Chapter 2, although a bit late, it is indeed Chapter 2 without a doubt...
My apologies to friends who have waited a long time. There was thunder all night, and I didn't dare turn on my computer. It's a bit better now, so I immediately came online to upload a chapter. Many friends said the plot was dragging. Don't worry, we'll enter combat soon. I'm getting a bit tired of writing these settings too, hey, it'll be exciting soon.
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There were already many people in the Plaza. They stood blankly around the Crystal Pillar, motionless. Of course, they weren't spacing out; they were just organizing their Stash.
I walked forward a few steps, feeling that I should have reached the area covered by the Crystal Pillar. I immediately used the method Akara taught me, silently communicating with the pillar in front of me.
Soon, a space of about a hundred cubic meters appeared before my eyes.
It really is big, almost exactly ten times the size of my Inventory Space.
I carefully examined this space that belonged only to me, silently estimating its actual size. Inadvertently, a small, dark object caught my attention.
Huh, what is this? Could this really be equipment extra bestowed by God? Curious, I grabbed the dark object and looked at it, my heart suddenly trembled.
Destruction Golden Small Charm:
+7 All Skill Levels
155% Increased Critical Hit Chance
(10x Level)% Increased Critical Hit Chance
300% Increased Experience
This... this is actually the Bugged Charm I made with a Modifier just before I came to Diablo!
Why?
Why would the Small Charm I made back then appear here? My heart pounded violently, my brain buzzed, heavily congested with blood, and the hand holding the Small Charm trembled uncontrollably.
"Hahahahaha..."
I suddenly looked up at the sky in the Plaza and burst into loud laughter. The frantic laughter abruptly spread through the quiet Plaza.
I don't care where the damn Charm came from! All I know now is that I'm damn rich! I'm gonna become a god! I even got a Bug Charm! God, if this was all your arrangement, I truly love you to death!
My crazy behavior naturally attracted the attention of the Adventurers around the Plaza. However, seeing that I had not a single piece of equipment on me, with "Rookie/Newbie" clearly written all over my face and hands, their doubtful gaze immediately turned to contempt. Of course, it also carried a trace of almost imperceptible envy. They were probably thinking that this person was just a newbie who had just dropped a piece of trash equipment and was going crazy with excitement.
"Hah... huhuhu..."
Although my heart was still pounding frantically, keeping my face flushed, I finally managed to calm down slightly. I desperately suppressed the kind of frantic joy that emanated from the bottom of my heart. Laughing for a while was understandable; others would just think I was a newbie who had dropped their first piece of equipment in life. But if I didn't suppress my emotions and continued to laugh maniacally, it might attract others' attention. A Small Charm like this, which fundamentally surpasses all understanding in this world, if others knew about it, even those Heavenly Beings might tear off their facade and snatch it.
I don't know what my expression looks like right now. I think it must be very twisted. I've tried my best to restrain myself. Whether I can escape others' suspicion can only depend on God. I don't regret my rashness just now. If I saw such a Bug Charm and remained indifferent, that would truly be pathetic.
How many times in life can one be truly wild?
I tried my best to appear smug and proud. I pulled out the Wooden Club Lars gave me. Unlike the rough Wooden Clubs freely distributed to Adventurers, this Wooden Club, although also a Common Item, was significantly more refined in appearance, making it instantly recognizable as not "mass-produced goods." I whistled proudly, twirled the Wooden Club in my hand, and deliberately glanced around with a look of triumph before leaving the Plaza with my heart still pounding violently.
To be honest, although the equipment drop rate is low now, the Wooden Club, as the most trash weapon among low-level Common Item weapons of the same tier, is really not that rare.
I think the Adventurers in the Plaza must have been full of disdain in their eyes at that moment. My arrogant attitude and the look of a small person who has suddenly gained power must have left a deep impression on them. This is fine too. Although it might leave a bad impression and make many people remember my unpleasant appearance, what does it matter? From the moment I got the Bug Charm, I no longer needed to rely on anyone to Party for Training. So whether they look down on me or not is irrelevant to me. I just hope my image today doesn't affect my future wife's impression of me.
...
...
I sat by the Fountain in the Plaza, smiling foolishly for a long time before gradually recovering. I thought about many things. With this Charm, the higher my Level, the further I could pull away from others. Perhaps, becoming someone like Tal Rasha who could solo a Hell Boss is not impossible. In an instant, countless thoughts flashed through my mind, and my desire swelled immensely. Which man doesn't have ambition? Which man doesn't want to be famous for eternity? I do too, it was just suppressed by the cruel reality of society and buried deep in my heart. Now, the opportunity to stand out is within reach, and achieving fame and success is no longer a dream. How could I possibly calm down?
