MMORPG: Surviving a Death Game with a Glitched System

Deep breath in.

...

Deep breath out...

...

Deep breath in.

...

Deep breath out...

The blood of the three Marauders had long faded alongside their corpses, leaving behind only oddly clean slices of meat and several teeth.

Deep breath in.

...

Deep breath out...

Yet Ash’s tunic was still stained a deep crimson, making it clear that the blood belonged to him.

The wound on his shoulder wasn’t incredibly deep, but it was deep enough that the bleeding wouldn’t stop any time soon.

Deep breath in.

...

Deep breath out...

Ash’s eyes remained trained on the creature as it continued circling him, all while clenching its bow and waiting.

Until eventually...

Deep breath in.

...

Deep breath out.

He raised the bow and took aim at the bastard.

Upon witnessing the threat, the hunter did the same. The moment it did, the eerie humming finally ceased, giving way to silence.

The only things that graced Ash’s ears were the beating of his heart and his laboured breaths.

"[Focus]."

Ash released the arrow immediately after activating the ability.

While it wasn’t a perfect shot, it hit, burying itself in the humanoid monster’s bicep.

But the attack didn’t go unanswered.

In the span of a blink, the creature noticed Ash’s change in behavior and quick-fired. Its own shot wasn’t fully powered, but it was accurate.

Only because of [Focus] did Ash manage to swivel his head out of the way in time.

If the bastard had aimed for his torso, Ash wouldn’t have been able to dodge it at all. Maybe he could have controlled where it landed, but he couldn’t have avoided it.

Wincing, Ash dropped to one knee and plucked an arrow out of the ground.

As fast as he could, still on his knees, he nocked it and fired.

The shot was weak.

Even across the short distance between them, its arc was evident.

However...

Caught off guard by how quickly the second shot came, the hunter abandoned its own preparation to dodge the arrow.

With the minuscule amount of time he bought himself, Ash plucked another arrow out of the ground and stood.

Using all the strength he could muster, Ash pulled the string taut and released another shot.

At this distance, the hunter had little chance to react properly.

In a fit of desperation, it held up the bow’s shaft in front of itself.

But, whether due to skill or luck, Ash’s arrow smashed into the wooden frame before deflecting just enough to merely graze the creature’s face.

The pale hunter, its skin gray and leathery, gently brought a hand to its cheek and patted the wound as dark-red blood gushed from it.

Once again, a voice slipped from the creature’s mouth.

"Impressive..."

This time, its voice was deep and a little rough.

It was Claude’s.

Ash’s eyes narrowed as he hobbled aside, waiting for the cooldown of [Focus].

’Is that its idea of taunting me?’

At least Ash now had an idea of how long he’d been tailed for; and that his initial conjecture was probably correct.

The bow in the creature’s hands creaked as it examined the weapon with what Ash could only interpret as mild annoyance. But it was hard to tell because of its yellow eyes and lack of eyebrows.

Snorting through its slit nostrils, the hunter clenched its deformed claw and snapped the bow in half before dropping it onto the forest floor.

To Ash, it was clear what came next...

’Guess there’s no need for this.’

Dismissing the bow, Ash summoned the [Starter Sword] into his hand.

’I can tell... it’s hunting for the thrill.’

The creature before him wasn’t going to retreat. It was merely going to resort to a much more primitive form of violence.

Brandishing its short claws, the creature stared directly at Ash, then broke into a dead sprint.

The cooldown ended, but Ash didn’t cast [Focus] immediately.

The creature stepped out of the shadows and into clear view, giving Ash his first clean look at it. Only then did he notice the belt of teeth around its hip, each one a different size and shape.

Then his eyes drifted upward to the wide-open maw that split its face in half.

’Alright...’

Kicking off his good foot, Ash hobbled away, but the creature managed to slash his tunic before reaching for the blade, leaving itself entirely open.

’I was right. It understands.’

Either that, or it was taking a terrifying gamble.

Not wanting to let his tunic be torn apart without being able to retaliate, Ash finally cast [Focus] and [Dragon Fear] simultaneously — the latter having zero effect on the hunter.

The world seemed to slow.

The hunter swung its claw in a short arc. Seeing it clearly, Ash swiveled his blade in time to slice through its wrist.

In the next moment, the hunter did something Ash hadn’t even considered...

With the edge of the blade lodged in its wrist, it flexed its muscles to keep the weapon trapped while bringing its head down and clenching its teeth around the blade’s base.

’Maddening...’

With a hefty crunch, the sword snapped in half.

[[Starter Sword] has been destroyed]

[You have unequipped [Starter Sword]]

Naturally, even though it was unforeseen, the action had put the creature in a perilous position.

A position Ash wasted no time taking advantage of.

Using his thick claws, Ash began ruthlessly tearing at the hunter, rending its flesh as much as he could during the remaining duration of [Focus].

When the effect finally ended, Ash jumped away and returned to heavy panting while blood spilled from the creature’s mouth, staining its jagged teeth red.

’Ah, what a pickle.’

The hunter easily caught up to Ash and began slashing relentlessly at him. It even tried to bite his head off; however, it soon realized that it could once again no longer touch Ash.

Instead, it turned its attention to what it could touch: the tunic.

It was highly unlikely that it knew what destroying the tunic would cause, but with it being the only thing the creature could attack, it attacked it.

Over and over, it slashed and slashed.

Ash tried as best he could to keep as much of the outfit intact for the full minute, but bits and pieces were already starting to fall off.

The moment [Focus] became available, Ash wasted no time hesitating. After creating a modicum of separation, he activated it.

’Die, now.’

Gritting his teeth, Ash brought his claws up to intercept the hunter’s next swipe.

He successfully caught both of its hands.

But the action was followed by the creature driving its body forward with all of its might, lunging with its teeth.

Ash was quicker.

Ash thrust his head forward and opened his own mouth, revealing a set of sharp teeth.

He slammed his jaw shut around the bastard’s neck.

"Gerruah!"

Blood spilled into his mouth as the hunter screamed, only prompting Ash to tighten his jaw further.

In a rage, the hunter tackled Ash.

Yet Ash didn’t let go. He continued the savage bite and even used his shoulder, placing it under the creature’s jaw so it couldn’t bite him back.

All it could do was cry out and roll with Ash across the ground.

More blood spilled, and Ash’s teeth sank deeper.

Suddenly, a familiar voice whispered in his mind.

[Would you like to attempt the instance?]

[Current participants: 0/5]

A moment later, his vision was consumed by green light.

Although he hadn’t said yes, Ash could sense what was happening.

’Wait!’

[Entering instance: Tears of Spring]

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