Eighteen minutes later, the server announcement changed again.

[Server Announcement: [Nether Swamp] instance Hell Mode clear record refreshed, latest clear time: 00"17"01", cleared by: Human Ares!]

This announcement caught the attention of every player on Earth.

The [Nether Swamp] was a low-level instance, but its dim lighting and numerous ghosts, skilled in mental attacks, made it challenging even for teams.

In the early days of "Genesis," the first group of players to enter the high-level zones collectively tackled the [Nether Swamp] as their first instance.

Back then, it was a nightmare for players, taking a week to figure out a strategy to clear it. The first five-player team to clear it had to gather the best gear available and barely managed to finish in 40 minutes. Subsequent players, even with guides, took over 40 minutes to clear it.

It wasn't until the original five-player team reached level 60 and returned with high-level gear that they managed to set a new record of 26 minutes. No one had beaten that record since.

Low-level players lacked the damage output, and high-level players had no interest in low-level instances.

But today, someone had set a new record of just over 24 minutes? And it was a solo run!

Who was this high-level player bullying low-level instances?

Speculation ran rampant among players, and the forums quickly filled with posts. Just as the buzz was building, the [Nether Swamp] record was updated again! And it was the same person.

Even more shocking, it was in Hell Mode!

Seventeen minutes? Even the top-tier players couldn't clear it that fast, could they?

"Definitely one of the top high-level players!"

"But there's no such name on the combat power or level rankings!"

"Genesis strictly binds personal information, one account per person. There's no way a pro is playing on a smurf account!"

"So who exactly is this Ares?"

Aurora, finally logging back into the game after a 24-hour cooldown, found the announcement on her panel surreal.

The name was identical to the undead skeleton that had killed her.

The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

But it was only level 6! And wasn't it a wild boss?

Questions swirled in her mind, deepening her confusion.

"No, the one that killed me was a skeleton, an undead creature. This announcement is about a human."

"Which pro is this? Why haven't I seen them on the combat power rankings?"

Aurora pondered, opening the forums. Sure enough, the new hot topic was [Ares Clears Hell Mode Instance]. The thread had already reached 999+ posts.

Aurora scrolled through, finding that everyone was speculating about Ares' true identity, just like her. She even saw James and others discussing it, but they hadn't connected this Ares with the wild boss that had killed them.

...

Unaware of the buzz his clear times had generated, Ares stood at the boss's location, smiling at the golden package on his panel.

It was indeed a reward for setting a new clear record. Apparently, rewards were only given for times under twenty minutes. The next threshold was ten minutes.

Eagerly, Ares opened the package, revealing a forge.

[A-grade Forge: Increases forging success rate and has a higher chance of adding rare attributes to forged equipment.]

Ares rubbed his chin. Was this the game nudging him towards a new profession? But he had no intention of becoming a blacksmith. Why was the game making assumptions?

Still, Ares accepted the forge. Whether it was useful or not, it made his inventory look fuller.

His inventory was now filled with over a thousand slots of various items, including a hundred slots of smelting stones. Ares didn't know their purpose, but seeing them neatly arranged was satisfying.

Determined to see what rewards came from a sub-ten-minute clear, Ares left the instance and re-entered. Twelve minutes later, the server announcement changed again.

Still [Nether Swamp];

Still [Hell Mode];

Still [Human Ares].

The only difference was the terrifying time: [00"09"16]!

The forums fell silent for two minutes.

[Oh my god, this is unbelievable!]

[Under ten minutes! Is he Superman?]

[Even the top five on the combat power rankings couldn't clear it this fast in a team!]

[Heh... cheating! This guy is definitely cheating!]

Someone sourly commented, only to be immediately countered.

[Have you ever seen anyone cheat in Genesis?]

[Are you crazy? How can you spread such rumors?]

The player accusing Ares of cheating retorted.

[Then explain this time!]

No one answered. But the post quickly gained likes, becoming a featured comment within five minutes, pinned at the top of the thread. Everyone who opened the post saw it first.

Most people thought the same. However, an hour later, everyone was stunned again.

The "cheater Ares" had set another instance record.

This time, it was the level 40 instance [Emerald Forest]. He refreshed the instance record four times.

Normal Mode, under twenty minutes and under ten minutes each.

Hell Mode, the same!

Even the times were almost identical, differing by just a second. No one believed this was Ares' limit. On the contrary, they unanimously agreed that Ares hadn't fully unleashed his power!

Sure enough, when Ares started on a third instance, the consistent clear times made everyone nod knowingly. The precision was too perfect, making it seem unreal.

The "cheater" label was cemented!

The forums shifted from initial shock to widespread mockery. How could someone not even on the level rankings achieve this?

Players pushed the "cheater Ares" thread to the top, hoping Genesis' officials would notice and ban him!

Unfortunately, they waited all night, only to see more of Ares' record-breaking announcements, with no ban in sight.

By 6 a.m., the regular server announcement finally quieted down. Exhausted players breathed a sigh of relief.

They didn't know if Ares was tired, but they certainly were. It was more draining than grinding instances for three days straight.