Ch.4949. The Corrupted Forest

If you head about 3KM south from the cabin, it suddenly becomes so dark that you might think night has fallen.

It’s not because of the tall weeds, but because the thick, tall trees block the light even in broad daylight.

[Corrupted Forest (A-) Dungeon Entry!]

[Sub Quest]

[A-Rank Dungeon]

[The forest, condensed with chaotic energy, has become a monster den in itself. Monsters steeped in the energy of the Corrupted Forest become more powerful and ferocious. This chaotic energy gradually accumulates and expands its territory, potentially covering the entire Rift Dimension. Find and eliminate the ‘Corrupted Tree’ that has condensed the corrupted energy existing in the Level 0 biome.]

[Reward: S+ Grade Life Skill Selection Ticket x1, Farming Stat +10, 2,000 Farm, ‘Farm Management’ activation, S- Grade Random Weapon Box x1]

“Isn’t this reward too generous?”

This massive forest is a dungeon.

I understood why it’s treated as a dungeon since it has an S-rank boss, but I couldn’t help but be amazed at the sub-quest that popped up once again.

Even in the Farming World, there weren’t this many quests.

There were plenty of quests to help users adapt and various sub-quests, but not to this extent.

To be precise, the quantity of quests might have been similar, but the rewards were never this substantial.

Most quests were just like, “Oh, a quest appeared,” and people would casually complete them for minor rewards. It was rare to stare at the reward screen for so long like this.

And in a Level 0 biome, no less.

Come to think of it, having an A-rank dungeon quest in a Level 0 biome doesn’t make sense either.

It’s like a definite motivation for growth.

This isn’t a game or anything, but for me, who needs to conquer the Rift Dimension, I couldn’t think of a clearer motivation for growth.

How vast is this map?

Even just this Level 0 biome is so expansive.

How long will it take to clear and check everything?

If they’re giving out rewards like this here, how strong must the monsters be in the later areas?

But these worries are all crushed by the quest rewards.

It’s as if they’re saying: “Yes. Don’t overthink it, just go. You clear it, and we’ll give you rewards beyond your expectations.”

“It’s a bit disappointing that it’s a Life Skill Selection Ticket.”

Perhaps they thought giving a straight S+ Grade Skill Selection Ticket would be unbalanced.

Well, clearing the “Corrupted Forest” dungeon is essentially completing the main quest, and you get an SSS+ Grade Skill Selection Ticket, so I’m not sure if balance is even a concern.

And I’m also quite interested in the “Farm Management” system that unlocks after clearing this dungeon.

“Is it what I think it is?”

Farming World is a game that allows for both single-player and multiplayer experiences.

In multiplayer, users can choose and develop their own abilities, but that’s not possible in single-player.

In terms of difficulty, single-player is indeed harder than multiplayer.

But does that mean there’s a compensation for single-player?

Not really.

There were many complaints like “Are you saying friendless loners should just die?” But single-player has its own charm: users can manage farms, control NPCs or slaves, and invest farming stat points in them.

Of course, one might naturally ask why they should spend points on NPCs when they barely have enough for their own character. But this was also a way to grow a farm, and since becoming stronger alone doesn’t necessarily make the farm grow, in the later stages, developing NPCs became part of the game’s enjoyment.

Excess farming stat points, skill selection tickets, or even equipping items on NPCs were common practices. Some even formed hunting parties with NPCs and sent them on expeditions.

I also enjoyed utilizing that system in my own way.

Farm Management is, in a sense, a unique content of Farming World that reduces user fatigue.

The fact that it’s unlocking here suggests that I might be able to give abilities to NPCs or slaves through Farm Management.

“That would be nice if it works.”

With anticipation, I explore the Corrupted Forest.

A thick fog makes it hard to see ahead.

Moreover, the tall and thick trees obstruct visibility, and the loud wind noise makes it difficult to be vigilant of the surroundings.

Rustle.

Every step I take, the fallen leaves on the ground make noise, revealing my position, so I need to be careful.

