Era of Players: Death God

The setting sun descended beneath the desert horizon, casting a vibrant palette of fiery oranges and reds across the vast expanse of sand.

Noah, his muscles pleasantly fatigued from a day of adventure, finally discovered the perfect location to establish his camp. A grouping of ancient desert pines provided a small patch of shade, while a nearby smooth rock appeared to be an ideal spot for a cozy campfire.

A contented grin formed on his face as he unpacked his backpack, the only sound in the desert being the whispering wind as it glided through the dunes. This was the solitude he yearned for, an opportunity to connect with the unrefined splendor of the wilderness.

Noah laid out his sleeping bag, relishing in its familiar warmth that contrasted with the cool breath of the desert. Memories of his first journey through the desert danced in his mind, highlighting the stark difference between day and night. The sun, an unyielding furnace in the daytime, would soon succumb to a bone-chilling coldness. But Noah was no novice.

Years of experience had transformed him into a cautious desert traveler.

With practiced ease, he rummaged through his pack, retrieving his last sandwich. The bread had become slightly hardened in the dry desert air, but his hunger compelled him to devour it, relishing each bite. Next came the wild boar jerky, its smoky and salty flavor providing a welcomed change.

Finally, he concluded his meal with a crisp apple, the juicy flesh bursting with freshness in his parched mouth. Each bite served as a reminder of the importance of careful planning - every item in his pack chosen specifically to combat the unique challenges of the desert. He finished off with a long swig of water, the cool liquid quenching his thirst and settling his stomach.

Now, with a satisfied belly and a clear mind, Noah stood ready to embrace the desert night.

Dun! Dun!

A disturbing shudder rippled through the earth, rupturing the calm of the desert night. Noah's muscles immediately tightened. He knew better than to expect smooth sailing in the desert. However, this vibration brought a wave of unease crashing over him.

His usual technique, Presence Detection, proved useless. The source of the tremors lay beyond thirty meters, rendering his usual methods ineffective. He dropped to his hands, pressing his palms against the cool sand. This primitive approach, refined through experience, offered his only chance at assessing the impending danger.

The vibrations, subtle yet discernible, conveyed a wealth of information to his honed senses.

By deciphering the tremors, Noah estimated the approaching force to number somewhere between 30 and 40. A formidable group.

Just as his mind raced with potential strategies, a jarring digital voice pierced the desert air.

[Ding! Survive the onslaught of monsters! The more monsters you slay, the greater the rewards.

10 = 1000 Gold]

A wide grin spread across Noah's face as the tremors grew stronger.

"Perfect!" he exclaimed, a hint of welcome irritation coloring his voice. This unexpected challenge provided the ideal opportunity to release some built-up frustration. With a dramatic gesture, he crushed a in his hand – the Exp Booster. For the next two hours, his gained experience would be doubled.

"Let's see what you're made of," he muttered, his eyes sparkling with a mixture of anticipation and the promise of accelerated growth. The serenity of the night had been shattered, replaced by the pulsating energy of an impending battle.

The vibrations intensified, sending powerful ripples through the ground beneath Noah's hands. At last, the approaching horde broke through the barriers of his Presence Detection. His eyes shot open, a glimmer of recognition flashing across his face. As the tremors had indicated, there were approximately 40 of them.

A deep growl escaped his lips as he identified the enemy through his unique ability – a pack of D-rank monsters known as Giant Horned Hyenas.

The Giant Horned Hyenas were formidable creatures, living and hunting in packs. The leader of the pack, a female, stood out with her larger size and strength. She boasted a lion-like mane around her neck, a clear symbol of her dominance.

These monstrous creatures reached towering heights, standing over two meters tall from their front paws to their shoulders. From head to tail, they measured up to an astonishing five meters in length. Their sheer size was enough to instill fear in anyone who crossed their path.

The pack size of the Giant Horned Hyenas varied, ranging from tens to hundreds. A significant number of them were offspring born to the dominant female, solidifying the alpha society that revolved around the maternal line. Every member of the pack dutifully obeyed the commands of the dominant female, a testament to her leadership.

Being nocturnal creatures, the Giant Horned Hyenas had adapted to survive in the scorching desert. They became active during the natural nights, utilizing the cover of darkness to their advantage.

With a deafening roar, the Giant Horned Hyenas charged forward with relentless force. As creatures that hunted in enormous groups, they lacked both fear and caution. In the face of such a large-scale assault, ordinary individuals or Players were quickly overwhelmed and swept away.

''Mana's Armor.'' He humbled under his breath.

Noah's Mana's Armor LV1 shimmered, providing him with a protective shield of magical defense as he swiftly threw two daggers.

Swoosh! Swoosh! Pu! Pu!

The blades found their mark, burying themselves deep into the skulls of unsuspecting hyenas at the front of the pack, instantly taking them down.

''!!"

