The air was thick with tension, and the crowd's laughter cut like knives.
"Why don't we just give it to them, Maya?" Chris, the guardian knight, whispered to the priestess at his side. His voice carried the strain of humiliation. "Better to avoid trouble than invite disaster."
Maya's eyes snapped toward him, incredulous. "Chris, are you serious? You know how important this armor is to us right now. Without it, how will we survive later stages? If you're afraid, fine. Leave. No one is holding you back."
Her words burned more than the Bloodhounds' sneers. Chris clenched his fists, shame rising in his throat.
The crowd wasted no time in turning their scorn on him.
"What a coward. Can't even stand up for his own girlfriend."
"Pretty girl, but wow—her taste in men is tragic."
"With a personality that spineless, who let him pick guardian knight?"
Each taunt dug into Chris like a blade. His ears burned red, and for a fleeting moment, he thought of logging out just to escape.
The Bloodhound leader, an older man with a weathered face and a massive axe slung over his shoulder, stepped forward. His voice was thick with disdain. "This is the last time I'll say it, little girl. Hand over the armor, and everything ends well."
Maya's heart sank. Her sister clutched her robe, eyes brimming with tears. Despair clawed at her chest—until another voice broke through the suffocating tension.
"I'll take the armor. Name your price."
The words were calm, almost casual.
Heads snapped toward the newcomer. Tony—Mad Demon—stood at the edge of the crowd, his expression unreadable, his posture relaxed as if he hadn't just walked into a hornet's nest.
Maya blinked, hope flaring in her chest. He came…
The Bloodhounds' eyes darkened instantly. Murderous intent rolled off them in waves. Even the bystanders whispered.
"Is he insane? Even a blind man can see this is a death sentence."
"That's the Bloodhounds. Offend them, and they'll chase you to the ends of the world."
"Poor guy. Brave… but stupid."
Maya's lips trembled as she answered, torn between relief and fear. "Sir, it's a bronze-ranked armor with strong stats. I set the price at fifty bronze coins."
The Bloodhounds chuckled cruelly. Their leader's eyes narrowed with killing intent.
The crowd watched Tony expectantly, waiting for fear, hesitation, even pleading. But he only smiled faintly, as if the gang's pressure was nothing more than a summer breeze.
The Bloodhound leader felt a chill creep down his spine. Something about this boy's back radiated danger.
A younger thug spat, trying to mask his unease. "Kid, who the fuck do you think you are? You think you can take what our boss wants?"
"For a pretty girl, he's throwing away his life."
"Guess his parents didn't teach him how cruel the world is."
Their words earned nods of pity from the crowd. Everyone had already marked Tony for death. His life in the game was finished.
But then—Tony turned.
His eyes locked on the gang, cold, sharp, predatory. The weight of his gaze pressed into their bones like invisible chains. For the first time, laughter faltered. Even the bystanders felt it, a killing intent so real it blurred the line between game and reality.
"Old man," Tony's voice was low, steady, terrifying. "Teach your dogs that a single careless word can send them straight to hell."
He moved.
Steel hissed. Lightning crackled.
[Lightning Strike].
The strike was so fast it cleaved the silence itself. A single arc of light split across the square—and in the next heartbeat, every Bloodhound except the leader collapsed into shards of light, their gear scattering across the dirt.
The crowd gasped.
The Bloodhound leader's eyes bulged. His gang… gone. Just like that.
That single strike burned itself into the minds of every witness. It was the kind of execution that players dreamed of performing, but almost no one could ever reach. Speed, precision, and ruthless intent—brought together in a moment of impossible mastery.
"You… what are you?" the leader stammered, stumbling backward. "No… no one should be that strong. It's just the beginning of the game!"
Tony's expression didn't change. "Consider me someone you should never provoke."
He raised his blade, ready to finish it—
—but a sudden flare of light stopped him. The village leader appeared, flanked by armored guards.
The Bloodhound leader exhaled in relief, trembling. "You're finished now!"
Yet Tony remained perfectly composed, his eyes still locked on his prey.
The guards, however, didn't raise their weapons against him. Instead, the village leader stepped forward respectfully, bowing slightly. "Sir Mad Demon… may I ask what happened here?"
The crowd erupted in murmurs.
"What the—he called him sir?"
"Impossible… isn't the village supposed to crush troublemakers immediately?"
"No way… don't tell me…"
Realization spread like wildfire.
He's a Baron.
No ordinary player could earn such respect from NPCs this early. It was a privilege akin to royalty walking among peasants.
Tony answered with a shrug. "Just a few flies that irritated me. I swatted them down."
The leader's eyes trembled. Flies? He called us flies…
He turned to run, desperate for escape—
—but agony bloomed in his chest. Tony's sword had already pierced his heart. The last thing the leader saw were eyes filled with disdain, cold as death itself.
He dissolved into light.
The square fell silent.
Maya stared, her breath caught in her throat. The invincible gang that had terrorized the village for days was annihilated in seconds. The power gap was so wide, so absolute, it made her tremble.
"If I had this kind of strength…" she whispered. "No one could ever bully me or my sister again."
She wasn't the only one thinking it. The bystanders who had mocked Chris earlier now stared at Tony as if seeing a deity descend. His last strike—the speed, the fluid control, the effortless return to stance—was the mark of a top-tier player.
"I didn't think anyone like him was in this village…"
"Strong… he's stronger than Eternal Knight, maybe even Red Lotus."
"No… Solitary Sword is supposed to be the best. But with him around? I can't wait for the clash."
In this starting village alone, over ten thousand players had spawned. Many famous names and seasoned pros already stood out. Yet until now, three dominated the rankings:
Eternal Knight, the immovable guardian.
Red Lotus, the elusive thief.
Solitary Sword, the cold, unrivaled duelist.
Now, a fourth had appeared. Mad Demon. And whispers of his name spread like wildfire.
"Big brother, you're amazing!" The little mage girl's eyes sparkled, her earlier fear replaced by pure adoration. "The way you defeated all those bad guys was soooo cool!"
Tony smirked, playing into her awe. "Of course. I'm the most badass person in this world."
Her giggles lightened the tense air. Even Maya allowed herself a small smile.
The village leader sighed, relief flickering across his face. "No harm has been done. Please, Sir Mad Demon, think nothing of this incident."
Tony inclined his head politely before turning to Maya and her sister. "Follow me. We'll talk somewhere quieter."
The crowd parted, watching them go. Yet another figure trailed behind—Chris, head bowed, face pale.
Tony stopped, his gaze sharp as a blade. "What do you think you're doing here?"
Chris froze. "I-I… I'm with them." His voice was weak, trembling.
The sisters' expressions shifted, both filled with disappointment. He was supposed to be their protector. Instead, he had cowered, leaving them exposed. His image in their hearts shattered.
Tony's words cut like steel. "I told them to follow me. Not you."
Chris's lips trembled. "B-but what I did earlier… it was the right decision at the time. It was rational."
Maya's eyes hardened. His excuses only deepened her disgust.
Tony sneered. "You misunderstand. I don't care about your excuses. You simply aren't worthy to walk beside me." His voice dropped, cold and final. "Now get lost before I make quick work of you."
A shiver ran down Chris's spine. Without another word, he turned and slunk away, disappearing into the crowd.
The Mad Demon didn't even spare him another glance.