The D-Rank Guild Master of the No. 1 Guild

Breath catching in my throat, I thought as I dashed through the jungle.

“Hmm, was it perhaps rash to pre-emptively mark Akata for ‘Head Hunting’?”

Suddenly, it dawned on me that viewers and other guild leaders might be watching my sprint.

But there wasn’t much of a choice.

Without marking for Head Hunting, I wouldn’t be able to run following the navigation in the status window.

In Nahean’s case, I could keep updating Gio and Unahar about his location.

But now, with no one to inform me, declaring ‘Head Hunting’ was essential.

Honestly, it might not even be necessary to go to such lengths just for Akata.

He’s the only character immune to cheats. Maybe it’s better to let him die and eliminate this flaw.

However, I think differently.

First, if I discover why Akata is immune to cheats, I might uncover the reason I got sucked into this game.

Secondly, Akata reminds me of ‘reality.’ He makes me remember who I originally was and how I should approach this game.

He prevents me from being completely engulfed by the game and becoming just another game character.

At a glance, he really did look quite beautiful.

“Yes, let others think I’m a fool or whatever they want.”

As I ran wildly, I could feel my stamina gradually depleting. Whenever that happened, I took short breaks and then continued running.

It was like hellish training, but it wasn’t unfamiliar.

I had already gotten used to overworking my body through excessive exercise before the start of the 1.5th round.

Ding.

As I caught my breath for about the ninth time leaning against a tree, suddenly a broadcast sound echoed throughout the field.

[“The ‘Megaphone’ item has been used.”]

The mechanical announcement soon changed to a hoarse, low voice.

[“Hahaha! How fortunate to find yet another enhanced Megaphone item! Is everything in this world on my side?”]

At the sound of the voice, my face involuntarily contorted. Ominously, it was a voice I had heard before.

The broadcast momentarily cut off and then switched back to the mechanical voice.

[“The ‘Megaphone’ item has been enhanced.”]

[“From now on, all ‘Megaphone’ items will be converted to the enhanced ‘Camcorder’ items.”]

A light ringing sounded in my ears.

Then a semi-transparent screen appeared in front of me, distinct from the status window.

[“Rudel! You hear me, right? Look closely! I have what you want!”]

It was a familiar-faced man shouting as if on a personal broadcast.

He was someone I had once used as a sacrifice to awaken my unique abilities, and then used again as a victim to manifest Gio’s power.

Seeing that sneering face made me feel like all the sweat I had shed so far had gone cold.

[“You want this kid?”]

Ispan moved the camcorder, pointing it downward.

A red-haired boy lay at Ispan’s feet.

However, the color of his hair seemed different from what I remembered. It used to be a bright, fiery hue.

In the next moment, I realized that the dark red color was due to the blood he had shed.

Blood from his torn shoulder had trickled down, soaking his hair and ears. His left ankle was swollen.

Ispan gripped Akata’s hair firmly from behind.

As his upper body was lifted, the boy’s wrecked face came into view.

He was gasping as if about to pass out, yet unable to let go of consciousness, writhing in pain.

The boy’s body, tormented for no reason, seemed to have resigned itself, devoid of strength.

A hot fury rose within me at the sight.

I knew that the opponent was just a character in the game.

I also knew that it’s ridiculous to feel this way about a character’s death in a survival game.

But having spent time with them, I realized that these characters felt pain and could think just as much as real people.

And this boy had never done anything to deserve such brutal torture.

Yet because of me, he was enduring this pain.

My mind went cold, and my throat felt constricted.

Soon, the boy’s face was pushed aside, and Ispan’s face reappeared.

[“I’ll start counting to three minutes now. Every three minutes, I’ll break another ankle or wrist. How’s that? You better hurry.”]

It seemed Ispan had begun a game with Akata.

I hesitated for a moment. Despite the boiling anger in my chest, I tried to think clearly in the face of the boy’s crisis.

It was obvious that this was a trap set by Ispan.

I pondered whether I should take the risk and step into it despite knowing this.

“But in this situation, would it be right for me to avoid any danger?”

An innocent young character was suffering because of my actions.

