Chapter 9: First Kill
"Come here~" (Raspy voice)
Alex stopped dead in his tracks. "..."
"What the hell? If you use that vocal fry one more time, I'm going to slice the top of your skull off!"
Sia quickly switched to a different voice. "Oh, come on! Who saves someone and then just walks away like that?"
She had switched to a prepubescent boy's voice, which sounded quite comical coming from her.
"What else am I supposed to do? It's not like you're a beauty. Were you planning to offer your hand in marriage or something?"
Alex looked the short, skinny, heavily bundled figure up and down. This person is probably a nutcase!
Otherwise, why would anyone wrap themselves up like a mummy?
Sia wanted to retort, but she hesitated, her eyes darting around. "I might not be a beauty, but I can give you money!"
"Ahem. Why didn't you say so earlier? I don't ask for much, just a cool hundred million will do!"
Sia's eyes went wide. "?"
Doesn't ask for much? A hundred million? Is he speaking the same language?
"You call that 'not asking for much'?"
"You said you could give me money."
"Even if I said that, you can't ask for that much!" Sia stomped her foot.
"Alright, I'm done teasing you. Don't delay my beast hunting."
Alex waved his hand and turned to leave.
"Wait!" She hurriedly called out to Alex. "I can't give you that much cash, but I can give you a cultivation method for the Darkness Affinity!"
"Seriously?"
A glint flashed in Alex's eyes. Cultivation methods specifically for the Darkness Affinity were rare...
Moreover, he was currently using the Basic Ability Cultivation Method.
If he could obtain a specialized Darkness cultivation method, his progress would be far superior to what it was now!
" seriously! I can give it to you when we get back to Riverdale City!" Sia vowed solemnly.
"How can I trust you? You're wrapped up like a mummy."
Sia pulled out her phone. "Here, let's exchange contact info first!" She then took out a Storage Ring and shook it. "You saved me, so naturally I won't shortchange you. The High-Grade Bone Tempering Pills and High-Grade Origin Stones inside are all yours!"
She held her phone in one hand, displaying her QR code, and the Storage Ring in the other.
Alex stepped forward, snatched the Storage Ring first to secure the pills, and then scanned the code with his phone.
A cute, soft, anime-style avatar appeared on the screen. Alex looked at Sia suspiciously. "You aren't..."
Sia's heart tightened. She felt nervous. Did he guess who I am?
"You aren't catfishing, are you? Stealing cute pictures to pretend to be a girl and scam innocent virgins online?"
Sia was dumbfounded. When did I become a scammer?
"You, you, you! Argh! I'm going to punch you!" Sia waved her tiny fists.
"Tch. You? Punch me? Don't delay my hunting." Alex glanced at her with disdain, hefting his scythe as he prepared to leave.
Sia immediately ran in front of Alex. "You can't leave!"
"What now? Block me again, and I'll hack you to death. Believe it?"
"Then hack me to death!" She looked like she had given up on dignity.
"Well, well. Look who it is. Isn't this the Prodigal Son?!"
While the two were bickering, Kane Blackwood walked over with a fake smile, his eyes revealing a sinister glint.
He had originally been attracted by the wolf howls. He didn't expect to find the idiot he kicked out of his team hanging out with Alex here.
"Oh, it's the Big Moron. What, looking for your grandpa?" Alex chuckled lightly.
"Hmph. Without James Whitefield here, you still dare to insult me? Hand over that Storage Ring right now! Otherwise, I'll break both your legs!"
Kane looked at Alex arrogantly, his face full of conceit.
His luck was great. The first person he tried to rob was the weakest member of James's team.
Alex was about to speak when Sia leaned in and whispered, "We should run... He's Tier 1, Rank 6..."
"Not running. I'm planning to slice off his skull."
"But he's Tier 1, Rank 6..." Sia couldn't help but remind him again.
"Relax. I've got this!"
Seeing Alex so confident, Sia gritted her teeth and decided to trust him. "Fine. If you can kill him, I'll give you a Tier 3 Darkness Combat Skill on top of everything else!"
"Holy crap? For real? Do you have a grudge against him?"
"Yes! I paid him to take me hunting, but he chased me away as soon as we left the city!!"
Sia burned with anger just thinking about it.
"Totally unethical. Don't worry, brother/sister. Leave the rest to me!" Alex patted his chest.
Only then did he realize this person seemed to be from Kane's team earlier. No wonder she looked familiar.
"Hey? Can you two whisper a little quieter? Treating me like I don't exist? You want to kill me? Oh, that's rich. Let me laugh for a second."
Kane clutched his stomach and laughed loudly, his eyes full of mockery.
Two Awakeners who just got their abilities wanted to kill him, a Tier 1 Rank 6?
Unless the opponent was hacking!
"Is that so?" Alex sneered.
"System! Add points!!"
[Ding! Consumed 400 Slaughter Points. Host's realm increased to Tier 1, Rank 4.]
"Hmph. Ungrateful brats. Don't blame me for adding two more lives to my kill count!"
Kane's eyes turned vicious. He prepared to strike, but suddenly found he couldn't move.
He looked down. Unnoticed, a Abyssal Swamp had appeared beneath his feet, swirling with black mist.
"What is this?!" He panicked, a look of terror appearing on his face.
"This is where you die!"
Alex closed the distance rapidly, gripping the Death Scythe, and slashed down with full force.
"Damn it!"
Kane hurriedly raised his longsword to block, sweat pouring down his face.
Crack...
Splurt...
Two sounds rang out in succession.
"Ahhh... How is this possible! How could my E-Rank longsword shatter on impact!!"
Kane stared in disbelief at the broken sword in his hand, then collapsed to his knees, clutching his severed arm. His eyes were filled with horror and despair.
Alex pressed the scythe directly against his neck. "You're actually weak as hell. I thought you could tank a few more hits!"
"You! How can you be this strong! How can you be Tier 1, Rank 4!!"
Kane's eyes bulged.
No... Seriously?
Did I actually run into a hacker?
Didn't Alex just awaken?
How is he already Tier 1, Rank 4??
And Alex's ability... it really seemed to be S-Rank!
Only now did he realize how completely wrong he had been!!
"There's a lot you don't know. I can spare you, provided you recite Pi to the 10,000th decimal place right now!"
Kane: Is this the most despairing way to die?
"Alex! You can't kill me!! Murder is a crime!! If you kill me, you won't get away with it!"
He pinned his hopes on the law, praying Alex would be afraid.
"Screw that. Murdering people is a crime, but killing an animal like you is just natural justice!"
Alex's gaze turned ruthless, and he swung the scythe, severing the head cleanly.
Murder is a crime? What did that have to do with him killing an animal?
[Tier 1, Rank 6 Animal killed. Slaughter Points +60.]
"Holy crap, System, did you do that on purpose? Killing a human gives almost double the points of a beast?"
Alex looked at the system notification, feeling speechless.
This System was practically forcing him to become a player killer.
However, the feeling of his first kill didn't bring panic, but rather... a trace of excitement.
(To be Continued)