The Lord Punisher
Kasas's face hardened.
"Summon Penrus."
Arthur muttered under his breath.
At that moment, the Arthur lurking at the base of the castle walls seized his chance and mounted Penrus.
"Up!"
Krurrr!
With a savage roar, Penrus charged toward the walls at full speed.
Tatata! Tatata!
Soon, Penrus was racing along the wall.
Realizing it was about to fall, Penrus kicked off the wall and leaped high into the air.
Arthur was already rising to his feet, poised for the jump.
"Penrus!"
Krurrr!
At the shout, Penrus launched Arthur upward with all its might.
Swoooosh!
Arthur rocketed into the sky like a cannonball.
Thud!
He landed at the edge of the wall where three orc mages stood, grabbing the railing and hauling himself up.
"Chweeek! Chweeek!"
The orc mages panicked.
Without their magic, they were utterly helpless in a fight.
Psh! Pssh!
Arthur dispatched all three in an instant.
'Phew, that takes care of the orc mages.'
Arthur dropped back down swiftly and slipped into an empty mansion district.
He activated Creation Painting.
Ten orc mages took shape on the canvas.
They could exert 50% of their power.
The implication was simple.
'Each one can fire a single Ice Spear!'
The orc mages conjured by Creation Painting began their incantations.
Ice Spears shot from their hands, piercing orcs scattered everywhere.
Crack! Crack! Crack!
They could only cast once anyway.
The orcs melted away, and Arthur mounted Penrus once more, vanishing again.
* * *
You have solo-killed 80 enemy troops.
You may engrave the Lord's name in the Tower of Records.
You are currently ranked 3rd and may continue challenging. Rewards will be held until then, improving with higher ranks.
Continuing the challenge incurs risks.
"Challenge accepted."
Even with the warning of risks, Arthur chose to press on.
A chime rang out.
Arhan Territory's forces strengthen by 5% due to continued Record challenges.
His brow furrowed at the news, but there was no helping it.
Greater challenges in the records naturally brought harsher trials.
Moments later, Arthur plunged his sword into the heart of a trembling, collapsing orc.
Mission: Heart Devourer achieved.
Please select one of four rewards.
Arthur scanned the list of rewards scrolling before him.
He was growing fatigued. Penrus and Bred were in the same state.
The silver lining was that Uroboros Devouring Snake healed their wounds with every kill.
'Mana Wizard's Potion?'
His MP was depleted, and it seemed the most vital buff among the options.
It would steadily restore MP over time.
Arthur selected the Mana Wizard's Potion.
A small vial of glowing blue liquid appeared in his hand. Without hesitation, he uncorked and downed it.
'Hunting like this won't last.'
His solo-kill record had climbed to 4th place.
Missions could only patch the gaps so far.
'Was it too much?'
The tutorial was cleared by smashing any territory still in the Lord Protection Period.
Challenging a top-tier one like Arhan was a gamble.
'But I couldn't just let it slide.'
Arthur felt no regrets.
If retreat became necessary, he'd smash another territory solo and return with troops to crush this one.
'The real issue is the rewards.'
Rendal had soloed 105 troops and claimed those prizes.
Arhan had 250.
What unimaginable rewards would come from wiping them all alone? It was tempting to see it through.
He could take 1st like this, but it wouldn't breach the untouchable record zone.
The untouchable record zone.
That's what lords called it. Even Arthur's three missions in rapid succession had entered that realm.
It meant shattering the previous 1st place by an absurd margin.
'Isn't there a way?'
As Arthur pondered—
Ding!
Important Information View unlocked.
His heart raced.
In this situation, it had to offer a path forward.
(Fearful Rebels)
Due to Lord Kasas's atrocities, the territory's loyalty is at rock bottom. Yet Kasas suppresses rebellion through sheer force. A 'Lord Punisher' hides here, named Cataloc.
+Quest: Lead Lord Punisher Cataloc
Arthur immediately checked the quest.
He read the description.
'Lord Punisher Cataloc dreams of rebellion but fears it. Meet someone he believes can lead them, and he may follow.'
A grin of delight crept across Arthur's lips.
"This could work..."
Lord Punisher.
This quest appeared in territories where citizen satisfaction had hit the absolute floor.
Though classified as citizens, Lord Punishers weren't ordinary residents.
