CHAPTER 246: THE BLACKSTAR CLAN [1]

In an unknown location within the Valerian Kingdom, several players were seated around a large oak table. Every one of them had their eyes fixed on the individual sitting in the middle, his hand resting calmly in front of him.

"Begin." The individual, who radiated the aura of a Hero-Rank Adventurer, spoke with a firm and authoritative voice.

The first man nodded and stood up to introduce himself. "As you might already know, we’re envoys from the ChaosKnight Guild, an order of the Holy Church. We’ve been sent by the higher-ups to seek your help in annihilating certain heretics."

The man at the center didn’t respond immediately. After a few seconds—when the messengers from the Chain of Veylor began to grow impatient—he finally spoke. "Who is this person you want my Blackstar Clan to get rid of?"

"His name is Sir Broken, though you people would know him as Gabriel Reyes," the leader of the messengers said, his tone filled with fury.

The man’s eyes sparkled with a mysterious gleam. No one knew what he was thinking, but a slow, wide smile that resembled that of a serial killer began to spread across his face. His pearly white teeth glistened as he raised his head, finally looking directly at the one who had been speaking all this while.

Badump! Badump!

The bearded messenger felt his heart pounding violently against his chest. A thin drop of sweat trickled from his temple down his cheek and onto the oak table.

’What’s this pressure...?’ he frowned inwardly and glanced around.

The others were just as uneasy, their breathing heavy and uneven.

’So you want me to get rid of Gabriel Reyes—the MVP of the Inter-Guild Display Event?’ The man smirked.

The head messenger swallowed hard. The sound of saliva traveling down his throat echoed awkwardly in the silent room. His lips parted. "Y-yes! If you can get rid of him, not only will our guild handsomely reward you, but even the Church as well."

He seemed to grow more confident as he added, a forced smile on his face, "Not only that, but your family and our guild would establish good relations. With our numbers and immortal status, we would definitely be of great help."

The head messenger thought he was being persuasive—until the man began to chuckle as if he’d heard the funniest joke in the world.

His laughter was strangely unnerving, making everyone even more anxious.

Then he stopped laughing. His tone turned cold and chilling as his sharp gaze fell on the lanky otherworlder. "What makes you think I can be bribed?"

"T-that..." The player swallowed for what felt like the hundredth time since arriving and suddenly felt his bladder tighten.

"B-because you’re the leader of the infamous mercenary clan, Blackstar. And to top it off, you’re a Hero Rank..."

"Very correct... but," the man said as he slowly rose from his seat. The shadow never left his face. Standing over six feet tall, his entire presence became even more domineering and commanding. "It seems you and your guild are very clueless about the kind of person I am."

The player narrowed his eyes, trying to form words, but before he could speak, the man snapped his fingers. A thin flash of light appeared in the air—too fast to follow, yet bright enough to notice.

Under the stunned gaze of everyone present, the head messenger’s neck split open. His head rolled off and disintegrated into radiant fragments.

"F-Fuck! He killed him!"

"Save yourself! He’s a psycho!"

Panic erupted. The players tried to flee, but it was too late. Countless smaller flashes sliced through the air.

BOOM! Boom! Boom!

Heads and bodies burst apart, turning into glowing data fragments. Within minutes, the entire room was filled with particles floating like snow. And in the midst of it all stood Torrin Blackstar, a pleased look on his face.

There was only one person left, trembling in fear.

Step. Step. Torrin calmly approached, his boots echoing on the blood-stained floor. The remaining player crawled backward, eyes wide with terror.

"Next time, before you try to hire me for a job, ask around if I hate otherworlders."

Stomp!

...

Because this was the location where they had died, the players respawned moments later at the exact same spot. A part of them hoped the Hero-Rank NPC had already left—but to their greatest dismay, he was still there, as if patiently waiting for them.

The first thing they saw was that same cold smile. Torrin stood with his arms folded, right over their revival point like a predator watching his prey.

"Y-you’ve got to be kidding me..." one of them whispered.

Another screamed, "Run!" and bolted toward the exit.

But after only two steps—slash! His body split cleanly in half, bursting into glowing fragments.

Torrin tilted his head lazily. "You think respawning saves you from me? Foolish invaders."

The survivors regrouped, and their leader shouted, "Don’t let him toy with us! He’s just an NPC! Focus fire!"

The mages began chanting, archers drew their bows—but none of them got the chance to release their attacks.

Tch! Torrin’s body blurred. One moment he was meters away, and the next, he appeared right in the middle of the group.

Screams erupted.

"Wh-where’d he go—"

Swish! Swish! Swish!

Each sound was followed by a burst of data. Limbs, torsos, and heads vanished one after another.

"Stop! Please, stop!!"

BOOM!

Moments later, all that remained were shimmering fragments floating in the air like dust.

Seconds later—they respawned again.

And again.

And again.

Each time they came back, Torrin was waiting, smiling wider.

"W-what the hell kind of event is this?! We can’t even log out!"

"This isn’t funny anymore! Please, we surrender!"

Torrin chuckled darkly. "Surrender?" He leaned forward so they could see the sadistic grin stretching across his face. "Hahaha... after experimenting, I’ve figured out the best way to get rid of your kind—repeated killing."

The moment he said this, he snapped his fingers again. Flashes of light filled the room, and the players were erased once more.

Again.

And again.

And again.

Until the dreaded system notification echoed in their ears:

[You have been reduced to Level 0.]

[All experience and equipment lost.]

[You will be transferred back to the Beginner Town.]

"F-Fuck! Who is this person, and why is he killing us?!" one of the players thought as his body slowly disintegrated into glowing particles. ’The guild leader must know about him...’

...

AN: The Blackstar Clan was briefly mentioned in Chapter 30 Crimson Judgement; you can go back and check.

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