Gold rank.
In just a short time, Lucifer had climbed higher than most adventurers ever could.
But for him—
It still wasn't enough.
Back in his inn room, he studied his next quest.
"Emergency Defense: Frontier Village – Incoming Monster Wave."
"...A wave, huh."
He leaned back.
"When a dungeon overflows... monsters spill into the real world."
A faint smile.
"...Messy."
The Broken Village
By the time Lucifer arrived—
The village was already defeated.
Not physically.
Mentally.
No preparation.
No defenses.
No hope.
People sat in silence.
Waiting to die.
Lucifer looked around.
"...Pathetic."
But he didn't complain.
Didn't try to inspire them.
Didn't ask for help.
He simply—
Started working.
Preparation Alone
Trees fell.
Logs stacked.
Barricades formed.
Day after day—
Lucifer worked alone.
Villagers mocked him.
"What can one man do?"
"This is pointless."
He ignored them.
Because this wasn't about saving them.
It was about winning.
The Turning Point
A week passed.
The monsters were close.
Fear spread.
That's when she appeared.
Angela.
She walked up to him, frustrated.
"Why are you doing this?"
No answer.
"This won't even stop the first wave!"
Still nothing.
"The empire doesn't care about us—so why do you?!"
Silence.
She kicked a log in anger.
"They sent only one adventurer! And you're just Gold rank!"
The villagers gathered.
Tension rising.
Lucifer finally stopped.
He looked at them.
"You could have helped."
Silence.
"You mocked instead."
His voice was calm.
Cold.
"You don't even help yourselves... and expect others to save you?"
Angela clenched her fists.
"We pay taxes! We deserve help!"
Lucifer laughed softly.
"With what?"
Silence fell again.
"Do you think you can afford Platinum... or Diamond rank adventurers?"
No one answered.
Angela lowered her gaze.
"...Then why are you here?"
Lucifer smiled faintly.
"Because it's my job."
A pause.
"And because..."
His eyes darkened slightly.
"...I want to get stronger."
"Why?" she asked.
"To survive."
"To be free."
"To stop being controlled."
The air shifted.
"How can you stay calm?" Angela whispered.
"There's a monster wave coming."
Lucifer chuckled.
"I once fought all of Heaven alone."
They didn't understand.
But they felt it.
Confidence.
Certainty.
Hope.
And slowly—
They began to move.
The Plan
Barricades reinforced.
Traps placed.
Weapons distributed.
Lucifer stood before them.
"The monsters don't know this land."
A pause.
"But you do."
"Use that."
The Monster Wave
Night fell.
Then—
They came.
Trolls.
Large.
Brutal.
Regenerating.
Lucifer clicked his tongue.
"...Of course it's them."
"Archers!"
Arrows flew.
The trolls didn't fall.
They got angry.
They charged.
And broke through the barricades—
Only to fall—
Into a hidden pit.
Filled with oil.
Lucifer smirked.
"...Predictable."
"Fire!"
Flaming arrows rained down.
The pit ignited.
Trolls burned.
Screamed.
Died.
Half the wave—gone.
But not all.
Some broke through from another side.
Lucifer had already planned for it.
Traps triggered.
Spikes pierced.
Logs crushed.
But still—
Some reached the villagers.
Close combat began.
And then—
The ground shook.
The Troll King
A massive figure stepped forward.
The leader.
Platinum rank.
Stronger than everything else combined.
Lucifer smiled.
"...There you are."
He moved.
Fast.
Precise.
"Eyes on me," he muttered.
The Troll King roared.
The fight began.
The Gamble
Lucifer dodged.
Barely.
His Speed and Heightened Senses kept him alive—
But his mana was draining fast.
Then—
The sky turned red.
Blood Moon.
The trolls went berserk.
Stronger.
Faster.
More violent.
Lucifer exhaled.
"...Perfect."
One mistake—
And he would die.
Then—
It happened.
A hit.
He couldn't dodge.
"Endurance... now."
He poured everything into survival.
The blow landed.
Bones cracked.
Blood spilled.
He collapsed—
Barely alive.
The Troll King raised its weapon—
To finish him.
Lucifer smiled.
"Hehehe... you lost."
Confusion.
Then—
An arrow struck.
The Troll King froze.
Poison.
Paralysis.
Lucifer stood.
Barely.
And swung—
The head fell.
Victory
The remaining trolls hesitated.
Then—
Reinforcements arrived.
Familiar faces.
The survivors from the dungeon.
Led by Amy.
The battle ended quickly after that.
Aftermath
Blood.
Fire.
Silence.
Victory—
At a cost.
Some cried.
Some laughed.
Some just... stared.
Lucifer stood in the middle of it all.
System activated:
Skill: Healing
Title: Troll Slaughterer
Karma Points: Granted
Lucifer smiled faintly.
"...Nice."
Departure
Days later—
The village was rebuilding.
Angela approached him.
"...We can't repay you."
Lucifer shrugged.
"You already did."
She hesitated.
"...Still..."
Lucifer leaned closer.
Whispered softly—
"Then repay me another way."
Angela froze.
Blushed.
Then shoved him.
"Idiot!"
She ran.
Lucifer chuckled.
Behind him—
A voice.
Amy.
"Looks like you're collecting quite the following."
Lucifer smirked.
"What can I say?"
"I'm irresistible."
Amy turned away, flustered.
"...Shut up."
Lucifer stepped closer.
"Then why did you come?"
Silence.
"To repay a favor?" he teased.
She didn't answer.
Lucifer leaned in slightly.
"No one risks their life for just that."
Amy froze.
No response.
Lucifer smiled.
"...Thought so."
He walked ahead.
Because to him—
People weren't companions.
They were pieces.
And the game—
Had just begun.
To be continued...