A squad of high-tier Assassins vanished into the shadows, but Ethan Shade didn’t even blink. He knew Ash Valor’s reputation, but he doubted the kid had the stones for this.
Killing was the easiest thing in the world, especially when the targets were glass-cannon Assassins. The profit margins were so high that it was practically an invitation to murder; compared to the grueling grind of a Boss Kill, player-hunting was the ultimate shortcut. Ash Valor loved gold—that much was public record—and he certainly had the firepower now, but he’d always been hesitant to turn his bow on his own kind.
Of course, the ten professionals currently flanking them didn't exactly count as "kind."
Ash stayed low, signaling Zane to draw them out.
"Stellar Pact Enforcers!" Zane bellowed, his voice echoing with a counterfeit authority that would have made a real officer blush. "Identify yourselves or face immediate execution!"
Zane never was one for subtlety. Impersonating high-level law enforcement was a capital offense in most territories, but he wore the lie like a tailored suit. To Ash’s surprise, the group didn't even flinch. If anything, they looked bored.
Does the Stellar Pact really have that little clout out here? Ash wondered, tightening his grip on his riser.
"Stellar Pact, huh?" one of the masked figures scoffed. "Since when do you dogs have the balls to patrol this far outside the city walls?"
"Number Five," another voice chimed in, dripping with casual malice. "How many 'Enforcers' have we put in the dirt this week? I’ve lost count."
"Too many to care. Enforcers are always fatter than the average sheep. Their loot drops are the best part of the day."
Ash’s eyes narrowed. Any lingering doubt evaporated. These weren't just players; they were predators. "No one here is worth saving, Zane," Ash whispered into the team comms. "Take them down."
He didn't wait for a reply. Ash was already a blur of motion, a hail of arrows whistling through the treeline before the first syllable left Zane’s mouth.
"Keep your distance, Zane! These guys aren't scrubs!"
They were sitting around Level 130, but their gear synergy suggested a highly optimized team. One wrong move against an Awakened class skill and this fight would turn ugly fast.
"Relax, they’re just speed bumps," Zane shouted back. "Old Third, let’s show 'em some hell!"
An Undying Skeleton Archer materialized at Zane’s side, its bones gleaming with the unmistakable luster of Gold-Tier cultivation. Under the combined barrage, the frontline crumpled. Within seconds, Ash had notched three kills; Zane claimed a fourth.
The notification for the bounty reward flashed in Zane’s peripheral vision, sending a jolt of adrenaline through him. "Holy sht! I finally got the 'Kill Count' achievement! Dammit, being a good guy is exhausting. You have to wait for absolute scumbags like this just to get a taste of the good loot."
Ash rolled his eyes. Zane wasn't a saint, but he wasn't a psychopath either. He just liked winning.
"Now I can finally start rolling for the high-end drops," Zane grinned.
They’d wiped four glass cannons in the opening seconds—a perfect start. But as the dust settled, the remaining six enemies didn't break. They stood their ground, and the math stopped adding up.
Ash had popped a Berserker's Draught; his effective Attack Power was sitting at a staggering 140,000.
[-91,368]
[-94,536]
Usually, three arrows were enough to delete a player. He’d just landed dozens, yet the six survivors were still healthy.
"Are you kidding me?" Zane barked. "Are they chugging legendary elixirs? That’s cheating!"
"It's not just potions," Ash said, his eyes scanning the backline. "Even with my DPS, I can’t outpace that regen. They’ve got a high-tier Tank soaking the redirected damage and at least one powerhouse Healer."
"Maybe more than one," Zane muttered.
Ash checked the combat log. "Their base Defense is over 40,000. Even with buffs, that’s insane for their level. They’re definitely Level 130+, and they’ve been stacking permanent stats."
"The Crimson Vow," Zane realized, his voice dropping an octave. "They’ve been farming players for attributes. The more people they murder, the stronger they get. It’s a snowball effect."
