Red Nick Ambush
PK wasn't a foreign concept at all. But forming a whole guild around it? That didn't make sense. Were they ignoring the penalties for forced PvP?
"Does the penalty get worse if you stack up more red lines?"
-Wasn't it double?
-Yeah, EXP loss, gold loss, criminal status duration—all doubled.
-Criminal status (anyone can attack you, no trading, etc.)
-Can't even enter towns carelessly.
-After a bit, guards chase you lol
-But they hide pretty well.
[Explainer donated 5,000 won.]
[Info: More lines mean more restrictions in towns and fields. Nessto vice-guildmaster has 6. Guildmaster's unknown.]
"Thanks for the info."
Thanks to the viewers, he'd gotten the essentials. The real question was why this crazy guild was targeting him.
Thud! A noise from below and behind.
Kang Hanbit, who'd sensed the presence early, leaped far to the side.
"Trigger, wasn't he level 20 or so?"
The female human with gauntlets on both hands furrowed her brow slightly. A bright red nickname floated above her head.
"I'd know if you watched the stream. He's no ordinary player."
Trigger grinned like he was having fun. Kang Hanbit eyed his enemies.
"Who sent you guys?"
"I'm your fan. Came to meet you, plus a little extra."
"So someone did order it?"
"My fandom's bigger? So let's try killing you 50 times."
-A fan?;
-Real psychos lol
-Rainzer send 'em?
-Kim Hanseop?
-Someone pissed off hired 'em?
-Pathetic af;
-Drop your SNS.
-Ignore and force quit
-They'll camp every login.
-Might be better to just die.
-Yeah, probably.
The guild had a nasty rep—viewers were leaning that way. No other players poked their heads out either.
One of those two for real?
As the chat suggested, there were plausible motives. Right or wrong aside, Rainzer and Kim Hanseop both had reasons to be pissed.
Of course, he had zero intention of playing along.
Ding. Opening his info window, Kang Hanbit allocated his stat points.
[Black Dragon-Lv.22]
[Title: None]
Strength: 25
Agility: 31
Intelligence: 25
Vitality: 10
Remaining Stat Points: 0
A slightly different allocation than before. He'd pumped Agility to handle this mess.
Three of them...
No levels visible, so hard to gauge. But PvP was tediously familiar.
Whoosh.
[Wind Spirit Sylph shows hostility.]
The alert popped up amid rustling winds. Sylph, dismissed from physical form, moved with him.
"They struck first, so it's fine if I kill them, right?"
-Yeah go for it
-Red line means fair game anyway.
-Some cities/guilds even put bounties.
-You really fighting tho?
-Not named but...
-Over 60 at least?
Fine to kill. That was answer enough. Dragging it out would just hurt him.
Sword's in bad shape.
Cracks everywhere from the earlier hit. Even wind swordsmanship needed a decent blade.
Good data farming tho?
His play data was constantly measured by the program. Multi-PvP metrics weren't easy to get.
Might as well maximize gains now.
With that thought, he reached toward the enemies.
"Aw, that'd be a hassle."
Trigger's mouth curved up despite his words.
In the regression worlds, he'd seen countless loose screws. Self-proclaimed killers in every city.
These types? Old hat.
"Gonna cover the screen a sec."
He blacked out the stream and chanted.
"Fire Burst!"
Fwoosh!
The fireball shot straight ahead. The trio bolted simultaneously.
Thud!
Trigger was fastest. Kang Hanbit, who'd scouted the terrain, dove into the maze of alleys.
Shick!
Even blind-spot dodging couldn't shake Trigger's blistering speed. Unfamiliar turf, and he'd have been caught.
All-in on Agility?
The speed gap screamed it. Without Wind Movement, toast long ago.
Whoosh. Wind gathered slowly around his sword.
Top priority target? Decided.
Thud!
Mid-sprint, he veered into a side path with a dirt pile.
"Fire Burst!"
Boom!
The blast kicked up dirt everywhere.
"Playing dirty?"
Trigger halted in the dust cloud.
Shick!
