Chapter 9: Velantir’s Most Wanted

Perched on the edge of a crumbling rooftop, Liam surveyed the shifting atmosphere of Velantir. Just hours ago, the city had been a chaotic hub of fresh players eager to grind levels, join guilds, and explore new content. But now, the streets below were filled with something else, Hunters.

His 50-gold bounty had changed everything.

No beginner should have that kind of money, especially on the first day. It was enough to buy high-tier weapons, rare armor, or even secure property inside the city. That meant every rogue, bounty hunter, and PvP guild in Velantir had just made him their number one target.

Liam smirked. Let them try.

They thought they were chasing a low-level player. They had no idea what kind of monster they were about to face.

Mastering Shadowstep – Moving Like a Ghost

Liam activated Shadowstep, feeling a cold pulse of energy ripple through his body. Instantly, he teleported ten meters forward, seamlessly phasing from one rooftop to another. The skill wasn't just a teleport, it ignored physical barriers and allowed him to reposition with unnatural speed.

Testing it again, he flickered into an alleyway, vanished into the shadows, and reappeared atop a wooden beam, high above the streets. This ability alone could turn any battle into a nightmare for his opponents.

Below, a group of bounty hunters gathered around the city's bounty board, whispering among themselves. Liam's name was written across the top.

[WANTED: Revenant – 50 Gold Reward]

[Last Seen: Outside Velantir]

[Conditions: Kill or Capture]

A burly warrior, likely their leader, spoke with authority. "Spread out. If anyone spots him, signal the main party. Do not engage alone."

Liam almost laughed. They were already cautious, a sign that his reputation was spreading faster than expected. But caution wouldn't be enough to save them.

A Silent Hunt – The First Kill

He tracked their movement, watching as they split into small squads. Five targets. Three melee fighters, two ranged. A balanced team. Killing one and escaping would be easy… but that wouldn't send the right message.

Liam waited patiently. Within minutes, the rogue scout of the group strayed too far from the others, slipping into a side alley.

Perfect.

Liam dropped down in complete silence, landing behind him with predatory ease. In a single fluid motion, he clamped his hand over the rogue's mouth and drove Midnight Fang into his back.

[Backstab Activated – Bonus Damage Applied!]

[-1,500 HP]

The rogue let out a muffled gasp before his body dissolved into pixels. One down.

Liam climbed back onto the rooftops, watching for their reaction. Seconds later, the archer cursed, glancing around in alarm. "Taron's gone."

The leader frowned. "Regroup. He's playing with us."

Liam grinned. Damn right I am.

Striking Fear – The Phantom Appears

The archer shifted, trying to reposition for a better view. That was his final mistake.

Liam Shadowstepped directly behind him and slashed his throat in a single, clean strike.

[Critical Hit!]

[-1,800 HP]

The archer's body collapsed, vanishing into light. The remaining three bounty hunters spun around, eyes wide with fear.

"What the hell?!"

Liam was already gone.

Perched on a balcony above them, he watched as paranoia crept into their movements. They were panicking.

"He's hunting us," one of the warriors muttered, shifting nervously.

The leader tightened his grip on his sword. "Stay close. He's just one guy!"

Liam chuckled, the sound drifting through the alley. "Am I?"

They froze.

Then, he struck.

Dropping from above, he twisted mid-air and slammed Midnight Fang into the nearest warrior's neck.

[Phantom Strike Activated – Bonus Damage Applied!]

[-2,000 HP]

The warrior collapsed instantly. The last two turned to flee, but Liam didn't let them.

Using Shadowstep, he teleported behind the leader, slashing deep across his back. The man screamed, dropping to his knees. The final bounty hunter turned, eyes wide with terror.

"N-no way… This isn't how low-level fights work!"

Liam didn't bother responding. He flicked his wrist and threw Midnight Fang, watching as the dagger spun through the air and embedded itself in the bounty hunter's chest.

[Instant Kill!]

Silence.

Liam retrieved his weapon, scanning the battlefield. Five bounty hunters. Dead in under a minute.

Then, a notification flashed across his interface.

[You have defeated a Vanguard-affiliated hunting party!]

[Bounty Progression: Threat Level Increased]

Liam frowned. Threat Level?

Pulling up his character profile, he found a newly unlocked section.

[Revenant – Status: Wanted]

[Current Threat Level: High]

[Kill Count: 7]

[Active Pursuers: 15+]

The bounty wasn't static, it evolved. The more players he killed, the larger the bounty and the stronger the hunters became.

His grin widened. Now this was getting fun.

Jason's Growing Suspicion – A Rising Threat

Meanwhile, inside Eclipse Guild Headquarters, Jason scrolled through the latest reports.

The name "Revenant" kept appearing, a rogue player who had taken down high-ranked fighters, evaded capture, and was climbing the PvP rankings at an impossible rate.

Jason tapped his fingers against the table. Where the hell did this guy come from?

He knew most of Velantir's top-tier players, yet Revenant had seemingly appeared out of nowhere. Something about his playstyle, his efficiency, and his tactical execution felt unsettlingly familiar.

But it didn't make sense.

Jason exhaled and shook off the thought. "Keep an eye on Revenant," he ordered. "If he's this strong, we either recruit him… or we kill him."

Liam's Next Move – A Weapon Worth Killing For

Liam knew he couldn't stay in Velantir forever. His bounty was too high, and sooner or later, stronger players would come for him. But before he left, he needed one last thing, something that would make him truly untouchable.

He pulled up his map and set a marker.

The Black Market District.

There was an artifact for sale there, one that was worth far more than any bounty on his head.

And he was going to steal it.