Rex barely had a moment to process his gains before his instincts flared in warning. The faint sound of boots crunching against loose gravel reached his ears. He froze, his breath steadying as he swiftly activated [Stealth]. His figure blurred into the shadows, vanishing from sight just as a group emerged from the cave's entrance.

They were many.

Nearly a hundred players spilled into the clearing outside the cave, their torches flickering in the dim night. At a glance, most were Level 1—fresh players with unremarkable gear, their faces unfamiliar. But a few stood out, their voices carrying arrogance and authority.

Rex's eyes narrowed as he recognized two of them.

Max and Cathy.

Two players who had once been nothing but foot soldiers in Real Solutions, a first-rate guild that had mercilessly ruled over weaker players in his past life. Now, in this life, they were just another pack of rising thugs in their sub-guild, Rising Solutions.

Max, a Level 2 warrior, stood in the center, puffing his chest with a smug grin. His iron longsword rested lazily on his shoulder, but his eyes carried a dangerous gleam.

Cathy, also Level 2, leaned against a nearby rock, lazily twirling a dagger in her fingers. She was an assassin like Rex, but her movements were flashy, lacking the precision and efficiency that true killers possessed.

The rest of the players were weak—just barely stepping into the game. A hundred bodies, but only five true threats.

"Hah! What a joke! That so-called Special Elite Golem got taken down before we could even get here." Max laughed, his voice echoing in the cave. "And you're telling me some random nobody killed it? Give me a break."

A Level 1 player at his side spoke hesitantly. "Boss, we saw the system announcement... Someone did beat it just a few minutes ago."

"Yeah? And where the hell are they now?" Cathy scoffed, her gaze sweeping over the area. "If they were strong enough to kill it, they should still be here, right?"

Max grunted. "Tsk. Doesn't matter. If someone strong enough to take down a Special Elite Golem is around, they wouldn't just run away without looting the corpse."

He kicked a stray rock, frustration evident in his posture. "Whoever they are, they must've gone into hiding. But mark my words, the second they show themselves, we'll take everything they have. That loot belongs to us."

Rex's grip tightened around his Dark Fang Dagger as he listened from the shadows.

Arrogant fools.

They had no idea that the one they were hunting was right under their noses.

And they had no idea that he had Nightshade Venom—a weapon that could kill a Level 10 Priest instantly. If used properly, it could turn the tide of an entire war.

But taking on a hundred enemies, even if most were weak, was reckless. He was strong, but he wasn't invincible.

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Still, he had the advantage. He knew the terrain. They didn't.

A plan began forming in his mind.

Would he strike now, eliminating Max and Cathy to cripple their leadership? Or would he wait, track them, and uncover their true objectives before making his move?

Rex smirked to himself.

They thought they were hunters.

They had no idea they had already become the prey.

Rex remained completely still, shrouded in the darkness of the cave. His [Stealth] skill ensured his presence was undetectable, but he took no chances. His breathing was measured, his heartbeat steady.

The special elite golem had been defeated—the system announcement confirmed it. But Rex knew better than to celebrate. This was just the beginning.

The moment a Special Elite Golem was slain, the balance of the land was temporarily disrupted. Few knew of this mechanic, not even the developers had hinted at it before launch. But Rex, with 20 years of experience in God's Garden, had seen it firsthand.

The Rebirth Mechanic.

Whenever a Special Elite was killed, it wouldn't simply vanish forever. Instead, it would be reborn after five minutes—not as the same creature, but as a rage-infused, berserk version of itself.

It was the game's way of punishing greed. Players who lingered too long, thinking they could farm loot after a tough battle, would be massacred by the reborn monstrosity. The new version would be stronger, faster, and filled with nothing but pure wrath.

And this particular monster was in God's Garden, a hidden dungeon-like location within the game world. A place where nature and divine energy clashed in eerie harmony. If the reborn golem emerged here, its anger would be amplified beyond its usual limits.

"Only death awaits those who remain after the special elite falls."

This was one of those secrets only top-tier players had uncovered in Rex's past life. But now? No one knew. The game had only launched a few hours ago.

He had the advantage.

While Max, Cathy, and their 100 guild members stood around laughing, arguing, and boasting, they had no idea that their deaths were imminent.

Rex's lips curled into a smirk.

Fools.

He could leave now. He had already secured the precious Nightshade Venom, a deadly toxin capable of killing a Level 10 Priest instantly. He had no reason to stay.

But…

His gaze flickered toward Max and Cathy, two rising members of Rising Solutions, the offshoot of Real Solutions. They were arrogant, cruel, and power-hungry.

In his past life, Real Solutions had treated him like dirt, exploiting weaker players, crushing smaller guilds, and hoarding every opportunity for themselves.

This was his chance to set the stage for their downfall before they even began rising.

Stay and watch them get slaughtered?

Or…

Manipulate the battlefield, ensuring their deaths while securing even greater rewards?

A sinister plan began forming in Rex's mind.

The berserk golem wouldn't spawn instantly. He had roughly four minutes before it emerged from the depths of the earth, roaring with divine fury. That gave him time to set things in motion.

He glanced at his inventory. He still had a few Low-Grade Sound Stones—items that could create artificial noise to distract enemies. And he had Shadow Spores, a plant-based item that, when crushed, released a cloud of mist, disorienting those caught inside.

The pieces of the perfect trap were falling into place.

Rising Solutions thought they were hunting prey.

They didn't realize they were already doomed.

Rex grinned. He shifted slightly, adjusting his grip on his Dark Fang Dagger, and prepared to unleash chaos.

The real hunt was about to begin.

As the members of Rising Solutions gathered around, basking in the glow of their supposed victory, Max and Cathy stood off to the side, their expressions twisted with irritation.

Max clenched his fists, his voice laced with frustration. "That arrogant bastard Rex actually had the nerve to reject our offer? Who the hell does he think he is?"

Cathy scowled, arms crossed. "Right? We gave him a chance to join Rising Solutions, and he just threw it back in our faces like he was too good for us."

Max scoffed. "And for what? He has no experience. Just because he plays a few games, he thinks he can survive in God's Garden without a proper guild? He has no idea what he's up against."

Cathy smirked, her voice dripping with disdain. "He's nothing. Dropped out of college, no guild backing, no future. And yet he acts like he's some lone wolf prodigy."

Max's eyes darkened. "We should teach him a lesson. If he won't stand with us, we'll make sure he regrets it. Let's humiliate him so badly he'll wish he never logged in."

Cathy chuckled. "Oh, I like the sound of that. We'll hunt him down in front of everyone. Make sure he gets beaten so badly no one will take him seriously. After that? No guild will touch him."

Max grinned. "Exactly. And if we spread the word in Blue Wind Town, people will treat him like a joke. A guy who thought he could survive alone but ended up as a nobody."

Cathy's smirk widened. "Let's make sure he never forgets his place."

They both laughed, their voices filled with malice.

But they had no idea they were being watched.

From the shadows, Rex listened, his eyes cold and calculating.

They thought he had no experience?

They thought he was just some nobody?

Fools.

They were nothing but stepping stones in his path.

Soon, they would learn the truth—rejecting them wasn't a mistake. It was their downfall.

Author note :hello guys i hope you like the story i am dark eye it is my pen name if you like this wanna by me a coffe can contact me through email [email protected] and my line id darkeye2326 you can get advance chapters if you contact me thank you.can accept any ideas from you guys.