Normally, players received the quest through various routes, sought them out, and led them.
But Arthur's Important Information View had bypassed the rules, revealing Cataloc directly.
His Specialized Lord Nurturing Device even provided the quest to command him.
To rouse Cataloc and the rebels, Arthur needed 100% Fascination.
In other words, prove himself as the rebellion's core, worthy of their trust.
'First, find Cataloc.'
The system hid him, but locals would know.
Reach his spot, and he'd emerge with his rebels.
* * *
Illeina's mother sat in the kitchen, hands clasped before a flickering candle.
"Please... please let my daughter Illeina return safely."
Lord Kasas had taken her daughter to his eyes, dragged her to the orcs.
Hyren nearby had her whole family slaughtered for refusing to strip.
Whoosh.
Creek, creek.
Fierce winds rattled the windows as tears streamed down her face.
"Please... kill that monster."
Words unfit for the territory's lord, but she prayed them anyway.
When the intruder alert and warning horns blared, countless others had prayed too.
Mysterious intruder.
Slay Kasas for us.
Whoosh.
A sudden gust extinguished the candle.
"I-Illeina?!"
Clutching faint hope, she sprang up.
Maybe the intruder had returned her.
Rumble.
Boom, boom.
Thunder crashed, and in the darkness, a boy appeared.
He gripped a spear longer than himself.
"Sorry for the rude entry."
"Gasp...!"
She clapped a hand over her mouth at the sight of Arthur.
She knew who he was.
The lone enemy invading the territory.
Terrified, she frowned.
'Such a young boy...?'
Orcs were dying nonstop outside.
One enemy, yet they fell helplessly.
"Do you know someone named Cataloc?"
Her mouth fell open.
She knew him all too well.
He dreamed of rebellion, secretly amassing forces.
But they waited, lacking anyone to strike Kasas's elite guard.
She bit her lip.
His intent was obvious.
She nodded slowly.
"Tell me his location."
"C-can a boy like you really do it?"
Arthur smiled faintly.
She was sympathetic.
Good heavens.
So welcoming to an enemy from a war-mode territory.
And she'd asked if he could do it.
That question carried her desperate wish.
She was pleading: Can you kill Kasas?
Arthur nodded subtly.
"Head central from our house to the clock tower. Nearby is 'Jackson's Fruit Shop.' Go inside, and you'll meet Cataloc."
"Thank you."
Arthur bowed his head slightly and turned to leave.
"W-wait...!"
She hurriedly yanked open a drawer.
She unwrapped bandages and bound his hand.
Uroboros Devouring Snake had healed the wound, but swinging the spear had torn calluses, leaving bloodstains that lingered.
To others, he looked immature.
"In the Lord's castle... a girl with short white hair and blue eyes."
Her voice trembled.
"My daughter. Please... save my daughter."
Desperate, pleading with a boy—an enemy.
Arthur glanced at the bandages, nodding faintly.
No promises.
He didn't know if her daughter lived.
Arthur turned and dashed out.
* * *
Racing to the central clock tower, Arthur quickly reached Jackson's Fruit Shop.
Pushing deep inside, a long passageway appeared.
He pressed on.
You have located Lord Punisher Cataloc.
Fail to reach 100% Fascination, and Cataloc and the rebels will attack you.
A double-edged sword.
Failure meant more enemies.
'About 15 minutes left.'
Mad Injection would soon end completely.
No results? Retreat and bide time.
Voices echoed from the passage's end.
"We must dethrone Lord Kasas now. He rapes the territory's virgins and kills any who disobey. Didn't you see? During his procession, he beheaded a citizen for bowing slightly too low and tossed the head before the family."
"You're right. But we can't fight back with our numbers. And the biggest issue? Those reinforcements. Roden, they say he's the Kingdom's Greatest Swordsman."
"Kuh..."
"Mm..."
Groans followed.
'Reinforcements? From Lord Zakan's territory, scouting?'
It fit.
Arthur often marveled at the Monarch Game.
Hidden systems triggered with full environmental integration.
"Roden's scum too. Beat a restaurant owner like a dog over bad soup."
"But his skill is unmatched. No one here can take him—rebellion would be suicide..."
Before the words finished, Arthur stepped into the vast hall.
Over 100 troops sat within, three leaders at the front.
"Then I'll take care of Roden."