In the split second before the serrated ballista bolts were fired, Tubby and Garrett took hold of the chains attached to my ankles, while two of the other Players tightly grasped onto the ones attached to my wrists—all holding me in place so I couldn’t dodge or move out of the way. But only seeing this as a perfect opportunity to safely kill a few of them now, I swiftly wrapped my wrists around the attached chains, and instantly pulled the two random dwarves straight towards me; then clutching them by the neck, I turned around and used them as perfect meat-shields, savagely watching as the nine ballista bolts easily punctured large holes into different parts of their heavily armoured and stout dwarven bodies—the serrated bolts puncturing so deeply it even reached and tore open a little of my own armour.

The Player punctured by five bolts died straight away, disappearing from my grip in a blue flash; but when I noticed the other Player survived the remaining bolts, I immediately released him as I could feel the urge to annihilate rise inside of me. Though before the urge could take me over, I quickly pulled out a large stone from Infinity and gently dropped it on the Player’s head, crushing his skull and gladly causing him to disappear in a blue flash too.

“I better be more careful, that was a close one.” I thought to myself, seeing everyone’s shocked faces that I killed those Players like that, except for Crystal who stared at me with intrigue. “If I end up uncontrollably killing one of them with one of my Skills, the others could get hit by the potential crossfire, and then they’d all end up dying.” Noting the danger, I decided to keep my bow stored away, and instead took hold of the Poison-Tip and Serrated daggers to defend myself with.

Boiling with anger, Xander shouted to everyone “Attack!” and all the Players by the fireplace raised their weapons, while the Players manning the scattered and elevated ballistae began reloading another bolt to shoot with.

Using the brief window while they reloaded, I quickly broke off the shackles around my wrists and ankles, and directed my attention to all the Players by the fireplace. Ignoring the eight Melee-Class Players charging towards me, I instead focused on the five Range-Class Players firing a volley of arrows, crossbow bolts, and different types of elemental magic. Activating Sprint, I rushed straight in, mindfully dodging and evading all the melee attacks directed at me as I passed, and placed myself right in front of Orange—the nearest ranged Player.

“I’m sorry for what I’m about to do to you guys, but trust me, this will be for your own good.” I told him, picking him up and throwing him over my shoulder. Then without a moment of hesitation, I sprinted over to the remaining four ranged Players and forcefully picked them up over my shoulder too. And while everyone was left momentarily clueless about what I was doing, I briefly activated Bloodthirst and instantly tossed all five Players straight into the giant lit fireplace. Moreover, knowing I couldn't let them escape to assure they’d die safely, I held Infinity out and immediately began dumping as much of the stored rubble and debris I could on top of the hearth—blocking and trapping all five Players in the burning firebox.

“Aaahhhhh…!” We all heard their horrifying screams behind the heavy rubble.

“It burns!” Someone cried out, hearing them desperately trying to break out.

“H-Help us!” Pleading for help as they were helplessly burning alive by the second.

“Flying Slash!” Xander angrily shouted, sending a crescent wave of mana flying vertically towards me, but I simply took a step to the side and effortlessly avoided the relatively slow projectile. “You deranged psychopath, you make me sick!” Leading another charge towards me.

Recognizing that all the ballistae were ready to fire again, I decided to engage Xander and the others, causing the ballistae to hesitate firing at the crowd of us; but I noticed Tubby and two others broke off and headed to help the ones trapped in the fireplace. Knowing the three of them likely couldn’t clear the debris before the ones inside burned to death, I stayed engaged against Xander and Garrett, along with three different types of Rogues—one wielding dual daggers, one wielding a rapier, and one wielding a shortsword while carrying multiple throwing knives on his person.

Although they outnumbered me, I quickly realized, other than Xander and Garrett, they were very uncoordinated with their attacks, making it plainly evident it was their first time fighting together. However, already more than used to being outnumbered myself by now, I exploited their clear lack of coordination, and always moved and positioned myself in a way for them to clumsily collide or attack each other. Parrying the fast and precise strikes of the Rogues, I utilized the slower and telegraphed swings of Xander’s sword and Garret’s greatsword to slice the Rogues on their own, or by using my overwhelming strength to hold the Rogues in place to be struck by their blades.

