A small town.
Once thriving. Now in ruins.
NPCs still live here… if "living" is even the right word.
Because in this place, living is just another form of suffering.
Every day, high-level players enter the zone.
Some slaughter NPCs for EXP.
Some livestream their powers — parading themselves as "heroes."
But to the NPCs, it's not a life.
It's a cycle of death.
Kairos stands, the mark of four seals glowing on his back:
1. [Blood Magic – Tier: Classified]
2. [Combat Arts – Core Knowledge of 12 Disciplines Uploaded]
3. [Market Access – Infinite Currency & Merchant Privileges]
4. [Weapon Arsenal – Exclusive Access Code: Kairos]
Limitations:
No additional skills can be learned. Only these four may evolve.
Kairos didn't understand why the restriction was there.
But the last message on his interface made everything clear:
> [Restoring Final Memory Before Transformation…]
A face.
A girl.
Another NPC.
She smiled, even in death.
Her final whisper:
> "Don't forget me…"
The players had killed her.
For EXP.
And Kairos… had only watched.
But not this time.
This time, he was no longer just a witness.
He was the executioner.
Now, Kairos steps into the town.
Two players are smashing a young NPC boy against a wall.
The child sobs.
That sound…
It reminds Kairos of Elira.
She had been killed 23 times.
Every time, she respawned.
Until one day, a player tested "dark magic" on her.
She didn't return.
Kairos doesn't hesitate.
No warning. No announcement.
His first attack is silent.
The weapon in his hand looks ordinary — a plain sword.
But as he swings it, one of the four player's gifted powers activates.
The blade slices down from shoulder to hip —
like a storm splitting the air.
One player's head flies through the sky.
The other screams:
> "That's not an NPC! That's— a glitch!?"
No.
Not a glitch.
Not a cheater.
Kairos speaks — voice like ice:
> "This isn't a bug. This isn't a cheat.
The only thing broken… is your illusion of control.
You play in the game.
But now…
You play in my game."
He returns to his shop.
But the world feels different now.
Sharper. More alive. More dangerous.
He enters, not to sell —
but to sit, think,
and understand the full extent of what he has become.
Then — the door opens.
Two players walk in.
Zenith and Zero.
Elite armor. Gold-tier gear.
Weapons enchanted with high-level magic.
Rumors said they'd been away for over a week,
participating in exclusive world events.
Kairos greets them politely.
He doesn't want trouble.
Not now.
> "The shop is closed," he says, calm but firm.
"Please leave.
In fact, this shop will never reopen.
I plan to destroy every weapon inside."
Zero grins smugly, turning to impress his girlfriend.
> "What's gotten into you, Kairos?
You used to serve us even at midnight."
Kairos doesn't flinch.
> "Today, I'm not working.
And soon, I'll make sure no one does."
Before the sentence ends,
Zero turns to Zenith:
> "Why don't we just kill him again?
The event's over, and this NPC still drops decent loot."
His head hits the floor before he finishes the sentence.
His body disintegrates. Logged out. Dead.
Zenith stares in shock.
Kairos steps forward, holding the glowing sword.
> "Zenith. I know your name ranks among the top 100 nationwide.
I respect your strength.
But I hate words like the ones Zero just said."
They had killed him before.
Now she realizes — this is no ordinary NPC.
Not anymore.
She draws her weapon and attacks.
But Kairos has already calculated her move.
Her timing. Her distance. Her mistake.
A simple step. A twist. A cut.
And Zenith's head joins Zero's.
Silence.
Kairos walks to a corner and sits.
No celebration. No thrill.
Only quiet.
The kills were easy.
But there were no limits on this power.
And that…
meant the real danger had only just begun.