Well, almost none.
A few threads hinted at cracks in Tempest’s dominance. Mentions of the top-four guild, DragonForce, piqued Hayato's curiosity. They were rumored to be Tempest’s subordinate, a puppet faction working behind the scenes to keep the illusion of competition alive. Then there was Kingdom, the second-ranked guild, known for its unwavering pacifism.
Too much pacifism, Hayato noted, narrowing his eyes at the screen. It didn’t sit right with him; it felt calculated, even sinister.
Fate, the third-ranked guild, stood out as a wildcard. They avoided overt conflicts but didn’t kowtow to Tempest. A few speculative posts suggested Fate might be quietly consolidating power, preparing to strike.
No point digging into the lower-ranked guilds, he decided. The mid-tier guilds were small fry—hardly worth his attention.
He rubbed his temples and leaned forward, clicking on a thread titled “Hacker?” The post had racked up a surprising amount of attention. For a moment, Hayato felt a flicker of hope. Maybe Tempest's dominance wasn’t entirely legitimate.
But as he scrolled, disappointment set in. It was the same tired urban legends—ghost players, unbeatable characters, rumors without substance.
Waste of time, he thought, shutting down the forums and launching the game.
“This time, no distractions,” he muttered to himself. “I’m going to make up for yesterday.”
As the game loaded, he checked the guild list. Chisa offline. Relief washed over him. No need to explain why he hadn’t leveled as much. No need to deal with her relentless optimism.
Logging in, he found himself in the same forest where he'd logged out. He checked his gear, adjusted his hotkeys, and calculated his odds.
Three-to-five levels higher than me should be manageable, he mused.
His plan was simple: optimize his Area-of-Effect (AoE) skills and grind efficiently. Armed with knowledge from his past playthroughs, Hayato quickly gained momentum. By the time he reached level 10, he had a clear grasp of his new class’s potential. The combos clicked, the skill tree mapped itself out in his mind, and his confidence soared.
At level 12, however, unease crept in—a prickling sensation on the back of his neck.
Someone’s watching me.
A trio of players emerged, their movements casual but deliberate. Outlaws guild tags floated above their heads.
“Hey there, cutie,” one of the girls purred, her tone saccharine and disarming. “Care to party up?”
Hayato glanced at them briefly, his expression impassive. “No thanks.”
“Aw, don’t be like that,” another chimed in, batting her eyelashes.
The third girl leaned closer, lowering her voice. “We could make it worth your while, you know.”
He didn’t even blink. “I’m fine solo.”
Their persistence grated on him, but Hayato kept his composure. After a few more failed attempts to sway him, the girls eventually gave up, walking away with exaggerated huffs of annoyance. Hayato watched them go, shaking his head slightly.
Minutes passed as Hayato returned his focus to leveling. His movements became sharper, his AoE skills slicing through mobs with mechanical precision. The forest grew quieter, the hum of monsters giving way to the whisper of leaves swaying in the breeze.
That was when he heard it—a soft laugh.
“Hehehe… Look who we have here.”
Hayato turned sharply, his eyes narrowing as he recognized the mage from his earlier encounter in the desert. The smug grin on the mage’s face made Hayato’s jaw tighten. This time, they’d brought a third member—a hunter, level 15.
“Fate must really like us,” the mage sneered. “Let’s see how you fare without any help this time, scrub.”
Hayato raised an eyebrow, feigning boredom. “Funny you say that when it’s three-on-one. And wait…” His lips curled into a smirk. “You’re still level 19? Didn’t manage to level up after last time? Pathetic.”
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The mage’s grin faltered, replaced by a scowl. “You’re dead meat!”
What followed was almost laughable. The Outlaws trio charged with all the coordination of a herd of blind sheep. Hayato sidestepped their attacks, countering with precision. His AoE skills shredded their health bars, leaving them scrambling.
Victory.
Have they gotten worse? he wondered. No, I’ve definitely improved.
A notification caught his attention.
Hunter’s Mark.
Hmm? Hayato opened his skills menu and reread the description of Hunter’s Mark:
Hunter’s Mark: Passive (On/Off) / Active
- When the player is killed in PvP or by a boss/special mob with the passive mode on, the player who killed them is marked for 24 hours. This mark allows the player to see the approximate location of their target during this period.
- The mark can also be renewed by a party or guild member of the defeated player using the active mode.
- The skill has a 25-hour cooldown (no penalty for killing a marked player).
- The color of the mark changes based on the number of days it is maintained, maxing out at red = 7+ days.
Should I be worried? Nah, I doubt those three could take me down, and I’ll soon outlevel them anyway, Hayato reasoned as he headed for a more challenging area to continue leveling up.
