As the saber-tooth roared, a shockwave consisting of blue lighting surged through my entire body. It was intense—perhaps too much, as I imagined it would be.
[Damage Sustained!]
[Health: 735/1860]
Catching the mage woman by surprise was one thing. Even fighting the swordsman whom I eliminated afterwards, wasn’t this tough. They were indeed strong. I managed to defeat them due to the additional buffs I received. I still struggled a bit against that swordsman though.
Right now, the tamer and the saber-tooth were left. As I looked at the saber-tooth protecting his master, I breathed heavily. I exhausted myself too much. My visions were getting blurred as well.
[Warning! Fatigue has reached its maximum limit]
[Warning! Fatigue has reached its maximum limit]
’No wonder it has.’ I thought, selecting a bottle of potion from the system inventory. ’But as long as I have these, I still may have a chance to defeat him. No. I will defeat him. I’ll be dead otherwise.’
[Healing portion has been applied]
[400 health points recovered]
[40% fatigue reduced]
After the recovery I stood again, slashing the dual Crimson Star dagger into the air as I stared at the saber-tooth.
"Don’t get too cocky, brat." The tamer called out. He seemed collective now. The impression of anger had already faded from his face. Perhaps my struggle against his tamed beast gave him confidence. "Just because you have defeated those two doesn’t mean you’d be a match for Bagha. Those two were weak anyway. I kept them along just because they had the quality of becoming pro PKers."
’PKers, eh?’ I thought, frowning at him as I asked, "What’s so good about PK-ing anyway? You guys are just hindrances and love to get into other players’ way. Don’t you have anything to accomplish for yourself rather than disturbing the players?"
"What nonsense is that? There’s no fun in killing mobs and NPCs who will be respawned again and again with no drop loot in the second round. But killing a player is the ultimate fun one can ever get. We can destroy their efforts by killing them before they can save their game data. We can also get all the Arthum they have collected so far..."
That was true. Arthum was one of the three currency systems the game had provided. Being the lowest among and widely usable Arthum was an essential currency and players used it for many purposes. However, there was only one drawback to it. Other players could snatch all the Arthum by killing another player.
Of course, it would brand the player as a PK. Additionally, it would decrease their Merit Points too. Merit Points, by the way, hardly mattered for a PK. They didn’t bother thinking over some points since it wasn’t necessary for them.
"I specifically have another reason for becoming a PK. I acquired an extra skill that allows me to snatch a random item from the inventory of the players I killed. Instead of hunting monsters to get those items, I just prefer killing players. Haha!"
His laugh made my blood boil. More than that, his reasons—they filled me with rage that I couldn’t express in words.
"Scum!" I mumbled, trying to maintain the flames of my anger but not letting them extinguish. "You prefer to snatch other players’ effort rather than doing it by yourself? Even scum is the highest level of honor for a person like you."
I tightened the grip of the dual dagger I was holding. I was indeed more ferocious than the saber-tooth now.
"Don’t judge me, brat. It’s just a game. It’s not like I’m doing this stuff in IRL." He yelled, commanding the saber-tooth afterward, "Now Bagha, use ’Bolt Shot’."
The saber tooth roared, blue electric surging through his furs and fangs as he rushed towards me vigorously.
I knew it was a game. There was no point in judging a player like that. Of course, someone played game to do the stuff they couldn’t do IRL. I was the same too, yet different than anyone else.
I had a very complex health in real life. The avatar I was using right now might have a regal look with electric-blue hair—slightly long till my shoulder, and golden eyes— a resemblance of divine relic. However, in real life... it was entirely different.
Most of my hair had turned white due to melanin deficiency from a young age, and at the same time, I had anhedonia. I couldn’t take an interest in anything. To me, pleasure was something that only existed in a fantasy world. Although my childhood wasn’t particularly sad or miserable, I never knew what happiness felt like.
It was ’Her’—my only childhood friend, who helped me overcome my numbness by pushing me into the world of games. The first thing I played was a Battle Royal and ever since I indulged myself in playing those games.
Of course, I’d overcome my obstacles and became I professional. Funny, I even failed once in the first year of my university due to the IGC-S5 tournament and she failed on purpose to remain by my side.
I understood the actual world better through the world of games. Hence, there was something that I honored.
’Respect the players regardless of their strength and never kneel to someone arrogant and self-observed.’
I narrowed down my eyes as the saber-tooth closed in. He was fast. Yet the time seemed slow for some reason. As I looked at the chaos coming towards me, one final thought crossed my mind.
’Those who don’t put effort and choose the wrong way to become professional—specifically in games— were the worst scums whom I despised most.’
The dual dagger in my hand shone brightly. Nearly putting all my might caused my fatigue to touch the sky before unleashing it.
[Skill Gauge: 100%]
[Class-Exclusive Ultimate Attack is available]
The system panel notified me. I already knew what I needed to do right now. I ignored the notification. As the saber-tooth jumped at me with his devastating attack, I rushed, cutting through the wind as though a knife cutting through butter.
"Inverse Slash!"
My attack landed on the perfect spot—which was on his forehead, by the way. However, I took more damage than I inflicted on him.
With a sudden shake of his massive body, I fell and his fangs pierced through my torso. It was lethal. The pain was scattering across my body in a rocketing way.
[Warning: Your health is decreasing inconsiderably]
[Warning: Your health is decreasing inconsiderably]
[Warning: Your health is decreasing inconsiderably]
[Warning: Your health is decreasing inconsiderably]
Yeah, I knew that. I could feel the deafening pain. My vision was fading too. Yet I could see the satisfied laugh on the tamer.
Dammit!
Dammit!
Dammit!
Was it my end? Wasn’t I planning to log out of this game? Could I accept my defeat just yet?
Certainly not.
[Notice: Contracted Seraphyll has intervened]
[Secondary Class: Summoner, has been used by the contracted Seraphyll: Zariel (Type: Inferior), Ruler of Thunder]
Ah, that was it. My wild card.
Not only was I able to switch classes, but I was also capable of equipping an additional secondary class. Back when I was in eighth heaven, I somehow unlocked the summoning class and had a contracted Seraphyll by fortunate.
[Health: 10/1860]
I immediately used up a few bottles of potion to heal myself. The fight hadn’t ended yet. I had to defeat the enemy.
[Health: 1210/1860]
[Fatigue: 11%]
Seeming fine, I looked at the Seraphyll who blocked the second attack of the saber-tooth. A small fairy-like being that levitated in the air by flipping her small cutesy wings. Her yellowish dress—reminiscent of a sleeveless leather corset armor with double belt on her waist and the dress flowing down to her lower thigh, brimming with divine beauty and elegance. Her small appearance—nearly the size of my palm, fit quite well nonetheless.
That was Zariel. The Seraphyll who ruled over thunder. Although it was just an inferior incarnation, her presence alone could prevent any thunder—that included Bagha, the electrified saber-tooth.
She turned towards me. Although I was avoiding using her for my benefit, I was happy that she was here. She didn’t seem happy though.
With an angry face— yellowish sparkling hair and eyes, she floated around me relentlessly.
"Idiot! Idiot! Idiot! Idiot! Idiot! Idiot! Idiot! You big freaking idiot! How dare you try to breach our contract?" she shouted at me, halting just before my face. There were tears in her eyes? Was she crying?
But that wasn’t what I replied. Instead, I looked dumbfounded as I said, "Wait, what?"