CHAPTER 62: CHAPTER 62: THE BATTLE BEGINS!

Silence. Outside Safe Zone 9527, twelve players surrounded Ethan. No one spoke.

A biting wind swept up snowflakes, swirling them around, setting a stark scene.

Right now, every pair of eyes was fixed on Ethan.

What did they just hear?

Surrounded by so many class change players, this [Windchaser] wasn’t panicking at all—in fact, he even said "Great"?

Is there something wrong with his head?

The man in the black trench coat looked at Ethan impatiently and waved. The four players behind him stepped forward right away, including the special class player [Don’t Read This Sentence].

The woman in the white turtleneck watched them move, sighed, and said to Ethan:

"We really don’t have time to play games with you. You still can’t see the situation. You’re no different from those idiots in [Black Sea]."

"Hand it over. You should know this: without enough strength, anything you have will be taken by someone stronger."

After the woman in the white turtleneck finished speaking, Ethan looked at the smiling young man and asked:

"Aren’t you going to say something threatening?"

The young man looked deeply at Ethan. His smile slowly faded, and he said seriously, "[Grinning Ghost], from [Ghostfang]."

Ethan looked at him in surprise. He was the first one to introduce himself.

The young man called [Grinning Ghost] slowly stepped back a few paces and said, "I’m not like them. If you want me to take care of all of them, you can trade me the recipe intel."

As [Grinning Ghost] moved back, the two players behind him quietly did the same.

There had been twelve players surrounding Ethan. After [Grinning Ghost]’s group, [Ghostfang], pulled out, only nine were left around him.

But unlocking the second class skill [War God] of [Berserk Blood War God] needs ten players.

This turn of events was a bit unexpected for Ethan. Without hesitating, he looked at the man in the black trench coat and the woman in the white turtleneck.

By Ethan’s guess, since [Grinning Ghost] had backed off for now, those two would team up and take out [Grinning Ghost] first

That way, they could stop [Grinning Ghost] from swooping in after the two sides fought and took losses.

But what surprised Ethan even more was that the man in the black trench coat and the woman in the white turtleneck were both staring at [Grinning Ghost] with clear fear.

The woman in the white turtleneck let out a slow breath and said, "I was blind. I didn’t recognize you. So you’re the famous [Grinning Ghost]."

"Things have changed. Come out."

As soon as she finished, something moved in a snowbank not far behind the man in the black trench coat.

Looking closely, it turned out to be two players wearing white camo suits.

The man in the black trench coat’s face darkened. He hadn’t expected the woman from [Prism] to be this devious, hiding two players.

He had five people on his side and thought he had the advantage. He didn’t expect [Ghostfang] to send [Grinning Ghost].

Even more, he didn’t expect [Prism] to have six people in total.

He suddenly felt this could go sideways much more easily than he thought.

The woman in the turtleneck, full of confidence, said to Ethan, "Hand it over."

Ethan smiled. Unlike the others, who were tense, he finally relaxed.

Nine players, plus the two who just showed up—eleven class change players in total.

He thought for a moment. To make sure nothing went wrong, he asked, "Are those two also class change players?"

The woman in the white turtleneck felt that something was a bit off about Ethan, but she didn’t dwell on it and replied, "Of course. Don’t worry—so long as you give it to me, they won’t touch you."

Ethan nodded. "Good."

The players around them frowned again—everyone except [Grinning Ghost].

One of the players behind [Grinning Ghost] whispered to him, "Captain, is this [Windchaser] dumb or what? Why does he keep asking if people are class change players?"

[Grinning Ghost] kept his eyes on Ethan and said, "[Windchaser] isn’t that simple. Before I saw him myself, I also thought he was just a lucky normal player."

"Now he gives me the same feeling as that guy, [Killer]."

The player behind [Grinning Ghost] widened his eyes. [Windchaser], like [Killer]?

You have to know, [Killer] is even stronger than their captain, [Grinning Ghost]. That guy is crazy not only in the game, but also a real madman in real life.

Right then, Ethan quietly took out the [Bloodstained Bracelet] and put it on his left wrist.

