Shadow-Slayer’s understanding of the game wasn't exactly top-tier. He didn't quite grasp Liam’s endgame, but he chose to trust him anyway.
Once Liam whittled Alvis down using the lethal combo damage of Aerial Archery, Shadow-Slayer made his move. He landed five consecutive critical strikes, each one inflicting a bleed effect, finally finishing Alvis off.
Server-Wide Broadcast: Congratulations to player Anonymous Mode for achieving the World First kill of Alvis. This announcement is made to encourage all players to continue their efforts.
Server-Wide Broadcast: Congratulations to player Anonymous Mode for achieving the World First kill of Alvis. This announcement is made to encourage all players to continue their efforts.
...
In the Novice Village, at the small courtyard of the Village Chief.
Elder Mayor’s expression shifted instantly upon hearing the notification. Earlier, when he’d heard that Sam and Seth Miller had been slain, he’d felt a flicker of excitement. But that thrill hadn't even lasted ten minutes before the server-wide broadcast announced the death of his own subordinate, Alvis.
"Loot the bodies," Liam said.
He walked over to Alvis. On his very first pull, he snagged the Frost-Flame Ore.
"I’m taking this," Liam stated.
Shadow-Slayer frowned. After all, that was his quest item.
"You can't take this back to turn in. And I’m not taking it just to complete a quest," Liam explained. He needed Shadow-Slayer’s cooperation for what came next. "You can have everything else Alvis dropped."
Shadow-Slayer’s eyes lit up at the offer. He immediately hurried over to scavenge the corpse. By the time he was finished, his expression had softened considerably.
Meanwhile, Liam began looting the bodies of Sam and Seth Miller.
Ding! You have obtained Manual: Low-Grade Smithing x1.
Ding! You have obtained 12 pieces of equipment.
Ding! You have obtained 5 Gold Sovereigns.
Ding! You have obtained Special Item: Miasma Collection Flask.
...
Liam stowed the items away before turning his gaze back to Shadow-Slayer.
"Now that all three NPCs are dead, go back and tell Elder Mayor that you ran into Sam and Seth on the road. Tell him that with the help of your guild, you took them down."
Shadow-Slayer looked skeptical. "Will he actually believe that?"
"He doesn't have a choice. He has no evidence to prove you’re lying."
"What about you?"
Liam smirked. "Me? My answer is simple: I only saw the Miller brothers being killed by your people. I never saw Alvis."
Shadow-Slayer felt like he was being shoved directly into the line of fire. "If Miller the Smith and the Elder compare stories, I’m toast. Besides, what do I say if the Elder asks who killed Alvis?"
"Just say you don't know. Tell him Alvis was already dead before you even reached the Iron Grotto."
Shadow-Slayer fell silent for a long moment before asking, "Can you tell me why you're doing all this?"
"For a much bigger quest," Liam replied, his gaze steady. He had even considered abandoning the Elder’s quest to hunt ten bosses if it meant ensuring the objectives on his Quest Scroll were met.
After finalizing their cover story, a smile finally touched Liam’s lips. Once Shadow-Slayer departed, Liam pulled out the Miasma Collection Flask.
Miasma Collection Flask (Special Item)
Effect: Collects Corpse Miasma after killing humanoid monsters, Adventurers, or NPCs. If the flask is filled, you may trigger a legendary quest.
Progress: 46/100.
Liam raised an eyebrow. He drew the Corpse Miasma from Sam, Seth, and the others, watching the progress bar tick up from 46 to 49. He still needed fifty-one more units to fill the bottle.
Liam wasn't in any rush, however. If he couldn't find enough NPCs later on, he could always set his sights on those "adorable" players.
Checking the time, Liam headed back to the Novice Village. He stepped into the Iron Anvil.
"Miller, I’m so sorry. I hadn't even found Alvis yet when I heard the notification that he’d been killed." Liam feigned a look of total bewilderment, acting as if the entire incident had nothing to do with him.
Miller the Smith gave Liam a long, searching look. "Frost Monarch... in this village, who else besides you has the capability to kill Alvis and both of my apprentices?"
