"How do you know me?" Alan asked, tightening his grip on his blade. "No one should know my identity as Mr. Saint."
The scythe-wielding woman chuckled softly as she rose from the crystal she had been sitting on. Dusting herself off, she walked toward him with calm, measured steps, a faint smile forming on her lips.
"In this game, they call me the Death Queen, "she said. But I'm sure the name Raven will help you remember who I am."
Raven…
Alan's eyes sharpened instantly.
I know that name.
One of the best solo players across the top MMORPGs—ranked number seven back in the real world.
And she's saying… she's Raven?
"I know what you're thinking," she said calmly. "Everyone doubts it at first. Just like you—I've never shown my face on the internet."
She stepped a little closer, her gaze fixed on him.
"By now, you should've realized I'm the one who saved you from those A-rank players," she continued. "And back at the First Stage gate… I saw that smile of yours."
Her lips curved slightly.
"The only thing that came to mind was your Holy Precision. And I knew… this is exactly where you'd end up heading."
Alan's mouth fell open. He couldn't believe what he had just heard—she had read him like an open book. A chill crept through him. The calmness in her voice made it even more unsettling.
"No matter how difficult a game is," she continued softly," there's always a loophole… a hint… a way to bend the system."
She took another step closer, her gaze sharp yet amused.
"So you came all the way to the darkest part of the forest to find the stage's bug—the hidden source of crystals and gems. A place where you can farm more than you need… then sell the excess to other players who fall short, completing your own requirements in the process."
Her eyes narrowed slightly, a faint smile forming.
"That was your ace, wasn't it… genius?"
"Who are you… and what do you want?" Alan snapped. Panic gripped him, even if his face remained unreadable. The fact that someone could dissect his thoughts this easily unsettled him deeply.
"What I want?" she echoed, letting out a soft, amused chuckle.
She stepped closer, her eyes locking onto his.
"I want an alliance… with Alan Smith."
A brief pause.
"It would be an honor," she added, her smile faint but knowing, "to work with the world's number ten best player."
Alliance…? What is she planning? Alan thought. Is she trying to use me and discard me… just like Tuna did in the second phase? I can't let that happen.
But another thought followed.
Still… an alliance with someone from the Lion Heart Guild could give me insight into their plans… their patterns.
He made his decision.
"Alright," Alan said, rising from the large crystal he had been sitting on. "I'll accept your offer."
He paused, his gaze sharpening.
"But on one condition—you tell me everything I need to know about the Lion Heart Guild… on a weekly basis."
"I figured you'd ask for that," she said with a soft chuckle. "Especially since our captain has been gathering players with… unique weapons."
Her voice dropped slightly, almost like a low hum.
"Alright then. I'll tell you everything—every Friday."
Then her gaze shifted past Alan, a faint smile forming.
"But before we start harvesting crystals… we should deal with our guest, don't you think?"
Alan slowly turned.
Behind him sat a knight clad entirely in crystal armor, its body and face fully concealed beneath the gleaming structure. It rested on a throne-like chair made of blue crystal, a massive sword planted behind it.
Its hands gripped the armrests.
The mere presence of it was suffocating.
Alan's hand trembled, his grip on his Dual-Blades weakening.
This thing… it's S-Rank… or even higher. No doubt about it.
A chill ran down his spine.
It's terrifying…
But then something clicked.
Why is it just sitting there?
"I used one of my abilities—Space Void," she said calmly. "It allows me to create a separate layer within this realm where no one can see or hear us."
She paused briefly.
"I've also developed it further… I can trap others inside it as well."
Her tone shifted, growing sharper.
"But it has a limit."
A brief silence.
"We only have five seconds left."
So that's how… Alan realized. Back at the isolated market… when I faced those A-Rank players… she used Space Void. That's why I couldn't see her.
Then another thought struck him.
Wait…
His eyes widened.
Did she just say we only have five seconds left?
This is bad.
As his thoughts raced, the void suddenly collapsed.
He saw it clearly—a transparent barrier melting like liquid, shrinking and flowing back toward the scythe wielder. In seconds, it was completely absorbed into her weapon.
Damn it! Alan cursed inwardly.
The knight noticed them almost instantly.
It rose from its crystal throne, gripping its massive sword. From within its helmet, a pair of red eyes began to glow.
With a single swing, it cut through the air—
—and the sheer force of the wave lifted Alan slightly off his feet.
This is bad… not even slightly good, Alan thought, his chest tightening.
I'm just a Rank C player… damn it.
Sweat rolled down his cheek as the pressure from the knight's presence weighed heavily on him.
"Brace yourself," the scythe lady warned, her voice icy and inhuman. Her eyes glowed crimson as she lifted her scythe, radiating a deadly aura. Alan froze as he noticed something impossible—her weapon began to glow on its own. No three-two-five combo, no motion—just raw, overwhelming power.
Is this… an awakening? Alan thought, panic rising. I don't understand… none of this makes sense.
Lost in his thoughts, he barely registered the Knight's blade coming at him. Before he could react, her glowing scythe shot up, blocking the strike with a force so strong the crystal beneath them cracked from the impact.
