Tyrants of Earth - The Legend of Artigan

“I don't think the issue with the [Gunner] class is that it's weak. It’s that your realm achievements are lower when you blast your way out of the lower Trials. By the time you’re in the fifth realm, you're not going to have a single Rare skill. What I’m going to do instead, is try to challenge the higher Sectors with guns before attempting the lower Trials.”

- Leviath [Mage], realm 1 at the time.

*The viability and initial reported success of Leviath’s methodology has caused an influx of adventurers attempting a similar path. This was later called sector boosting and became fairly common in the golden generation. That was, of course, until the obvious flaws came to light.

The stab 'em as they enter technique was an oldie but a goodie. It happened much more often in the Settler generation, when the countries of Earth fought each other over Trial entrances. Ryan had come up with the idea while talking to Barry about dealing with Trial intrusions.

He had started running the moment he’d kicked Garbolt out of the Trial entrance. He wasn’t stupid. Whatever team that entered next would be prepared for another surprise attack. The best-case scenario was that another team wouldn’t enter. Either way, he’d have more time if whichever team came next would comb the Trial for surprise attacks.

Getting rid of extra spare capacity was just a bonus.

He slashed Zedart’s longsword at a golem made entirely of dirt. The blade shattered a manacore that was moving around the exterior. Five more golems on stubby legs were shambling towards him.