Besides…

[“You must come alone. If you bring anyone else, I’ll kill him immediately.”]

Judging by his insistence, he hadn’t forgotten being killed by Gio.

I clenched my fist tightly and tried to gauge Ispan’s current state of mind.

I guessed that characters who had experienced death and revival could be divided into two types.

Those who, traumatized by dying once, became cautious in the 1.5th round.

And those who, thinking they had nothing more to lose, went berserk.

I was certain that Ispan was the latter, a madman determined to take revenge on me.

So, Akata, that poor kid…

“…”

I closed my eyes tightly and then opened them. The decision was made in an instant.

Ispan’s threats couldn’t scare me. I’ll make him regret provoking me again.

I pushed off the ground with all my strength. In a split second, my body lifted, and my other foot pushed off the ground hard as well.

With all my might, I swung my arms, running at my fastest speed, putting everything on the line.

Akata’s position on the status window moved slightly. It seemed Ispan was relocating to greet me at a specific place.

“Hah, hah-!”

As normal breathing became impossible, I tasted blood in my throat.

With a body having C-grade stats, sprinting like a sprinter caused every muscle to scream in agony.

Ispan, you bastard.

You’ll pay dearly for provoking me.

* * *

The moment I confirmed my arrival at the destination, I staggered, barely managing to stop myself from collapsing to my knees.

Though I hadn’t run for long, my entire body felt as if it had used up my lifespan.

My legs and vision blurred, and sweat poured down like rain.

Despite the fatigue, I meticulously checked the navigation on the status window again.

Akata’s position overlapped perfectly with mine.

But Akata wasn’t visible. Neither was Ispan.

Instead, a massive cave loomed before me, its depth impossible to gauge.

[“The ‘Camcorder’ item has been used.”]

Just as I was contemplating whether to enter, Ispan’s face reappeared before me.

[“You look awful. Was that your best run? Too bad, you exceeded three minutes already. Four minutes and twelve seconds!”]

Ispan’s gaze shifted downward.

Snap.

The clear sound and accompanying scream left no doubt about what had happened.

While I was gritting my teeth in silent rage, Ispan laughed and announced the next mission.

[“Akata is inside the cave! But there’s a condition.”]

[“There will be a small potion next to the cave entrance.”]

Indeed, as he said, a dark-colored potion bottle was placed beside the cave.

I knew the effects of that potion…

[“Do you know what it is? Yes, it’s a Unique Ability Seal! Especially deadly for someone like you. Rudel, you’re weak and dependent on your unique ability.”]

The inferiority complex he felt towards me was evident in his shouting.

He hasn’t changed at all, that idiot.

[“Drink it right there.”]

After his words, there was a three-second silence, but I took no action.

[“Can’t drink it? Then you’re admitting that you’re completely useless without your unique ability.”]

No matter how much he tried to provoke me, I wasn’t going to fall for it. Anyone who would fall for that and drink the potion was pathetic.

[“Alright… It seems I’ll have to use this kid to get through to you.”]

Ispan lowered the camcorder.

Thud!

The screen showed the dark interior of the cave. The young boy was kicked in the stomach by Ispan’s foot and sent crashing against the wall.

[“If you don’t drink the potion, all your efforts will be in vain. This kid will die right now.”]

Ispan seemed certain that I wouldn’t give up on Akata.

His eyes glistened as he briefly showed his face on the camcorder, as if he had nothing to lose.

He was confident that if I abandoned Akata and charged in, it would be the end of any revenge or plans I had.

The screen soon shifted back.

Ispan held a blade to the neck of the trembling Akata.

In the meantime, my heavy breathing started to calm. At least now, I could breathe in a steady rhythm.

I quietly watched the screen, taking deep breaths.

It would be a pity for me, my guild members, and the viewers watching this.

Ispan was right. He made a brilliant gamble.

I wouldn’t stop pursuing Akata.

Alright, Ispan, I’ll use this scene of me coming to crush you as part of my narrative.

I’m a maniac for the dramatics in this game.

I moved my stationary feet and walked to the entrance.

Then I uncorked the black bottle and poured it down my throat in one go.

Before the empty bottle could hit the ground, I dashed into the darkness.