My Demons

As I giggled and chuckled, a melodious sound echoed through the room,

[A new hero has joined. You can either shake hands and become allies or fight to the death.]

A stunningly beautiful blond boy with delicate features materialized before me, adorned in the attire of an elemental mage and wearing a resplendent silver crown.

“Uh, what?” I stammered, taken aback.

Hadn’t I secured the room while I was looting? Was this a glitch?

[Trickster: Bring it on.]

[PkApplyMemo: How did you get in?]

[Trickster: Come and fight.]

[PkApplyMemo: Did you use a hack?]

[PkApplyMemo: I’ll report]

[Trickster: It’s not a hack.]

[PkApplyMemo: But that’s your primary character, isn’t it?]

[Trickster: What does it matter?]

[Trickster: Just come and fight.]

“Are you serious?”

Trickster.

Arguably the most renowned character among Dark World players, not only in our country but possibly across the globe.

Upon examining the character information.

〈Trickster〉

Level 100 Elemental Mage

Creation date: June 28, 1999

Coincidentally, June 28, 1999, marks the release date of Dark World.

In other words, this Trickster, the elemental mage character, has existed for over 20 years since Dark World’s inception.

And it has been an enduring journey in hardcore mode!

What’s even more astounding is the play log of this character.

Defeated heroes: 10,000

Keep in mind that PvP in Dark World is restricted to duels only. One cannot unilaterally ambush an opponent or engage in combat with an unwanted user.

Consequently, these 10,000 kills signify that 10,000 users who possessed unwavering confidence in their dueling skills were vanquished. All at the hands of this single Elemental Mage character!

Now, this formidable character has challenged me to a PvP encounter.

[PkApplyMemo: Didn’t you retire that character?]

[Trickster: Your account record, nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine kills? Don’t you want to reach 10,000 kills?]

[PkApplyMemo: So you’re willing to lose your 10k kill character? Are you just trying to get me to join the 10k kill accounts?]

[Trickster: Lose? What are you talking about? I’m going to win.]

[PkApplyMemo: But, but, but… You’ve gotten rusty, everyone knows that. Where’s this confidence coming from?]

Having been around for a while, I had known the Trickster old man for quite some time.

I started Dark World when I was in the third grade of elementary school, and started playing hardcore mode when I was in high school.

If I recall correctly, it was in my second year of high school when I recklessly began challenging the Trickster. Wow, it’s been over ten years since then.

Even now, my teeth grind at the memory of the characters I lost to him in my early days. I must have suffered defeat more than twenty times.

……Oh, but.

[PkApplyMemo : Dude]

[PkApplyMemo : How do you know my account has 9,999 kills?]

[Trickster: You can find it by searching.]

[PkApplyMemo : : Not the character play log, but the total play log o o]

[PkApplyMemo : : You can’t see others’]

……What’s with this guy? Why isn’t he responding?

[Trickster: Just fight.]

[PkApplyMemo : Are you really going to permadeath?]

[Trickster: Yeah.]

[PkApplyMemo : You’re really insane] 

[PkApplyMemo : Planning to bury your character and kill yourself?]

[Trickster: I won’t commit suicide, so stop worrying.]

I hesitated for a moment, but soon a grin spread across my face as I pounded the keys.

[PkApplyMemo : Don’t cry when I take your items]

A 10,000 character kill?

Glancing at Trickster’s kill log, I noticed that his last duel took place a decade ago.

That’s why they call him a has-been.

On the other hand, me?

In Dark World-related communities, I’m renowned as a “Blood Artisan.” Among the current players, I’m one of the most successful PvP players.

And above all, there was a time when my ultimate goal in playing Dark World was to defeat that character, Trickster.

I can’t back down and run away when such a great opportunity presents itself.

“Huh.”

I shook off any apprehension and cast a full buff. Then, with speed, I switched my amulet in the equipment window.

‘This should provide full resistance against ice and electricity. It’s risky, but I have no other choice.’

Of course, achieving full resistance doesn’t guarantee victory.

The opponent possesses a 20-year-old character with 10,000 kills. The damage capable of penetrating resistance will be enormous.

[Trickster: Are you ready?]

