MMORPG: Surviving a Death Game with a Glitched System

’Seeing his surprise, it’s clear he hasn’t been watching us for long.’

’To have the advantage of surprise yet be so reckless...’

Was his arrogance earned or misplaced?

Cross, the intruder, had attacked them despite knowing they had a Great Spirit with them. Furthermore, he’d targeted Ash first, not the princess.

’Either he wanted to capture her or toy with her before killing her.’

Ash sighed, then adopted a bored expression.

"Your theatrical malice is as revolting as it is pathetic. The clearest mark of a defective mind and the hollow drivel of a failure. Were you truly skilled or strong, you would have no need for taunts. True might needs only be demonstrated."

Cross had been so startled by Ash that he didn’t even interrupt him. Instead, he slowly pushed off the rusted metal and rose to his feet while a splinter of stone formed in his hand.

"You... who even are you? How did you get inside the seal?"

Ash folded his arms across his chest, leaving himself wide open.

"Someone of your lowly calibre has no right to know my name. All you need to know is that I’ve sworn to save the princess. So... if you wish to harm her, that makes you my enemy."

Next to Ash, Demitra chuckled, then spoke — even though only Ash could understand her:

"Well said."

The princess, on the other hand, quietly muttered to herself while blushing slightly.

"You’ve sworn what exactly...?"

Cross gritted his teeth.

"Is that so?"

Then, his lips curled upward, and his grimace twisted into a wide smile. He cast his gaze toward the princess.

"Vera, where did you find such an interesting creature?"

"You, the most fiendish of them all, calling another a creature is the height of folly."

Cross winced slightly, an odd look nestling in his silver eyes.

"I, a fiend? Have you no shame in your treachery?"

Ash scoffed.

"Princess, don’t humor the miscreant... As for the inept one himself, quit prattling. Either flee or fight. Unless you’re so pathetic that you’re waiting for reinforcements."

"Others? Pthhh haha! They’d merely get in my way."

"Precisely the response I’d expect from such an untempered fool."

"Ah... you. Chimera or whatever you are, where do you get off talking as though we’re equals? You should know my magnanimity has limits."

[You have unequipped [Scrawler’s Fang]]

The princess scowled as she tightened her grip on her blade.

Ash growled back:

"Magnanimity is reserved for those in a superior position — clearly, one you don’t hold."

[You have equipped [Starter Bow]]

Laughing, Cross held his hand out. The stone stake grew larger as he said:

"I pity you, Vera. I really do. As for you, chimera... what has she offered you to earn such a vow? Because I can promise that if you join me, I can—"

Cutting Cross off, Ash replied:

"Nothing."

"Nothing...? Nothing?! I don’t know whether to laugh or cry at such foolishness!"

Ash raised his bow and nocked an arrow.

"Get on with it and quit stalling. It’s clear you’re scared of me, so just scamper off already."

"Scared of you...? A monstrosity wielding a pathetic bow and wearing rags?"

Instead of responding, Ash pulled the string taut.

"..."

Cross flinched slightly, then made as if to thrust his hand forward. His voice cracking slightly, he screamed:

"Have you no honor, Vera?! Employing such a monster against me?!"

"Honor, brother? Since when have I coveted such a thing... and since when have you cared for it?"

Cross seethed with hatred.

"Ergh! I can’t see why Father—"

"Shut it."

At Ash’s words, Cross lowered his hand and let the stone stake flatten slightly and hover behind the chain.

"Be grateful... Just this once, I’ll let you go. I have to report the existence of this anomaly to Father. But I will be back soon enough."

Stepping back, Cross landed on the stone and swiftly sped off into the haze, not even lingering to hear a retort.

Not that Ash was going to call out and trade insults; he’d achieved his desired result of scaring Cross off.

Demitra huffed out a cold gust.

"Phew... Thank you, Ash. We would have stood little chance against him in our current state."

"Hmph."

’How pathetic I am... This is why I hate MMORPGs.’

Ash hated games where such vast level disparities existed, where one was forced into scenarios in which fleeing and trickery were the only options.

The wolf cocked her head to the side.

"What’s troubling you?"

"Nothing that concerns you."

The princess, whom Ash had just learned was named Vera, ran over to him. She tried to grab his hand, but when that failed, she latched onto one of the bracers. Her shoulders trembling slightly, she said through clenched teeth:

"We need to go."

Ash gazed intently at the haggard face set against such delicate skin.

"No, we can’t. I doubt he’s left the area. He’s definitely watching us, preparing a more detailed report on me for your father."

’We can’t get caught on the chain.’

Not against someone who could fly.

Furthermore, immediately fleeing would also betray weakness. By staying a little longer, they could sell the lie that Ash wasn’t one to be trifled with — a lie they needed to maintain for as long as possible, until it could be forged into the truth.

Vera bit her lip, cast her silver eyes downward, and looked away before letting go of his bracers.

At the pitiful sight of the proud woman, Ash said:

"Well, I believe it’s my turn to ask a question... Cross and your father — I’d like to know about them. Anything and everything."

Closing her eyes, Vera shook her head.

"He’s the worst person who could have found us..." She looked toward where he’d disappeared. "He’s my twin, born with a similar curse to mine. Only, spirits loathe and recoil from him. He also possesses the ability to nullify a spirit’s power."

’So that’s why he wasn’t scared of a Great Spirit...’

It was also why Ash, the unknown, was targeted first.

"Can he kill a spirit in its unmanifested state?"

"Yes."

’Ah. No wonder he was scared of me.’

Even if he’d mistaken Ash for a spirit, Cross’s attack should have killed him right then and there.

That meant Ash was something that existed outside all known conventions.

’An anomaly, just like he said.’

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