I took a few deep breaths, trying hard to calm myself down. I knew I was currently dizzy from the Bugged Charm. My situation at the moment was very bad, just like a farmer who won the lottery, with a tendency towards madness. Although I wouldn't actually go crazy because of this, I understood that my way of thinking at this moment was almost completely irrational. If I let this kind of thought expand, I would eventually walk down a path I couldn't imagine.
Calm down, calm down. I closed my eyes, trying hard to make my mind blank. The current me is not suitable for thinking about any problems. I must wait until my mood has truly calmed down before I can truly think about the future direction. I casually scooped up some water from the Fountain and splashed it hard on my face. The cold water droplets dripped down my hair roots and chin, finally making my almost burning brain feel a little better.
I just sat there quietly by the Fountain, spacing out. Passing Adventurers cast their gazes upon me one after another. To them, my behavior was undoubtedly a waste of life, something they disdained. I didn't notice their gazes at all, just sat there expressionlessly, motionless.
Until dusk arrived, the orange sunset cast its final radiant aura upon the Land. The murmuring Fountain reflected the warm red light. The pedestrians on the roadside became fewer and fewer, leaving behind only the sound of crows in the lonely Plaza.
I slowly stood up, my face no longer trembling uncontrollably as it had before. My heart felt a calmness it had never felt before. I knew I had successfully withstood the temptation. If following the saying in some novels, my realm had improved by many levels. The difference is, uh~~ only my stats haven't changed.
I stood up, brushed myself off, and saw that the setting sun had cast long shadows. After thinking for a moment, I still decided to go back to the Tavern to find Doug and Lars.
Although I wanted to go back to the Stash, look at the Bug Charm hundreds or thousands of times, then immediately put it on and go out of the Camp to kill Monsters, I felt that now was not the right time. To use a term from novels, my state of mind had just leveled up and wasn't stable yet; if I were tempted, I could easily revert back.
Apparently, besides the Charm, there might also be a Bugged Blade of Phantasm. I felt excited again. I forcefully stopped my steps towards the Stash and turned around, walking towards the Tavern I remembered.
Facts proved that I am not directionally challenged. Although I can't say I have a photographic memory, by recalling the route Doug and the others took me in the morning, I successfully found the Rogue Tavern. Because, uh~~ it was near the Fountain, less than 100 meters away...
Opening the Tavern door, a cool, desolate aura washed over me. Most of the people in the Tavern had already left. The owner, who was wiping the tables, looked at me in surprise, as if saying, someone is still coming at this time?
Dusk is the most desolate time for the Tavern. There was no one inside at this moment.
No, there was still a tall figure sitting in the corner.
It was Doug.
He was bored, slumped over the table. The sturdy solid wood table seemed unable to bear the weight of half his body, creaking with his movements.
He was slumped on the table, his right hand holding his beloved Small Hand Axe, his left hand resting on a slightly yellowed rag. He yawned widely from time to time. When he was truly bored, he would carefully wipe the Hand Axe, which was already polished so brightly it could be used as a mirror.
At this moment, my eyes couldn't help but well up. I knew Doug couldn't stand loneliness the most. He even said in private conversations that what he feared most was having no one to talk to.
In this chaotic Dark Continent, the emotions between people are the most complex. It can be sharing life and death, or it can be cold indifference.
Of course, the premise of sharing life and death is that your strength is not worse than theirs, at least you won't hold them back. This kind of thinking seems cruel and realistic, but in this Dark Continent filled with war and where survival is uncertain, no one cares how others see them. Being able to save one's life is the most important thing. Those who cannot fight alongside and help each other are burdens, not worthy of sympathy or attention.
Therefore, when I got lost this afternoon, the expressions of the other Adventurers were so cold and heartless. Ultimately, it was because I was still a Small Druid, not even qualified to speak to them.
Perhaps they were snobbish, perhaps they wanted to use this method to motivate people, but no matter the situation, the fact was clear: only with strength do you have rights.
Doug and the others, being Level 11 Barbarians, were considered mid-tier in strength in the Rogue Encampment, yet they didn't care about my strength as a person at all. Only now did I realize how friendly Lars and the other two were towards me during that half-month journey.
If it were others, they might save me, but with my low strength, they would definitely abandon me in the Wilderness, citing that I was a burden, at most leaving behind a pack of dried meat...
At this moment, seeing Doug enduring the loneliness and waiting for me, I felt a trace of warmth finally find its way into my heart, which had been frozen by the Law of Strength Supremacy of the Dark Continent.
From now on, I will definitely repay you, I said in my heart. I also have the ability to do so.
(end of chapter)