In a rarely explored corner of the novice vilge, a red-haired man was relentlessly hacking away at a massive White Tiger Boss. Even after three consecutive system alerts echoed in the air, his heavy greatsword didn’t slow in the slightest. Blinding damage numbers kept bursting above the boss’s head, and though it roared furiously in retaliation, the damage it inflicted was...

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  “Hatred… the first pyer to leave the novice vilge wasn’t you!?” A beautiful woman in red, who had been quietly observing from nearby, finally broke her silence with a tone of genuine surprise.

  With one final ssh, the White Tiger King let out a tragic roar and colpsed, scattering equipment across the ground. But Hatred’s expression remained unchanged—as if what he'd just done was nothing more than swatting a fly.

  “I never underestimated the people of this pne,” he said coldly, casting a chilling gnce toward the woman, as if she were nothing more than a corpse in his eyes.

  “And you, Mei Yu—go back to where you belong. Don’t follow me again.” His voice carried no emotion. He didn’t even bother to pick up the loot. To him, it was all trash.

  “If you don’t want me to follow you, you’ll have to kill me first.” Mei Yu met his icy gaze without flinching. Her soft lips curved upward in what seemed like defiance or maybe... something more stubborn.

  “You... Hmph! I never kill women.” Hatred scoffed and turned, disappearing deeper into the unknown.

  Mei Yu smiled triumphantly, pumping a small fist in the air before quickly catching up.

  “How could I leave you? I have to protect you...”

  Elsewhere, in a Forgotten Map...

  A suffocating darkness, not even a sliver of light. Within that void, the sound of bdes slicing through flesh echoed relentlessly. Screeches and wails of monsters filled the air.

  Suddenly, a chilling ugh rang out, strange and unhinged:

  “Jieh jieh jieh jieh... Someone’s faster than me? 'Samsara,' you’ve lived up to my expectations. I, Soulbane, will make the mighty kneel before me. I’ll show them the true meaning of despair… HAHAHA!”

  The name Soulbane was well known among those who’d pyed MMOs. A terrifying legend.

  In just five years, he led his guild with unmatched brutality, dismantling bance across countless games and even causing over a dozen titles to shut down. But he never used cheats or exploits—just pure, raw skill. No one could stop him.

  He was known as the “MMO Executioner.”

  Born with a staggering 30 base Agility—breaking Samsara’s stat cap—Soulbane had not come for fame, riches, or dominance. He had come to bring chaos and carnage.

  Back in Tianlong Imperial City...

  Shops, inns, taverns, pawnshops, weapon dealers, alchemists, auction houses… Feng Xiao was dazzled by the sheer realism and detail. Anything that existed in the real world seemed to exist here too.

  Located at the heart of Tianlong Continent, Tianlong City was vast and majestic—at least twenty times rger than Jinghua City in real life. Feng Xiao strolled toward the Imperial Pace, marveling at the gilded rooftops and ornate architecture.

  “A game like this? No way it doesn’t go viral.”

  The city felt unusually quiet though—only a few patrolling guards and the occasional NPC walked by.

  “Hi there, ma’am. Can you tell me where I go to change css?” he asked, spotting a nearby middle-aged NPC woman.

  The woman’s face lit up with a smile like a blooming flower. “Oh! You must be one of the otherworldly heroes! Didn’t expect someone so soon. Just follow this road straight—there’s a pza at the end. That’s where css transfers happen.”

  “You sure?” Feng Xiao asked, giving her a skeptical look.

  “Of course! Everyone in Tianlong knows. Ask anyone if you don’t believe me.”

  She was already mentally plotting: If only my daughter weren’t married, I’d drag this pretty boy home as a son-in-w.

  Feng Xiao nearly fainted. Turns out, he’d been teleported right next to the transfer pza and wasted all that walking.

  He thanked the auntie quickly and jogged back. Best to stay on NPCs' good sides—you never know when they might come in handy.

  Back at the pza, he noticed a few eccentric-looking old men across the way.

  “Damn… Why didn’t I just look behind me earlier? What a waste. But seriously… those creepy old dudes are the css instructors? They look more like senior delinquents.”

  Then something else caught his eye.

  To his left, hunched beneath a stone pilr, sat a withered old man, curled up like a ball. He’d completely missed him earlier. But what truly drew his attention was the man’s mask.

  Because it was… ridiculously badass.

  “Dude… that mask is criminally cool. And it's wasted on an old weirdo like him.”

  The mask was jet bck, covering only the top half of the man’s face—including his eyes—etched with faint blood-red runes. A shallow “Kill” character was carved into the forehead. Two fang-like protrusions curved downward from the top, glinting coldly.

  Feng Xiao wanted to rob him. Seriously. If the system had a rob feature, he would’ve used it.

  “Hello there, sir! Is there anything I can help you with?” He faked politeness while still clearly coveting that mask.

  No response. The man didn’t even raise his head.

  Feng Xiao resisted the urge to punt the guy. Why are all these NPC elders so snobbish?

  “Sir, that mask of yours is incredible! Where did you get it? I’d buy a whole crate!”

  Still nothing.

  “Tell you what, I’ll buy it off you—ten silver coins! Best deal you’ll get in your life.”

  The man's white beard twitched ever so slightly.

  “Fine, fine. I’ll trade you this ultra-rare starter gear! Been wearing it since birth!” He exaggerated and dramatically peeled off his beginner’s tunic.

  Ding! Due to public indecency in Tianlong Pza, you are fined 3% of your gold. Double penalty if not corrected within one minute.

  “…Seriously?” Feng Xiao quickly dressed again. Thankfully, the system fines based on percentages. Even billionaires would have to behave.

  Suddenly, a chill ran down his spine. Not from the breeze… but killing intent.

  And its source? The hunched old man.

  Feng Xiao ran without hesitation.

  He knew killing intent too well. That kind of murderous aura wasn’t just anger—it came from a true expert. This guy's presence dwarfed anything Feng Xiao had ever projected himself.

  If he stayed a second longer, there was only one outcome: instant death.

  “That guy’s no ordinary NPC… and now I’ve pissed him off. Great. From now on, note to self: steer clear.”