The loss of their comrades created confusion and agitation among the hyenas, momentarily halting their advance.

Seizing the opportunity, Noah drew his dual swords in a blur of motion. Using his Shadow Steps' skill, three identical clones materialized around him, each wielding a gleaming blade. This deceptive tactic was meant to overwhelm and confuse his opponents. With a predatory grin, Noah engaged in a deadly dance, moving between his clones to strike down the hyenas with precision.

His primary objective was to eliminate the alpha's lesser minions before facing the pack leader, who posed a greater threat. The night air filled with the clash of steel and the desperate snarls of the hyenas as Noah's blades became a whirlwind of destruction.

One by one, the hyenas fell victim to Noah's coordinated assault. A clone would swiftly dart forward, delivering a precise thrust to find a vital point before dissipating into smoke. Another clone would draw the attention of a hyena with a feigned attack, creating an opening for the real Noah to deliver a brutal two-handed swing, cleaving a hyena in half.

The remaining hyenas, now uncertain of who to attack, began to snap and snarl in fear.

Roar!

Suddenly, a guttural roar reverberated from beyond the remaining hyenas. A hulking figure, twice the size of its pack mates, emerged from the darkness. Its fur was different, a lion-like mane around her neck, adorned with vicious curved horns. This was the alpha, the leader of the pack, and its eyes burned with feral intelligence as it surveyed the scene.

The remaining hyenas obediently made way for their leader, their fear turning into renewed desperation.

Noah's movements momentarily stilled as he locked eyes with the alpha. Adrenaline surged through him. This was no longer a battle against mere scavengers; it was a fight against a cunning predator, a battle for survival under the unforgiving desert sky. A slow smile spread across Noah's face, anticipation replacing any concerns. The real fight was about to begin.

''But you will have to wait because I need to finish the mob first.'' Noah declared before using the Night of Death, the already darkened night became even darker. Using the momentary confusion, he appeared in the middle of the pack with his swords.

Noah merely swung his swords covered in blue aura, and swung again.

Each time, several Giant Horned Hyenas were cut down. †ԋіѕ$-¢-на$ρ#τ&ε-я$-$ί&Տ-!

Blood sprayed, flesh flew.

The already crimson desert sands were further stained red.

Kwack!

Occasionally, a Giant Horned Hyena managed to bite his arms or calves. But their teeth couldn't pierce his flesh thanks to Mana's Armor. He would crush their skull with a powerful punch.

Bam! Bam!

Noah, a harbinger of demise, unleashed destruction wherever he treaded. Within a mere 45 seconds, he eradicated multitudes of towering horned hyenas, only to abruptly terminate his Night of Death and hastily retreat from the collective, sensing imminent peril.

Suddenly, the alpha female, who had only been watching, stepped forward.

A blue field of energy enveloped her entire body.

That meant she was at least a peak D-rank or higher and had magic-related abilities.

Zap!

Sparks erupted from the horns on the alpha female's head.

It seemed she knew how to use lightning magic from the world of magic.

Flash!

At that moment, a bolt lightning was shot from her horn.

The lightning bolt split the space and arrived in front of Noah in an instant.

In a desperate attempt, Noah gambled, relying on the Mana's Armor waved his hand swatting the lightning bolt into the sky, brightening it.

''Gah!" Noah grunted, feeling sharp pain coursing through his arm, as expected the Mana's Armor couldn't offset everything.

Meanwhile, the alpha female was shocked.

'';"

Only then an intense sense of danger come over the alpha female.

They realized this adversary was entirely different from any they'd hunted before.

Wooo!

The alpha female roared, commanding a retreat.

There was nothing more foolish than struggling against an overwhelming enemy.

More than half of the pack has already been wiped out.

The survival of the group could no longer be guaranteed if more perished.

The alpha female's judgment was astute.

The problem was that Noah had no intention of letting the Giant Horned Hyenas flee.

With his good arm hurled the sword covered in blue aura, Sword's aura.

Spinning at a fearsome speed, the sword cut through everything in its path.

The mournful cries of the Giant Horned Hyenas resonated through the night sky.

[Experience +300%]

Because he had previously instructed the system to only inform him of the progression of his status only after reaching 300%, the system's notification rang out. He immediately put the 6pts into strength then he pounced on straight toward the alpha female.

Falling like a meteor, his impact was as tremendous as a meteor striking the ground.

Crash!

Bang! Bang!

Noah swung his sword like a hammer.

''!!!"

Amidst the alpha female's desperate screams, the sands erupted in all directions.

After a while, the sands that had risen like a wave settled, revealing the aftermath.

The alpha female had been utterly defeated, mangled beyond recognition. Only the horn attached to her head remained intact.

Noah was standing over the corpse of the alpha female, covered in blood wearing a crazed smile. At the moment he shared a striking resemblance with his father, Logan.