No Mercy

I was surrounded.

Ten players, organized and out for blood, had only one goal: to kill me.

I remembered the rule in Abyss Code Online: players can only kill each other in designated PvP zones. And this place, the SubCore District, is one of them

Out here, where monsters roam, killing players isn’t against the rules. The restriction only applies within the safety of Netherbyte City.

Since I first started playing this game, I’d heard the rumors, about players who hunt other players. 

They’re called Player Outlaws. Criminals. People who reject the game’s ethics and kill just because they can.

If you're exposed as a Player Outlaw, a red skull appears next to your in-game name. It marks you as a fugitive, someone the Netherbyte City authorities and all the major factions will hunt down.

Strangely enough, despite all my time in this game, I’d never run into one before.
The rumors said they rarely leave the SubCore District and never get past Floor 5 of the Abyss Dungeon. 

I never paid much attention to them… until now.

But things are different today. Now, they’re standing in my way.

I quickly analyzed the situation.

Two full parties were here to kill me.

The first party consisted of a Saber, two Brawlers, a Shooter, and a Restorer.

The second party, flanking me from behind, had an Eliminator, an Anchor, two Casters, and another Restorer.

Their formation was ideal—balanced for both offense and support. No wonder they managed to survive the mini-boss earlier, even after losing two members.

But that didn’t matter now.

I readied my weapon.

I didn’t care if I became an Outlaw myself. If it meant becoming a fugitive… so be it.
I’d rather be feared than tolerate scum like this. 

They crossed the line.

They killed Lena… and Richard… and Mia.

I’ll make sure none of them leave this place alive.

I stepped forward slowly, sword drawn.

“Heh, don’t tell me you’re actually thinking of fighting us?” the Saber-class player sneered.

“There’s ten of us, dumbass. Be smart. Drop your items and surrender, or you’ll end up like those bugs we just crushed,” one of the Brawlers added with a cruel smirk.

I stopped walking.

They laughed, thinking I was submitting. “That’s more like it,” one of them said. “Now get on your knees.”

But I didn’t move.

Instead, I said calmly, “You’ve killed others without mercy… So I assume you’re ready to die too, right?”

“What the hell did you just say?! That’s it, we’re done talking! Everyone, take him out!!” the Saber, clearly their leader, barked the order.

I exhaled slowly, raised my middle finger, and said coldly:

“Come at me if you’re ready to die.”

Their grins faltered. My cold glare unsettled them more than any weapon could.

The two Brawlers charged straight at me, fists wrapped in heavy iron gloves.

Behind them, the Casters began chanting spells. I could hear the EtherCode humming.

But I didn’t block the Brawlers’ punches—I dodged them easily.

“So slow…”

Enraged by the taunt, both Brawlers activated their skills.

[Jet Barrage Punch]

A rapid-fire punch technique, fast, brutal, and relentless.

But not fast enough.

SLASH!

In a flash, I was already behind them. Their bodies froze mid-motion.

Bloodless gashes lit up their torsos, cut clean through.

I had used [Volta Drive], my lightning-dash skill, to pierce straight through their attack.

A fraction of a second later, their bodies shattered into glowing pixel shards.

My first and second player kills.

And I felt nothing.

Because they deserved it.

“No way… He took down Bert and Angert?! Damn it—everyone, attack now!!” the Saber shouted in panic.

The Casters didn’t wait, they released their spells:

[Double Casting: Triple Fireball]

Three mid-sized fireballs each, six in total, shot straight toward me.

I didn’t even flinch.

I ran straight into the blast radius.

BOOM!

They hit me head-on, engulfing the field in flames and smoke.

But when the fire cleared—

I was still standing. Unscathed.

I intentionally let the fireballs hit me.

Why?

Because I knew they wouldn’t do a thing.

I wouldn’t take any damage from EtherCode attacks at that level, not with my current stats and gear.

Every point in my status was optimized for survival and resistance. And more importantly, I was wearing the [Nullwave Hoodie] a special armor I crafted from the core of the Abyss Dungeon’s Floor 5 boss.

That hoodie has a powerful effect: 100% nullification of all EtherCode spells level 5 and below—regardless of element.

“No damage?! What the hell?!”

“Anchor, stop him!! Shooter, light him up!!” the Saber barked orders.

The Shooter to my left fired a barrage from his Gatling Machine Gun. The bullets rained down.

But I had already predicted his pattern. I’ve faced dozens of Shooters in PvP.
I knew every angle, every weakness.

I weaved through the hail of bullets, closing the distance toward the Casters.

They tried to chant another spell, but I was too fast.

An Anchor jumped in front, raising his shield.

Smart move. But pointless.

I activated [Overburst Slash] an AoE lightning slash at full voltage.

CRASH!

The Anchor’s shield shattered like glass. His body convulsed, paralyzed by the surge.

The same arc cleaved through both Casters.

They exploded into data fragments.

Their eyes, even in deletion, showed nothing but disbelief.

“Five down,” I muttered, pointing my sword at the remaining players. “Five to go.”

“You son of a—! Everyone, hit him at once!!” the Saber shouted, drawing his own blade.

I braced to strike.

But then, I felt something.

That presence… behind me.

I spun, swinging my sword backward.

CLANG!

My blade parried two daggers aimed for my spine.

An Eliminator.

“Did you really think I wouldn’t notice?” I muttered.

His eyes widened in shock. “H-How did you sense me?! I used SystemCore!”

I smirked. “You're not just any Eliminator, are you?”

He didn’t respond, but I already knew.

“You’re a Diver, huh? An Eliminator and a Diver, that's a basic combination..trash.”

Before he could react, I vanished.

“What the—?! Where’d he go?!”

He panicked, trying to cloak again, but I was already behind him.

[Lightning Steps]

A Level 4 Volta EtherCode skill that lets me teleport within three meters instantly.

“Ugh—!”

He gasped in pain as my sword pierced through his back and out his chest.

I whispered coldly, “This is for Lena.”

SLASH!

His head hit the ground with a soft thud, followed by the rest of him crumbling into pixels.

I exhaled slowly.

“Four left.”

…
..
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