"Please select a profession."
After awakening his talent, the next step was clear: choose a class.
Thomas didn't hesitate.
The thought of leveling up, killing monsters, and grinding gear for gold made him sick. Years of "brick-moving" in games had worn him down. Now, he simply wanted to savor the pure fun of playing.
He selected a profession he had always admired but rarely played — Thief!
"Congratulations, you have changed your job to Thief."
"You have gained initial Thief skills: Short Blade Mastery, Leather Armor Mastery, Stealth, and Theft!"
"You have acquired the Thief's professional feature — The Secret of Strength and Speed."
[The Secret of Strength and Speed]
Type: Occupational Feature
Effect: For every 10 points of Agility, Attack Power +1.
[Short Blade Mastery]
Type: Weapon Mastery
Grade: First Grade
Effect: Master daggers, short knives, short swords with perfect fluidity.
[Leather Armor Mastery]
Type: Armor Specialization
Grade: First Grade
Effect: Increases agility and movement when wearing leather armor.
[Stealth]
Type: Active Skill
Grade: Level 1 (0/100)
Effect: Enter stealth mode, invisible for 10 seconds. Movement speed +10%. Broken by attack or being attacked.
Cost: 40 Mana
Cooldown: 40 seconds
[Theft]
Type: Active Skill
Grade: Level 1 (0/100)
Effect: 1% chance to steal a random non-bound item from a target.
Cost: 20 Mana
Cooldown: 20 seconds
Without hesitation, Thomas activated his SSS-talent, designating "Stealth" and "Theft" for "Unlimited Growth"!
"Skill successfully designated for Unlimited Growth: Stealth!"
"Skill successfully designated for Unlimited Growth: Theft!"
Normally, basic active skills could only be leveled a few times. Now, Thomas had broken that limitation. These two skills could evolve infinitely!
Thomas felt giddy with anticipation, wondering what monstrous forms these skills might take after repeated breakthroughs.
At this point, Thomas' character was officially established.
Player: I Will Never Work for Mr. Thomas
Class: Thief
Level: 0
Health: 100
Mana: 100
Attack: 11
Spell Power: 10
Physical Defense: 10
Spell Defense: 10
Movement Speed: 10
Hit: 5
Dodge: 2
Constitution: 10
Strength: 10
Intelligence: 10
Stamina: 10
Agility: 10
Spirit: 10
Talent: Unlimited Potential (SSS)
Occupational Feature: The Secret of Strength and Speed
Skills: Short Blade Mastery, Leather Armor Mastery, Stealth (Lv1), Theft (Lv1)
In "Crimson Capes," Strength affected Attack Power, Intelligence boosted Spell Power and Mana, Constitution raised Health, Endurance bolstered defenses, and Agility enhanced speed, hit rate, and dodge chance.
Spirit was more mysterious, influencing mana regeneration and various special skill effects.
Thomas's stats were ordinary.
But he didn't care.
"SSS Talent is all I need!"
With a grin, he initiated the final step: entering the world of "Crimson Capes."
A teleportation circle blossomed beneath his feet, and his figure dissolved into light.
When Thomas opened his eyes again, he stood in a massive plaza.
"[Your birthplace: Maple Leaf Town!]"
The announcement echoed in his mind.
The town was stunning — European-style buildings crafted with intricate detail lined the streets beyond the plaza.
Brilliant white lights flashed everywhere as players materialized around him.
"Holy crap, is this really a game? It feels too real!"
"These graphics! That NPC looks better than my ex-girlfriend!"
"I'd sell my kidney again for another gaming pod like this!"
Excitement buzzed in the air. Players marveled at their surroundings.
Smarter ones quickly moved into action, forming parties and strategizing.
"Feitian Guild members, gather up!"
"Tyrant Guild players, over here! Let's dominate this town!"
"Pro player with 10 years of experience looking for a serious team! Only accepting D-tier talent or higher!"
The square became a chaotic mix of recruitment shouts and awe.
Thomas, uninterested in the bustling crowd, casually slipped away.
Soon, he noticed a large crowd forming toward the west side of the square.
Curious, he followed.
A massive bulletin board stood there, covered in quest listings.
"Dear adventurers from another world, welcome!" read the top line, signed by Mayor Slater.
Below it, missions stretched out in long lists.
Tasks came in two types: unlimited (anyone could do) and limited (first-come, first-served).
The first mission was standard: kill 30 monsters roaming outside the town to "protect Maple Leaf Town."
Simple.
Higher-value missions required level thresholds.
"Same old grind. They want to lure me back into liver-busting hard work!"
Thomas scoffed.
He had no intention of becoming a mindless grinder again.
"I'm gonna master stealing. Why bash monsters when I can just lift what I need?"
Just as he was turning away, something caught his eye.
A quest at the very bottom of the board —
One that had no level requirement.
"Huh? That's weird. Aren't the quests supposed to scale harder the further down you go?"
He leaned closer.
[Abnormality at Lone Wind Cliff]
Type: Special Mission
Description: Strange lights have been flashing atop Lone Wind Mountain recently. For unknown reasons, Mayor Slater is requesting brave adventurers investigate the anomaly.
Rewards: 100 Gold Coins, 1 Silver-Level Equipment Set (Unique — once completed by anyone, the quest disappears for others)
Requirements: None
Number of Accesses: One per player
"A mayor-issued quest... with unique rewards? No level cap?"
Players around him were already stirring.
"Quick! Accept it! Silver-grade gear at level zero? That's insane!"
"If we wait, someone else will clear it! Move!"
The square erupted.
Players rushed toward the town gates, desperate to find Lone Wind Mountain.
Guilds organized themselves rapidly.
"Tyrant Guild, split into two groups: Levelers and Cliff Investigators!"
"Feitian Guild Thieves, go scout the Lone Wind Mountain path!"
In mere moments, the mission had become a battlefield.
Thomas smiled faintly, standing back from the chaos.
"When something seems too good to be true, it usually is."
He had no intention of rushing in with the others.
Instead, he decided to improve his "Stealth" and "Theft" skills quietly, watching and waiting.
"Let the others test the waters first. I'll pick up the real treasures after the fools fall."
With that thought, Thomas turned calmly toward the outer town wall — ready to begin his real adventure.
This time, he'd play by his own rules.
And in "Crimson Capes," he would become a legend that no one could ever predict.
[To be continued...]