Early the next morning, before dawn.

When Zhao Hu woke Lin Feng, rustling sounds were already coming from outside the kitchen shed.

"Put this on," Zhao Hu said, tossing two items over. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

One was a worn-out but thick piece of leather armor, with several rusty iron plates sewn onto the chest.

The other was a broadsword with a slightly curved blade and a handle wrapped in dirty strips of cloth.

Lin Feng caught them, and translucent information immediately appeared before his eyes:

【Worn Iron-Plated Leather Armor】

【Quality: Gray】

【Defense: 5】

【Durability: 27/50】

【Description: A crude, handmade item. The iron plates can barely withstand claws and blunt strikes, but cannot endure heavy blows.】

【Rusty Broadsword】

【Quality: Gray】

【Attack Power: 5】

【Durability: 33/60】

【Description: The edge is rusted in many places and requires frequent sharpening. It is barely sharp.】

"Equipment is divided into six grades," Zhao Hu said as he sat down and lit a cigarette. "Gray, White, Green, Blue, Purple, and Gold."

"Gray is the worst; most are handmade or simply processed from monster remains."

Lin Feng nodded, quickly # Nоvеlight # donned the leather armor, and strapped the broadsword to his waist. The armor was a bit large, and it only fit after he tightened the side straps.

"How are Defense and Attack Power calculated?" he asked.

Zhao Hu exhaled a puff of smoke. "You learned this in class, right? Everyone's base Attack Power equals their Strength attribute multiplied by five.

For example, if your Strength is 5, your base Attack Power is 25."

He pointed at the sword at Lin Feng's waist. "Adding the 5 points of Attack Power from this sword, your total Attack Power is now 30.

When you hit an enemy, the damage dealt equals your total Attack Power minus the target's Defense."

Lin Feng silently calculated his own stats—his Strength attribute was 7.5, multiplied by five was 37.5, plus the sword's 5 points, making his total Attack Power 42.5.

However, he knew that the theory learned in class might not perfectly match reality; there might be some hidden rules.

So he asked again, "What about Defense?"

"Without equipment, Defense equals the constitution attribute," Zhao Hu said. "Since you have leather armor, you add the equipment's Defense.

When injured, the health points deducted equal the incoming Attack Power minus your total Defense."

Lin Feng understood. His constitution was 7.5, plus the armor's 5 points, making his total Defense 12.5.

In other words, only damage exceeding 12.5 Attack Power would begin to reduce his health.

"Remember, the health bar isn't everything." Zhao Hu's tone became serious.

"While theoretically, as long as the health bar doesn't drop below 50 points, fatal injuries like severed limbs or a pierced chest won't take effect immediately, the pain is 100% real. As for common wounds like cuts, they will heal on their own as the health bar recovers."

He stared into Lin Feng's eyes. "A single slash can leave you in so much pain that you can't hold your weapon steady;"

"If your abdomen is pierced, you'll be too pained to move. The health bar only keeps you from dying; it doesn't mean you can keep fighting."

"What if the health bar drops below 50?" Lin Feng asked.

As soon as he spoke, the number the teacher had emphasized while tapping the blackboard in the Awakened Basics class surfaced from the depths of his mind.

Before Zhao Hu could speak, Lin Feng continued on his own, "50 points is the threshold. Below this number, the body begins to suffer actual physical damage. A severed limb is truly severed, and a pierced chest means a truly ruptured lung."

Zhao Hu flicked away some cigarette ash and nodded. "It seems your school taught you well."

"Let's go, the others are waiting." Zhao Hu pushed open the door.

In the open space at the center of the camp, four people had already gathered.

Besides Zhao Hu and Lin Feng, there were three veteran members: a tall, thin man carrying a longbow with the codename "Jian Yan";

a bald man as short and sturdy as an iron pier, carrying a hammer, with the codename "Tie Dun";

and a gloomy-faced woman with two short knives tucked into her waist, with the codename "Shadow Snake."

"Jian Yan for scouting, Tie Dun on the front line, Shadow Snake for flanking, and I'll command."

Zhao Hu quickly assigned tasks. "Lin Feng, follow behind me and maintain a five-meter distance. Watch first, then learn, and finally take action."