For a few minutes the battle ensued with me only parrying and deflecting their attacks onto each other, but something felt off, and I wondered “Why aren’t they using any of their Skills? Did Crystal tell them not to?” When I glanced around, Crystal’s illusionary-self was nowhere to be seen, “Where did she go?”

“Yeah, we got you!” Someone shouted behind me, reactively causing me to look back expecting an attack, but what I saw was two extremely burned Players being pulled out of a small hole in the debris—they seemed to be the only ones that survived.

“Damn—” My thought was cut short by the swing of Garrett’s greatsword—barely blocking it with my daggers as the heavy swing knocked me back a little.

“Here, drink this.” Tubby said to one of the burn victims, force-feeding her a healing potion, with the other Players also feeding the other burn victim a healing potion.

“Tsk.” Backpedaling away from the other Players, I decided to reassess how I should approach the battle. Except as I did, I strangely noticed the Players manning the ballistae aimed at me but never fired, even though it was a safe shot away from the others. Then in that moment, I saw Crystal’s illusionary-self return and talk to all the Players near the fireplace. “What’s she planning now?” I asked myself, trying to think of a new way to ‘safely’ kill them all.

“What?!” Xander suddenly exclaimed. “When did you set that up? What happened to the plan?” Crystal responded with a whisper to him and Xander adamantly stated, “Who cares if he hasn’t attacked us yet, we can take him! Why would we run away and resort to that when we still have more than 15 of us alive!” Rallying the other Players by saying, “We have to avenge our friends brutally killed by this psychotic bastard!” causing the Players near the fireplace to cheer on his words, but notably none of the ones manning the ballistae seemed to agree.

Shrugging and sighing, Crystal said aloud “Suit yourselves. I was merely using this as an opportunity to observe his abilities for the future anyway, but seeing how we can’t even force him to use them without using our own Skills when we clearly have the number advantage, it's become painfully obvious how astronomically outclassed we are here.” Acknowledging me with a smile.

“Oh, yeah? We'll see about that." Xander then shouted to everyone, "You hear that? Crystal doesn't believe we can beat one guy! She just wants us to give up and run away scared, actually expecting us to hide like cowards like she is! But you know what? I say fuck her, and her plan! Use all the Skills you can, and don’t hold back anymore! And when we’re through with him, everyone will know us as the ones who beat the absolute living shit out of this fake-ass #1 Ranked Player!” and they all rallied behind Xander's words.

“I’ll give him this, Xander really knows how to rile up a brainless crowd of people.” Preparing myself to defend against all of them.

Crystal then spoke to the Players manning the ballistae, saying “You guys can join them if you want, I’ll take care of the rest when you all enviably lose regardless.” Nodding to each other, they immediately began firing the ballistae at me again.

Diving behind the nearest tables and benches, I used them as cover and obscure their aim, but the ballista bolts easily splintered the wooden tables and benches, forcing me to move and hide behind others. Though while I stayed low to the ground, I noticed more faint magic floating underneath almost all of the tables, along with my nose picking up a strange odor of a somewhat familiar metallic mixture.

However before I could recognize what it was, Xander shouted “Shield Charge!” Being distracted by the odor, I reacted slowly and Xander bulldozed straight through the tables and smashed his shield directly against my body, sending me crashing into the tables and benches farther back in the hall.

“Urgh...” Groaning and picking myself up, I felt invisible dust gently falling on top of my face, but I suddenly spit in disgust as I accidentally got some of the grainy and metallic dust in my mouth. “Ugh, what the fuck was that? Wait, it can't be—” Given no time to rest, the ballistae were already firing more bolts, forcing me to dive out of the way again, while all the remaining Players near the fireplace charged after, and with the two burned Players now partially recovered and sending bolts of blackened and poisonous magic towards me.

The longer I allowed the battle to go on, the more coordinated their movements and attacks became with each other, and regardless of how well I evaded and parried their endless barrage of attacks, a few of them slipped past my defenses and annoyingly damaged me—destroying my armour little by little. Then although I never directed an attack at any of them, something inside of me was itching to mercilessly retaliate; whether it simply being the urge of annihilation somehow acting up, or my inner self simply being irritated and tired of caring about people that ultimately don’t matter to me. And along with the physical and mental exhaustion from the battle beginning to add up, I found my patience waning ever-so slightly, slowly culminating into a highly dangerous breaking point.

