051 The Mightiest Little Troublemaker!

As an Elven Thief, it was only natural to check for traps below; these were tasks typically reserved for the rogue of the party. While Atlas usually handled such duties, the recent addition of a second-tier rogue made him the obvious choice for the job. In Atlas’s own words, "Better him than me!"

Opportunities to earn contributions toward epic or legendary gear were indeed available, and if this Elven thief proved his worth, he would eventually earn such rewards without needing to beg the team. Atlas loved having others work for him for free, and he was a master of using verbal promises to be fulfilled only when the loot actually dropped. The Elven thief, eager to lead the way, was more than happy to add to his team contribution tally.

As the thief descended to scout, Stan briefly introduced the team members, starting with their leader, Atlas. "Atlas is a Paladin with three-spec mastery—capable of tanking, healing, and dealing damage. He wields the legendary shield 'Holy Light Shield' and the legendary one-handed axe 'Storm Hammer,' the latter of which has been specially reinforced. Beyond his versatility, Atlas is a Grandmaster Engineer, capable of crafting many practical gadgets. He also boasts the widest network of connections in the team; if you need help, he’s the right person to find."

"He’s also quite the schemer. If someone offends you, Atlas is the best person to turn to—he can come up with hundreds of ways to make their lives miserable," Chen Feng interjected. Atlas had intended to offer a modest response, but Chen Feng’s sudden comment made him slightly awkward. However, Atlas was thick-skinned enough to simply laugh it off.

Venge, the Elven Huntress, sat watching Chen Feng lounge with a beer, her expression one of disdain. "You look like a common hoodlum. What kind of skills do you have to justify being a frontline member?"

Before Stan could explain, Atlas cut in, "Beauty, he may have the personality of a hoodlum, but don't let his casual appearance fool you. He is extremely cautious in his work and a master of deception. If anyone angers you and you want to get back at them, he’s your man. He’s incredibly good at putting people in their place, and he’s remarkably witty! Even the folks from the Cobra organization were left speechless by him last time."

"You short-arse, did you have to take revenge so quickly?" Chen Feng cursed lightly. He hadn't expected Atlas to retaliate so swiftly after being ribbed. Still, Chen Feng didn't mind; his hoodlum-like persona was indeed his true self.

"Crow, I was paying you a compliment, just like you did for me!" Atlas replied casually.

The Elven Druid, Gwen, glanced at Chen Feng. She was well aware of his strength and the silent rapport he shared with Atlas—the way they had maneuvered her into the team was proof enough. Still, she wanted to hear Stan’s introduction. "He’s a dual-spec warrior with Fury and Protection, right?"

"I’m nicknamed the Strongest Fury Warrior; Protection is just my secondary spec!" Chen Feng boasted nonchalantly, sensing the Elven beauty’s interest.

Atlas added, "Whether you or Baru is the stronger Fury Warrior, I can't say, but you are definitely the best actor and the biggest poser of them all."

Atlas would never forget the time Chen Feng had played the 'noob' on the island off the south coast of Ghana and swindled him out of the fourth treasure. He had seen good actors, but never a player who could deceive even him. During the tower challenge, Chen Feng had claimed there were legendary items and a throne, baiting Atlas into trading away his legendary sword and epic refining stones. In the end, Chen Feng took the throne, and Atlas walked away with a single piece of purple gear—a total loss.

"Shorty, are you still holding a grudge over that 'trash' sword and those stones? If we get something good this time, I'll let you take first pick!" Chen Feng had indeed exaggerated last time, but he had proven the throne existed; it was just Atlas’s own overconfidence and slow reaction that cost him.

"You said it yourself—I won't mind taking a little extra!" Atlas had no issue with taking a larger share of the loot.

Chen Feng already had an ancient god-tier scroll in his bag, so he didn't care much about the treasure below. As long as he walked away with one or two items, he was happy to take less in gems or gold.

"Are you two finished? Can I actually finish the introduction now?" Stan was tempted to lash out; he couldn't compete with their ability to hijack a conversation.

"Fine, fine, go ahead!" Chen Feng fell silent, and Atlas wandered over to the beer barrel to refill his mug.

Stan paused briefly before introducing Chen Feng to the Elven Druid. "Duan Chen Feng possesses dual-spec capabilities in Fury and Protection. His Fury spec grants him immense burst damage, making him highly effective in both dungeons and arenas. His Protection spec is also quite impressive; with his current skill bonuses, he can solo heroic dungeons without issue and can serve as the team’s main tank if necessary..."

