Chapter 13: Named NPC?

"W-what?"

A young man gulped. His entire back was drenched in cold sweat. He slowly looked back and saw the damage behind him.

If he hadn't fallen the moment Cassian turned around, he would have been in the direct line of sight of that attack.

His lips opened and closed multiple times before he finally managed to utter something.

"What is your level?"

Even the Rankers he had seen before weren't this strong. What kind of level was needed to possess this strength? How did this man reach it so fast when all of them had started at roughly the same time?

His gaze quickly shifted to Cassian's gauntlets, which stood out even more as the blood-red shade slowly disappeared and the pure white returned to the surface.

'Is it because of that thing? Did he get some rare item inside the Tower? I'm so jealous of his luck!'

For a moment, greed flashed in his eyes. If he could steal the item from this Player, could he also become this strong?

Even if his level wasn't as high as the Rankers, he could still use the power of this item to level up faster. He might be able to become the next Ranker.

His trance was broken only when he saw a screen materialize before him.

..............

??? is looking at you.

You are inflicted with 'Fear'.

Your body is unable to move.

..............

"Hmm? This..."

At the sight of the screen, the young man felt his heart skip a beat.

It wasn't the first time he had seen messages like these. Not just him, but other Players, including Rankers, also received these messages.

There was only one difference. They didn't receive these messages when dealing with other Players.

Messages like these only appeared when they came across terrifying Floor Leaders inside the Tower, or a Named Monster.

It meant the person before him wasn't a Player, but an NPC. At least, that's what he believed at that moment.

Killing these Named NPCs granted a high amount of experience points, but it was easier said than done.

Only Rankers had been able to kill the Floor Lords. And the Floor Lords they had come across, despite being strong, weren't able to inflict paralysis with just a gaze.

It was their body's way of warning them about the threat level before them.

"Are you what they call a Player?"

Cassian observed the man on the ground.

His eyes didn't show much of an emotional fluctuation, but deep down, he was frustrated with himself for attacking right away.

It was an old habit, as everything he descended into another's planet, it was for a mission from the Union.

He was always in the enemy territory with death following him every step. These instincts had made him survive in those worlds. Instead of waiting for others to attack you, it was easier to attack first after all.

"A named NPC is talking?"

It was another shocking discovery for them. Normal NPCs of this world did talk to them, but their ones were severely restricted.

Even if they talked to the NPCs of this world, they couldn't get any information beyond the scenario that they were part of.

As for the Named NPCs that were inside the Gates and Towers, they couldn't talk. Or maybe they hadn't been able to make them talk?

'What is happening? A named NPC is walking freely outside the Tower? Is he even talking to me? Could it be an opportunity for me?'

'If he wanted to kill me, he would've attacked me already. Maybe he's here because of some epic scenarios like a hidden quest? If I can become a part of that scenario, then the amount of experience I can gain...'

The young man gulped heavily again. Only this time it wasn't because of fear, but greed that he might leave even the Rankers behind. He might be the first person to find a way to return back to his world?

"Y-yes. I am a Player. Or rather, I'm the strongest Player in this world at the moment!'

He made his voice heavier, flexing his achievements. Of course, most of them were lies. He simply told about the achievements of other players as his own.

He wanted the Named NPC to see his value so he should grant this hidden quest to him. If it was too much for him, he could always ask the other players to help him as well.

As long as he could monopolize this quest, the other players would definitely be willing to do anything to follow him and get some achievements as well.

"Interesting." Cassian came forward, and lightly flicked the thin man's forehead, using the least amount of his strength.

It was just enough to make a human feel pain but not to kill them. He wanted to test if the strange force would be able to control him. Because so far, he hadn't felt anything strange.

His flick connected with the blond haired man's forehead.

Cassian hadn't used much strength. But that was by his standards. He had overestimated the resistance and abilities of players based on his own common sense and the stories that he heard about them.

Just a light flick, and the man's head blew up. It left Cassian frozen in place like a statue in disbelief.

Why were Players this fragile when the humans of this world talked about them like they were some giants?

Fortunately, the Players could revive. Each time they died, they only lost a level. It made Cassian a little relieved. It would've been more tragic if he became a killer in this world because of a light flick.

"But that confirms one thing. Even if I try to kill them, the strange forces can't intervene. Is it because I'm not from this world?"

He had quite a few questions, even as the young man returned to his original state.

He almost had tears in his eyes. He had returned to life, but the pain was still there. And strangely enough, this was the first time he felt such pain when he died.

The pain reduction worked with every death for players. But for some reason, it didn't work at all.

If he didn't know his own weakness, he would've attacked Cassian in anger already. But he knew better than to attack the Named NPC that could kill him with a flick.

He tried to question Cassian to see if this was a part of the quest triggering condition. Was this Named NPC verifying that he was a player through his revival?

"Why did you-"

His question was cut in half when Cassian suddenly grabbed him by the collar and picked him up.

"Esme, beam me up."