Chapter 71: Cloaked in Silver, Hunted in Shadows
A flash of white light pulsed through the void as a lone silhouette blinked into existence—emerging without fanfare, yet brimming with quiet tension. The figure glanced around warily, soon realizing he'd respawned exactly where he had logged out—the familiar dirt path just outside Green Leaf Town, now nearly unrecognizable.
His brows twitched with surprise.
The once exposed, rustic settlement had transformed dramatically. The town now stood proud with fortified stone walls and a black-iron gate glinting in the sun. Above the entrance hung a wooden plaque marked with glowing glyphs—signs of an ongoing upgrade. Players and NPCs, both, had formed a single-file line at the gates, each paying a small toll before gaining entry.
Malik squinted, momentarily awed.
This... this place used to be just a cluster of tents and broken fences.
He joined the queue. To his surprise, it moved along quickly despite the crowd. The murmur of voices surrounded him, and one particular thread of conversation caught his attention like a spark in dry grass.
"Have you heard? The Skywall Guild just raised their bounty on that Player... the one called Man like Malik."
"Not just them, brother. Even the Shadow Guild has placed a price on his head—just for information."
"Excuse me, sirs…" Malik spoke up, his voice light but edged with curiosity, veiled under the shroud of a weak illusion. The silver-black cloak obscured his identity and dulled his presence, making him appear like any other low-level player. "Who's this Player... 'Man like Malik'?"
The group turned to him as though a frog had just asked for the path to heaven.
"What? Are you new to God's Realm Online?"
"You really don't know? Man like Malik is the first player who took down a Tier 1 boss while still Tier 0—and in less than three hours. And guess where? Western Region."
"Exactly. The very town you're about to enter? He's its Duke. That rank ain't far behind a Mayor's, brother."
"But the catch is—he's mysterious. No one knows who he really is. That's why the top guilds put a bounty on him. They're offering 3,000 gold for any info and 7,000 gold to whoever can bring his head on a platter."
Malik's eyes twitched, and his lips parted in silent shock.
What the actual hell…? Since when did I become such a hot cake?
He silently thanked the heavens he had looted this silver cloak. If not, he might've been mobbed before taking three steps.
One of the players, tall and loud, clapped him on the back. "What do you think, brother? You want to join the hunt too?" The man laughed. "With that puny level of yours, I'm afraid you won't even scratch Man like Malik's boots."
The group roared with laughter. Malik only chuckled and nodded in agreement, playing along. Around him, all of them were above Level 30 and had already broken into Tier 1. The cloak masked his name, stats, and aura, painting him as a greenhorn. It worked like a charm.
Another player elbowed the loud one, smirking. "But hey, maybe we help him out. What do you say, Brother Gong?"
"Right. He can tag along with us. It's always good to guide the next generation," Gong replied.
"Junior, what's your name?" the player asked Malik, who instinctively clenched his jaw. Damn. What name do I give now...?
Before he could decide, a player from behind chimed in.
"Why ask? Isn't it obvious? Look at his cloak—silver trimming over black fabric. I'd say his name is Black Silver, right?"
Malik quickly nodded, thankful for the random save. The cloak had downgraded his weapon visuals, but its aesthetic remained unchanged—black and silver all through.
Brother Gong chuckled. "Alright then, Black Silver. Our quest is in Blackroot City, not too far from here. But before that, we're taking you to Emerald Forest. Got to raise that level of yours first."
Malik's eyes flickered with fake excitement. "I really appreciate this, Brother Expert."
"Oh, come on. That's nothing in front of Brother Gong," Metal waved it off with a grin. "Don't worry, we'll even cover your entrance fee. Let's go."
"Metal, stop blowing my trumpet too loud," Gong laughed, and the group finally passed through the gate into Green Leaf Town.
The moment they entered, a wave of dense mana rushed to greet them, tickling their skins like a living breeze.
"Wow… the mana density here is insane," Metal whistled. "Green Leaf Town has officially leveled up. Looks like we've got a real town now in the Black Moon Kingdom."
"All thanks to Man like Malik, right Black Silver?" Metal turned toward Malik.
Malik gave a wry smile. "Is it really safe to keep talking about him like this? What if… he hears us?"
"Oh-ho! Junior Black Silver's afraid?" Pillow teased. "All the more reason to help him level up, right Brother Gong?"
"Absolutely true, Pillow. Let's move. Emerald Forest awaits."
The three Tier 1 players led Malik eastward while he followed from behind, head slightly lowered.
Emerald Forest? For Tier 1 grinding? These guys must be cracked—or lying...
He watched their steps closely, their rhythm too casual. It didn't sit well with him.
Eventually, they arrived. Scattered along the outer rim of the forest were players grinding low-level monsters. But the trio didn't stop—they pressed further in.
"Don't worry, Black Silver," Pillow reassured. "The monsters near the edges are trash. We're going deeper for better EXP."
Malik only nodded.
Not long after, they encountered two monsters lurking in a shadowed grove.
---
[Nuturer]
Rank: Special Elite
Level: 15
HP: 10,000
Attack: 700 - 1000
Defense: 500 - 720
Skills: [Web Shoot], [Poison Dart]
Description: A venomous spider species displaced from Leafstone Ruins, now nesting within Emerald Forest.
---
"Perfect," Gong said, grinning. "Black Silver, stay back. These are just appetizers. We got this."
Gong and Metal unsheathed their long swords. Pillow pulled out a gleaming short blade—standard Assassin gear.
"You know the plan," Gong muttered. "Kite one. Let the other flee."
The trio moved like wolves circling sheep.
Slash!
Their blades struck with sharp arcs. One Nuturer lost 40% of its HP in a blink.
Shrieking, the spider raised its forelegs and lunged. Gong and Metal rolled aside, avoiding the lethal thrusts—but now, the monster's beady, red eyes locked onto Malik, who hadn't moved an inch.
Suddenly, the Nuturer shot a web.
Thwip!
It wrapped around Malik's legs, pinning him in place like a fly in a trap.
"Oh no! Black Silver!"
"Shit!" Pillow hissed as she stabbed the third leg of the second Nuturer. Blood sprayed, thick and green.
They were shouting, acting concerned—but none of them moved from their spots. Not a step. Not a single attempt to save him.
Malik's eyes sharpened. So that's how it is.
The Nuturer reached him in seconds. With a high-pitched screech, it drove four of its jagged legs directly into his chest.
Squelch!
Pain exploded.
The forest echoed with the wet sound of piercing flesh as the three so-called experts just stood and watched with smirks on their face while Malik's body hung limp on the spikes, cloak fluttering like a dying flag.