Being corralled back to the centre of the banquet hall and encircled by everyone, Xander shouted “Everyone ready? Now!” and they all simultaneously attack, including the nine ballistae.

“Backstab!” The dual dagger Rogue suddenly appeared behind me to strike.

“Power Swing!” Garrett yelled out, swinging his great sword at my head.

“Guiding Bolt!” One of the Healers sent a shining bolt of light directed at my chest.

“Dagger Throw!” The throwing knife Rogue threw a fan of 10 daggers in my direction.

“Lunging Thrust!” Tubby thrusted his spear towards my side.

“Power Strike!” The rapier wielding Rogue announced, lunging the tip of the rapier towards my neck.

“Ray Of Light!” The other Healer sent a concentrated beam of light from her hands.

“Crushing Blow!” The last Fighter swung his two-handed hammer at my legs.

“Wounding Strike!” The last Rogue aimed for the back of my ankles.

Quickly realizing I had to avoid being hit by some of their dangerous directed attacks, I was about to use Leaping Shot to dodge all of it, but Xander suddenly let out an unusually loud roar, “Warrhhh!” and I found myself unable to run away or focus on anything other than Xander.

Due to the difference in Level, the effectiveness of the ‘Taunted’ Status has greatly decreased against you. You have been affected by the Status Debuff: [Taunted]

I already felt my body gain control from the unusual roar, though something else immediately took over me; but in that split second of hesitation Xander caused, every single attack perfectly landed against my body—including the 9 serrated bolts. And with me instantly collapsing to the floor, they all cheered at the sight.

“We got him!” Someone naively believed.

“Yeah, we actually beat the #1 Ranked Player!” Another happily agreed.

“#1 my ass!” Xander heckled, “More like a dogshit fraud!” laughing with the others.

“Oh, you disappoint me, Xander.” Crystal interjected.

“Shut up, Crystal!” Xander reactively replied, “You're just jealous you won’t be known for beating him like the rest of us. You should’ve just believed me when I told you we could beat this bitch-ass fraud.”

“Hah, you must be joking, right? I mean if your attacks actually did the damage they should have done, then his head would be decapitated, his body littered with holes, and he would’ve disappeared in a blue flash like the others.” Crystal pointed out, “And as you can see, that’s clearly not the case, for it seems none of you noticed a visible protective aura surrounding his entire body at the last second before your attacks hit him.”

“E-Everyone! F-Finish him!” Xander frantically ordered, immediately attempting to impale his sword into my head, but it was already too late for them.

Unable to hold myself back any longer, I was completely consumed by the urge to Annihilate, and plainly catching Xander’s sword by the blade, I shattered it into countless pieces with a simple squeeze of my aura infused right hand. Xander stumbled back in shock, but not allowing him to go far, I clenched my left hand around his throat and effortlessly lifted him up into the air.

His head already turned red, impossibly struggling to gasp for air, saying “You...son of a...bitch…” Uncaring, I held the Poison-Tip dagger in my right hand, and without hesitation drove the blade up into his jaw; and pushing with more and more strength, Xander’s jaw collapsed under the pressure, allowing me to drive the dagger straight upwards into his brain.

Witnessing the horrifying sight of Xander suddenly going catatonic by my hands, the other Players immediately tried attacking me, but I simply manifested another 1,000 Stamina Physical Aura around myself. Their physical attacks dealt nothing more than 100 Health each, however the Healers’ magic attacks did deal a painful total of 900 damage. Yet carelessly ignoring the pain, I forcefully pushed the dagger upwards one more time, digging my hand and forearm deep into Xander’s skull, and making the blade puncture and poke out at the top of his head. Releasing my left hand from his neck, I raised Xander’s suddenly limp body with my right hand through his skull, displaying the horrific sight to all the Players watching—feeling Xander’s warm blood running down my raised arm and seeping into the cracks of my armour.

“W-What did you do to him!?” Garrett shouted in concern, gaining my dangerous attention.

“Y-Yeah...why isn’t Xander disappearing!?” Tubby nervously questioned, his and everyone else’s hands rightfully shaking in fear as they held their weapons.

