CHAPTER 49: CHAPTER 49: ADMIN TINA

Players watching the spire from a distance were talking:

"Yeah, the gear shop owner, and that figure next to the sheriff—they do look familiar. Probably other NPCs from the safe zone, right?"

"No, no, no. I don’t think that’s an NPC! Let me think where I’ve seen that back."

"Damn, I remember now—that’s [Windchaser], isn’t it?"

"[Windchaser]? It really looks like him!"

Right away, many players cried out in surprise.

It hasn’t been long since [Windchaser] ordered the junkyard NPCs to kill ]Overlord] inside the safe zone.

Right now, the game forums are full of talk about ]Windchaser]. People are split into two sides. One side is players from Safe Zone 9527, who firmly say [Windchaser] can order NPCs to kill players. The other side is players from other safe zones. They don’t believe it and say players simply can’t do that.

Other safe zones also have spires like the one in Safe Zone 9527, and they all refuse to let players in.

Now, under the eyes of the players in Safe Zone 9527, the mysterious [Windchaser] actually walked with the NPCs to the spire’s entrance. It even looked like the gear shop owner and the sheriff were facing off because of him.

Everyone knew that if any other player got close to the spire, they were driven away.

But [Windchaser] wasn’t pushed back at all—he was about to go inside!

So is [Windchaser] not a player, but an NPC disguised as one?

Some players couldn’t help letting their wild imagination run, guessing at [Windchaser’s] true identity.

...

At the spire’s entrance, Ethan quietly watched Elise and Evan stare each other down. He did need to complete the [Berserk Blood Warrior] class change so he could level up faster, get stronger, and earn more Intel rewards.

But it wasn’t a must. If there was really no chance, a normal warrior class change would still work for him.

After all, with the [Ten-Thousandfold Intelligence Reward], as long as he killed enough monsters, he was bound to get a hidden class Intel that fit him.

It would just be a lot more trouble and take more time.

Evan didn’t give an inch. He stood at the entrance, blocking Elise.

Elise’s anger kept building. Thin threads giving off a faint purple glow appeared around her, floating behind her like spider legs.

In this tense moment, the clear click of high heels suddenly echoed from inside the spire.

Evan moved aside at once, opening a path, and Elise drew back her threads. The anger on her face vanished.

Ethan knew the key person had arrived.

He looked toward the sound and saw a woman walking out slowly. She wore a white mask, was about 1.72 meters tall, slim, with ice-blue hair that fell to her waist.

A clear number was carved on the white mask: 9527.

This was the administrator of Safe Zone 9527—Tina.

Evan bowed and said respectfully, "My lady, you’re here."

Tina dipped her chin a little. A clear but hollow voice came from under the white mask:

"What’s going on?"

Elise quickly explained everything from start to finish.

After listening, Tina slowly turned her body and looked at Ethan.

Ethan felt like a cold machine was scanning him. Her gaze made him very uncomfortable, as if all his info was being seen through.

A moment later, Tina said slowly, "[Pain Resistance], huh. It’s a fairly rare talent, but sadly, it’s only Blue-quality."

Hearing this, Elise stared at Ethan in disbelief.

Elise wasn’t the only one who felt a surge of emotion.

Ethan looked calm on the outside, but inside, waves were crashing.

Did this woman really see his talent with just one look?

Luckily, she didn’t seem to notice his other talent, [Ten-Thousandfold Intelligence Reward].

It looked like the unknown-grade [Ten-Thousandfold Intelligence Reward] was even more mysterious than he had thought.

Realizing she had misread things, Elise asked Ethan in confusion, "[Pain Resistance]? Then how did you stay calm under my [Lust]?"

At once, both Tina and Evan fixed their eyes on Ethan.

Elise hadn’t mentioned in her report that Ethan could stay calm under [Lust].

You should know, even Evan, the sheriff, couldn’t do something like this. If he could, he would have helped Elise already, and she wouldn’t need to look for anyone else.