[PkApplyMemo : ]

[Trickster has requested a duel.]

“Huh.”

With a light sigh, I clicked the accept button, and in an instant…

Whoosh.

The Elementalist unleashed the ‘Frozen Earth’ skill.

It was the ultimate frost skill, causing immense damage that spanned thirteen times the size of the screen.

I took sudden damage, but there was no need to panic.

I knew well that this character was an Ice-Lightning mage, specializing in frost and lightning magic.

I had anticipated that he would immediately employ his ultimate skill at the beginning of the duel.

So, as if I had been waiting for this very moment, I activated the ‘Blood Descent’ skill.

Swoosh.

My Blood Knight transformed into a mist of blood, swiftly soaring towards the Elementalist.

Zap.

The frost damage was substantial. If I hadn’t changed my amulet, I would have lost half my health.

But thankfully, thanks to the effects of my equipment and the passive skill ‘Boiling Blood,’ I remained unaffected by slowing or freezing effects.

My Blood Knight materialized right in front of the Elementalist.

Without delay, I unleashed a barrage of ‘Blood Thorn,’ ‘Blood Whip,’ and ‘Blood Wind’—a few of the Blood Knight’s long-range skills.

CRACK, BANG!

To my surprise, I managed to shatter the ‘Ice Armor,’ stripping it away.

Just as I was about to exult and swing my ‘Blade of Blood’ to finally crush him, the monitor flickered.

“Ah, my eyes.”

Boom!

With a resounding sound effect, a lightning bolt struck the Blood Knight. It was ‘Thunder Strike,’ a powerful attack that inflicted significant damage accompanied by paralysis.

Hmm, the damage is quite substantial even with my full resistance. His stats are insane.

Well, I suppose it’s fortunate that I didn’t get paralyzed or stunned?

Just as my momentarily paused Blood Knight prepared to charge once more…

[Alaïmos!]

The Elementalist chanted a spell and transformed into a lightning spirit, swiftly flying away.

“Ah, that bastard…”

What followed was a tiresome pursuit.

The Elementalist continued to launch various magical attacks while fleeing… However, one of my Blood Knight’s nicknames is ‘Blood Wheel,’ indicating my confidence in endurance.

I strategically utilized the Blood Knight’s few long-range skills whenever their cooldown was up, siphoning life force with each strike.

Amidst enduring the Elementalist’s onslaught, I internally kept track of the spells he cast and their frequency.

Chain Lightning, Frost Dagger, Ice Armor, Cold Cloud, Thunder Strike, another Frost Dagger, White Storm…

It was a chaotic mix. But by now, his mana should be nearly depleted, and the hindrances to my mobility should have worn off.

Now’s the time!

Hwoong!

Harnessing the effect of my shoes, my Blood Knight surged forward, enveloped in wind.

The Elementalist scrambled to retreat, but…

BAM

Calmly, I employed the ‘Blood Grasp’ skill, seizing the fleeing wizard by the neck.

“It’s over!”

I whispered triumphantly, swiftly executing the ultimate combo.

I created a clone with ‘Embryo’ and released a ‘Blood Mist,’ scattering droplets of blood. Then, using the ‘Red Ice’ skill, I froze the Elementalist, setting the stage for the ultimate move.

Swooaaang.

A crimson storm whirled around the Blood Knight. It was the ‘Vortex of Vampirism.’

In addition, I unleashed rapid basic attacks to maximize damage.

The Elementalist’s life bar was slashed in large chunks.

In contrast, my Blood Knight, with only around 10% of its life remaining, started rapidly replenishing its health.

But then, in that critical moment, the wizard began to chant a spell. I initially brushed it off, thinking his mana should be depleted…

[Draconis!]

Hwaruruk!

“What, what is this?”

Above the Elementalist, trapped in the grasp of my Blood Knight, a crimson dragon’s head materialized, spewing intense flames.

Wait, this… It’s insane, it defies logic!

“Dragon Breath?”

The ultimate fire skill, ‘Dragon Breath.’

Typically, it’s an area-of-effect attack, but since the two characters were in close proximity, the flames concentrated in a single spot.

“Ah, ah-ah!”

As I screamed, my character, lacking sufficient flame resistance due to an equipment change, was reduced to ashes in an instant.

