Wow, level six—looks like the Dota-style monster level system doesn’t apply on this continent. That kobold I ran into in the Kobold Forest when I first arrived in this world might have been extremely high level.

This actually makes sense now. In the game, Holy Persuasion could only summon level six monsters anyway.

This sheep’s stats are way too strong. William Carter couldn’t help but feel a chill—if he really had to fight it, there’d be no way to survive.

His stats: HP 19, MP 13, Attack 3–3 (including the bonus from two daggers), Armor 0, Armor Type: No Armor. (To become a warrior, you need to reach level eleven and materialize energy to get light armor.) Attack Speed: Slow, Attack Type: Normal Attack. Movement Speed: Slow.

Not being familiar with this world is too dangerous. After going back this time, I must buy some books to brush up on basic knowledge.

As William Carter was pondering, he suddenly heard the bleating of a sheep from the bushes.

Before he could react, the demonic antelope leapt out in a flash, its sharp horns aimed forward, charging and ramming hard into the soft belly of the sheep, instantly causing blood to gush out.

The two sheep fought fiercely. The demonic antelope’s sharp horns and limbs were terrifyingly powerful—it could kill the sheep in less than a minute. The sheep’s attack, less than 1 point, could barely scratch the demonic antelope’s defense. Even if it lost a dozen HP, it could recover naturally.

Clearing monsters without taking damage—Holy Persuasion really is powerful. And as the level increases, the monsters you can persuade get more numerous and stronger. Just thinking about it made William Carter excited.

With the demonic antelope, William Carter’s leveling speed increased by more than a notch. Most importantly, he didn’t need supplies, saving money on potions.

Soon, William Carter discovered another benefit of the demonic antelope—it could be ridden for travel.

On the grasslands, sheep are sparsely distributed, and most of a warrior’s time is wasted searching for monsters. But with the demonic antelope, William Carter’s speed increased more than tenfold.

Holy Persuasion—no idea what level skill it is, but I wouldn’t trade it for an S-rank skill.

It was already late at night. The Despair Prairie was almost deserted. William Carter rode the demonic antelope alone, grinding levels like crazy. He was already used to being active at night and sleeping during the day. Tonight, because of his excitement, he didn’t feel tired at all. Not until two or three in the morning did he find a patch of bare ground, cleared it a bit, lit a campfire, and started roasting lamb while humming a tune.

The warrior’s supply packs were sold as bundles. Attentive merchants certainly didn’t forget to include tents, sesame oil, and salt.

Enjoying the gentle night breeze, he turned the golden roast lamb.

The earth as his seat, the sky as his blanket,

The stars vast above, lying on the open plain.

How could this not be utter bliss?

In his excitement, William Carter let out a loud shout, his powerful voice echoing across the vast world, as if in an instant he released all the repression and unhappiness of the past twenty years.

The sheep on the grassland were truly fat and tender. Crystal-clear fat dripped into the campfire, sizzling. Smelling the aroma, William Carter’s mouth watered. Just as he was about to dig in, he faintly heard a low, growling beast behind him.

William Carter turned around. By the moonlight, he could vaguely see a shadow pacing in the distance, two green lights like floating ghostly flames, eerie and sinister.

A wolf… And appearing on the Despair Prairie, it was definitely not an ordinary wolf.

Could it be a level three dire wolf? William Carter felt a chill—if it was, even a hundred of him wouldn’t make it out alive.

Grilling meat out here is basically asking for death. In the open wilderness, the smell could travel for miles downwind.

Owooo… The wolf advanced with a low growl, not moving fast, its pair of ghostly blue eyes locked onto William Carter’s every move. If William Carter showed any sign of weakness or tried to run, it would launch a lightning-fast attack.

Since it was approaching slowly, William Carter had time to focus and check its stats. What he saw made him gasp.

Demonic Dire Wolf:

Level: Eight.

Attack: 8–9, Attack Type: Normal Attack.

HP: 120.

Armor: 2, Armor Type: Heavy Armor.

Attack Speed: Medium

Movement Speed: 35 meters per second

Skill: Command Aura—increases the base attack of allies within 50 meters by 10%.

Level eight monster, cannot be persuaded. Can’t run, so I’ll have to fight head-on.

But looking at the stats, there’s no way to win.

For the first time, William Carter felt death so close. When he first arrived in this world and met the kobold, he still felt like he was playing a game and didn’t truly sense the threat of death. Later, when he encountered the demonic antelope, he didn’t have time to check its stats and didn’t feel like he could die.

But this time, death was right in front of him.

The air seemed to thicken, and even breathing felt difficult.

Across the campfire, the demonic dire wolf’s ghostly blue eyes looked even more sinister through the wavering air, its body as big as a calf, glowing deep blue all over.

William Carter’s hand holding the dagger trembled slightly, cold sweat snaking down the bulging veins on the back of his hand, sliding over the icy blade, and dripping silently to the ground.