137. Crushing the Psychopath
Thud thud thud-!
Just like Destro had done to weaker foes until now, Carpe unilaterally pummeled him.
"Guh, guhuk!"
His level gave him more staying power than the office worker duo, but it changed nothing.
The beating just lasted a bit longer.
An American psychiatrist once said people facing death go through five stages of emotion, and Destro was textbook right now.
First: denial of reality.
"N-no way! How could a lowbie like you... kuhk."
Thud thud thud thud-!
Second: pure rage.
"You! Next time we meet, I'll dump everything into killing you. I'll show you a ranker's real power... keh."
Thud thud thud thud-!
Third and fourth: depression and bargaining.
Destro snapped to attention as his HP plummeted toward zero.
"N-no...!"
His accumulated PK kills had stacked massive infamy penalties.
Dying here would trigger unimaginable death penalties.
Days offline was a given, and most of his main gear would drop.
'Not that!'
Gear was replaceable, but his inventory held a crucial quest item.
Losing it would crumble everything he'd built.
For an aspiring top ranker like Destro, it was unthinkable. Just imagining it squeezed his heart.
"P-please, spare me. I won't report you. I swear I won't tell a soul you're a bugged player!"
"...You need a lot more beatings. Still haven't learned, huh."
As Carpe's fist ignited again, Destro switched to desperate pleading.
"P-please! Spare me! I don't wanna die!"
"What a clown. When you were PKing, did you ever spare anyone who begged?"
"..."
"Wow, not even one? The last guy I met let someone off after swapping numbers. You're trash even by your standards."
The final reaction to death: acceptance, or resignation.
Realizing escape was impossible, Destro ranted in reckless abandon.
"Is PK really so wrong? It's part of the game system! I just played my way within the rules!"
"...Playing the game? You, a griefing psycho?"
Carpe snorted in disbelief.
"Yeah. Every RPG has assholes like you. 'PK's in the system, so do whatever.'"
"R-right! I'm not wrong..."
"Sure, there's logic to argue back. But a griefer like you wouldn't get it... so I'll dumb it down."
Carpe clenched his fist.
"I'm doing this for fun."
"...What?"
"Hunting PKers is my way of enjoying the game. Problem solved?"
"W-wait...!"
"See ya. Oh, I memorized your face, so prep for death next time too."
Crack!
With that, Carpe smashed his skull full force.
Destro, already at zero HP, turned gray.
Target eliminated.
-All that trash talk. Memorizing his face won't help—RaSe lets you disguise easy.
"Just messing with him. Might scare him a bit though?"
-Maybe.
"Games always have these self-entitled types. A griefer calling it 'fun'? Insult to real gamers."
To Carpe, true fun stopped where it harmed others.
Doing whatever regardless was trolling, nothing more.
"Classic griefer move: jungle ignores gank, so they dive enemy mid tower. 'System allows it, who cares?'"
-...Never played that game, but it pisses me off already. You normal?
"Heh. Only one thing cools this rage."
Loot, of course!
Where Destro vanished, three items sparkled.
-There. Feeling better?
"Griefer gear's top-tier as expected."
Rage melted away.
Carpe grinned, scooping them up.
Ding.
◈ Level 95+, Agility 80+, Dagger Mastery required
◈ Physical Attack: 350~580 +120
◈ Agility +7
◈ Dexterity +5
◈ Special structure produces no sound when swung. Sharp dagger specialized for assassins.
◈ Option 1: Enables Camouflage skill
◈ Option 2: +30% damage from stealth
"Oh? Looks solid at a glance."
-Solid? Silent Gladius ranks top five among assassin unique weapons. +7 too—auction house goldmine.
"Heh. Knew I needed cash for Magic Tower upgrades. Thanks for the gift."
Carpe pocketed the dagger carefully.
Of the rest, one was a necklace with a grotesque goblin face pendant, the other a black-winged brooch.
"Ah, explains the lowbie obsession. This necklace's effect."
Carpe nodded after checking.
Fun ability, but not worth swapping his legendary necklace.
"Hmm. Maybe switch for specific situations? Keeping it."
