***
The next morning.
Ascardan City.
"Did you hear? Two players died on the hill near the city."
"Scary. It hasn’t even been a week since the tragedy started, and people are already going crazy."
Ethan woke up to the noise ringing in his ears. The voices ca from outside the inn, from the main street filled with beginner players.
He sat up and walked to the window, looking down at the crowd.
Players had gathered in two places: the mission board and the news board. But most of them were swarming around the news board.
What are they talking about that made wake up?
KNOCK!
Ethan turned. A knock ca from his door. A mont later, Elle’s voice followed, asking if he was awake.
He opened the door and saw Elle standing there, already dressed in her priest outfit with her staff. But her eyes froze on the space above Ethan’s head.
"A maroon skull logo? Why is your na red now?"
Just as I thought. A PK Flag and Red Na will attract way too much attention from other players.
"Co inside. I’ll explain everything."
Elle nodded and stepped in. Ethan closed the door, locked it, pulled the curtains shut, and switched on the lamp. The dim light filled the room, and Elle looked uneasy.
"W-What’s going on?" she asked.
"Last night, I killed two players."
"K-Killed?!" Elle gasped.
"Why?"
Ethan sighed and told her everything—from hunting slis to the fight against the two players that ended with their deaths.
But he didn’t tell her the real reason he had hunted slis at night. Elle probably didn’t have a talent like him. It wasn’t smart to reveal it.
"That’s awful... but you had no choice. You were cornered," Elle replied.
"I know. If I hadn’t fought back, I would’ve been the one dead."
"So what’s your plan now?"
Ethan went silent. What he really wanted was to hunt treasure chests, but his Talent Quest was still running. He had already slept six hours, leaving him only 66 hours to finish the second quest.
"We’ll keep hunting treasure chests to push you to level 10," Elle said.
"Before that, I need you to buy a map of the southern region. The shops should sell one," Ethan told her.
Elle nodded. She still couldn’t believe Ethan had killed players. Sure, he had been cornered and forced to fight, but the system still branded him a murderer no matter the reason.
"Alright. I understand."
Elle left for the item shop and ca back with two southern region maps, one for her and one for Ethan.
Ethan stayed in his room, occasionally peeking through the curtain. Players were still crowding in the city center, whispering and gossiping.
When Elle returned, she pulled two maps from her inventory and handed one to him.
The map feature opened in front of them. Ethan spotted several treasure chests that hadn’t been taken yet—two to the east and five farther north in the southern region.
Using the pinpoint tool, Ethan marked the spots where he guessed treasure chests might be. But the map didn’t show if monsters were guarding them or not.
This map doesn’t show monster locations. I have no clue where to find beast-type monsters.
Black-Horned Boar... Giant Red Ants. Those were beast monsters he rembered, and they were low-level. From their traits, they probably lived in the eastern forest.
"How’s it look?" Elle asked.
"Listen to my plan," Ethan said.
He showed her his map panel and had her mark the sa pinpoints he placed. Those were their chest-hunting targets. But their first destination wasn’t north—it was east.
"There’s a chance monsters live here. But if you don’t act aggressive, they won’t attack," Ethan explained.
"There are two monster behaviors: passive and aggressive. Slis are passive. Blue-Winged Marlins are aggressive."
"The way to tell is by the circle under their body. If it’s red, the monster is aggressive. Don’t get closer than two or three ters."
"You’re asking to go there alone?" Elle asked. Ethan nodded.
Because of his Red Na status, Ethan couldn’t risk being seen leaving the city with Elle. That would stain her reputation and make her a target.
The best option was to move separately, and Ethan would follow later.
"Then I’ll wait out here, far from the city and safe from monsters," Elle said, pointing at an empty area.
Ethan agreed. Once the plan was clear, Elle left the room and headed for the eastern gate. Ethan only had to wait a few minutes before following her.
Ten minutes later, he locked his door and stepped outside the inn.
As he suspected, people were already staring at him. His PK Flag and Red Na floated above his head like a curse.
"Oh... so he’s the killer?"
"Monster! Doesn’t he realize they’re really dead now?!"
The crowd stirred. Players avoided him, hurling insults and nas.
"Stop right there!" a man barked, stepping forward with two companions.
Ethan halted. He drew his Flafang Sword, and the crowd gasped.
"H-He’s level 10?"
"No doubt. That sword’s rare-tier."
Ethan raised his head and locked eyes on the man blocking his way. Even seeing his sword, the man didn’t flinch.
"You killed other players. We need to ask you so questions," the man said.
"There’s no guild authority here. You’ve got no right to do anything to , not even ask questions," Ethan shot back.
"If you refuse, we’ll have to use force."
"Please don’t. I’m strong enough to kill you instantly," Ethan warned.
"DON’T GET COCKY!"
The man swung his sword sideways, sending a slash at Ethan. Ethan drove his Flafang into the ground, and a red shield flared up, blocking the strike.
[EthanArk (Lv.12) || HP: 725/750]
Weak. He’s only level 8.
The attack barely scratched him. Ethan’s level had risen, and his gear was far better than the average player’s.
"H-He took no damage?!" the man gasped in shock.
"Now it’s my turn."
Ethan gripped his sword tight and swung sideways. His first skill released, a red slash crackling with lightning ripping forward, boosted by his Rage Infinite buff.
The man braced, planting his sword in the ground and raising a magic shield. Ethan’s skill smashed against it, and cracks spread across the barrier.
"AAAGHH!"
The shield shattered. The slash struck him full-on, sending him flying. His HP plumted.
His friends rushed to heal him with potions, but the 225% physical damage plus bleed effect—75 HP per second for 7 seconds—was too much.
He collapsed.
[WalkerNight (Lv. 8) || HP: 0/400]
[You killed another player!]
The crowd froze as Ethan’s strike ended a player in a single blow. The two companions panicked and ran for their lives.
Ethan turned his gaze across the street. No one else dared step forward after seeing the terrifying power of his skill.
"Now... who else dares to fight ?"
From that day, Ethan earned new nas. So called him the Beginner Killer. Others cursed him as the Immoral Human.
And so laughed nervously as they gave him the most ridiculous one yet—Ethan, the God of Death.
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