"We’ve kicked a hornet’s nest," Ash said, his finger hovering over the guild emergency flare. "Call it in. Now."
He knew they might be able to handle these six, but if the Crimson Vow sent a recovery team, they’d be buried. Ash wanted his revenge, but he wasn't suicidal enough to take on an entire guild alone.
"I already pinged Orion," Ash said. "Reinforcements should be en route."
"We can take these six," Zane insisted.
Ash nodded. He had the altitude advantage and Homing Shot active. From this range, most classes couldn't even touch them. He was about to line up another shot when one of the enemies dropped their cloak, revealing a heavy, long-barreled firearm aimed directly at the sky.
"Sht! Sharpshooter!"
The enemy had been sandbagging. In terms of raw range and projectile velocity, a Sharpshooter was the only class that could out-duel a high-level Archer. Ash remembered seeing a Sharpshooter once who could solo World Bosses from across a map.
"Zane, move! Dive!"
"I’m trying! This summon is too big!"
BANG.
BANG-BANG!
The Shadowtalon beneath Ash bucked violently. A searing pain flared in his side as a high-caliber round tore through his armor.
"Get us on the deck! If we fall from this height, it’s over!"
As they spiraled toward the forest floor, Ash didn't stop firing. He didn't care how good their healer was—everyone had a finite Mana pool.
"Captain! We’re here!"
Brett Fang and his squad burst through the undergrowth, their presence immediately triggering a localized buff.
[Revitalizing Aura Active: HP +10%, Defense +10%]
The tide was turning. Ten meters from the ground, the Shadowtalon finally dissolved under the Sharpshooter’s fire. Ash burned a Blink charge a split second before impact, sticking the landing. Zane, having refreshed his cooldowns, summoned a new Shadowtalon immediately, but he kept it low, using the heavy timber for cover.
"That Sharpshooter is hitting like a Level 150!" Zane hissed.
"Brett, get down! Don't show your head!" Ash commanded. "As long as we don't give them a clear line of sight, we can weather the storm. My arrows can curve; his bullets can't."
Ash went prone, using his Homing Shot to arc arrows over the terrain. Meanwhile, Zane and Owen Fang unleashed a tide of twenty summons—Chitin and the Earthwarden Bear leading the charge.
"Lyra, keep the summons topped off!" Ash yelled. "Focus fire on the Sharpshooter! Brett, stay back! He’ll one-tap you if you're out of position!"
"I’m the Tank, Ash! That’s my job!"
"Not against someone who’s popped a damage-cap elixir! He’s hitting for over 200,000 a shot!"
BANG!
[-145,986]
A bullet punched through a dirt mound and caught Ash in the shoulder. Even with a 40,000 Defense stat, the damage was terrifying.
"Is that a Level 160?" Ash gasped. This was beyond anything he’d prepared for. "Why the hell did they send a monster like that just to stop us?"
"You're on the Planar Broadcast, man," Zane yelled over the noise of exploding fireballs. "You're a celebrity. They don't want to just kill you; they want to make an example of you."
A female Mage on the enemy side raised her staff, raining massive fireballs into the center of Zane’s summon swarm.
[-213,695]
[-246,987]
"Level 150 Mage," Ash gritted his teeth. "This is getting expensive."
He considered retreating, but he knew that if he stopped the suppressive fire, the Mage would incinerate his teammates in seconds. He had to keep the pressure on.
"Zane, what’s the play?"
"I'm a Summoner, Ash! I play until I run out of Mana or monsters!" Zane shouted, though he looked worried. His Epic-tier summons were being dismantled one by one.
Ash opened his private comms. "Caden! We need help! We’re getting pinned down!"
Caden Marlowe’s voice came back through the static, sounding strained. "Hold on. I’m tied up with their lead Assassin. You really stirred up a hornets' nest, kid. You pulled their A-team."
