Broken raced through the desert under the moonlit sky, riding Blaze, his skeletal horse, whose burning flames cast a fiery red glow that could be seen from miles away. He wore most of the Infernak Set, minus the pants and shoes, which had been replaced with the Invincible Paragon. In front of him sat Pawpaw, the little Felhorn kitten, not so much sitting as lazily napping.
Tonight’s destination was a village not far from Slumdon. Recently, the village had faced repeated attacks from a mysterious group of players. They didn’t steal anything, just caused destruction wherever they went. With their numbers reaching around a dozen, other players in the village had largely ignored the situation, as it didn’t directly affect them. Unfortunately, the villagers were left to suffer the consequences.
Normally, problems like these would trigger a rescue quest for nearby players, but that only applied if the threat came from monsters or NPCs-not when it was caused by other players. The kingdom’s forces would eventually arrive to deal with the issue, but that could take days.
For Broken, this was a perfect opportunity to investigate. Maybe he could stir up some fun by tracking down whoever was behind this chaos. He grinned at the thought, eager to see where the night would take him.
Blaze raced across the desert, leaving a trail of fire in his wake, the flames flickering against the cold night. Suddenly, several shadowy tendrils sprouted from Pawpaw, who still appeared to be napping. The tendrils grew larger, wrapping around Broken and then spreading over Blaze.
“What are you doing, Pawpaw?”
But before he could react further, the shadow tendrils enveloped him, forming a shadowy cloak that draped over his body, billowing behind him in the wind. The same tendrils coiled around Blaze, blending into the burning skeleton horse’s fiery form.
Eh?
It became clear that Pawpaw had used his abilities to perform some kind of visual modification. Now, Broken looked even more imposing, his silhouette enhanced by the dark, ethereal cloak of shadows that waved in the wind as he sped across the desert.
Checking his system to see the new visual, Broken was taken aback. Woah! He was genuinely impressed with the results. The cloak and the swirling shadows added an eerie, stylish effect, giving him an even more menacing appearance.
Vermilion Dusk, Pawpaw’s element, wasn’t just for combat-it was pretty great for visual flair too.
Pawpaw had shown several times that he could manipulate Vermilion Dusk for unique effects. Like when he’d wrapped himself in the element, making his head appear comically larger, even though it was just a mass of shadow and blood energy.
The Vermilion Dusk-a blend of Blood and Shadow-was fascinating in its versatility. Though it steadily drained Mana, Pawpaw seemed unaffected by its continuous use outside of battle.
Blaze picked up speed, its fiery hooves tearing across the desert sand, the shadowy tendrils enhancing his already fearsome presence. Minutes passed, and soon, Broken spotted flickering lights in the distance-signs they were nearing the village.
This village, located to the west of Slumdon, bordered a forest that led to the mountains near the Keseon Kingdom. Though close to the border, it still lay within Dissidia Kingdom’s territory. The proximity to both the forest and mountains made it vulnerable to attacks, whether from monsters or, as in this case, rogue players.
Broken guided Blaze up a small incline, seeking a vantage point to survey the village from afar. He wasn’t planning to approach directly; instead, he intended to gather intel from a distance. With Pawpaw’s scouting abilities, there was no need to risk drawing attention by entering the village himself.
Upon reaching a slightly elevated spot on the outskirts of the forest, Broken dismounted and drew The Bow of Artemis. Instantly, his Hawk’s Eye skill activated, sharpening his vision as he scoped the area. The village was modest, surrounded by a low iron fence-barely high enough to deter anyone determined enough to breach it. The homes were sparsely spaced, suggesting the population wasn’t very large.
From his vantage point, he could see a few players lingering around the village. Likely hunters from the nearby forest, possibly even players from Keseon Kingdom, as this village lay closer to their territory than any major Dissidia city, aside from Slumdon Town.
“Pawpaw, is scouting that village too far for you?” Broken asked, glancing over at Pawpaw, who sat lazily on Blaze’s back, his moonlit eyes glowing.
Pawpaw responded with a yawn, clearly uninterested.
“Can I eat anyone there?” he asked nonchalantly.
“No, but I have a feeling we’ll have some targets to hunt tonight. Sounds interesting?”
Pawpaw paused, considering for a moment.
“Or is it too far for you?” Broken teased.
“What should I do?” freewebnσvel.cѳm
“Just roam the village. I’ll borrow your senses,” Broken said.
“Well, I guess that’s not too boring,” Pawpaw replied, then leaped off Blaze’s back, shaking his body in a curious motion as if preparing himself.
Without hesitation, the kitten darted forward, his speed surprising even Broken. Pawpaw jumped from the ledge, his small frame seemingly defying gravity as he transformed into a shadowy blur, quickly descending toward the forest area below.
“Wow… Pawpaw’s pretty fast,” Broken mused, impressed by his agility. It wasn’t surprising, considering the kitten’s high agility stats.
[Shared Senses (Conditional Active Skill)]
Broken activated the skill, eager to experience its effects firsthand. His own vision blurred at the edges before merging with Pawpaw’s, giving him a dual perspective. In the center, he could clearly see through the kitten’s eyes, while the sounds of padded footsteps and rustling branches filled his ears, a mix of both their environments.
A few times, Pawpaw seemed to sink into the ground, but even that was fascinating-the kitten’s vision allowed them to see through the earth, as if transparency wasn’t an obstacle at all.
This skill is incredible, Broken thought, marveling at the experience.
Suddenly, Pawpaw stopped dead in his tracks and leapt into the trees, his head swiveling as if searching for something. Broken noticed a faint light in the distance, barely visible through
the trees.
What’s that?
“Pawpaw, did you find something?” Broken whispered, curious about what had caught the kitten’s attention.
Pawpaw darted through the trees, the sounds growing louder-laughter, singing, and the hum of conversation.
Soon, Pawpaw reached an open area in the forest where several tents were set up, with a fire crackling in the center. Around the flames, a group of players-about five-sat eating, joking, and singing loudly. It was a carefree scene, but Broken’s curiosity heightened. Who else might be inside the tents?
Pawpaw perched on a sturdy branch, scanning the faces of the players below. Broken’s breath hitched when his gaze locked onto one face in particular.
“Pawpaw, focus on the guy laughing the loudest, in the middle.”
Pawpaw focused, and Broken’s suspicions were confirmed. The player wore heavy armor- most likely a shielder-but it was the face that made Broken’s eyes widen in recognition. That
face, the broad grin, the familiar voice booming with laughter.
Oh, really? Broken couldn’t help but grin, amusement bubbling inside him.
Suddenly, a wave of excitement surged through him-a wild urge to act. It felt like the perfect opportunity to release a bit of pent-up frustration and give them a lesson they would never-
ever-forget!
His mind raced with possibilities. Just a little fun… a small reminder that crossing paths with the
wrong person can have consequences.
Because, one of them was Bob!