Chapter 171: Elite Specialization
With the system panel notification, three new options appeared:
[Rapid Fire: Your speed with ranged weapons far surpasses the average. Attack speed +20%, and an additional +5% when wielding a revolver.]
[Battle Expert: After entering combat, all attributes increase every 30 seconds, up to a maximum of +15%. The effect gradually fades after leaving combat.]
[Firearms Genius: You excel at using all firearms; every gun is equally deadly in your hands. While wielding firearms, your attack power increases by 20%, and your critical hit rate gains an additional +3%.]
As this was the ultimate specialization for a level 30 class, all three options were dazzling and nearly as powerful as elite specializations, making the choice quite difficult.
The first option offered a massive boost to attack speed, allowing one to maximize the impact of supernatural bullets. With this boost, the Ebony could even reach a 145% firing rate—definitely worth considering.
The second option was equally powerful, offering a stat boost every 30 seconds during combat. Not only would this enhance output, but it would also boost survivability and magic resistance—a truly overpowered ability.
As for the third option, it provided a straightforward, raw boost: 20% more attack power and a 3% increase in crit rate. Simple and brutal.
After a brief moment of thought, Zhou Ning chose the third option. Sometimes, simplicity is beauty.
[You have acquired the level 30 class specialization: Firearms Genius!]
[Your specialization Firearms Genius shares traits with specialization Firearms Knowledge and talent Firearms Master. Would you like to fuse them? This is a unique specialization—other Gunslinger players are unaffected.]
"This specialization can actually evolve?" Zhou Ning blinked in surprise.
In the game Apocalypse, some specializations could indeed be fused. For example, Zhou Ning previously obtained Revolver Specialization (Beginner). If he had chosen Revolver Specialization (Intermediate) at level 20, the Beginner version would have been replaced, and the Intermediate version would receive a slight boost. That was precisely why Zhou Ning had skipped that talent back then.
"Yes!"
[Synthesis complete!]
[You have lost talent: Firearms Master.]
[You have lost specialization: Firearms Knowledge.]
[Firearms Genius has evolved into Firearms Genius (Elite): You excel at using all firearms; every gun is equally deadly in your hands. While wielding firearms, your attack power increases by 33%, and your critical hit rate gains an additional +5%. This talent is universally effective for all firearms.]
"Perfect!"
Zhou Ning let out a breath of relief. If the original Firearms Genius was close to elite-tier, the upgraded version could be considered top-tier even among elite specializations.
With a straight 33% increase in attack power, and that final line—universal firearm compatibility—re-activating both his Revolver Mastery talent and revolver bonuses, Zhou Ning estimated that his actual damage output might have risen by as much as 40%.
Terrifying, to say the least.
With a healthy amount of experience points remaining, Zhou Ning didn't bother holding back. He instantly maxed out his Alchemist sub-class from level 10 to 20. Factoring in the bonus from his Extraordinary Physique specialization, this class provided him with 5 Agility, 15 Willpower, 15 Spirit, and 10 free attribute points.
[Advanced Alchemist] had now reached the level 20 cap. Further advancement would require Alchemy to reach the Expert level, but Zhou Ning didn't have enough blueprints yet.
Upgrading the Alchemist class had cost him about 600,000 experience points. With over 300,000 left, he decided to hold on to the rest for now.
With 30 free attribute points remaining, Zhou Ning immediately invested 10 into Vitality, distributing the rest evenly between Willpower and Spirit to shore up his weaker stats.
His total level was now 57, and his personal attributes were as follows:
[Strength 38, Agility 170, Vitality 105, Willpower 79, Spirit 87, Charisma 100]
HP: 1760/1760
Stamina: 1060/1060
Willpower: 79/79
Combat Power: 10,698
...
[Note: Your strength is now enough to establish yourself in this world, but your looks remain your most defining trait.]
His combat power had finally broken the 10,000 mark. With the natural growth from the Ripple Breathing Technique, his Strength had reached 38, and Agility soared to 170. Combined with the elite-tier Firearms Genius specialization and its nearly 40% damage boost, Zhou Ning himself could hardly imagine just how devastating his DPS had become.
Zhou Ning was confident that if he went all out, using every last trump card, he might not yet be able to defeat the most overpowered players he knew in the current version—but the gap was narrowing. At worst, it would be a 30-70 split, maybe even 40-60.
More importantly, he still had room to grow. As long as players existed, he would never run out of experience sources.
"As the saying goes: 'A man with a sharp blade is bound to have killing intent.' With my current strength, I should be able to start messing with the Curse God Cult… Once I return to Darkland, the one who's going to have a headache will be Harrison Rivers."
After maxing out the Gunslinger class to level 30, Zhou Ning noticed that the class transfer button next to it had lit up. Upon clicking, a prompt appeared:
Class Advancement Requirements:
[10 class specializations – Requirement Met (Current: 7) (Click to view)]
[4 core buff skills – Requirement Met (Current: 2) (Click to view)]
[15 active skills – Requirement Met (Current: 10) (Click to view)]
After reading through the full requirements, Zhou Ning received a new quest.
[You have triggered D-Rank Quest: Gunslinger (Class Advancement)]
[Quest Description: The Gunslinger class you've developed has reached a bottleneck. To progress further, your gunplay must advance through practical application.]
[Quest Objective: Defeat or kill five boss-level enemies using firearms.]
[Reward: Eligibility to advance the Gunslinger class.]
Zhou Ning: "…"
The advancement requirements were pretty harsh. He'd now have to enter a long period of skill fusion, a likely painful process that would involve continued skill hunting through the simulator.
However, while the advancement quest seemed tough, it was actually the easiest part for him. If nothing else, bosses like Hogger, Herald Kirtonos, Ramsden, and even the Clown from the Purification of Stratholme dungeon all qualified.
Worst case scenario, he'd just run the dungeon multiple times and knock them off bit by bit.
…
Thanks to the anti-toxin potion Zhou Ning had crafted, players finally managed to defeat Gnomeregan's first boss: Viscous Fallout. The results were thrilling—they not only received a massive amount of experience but also obtained the first rare-grade staff in the game: Watervine, a typical supernatural weapon.
It provided +10 Frost Resistance, +3 Spirit, and even granted the player a supernatural ability: underwater breathing. A true top-tier item that only required level 12 to equip.
The discovery caused a stir across the forums and sparked a wave of motivation among players in West Lin Town. By the time Zhou Ning returned the next morning with a fresh batch of potions and ten recommendation letters, he was mobbed in the town square.
Compared to the dungeon's incredible rewards, the upfront investment of 200 Vecktas seemed trivial. Groups quickly pooled funds to buy recommendation letters, making it well worth the price.
By the time Zhou Ning wrapped up his final day in West Lin Town and returned to the camp at noon, he had practically squeezed every ounce of potential from the player base there—earning himself a windfall of both cash and experience.
Before leaving West Lin Town, Zhou Ning also posted a lucrative follow-up quest for Qingbai Wild Sake, who, as a commentator, would be temporarily accompanying him.
But when he saw the hopeful look on Haicheng's face, he thought for a moment and gave him a follower quest as well.
After some observation, Zhou Ning felt the guy had decent strength and—more importantly—was loaded. Worth nurturing. And with the coming Meteorological Tides full of danger, it would be helpful to have a meat shield to scout ahead. After all, players could be resurrected—he could use them freely and without restraint.
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