Ash’s heart sank. "Brett! Everyone! Get your Random Displacement Talismans ready. If I give the word, you teleport. No arguments."
"Captain, is it that bad?"
"Look at me! I can't even stand up without getting my head blown off! This Sharpshooter has me completely out-ranged."
Ash was learning a hard lesson: walk-speeds and Blinks didn't mean a damn thing if you couldn't close the gap. He stayed flat, pouring every ounce of focus into his bow.
Suddenly, a voice boomed from across the clearing.
"Ash Valor! I’ll give you one last chance. Join The Crimson Vow. We’ll wipe the slate clean. Your talent is wasted on these losers."
Ash didn't say a word. "Keep quiet," he whispered in the team channel. "He’s trying to echolocate us through the voice comms."
"Think about it, Ash! You can't kill us. When our backup arrives, you’re dead. Join us and see what the world looks like from the top. Don't be a martyr for a dying guild."
"Seriously? Cat got your tongue?"
Ash ignored the taunts, waiting for the perfect window. His eyes tracked the faint shimmer of his arrows in the air.
Ping.
[Death Strike Triggered: -436,987]
A massive damage number erupted over the enemy Mage. She didn't even have time to scream before her avatar shattered into pixels.
[You have killed Isolde Daine. Bounty: 20,000 Gold. Guild Contribution: 40,000.]
[Level 110 -> 111. Gold +180,000. Agility +20.]
[Item Dropped: Archmage’s Staff (Epic-Tier)]
The battlefield went silent. A Level 150 Mage, dead in a single proc.
"She’s down!" Zane cheered.
The enemy team panicked. "He’s got a Killing Blow Awakened skill! Fall back! Move, move!"
"How does a Level 110 Archer have that kind of output? His stats are broken! Retreat!"
Shielded by the Sharpshooter’s covering fire, the remaining five began a disciplined withdrawal. Ash wanted to pursue, but he was pinned. One mistake and the Sharpshooter would end him. He watched, frustrated, as they vanished into the deep forest.
"They’re gone," Ash exhaled, finally standing up. "Those weren't normal players. Their base stats were through the roof."
"Just like you," Zane noted. "If you kill enough people in this game, level stops being the primary metric for power."
"Did we really just drive them off?" Brett asked, awestruck. "Captain, you’re a freak of nature."
Ash didn't feel like a hero. He felt hunted. He began leading the group back toward the Guild Grounds, keeping his eyes peeled for any more ambushes.
As they moved, a server-wide notification popped up in the guild chat:
[Caden Marlowe has killed Conrad Vale.]
Ash stopped dead. "Conrad Vale? The Level 168 Assassin?"
"Top 100 in Southhaven," Zane whistled. "Looks like the big boys are finally playing for keeps."
Ash looked at Zane and froze. A faint, glowing red mark had appeared over Zane’s head—the brand of The Crimson Vow.
"Uh, Zane? You’ve got something on your forehead."
"What? Is it a bug?"
"It’s the mark. You got ten kills today, didn't you? You hit the achievement threshold. You’re branded as a killer now."
"Whatever," Zane shrugged. "As long as it's not a 'kick me' sign, I can live with it."
They continued their trek, but Ash’s Eye of Clarity suddenly pinged. A lone swordsman was grinding mobs in a clearing ahead, looking perfectly innocent.
"Something’s wrong," Ash muttered. "He’s hiding his info, but he has the mark."
"Probably just a solo grinder," Brett said, waving at the man as they passed. "Hey! Careful out here, buddy! There’s a war going on!"
The swordsman gave a curt nod, his face partially obscured. Ash’s gut twisted. He recognized that posture. That subtle shift in the shoulders.
Ash didn't say a word. He just raised his bow and let fly a volley of Homing Shots.
"Whoa! Captain! What are you doing? He’s a civilian!"
The "civilian" suddenly moved with a speed no Swordsman should possess, twisting and flipping through the air to dodge the arrows. The charade vanished instantly.
