Chapter 11: When the Predator Shows Up

MachoKing managed to track down Seohyun’s location through a server-wide megaphone message, and before long he stepped into the Aurora Ridge—an eerie stretch of swamps and grotesque cliffs.
At the same time, a familiar scent pricked at Kyungheon’s nose.

The smell of a defeat he could never forget.

“…You’ve got some balls. Coming here of all places.”

He deserved some credit for spending actual gold to find Seohyun’s coordinates.
The problem was the terrain—this area was notorious for its thick, ever-present fog. Day or night, visibility was garbage. Newbies who wandered in for the first time almost always got lost… or got jumped by random PVPers.

Luckily, Kyungheon had painful history here. He pulled a Flashstone out of storage.

<Your field of vision has been increased. Duration: 10 minutes.>

Using the Flashstone Seohyun had given him earlier, MachoKing began pushing through the Ridge with far more ease. According to the coordinates, Seohyun should’ve been close, but he didn’t see a single strand of that idiot’s red hair anywhere.

Kyungheon groaned and tried calling out to him.

[Whisper] MachoKing: Yo

[Whisper] MachoKing: You still mad?

[Whisper] MachoKing: Seohyun-ah, hyung will buy you chicken

[Whisper] MachoKing: Come out now, I’ll send you a giftcard

“…Kid’s really sulking, huh.”

He hopped over the swamp with a light jump and was just about to push through a patch of dark foliage—

When an unwelcome notification hit his screen.

<You have taken damage from ‘Incision’!>
<HP -5>

An ambush.

Kyungheon wasn’t the only one shocked. Blood splattered around MachoKing, and his HP bar dipped. Realizing he’d been spotted, he immediately ditched the glowing Flashstone and dove into the bushes.

Using a bright light source in a fog zone was stupid—someone clearly followed the glow and attacked him.
Thankfully the fog made it just as hard for the attacker to pinpoint MachoKing’s exact position.

Kyungheon was just about to make MachoKing jump away again when—

<You have taken damage from ‘Killer Knife’.>
<HP -50>

Another hit. Kyungheon spat out a curse.
“Are you f*cking kidding me.”

He fumbled for a potion to self-heal, but the enemy appeared faster.

The attacker stepped into view.

Kyungheon’s pupils trembled.

[Local] WiFiFiFi: ??

The beginning of all his nightmares.
WiFiFiFi.

Kyungheon’s jaw tightened until he could feel it ache.

“…You son of a b*tch.”

The bastard who forced MachoKing to spend his life shoveling in the mines without ever seeing sunlight.
The max-level troll who had ruined his entire early game experience.

The mouse in Kyungheon’s grip squeaked under pressure.

Because of this bastard—
Because of THIS BASTARD—

He was going to kill him today. No matter what.

Kyungheon healed as fast as he could and activated MachoKing’s skill. A glowing arrow shot toward WiFiFiFi—but bounced cleanly off the blade.

<Your arrow has been deflected.>

“Yeah, thanks for the helpful f*cking tip.”

Kyungheon growled, forgetting entirely that he was in a six-person hospital ward. Rage swallowed everything.

MachoKing retreated with a high jump. The enemy’s polished defense rattled Kyungheon, until he remembered something Seohyun said while they were farming mobs earlier.

[Whisper] Seohyun: Hyung, in fights, first strike is EVERYTHING

[Whisper] Seohyun: If you screw up, don’t show it. Fall back, heal, then smack ’em once.

Kyungheon took a breath and steadied himself. He pulled MachoKing further back and looked ahead—

But WiFiFiFi had vanished in that brief moment.

Kyungheon froze.

Before he could process where the bastard went, the chat window ticked upward.

[Local] WiFiFiFi: I’m not a weird person btw

[Local] MachoKing: Hey you ♥♥♥ ♥♥

[Local] WiFiFiFi: ;;;;;;;;

He spammed hearts—an in-game form of profanity everyone understood.
Kyungheon didn’t even want to waste hearts on this guy.

[Local] MachoKing: You f*ing piece of shit**

[Local] WiFiFiFi: …;; uh

[Local] WiFiFiFi: you know you can report that right??;;

[Local] WiFiFiFi: I was just offering newbie benefits;;

“…Newbie benefits? Seriously?”

Three weeks ago the guy suggested FARMING. Now he was rebranding himself as a charity worker.
Kyungheon took a screenshot and slammed his fingers across the keyboard.

[Local] MachoKing: You’re unbelievable

[Local] MachoKing: Benefits? You call this benefits?

[Local] WiFiFiFi: You’ve been cursing nonstop;;;

WiFiFiFi slipped through the fog and slashed MachoKing again.

<You have taken damage from ‘Killer Knife’.>

Third hit. Kyungheon’s brow furrowed deeply.

WiFiFiFi tried to chain another attack, but MachoKing leapt across the swamp, widening the distance.

Distance over rash attacks—exactly what he needed.
Now MachoKing could aim again.

He drew his bow and activated a skill.

<You have activated ‘Uru’s Rapid Volley’.>

A golden-haired elf appeared beside him, both firing a storm of arrows.
WiFiFiFi raised his sword to block, but the barrage was too much.

Arrow after arrow rained down until Kyungheon’s lips curled upward.
Finally—finally it was turning around.

His finger hovered to begin the next attack—

“…Where the hell did he go now.”

WiFiFiFi had vanished again.
Was he hiding in the fog?

Kyungheon considered pulling out another Flashstone—

[Local] WiFiFiFi: Newbies should really just start with farming

A message popped up.

Kyungheon instinctively tilted the camera upward.

There he was. Riding a hawk in the sky.

[Local] MachoKing: tf you ran to the SKY

[Local] WiFiFiFi: ;;sir please calm down

[Local] MachoKing: get down here before I throw a spear you rat bastard

[Local] WiFiFiFi: this is excessive;;;;;;;;

WiFiFiFi circled MachoKing twice on the hawk, taunting him—then dropped straight down, swinging his blade.

It barely grazed MachoKing’s collar.

But that was enough for the nightmare alerts to pop up—

<You have taken Poison damage.> <Your vision is obstructed.>

Poison stacked rapidly. Red bled into the corners of the screen.

Kyungheon scrambled through his storage for a potion but WiFiFiFi gave him no time.

The bastard closed in for the kill—

When suddenly:

<Ancient Destroyer ‘Seohyun’ has summoned ‘Blood Wolf’.>

A massive wolf leapt across the swamp, landing in front of MachoKing with a sharp, echoing howl.

WiFiFiFi and his hawk immediately retreated.
Animals fled. Birds burst into the sky.

Kyungheon muttered, “…That’s not a summon. That’s a biblical plague.”

Then a message appeared.

[Local] Seohyun: Are you WiFi?