He glanced at everyone. "The eastern swamp. Objective: collect three stalks of Poison Heart Grass and hunt at least two Swamp Crocodiles. Let's move."

The team walked out of the camp gates in silence.

The morning mist had not yet dissipated, and the wilderness was shrouded in gray light. Lin Feng followed behind Zhao Hu, adapting to his equipment as he walked.

The leather armor was heavier than expected, and the iron plates clicked softly against each other as he moved. The broadsword hung at his waist, swaying gently with his steps.

After walking for about half an hour, the terrain began to change.

The withered yellow wilderness was gradually replaced by damp mud, and the air was filled with the mixed scent of rotting plants and silt.

A low-lying area appeared ahead, dotted with puddles, with sparse reeds swaying in the mist.

"Stop." Zhao Hu raised his hand.

The team stopped immediately. Jian Yan silently climbed a nearby crooked tree and pulled out a monocular from his coat to observe the area ahead.

"Two o'clock direction, two hundred meters, two Corrosive Poison Toads."

His voice came from the tree. "Ten o'clock direction, something is moving in the puddles, can't see clearly."

"Bypass the toads," Zhao Hu ordered. "Jian Yan, stay on lookout. Everyone else, follow me to the left."

The team changed direction, advancing along the edge of the swamp. Lin Feng carefully stepped on firmer ground to avoid sinking into the mud.

Suddenly, the puddle at the ten o'clock direction exploded!

A three-meter-long, mud-covered crocodile-like creature lunged out, opening its toothy maw and charging straight for the center of the team!

"Swamp Crocodile!" Tie Dun roared, swinging his iron hammer to meet it.

But he was a bit too far away to intercept it completely.

Zhao Hu had already drawn his longsword. "Focus fire! Assume training formation!"

Jian Yan's first arrow had already been fired, accurately hitting the Swamp Crocodile's left eye.

-18!

Red numbers floated above the Swamp Crocodile's head, and its health bar appeared, decreasing by about 5%. It roared in pain, its assault slowing slightly.

Tie Dun's iron hammer finally connected, slamming heavily into the crocodile's side.

-32!

Shadow Snake moved like a ghost to the rear, her twin blades repeatedly stabbing at the crocodile's hind leg joints.

-11! -11!

Zhao Hu's longsword pierced the crocodile's relatively soft underbelly.

-48!

Lin Feng watched from five meters away, his brain calculating rapidly.

His General's instinct allowed him to instantly judge the situation: this Swamp Crocodile's Defense was around 12, and its total health was approximately 350. The team of four had dealt 120 damage in one round, about 35%.

Based on experience points being distributed by damage contribution, if he didn't take action, he would barely get any experience from this monster.

More importantly—he needed actual combat.

"Lin Feng!" Zhao Hu shouted while swinging his sword. "There's an opening on the right! Go!"

The opportunity had arrived.

Lin Feng took a deep breath and lunged forward.

The instinctive memories of the General class were activated at that moment—how to exert force, how to step, and how to focus his entire body's strength into a single point.

He aimed for the right side of the Swamp Crocodile's neck, exposed by its pain, gripped the sword with both hands, and delivered a full-force diagonal slash!

【Attack Check: Total Attack Power 42.5】

【Target Defense: 12 (Thick Hide)】

【Damage Dealt: 30.5】

"Pfft!"

The blade cut deep into the gaps between the scales on the crocodile's neck, and dark red blood gushed out.

-31!

This single slash's damage was actually close to Tie Dun's heavy hammer strike!

Zhao Hu's pupils contracted slightly.

He was a Level 7 Warrior with a Strength attribute of 9. Equipped with a White-grade common longsword with 15 Attack Power, his total Attack Power was 60. Against this crocodile with 12 Defense, one strike only dealt 48 damage.

Lin Feng's strike dealt 31... Working backward using the damage formula, his Attack Power was at least 42.

An Attack Power of 42 meant a Strength attribute of at least 7.5.

How could a newcomer who had only just Awakened a few days ago have 7.5 Strength? Unless...

A flash of doubt crossed Zhao Hu's mind, but the battle allowed for no distractions.