This time, Miller didn't address him as "Adventurer." He used Liam's name directly. Liam knew the man suspected him.
"I had no reason to do such a thing," Liam lied smoothly. "This village is full of hidden masters. I was recently ambushed by an assassin who took out my companion in a heartbeat."
Miller frowned, staring intently at Liam as if trying to detect a single flicker of dishonesty. He found nothing.
"A shame about my apprentices," Miller sighed. "And a greater shame about that Frost-Flame Ore. If you can find it for me, I’ll give you a Platinum Grade necklace."
Quest Triggered: Find a Frost-Flame Ore.
Penalty: None.
Reward: Platinum Grade Necklace x1.
Liam’s pulse quickened slightly. Miller was clearly desperate if he was willing to offer such a massive reward. At this stage of the game, Gold Grade weapons were already overpowered; a Platinum Grade item could potentially break the game balance.
"Fine. I’ll do my best."
Liam accepted the quest. As for whether he would actually hand the ore over—that certainly wasn't happening anytime soon.
"I’ll be waiting for good news, Frost Monarch."
With the business concluded, Liam logged off to eat. This afternoon was the scheduled time for his sister’s surgery. Even though time in the early game was incredibly precious, he headed straight to the hospital after a quick meal.
Watching his sister being wheeled into the operating theater, Liam’s fists clenched tight. Please, you have to be okay.
He had already paid the surgery fees, but the doctors had been blunt: brain surgery carried massive risks. There was a high chance of failure, and even if the operation succeeded, there was a significant possibility she would end up in a vegetative state.
Even if she became a vegetable, Liam would accept it. In that state, she could still enter Twilight of the Gods. If she built up enough strength in the game, she could recover in five years when The Cataclysm arrived and the game world merged with reality. Her in-game power would manifest physically, healing her body.
He waited anxiously outside the operating room. Two hours crawled by.
Finally, the doors swung open. A doctor in a white coat stepped out, his face etched with a grim, weary expression.
Liam’s heart plummeted. He rushed forward instantly. "Doctor! How is my sister?"
The doctor let out a heavy sigh, sending Liam’s heart leaping into his throat.
“The surgery was a failure. The hemorrhage has spread to the cerebellum. There is nothing more we can do.”
Liam staggered, nearly collapsing onto the floor.
“How is that possible?!”
“No... no, there has to be a way!”
Liam’s emotions were in a tailspin. He had returned to this life dreaming of changing everything, yet here he was, unable to even save his own sister.
The doctor shook his head. “We did our best. We drained a significant amount of blood, but the damage to the cerebellum is extensive. At best, she’ll be in a vegetative state—and even then, she could slip away at any moment.”
A cold chill settled in Liam’s chest. “Can I see her?”
“Go ahead. Just try to keep yourself together,” the doctor sighed.
Liam stepped into the operating room. A few medical staff were still tidying up inside. His fingers trembled as he looked at Chloe lying on the bed.
Can I really change nothing?
He bit his lip, refusing to accept this.
“I’m sorry for your loss,” one staff member said, shaking their head.
Liam forced himself forward. In his past life, he had witnessed countless deaths and forged a heart of steel, but today, seeing his sister on the verge of leaving him again, the sense of helplessness broke him. Tears streamed down his face.
“Why?!” he roared internally. “Why is this happening?! Why are you doing this to me?!”
He clenched his fists, hating his own impotence.
“She might still be saved.”
A youthful voice broke the silence. A young man, barely seventeen or eighteen, dressed in Taoist robes—The Young Adept—stood at the door.
Liam turned, desperate, clutching at this final straw. “Save her. Please, save my sister!”
“I can’t guarantee anything,” Wilder Brooks replied.
“What about your master? Can he help?” Liam asked. Seeing how young the boy was, he assumed there must be a powerful master from The Sect of the Way backing him.
“My master is dead,” the youth replied simply.
Liam gritted his teeth. “Fine. Please, save her. If you can do this, I’ll do anything to repay you.”
