it's hard for others of the same level and gear to defeat them.

On the other hand, Knights are renowned for their defense, second only to Shield Warriors. Compared to the Shield Warriors, often referred to as the "Kings of Defense," Knights boast a higher damage output. They can also learn various status and recovery skills, making them an incredibly popular class.

Curious, Zhang Mu asked, "What are your initial skills?"

Qin Min responded, "I have 'Communication lv1,' an F-tier skill which can reach up to lv3. It allows me to communicate with small creatures. It consumes some energy, and I can control the creature, but only one at a time. This skill doesn't have a cooldown."

Sun Bing shared, "I possess 'Taunt lv1,' an F+ tier skill with a maximum level of 3. It enrages monsters to target me. The monster's attack power increases by 5%, but their defense drops by 10%. The effect lasts a minimum of 5 seconds, and it uses 5 magic points. The cooldown for this skill is 30 seconds."

Neither of them had exceptionally strong initial skills. However, fortunately, these two skills are among the most practical of the F-tier skills. Communication, typically a Hunter's skill, is primarily used for reconnaissance. It allows the user to communicate with small animals and birds to gather information about the surrounding terrain and monster distribution.

Taunt, a crucial skill for Shield Warriors and Knights, is designed to provoke monsters into targeting the user. It's an essential skill in team battles.

With scouting, healing, tanking, and damage-dealing, they've got all the core components of a basic combat team.

Zhang Mu nodded in approval, "Impressive!""Boss, I've got food!" Fatty returned with a triumphant grin. Given they were in a hotel, it wasn't too challenging to find food. Most of what he retrieved were fresh salads, cold dishes, and a plethora of beverages including alcohol. Everyone was ravenous. At this point, who would be picky? Anything edible would do!

Fatty devoured two roast ducks, several plates of peanuts, and downed three bottles of beer. Only after this feast did he lick his lips contentedly, pulling out a pack of Zhonghua cigarettes. Offering some to Zhang Mu and Sun Bing, he suggested, "Boss, how about a smoke?"

"I don't smoke," Zhang Mu declined. "I've checked, and there's water in the hotel bathroom. Everyone should clean up while we can."

Everyone respected Zhang Mu for his calm demeanor and assertiveness. The revelation that he was the first to post as 'Wooden Man' on the forum only amplified their admiration. Leng Yun and Qin Min were the two ladies of the group, Sun Bing was a straightforward chef, and Fatty, having been saved by Zhang Mu on multiple occasions, was fiercely loyal to him. Naturally, Zhang Mu emerged as the leader.

Zhang Mu cleaned the blood and dirt from his face and body, wiping himself down with a towel.

Upon inspecting his game backpack, he noted it could store items with specific attributes; non-attributed items couldn't be added. The backpack initially had five slots, with a separate section for coins. At the moment, he had accumulated 523 coins—a significant amount for this stage in the game.

As for his forum post, it was auto-deleted after six hours. Still, the information he shared brought considerable wealth and aided many, ensuring his rise to fame.

Drying his face, Zhang Mu emerged from the bathroom just as Leng Yun exited the ladies' room across the hall. They locked eyes, both momentarily startled.

In each other's gaze, a hint of surprise was evident.Leng Yun's hair was neatly tied up, revealing a breathtakingly beautiful face. Her complexion was as smooth as porcelain, delicate and soft. Each of her features was exquisitely crafted, especially those beautiful eyes that carried a hint of mystique, leaving an unforgettable impression. Standing at about 5'6", she had a slender yet curvaceous figure. She embodied the gentle charm of a southern belle, reminiscent of the flowing water of the Jiangnan region. Yet, upon closer observation, one could sense a strong, independent aura, an air of aloof elegance that kept people at bay.

These two contrasting demeanors blended perfectly, shaping her into a woman who seemed outwardly delicate but was strong-willed at heart.

