SUDDEN QUEST! KILL THE ARCANE ALPHA!

[CRITICAL HIT]

You dealt -1008 HP damage

Naida's body drops to the ground as it glows before vanishing in the air.

The message flashed before Kuonh's eyes, and he felt the ground give way beneath him. He had dealt an unthinkable blow, killing his teammate, Naida.

*ting*

[You just killed a player].

Kuonh's heart sank, and the weight of the situation pressed down on him. He had killed his comrade, the very person he had pledged to protect.

*IINK*

A series of system messages followed:

[Recalculating: Due to the multiple variables, it takes a few seconds to calculate your reward.]

*IINK*

[Recalculating]

Kuonh's hands trembled, his sword now smeared with the blood of his fallen teammate. He stood alone, tormented by the fact that he had taken Naida's life.

But the battle raged on. Another Arcane saw his moment and lunged at Kuonh from the side, aiming to exploit the opening Naida's demise had created. Kuonh reacted swiftly, but the attack was too fast. The Arcane reached his left shoulder and raked its claws through his skin.

[You receive -200 in damage.]

The pain was nothing compared to the anguish in his heart as he continued to fight in this nightmarish battle.

Not long after the devastating event, another Arcane spotted an opportunity and lunged toward Kuonh, seeking to exploit his momentary vulnerability.

*klank*

Kuonh's reflexes kicked in, and he managed to block the Arcane's bite using his sword. But the creature's claws were still free, and Kuonh could see the menace in its eyes. He swiftly planted a kick into the Arcane's midsection, sending it tumbling away.

Yet, in its dying effort, one of its claws managed to slice across Kuonh's leg.

[You receive -100 in damage.]

The pain was real, and Kuonh could feel his life force draining away.

HP: 400/1800

"F- fuck, can you at least give me time to feel sad. haah haaah"

Kuonh's breathing became ragged as he stood before the colossal ALPHA monster, surrounded by a horde of normal-sized Arcanes. His still shaking body was marred by wounds, but his spirit remained unbroken. He refused to cower in fear, choosing to face this dire situation head-on.

However, the brutal injuries he'd sustained began to take their toll, and blood trickled from his wounds, staining the ground beneath him.

-10 HP due to blood loss

-10 HP due to blood loss

Kuonh's vision blurred slightly as he fought to remain upright.

With each ponderous step, the massive Field Boss sent tremors through the ground. It approached Kuonh, its mouth dripping with saliva and its jagged teeth gleaming like the hunter about to claim its prey.

Kuonh, with a battered and bloodied body, felt a growing sense of desperation closing in on him. His wounds were beginning to take a toll, and he winced as the pain surged through his body.

"I don't have any more options," he muttered, his voice strained.

-20 HP due to blood loss

Regret weighed heavily on his heart as he blamed himself for failing to protect his teammates. He remembered the promise he'd made to the guild master about being the protector of his teammates and how he'd let them down, ultimately leading to their deaths. Self-condemnation gnawed at him.

"I feel like a joke," he thought, his teeth gritted in frustration.

But even in the face of impending doom, Kuonh refused to give in without a fight. A bitter smile touched his lips as he recollected the precious, albeit few, memories he'd created in this enigmatic world. He took solace in the fact that he'd managed to save at least one teammate, finding some consolation in that small victory.

And so, with renewed determination, Kuonh took a deep breath, exhaling slowly. He opened his eyes, his grip on his sword growing firmer. The end was near, but he refused to meet it passively.

"This is the end," he acknowledged. "Even so, don't think that I'll go down without a fight!"

"COME HERE YOU BIG MUTT!!" 

Kuonh's voice resonated through the forest, a final declaration of defiance as he squared off against the colossal ARCANE ALPHA.

"AWWOOOO!" The ARCANES howled in chilling unison in response. Kuonh steeled himself, positioning his body, preparing for his last stand in this otherworldly realm.

But just as he was about to deliver his final strike, a sudden notification cut through the tension, and a massive window materialized before him

*TING*.

"!!"

[CALCULATION COMPLETED]

[NOW RECEIVING REWARDS]

Kuonh's eyes darted over the words on the screen, his heart pounding with anticipation.

[You dealt a critical blow to a player.]

You just killed a player.

Reward: 568 EXP

Receive dropped items from the player: health potion x2

staff of healing x1

*TING*

[Level up]

You receive 2 status points.

*pimph*

Player Naida has died; you are now the party leader.

PARTY 3/5

Party leader: Kuonh

Race: Human

HP: 310/1800 MP: 740/1000

Party member: Andy

[Expired]

Party member: Naida

[DEAD]

Kuonh was overwhelmed by a complex mix of emotions. The exhilaration of victory was tainted by the sorrow of Naida's loss. He had emerged triumphant in this fateful encounter, gaining experience and new items, but at the cost of his teammates.

Despite his newfound level and status points, Kuonh couldn't help but feel the looming presence of the formidable ARCANE Alpha. He looked at the health potions and staff of healing in his inventory. Even with these valuable resources, he knew they wouldn't be enough to overcome the monster that now stood before him.

*TING*

But there was more to come.

[Recalculating....]

[Player Naida's death is considered Player Ki--]

*INNK*

[Recalculating....]

The prolonged loading time of the system left Kuonh bewildered and anxious. The ARCANES Alpha could strike at any moment.

*TING*

[COMPLETED]

[ACHIEVEMENT RECEIVED]

[Achievement: First person to mercy kill a player]

After reviewing the event, the system views your action as mercy killing, hence you won't get any penalty.

As Kuonh read the words on the screen, a profound mix of emotions welled up within him. He had mercy-killed Naida, an act he never would have chosen under different circumstances. Yet, the system viewed his action as mercy killing, sparing him from the penalties of a player-killer.

Receive: TITLE: FIRST BLOOD-M (upgradable)

Effect: life steal

+15 to all stats

You can now take the life of your enemy and convert it to your HP. The amount of HP you receive will depend on the damage you inflict on the enemy.

This title is only attainable if you are the very first player to kill another player and the first to mercy kill.

[Congratulations on getting one of the legendary titles.]