บท 34: Chapter 34: Kin
In the bustling realm where the extraordinary and the mundane intersected, a scene unfolded that caught the attention of onlookers. Two humans found themselves surrounded, their predicament drawing the gazes of many, yet none dared to intervene.
The majority of passersby, consumed by their own fears and anxieties, averted their eyes and continued on their way.
Even the other humans ignored Raven, scared of attracting the attention of the formidable Demons, only thinking that self-preservation outweighed any inclination to assist those in need.
Amidst the indifferent crowd, Raven surveyed the Players surrounding him. As a mere Level 1 player, his current prowess fell short of challenging them, even with his High Class of a Puppet Master.
The odds seemed stacked against him, leaving him with only one potential path to victory—a risky switch to his original class.
However, this choice came at the cost of unveiling his true identity, a prospect that only served to invite even more enemies.
To reveal who he truly was meant to expose himself to a heightened level of danger, eradicating the thin veil of anonymity. The anonymity that shielded him from those who were looking for the person on the Statue to have revenge or to show their might.
"Reveal your Status Screen to us! So I know how much protection money you need to pay!" bellowed the dark-haired leader of the opposing group, commanding Raven's compliance.
Ordinarily, players could not see each other's status screens or discern the amount of wealth their counterparts possessed. For that, a player had to willingly reveal their status screen.
Although Raven's new class altered his status screen, it still displayed the number of coins he possessed—an invaluable secret potent enough to send shockwaves throughout the realm.
"I don't have any money. All my coins were taken by other players during the Trial," Raven offered a plausible excuse, considering it improbable for a mere human to exit the Trial unscathed.
"Oh?" the dark-haired man sneered. However, he also realized the logic behind Raven's explanation.
He turned his attention to the woman next to Raven. Even though the woman had her face covered, she had a voluptuous figure, attracting the man. The man thought that the reason she hid her face was also because she was just so beautiful.
"I shall permit you to pay in other ways. Surrender the woman to us, and you shall become our slave, obeying our every command!" the man exclaimed, his vile intentions laid bare. "We require bait for our next quest, and you might prove useful."
As the man extended his hand toward Elia, poised to seize her, Raven swiftly stepped forward, obstructing his path.
A weary sigh escaped Raven's lips, sensing the encroaching headache. Reluctantly, he acknowledged that he had no alternative but to revert to his original class.
Until he could increase his Levels in this Avatar, the Puppet Master class wasn't particularly useful here. Moreover, Elia's strength was inextricably linked to his own. In the midst of this tense confrontation, neither Raven nor his adversaries noticed two figures observing from a distance, their gazes fixed upon them.
Cloaked in darkness, the pair remained enigmatic, their identities veiled from prying eyes.
"A new human player?" one of them whispered, expressing surprise. "He seems to be in dire straits."
"Let us leave them be. There is nothing we can do," replied the other, shaking their head. "Our focus should be on locating the New King of the Island. Only he can help us change the status quo."
The second figure gently tugged at the first's hand, urging them to move on. Yet, the first person resisted, their resolve unyielding.
"Can we truly abandon them?" A deep sigh resonated, laden with a sense of disappointment. "The man will probably die, and the woman with him will... Can we really abandon them?"
With resolve fueling his actions, the man freed his hand. "I cannot leave them. The memory of my own arrival in this realm, facing a similar plight, still lingers. Had it not been for the help I received from that person... I would have died as well. Abandoning them feels akin to forsaking myself."
The second figure scratched their head in mild exasperation. "Your unwavering morals can be so annoying sometimes. Fine, but just this once!"
The two hooded figures diverged, fading into the shadows through separate paths.
The first person discarded his cloak and concealed his true identity behind a disguise of an old man. Adorned in tattered garb, he blended into the ordinary masses.
A player having two menacing horns on his forehead, known as Razier, stood dumbfounded at Raven's audacity to block him. The intensity in Razier's eyes hinted at his malevolent intentions.
"Wait!" A voice rang out, interrupting the imminent clash. A frail old man pushed through the gathering crowd, positioning himself beside Raven. His aged appearance revealed clearly that he was a human.
"My Lord Razier, I beseech you to pardon them! They are newcomers, ignorant of the rules. They are my kin from our shared origins on Earth. Allow me to pay for them!" the old man pleaded.
Razier's icy gaze fixated on the old man. A green name floated above the old man's head.
"You are willing to pay? Very well! What price are you prepared to offer?" Razier inquired, his mind already calculating the wealth he would extract from the old man. However, he harbored no intention of allowing Raven and the girl to escape unscathed.
Elation flickered across the old man's eyes. "I-I have chanced upon a truly rare treasure! I offer it to you, My Lord!"
Reaching into a cotton bag hanging at his waist, the old man retrieved an object, concealing it within his wrinkled palm.
Curiosity ignited within Razier as he wondered about the nature of this treasure. All attention shifted toward the old man, oblivious to the sudden movement unfolding behind them. In a swift motion, the old man hurled a small metal ball toward Razier.
Caught off guard, Razier hastily shielded his face with hands. The ball connected with his chest, igniting a fiery explosion that sent him sprawling backward.
The forceful blast depleted nearly half of Razier's health points in a single devastating blow. Startled, the remaining assailants momentarily redirected their focus from Raven and Elia toward the audacious old man.
Meanwhile, a hooded figure materialized behind Raven, urgency permeating her feminine voice. "Come with me before they discover our escape!"
Raven's hand was seized, and the woman cloaked in mystery whisked him and Elia away from the escalating chaos.
The old man, undeterred by the onslaught, retrieved another metal ball from his arsenal. The remaining players hesitated momentarily, a flicker of fear coursing through their ranks.
Seizing the opportunity, the old man chuckled. "We shall meet again."
He shattered the metal ball against the ground, unleashing billows of white smoke that enshrouded the surroundings.
When the fog lifted, the old man had vanished without a trace…
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