Tina looked at Ethan with a hint of doubt in her eyes, and she studied him again, very carefully.

That feeling came back—the sense that Ethan was being completely seen through.

This time, though, Ethan felt much calmer inside.

After a short pause, Tina spoke slowly, her voice unsure. "It really is a Blue-quality [Pain Resistance]. But his strength and his speed are far above other level-10 players."

"Other than that, there’s nothing unusual," she added. "Nothing else stands out."

"Could it be willpower?"

Willpower is a hidden stat. It doesn’t show on the status screen, and it’s the kind that’s very hard to raise.

That was the only guess Tina could make, and it did make her a bit curious about Ethan.

Ethan hadn’t said a word this whole time, just quietly listening to Tina, Evan, and Elise talk.

Now he finally spoke calmly: "My talent is [Pain Resistance], that’s true. But it doesn’t stop me from helping Elise."

"As long as we reach the goal, do the other things really matter?"

Elise gave a small nod, while Evan frowned slightly. He didn’t really like what Ethan said.

Tina lowered her head and thought for a moment before speaking again: "I do know how to class change into [Berserk Blood Warrior]. [Pain Resistance] also fits [Berserk Blood Warrior] fairly well. "Being able to stay calm under Elise’s [Lust] through willpower does surprise me."

"It’s just a pity the talent’s quality is too low. Otherwise, Safe Zone 9527 would have one more very promising prospect."

Is the quality of the talent too low?

Ethan didn’t agree with her. He also had another talent with unknown quality—[Ten-Thousandfold Intelligence Reward].

So he didn’t feel inferior at all. He looked at Tina with confidence and said:

"Talent? I’m pretty happy with mine. Besides, there’s never a shortage of fallen geniuses. The ones who matter are the people who keep going to the end and keep getting stronger."

Tina’s gaze dropped a little. She looked at her hands wrapped in long white gloves, sighed, and said:"You can try. But if you fail, you’ll take the death penalty."

Ethan nodded. He wasn’t afraid of death, in real life, the shadow of death had always hung over him.

Then Tina turned around and walked into the spire.

Evan stayed where he was, looking at Ethan with a cold gaze. He said, "Don’t celebrate too soon. The class change for [Berserk Blood Warrior] isn’t as simple as you think."

"Whether it’s you or Grimmount, both of you are a potential threat to the Safe Zone."

"I’ll be watching you."

Ethan ignored him. After he finished his class change, he planned to leave the Safe Zone and head somewhere else.

Soon, with Tina leading, Ethan and Elise went into the spire as well.

Ethan looked around inside the Spire with curious eyes. There wasn’t anything special here. If anything, it just felt empty.

The huge inner space had no extra decorations. The pale blue floor was smooth like a mirror and reflected their figures, giving off a faint, cold feeling.

Tina and Elise walked straight to the elevator in the very center. Seeing that, Ethan followed them.

Aside from Tina and Elise, he didn’t see any other NPCs. In this massive spire, it felt like it was just the three of them.

They rode the elevator in silence.

After they got out, Ethan followed Tina for a while until they stopped before a huge blood-red iron door.

"We’re here," Tina said calmly. "Push this door and you’ll enter the [Berserk Blood Warrior] class change trial. You only need to stay alive to complete the class change."

Elise looked at Ethan, then at Tina. She really hoped Ethan could pass the trial and finish the [Berserk Blood Warrior] class change.

She took two steps closer to Tina and blinked her light blue eyes.

Tina sighed and added, "One reminder: inside, you can’t use any weapons, items, or gear. Your level and stats will be gone. Only your talents will work. Stay alive, and feel everything the trial brings you."

With that, Tina left without looking back.

Elise said to Ethan, "It’s up to you now. Whether you succeed or not, you still have to help me tonight. That’s our deal."

Ethan nodded and watched her run off in Tina’s direction.

Now he was alone.

Standing before the huge blood-red door, he could faintly smell blood.

He took a deep breath, slowly pushed the door open, and stepped inside.