Wilder smiled. “Destiny has brought us together. I’ll try my best.”
Wilder approached the bed. As he looked down at Chloe, a silver-white glow emanated from his palms.
Liam’s eyes widened. Inner Force? He knew from his past life that The Dragon Empire harbored Ancient Martial Artists. The display before him was exactly like the legends of Inner Force masters.
Wilder raised his hand and placed the glowing palm onto Chloe’s forehead. The light seeped into her skull, and her complexion slowly began to improve. Relief washed over Liam. After a moment, Wilder withdrew his hand and wiped the sweat from his brow.
“She’s out of danger, but she will remain in a coma. A vegetative state.” Wilder sighed. “My cultivation is still too shallow.”
“What is your name?” Liam asked, profoundly grateful. Even a coma was a miracle compared to the alternative.
“I am Wilder Brooks. My Taoist name is Primal Ambition.”
Liam’s lip twitched slightly at the name. “Thank you for saving her. I have a hundred thousand credits on this card—it’s yours.”
Wilder shook his head. “That's too much. Just give me ten thousand. I need to buy a Gaming Pod.”
“A Gaming Pod? You're playing Twilight of the Gods?”
Wilder nodded. “Indeed. I have read the Star-Rank alignment. There is opportunity hidden within that world—a chance to break through my current bottleneck and reach the legendary realm.”
Liam was stunned. If Wilder could divine that much, he was someone worth befriending. However, he couldn't let too many people in the real world know his in-game identity yet. In his past life, top players had been kidnapped or even murdered. The game's attributes hadn't undergone Manifestation yet; caution was paramount.
“Saving my sister is worth far more than a hundred thousand. Keep the rest, it’ll make things easier for you.” Liam handed over the card. “The PIN is 157988.”
Wilder gave a carefree laugh. “Very well. Much appreciated.”
They exchanged a few more words before Wilder left. Chloe was out of danger but still needed to remain in the hospital for recovery. Once he had everything arranged, Liam returned to his rental and logged back into the game.
He had lost three hours, slowing his progress, but he didn’t mind. Now, the tension between Miller the Smith and the Elder Mayor was about to escalate. Unlike monsters, Novice Village NPCs didn't respawn once they died.
Liam reviewed his progress. He had already hunted five bosses. He needed to figure out how to handle the Elder Mayor’s follow-up quest. If he continued hunting NPCs, he had the strength to do it, but he didn't want to play with fire. Drawing too much attention from the Elder Mayor might sabotage his ability to complete the chain.
However, he wasn't about to give up the rewards. After some thought, he decided to target Level 5 through Level 9 bosses. It might lower the quality of the final reward, but it was the safest path forward.
He set to work immediately, grinding through the Level 5 zones and working his way up to Level 9. He hunted five more Novice Village bosses. Including his previous kills, he had reached a total of ten, which was enough to turn in the quest.
He arrived at the Village Chief’s courtyard in the Novice Village. Many players were currently turning in their Village Departure Quests. Ordinary players were finally hitting Level 10; if it weren't for the crowd still grinding The Twisted Thicket, the courtyard would have been even more packed.
Once the crowd thinned, Liam approached the Elder Mayor.
“I have hunted ten bosses.”
You have completed the Elder Mayor's quest.
Rewards: 20 Gold Sovereigns, 20 AP, +1 LCK, 1x The Immaculate Eye.
The Elder Mayor nodded, looking impressed. “Excellent. Frost Monarch, I knew I wasn't mistaken about you.”
Liam’s eyes lit up. He checked the new item.
The Immaculate Eye (Special Equipment)
Requirement: None
Effect: Grants the ability to see through darkness and illusions. Provides a significant sight range even in dense fog.
Durability: 100
This was a god-tier item for an Archer. While the game currently had decent night visibility, that would change once The Cataclysm arrived. When true darkness fell, the visibility would be slashed to near zero. In his past life, many powerful Adventurers were slaughtered by the Alait System's monsters simply because they couldn't see what was hitting them.