Swiftly pulling my hand from Xander’s skull, I allowed his lifeless body to fall onto the ground, and knowing none of them were safe, I told them “Run.” My free hand already reached for the Serrated dagger and threw it directly at the nearest Player’s throat, heartlessly beginning to systematically hunt and slaughter each and every one of them.

Splattered in blood again, I silently stood in the now quiet banquet hall, amidst the very bloodbath I just created. Some Players died quickly, with a simple deep slice across their throat, or a dagger twisted into their skull and brain; but most weren’t so lucky. Those who desperately fought for their lives found themselves mostly tortured by having to endure the agonizing pain of their limbs being severed until they eventually bled out; be it roughly done by my daggers, or cleanly cut off by the Fighters’ bladed weapons I overpoweringly stole from their person or the other dead Players. Others however found themselves ruthlessly beaten and stomped to death by my aura infused body, while Players manning the ballistae were impaled by any of the missed ballista bolts I picked up or caught in the air—throwing them back with even more force than they were fired. And although a few people did try to run away, ultimately no one could escape from being annihilated by me.

“I think there’s something seriously mentally wrong with me.” I thought to myself, “A part of me feels absolutely horrified and distraught of what I just did, yet another part of me also feels like I couldn’t care less about the mass murder I just committed—not to mention the part of me already mentally moving on and focusing on what I should do next.” and I figured it may have something to do with Archer’s Triality—opening the Menu and giving the Skill a quick read.

Archer’s Triality: Beyond limiting yourself to one thing, your mind and body truly becomes capable of Processing, Focusing, and Manipulating three things at once, naturally freeing you of preference and indecision.

“I never thought of, or even considered how a Passive Skill could unknowingly affect me as a person, but if this Skill really is allowing my mental state to be simultaneously caring and uncaring, then maybe I should be paying more attention to them?” At the same time thinking, “Are there more things unknowingly affecting me?”

Though suddenly interrupting my thought, Crystal said “I already had no doubt about it, but now everyone else can't deny that you truly are Eyes Thalion Ven’Thyl, the unquestionable—to me—current #1 Ranked Player.” Noticing her standing by the banquet hall entrance this time.

“You’re pretty ballsy to show up in person after doing nothing but watch me kill the other Players.” Instantly recognizing her as the real Crystal standing by the entrance, “That, or you had to physically come here to ignite all the gunpowder you’ve been secretly hiding in here.”

“Well, it seems like I can’t get anything past you.” Crystal grinned, “You really can see right through me and my illusions, can’t you?” dispelling all her magic and revealing the large amounts of gunpowder scattered throughout the banquet hall—notably around the four columns supporting the ceiling, however obviously nowhere near the fireplace.

“Maybe, but what do you want, Crystal?”

“Why would you think I want something?”

“Because I know if you were really trying to win this Event, you would’ve just ignited all the gunpowder while I was fighting the other Players, but instead you’re here revealing yourself and openly talking to me; therefore you want something.” I reasoned, “So what is it?”

Smiling widely, Crystal replied “I’m not delusional or stupid enough to believe I could ever beat you in this particular situation, especially considering the fact you haven’t even drawn a bow or crossbow to utilize any of your Ranger Skills yet, but were still able to easily cause this much...devastation against the Players on your own.” gesturing to the bloodbath mostly done using only daggers and my bare hands, “And even if I were to ignite all the gunpowder and collapse the ceiling on top of you, I have a good feeling you would still find a way to survive, wouldn’t you?”

“What’s your point, Crystal?” I sternly asked, wondering what she was getting at.

“Alright, alright. Here’s the deal.” Crystal began to explain, “My friends and I are in search of a mythical metal called Deicide. It is said to be the only thing truly capable of guaranteeing a kill against the Greater and Lesser Gods that preside over and live amongst the world of Novus. But witnessing you today has completely changed that honestly baseless tale for me!” excitedly elaborating, “As only moments ago you broke the very System we were supposed to adhere to and be subjugated by, somehow seemingly able to kill Players during an Event which was stated not possible to kill anyone in!” She then slowly approached , gazing at me in great awe and amazement, “Now I believe you might just be the unexpected weapon we’ve been searching for...our secret weapon to kill the Guides!”