The wheat field was located about one mile from the village. Charles Bennett didn’t spend much time before, following the route described by Miller Warrior, he carefully avoided the traps and snares and smoothly arrived at the edge of the wheat field.

The golden wheat field was now a complete mess, the wheat stalks lying haphazardly across the field, broken stalks and shattered ears of wheat everywhere. From time to time, huge field mice would pop out of the ground, and then players would dart out from the side, chasing after them and activating skills to kill them.

Sword flashes occasionally flickered across the endless wheat field, while fireballs, ice arrows, and arrows flew everywhere without pause. Judging from the figures that appeared and disappeared in the field, Charles Bennett estimated that the ratio of players to field mice was now roughly balanced, about 3:1.

“This makes the quest much easier.” Charles Bennett nodded to himself, quickly moving through the edge of the field and heading deeper into the wheat field.

Sure enough, the situation deeper in the wheat field was just as Charles Bennett had expected. Since 《Night Lord》 had launched at midnight with a player cap, and now two hours had passed since launch, the number of players doing the “Greedy Field Mouse” quest was clearly decreasing.

Finding a spot with few players, Charles Bennett watched the occasional field mouse pop out of the ground, took a deep breath, raised his curved staff, and tried to use the Druid’s first skill—currently his only skill—Wrath.

[Wrath]: Skill Level: 1. Summon the power of nature to attack the enemy, dealing 15–20 points of nature damage. Cast time: 2.5 seconds. Casting range: 35 yards.

When Charles Bennett targeted a field mouse and used [Wrath], a deep and strange chanting incantation automatically sounded from his mouth. Charles Bennett was momentarily stunned, then realized this must be the so-called channeled casting. As the chanting continued, a ball of emerald green light began to buzz and flicker at the tip of the curved staff, about to burst forth.

The emerald light at the tip of the staff blossomed into a glowing orb. Just as Charles Bennett felt the wrath was about to shoot out, suddenly, the orb was extinguished as if doused with water, and it vanished without a trace.

“What’s going on?” Charles Bennett stared at the curved staff in his hand, completely baffled.

“Target is too far, out of maximum casting range.” The system prompt sounded in a deep voice, revealing the real reason to this newbie.

“Uh…” Charles Bennett blinked, sweat pouring down his face.

Chapter 7: Delayed Channeling Cast Time

About an hour and a half later, after struggling to figure out the skill and trying his first monster-hunting quest, Charles Bennett returned to the village deep in thought.

“Thank you for your help, young adventurer. Here is a small token of my appreciation.”

At the village entrance, Charles Bennett met Miller Warrior again. After turning in the “Greedy Field Mouse” quest, plus the experience gained from killing field mice, his level experience was now close to level 3, and he also received a worn-out Novice Cloak (Slot: Cloak, Defense: 8).

“Plain white gear.”

Charles Bennett glanced at the cloak without much interest. After half an hour of monster hunting, he had lost all interest in these white gear items. Fifteen field mice had dropped three pieces of white gear, which were still sitting in his backpack.

With such a high drop rate, and the fact that white gear had no attributes other than defense, Charles Bennett could tell that this white gear was just basic, common stuff.

“Young adventurer—Jue Qianhui, would you be willing to help me with one more thing?”

While Charles Bennett was checking his pitiful stats, Miller Warrior’s voice sounded in his ear again.

“Another quest?” Charles Bennett frowned in slight annoyance, but he remembered the second rule of the “Newbie Survival Guide”: Monster hunting and questing are the most reliable ways for newbies to grow. Thinking of this, he smiled and nodded, “Of course, respected Miller Warrior, it’s my honor to help you. Please let me know what you need, and I’ll do my best.”

Luke Miller smiled with satisfaction. “That’s wonderful. You truly are a brave Druid. But then, Night Elves have always been like this. Aside from your pride, your hearts are known for their kindness.” As he spoke, the NPC warrior frowned and said in a deep voice, “You know the village is short on guards right now. Firefinches are running rampant in the northern woods. If this continues, that forest will be destroyed by them sooner or later.”

“Village Guardian Miller Warrior asks player Jue Qianhui to go to the northern woods and hunt 15 firefinches. Do you accept?”

……

“Normal Quest: Rampant Firefinches.”

“Quest Description: The woods north of the village have always been a place where villagers stroll in their leisure time. But a few days ago, a flock of firefinches flew in from who knows where, turning the northern woods into a mess. Oh no! If this continues, not only will that forest be destroyed, but it might even affect the village. Young and brave Druid, are you willing to help the village guardian Miller Warrior and go to the northern forest to hunt those firefinches?”

“Quest Objective: Firefinch ×15.”

“Quest Tip: This simple task doesn’t require much effort, but it will test your eyesight.”