With average equipment, his Health barely topped six hundred. Cast just two Water Orbs, and he would be crying for his mommy. Compared to Gray, Aiden's attributes were cannon fodder. Once Gray hit Level 11, his four core attributes had already passed a thousand. One blast of Dragon's Breath—no matter the target—dealt 5,000 actual damage. Even the tankiest classes would be bleeding out. After paying 800 marks, Aiden stowed the remaining epic equipment and left the appraisal shop under the owner's envious gaze. The only task left was grinding and waiting for Sienna's message. ... Ashfog Valley was shrouded in thick mist that stretched for hundreds of miles. Visibility was barely a few yards. Beastly roars echoed through the fog, sending chills down the spine. Few dared enter. Outside Leafport, this was the densest beast zone and known as the highest-efficiency grinding spot. Danger was constant. In Aiden's past life, only elite teams dared to level here. A five-person frontline typically had dozens in the rear providing supply and crowd control, and even then, wipeouts were frequent. Top-tier players often died here. Now, Aiden stood alone. Gray's attributes made even Level 30 beasts trivial. For pure experience, killing something 10 or 20 levels higher was the same. Ashfog Valley, populated mostly with Level 20 beasts, was perfect for the current stage. "Roar!" No sooner had he entered the valley than several pitch-black hyenas focused on him. 'Gray Hyena: Level 21' 'Attributes: Level gap too large; cannot view.' 'Description: Hyenas corrupted by gray mist. Violent by nature, now bloodthirsty. They attack any creature that looks unusual, with a tendency for backdoor assaults.' 'Friendly tip: Protect your backside.' "D*mn, these sick freaks," Aiden muttered. Ashfog Valley's terror came primarily from these hyenas. Unlike other beasts, dying to them didn't just mean a quick respawn. A targeted player could suffer truly grotesque consequences. Players who experienced it described the sensation as a mini blender where the sun doesn't shine. The sting lingered. After midnight, rumors claimed some "enthusiasts" wandered the valley. "Gray!" Aiden called. True to his era's moral compass, he wasn't a masochist. "Awooo!" Gray howled and charged the pack. '-998' '-5,000' '-997' 'You killed a Gray Hyena. EXP +240' 'You killed a Gray Hyena. EXP +235' Numbers exploded across the screen. These Level-20-something Gray Hyenas had high attack and massive Health, but Gray's attributes dwarfed them. One swipe left them at death's door; two, and they were gone. Unlucky ones hit by Dragon's Breath evaporated entirely. Aiden's experience bar surged. Grinding was effortless. All he had to do was pick a safe vantage and watch for other dangers. For someone with his gaming experience, it was child's play."This is living," he murmured, contrasting it with his past life as a broke knight, constantly getting pummeled. Time passed. "Ding! Congratulations, you reached Level 12." "Ding! Your beast, Gray, reached Level 12." Compared to fighting low-level beasts outside the city, this grind was much faster. At eight that night, Aiden hit Level 12. "Not bad. At this pace, going all-out could net at least two levels a day. Today was unlucky—no boss spawns. Adding boss farming would further increase experience. Reaching Level 20? Just a few days away."