Finally, the brooch.
◈ Proof allowing challenge to the lowest ranks of the secret assassin group Black Wing. Don't dig too deep into Black Wing. Black wings can target your life anywhere.
"Black Wing? Rings a bell... ah!"
Muttering "Black Wing" a few times, Carpe remembered.
Ramark border fortress.
The assassins he'd fought with Gillian—they were Black Wing.
"Didn't expect to see that name here."
-That psycho had skills. Connected to Black Wing, huh.
Black Wing: strongest assassin group on Arcrux continent. Led by the Shadow King, one of the continent's eleven strongest—like Gillian in life.
-Few players reach that far. Ranker for sure. Bet it stings losing this—he grinded like mad for it. Heh.
"Is it good?"
-Pass the test, join Black Wing. Assassins' dream? Need third job at least.
Lucky ones might even become Shadow King's direct disciple.
"Ooh. Continent eleven-strong's apprentice..."
Eying! Don't even think of learning from that rat, milord. I'll teach you all you lack!
Gillian reacted sharply to "Black Wing."
In doll mode, he wriggled from Carpe's robe, peeking out.
True heroes walk the path of light! Assassins? Pfft!
"Right. Thief class ain't my style..."
Exactly. Learning from scum like that dishonors the Magic King's name.
True to his rival setup with the Shadow King, Gillian grumbled openly.
Carpe chuckled at the childishness—it was fun.
"Spot on. Not all continent eleven-strong are equal. You're the best, old man."
Heh heh! That's the spirit. Soon I'll reclaim my level and guide you properly!
"Looking forward to it."
Summon EXP penalties made it unlikely, but no need to burst the bubble—Carpe just nodded.
Whoosh.
As he finished looting, the ground nearby sank, forming a sand vortex.
A passage to the lower floor.
"Random passages to next floors? Neat dungeon."
Heading over, Cheonma stopped him.
-Not that one. They look same, but each leads different places.
One to floor 2, another skips ten+ floors.
Ant Hell Dungeon: a maze like that.
-Impossible to control. Entrances and paths too random.
"Yeah. This randomness makes farming tough..."
-Random? Nah. Looks chaotic, but there's a pattern. Head that way.
"...Really?"
Carpe tilted his head but followed.
Soon, a dead-end wall.
-Wait here. Passage incoming... there.
Whoosh.
Sand vortex appeared right on cue.
-Might as well skip ahead. This drops straight to 15.
"How do you even memorize this?"
-Know the formula, easy. Teach you? Basic calc-level math..."
"...Sorry, I'll brute-force it."
-Fine. Stick to strengths. I'll navigate.
Solid logic.
Carpe nodded vigorously, diving in.
Splash!
Cheonma's word held—straight to 15.
Unlike the first slide, this was much longer.
"Master! This is fun!"
"Kyukyukyu!"
"Yeah. Kinda is."
Like a waterpark slide? Carpe could only guess—he'd never been.
-Why the sudden sad vibe?
"..."
After a long slide, they hit bottom.
Thud!
Vaster and taller than floor 1, with a fishy stench in the air.
-Here. Even you need caution. Mobs min level 90...
"Kikikigik?!"
-...Damn. Luck's trash.
Uninvited guests awaited.
A massive ant, body over 5m.
Surrounded by forearm-sized "small" ants.
-How does a boss respawn right where you land?!
The boss shrieked at Carpe's intrusion.
"Kikikigik!!!"
Then charged with ferocious hostility.
"...Guess that formula doesn't calc respawns."
-Can't expect everything. Your luck—prep for a tough fight.
"Wasn't expecting easy anyway."
Carpe took stance. Three dolls burst from his robe, shifting to combat mode.
Heh heh! Not Ant Hell, Ant Heaven! Vermin! Face Gillian!
Gillian charged with his dad-joke flair.
Tina mounted the now-gigantic Mukhyang.
"Hyang! Time to show our power. Breath charge!"
"Kyukyaat!"
Mukhyang spewed fire, barreling at the soldier ant.
The 10-Star Player's Lucky Draw