Meanwhile while Adrian was busy running back,
[~Ding~]
[NPC Leonard has slain Player Nyx of Starter Zone 36]
[Announcement: The first kill from a NPC has triggered the Crime System]
[The Crime System shall note the name of all the NPCs who has killed Players]
[For every time a NPC kills a player, the NPC shall get 1 crime point. Players get rewards based on the crime value of the slained NPC]
[Quest: Kill Leonard of Trios]
[Reward: Appraisal(Advanced Mastery)]
[~Ding~]
[ The Mastery Tiers are released:
Novice Players all over Zenim openly gawked at the sudden influx of announcements.
The players of Zone 36 especially became more alert. Some noob had probably died at a random NPC's hand and they could only thank them for it.
Other Zones could only helplessly complain about the unfairness of it all.
The clever ones however saw the obvious loophole in the system. They made plans to get the NPCs to kill other players, and then kill those NPCs themselves for higher rewards.
However at Zone 36, the hunt for Leonard had already begun.
______________
He felt something amiss. Even the entrance of the gate to Trios had many players who were... interrogating the guards?
Adrian found it quite comical that the guards had their heads bowed in front of the saviours when they could literally wipe out the saviours in front of them.
Not giving it much mind, he sneaked in the Lord's mansion.
However, the scene didn't look like it had calmed down even when he came out of the mansion.
He saw them asking things around. Even the people of Trios seemed cautious, both from these saviours and from something unknown to him.
Feeling a slight discomfort, he quickly paced up towards a rarely used alley that was carved in between two crumbling houses.
Once hidden from view, he twisted his body and as if an afterimage left behind, a pale translucent cloak floated in the air.
A black haired man of a handsome visage with sharp eyes quickly caught the cloak mid-air.
Relaxing his face muscles to reduce the chubbiness which Leonard had possessed, he now looked like a completely different person.
This was his real form....the figure of Adrian.
With a mental command, the cramped cloak in his palms flapped rustingly and integrated itself within his physical form.
Satisfied with himself, he climbed the house on which he was leaning on and quickly jumped from roof to roof while looking around, not wanting to get caught in the act.
Then shuffling down a house which faced a narrow road, he dusted his clothes and started walking as if he hadn't been acting weird and suspicious moments ago.
His eyes twinkled a little as he came across a rundown eatery which had few long benches at both its sides.
On these benches, sat the greatest critics of the government, the greatest researchers, all of whom having already graduated from the University of Bullshit --- just kidding.
But Adrian's reason for coming here? The gossips. The rumours that circulate around the town...the compilation of all such rumours are known to these guys that spend their time here for most of the day.
The shop owner, an oversized man of 55, called out to him, "Whaddaya want?"
"A cup of coffee would be fine"
The owner just nodded before going back to his work.
Adrian relaxed. It has been a tiring day. First, the arrival of the saviours and later, confronting one of them...and killing her.
'That's wrong. She didn't die. But how do one even go on trying to explain the way she dissolved and vanished?'
His coffee came soon after. He sipped while pretending to be spacing out. Though his attention was on the older men's words.
"...yeah right? They are asking everywhere for this 'Leonard' guy. Seems he really caused some trouble to the saviours."
Adrian's ears perked up at those words.
"You know they even met the city lord. Know the funny thing? There is no Leonard registered in this city."
"Woah...an imposter huh!"
A rotund bellied man joked and all the 'homies' erupted in laughter.
'Well well, aren't you famous now, Leonard?'
Adrian could hardly hold his laugh that threatened to slip out of his lips.
Then he remembered that he was being hunted. His mind formulated a plan. A simple one. Make it seem to the public that Leonard is dead.
It would clear his trail, at least from all the players who for some unknown reason where chasing him.
His eyes narrowed slightly as he tried sucking for any last drops of coffee from the already empty cup.
There wasn't any!
Standing up, he murmered, "Time to bring justice to many victims and...also a way for me to escape."
Just as he was about to go behind a house to start his jumping session, he noticed her. Again.
Nyx nonchalantly walked down the road in a loosely fitted purple robe, her attire attracting gazes from the passersby. She passed by him humming a song.
Adrian felt his body stiffen for a moment before a thought entered his mind.
'So these guys can't be killed,eh?'
His gaze moved towards the direction of the white altar where they had all arrived.
'So they all revive there? That's actually interesting...'
He then turned towards Nyx and walked up to her.
"Surprised seeing the dear me alive?" She cocked her head towards him, a mischievous smile drawn on her lips.
Adrian smiled back, "I am shocked yeah...but what surprised me more is the fact that they are searching for 'Leonard', not Adrian."
His smile disappeared. His eyes list all warmth as he stared at her with those cold eyes as he continued, "So tell me, what are u planning on? If you are hiding behind the fact that you won't die, let me assure you.
I can kill you as many times as I want.
Even if you escape,I shall hunt you down each and every single time. You might not die but the pain, the horror...I can etch them into your very marrow.
So why not trying to live a life without any misery?"
Nyx's carefree attitude slowly kept on fading until her face showed hints of cautiousness.
"You are just as they said me....cold, ruthless and selfish."
"Selfish? I beg to differ on that. I am just looking after myself. Shouldn't a guy have his own needs nowadays?"
Nyx helplessly shook her head. A wry smile appeared on her. She looked him in the eyes and puckering her lips spoke flatly, "You think you are safe yourself? It's my mission to kill you...maybe I won't be able to do it alone, but...let the time come. I want to see how you fare then."
Saying those words, she walked away.
For a moment, he thought of following her and show that his words hold value. But he just stayed there, stating at her until she disappeared.
With a sigh, he cracked his neck.
'On second thought she might be not that wrong. I mean I am probably the most selfish person present alive...well I can't be blamed since I am completely alone and navigating the world on my own. Cold hmm? If killing people without even batting an eye counts in that.
As for ruthless, isn't that the very requirement of being a cold person. Damn, she was spot on with my characters.'
Though his face crumbled a bit, the light dimming in his eyes. He asked himself, "Who is targeting me now? Another nuance.
As for the reason, well there are hundreds of people who want to kill me...so why bother trying to find it."
A low chuckle escaped his throat. It sounded weak but carried an eerie edge to it.
But...
If only...
They could read his mind....
Where a 1v100 battle scene played out. Adrian being the hero and 100 others the villains...he fought;he crushed;he won.
It was childish...maybe, but satisfying.
Then shaking out of the 'heroic path', he took a deep breath.
'Alright enough playing around. Time to get serious.'