Grrrr-

Within 5 minutes of entering the forest, an eerie howl is heard.

Around me, I can see the red eyes of eight wolves using trees as shields, watching me.

Despite the considerable distance, they maintain that distance, adjusting exactly as much as I move, keeping their guard up.

“This is intense. Gray wolves?”

The gray wolves I know are B- rank monsters.

They look similar, but I’ve never seen gray wolves with such large bodies and half-glazed red eyes.

It seems they’ve been exposed to the corrupted energy or something, making them stronger.

The number remains at 8, not increasing.

Grrrr- They drool, waiting for the opportunity to pounce, but their patience doesn’t seem to be out of fear.

They’re just assessing.

They’re gathering information about me, a newcomer to this forest, to hunt me down effectively.

Gray wolves hunt like this naturally.

Whether hunting prey larger than themselves or stronger opponents.

They slowly wear down their prey to death.

That’s why hunting gray wolves is exhausting.

Even if you catch one or two, they use the deaths of their comrades as shields for their attacks, making the hunt itself tiring and leaving a significant mental fatigue afterward.

The best way to catch them is to take them out all at once.

If you kill them in one go, their wise hunting methods or experienced gnawing become useless.

I hold my sword and use [Leap Slash] to cut down five of them.

I wanted to test the newly learned [Double Slash], so this was perfect.

Slash-slash-slash-slash!

Keeeng-!

Keeeeeng!

Grrrr!

The 1000% attack power of [Master of Melee Weapons] combined with the 100% attack power of [Leap Slash] is increased to 150% attack power due to the Sewer Sword’s effect, and when [Double Slash] is added, the 200% additional damage is adjusted to 300%.

It’s an absurd multiplication upon multiplication.

The synergy effect is truly out of this world.

The five gray wolves hit by the attack roll their eyes, drooling, looking almost like they have rabies, but they collapse with their eyes rolled back.

One hit.

There was no need to check if the 10% chance of bleeding was triggered.

The 300% additional damage from two hits with an additional 1150% attack power is equivalent to hitting with 4600% attack power one more time.

If it were a low-attack wooden sword, it might be different.

But the A- Sewer Sword’s attack power can take out even B- rank gray wolves in one hit.

“Whew… too strong.”

I’m intoxicated by the power.

Skills that consume 10 farming stat points have always been SSS+ grade abilities, which means that with minimal “effort,” it’s not “as much as” 10 but “only” 10 points to learn a skill with this much power.

Even in the A-rank Corrupted Forest dungeon, I was the predator.

I felt it in just one exchange of offense and defense.

I felt it.

The gray wolves felt it too.

The difference is that the Big Rats and Goblins ran away the moment they felt it.

Because they knew there was no answer.

There’s no point in charging.

They’d just be moths to the flame, dying a bit faster.

But the gray wolves were different from the previous prey.

Gray wolves are predators.

At least in the Level 0 biome, they’ve absorbed the corrupted energy and become so strong that no one dares to challenge them.

They have more experience fighting and winning against stronger predators than running away.

This time was no different.

“Grrrr-!”

The remaining wolves charged at me all at once.

If they could just bite my weak and slender neck.

Their movements were filled with the conviction that they could achieve a victory more valuable than the deaths of their comrades.

It’s the right choice.

My only weakness or disadvantage is my low vitality since I’m not wearing armor.

Even the goblins’ saliva reduced my vitality by 10-15%, so here, if I get bitten badly, I could go down in one hit.

If my agility had been even slightly lower, it could have been dangerous.

Slash-slash-slash!

It’s no different just because it’s an A-rank dungeon.

The remaining gray wolves collapsed with death cries.

I could see them trying to dodge with instant reactions, but that’s about it.

Of course, without [Double Slash], some wolves might have survived.

But that’s just a hypothetical.

“For now, I’ll categorize these as about the same as fast goblins.”

I evaluated as I butchered and generously collected their leather and meat.