At the Shinaga Sacred Ground, the name of the next prominent Super Player, Dahav, was announced.
Immediately, everyone stopped in unison and focused their gaze on one spot, as if a blizzard had just swept through, an overwhelming tension filled the air.
But it wasn’t confusion or panic.
Bogus’s Order of the Substitute Party, along with the surrounding Wolfies, exchanged glances as signals, ready to leap forward at any moment.
“Yeah, let’s get out of here quickly.”
The tension had reached a breaking point, and just as Bogus and the Wolfies prepared to stamp their feet and charge, Dahav’s voice cut through—half a beat faster.
“Let me make this clear beforehand: even if I die, I’m taking at least the tenth with me. And among them, the very first to come at me—the Firefly—will have their face and nickname engraved in my memory for a lifetime of revenge.”
Though just a few words, they carried significant weight.
Had these been spoken at the brink of death, they would have been dismissed as desperate bluffing with a mocking sneer.
But to say such things before the fight even started meant that Dahav most likely came fully prepared.
In other words, it wasn’t just bravado.
The Wolfies, already tense with the ticking clock, weren’t about to ignore it, and neither were the other parties present—Emma’s Party included—each seeking to improve their status within the Order of the Substitute.
All of them were forced to reconsider.
‘If we die here…’
The item drops from death, the experience loss, and 48 hours of disconnection—just hearing that was already a huge blow.
In truth, these listed consequences were just the tip of the iceberg.
Death at level 30 was a personal failure, regardless of whether caused by monsters or other players.
It meant falling out of the scouts’ favor in the high-ranking guilds.
And there was an additional factor.
‘But what if only our party dies and the others survive?’
Though they were on the same boat, most of those gathered were natural rivals.
This wasn’t just about losses—it meant possible expulsion.
The tension had made even the Order of the Substitute members like Bogus’s Party flinch involuntarily, and that ripple effect extended meaningfully to the Wolfies as well.
None of them wanted to be the first to recklessly charge in.
Bogus, who was experiencing the situation in real time, was deeply troubled.
‘Damn, I thought he was just some random old man from Harot River, but turns out he’s a damn tiger in disguise.’
A player who knew how to manipulate the main control—an expert in exploiting crowd psychology to overcome numerical inferiority.
In this case, more numbers were a curse.
Though the hesitation might have been a momentary stumble born from overthinking, the majority’s inaction quickly set the tone.
And the tone dictated the flow.
From now on, no one could move freely, all because of Dahav.
Still, the conditions Dahav set for taking the lead were harsh.
Everyone looked around nervously, unsure of what to do next, when Dahav spoke again.
“Why? Did you really think I was naive enough not to know your dirty little minds? I’ve considered you all targets from the moment I started moving. Still, you’re surprisingly obedient. At least you have some brains. This time, I’ll show mercy. I’ll forgive anyone who retreats now.”
A sweet proposal from an unexpected source.
Though some hesitated to betray their companions, they gradually began to back away, creating a path.
‘Good, the plan is unfolding perfectly.’
That didn’t mean Dahav let his guard down or showed a gentle smile.
By their nature, these guys would try to take advantage of any weakness or softness.
He had to apply overwhelming pressure—even if it seemed like bluffing.
“What’s this? I can’t figure you out with such timid reactions. Three seconds. Decide for sure within three seconds.”
The hesitant Wolfies reluctantly cleared a path.
“Right, that’s more like it. You show grace to the weak but bow to the strong—that’s how you survive.”
Dahav smiled coldly and walked boldly among the Wolfies.
As the distance between them grew, Bogus’s anxiety peaked.
‘Damn it, if this bastard gets away like this…’
There’s a saying that the most skilled commander wins without fighting.
If Dahav passed this ordeal without shedding blood, he would be recognized not only for his strength but also for his intellect.
His value would skyrocket, and the top guilds would aggressively scout him.
If guilds spent recklessly on scouting, funds would become scarce overall, so recruitment numbers this year would at best stay the same, never increase.
In other words, he’d have to carry the Order of the Substitute tag at least until next year.
To be precise, he would never be allowed into Valhalla.
Those who grew with support and those who didn’t were worlds apart.
Players raised by famous guilds and those with innate ability would differ vastly, so no top guild would want to waste excessive money on high-level players like him.
The conclusion was clear: he’d never enter a top-tier guild.
‘I have to succeed. I’m not someone who collapses in a place like this.’
For that reason, he had to crush them here and now.
If he couldn’t take the initiative, he’d just change the order.
He reached out and firmly shoved the back of a party member standing nearby.
“Uh—”
The one pushed stumbled, but by all accounts, he had become a pawn stabbing Dahav in the back.
Of course, Dahav wouldn’t allow such a pathetic attack.
Ta-dak—
He lightly dodged with a subtle step, but from the start, Bogus hadn’t aimed to land a hit.
He intended to break the atmosphere Dahav had created.
A short moment of tension passed once more between the Wolfies and Dahav.
‘Success…’
Not all tensions were the same.
This was exactly what Bogus wanted: to stir the pot.
Everyone was afraid of being the first to be singled out for revenge.
If someone took the lead, courage would follow.
The Wolfies’ mood shifted instantly.
‘If the mood is like this, it’s possible!’
Bogus immediately seized the momentum.
“He’s alone anyway! Let’s all follow the first brave player and attack!”
Emma’s Party and other similar Order of the Substitute parties quickly recognized Bogus as the voice behind the rally and responded.