"I suddenly remembered," Zhang Mu pondered for a moment, "Leng Yun, you're famously known as the 'Ice Queen' of Jiang University. Even in different campuses, I've heard many rumors about you."

Contrary to her title, Leng Yun was not indifferent but rather warm and considerate. The title "Ice Queen" was attributed to her because, despite countless admirers, no one ever won her favor. It was said her heart was as unyielding as an iceberg. While Leng Yun was considered the belle of the university, Sun Lin was the beauty of the Chinese Literature department. Yet, when compared to Leng Yun, whether in terms of beauty, stature, or demeanor, she paled in comparison.

"Those rumors are exaggerated and blown out of proportion. Don't believe them," Leng Yun advised.

She observed Zhang Mu. He wasn't particularly tall, standing at around 5'10". He had refined features, resembling the boy-next-door, emanating a comfortable and friendly vibe. There was nothing that stood out about him, making it hard to equate this seemingly innocent young man to a decisive and cold-blooded warrior.

The two were not close and both weren't talkative by nature. As the atmosphere became slightly awkward, an emotionless voice echoed in their ears.

"Notification: Task system activated! Mandatory mission assigned. Players, please check the task list!"Mission Name: Dawn Camp

Difficulty: Level F+.

Nature: Mandatory mission.

Objective: Reach the Dawn Camp within 20 days, following the clues on the map.

Reward for Success: 50 gold coins and a random Level F item.

Penalty for Failure: Erasure!

When Leng Yun saw the mission, her face paled instantly. "This mission..."

She recalled what Zhang Mu had written in his post.

Zhang Mu had warned, "Surviving in this game isn't easy. If you don't complete the system's tasks, erasure is the only outcome. I need to find others. There are things that need to be announced."

Leng Yun watched Zhang Mu's retreating figure, a flicker of doubt flashing in her captivating eyes. She had seen Zhang Mu's monster manual, which only contained information about monsters and nothing else. How could he have foreseen the arrival of this mandatory task?

He's definitely no ordinary person!

The group of five gathered.

As soon as they met, Qin Min asked, "Senior Zhang Mu, what's the deal with this mission?"

Qin Min had just freshened up. While she might not be as stunning as Leng Yun, she had fair skin and delicate features. If graded on a scale of a hundred, she'd score around sixty – good enough to be considered the belle of the class.

Zhang Mu explained, "The mission description is clear. We need to head to Dawn Camp as soon as possible. Open your maps, and you'll see the location."

The mission came with a map. Jiangcheng City occupied only a small portion of it, surrounded by forests. The distant areas were shaded in grey, obscuring any clear view of the terrain or environment. There was a point of light in the western darkness, likely marking the position of the Dawn Camp. The five of them were located in the western suburbs. With the camp also to the west, they didn't need to traverse the city. They could head straight to the camp, giving them a clear advantage over others.Leng Yun frowned and remarked, "The map provided for the mission is too vague; it just gives a general direction."

Zhang Mu pulled out a large scroll from his backpack and spread it on the ground, shining a flashlight on it. "I purchased this map at a high price from a mysterious merchant."

The map was incredibly detailed, showing the general terrain of the region and even listing where monsters were distributed throughout.

Qin Min examined the map. To her, Jiangcheng was just a tiny portion of it. "Bloody Forest, Goblin Fortress, Dogman Camp, Catman Cave... What peculiar names!"

Pointing at the map, Zhang Mu explained, "We need to pass through the Bloody Forest. Based on the information here, monsters in the forest range from level 1 to level 10. That's a broad range, so it's quite perilous. We don't need to rush into the forest immediately. If we spend two days leveling up to level 4, then proceed, it'll be prudent."

Within Jiangcheng, the monsters' levels range from 1-3. A player at level 4 would earn significantly reduced experience points from these monsters, taking longer to level up. Those who venture into the camps earlier can seize an early-game advantage. With access to a wealth of information like Zhang Mu, there's no desire to waste precious time battling low-level monsters.