Alex crouches low, straining his ears to catch anything from the dark figures beyond the palisade. But, unsurprisingly, his SNS, average at best, fails him. The voices are too muffled, too distant.
"This is pointless," he thinks, frustration bubbling up. "But no villager would be sneaking around outside the village at night, whispering suspiciously."
He takes a deep breath, trying to steady his nerves. His heart pounds in his chest, but after a few moments, he decides to take a gamble. This is the perfect opportunity to earn contribution points, possibly even a kill, without having to share credit with the others.
Memories of playing Skyrim flicker through his mind. He always loves sneaking through dungeons, taking down enemies with a single well-placed arrow. The satisfaction of landing a perfect sneak attack never gets old. Now, he is about to recreate that same moment, except in real life.
"I'll kill at least one Baroque Works member," Alex thinks, the plan forming in his head. "Then I can argue that I did my part. It's only fair that the others take care of the rest."
His mind paints a perfect picture: he'll walk back into the village as a hero, a master archer who has single-handedly taken out one of the enemy scouts. No one could accuse him of being lazy or selfish, not after he delivers a body to prove it.
Without hesitation, Alex kneels down, grips his [Old Hunting Bow], and takes aim at the dark figures next to the tree. His hands shake slightly, but he forces himself to focus. It has been years since his archery course, and this bow isn't the sleek modern one he used back then. The weapon in his hands is old and worn, with a dull string that barely holds tension.
But still, he lines up his shot, holding the arrow just as he'd been taught, right next to his face, no fancy tricks. He draws a shaky breath and releases.
The arrow shoots into the darkness, and for a split second, Alex's heart sinks as he realizes he hasn't practiced with this bow at all. It's a miracle that the string hasn't snapped in his hands.
Then, to his astonishment, the arrow hits.
You have dealt 14 * 3 = 42 damage to player Robin Möller.
You have killed Robin Möller.
Alex stares, dumbfounded. He has just one-shot someone.
His first reaction isn't horror, it's sheer disbelief. "Again?" he thinks, a stunned grin spreading across his face. "This can't be a coincidence. My luck is insane!"
His brain, still trying to catch up with the situation, lags for a moment. Then he whispers, half-laughing, half-shocked, "Lol."
He has killed someone. And not just anyone, he has killed Robin Möller, the guy who hit him with a BMW, the man responsible for his death.
Suddenly, Alex realizes the full weight of what he's done. He has just committed murder. Yet, oddly, he doesn't feel much of anything. Maybe it's because Robin is the one who killed him first, or maybe because this entire situation is so surreal that his brain refuses to process it fully.
But then reality crashes back into him, and his stomach twists in panic.
[Player setting: Forced peace – PVP actions are strictly forbidden and will result in immediate expulsion and soul destruction.]
"OH SHIT!" Alex thinks, his body freezing in terror.
The notification rings through his mind, and he can feel cold sweat trickling down his back. What has he just done?
Before he can spiral into full-blown panic, another message flashes before his eyes:
[Player Alex Kerber has killed player Robin Möller. Robin Möller is declared a traitor for having accepted a new main mission, allying himself with Baroque Works. Alex Kerber will be exempt from punishment.]
You have gained 1000 contribution points.
For a second, Alex can't move. Then, all the tension that has been building inside him explodes in a burst of adrenaline and relief. He pumps his fists into the air and shouts at the top of his lungs:
"WOO! YEAH, BABY! THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR! THAT'S WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT!"
His voice echoes through the night, cutting through the stillness like a war cry. The nearby village guards, the other players, and even the NPCs are startled by the sudden outburst. Within moments, the guards are rushing toward the scene, chasing down the remaining Baroque Works members.
Alex stands there, watching as chaos unfolds. His reckless celebration has alerted everyone, but in the end, it doesn't matter. The guards manage to subdue the attackers, though one Baroque Works member manages to escape into the woods.
A new notification appears:
Your reputation with Baroque Works has decreased. You are now despised, and a bounty of 1 million beri has been placed on your head for preventing their infiltration plan.
"Oh, crap," Alex thinks. "One million Berry?"
He can't decide whether to feel proud of his accomplishment or terrified of what's to come.
As the guards and players gather to congratulate him, Alex finds himself shaking hands with a grateful village elder. The elder, who had previously been skeptical of Alex's abilities, now showers him with praise.
"Well done, mercenary! We owe you for catching the traitor," the elder says, clapping Alex on the back.
Alex tries to smile, but his mind is still spinning. He has gone from nearly soiling himself in fear to becoming the unlikely hero of the night.
"How the hell did this happen?" he wonders.
Eventually, the crowd disperses, and Alex finds a quiet spot to sit down and rest. The adrenaline rush fades, leaving him feeling drained and emotionally scattered. As he leans back against the wooden wall of the palisade, he stares up at the dark sky, his mind replaying the events of the night.
"I really killed someone... and got away with it," he thinks, trying to wrap his head around it all.
But then his thoughts shift to the future. He has earned 1000 contribution points, made a name for himself in the village, and even stopped a Baroque Works infiltration. It feels like a victory.
And yet...
"That bounty isn't going to go away. One million Berry."
He isn't sure if he should laugh or cry.
Finally, as the first hints of dawn break through the horizon, Alex lets out a deep breath. He has survived the night, but things are only going to get more dangerous from here on out.
For now, though, he allows himself to relax, leaning back against the wall and closing his eyes. He will need his strength for the days ahead.