While grinding in a distant part of the forest, Hayato noticed that he was gradually being surrounded by several players who had hidden themselves behind trees, on branches, and in bushes. One figure, a swordsman with a macabre grin, walked slowly toward him, eyes locked onto Hayato.
Sensing the threat, Hayato disengaged from combat with the mobs. The swordsman stopped a short distance away but kept his unsettling smile fixed on Hayato.
“Can I help you?” Hayato asked.
“Oh, sorry. I was just admiring the player who caused some trouble for my friends and got a bit distracted,” the swordsman replied. “And yes, you can help me—you will help me.”
“Friends?” Hayato asked.
“My apologies again. Where are my manners? I’m KidFury, the leader of the Outlaws guild.”
“Your friends were the ones who caused the trouble, both times. I didn’t even get penalized for killing them,” Hayato said, keeping his voice steady.
KidFury’s smile widened. “Calm down. I haven’t accused you of anything—are you admitting guilt?”
He’s already made up his mind about what he’s going to do. Fighting isn’t a good option; he’s max level, Hayato thought.
“You know, I’m usually a forgiving person,” KidFury continued, his tone dripping with mock sincerity. “I’m a generous guy, but I can also be cruel to those who harm my family. And this guild is my family. But let’s get to the point—you must be wondering what you can do to earn my forgiveness.”
No, I’m not, Hayato thought, keeping his expression neutral.
“It’s simple,” KidFury said, his smile widening. “I want everything—all the money and items you have now and everything you’ll get until I feel like stopping. Don’t worry, though. I might stop… eventually. Maybe a month, a year… or never. It depends on my mood. But don’t worry—I’m a nice guy, just seeking justice for my family.”
He advanced slowly, closing the distance until he was nearly within skill range.
Hayato gave a slight smile. “No chance. And please, stop smiling like that—it’s creepy.”
KidFury’s expression twitched, his eyes narrowing. Without another word, he activated his skill.
Hayato, standing at the very edge of its range, stepped back just in time to dodge. Without hesitation, he turned and bolted in the opposite direction.
As he neared a tree, a level 28 warrior from the Outlaws guild sprang out from behind it. The warrior used Shield Bash, sending Hayato flying back toward KidFury.
Hayato reacted instinctively. Twisting his body mid-air, he veered to the right, taking minimal damage but leaving himself with only a sliver of health. He landed on his feet and sprinted toward an open area where no one could hide, his movements fueled by adrenaline.
“Don’t let him get away!” KidFury shouted, his voice echoing through the forest.
The Outlaws members who had been hiding emerged from their cover and began chasing Hayato, while archers and mages launched spells and arrows at him from a distance.
Hayato dodged their attacks with practiced agility, using trees, large rocks, and even passive monsters as cover. Some of his pursuers were delayed or even killed by the monsters, their lack of teamwork costing them dearly.
They have no coordination. If they were smarter, I’d have no chance.
He glanced back briefly, watching as chaos erupted among the Outlaws. Spells misfired, arrows missed their mark, and the monsters did most of the work for him.
I’d better keep moving to higher-level areas—the monsters are doing all the heavy lifting for me, Hayato thought as he ran.
Eventually, when most of the Outlaws were either dead or had given up, a level 55 fighter shouted, “Retreat! Let’s regroup. We’re out of healers, too!”
They’re giving up? Just because they’re out of healers? Hayato wondered, slowing his pace. I’d better take this chance to return to the city.
Hayato returned to the city without further incident. Upon arrival, he was surrounded by a few Outlaws members who hurled insults and threats at him.
“Let’s see you leave the city!”
“You’re a dead man!”
“What a pathetic loser!”
Hayato simply ignored them.
Nearby, Chisa noticed him from across the plaza. Her face lit up with a smile.
I’m glad he’s already made friends and leveled up a lot today. He’s doing so well, she thought, a hint of admiration in her expression.
Suddenly, a wave of determination swept over her. Chisa slapped her cheeks with both hands and exclaimed aloud, “Ahhh! At this rate, he’s going to surpass my level and won’t want to team up with me anymore. I need to get back to leveling!”
Her voice was loud enough to turn a few heads, but she didn’t seem to notice.
Hayato, deciding to take a break, logged out and rested for a while. A short time later, he logged back in and immediately noticed someone from the Outlaws guild lurking nearby.
Seriously? They’re going to take turns watching me now? Tch, what a pain… Hayato thought, annoyed but unsurprised.
Still, he couldn’t deny that the day had been productive. I could’ve leveled up more, but I’ll figure something out tomorrow.
Hayato wandered through the city, lost in thought, as the Outlaws member continued to tail him from a safe distance. Eventually, Hayato logged out again, deciding to call it a day.
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