“This, [email protected]!”

[PkApplyMemo has died. His bravery will be remembered forever.]

As the screen filled with red letters, I let out a scream.

“Ughaaak!”

►To Trickster: You hack-using bastard

►To Trickster: Using ‘Frozen Earth’, ‘Lightning Spirit’,

►To Trickster: And even ‘Dragon Breath’?

►To Trickster: Do you get 2 skill points per level up?

►To Trickster: [email protected]?

[>Trickster: …….

►To Trickster: …….Sounding the same, you hack-using bastard

►To Trickster: After getting old,

Trickster: Come in first.

I accepted the invitation message the guy sent with a smirk.

[Hacker Bastard: Hey, you hack-using bastard]

[Trickster: Calm down.]

[Hacker Bastard: Calm, you say]

[Hacker Bastard: Where do you live, you [email protected]]

[Trickster: Calm down.]

“Ughaaak!”

Overwhelmed by anger, I forcefully slammed my desk and let out a piercing scream.

As I mentioned earlier, if I were to line up all the characters I’ve lost in Dark World, they could march around a military parade ground five and a half times.

I wouldn’t have been so infuriated if I had lost fair and square.

Sure, some might argue that I have no right to complain because I used tricks like equipment swapping. But that’s just an in-game strategy, not a hack like manipulating skill points, right?

In the midst of venting my frustration in the chat, Trickster approached and proposed a trade.

[Hacker Bastard: What’s this?]

The items that appeared in the trade window were the equipment I had been using.

Half of ‘PkApplyMemo’s’ equipment consisted of ‘Soul Bound Equipment,’ which vanished upon character death, but the breastplate, belt, shoes, and accessories remained.

I silently accepted the trade but continued to converse in the chat.

[Hacker Bastard: What’s this?]

[Hacker Bastard: The demon sword]

[Hacker Bastard: The all-resistance shield]

[Hacker Bastard: The 3-skill helmet]

[Trickster: I’m sorry it turned out this way.]

After venting for a while, my head started to cool down. I sighed and tapped on the keyboard.

[Hacker Bastard: So, middle-aged guys are resorting to hacks now?]

[Trickster: It’s not a hack.]

[Hacker Bastard: It’s not my ass.]

[Trickster: I told you it’s not.]

[Hacker Bastard: Then what is it?]

[Hacker Bastard: What is it?]

[Trickster: …….It’s like a hidden quest.]

“[email protected] Bullshit……”

I muttered in annoyance and took a gulp of water.

A hidden quest? In a game that’s been around for 20 years?

[Hacker Bastard: So, while I was grinding thousands of low-level characters, I didn’t know about this.]

[Hacker Bastard: Tell me too, let’s try playing like a true warrior after maxing out the class.]

[Trickster: I can’t tell you.]

[Hacker Bastard: Of course, it’s probably full of viruses, a hack.]

[Trickster: It’s not a hack.]

[Hacker Bastard: Then what is it, you parrot?]

[Trickster: There’s no point in telling you. It’s not something you can complete.]

“I really want to kill him……” 

I gritted my teeth and typed furiously.

[Hacker Bastard: Why can’t I complete it?]

[Hacker Bastard: Stop with the bullshit about a hidden quest.]

[Trickster: It’s not something you can find easily. You need to receive an invitation.]

[Hacker Bastard: What invitation? An invitation to a hack club?]

[Hacker Bastard: Send me one too, let’s play making a fraudulent character.]

[Trickster: Do you want to be invited? You might regret it.]

[Hacker Bastard: [email protected] Regret]

[Hacker Bastard: I regret having a duel with a hacker bastard.]

[Trickster: Alright. I’ll send it.]

[Trickster: It will arrive before the day is over.]

“What’s he talking about?”

I tried to type a reply, but he had already left the room.

“This bastard……”

In my rage, I sent an angry note filled with profanity, but…

[The player does not exist.]

“……Huh?”

I furrowed my brow and double-checked the name.

“T, R, I, C, K, S, T, E, R, Trickster. That’s right, isn’t it?”

[The player does not exist.]

“Huh? What?”

I attempted multiple times, but in the end, the message failed to send.