Chapter 6: The Cost of Death and the Shadows in the Dark
– A hidden war has begun, and Adrian steps onto an unseen battlefield.
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🌙 Dawnlight Village – A Night of Conspiracy
The night in Dawnlight Village was unnervingly quiet, yet the air was thick with tension.
The earlier confrontation had ended in silence, but that didn't mean the matter was over.
Greed, resentment, and ambition—these emotions didn't dissipate. Instead, they burrowed into the shadows, festering in secrecy.
> "He's too strong to deal with head-on…"
"It doesn't matter. We have other ways."
In a darkened alley of Dawnlight Village, a group of cloaked figures gathered, whispering in hushed tones. Their voices carried the weight of malice.
> "We've already informed the higher-ups. The 'Shadow Hunters' will test this newcomer tonight."
"But we still haven't confirmed his class…"
"We know he wields holy power, but his exact abilities and summons are still unclear."
"If his strength truly threatens the Dark Faction, we must eliminate him as soon as possible."
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💀 The Dark Faction's Scheme
The Dark Faction was in no hurry to act. They understood a fundamental truth of war—the deadliest weapon wasn't a blade but the human mind.
All they needed to do was push, incite, and let the players destroy themselves.
Inside a dimly lit tavern, a burly warrior slammed his mug onto the table, gritting his teeth in frustration.
"A hidden class… Why the hell does only he get one?"
The players around him echoed his frustration, their voices feeding into each other's anger.
Amidst them, the Dark Faction's operatives lurked in disguise, subtly stoking the flames.
> "He must've used some kind of exploit. Why should he be the only one with access to it?"
"If he dies… won't his gear drop?"
"Exactly. He's only Level 5. If we take him down now, we might get something out of it."
As their words spread, more and more players began to fall into their trap.
A hunt for Adrian was brewing.
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⚔️ Adrian Senses the Killing Intent
Meanwhile, Adrian stood at his inn window, overlooking the town's movements.
He wasn't naïve. He had suppressed the crowd in the square earlier, but that wouldn't last forever.
"They won't just let this go."
Closing his eyes, he activated his hidden class's unique skill—Divine Perception.
Within seconds, faint black auras appeared in his vision—traces of Dark Faction members.
He saw—
✅ Inside the tavern, a group of players was being incited to target him.
✅ In the dark corners of the streets, several figures were watching his every move.
✅ At the edge of the square, a hooded man was whispering orders to another.
Adrian narrowed his eyes, a cold smirk forming on his lips.
> "So… you're finally making your move."
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🔥 The True Cost of Death
Most players foolishly believed that death was just a temporary setback.
But Adrian knew better—death in this world came with far greater consequences.
✅ Experience Penalty – Each death would cost 10%-30% of a player's EXP, potentially causing level drops.
✅ Equipment Drop – Players had a chance to drop gear upon dying, especially if they were carrying high-quality items.
✅ Stat Deterioration – Frequent deaths in a short time would permanently weaken base stats such as physique and mental strength.
Even worse—two years from now, players who die will no longer be able to return to the game.
The Dark Faction was deliberately driving players into reckless battles, forcing them to die repeatedly, so they'd lose their chance to grow stronger.
> "If Dawnlight Village descends into chaos, the human faction will be crippled before the real war even begins."
Adrian had to stop this meaningless slaughter.
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🎭 The Midnight Ambush
As the night deepened, the streets of Dawnlight Village emptied. Only a few figures lurked in the shadows.
Adrian stepped out of the inn, his expression calm. He knew he was being hunted.
But that was exactly what he wanted.
He needed to lure out the Dark Faction's operatives and dismantle their influence in town.
The moment he stepped into a secluded alley—a sharp whistle cut through the air!
> "Kill him!"
Four silhouettes leaped from the darkness, weapons gleaming.
Adrian had expected this. With a subtle shift in movement, he dodged the initial strike, his lips curling into a cold smile.
[Skill Activated: Holy Shield]
BOOM!
A golden barrier materialized around him, deflecting all incoming attacks.
> "Too bad… your strength isn't even close to enough."
In the same instant, he retaliated—[Holy Spear] shot forward, piercing one of the attackers!
[Critical Hit! -640 HP]
[Target Defeated!]
One of the rogue players' eyes widened in horror before his body shattered into light—instantly killed.
The remaining attackers staggered back in shock.
> "H-He's too strong!"
"No way! He's only Level 5! How does he deal so much damage?!"
Adrian scanned them coldly.
> "Who sent you?"
But the remaining players panicked and fled.
Adrian didn't bother chasing them—they were just puppets. The real masterminds were still hidden in the dark.
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⚡ The Dark Faction's Next Move
In a concealed alleyway, a hooded figure observed the battle unfold, his expression unreadable.
> "…This guy's class… It's some kind of holy summoning class, isn't it?"
"If so, we need to confirm his abilities."
He turned to his companion and ordered—
> "Inform the 'Shadow Hunters.'"
"This is no longer just a test. We need to determine his exact class… and then erase him."
A greater conspiracy was now in motion.