“Yeah, we can win this!”
“Let’s kill him!”
“Waaah! Kill him!”
The Order of the Substitute surged forward, and the unsuspecting Wolfies, swept up by their momentum, drew their heavy weapons and exuded a threatening aura toward Dahav.
Yet, despite the imminent danger, Dahav smiled faintly as if amused.
“You’re building pride where it doesn’t suit you.”
As he spoke, Dahav brought his hand to the pendant around his neck.
The pendant glowed with an ominous dark crimson light, and from it, a blade-shaped wind began to flow out.
The swirling winds gathered around Dahav’s body like a protective aura.
Then—
Shirik—
The winds drifted down to Dahav’s legs, leaving behind faint, red thread-like scars.
“Okey, then let’s do this.”
The extraordinary effect made the Wolfies swallow nervously.
But contrary to his words, Dahav looked straight ahead and began to sprint at full speed, charging headlong.
***
An unexpected marathon had begun in Shinaga’s outer district.
Dozens of players chased after Dahav.
“Catch him!”
“How dare he deceive Lord Britt! We must catch him without fail and make him pay for his sins!”
Yet the distance between them barely closed.
Despite their higher levels, the Wolfies were falling further behind.
This was natural.
With his items and achievements granting an abnormally high 50% increase in movement speed, plus the added effect of Hanibarame’s Blessing, Dahav’s running was almost inhuman.
If the gates had been closed when he first stepped out, it would have taken significant effort to break through, but running along an open road gave Dahav a complete advantage.
“What the heck, why is he so fast? Maybe he’s faking his level? I’ve never seen a summoner from Shinaga move this fast!”
“Too fast! I can’t keep up!”
“Damn it, I’m so tired I can’t run anymore!”
Except for the agile Ranger classes, everyone was panting heavily.
Still, no one wanted to give up on chasing Dahav.
“Huff, huff. We’ll catch up soon. Let the fastest ones chase him and keep him tied down!”
Some nodded and pushed forward.
The sight of Wolfies running awkwardly caused surrounding players to laugh and record the scene.
“Seriously, do they really have to be so stubborn to admit he’s better than them? There’s such a thing as being too ugly.”
Their insults were skillful but only applied when the Wolfies felt confident or victorious.
Living like losers, the real defeat only made their humiliation worse.
The expressions of the Wolfies, whose sanity had snapped, turned vicious.
Bogus was among them.
‘If I catch him, I’ll give him the same humiliation before killing him!’
Fueled by vengeance, they pushed their limits in the endless chase.
Then, for the first time, Dahav’s footsteps stopped.
“You’re not ordinary Wolfies, are you? You run pretty well.”
“Huff… huff… old habits die hard, huh? Even in a situation like this, you’re still planning to cheat! That’s just absurd!”
“Cheat? You really think I’m cheating?”
“I guess we can’t have a proper conversation without a little bluff. You already ran away knowing you couldn’t beat us, but you’re still all talk!”
“Yeah, if it were ‘you guys,’ we wouldn’t have lasted this long.”
Suddenly, Dahav recalled the recent situation.
‘Could it be—’
He hurriedly looked around but found only three players remained, all panting and visibly exhausted.
That’s when he realized.
He hadn’t failed to escape.
This was all a trap to lure them in.
‘We got played!’
In a situation where he hadn’t even properly progressed, for Dahav to attempt a PK against Biyeokyeonri, a super player from the 5th-ranked guild worth nearly 1 billion, while already exhausted, was nothing short of suicidal.
The Wolfies’ sharp instincts had sensed something was off, and their leader’s acceptance of being the prey chilled their minds and spined with fear.
‘We have to run…’
Turning his back to flee, the Wolfies realized too late that Dahav’s footwork was faster.
“It’s too late.”
Pwoouk—
He was hit with an unexpectedly lethal critical strike, and the consequences were severe.
[You have suffered a critical hit!]
[Damage received increased by 200% due to critical hit judgment.]
[Player ‘Dahav’ uses Kasaka’s Half-Dragon Dagger’s special option, Dragon Fang (Lvl. 20), inflicting paralysis poison. You are paralyzed for 2 seconds and cannot move.]
He wanted to escape or at least brace for defense, but his body wouldn’t obey.
Still unwilling to give up, he desperately called for backup.
“Emma! Mulan! Help me!”
But it didn’t take long for him to realize that had been the worst choice.
With Bogus already cornered and his forces in complete disarray, Emma and Mulan—leaders of rival parties—didn’t help but instead used Bogus as a shield while fleeing swiftly.
Dahav didn’t pursue them either.
The fear and despair they carried would reach the chasing Wolfies.
Their image as untouchable would remain intact, and naturally, many would give up the chase.
Simply put, Dahav was creating the perfect situation—two birds with one stone—to escape Shinaga far more easily than expected.
“You all have the fitting resilience of grains of sand, perfect for your place.”
To die here meant only disgrace.
This was no time for stubborn pride.
He sincerely begged for forgiveness to climb higher.
“If you just let me go now, I won’t target you again. Not just me, but I’ll tell the other parties as well. So please!”
Dahav smiled coldly and mocked them.
“Yeah, I hope you deliver that message well…”
“I’ll take responsibility…”
Bogus, misunderstanding the meaning, opened his mouth wide just as Dahav’s dagger moved once again.
“If you target me, you’ll meet the same end as I gave you.”