Era of Players: Death God
Chapter 60 - 60: Temporary 1st Place

Exhaustion had finally claimed its due. Noah, his body a tapestry of aches and his mana reserves depleted, collapsed onto the scorched grass. Sleep, heavy and dreamless, descended upon him. He slept for what felt like an eternity, the silence broken only by the rustle of wind through the tall grass.

When he finally stirred awake, the sun was high in the sky. He sat up slowly, wincing at the sharp pain that bloomed in his side, a lingering reminder of the brutal fight. Taking a deep breath, he surveyed the aftermath of the battle.

The once pristine clearing was now a scene of devastation. Craters marred the ground, testament to the raw power unleashed.

Aiden was strong and Noah feel a new found respect for him.

"Alright, time to see how much progress I've made." With a grin on his face, Noah retrieved a pair of sleek smart bracelets. He effortlessly transferred the points stored within them to his own, causing his accumulated total to skyrocket by 110 points. Now sitting comfortably at 175 points, he effortlessly claimed the top spot on the ranking.

"Pretty impressive, but I can't get too comfortable with this temporary first place. If I want to make it permanent, I need to level up my points. I can't underestimate the competition - they're working just as hard and could catch up at any moment." Noah wasn't one to let arrogance cloud his judgement. He knew that maintaining his lead required continuous effort and improvement.

As the ranking updates spread across the island, Noah's rapid rise in points left the other students in shock. They couldn't fathom how he had accumulated so many points in such a short amount of time. The only logical explanation they could come up with was that Noah must be a villain.

With this revelation, the other students quickly formed a plan. They decided to target Noah, as taking him down would earn them double points and potentially secure their own place at the top of the leaderboard. It was a risky move, but they believed it was worth the gamble.

Unbeknownst to the others, Noah had become the prime target of the survival test. However, he didn't mind. In fact, he welcomed the challenge. He knew that being targeted would only mean more points for him, and he was confident that only the reckless ones would dare to charge at him without thinking.

Interestingly enough, the previous number 2 and 3 in the ranking didn't immediately jump at the opportunity to attack Noah. They were cautious and knew better than to underestimate him. They wanted to assess his capabilities and gather more information before making their move. After all, they weren't willing to risk their own positions without a solid plan.

Meanwhile, twenty kilometers north to Noah's current position, stood Lilith. Her white hair, a stark contrast to the surrounding foliage, framed a face usually devoid of emotion. Today, however, a flicker of something akin to amusement danced in her amber eyes as she was surrounded by a snarling pack of twenty kobolds.

Their crude weapons gleamed in the filtered sunlight, dripping with an eagerness to tear into the seemingly defenseless woman.

Suddenly, a soft vibration buzzed against her wrist. It was her smart bracelet, updating its display. A single, sharp eyebrow arched as she saw the new rankings flash across the screen. Noah. First place. A slow, almost predatory smile crept across her lips.

It was a rare sight, a twist of her features that most would consider unsettling rather than warm. To the kobolds, it was a blatant provocation.

''Grrr!"

''Grrr!"

Their guttural growls intensified, a collective snarl erupting from their ranks. Without warning, they lunged, a wave of gnashing teeth and slashing claws aimed at Lilith. But their attack was met with an empty space.

One moment she was there, her white hair a beacon against the green, the next, she was a phantom. Disbelief flickered across the kobold faces for a fleeting second before they were replaced by a crimson tide.

Spurt!

Blood spurted from their necks, spraying the forest floor in a gruesome display. Yet, there was no weapon glinting in the sunlight, no tell-tale whoosh of a blade. Lilith, the White Witch, had moved with inhuman speed, her sword a whisper of death that claimed its victims before they even knew what hit them.

The remaining kobolds froze, fear replacing their previous aggression. The clearing held an eerie silence, broken only by the dripping of blood and the ragged gasps of the surviving creatures. Lilith reappeared behind them, her expression once again unreadable. With a single, swift motion, she dispatched the remaining kobolds, their lifeless bodies crumpling to the forest floor.

As the dust settled, Lilith looked skyward, a hint of a challenge flickering in her gaze.

"First place, huh, Noah? We'll see how long you hold onto that crown." She vanished into the depth of the forest seeking more prey to hunt.

Back at his location, an inexplicable shiver ran down Noah's spine. It was as if an unseen presence had brushed against him, a fleeting premonition that sent a prickle of unease down his nerves.

"Perhaps," he murmured to himself, "my lead has attracted unwanted attention. Lilith wouldn't be pleased, that much is certain. Her competitive streak is legendary." A glint of steel flickered in his eyes.

"But a worthy challenge is what separates the strong from the stagnant. Bring it on." He squared his shoulders, a steely resolve replacing the momentary unease. He wouldn't let the fear of competition deter him.

To prepare for the incoming challenge he had to strengthen himself. To prepare before starting his crazy level up.

''First, let's me check my status window before browsing the system's store.''

■Status Window

Name: Noah Adler

Rank: Regular

Level 20

Class: Angel of Death

Title: Goblin Slayer

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☆Stats☆

Mana: 30

Strength: 40

Intelligence: 34

Dexterity: 50

Luck: 30

Stat Points:0

Coins: 7660G

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☆Skills☆

Common Skill: {Basic Swordsmanship},{Basic Close Combat} {Presence Detection} {Master of Weapons} {Mana's Armor Lvl 1}

Exclusive Skill: {Seal of Death} {Night of Death}

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☆Runes ☆

{Basic Strength},{Basic Speed} {Angel of Death}

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