chapter 124 MADNESS

The countdown reached zero.

A red marker appeared on Sophie's system interface, pinpointing Frost Eye's exact location.

A twisted smile formed on her lips, but rage burned beneath the surface.

> Sophie (Guild Leader of Dark Solution): "You little rat... You think you can humiliate us and get away with it?"

Frost Eye wasn't just a nuisance—he was a threat.

He had done more than interfere with their operations.

He had framed Dark Solution for the murder of Garrett, the younger brother of K, a notorious level 5 thug NPC.

Because of that one move, K had gone mad with vengeance, treating every single Dark Solution member as his personal prey.

Every day, more and more guild members were hunted down, ambushed, and looted.

> Sophie (clenching her fists): "Because of you, that lunatic K is tearing us apart!"

And to make things worse, Frost Eye was also profiting off the chaos.

He had cornered the alchemy market, selling potions at ridiculously high prices, exploiting the very war he created.

Dark Solution was bleeding gold, forced to buy his overpriced potions just to survive K's relentless attacks.

> Sophie (gritting her teeth): "You set the fire, then sell us water at a fortune… You think we'll let this slide?"

Her fury boiled over.

Today, Frost Eye would pay.

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800 Members of Dark Solution Move Out

Sophie raised her hand, her voice cold and merciless.

> Sophie: "Move out. Surround him completely. No escape."

With that command, 800 Dark Solution members surged forward.

The streets of Viles Town trembled as they moved like a tide of death, their steps synchronized, their weapons gleaming under the torchlight.

Assassins dashed across rooftops, scanning for movement.

Mages prepared to block teleportation skills.

Tanks and warriors formed an impenetrable frontline.

Frost Eye was trapped.

Or so they thought.

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Frost Eye's Escape – A Step Ahead

While Sophie's army stormed in, Frost Eye was already outside Viles Town.

No one knew.

He had vanished before the trap was even set.

Now, hidden in the shadows of the wilderness, he watched as 800 players rushed into an empty battlefield.

And just a few feet away…

K stood, dagger in hand, still burning with rage.

But K had no idea he was being used.

Frost Eye smirked.

> Frost Eye (thinking): "They think they're hunting me… but they're walking into their own destruction."

The real chaos was just about to begin.

A Long Hunt, A Final Destination

The morning sun bathed the dense forest in golden light, but it offered no warmth to the 800 Dark Solution members marching with single-minded determination. The crisp air carried the scent of damp earth, and their boots sank slightly into the dew-kissed grass as they moved in formation.

Each of them had only one thought in mind—Frost Eye's death.

For days, they had chased him.

For days, they had endured humiliation, frustration, and the agony of being outplayed.

Every time they thought they had him cornered, he slipped away, laughing in their faces. Every failed attempt only stoked their hatred further.

But Frost Eye wasn't their only enemy.

There was another shadow haunting them—K.

Unlike Frost Eye, K didn't evade them. He hunted them.

Wherever Dark Solution moved, K was always close behind, stalking, ambushing, killing.

He didn't strike at their strongest warriors.

He didn't challenge them head-on.

Instead, he dragged them into the dark, one by one, carving through their forces like a wolf among helpless prey. His signature was unmistakable—bodies left in unnatural positions, throats slit, valuables missing, their last moments filled with terror.

And yet, despite K's rampage, Sophie refused to let this become a war on two fronts.

Their true target was Frost Eye.

And today, that hunt was coming to an end.

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The March of an Army

The Dark Solution army moved through the forest like a disciplined war machine.

Knights in heavy armor, their shields glinting in the sunlight, formed a wall of steel in the front. Behind them, archers in dark cloaks kept their bows ready, scanning the trees for movement. Further back, mages and rogues prepared their spells and daggers, their hands twitching in anticipation.

Sophie led them, her expression locked in grim focus.

> Sophie (thinking): "He won't slip away again. This time, we've trapped him."

Beside her, Viktor, her right-hand man, moved silently. A seasoned warrior, Viktor had been at Sophie's side since the founding of Dark Solution. He never spoke unnecessarily. He didn't need to. His presence alone reassured those around him.

But today, something bothered him.

> Viktor (low voice): "No scouts have reported movement. This is too easy."

Sophie (sharp tone): "It's because we finally have him. Don't overthink it."

Still, Viktor's instincts screamed at him.

Even the grunts in the army felt the unease settling in.

> Random Player 1 (whispering): "Why hasn't Frost Eye run yet?"

Random Player 2: "He always disappears before we catch up… why does it feel like he's waiting for us this time?"

Random Player 3: "Shut up. Sophie wouldn't lead us into a trap."

Sophie heard them, but she ignored their doubt.

This was the end.

She wasn't about to let paranoia steal their victory.

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Signs of the Unseen

As they neared their target, something felt off.

The forest was too quiet.

No rustling leaves.

No birds chirping.

No distant sounds of wildlife.

It was as if the forest itself was holding its breath.

Sophie glanced around.

There were no fresh tracks leading into the clearing ahead.

No footprints.

No broken twigs.

No signs of Frost Eye's presence.

That didn't make sense.

> Sophie (thinking, frowning): "Our scouts swore this was his hideout. Where is he?"

Her gut twisted, but she pushed the feeling aside.

> Sophie (gritted teeth): "We've come too far to hesitate now."

She raised a gloved hand, giving the signal to spread out.

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Arrival at the Clearing – Encirclement Complete

Finally, they reached their destination—a wide-open clearing surrounded by towering trees.

The sunlight poured through the leaves, illuminating every inch of the field.

And yet, there was nothing there.

Just grass, dirt, and scattered stones.

Frost Eye was nowhere to be seen.

Sophie's brows furrowed.

He had to be here.

She took a deep breath and barked her command:

> Sophie (loud, commanding): "Encircle the area! No one gets out alive!"

Like a well-oiled machine, 800 players moved swiftly, forming a solid wall of bodies and weapons around the clearing.

There was no escape now.

Her smirk returned.

> Sophie (smirking): "You can't run forever, Frost Eye."

Silence.

Nothing moved.

No one answered.

Then…

The laughter began.

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The First Sound – A Whisper of Insanity

It started low, barely above a whisper.

A faint, playful chuckle, as if someone had just heard a private joke.

Then, it grew louder.

And louder.

And louder.

Until it became a maniacal, unhinged cackle that echoed through the trees.

It wasn't Frost Eye.

It was K.

And he was already inside the encirclement.

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