Gasps echoed across the small clearing as they stared at the lingering white particles that now remained of Taves.
The players who had been standing at a distance, too afraid to interfere, were now gaping, their eyes wide with disbelief.
"Did he just… actually kill Taves?" one whispered.
"No way," another murmured, voice trembling. "Taves of the Noble Lions… Just like that?"
They all began murmuring, the tension among them thick and palpable. A few even took steps back, as if afraid Riley would turn his blades toward them next.
Most of them instinctively turned glanced above Riley, trying to see his real level.
However, all they saw was a strange, flashing red message.
[???]
[???]
"What? All I see are… questions marks?"
"That's strange… I've never seen a player with question marks before."
Another series of murmurs sparked up among the crowd once again, and they started pondering why Riley's level and even ID wasn't visible to them.
Normally, a player's ID and level would always be shown above their heads, unless the said player was over six levels above whoever was checking, then only the ID would be visible.
However, in Riley's case, both the ID and level weren't visible, which most didn't understand.
That made the confusion even worse.
"What's his level…?"
"Is there a new update that lets you hide you level?"
"Or could he be a hacker?"
"No way, Apocalypse came out weeks ago, no one can hack it that fast."
"Pfft! Guess you're just an idiot lil bro."
"Could he be… An NPC?"
More muttering broke out, questions flying like sparks off flint.
Most of them believed Riley was an NPC, while a few of them strongly stood on the opinion that he was an hacker, which explained his unnatural strength.
They didn't believe he was an NPC since he was still clad in the same novice attire as them.
They felt like it also explained why he easily killed of Taves without caring about offending him.
However, none of them dared get close to him, feeling like he might bite their heads off if they do.
But despite the murmuring, Riley simply remained in his position, letting out a low sigh.
'An NPC? A hacker… seriously? Do I even look like someone that could hack?' He thought. 'But then, it's indeed weird that they can't see my ID or level…'
He wondered if he was some sort of glitch character in the game.
His SSS-Rank talent, his abnormal status window… they all seemed to fit the status of a 'glitch character'.
[Level 6 Player Killed!]
[+70 EXP]
His gaze lingered on the notification still floating in front of him, and the edges of his lips curled up slightly.
'Who cares anyway… glitch player, character, whatever or not, as long as I can get stronger.'
With that, he walked calmly back to the spot he had occupied before all the commotion began.
He sat back down on the ground, bringing out all the potions and items from the storage device, and then spreading them on the ground.
The nearby players watched his every move with suspicion, awe, and… curiosity.
"He's just going back to selling stuff?"
"I guess that's what he's programmed to do?"
"Maybe they're special… that would explain how he won so easily…"
"Think some of them could boost attributes?!"
The crowd, which had initially stayed at a safe distance, slowly began inching forward. Some players exchanged glances. A few rubbed their chins thoughtfully.
They felt that if Riley was really an NPC, then this could be the best time to strike up some sort of hidden quest, or gain special items.
And then, one bold player—a girl with a short staff strapped to her back—stepped closer.
"Um… how much for that red potion?" she asked, pointing at a healing potion.
Riley looked up at her, his expression unreadable.
"Three silver," he replied evenly.
"…Deal."
That simple transaction seemed to flip a switch.
The surrounding players surged forward, questions and requests spilling from their mouths.
"How much for the blue one?"
"Is this item enchanted?"
"Did you make these yourself?"
"Can I buy the fang knives?"
Within minutes, Riley's once-ignored stall became the center of attention. The surrounding players formed a loose semicircle around him, holding out silver and bronze coins with eager eyes.
He didn't speak much. He didn't need to.
The spectacle they had just witnessed had done all the advertising for him.
Riley's hands moved deftly, trading items for coins, stashing them into his storage ring.
He didn't care whatever reasons they had for patronising him, as long as he could get the cash he needed.
*
Meanwhile, back in the real world…
"Arggh!!" Taves jerked up on his bed with a loud scream, gripping his head in annoyance.
[You have been killed by "???" using a Basic dagger!]
[Wait 59:57 to log back into the game.]
Two notifications appeared in front of him, glowing blood red as if to burn themselves into his memory.
'Basic dagger… that fucker… killed me a basic dagger?!' He thought, grinding his teeth against one another.
The worst part of it was that Riley took along with him his rare grade long sword, which he bought with money during the beta testing.
It was a valuable weapon, and he had even offered it to Riley all for the chance of getting to keep his life within his game.
However, he not only took the weapon, but also killed him immediately after, practically erasing all of his recent progress.
'I'll make sure you suffer. I'll make your life within the game hell… just wait… huh?' He thought, his eyes narrowing at the strange username.
'Just question marks? What the hell is that's supposed to mean?' He wondered, placing a hand on his chin. 'Could it be, that he found a way to hide his username… but how?'
The more he tried thinking about it, the more he felt like pulling his hair out.
"Argh!!! Just wait… just wait!!" He shouted, smashing a luxury lamp on the small table beside his bed.
The lamp immediately shattered into pieces, a few of the shards piercing his hands.
"Ouchhh!!" he shouted, his hands throbbing with pain, blood gushing out of it.