Daggers pierced the haze. But Kang Hanbit had slipped into a hidden wall gap.
"Fight fair to end it quick. Right?"
Trigger spun his daggers, standing still—listening.
Keep it up.
Stealth tech existed, but Wind Movement let him mimic it.
Crunch.
He navigated the familiar back alleys.
Found him.
A giant with a greatsword patrolling.
"Tch, like a damn fly."
The guy grumbled, oblivious, scowling.
No sense of danger.
One shot.
Dropping to a wall, he held his breath. The brute's power was a real threat. Slow reactions, though—low Agility investment.
Whoosh!
The wind now glowed vivid green.
Thud. Thud.
The giant strolled casually. From a gap in the rickety fence, Kang Hanbit readied.
As the massive body appeared—
Shick!
Sharp wind blade slashed.
"Gurk!"
Throat hit dead-on. The brute's death rattle.
Thud!
Greatsword dropped from bulging eyes. He twitched, then faded fast.
Ding!
[5,000 EXP gained.]
"EXP?"
Player kill gave EXP? Suspicious, he uncensored the stream.
Ding.
Screen lit up. Chat exploded.
-O.
-He's back.
-Sound-only was horror movie vibes;
-Wtf happened?
-Whose scream was that?
-Huh? That greatsword the bear guy's?
-You got him?
Sound-guessing viewers clocked the dropped sword. Unlike their shock, Kang Hanbit eyed his hand quietly.
Held up well.
Supply sword shattered. Couldn't handle the wind's unique recoil.
He asked viewers: "Killing one gave EXP. Bug?"
-You're the bug lol;
-Red lines always give EXP.
-Mystery monster vibe.
-Not really people.
-Limit on kills?
-Yeah blocks lowbies.
Chat spewed info.
Like actual monsters.
Unexpected bonus? Nice. Killing them all was right call.
"Whoa, you killed him that fast?"
Short-haired guy appeared on a rooftop ahead—Trigger, who'd lost him.
"Told you to strategize, dumbass."
His female teammate popped up behind, pissed from the search.
-Ganging up is cheating;
-On my way to help.
-Trust us.
-Already coming.
Offers had been rolling in. No one actually showed, though—of the viewers.
"Hyung!"
Familiar voice from behind the woman. Juyeonu sprinting with sword drawn.
"I'll help!"
-Roper's back.
-Post-piss Roper hits different.
-Thicc?Thicc
-Face rates 2 secs.
-Black Dragon hyung "do it"
"He's already here?"
The woman glanced back annoyed, spun her gauntleted fist, and advanced on Juyeonu.
"Trigger, Black Dragon's yours."
"Don't end it too quick. Save some fun."
Quick roles assigned.
"Come at me!"
Juyeonu gripped boldly. Gutsy, but predictable outcome.
Won't last long.
Her moves earlier? No slouch. Juyeonu, no PvP exp, outmatched.
"Gonna help? Tough luck."
Trigger smirked leisurely.
Then—
"I'll help too!"
A man dropped from a roof in front of Juyeonu.
"Whoa!"
'Kim Jaeha' floated above.
-O.
-Backup arrived.
-HammerMan ㅠㅠ
-Reliable.
-Nessto gonna mark you now?
-That's loyalty.
Kim Jaeha's arrival surprised even Kang Hanbit. Most players dodged PK guilds.
Meant their connection mattered that much?
Lucky anyway.
Kim Jaeha's combat wasn't top-tier. But level, stats, gear? Solid. Buy time, and this side clears easy.
Shff.
He ditched the broken supply sword, crouched for the dropped greatsword.
"Total noob? Your Strength won't even dent it."
Trigger lectured.
Ignoring him, Kang Hanbit gripped the hilt.
-?
-Wtf.
-That's 3-rank, needs 50 Strength?
-Yeah damage tanks.
-Drop it quick;
Viewers panicked too. Unmet stats nerf gear hard.
He knew the penalty. But he had other plans.
Ding!
Alert only for him.
He eyed the message.
[Title: New effect of 55 Regressions' Recorder unlocks.]