Chapter 243: Allison vs Orc Lord

Luke peeked out from the flap of the tent, scanning Conrad’s bandit camp. It sat deep in the forest, inside what people called the “gray zone.” Technically neutral ground, but not really. The Safe Zone lay on one side, the Midnight Wardens stalked the other, and in between prowled beasts and other nightmares. The bandits were used to it.

He slipped back into the tent. And here I was, worried about Bastion setting up an ambush, only to get grabbed by a bunch of random thugs.

Not that he minded. Free experience points didn’t exactly fall from the sky. He didn’t see himself as a psychopath; he’d never harm someone decent. But these men were criminals. Killing them wasn’t just justified, it was practically charity. And on top of that, he’d get stronger.

Was it psychotic of me to let myself get captured just so I could slaughter the whole camp?

“This is giving off some serious Dexter Morgan vibes,” Artemis whispered. “But yeah, there’s a touch of psychopath in you. Who else would plan around getting their arm chewed off by a giant snake?”

Maybe all the crap I’ve gone through is warping my sense of humanity. But hey, who hasn’t had a bad day, right?

Luke did something he hadn’t done in a long time, he brought out his throwing knives. A faint shimmer, and a holster materialized strapped to his thigh.

[Throwing Knife Holster (Common)
Description: A specialized holster designed to store throwing knives. It can conjure common-rarity blades when infused with mana.
Enchantments:
[Mana Knives (Common)]: By channeling mana, the holster can generate up to 6 throwing knives, instantly materialized and ready for deadly precision.]

He poured mana into it, and six blades blinked into existence. Jack had been marked with Predator’s Mark, his outline glowing faint red through the rock wall. He was inside a shallow cave, sitting on the ground. Luke summoned Princess Charlie. She appeared at his side and immediately understood the situation when she saw Becket’s body on the ground.

He stepped out of the tent. Seven men lounged around the main fire.

I’m going to kill every last one of these idiots.

“Okay, new vibe,” Artemis teased. “Less Dexter, more Jason Voorhees. Creepy woods, knives in hand, it fits.”

Luke glanced at Princess Charlie. “If anyone runs, you know what to do.” She nodded without hesitation. He palmed two knives and moved forward, each step silent, his mind sharpening into Advanced Stealth. The air itself seemed to bend around him. He raised his hand and let the first blade fly. It whistled through the dark, buried itself in a bandit’s throat. The man dropped his bowl, eyes wide, clutching at the wound as blood sprayed between his fingers.

“The hell was that?!” one of them barked.

The dying man’s gaze locked on Luke. Too late. He flicked his wrists and more blades cut the air, each one straight, clean, merciless. One buried itself in a skull, another tore into a chest, another blinded a man screaming in shock. Luke walked calmly, fast hands pulling fresh knives from the holster and sending them out with machine precision. One thug scrambled up, thick leather armor creaking. Luke didn’t slow. He drew six knives at once, three in each hand, and triggered a skill.

[Twin Blade (Common): A skilled assassin never wastes an attack. When throwing a knife, it splits midair, creating a duplicate that follows the same path, doubling your chance to hit.]

With every step, more blades slipped from his holster, splitting midair before finding their marks. One bandit’s chest turned into a pincushion of steel. He stumbled forward and collapsed into the campfire, sparks leaping skyward as his body smoldered.

Notifications lit up across Luke’s vision.

[You have slain a human…]
[+1 Soul Fragment acquired]

**Your class [Demonic Predator] has reached Level 57! (+10 Strength, +7 Perception, +6 Agility, +6 Vitality, +6 Intelligence, +5 Endurance, +8 Free Points)**

**[You have reached Level 46! Half-Demon (Rank F)] (+1 bonus point to all attributes, +1 free point)**

Even weak enemies add up. Between class bonuses and profession scaling, he’d gathered exactly enough to push through another level. Maybe letting himself get “captured” hadn’t been such a bad idea after all. Shouts echoed as more bandits burst from their tents, weapons half-drawn, faces pale. Princess Charlie met them head-on, her sword already swinging.

[Princess Charlie has slain a human…]

One screamed, then was cut short by her blade. Another bolted, panic twisting his voice as he shouted into the night. For an instant, Luke understood—anyone seeing a black knight with blazing red eyes would mistake her for a Midnight Warden.

The runner didn’t get far. Charlie raised her hand, and a spectral chain shot out, coiling around his chest. She yanked, whirling him through the air before slamming him against a tree hard enough to crack wood.

[Princess Charlie has slain a human…]

Luke strolled toward the largest tent. Conrad emerged, face blanching at the sight of seven corpses riddled with knives.

“You said something earlier,” Luke murmured. “About a long death or a short one?”

Unlike the others, Conrad didn’t break immediately. He clenched his jaw and drew his sword, arcs of lightning dancing along the blade. Then he charged.

A knife punched into his eye before he made it halfway. Another sank into his leg. A third pinned his hand uselessly. Conrad crumpled, screaming, and Luke crushed his shin underfoot. His shriek tore across the camp.

“I-I-Impossible…” Conrad stammered, dragging himself backward, eyes wild with terror. “H-how? What level are you?”

Luke didn’t bother answering. He turned toward the cave entrance. Rhett stood there, gripping two hand axes, sweat shining on his face.

“If you take another step, I’ll kill the healer!” Rhett barked.

“There’s no need for that,” Jack said quietly.

“Shut up, healer!” Rhett snapped.

Luke sighed, taking a single step forward. “If you kill him, I’ll kill you. In the end, what will your threat have gained you?”

Rhett froze, voice trembling. “L-let me go!”

“No,” Luke replied flatly.

Desperation broke him. Rhett hurled one axe toward Luke, the other aimed at Jack. A knife blurred through the air, snapping his wrist and pinning it to the wall before he could follow through. Another blade tore across his throat. A final one buried itself in his skull.

If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

He slumped against the stone, sliding down until he sat lifeless at the mouth of the cave.

[You have slain a human…]
[+1 Soul Fragment acquired]

“Don’t worry, Jack,” Luke said evenly. “I’ll come back for you.”

Turning, he walked back into the night. Through Predator’s Mark, he saw Conrad’s faint red outline crawling desperately across the forest floor, dragging himself away like a dying animal.

Luke followed the trail until the bandit leader came into view.

“N-no… please,” Conrad rasped, blood dripping from his ruined eye. “Take everything here. I don’t care. Just let me go. I swear I’ll vanish from the Safe Zone forever.”

Luke sighed and crouched down, locking eyes with the man. Charlie stepped up beside him and stopped.

“Princess Charlie,” Luke said evenly. “This guy swore he’d kill me slowly, painfully. Should I let him walk away?”

Her gaze dropped toward Conrad. The crimson glow within her helm flared, and she shook her head once, no.

She tightened her grip on her sword and invoked the Doomblade.

[Doomblade (Rare)]: The Death Knight’s sword becomes shrouded in a cursed aura. Each strike with Doomblade corrupts the target’s flesh, dealing necrotic damage. Wounds caused by this blade resist healing, leaving behind searing pain and lingering decay. The more cuts inflicted, the heavier the toll of agony upon the enemy.

Charlie drove the blade into Conrad’s gut. His scream tore through the camp. Her free hand clamped down on his face, and fire roared to life, flames chewing through his skin. Yeah… she was definitely pissed.

Related chapter tags