*Ding~ System Alert~*

Acquired skill [Poisonous Mushrooms Placement]: Place an invisible poisonous mushroom on the ground. It automatically detonates when enemies approach within one meter, exploding in a three-meter diameter radius to deal 200% magic damage. 50% chance to inflict poison status.

*Ding~ System Alert~*

Acquired skill [Poisonous Mushrooms Toss]: Throw a visible poisonous mushroom forward. It detonates instantly upon contact with any object. Throwing range increases with ability and skill level, dealing 120% magic damage. 30% chance to inflict poison status.

"My god~ What kind of class is this? So bizarre! It completely breaks the rules!" Soulshadow Tianyou cried out in shock.

Short swords were exactly that—short, thick, and ugly. Both Swordsmen and Rogues could equip them, yet no class specialized in them. Swordsmen typically wielded dueling rapiers for PvP, balanced longswords, damage-focused greatswords, or occasionally short swords with high intelligence bonuses but mediocre stats. Rogues and Assassins usually dual-wielded daggers—long ones for sustained fights, short ones for quick kills—and sometimes inexplicably used short swords too.

Practically no one used short swords. They were nearly useless unless someone found a legendary short sword with insane stats. Only then might a Swordsman or Assassin consider wielding one.

And what was with skills involving placing and throwing mushrooms? Such a class actually existed? Game designers, care to explain yourselves?

Soulshadow Tianyou raged internally while muttering aloud, "A mage? A sword-wielding mage? A mushroom-throwing mage? Or a swordsman who sets mushroom traps? A Trap Master? A Throwing Specialist?"

She’d heard online about weird special classes, but never imagined one this absurd. Soulshadow Tianyou sighed, stroking her silver hair in frustration, utterly lost on what to do next.

She didn’t want to return to town. Looking like this, she’d draw too much attention—and trouble—in crowded areas. She hated trouble more than anything.

"Leather Armor Proficiency is usually for Archers or Assassins. I have Short Sword Proficiency, so I should lean toward Assassin. But melee classes typically dual-wield. Why can I only equip one main weapon?" Soulshadow Tianyou opened her equipment panel. Only her clothes and ring slots were filled; everything else was empty. She noticed something else too: her weapon slot only showed a main hand slot. The off-hand slot was solid gray—unavailable.

Melee classes like Swordsmen could dual-wield. Some showed off with two longswords, though it barely boosted attack. Most paired a sword with a shield for defense. Assassins almost always dual-wielded daggers. Even Archers could equip a dagger in their off-hand slot for close combat.

"Whatever. I’ll figure it out later. Time to check this pet egg." The silver-haired, dark-skinned girl stood up from the lakeshore. Barefoot, she walked to a quiet corner of the newbie map—the very spot where she’d poisoned the world boss, the Corrupted Monkey King, with mushrooms.

She summoned the pet egg from her inventory, cradling it in her hands as she read its description.

[Legendary Pet Egg (Monkey King’s Heir)]: Description: The sole surviving descendant of the Strength Monkey King, corrupted by the Plague Deity.

"What kind of description is this? It explains nothing!" Soulshadow Tianyou had seen through this game’s tricks, but she still couldn’t help complaining.

This time, she didn’t hesitate. She hatched the egg immediately.

*Crack... crackle...* Golden light burst from the fractures spreading across the shell, illuminating a corner of the map.

"Whoa~ This’ll blind me! What kind of pet will it be?" Soulshadow Tianyou asked, brimming with anticipation.

She truly was excited. After seeing the imposing Corrupted Monkey King, his descendant had to be equally impressive, right? Just imagining a hulking, two-meter-tall muscular humanoid monkey following her around made her heart race with how cool it would look!

Every boy must have dreamed of having Sun Wukong as a companion once. That corrupted Monkey King radiated low-key yet overwhelming power. If her pet could evolve to match him... the thought alone made her giddy.

"Haha~ If I had Sun Wukong trailing me, who’d dare mess with me?"

The golden light gradually dimmed until it vanished completely. Shards of eggshell littered the ground. A tiny figure sat amidst them.

Soulshadow Tianyou’s eyes widened. She froze, utterly stunned.

Reality had shattered her dreams.

This so-called "Monkey King’s Heir" was a petite young girl who looked about eleven or twelve. She had large, limpid golden eyes and smooth, delicate skin. Her messy chestnut-orange hair nearly reached her ankles. Rubbing her eyes sleepily with tiny hands, she looked utterly drowsy.

The little monkey girl had brown beast ears and a tail. She wore a fur vest and tiny shorts. A cute, miniature golden headband circled her forehead. She sat in a duck sit position, surrounded by broken eggshells.