Players across the eastern plane stared at their wristbands. For a few seconds, no one spoke before the silence was eventually broken.
"Zich?" a player muttered. "Wasn't he the guy who started with a slime?"
Another player frowned. "How did he enter the top five this fast? He wasn't even there a moment ago."
Before anyone could settle from the shock, another notification rang out.
[Ding! Zone Announcement!]
[Ranking Updated.]
[4th Place: Zich — 149 Points]
The noise across the plains grew louder this time. Even those who had not paid attention earlier were forced to stop whatever they were doing.
"What?"
"He climbed again!"
"How is he killing monsters that fast?"
Rael's face tightened. His hand clenched around his weapon until his knuckles turned pale.
One of his followers swallowed, as if reading Rael's thoughts, and spoke. "Maybe he found a good hunting spot."
Rael turned his head slowly, and the player quickly lowered his gaze, afraid of drawing his anger.
"A good hunting spot?" Rael repeated with a cold laugh. "Don't make excuses for trash. He is cheating. There is no other explanation."
Another player nearby nodded quickly. "Maybe he is stealing points from others. He could be ambushing weaker players and forcing them to transfer."
A few people around them began to whisper. The idea spread fast, because it was easier to believe than Zich suddenly becoming dangerous.
Before Rael could say more, a third announcement came.
[Ding! Zone Announcement!]
[Ranking Updated.]
[3rd Place: Zich — 164 Points]
[4th Place: Rael — 161 Points]
Upon seeing the third announcement, Rael's eyes turned bloodshot and his fist clenched so tightly that blood ran down his arm.
The laughter around him died at once. His followers stared at the ranking, their faces stiff. No one dared to speak first, because the name above Rael was the same one he had mocked only moments ago.
"That bastard…" Rael's breathing grew heavier. "How did… how did he…"
...
Far away, Helen stared at her wristband and slowly smiled.
"I knew it," she said softly.
Jayden stood beside her, his expression no longer calm. His gaze remained fixed on Zich's name.
Helen glanced at him and asked teasingly, "Still not in a rush?"
Jayden did not answer at first.
A monster charged toward them from the side, but he reacted instantly. His blade flashed once, and the creature's head rolled across the grass.
Helen blinked. She did not say anything, but it was clear now. Jayden, the current strongest human player in the beginner zone, was no longer holding back.
Inside the dungeon, Zich was already in the middle of another fight.
A juvenile silver skinned ape leapt from the left, its arms raised high as it tried to slam down on him. Zich stepped forward instead of retreating and slashed his sword across its chest.
The ape screamed, its body jerking back, but Slimy bounced off the wall and fired a poison ball straight at its face.
Splat!
The poison spread across the ape's eyes, blinding it instantly and forcing it to stagger.
"Nice Shot!," Zich praised, raising his palm.
[Blood Arc]
A red slash shot forward and cleanly tore through the ape's neck. Its body dropped to the floor, twitching once before going still.
At the same time, Blood Leech was engaged with two others.
One ape lifted a crude club and smashed it down onto the summon's back, but dark yellow plates hardened across its body just before impact.
The blow landed, but the damage was reduced.
The second ape lunged forward, trying to grab its arm. Blood Leech twisted its body sharply, slipping the grip, and drove its proboscis straight into the creature's shoulder.
Puchi!
The ape shrieked as Blood Leech drained it, its body trembling while the summon's wounds began to close.
Meanwhile, Slimy slid low across the ground and spread poison beneath the remaining ape's feet, slowing its movement.
Zich rushed in from the side, keeping his rusty sword low.
Slash!
His blade cut through the ape's leg, dropping it to one knee.
Before it could recover, Blood Leech ripped its proboscis free and followed up with a claw strike to the throat, finishing it.
[Ding!]
[You have leveled up.]
[Level 4 → Level 5]
[Free Attribute Points +5]
Zich's eyes lit up for a moment.
'Nice. More points for me to use later.'
He closed the screen immediately, not wasting time, and pushed forward. The group moved deeper into the dungeon, clearing patrol after patrol with smooth coordination.
Slimy controlled the battlefield with poison, slowing and blinding targets. Blood Leech stayed at the front, tanking hits and sustaining itself through blood drain.
Zich moved between them, stepping in whenever something slipped through, cutting it down without hesitation.
Soon, the polished tunnel widened into a long corridor.
The air felt heavier there.
At the far end stood four larger apes.
They were not like the juveniles.
Their bodies were taller, broader, and packed with muscle. Thick silver fur covered their arms and backs, and their hands looked strong enough to crush stone. Each one had a deep red mark across its chest.
[Silverback LV. 11 (Elite Guard)]
Zich stopped walking and raised his hand slightly, signaling both summons to halt.
The Silverback Apes turned at once. They reacted instantly, their heads snapping toward him as they sensed his presence.
Blood Leech moved first, rushing forward with its claws aimed at the nearest target.
Zich expected the same result as before.
He was wrong.
The Silverback Ape caught Blood Leech mid charge.
Its massive hand closed around the summon's arm.
Crack!
With a single motion, it slammed Blood Leech into the floor.
The impact echoed through the corridor.
At the same time, Slimy launched a poison shot toward another Silverback. The ape did not dodge. It simply raised its arm and let the attack hit.
The poison sizzled against its skin, but the creature barely reacted.
Zich's smile faded as he saw that.
The remaining two Silverbacks moved together.
They rushed Blood Leech at the same time.
One brought its foot down hard onto the summon's back, pinning it in place.
The other grabbed its head and smashed it repeatedly against the stone floor.
Boom!
Boom!
Blood Leech's body twitched under the combined assault, unable to break free.
Zich reacted immediately, raising his sword.
[Blood Arc]
Fwish!
The red slash cut through the air and struck one Silverback across the shoulder. It left a visible wound, but it was shallow.
The creature did not even slow down.
Instead, its head snapped toward Zich.
The attack had only angered it.
It bent its legs slightly, then launched forward in a single leap, closing the distance almost instantly.
"Fuck!"