章 24: Reaching Level 20

The Cave Fangfiends were known for their << Venomous Howl >> which reduced player defenses, and their << Lunging Bite >> which was a high-damage attack that could knock players to the ground.

The combined group fought furiously, trying to keep the beasts at bay. The tanks in the front lines took the brunt of the attacks while the mages and rangers rained spells and arrows from the back. It was a well-coordinated effort, but the Fangfiends were relentless. One of the creatures, a Fangfiend Alpha, towered over the others with twisted horns protruding from its head. Its HP was dropping steadily, but it still had enough to wreak havoc.

August watched carefully from the shadows, calculating his next move. He was well aware that he was becoming infamous within the cave. The nickname "Kill-Stealing Ghost" was starting to spread among the players in these parts.

Some had assumed he was a high-level player, given his ability to move in and out of sight and his high-damage strikes. They would have been furious to learn he was still only level 19, inching his way up by taking calculated risks.

The Fangfiend Alpha's HP dropped to a sliver. Now was his chance.

He readied his Lightning Bolt spell, aiming it directly at the alpha.

<[ Lightning Bolt Spell Activated ]>

[ - 500 MP ]

The bolt shot through the air, crackling with electric energy, and struck the Fangfiend Alpha right between the eyes.

[You have dealt the finishing blow to Fangfiend Alpha. +4500 EXP]

[ Congratulation! You Have Leveled Up ]

[Item Drop: Alpha Fang, Venom Sac, Shadowsteel Claw]

The alpha let out a deafening howl before collapsing into a heap of fur and muscle. The players in the area turned their heads in shock, realizing what had just happened.

"Are you kidding me?!" a mage shouted, her eyes wide with disbelief.

"Not again! It's that damn Kill-Stealing Ghost!" another player yelled, his voice echoing through the cave.

The group that had just lost the kill began shouting at each other, trying to coordinate a search.

August smirked to himself, but he knew better than to stick around. He dashed back into the shadows, using << Dash >> to gain some distance from the angry players.

He weaved through the twisting tunnels of the cave with light and quick steps. But this time, his pursuers were hot on his trail.

"Spread out! Don't let him escape!" a warrior ordered while leading the charge. More than a dozen players were now on the hunt, determined to catch the notorious "Kill-Stealing Ghost."

August could hear their footsteps and shouts closing in from multiple directions. They were casting light spells to keep him from using the shadows as cover.

He could usually log off and disappear, but he wasn't in a safe zone, and logging out here would leave him vulnerable for several seconds—a death sentence with this many players on his tail. He had to think fast.

He darted around a corner, only to find himself in a narrow tunnel with pointy rocks lining the walls. The pathway was tight, but it would force his pursuers to funnel in a single file. He could hear them approaching, their armor clanking and weapons drawn.

"Come out, you coward!" a ranger shouted, his bowstring pulled back.

August took a deep breath and prepared himself. He activated << Arcane Shield >> to give himself a buffer and readied his daggers. As the first player—a rogue—rounded the corner, August sprang into action.

With a swift movement, he struck with << Hidden Strike >> catching the rogue off guard and sending him sprawling back.

[ - 1100 HP ]

<[ You Have Attacked A Player In The Red Zone ]>

<[ No Penalties Meted ]>

August immediately followed up with a << Lightning Bolt >> causing the spell to arc down the tunnel and forcing the others to halt their advance.

Multiple more notifications like the ones prior appeared once more but August didn't pay them any heed.

"Get him! Don't let him get away!" A tank barked while pushing forward with his shield raised.

August retreated further down the tunnel, using the narrow space to his advantage. He knew he couldn't take on this many players head-on, but he could slow them down and buy himself some time.

He activated << Shadow Dance >> creating multiple dark afterimages that spread out, making it difficult to locate the real one.

"Where is he?!" another player shouted, panic starting to creep into their voices.

The group began to spread out, inching forward cautiously. August silently moved along the edge of the tunnel, careful not to make a sound after activating Shadow Stealth once more.

The group cautiously advanced, weapons ready for any sudden attack. August could see their nervousness—they were on high alert, but they were also becoming impatient.