"You sneaky bastard!" the man screamed, his voice familiar and hated. "You were supposed to be the 'hero'!"
Ash’s eyes burned with cold fury. "Ethan Shade. I’d know your coward’s gait anywhere."
Ethan tried to use a Footwork Art to close the gap, but Ash’s arrows were relentless. Even with high evasion, the Homing Shots eventually found their mark.
[-103,695]
[-103,689]
[You have killed Ethan Shade. Bounty: 8,000 Gold. Guild Contribution: 12,000.]
[Gold +160,000. Agility +15.]
[Item Dropped: Shadowstep Dagger (Epic-Tier)]
Ethan’s body dissolved before he could even land a final insult.
Ash stood in the silence of the clearing, his chest heaving. "Victor... Lily... that’s one more for you."
"That was Ethan Shade?" Brett whispered, the reality finally sinking in. "The guy who betrayed the wardens?"
"The very same." Ash pulled up the party menu and transferred 1,000,000 Gold to the Fang siblings. "Take it. All of you. Get geared up. Stay in the city and don't leave the dungeons for the next few months. This war is about to get much worse."
"Captain, this is too much—"
"It’s not enough for the risk you took today. Go."
Ash watched them leave, then turned to Zane. "I’m staying out here. I’m not going back to the city until I hit 150."
"You're going rogue?" Zane asked.
"I'm going hunting. I have the Eye of Clarity and a stack of Teleport Talismans. I’m safer in the woods than I am behind a wall they can infiltrate."
"Fine," Zane grinned. "I’m staying too. Not for you, but because the bounty payouts are better than anything I can find in a dungeon."
As they spoke, a massive formation of Azure Prime players appeared on the horizon. Orion, Stone, and Drake Ward led the charge, their faces grim.
"Ash!" Orion called out, relieved. "We heard the explosion. Tell me you're all in one piece."
"We’re fine. We took down sixteen of them, including Isolde Daine and Ethan Shade."
Orion blinked. "Isolde? The Level 156 Mage? Kid, you’re going to be the death of me."
They regrouped and headed back to the fortified Guild Grounds. The news was bittersweet; Azure Prime had lost dozens of men in the skirmish near the base, but they had traded up, killing several high-level Crimson Vow elites.
Back at the territory, Caden Marlowe was waiting. He looked remarkably clean for someone who had just assassinated a top-100 player.
"Nice work, kid," Caden said, leaning against a stone pillar. "You didn't embarrass me."
"Just following your lead, sir."
Caden laughed. "I like a guy who knows how to butter the bread. Listen, I’m going to spend the next few weeks cleaning the high-level trash off the map. You stay low, get your levels up, and try not to get shot in the back."
"That's the plan."
Once Caden left, Orion pulled Ash into the treasury. "The Stellar Pact sent over a 'gratitude package' for the work we did today. Since you were responsible for half the kills, pick something. Anything you want."
Ash scanned the vault. He noticed a few empty slots where the most valuable Epic items had clearly been "relocated" by Orion just minutes prior. He didn't mind. He knew how the game was played.
He pointed to a Gold-Tier Skill Tome. "I’ll take the Archer Mastery volume."
"Good eye," Orion grunted. "That’s a million-gold book right there."
"It would have been better if you hadn't hidden the Epic stuff," Ash countered.
"Hey, I have a guild to run. Resources are tight!"
Ash just shook his head and headed for the exit. He had a long road to Level 150, but for the first time, he felt like the predator instead of the prey.
Just as he reached the gate, a message from Zane popped up:
“Ash, update: I just spent a million gold to buy a 'Law Enforcer' title from the Stellar Pact. I’m officially a Deputy. I can legally hunt Crimson Vow players inside the city limits now. If you see something, say something. I need to make my money back!”
Ash laughed. Some things never changed. "A million gold? Those guys are even bigger thieves than Orion."