Alan stumbled onto the crystal floor, rising slowly as he gripped his dual blades. His legs trembled—he couldn't even track their movements. The speed, the strength, the relentless clash of blades—it was beyond anything he'd ever faced. He glanced at her icon: A-Rank, impressive, yes—but nothing compared to the towering presence before them.
[ Heaven's Knight ]
[ Level: 207 ]
[ Rank: S ]
[ Mode: Apex ]
[ Total EXP: 500 ]
If Alan had arrived here without her first finding the crystal bank, he would have been dead long ago. The knight was far deadlier than the Shadow Beast from the penalty phase could ever have been. Even the scythe user couldn't hold her ground alone—she was forced to retreat instantly. Yet the knight pressed on relentlessly, swinging its massive sword against her curved blade, her arms straining under the unbearable weight.
What do I do… think, think, Alan! he screamed inwardly, gripping his right blade tightly and leaving marks on his trembling hands to steady them.
[ LP: 75 ]
He studied the chaotic battle between the scythe user and the knight, analyzing every movement. Then his eyes widened— "I've got it," he whispered. Without hesitation, he
sprinted toward the knight at full speed.
The knight noticed him, shoved the scythe user aside, and leveled its massive sword straight at Alan.
The knight's core could only be in three places—its heart, belly, or maybe its head, Alan thought, planning to act as a decoy using his Time Loop ability.
Before he could even strike with his right blade, the knight's sword sliced through his right hand, leaving him stunned, unable to process what had happened.
[ LP: 66 ]
Gritting his teeth through the pain, Alan lunged with his other blade—only to freeze as he realized the knight had moved behind him. His eyes widened in terror as he saw the beast holding his chest, its grip unyielding.
Damn it! Alan thought, this monster is leagues beyond me—what was I even thinking coming after it? He bit down on the blood filling his mouth. I… am still too weak. Before he could react, his body was torn into pieces.
[ LP: 0 ]
The scythe user's eyes widened at the brutal sight, but she forced herself to stay composed. The Knight dropped Alan's heart onto the crystal floor, blood splattering across the surface, the force cracking the ground beneath. She chuckled softly, bowing her head as her hair fell over her face. "So… you're far more ruthless and bloody than I first imagined."
The Knight's red eyes narrowed at her, its massive sword raised and pointed directly. In an instant, it vanished into thin air, reappearing as its blade slammed against her scythe with brutal force—far more aggressive than before, its power seemingly multiplied several times. As their clash shook the crystal floor, Alan's Time Loop ability kicked in, restoring his body to seven seconds earlier.
[ Blade Skill: Time Loop Activated ]
[ Attempts Left: 2 ]
As his body reformed, piece by piece, Alan's mind burned with rage—this was the first time his Holy Precision had failed him. Blood and flesh stitched back together until he stood whole again.
"You bastard!" Alan screamed, lunging at the Knight once more, but it was futile—he didn't even get close to executing his plan. In a blur, the Knight severed his head in milliseconds, barely glancing at him. It was a brutal reminder: he wasn't even worth the Knight's time.
"Why?!" Alan shouted to himself, fury and disbelief clawing at him as his body restored once more.
[ Blade Skill: Time Loop Activated ]
[ Attempts Left: 1 ]
The scythe user realized Alan's ability let him rewind time—a powerful tool he couldn't afford to waste.
As Alan surged forward toward the Knight again, a sharp voice cut through his thoughts: "Don't!" He froze, looking up to see her locked in a brutal struggle with the relentless Knight. "You're not strong enough to fight this monster. Leave it to me and get out of here… or die foolishly trying to kill it."
Alan staggered, struck silent by her words, the weight of them sinking deep. He froze in place just as the Knight's blade sliced across her chest, sending her flying with a devastating kick.
Alan struggled to stand, frustration boiling over as he screamed, "I'd rather die fighting than run from this bloodthirsty freak! I'm gonna—" His words were cut short as the Knight's blade sliced through his right hand.
[ LP: 55 ]
"Ahhh!" he screamed, clutching the wound, but before he could react, the Knight's blade drove down from head to throat.
[ LP: 0 ]
Why… why am I so weak? I'm not good enough… not strong enough… Alan thought as his body crumpled to the floor, lifeless. Since the Death Game began, he'd relied on his mind and the aid of others to survive. He'd barely made it through the penalty phase, and now… it seemed all of that had been for nothing.
The scythe user rose slowly from the crystal floor, blood pouring from the slash across her chest. She pressed her hand against the wound, muttering, "S-Rank beasts are a pain in the ass…" Her gaze shifted just in time to see Alan re-forming with his Time Loop ability.
[ Blade Skill: Time Loop Activated ]
[ Attempts Left: 0 ]
Her eyes widened as she caught sight of his battle icon—it wasn't the same as before. Even from behind, the aura around him shifted. His icon now read:
[ Awakening… ]
Rank Awakening? When did he…? she gasped.
The Knight narrowed its glowing red eyes at Alan, who stood tall with a wide, confident smile. "Hey, lady," he said, his voice calm yet commanding, "do not interfere anymore. This beast is mine to teach a lesson."