I was behind a tree, convinced I was hidden. Yet, the figure who had assaulted the knight was aware of my presence. "What do I do now?" I contemplated. My options seemed limited. "Fly away, dig a tunnel to the other side of hell, or teleport!" I mused. My delirious thoughts helped me cope with the stress and exhaustion.

"Come out of your hiding spot, and maybe I'll spare you," the voice called out.

Despite my mistrust, I stood up, hands in the air, my chain still slung over my right shoulder.

Darkness shrouded the scene, but I discerned a petite figure cloaked in black.

The knight remained on the ground nearby.

"An odd bird shows its beak," the shadowy figure declared.

I kept my silence, glancing around for a potential way out, a Drifter, or some attacking roots. But there was nothing.

"You're interesting. No player number, just a name given by Hell itself... Okovani Voru," she unveiled her face. A young woman with dark hair and pallid skin.

She tapped her foot impatiently. "I'm irritated. Came here for easy debt points and stumbled upon a secret class."

I held my tongue, seeing no way out.

"You're not talkative. But if you show me your power, I'll spare you. Deal?" she offered.

Seizing the opportunity, I pulled the chain from my neck and made it move on my palm.

She watched, seemingly intrigued. As I returned the chain to its place, she clapped.

"Brilliant! Quite impressive!" Her sincerity was ambiguous.

Crossing her arms, she pondered aloud. "You're a conundrum. Folk like you are called Hell's Chosen. Supposedly bad luck to kill you. But, I'm curious about the points your death would yield."

Hearing this, my day's events flashed in my mind. "I should've stayed in bed," I lamented. Bad days always seemed to have that same conclusion.

Suddenly, the forgotten Knight lunged his sword into her foot. He had taken advantage of our conversation to crawl toward her.

"Don't underestimate me!" He roared.

She grunted in pain, crouching down.

Seizing the chance, I darted in the opposite direction. I had a chance to escape; once again, I would be saved by an enemy. But in an instant, she caught up to me and stood in my path.

I stopped, panting. I wanted to turn around and see what had happened in such a short time, but I didn't dare avert my gaze.

"I detest knights. It's as if Hell fills their heads with arrogance once they choose their class," she grumbled, shaking her injured foot.

She gave me a disgruntled look. "I thought we were allies. I was going to spare you, but you try to flee? Disappointing."

Hesitant, I thought, "If I level up, can I defeat her? But first, I need to check her level." My screen was already open, so I looked. Her stats made me choke on my breath.

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"PLAYER 21SX1593Q – LVL 85 – 434/450 HP – CLASS: BRUTE."

Level 85. I had no chance.

Praying for a swift death seemed the best option. I braced myself for the inevitable.

"Guess you've seen my level and acknowledged your defeat. Can we skip the resistance and start negotiating?" she asked, seemingly bored.

"Negotiate?" Hope flickered within me.

"Yes, I take your life, or you give me something valuable. Say, a community of players in this sector," she proposed.

She was one of those high-level players, hunting weaker ones for debt points. I had leverage.

By revealing the location of the Hermine village, I could survive.

"And besides, that village deserves to disappear; their slavery system causes so much suffering," I thought. But deep down, who was I to say who deserved to live and die? This village was the only hope for a normal life for some, even the farmers didn't complain.

Surprisingly, I felt no animosity towards them. They enslaved me, imprisoned me, and yet I harbored no hatred. It was odd.

"I haven't been here long; I don't know of any player communities," I responded.

So, I was ready to die to allow this village to continue to exist?

No, it was something else. It was about morals.

I knew I would forever regret sacrificing so many lives for my own survival. I would rather die than become that kind of person.

The young woman looked at me emotionlessly, arms crossed, and continued to move her injured foot. Her injury must have been bothering her. "Are you tired of being here? Do you already want to die?" she asked in a threatening tone.

"How much..." I swallowed before continuing, "How much does killing a level 5 bring?"

"Almost nothing," she admitted, a hint of disappointment in her voice.

"I can give you my 434 PP if you spare me," I offered. An eyebrow arched.

"Or I could torture you for your PP and kill you afterward," she counter-offered.

I had forgotten that I was bargaining with a player who preyed on the weak for points. There were no guarantees with her.

"No, wait. If she wanted me dead, she would have done it already. Why hasn't she? What is she waiting for?" I wondered.

I decided to ask her. "What do you want from me?"

Her stare carried a murderous intent, sending shivers down my spine.

"Me? Want something from a level 5?" she mocked.

She approached slowly. "You're alive because I'm deciding how to get the most points from you."

Would she sell me? I dropped a piece of my chain on the ground. "I'd rather die than become a slave," I declared.

"That's troublesome," she replied, uncrossing her arms.

"Well said! You're not as despicable as I thought!" said a voice behind the young woman.

It was the knight; he was still alive. He had a hole in his armor, and blood was flowing from it.

"Persistent, aren't you?" she huffed.

"Chain-man! Give me your PP! Now!" he commanded, brandishing his sword.

« Is he crazy ? » I first thought.

But I didn’t need to think much to know that he was in fact my only chance.

Seizing the opportunity, I transferred my points to him. "Transfer all my PP to the Knight!" I said to my screen.

The woman spun to face me, as if I had committed an unforgivable action.

The Knight grinned. "Level up!" A faint glow emanated from him.

"YOU READY, BRUTE?!" he bellowed.

She sighed and faced him, then shrugged, as if to say, "Come on, let's get it over with."

But my chain was already fastened around her ankle. I used my remaining EP to immobilize her.

"Even a few seconds would be enough. If the Knight managed to hurt her that badly with a surprise attack, if he attacks a vital organ or something," I thought.

As she realized that my chain was tightening around her ankle, she turned her head back to me.

There was a murderous fury in her eyes.

She grabbed the chain, and the next moment, I was flying.

Disoriented, I was above the trees, moving at breakneck speed, about to crash into the forest below.

I clung to my chain, commanding it to wrap around my neck and head, hoping to shield myself from the impending impact.

But this fall? There was no preparing for it...