"Actually, my tanking ability isn't that great; I'm still learning. Better leave the main tanking to you and Atlas," Chen Feng interrupted, cutting the detailed breakdown short.

He could handle main tanking in normal dungeons, but high-difficulty raids or world bosses were a different story. The main tank was usually the first to die in a wipe, and Chen Feng had no desire to die—especially in the wild, where it could cost him his Ring.

"I personally specialize in healing, especially group healing. That’s my strength. While I have a tank spec and a legendary shield, that’s only for specific quests!" Atlas quickly pushed the tanking role back. In many teams, everyone vied for the main tank position, but in this group, everyone seemed desperate to avoid it.

Healing generated low threat, was safer, and allowed for a much more relaxed experience. Atlas loved the simplicity and the ability to act as a secondary commander.

"Why are you interrupting again? Keep going!" Venge, the Elven Huntress, interjected as the three men debated the tanking role.

Stan, realizing he had been derailed again, returned to the point. "Chen Feng’s gear is incredibly strong. He wields the legendary two-handed sword 'Frostmourne,' a synthesized weapon that triggers specific plot lines, and he also possesses the legendary one-handed 'Brotherhood Sword.' Beyond his two legendary weapons, he has the purple-grade 'Storm Sword.' You saw his pet earlier; I believe it’s a top-tier, maxed-out Dark Rhino Warrior, fully capable of serving as a tanking pet."

"As Atlas mentioned, Chen Feng is cautious and avoids pointless risks. You can consult him about pet cultivation. Also, he has a Barbarian Shapeshifter alt—which, Gwen, is the same class as your Druid. You two should exchange notes."

Stan had omitted one of Chen Feng’s abilities: his lethal assassination skills. For now, Stan wasn't certain if Chen Feng was truly a master assassin, and since the one incident involving Atlan remained unconfirmed and Chen Feng wasn't talking, he left it out.

When the subject of pets came up, Venge, a Beast Mastery Hunter, was immediately intrigued and asked Chen Feng to show her his Dark Rhino Warrior. One look was enough to realize her own pet paled in comparison. She spent the rest of the time questioning him on his training methods, while Gwen chatted with Chen Feng about the nuances of the Druid and Shapeshifter classes.

As Stan hadn't yet introduced the two women, Chen Feng took the lead, keeping them engaged. Despite his occasional crude remarks, his hoodlum-like personality made for a far more entertaining conversation than the dry, game-focused talk offered by Stan and Atlas. The women’s perception of him shifted; they were genuinely drawn to his insights and charisma.

"Duan Chen Feng, I personally don't think you're the 'strongest Fury Warrior'—you're more like the 'strongest hoodlum,'" Venge remarked after Chen Feng’s witty explanation of pet mutations and skill leveling. She was impressed; he understood pets better than most hunters, and he explained things with a clarity that the high-level hunters she’d consulted previously had lacked.

"The Strongest Hoodlum?"

Chen Feng nearly spit out his peanut at the title. It seemed her opinion of him had improved, though his reputation as a troublemaker stuck. He took the most pride in his burst damage and combat prowess, yet it seemed his 'hoodlum' persona had become his most famous trait.

Gwen was interested in his views on the Druid class. Chen Feng summarized the Druid's arena role in one simple phrase: "Born to be support!" While Druids could heal, tank, and deal damage—theoretically matching Atlas’s three-spec versatility—they lacked the convenience and raw power of Atlas. Atlas didn't need to shift forms to perform his roles, and his effects were often stronger. The only advantage a Druid held was the lack of shared cooldowns across forms and greater mobility. Unlike the Paladin, the Druid was no "lame duck" in the arena.

Gwen’s Druid also had an Owlkin form—essentially a giant penguin—which acted as a ranged magical DPS. However, Chen Feng argued that even with that, she would always remain a support. He told her plainly: in the arena, her role was support; there were always others better suited for pure DPS or pure healing. In dungeons, her place was in the tree form, where her healing output could rival dedicated healers.

Gwen expressed a desire to try a DPS role, believing her Panther and Owlkin forms were sufficient, and that she could shift into Bear form if she drew aggro. Chen Feng acknowledged the theory of melee burst followed by ranged kiting, but pointed out that in an arena, interference from others would inevitably force her back into a support role.

Everyone wanted to be the DPS, to land the killing blows and chase high numbers, but spots were limited. Chen Feng felt it necessary to temper her expectations, as she was a far superior support player than even Stan. If she utilized her abilities correctly, she could easily eliminate an opposing team’s healer.