Chapter 7: The Game Changes – Bounties, Fame, and Unwanted Attention

Liam "Revenant" stood in the fading light of Velantir's outskirts, the wind carrying the scent of fresh blood and burning embers. The remnants of Ethan Cross and his squad had long since vanished, their corpses dissolving into particles, leaving behind only the spoils of their defeat.

The system notifications still lingered in his vision.

[World Announcement!]

[Congratulations to Player "Revenant" for achieving the FIRST PLAYER KILL in Eternal Dominion!]

[A new legend has begun…]

Liam let out a quiet chuckle, shaking his head. He hadn't planned on drawing this much attention so soon, but he couldn't complain. The advantages far outweighed the risks. First Blood wasn't just a title, it came with benefits that would give him an edge over everyone else.

[Title Unlocked: First Blood]

[Effect: +5% Bonus Experience from PvP Kills]

[Effect: +10% Attack Power against Players]

That last effect was insane for a game where guild wars, betrayals, and large-scale PvP battles would soon become the norm. With this, every fight would tip in his favor before it even began.

As he scrolled through the loot, he found something unexpected.

[Ethan's Insignia – Rare]

[Effect: A personal emblem belonging to Ethan Cross of the Vanguard Guild. Some NPC factions may react differently based on its possession.]

Liam's brows furrowed. This wasn't just some cosmetic trophy. If NPCs reacted to it, that meant it had reputation-altering properties, a rare mechanic in Eternal Dominion.

Tucking it away, he turned his gaze toward Velantir. He had no intention of heading back into the city immediately. His next move required careful planning, and right now, too many eyes were on him.

He pulled up Global Chat, scanning the chaos.

[Player1]: WHO TF IS REVENANT??

[Player2]: That dude just solo-killed Ethan Cross! He's a beast!

[Player3]: Lmao, Vanguard's gotta be PISSED.

[Player4]: First Blood title right off the bat? Either he's cheating or he's a pro gamer smurfing.

[Player5]: Bro, Ethan had a full squad. You're telling me ONE GUY wiped them??

Liam smirked. The speculation had already begun.

Exactly what he wanted, a Growing Target on His Back

He closed the chat, focusing on his immediate priority, disappearing before Vanguard retaliated.

Ethan Cross was arrogant, but he wasn't stupid. His death wouldn't go unanswered. Vanguard wasn't just some mid-tier guild; they were a top-ranking PvP powerhouse, and even if Ethan wasn't their leader, his status meant they would take this personally.

Liam needed to vanish, at least for now.

Instead of heading back to Velantir, he moved toward Ravenwood, a dense forest bordering the city. New players wouldn't go near it yet, since its monsters were level ten and above, but for him, it was the perfect place to regroup and push forward.

As he weaved through the towering trees, he checked his status window, taking in his rapid progress.

[Player Name: Revenant]

[Level: 6]

[Class: Rogue]

[Title: First Blood]

[HP: 950/950]

[Mana: 400/400]

[Strength: 14] [Dexterity: 22] [Agility: 20] [Endurance: 12] [Perception: 15]

His stats were far above the average level six player, thanks to his Mythical-tier weapon and title bonuses. If he kept this pace, he'd be miles ahead of the competition within days.

But stats alone weren't enough. He needed skills.

The Next Step – Unlocking Rogue Class Abilities

Most players had to level up naturally to unlock their class abilities, but Liam knew of a shortcut, one that no one would find for at least a month in this timeline.

Deep within Ravenwood, hidden beneath an abandoned shrine, was an NPC that offered a unique Rogue skill tree questline. Completing it would grant early access to elite-level movement and assassination techniques, something that normally took weeks to unlock.

Liam moved swiftly through the undergrowth, avoiding unnecessary fights. He wasn't here to grind, he was here to cheat the system before anyone else even realized it was possible.

After twenty minutes, he arrived at the ruined shrine. Overgrown vines curled around the broken stone pillars, and faded runes lined the cracked altar in the center.

It was just as he remembered.

He stepped forward and pressed his hand against the altar. The runes flared to life, and a whisper echoed through the clearing.

"You who walks the path of shadows… do you seek true mastery?"

Liam grinned.

[Hidden Quest Discovered: The Path of the Silent Fang]

[Objective: Pass the Trials of the Forgotten Assassin]

[Reward: Unlocks Advanced Rogue Skill Tree + Unique Skill [Shadowstep] ]

This was exactly what he needed.

He accepted the quest, and instantly, the environment around him shifted. The shrine dissolved into darkness, and when the shadows cleared, he was somewhere else entirely.

A dimly lit training ground stretched before him, lined with shadowy figures wielding daggers. At the center stood a lone figure, an NPC known as Master Kael, the first true Rogue mentor in the game.

Kael's gaze locked onto him, unreadable. "Your path begins here. Show me you are worthy."

Without another word, the trial began.

Vanguard's Rage – The Bounty on Revenant

Meanwhile, back in Velantir, chaos erupted within Vanguard's headquarters.

Ethan Cross sat in silence, his fists clenched, his face a deep shade of red as the Guild War Room buzzed with conversation. Several officers stood around him, reading through the latest player reports.

"He made me look like a fucking joke," Ethan growled, his voice dangerously low.

A nearby officer hesitated before speaking. "We… weren't expecting someone like that. He fought like he'd done it a hundred times before."

Ethan slammed his fist onto the table, silencing the room. "I don't care who he is. I want his head."

One of the officers spoke up. "We could put a bounty on him."

Ethan's scowl deepened, but he nodded. "Make it big. Ten gold to whoever brings me his location. Fifty to whoever kills him."

The room went dead silent.

Ten gold was a massive amount this early in the game. Fifty was unheard of.

It was a declaration to every player in Velantir.

Revenant wasn't just some random player anymore, he was a marked man.

The Hunt Begins

Liam didn't know about the bounty yet, but he didn't need to. He had expected this.

By the time the rest of the server caught up, he'd be too strong for them to do anything about it.

As he moved deeper into the trial grounds, the shadows shifted around him, and multiple enemies emerged from the darkness.

Master Kael's voice echoed through the chamber. "Show me your skill."

Liam smirked, adjusting his grip on Midnight Fang.

"Gladly."