Unwitting Prey

The system's voice faded as the sound of patriotic music intensified. There was a whole lot of confusion written on the people's faces but there was no one to answer their questions.

While Jin Lin was going through the starter pack gifted by the system and checking out his skill set, he didn't notice a pair of higher-ranking officers glimpsing in his direction. One of them was the superior who kicked him the day he woke up.

The man had no impression of Jin Lin but when he saw that azure hair and the tattoo peeking from the collar of the uniform, his interest was piqued.

"Sir, it seems he has an azure flame skill from the reconstruction and he is already above the neophyte stage level two. This is why his power is awakened despite the system suppressing his skill set," he explained as a sinister smile crept up the superior's face.

In Equino they were three levels used to categorize the ranking of one's skill set namely neophyte, mediatas and vetust. Within these levels there were tiers and it was only through training and experience that one's strength would improve but there were in fact, outliers like Jin Lin.

The kind that would come out of the reconstruction chamber with a level higher than other novices. This sort of occurrence only ever happened a handful of times in the past to people who became notoriously powerful in Equino.

It was for this reason that outliers like Jin Lin were usually set up to die as soon as they leave the base. Each player had what they call a crystal energy core which is essentially the essence and vitality of a player.

Because of the uniqueness of outliers, there were rumours that if one consumes the crystal energy core of such people their ranking speed will accelerate.

But because the experienced powerful players were hard to kill, people interested in selling this energy core on the black market would resort to attacking novice players who had such a gift because they were easy prey.

"It has never been proven but some rich bastard will pay for it. His skill set is a rarity in itself.... you know what to do," replied the superior as he quirked up into a sinister smile.

Jin Lin naturally had no idea that he had become a target for evildoers. His senses felt something unsettling in the air but everything about this place was unsettling. His gaze landed on Fen Hao whose face was pale ever since he saw him. He might seem cheery from the outside but these two had been friends for a long time and he could tell this was a facade.

"Any regrets?" asked Jin Lin with his probing gaze locked on Fen Hao. His friend didn't have to involved in this but it was because of him that he was here.

"No," replied Fen Hao in earnestness.

"Afraid?" asked Jin Lin once more while fixing his sleeve.

Fen Hao chuckled lightly with a smug on his face and replied, "No."

"Good," said Jin Lin patting Fen Hao's shoulder. The last part was obviously a lie. They were both afraid but they would never voice it aloud. At least they didn't have to venture into the unknown alone.

While Jin Lin and Fen Hao were encouraging each other, a group of finely dressed men were lounging around in a grand parlour. The strong scent of expensive cigars filled the room with thick smoke wafting from the foot.

To accompany the amicable gentlemen were a few ladies serving expensive liquor to these tyrannical overlords. But tonight the main focus wasn't on the ladies nor was it on underground fights. To satiate their unusual tastes today was the big screen showing what looked like a sci-fi movie type of set-up.

These men had been gathered by Du She in the guise of showing them a new form of entertainment. But based on what they had seen so far they were beginning to lose interest. They only stayed because Du She made them a lot of money supplying them with minerals, cell samples, energy cores out of this world giving them the ability to dominate the firearms, pharmaceutical and various other industries in a short span of time.

What Du She supplied to them was the lifeline of their businesses so they had to give him some face and stay. But this closely resembled a video game that couldn't satisfy their dark desires.

Just as they were mocking Du She's weird tastes the man of the hour arrived bringing with him an aura that demanded attention wherever he went. He ambled over to the main seat with an arrogant air to him and said, "I know what you are secretly thinking..... it's just a fuckin video game, right? Hahahaha... no," with his facial expression abruptly shifting to that of a predator on the prowl.

A glint of anger flashed across his intimidating red-eye as his assistant handed him a bottle of vodka. He took off his mask revealing the ugly scar extending to his mouth jolting the rest of the crowd.

The men silently watched in horror as Du She downed the entire bottle in one go. They had long suspected that this man was no longer a regular human and today he had further confirmed their suspicions.

Du She tossed the empty bottle aside and said, "Gentleman, let me introduce you to a form of entertainment that will satisfy your deepest darkest desires. Your new addiction.....," as a group of men walked in holding strange devices that could link them to Equino.

These men were familiar with all forms of underground entertainment like fighting to the death which had all become monotonous and boring. They were in need of something fresh and bloody to entertain themselves and Du She gave them exactly that.

Live battles among men and women with the strength of ten thousand men and the bloodlust of a beast. How could they not get hooked when the fighter in the PK arena was the majestic tyrant, Jin Chen. His ruthless and tyrannical methods left these men begging for more. Du She had yet again exceeded their expectations.