Seeing this, the man in the black trench coat and the woman in the white turtleneck shot him a dismissive look.

They had no intention of stopping him. In their eyes, Ethan was just struggling before he died.

With so many of them, could Ethan really kill eleven class change players by himself?

He couldn’t do that even in his dreams.

With that in mind, they watched Ethan’s next move.

Ethan pulled out a [Basic Potential Boost Potion], quickly jabbed it into his arm, and said, "Let’s make it quick. I still need to check out the auction later."

[Basic Potential Boost Potion]

[Quality]: Blue-quality

[Requirement]: Level above 8

[Effect]: Temporarily increases Strength by 3, Speed by 2, and Defense by 1. Lasts 50 seconds.

[Note]: The time is short, but it’s enough to end a fight and leave the other side lying still.

...

[Basic Potential Boost Potion] takes effect!

+3 Strength, +2 Speed, +1 Defense!

The [Bloodstained Bracelet] on Ethan’s wrist suddenly burrowed into his flesh. A wave of sharp pain hit his mind.

Talent [Pain Resistance] buff triggered!

+1 Defense, +1 Strength, +1 Speed for three minutes!

[Damaged Blood-Drinking Longsword]: [Bloodthirst] activated!

Defense -3, Strength +3, Speed +3!

Feeling power pouring through his body, Ethan took a deep breath and used the [Berserk Blood War God] class skill [Bloodthirst Rampage].

[Bloodthirst Rampage]: Costs 3 Energy. Ignites your instinctive bloodthirst and grants a rank-based buff. Current effect: +3 Strength, +3 Speed, +3 Defense. Duration: 10 minutes. Cooldown: 1 hour.

With all the items, gear, and skills, Ethan’s Strength went up by 10, Speed by 9, and Defense by 2.

He glanced at his watch and smiled in satisfaction.

[Name]: Windchaser

[Talents]: Pain Resistance (Blue), Ten-Thousandfold Intelligence Reward (Unknown)

[Level]: Lv10

[Class]: Berserk Blood War God

[Status]: Normal

[Gear]: Cotton Underwear (Gray-quality), Frostblade (Blue-quality), Stealth Cloak (Blue-quality), Staying Power Necklace (Blue-quality)...

[HP]: 100%

[Strength]: 24

[Speed]: 23

[Defense]: 12

[Energy]: 9

[Charisma]: 10

[Luck]: 1

[Attribute Points]: 0

[Inventory]: Hellblade Class Intel (Orange-quality), Guild Hidden Quest Intel (Purple-quality), Ice Archer Class Change Intel (Purple-quality), Blue Ice Potion Recipe Intel (Purple-quality)...

The players surrounding Ethan still didn’t realize what was about to happen.

The man in the black trench coat and his people were still watching the woman in the white turtleneck across from them. They just ignored Ethan.

Ethan gripped the [Damaged Blood-Drinking Long Knife], pointed at everyone, and said calmly, "The fight begins."

Everyone looked at him. The man in the black trench coat sneered and was about to speak when he suddenly noticed Ethan—who had been standing there a second ago—was gone.

He froze for a split second. In that brief daze, Ethan had already moved to within a meter in front of him.

At the edge of life and death, the man reacted as best he could: he tilted his head and turned his body.

A long blade came down fast and chopped into his right arm.

Blood burst out, splashing across Ethan’s face.

Ethan just wiped the blood away and smiled. "I told you. It’s starting."

He was no longer as calm as before—maybe because of the [Bloodthirst Rampage] skill, or maybe because of the [Damaged Blood-Drinking Long Knife], the so-called "Demon Blade."

But that didn’t matter. What mattered was this: eleven class change players had surrounded him, and not a single one could be allowed to escape.

Only then did anyone react. The first to move was the woman in the white turtleneck, she tried to open up distance from Ethan right away.

But Ethan had planned everything before he even moved.

Take the leader first: if he could take out the man in the black trench coat and the woman in the white turtleneck at the start, the rest of the fight would be much easier.