He spotted an opening and decided to exploit it. He launched another << Lightning Bolt >> from his concealed position, striking a mage in the back. The mage stumbled forward, his HP dropping significantly, and the group erupted into chaos.

"He's over there!" a player screamed, pointing in August's direction.

But August was already moving. He used << Dash >>to burst out of the tunnel and into a larger cavern, where the ceiling stretched high above and massive stalactites hung like sharp teeth. He kept running, weaving between rock formations and leaping over crevices. The group was still in hot pursuit, but the cavern's size gave him more room to maneuver.

He could see a faint light ahead, indicating an exit to another section of the cave. If he could reach it, he might be able to lose his pursuers or find a place to hide and log off. He pushed forward, his stamina draining quickly, but he knew he couldn't afford to slow down.

Behind him, arrows and spells flew, narrowly missing him and exploding against the cavern walls. The sound of footsteps grew louder.

"Don't let him escape!" Another player shouted while rallying the group.

August gritted his teeth, focusing on the path ahead. He activated << Dash >>one more time and just by taking two steps, he appeared twenty paces away.

The exit was just within reach at this moment. If he could make it through, he'd have a chance.

He sprinted toward the exit, his heart pounding in his chest. The light grew brighter, and he could feel the cool air of a new section of the cave. He was almost there.

Suddenly, a massive explosion of fire erupted behind him, sending shockwaves through the cavern. August was thrown forward, skidding across the ground as the exit loomed just ahead.

-800HP

He rolled to his feet, ignoring the pain, and dashed through the narrow opening.

August arrived in another chamber of the cave. He didn't stop to catch his breath; he immediately found a spot behind atop with a strange slanted protrusion.

He proceeded to run up the wall and leap from it before grabbing a piece of a protrusion.

The shadows here were much darker. The instant he arrived there, he activated << Shadow Stealth >> again to blend into the shadows.

The pursuing players stopped briefly at the entrance, scanning the chamber for any sign of him. They were hesitant to enter, wary of traps or ambushes.

"Let's spread out and search the area," one of the players suggested but there was uncertainty in his voice.

August watched them from his hiding spot as they stepped in cautiously and began to scan the surroundings.

He would wait them out, let them tire themselves searching. For now, he was safe, hidden in the shadows like a ghost.

The legend of the "Kill-Stealing Ghost" would only grow after today, and August was just getting started.

---

August felt a rush of relief as he finally logged out of Enders Light. He opened his eyes and removed the VR helmet, his body feeling stiff after the long session in the game.

A tired smile crept onto his face. Reaching level 20 was a significant milestone. His hard work—grinding, stealing kills, and evading enraged players—had paid off. The next time he logged in, he could focus on taking on quests to gain even more experience and loot.

He stretched his limbs, feeling the familiar ache in his muscles from spending too much time in the game pod. "Finally," he muttered to himself. "Level 20."

But he couldn't dwell on it for long. Time was slipping away, and he needed to get ready for work. August glanced at the clock—he had just enough time to change and grab a quick breakfast. As he changed into his worn-out factory uniform, he thought about his sister, Sophie.

She was already up, sitting at the small kitchen table with her books spread out in front of her. She looked up as he walked in, her green hair catching the morning light. "Morning, Auggie," she greeted him with a soft smile, her angelic face radiating warmth.

"Morning, Soph," he replied, tousling her hair as he passed by. "You've got a lot of studying to do, huh?"

"Yeah, big test coming up," she said, a hint of nervousness in her voice. "You think I'll do okay?"

August grabbed a piece of toast from the counter and gave her a reassuring smile. "You'll do great. Just keep at it. You're way smarter than I ever was."

Sophie chuckled. "Well, that's not saying much."

He laughed. "Hey, I'm the one keeping a roof over our heads, remember?"

She rolled her eyes playfully. "Yeah, yeah. Just don't overwork yourself, okay?"

"I won't," August said, but they both knew it was a promise he couldn't keep. "I gotta head to the factory now. Don't forget to eat something other than just cereal."