Hacking the Game Didn't Go as Intended

As Robin Hood spun around for a dramatic finish, an orcish-looking man who could easily pass for Gretchen’s older brother seized him by the collar, yanked him off the ground, and twisted him around like a helpless toddler. The man’s fierce countenance was unmistakably that of a true hardened bandit—a scoundrel whose vile deeds had undoubtedly drawn the disapproval of the goddess Seraphina at some point.

Without a word, the fiend delivered a crushing punch to the gut of the Robin Hood wannabe that had the man curling up like a folding screen before slumping unconscious.

The burly giant hurled the man to one of his lackeys as if he were nothing more than a ragdoll, then turned his cold, calculating gaze on Daisuke, Thalia, and the others who were now backed into a corner, surrounded by his men.

“We’ll sell that fool to the circus,” he muttered flatly, his voice devoid of emotion. “As for these two…” His eyes lingered over Thalia with an unsettling hunger. “I’ll have the boy sent to a slave trader, and the woman…” He smiled cruelly. “She’ll fetch a nice price at a brothel.”

Petrified, the guild clerk instinctively gripped her head, her body trembling uncontrollably as she sank to her knees. Her eyes were wide, and her teeth chattered in fear. But it wasn’t the bandit’s gaze—soft yet sinister—that caused her to crumble, nor was it the chilling threat of enslavement. No, the true source of her terror ran far deeper, connected to a haunting past she could never escape.

“Zephyr,” Daisuke called, his voice low and commanding. In a flash, the pup sprang from his clothes, landing with a snarl in front of the trembling Thalia. His hackles stood on end and his eyes glowed with a fierce protectiveness, daring anyone to get any closer.

In the same beat, Daisuke shifted into a battle stance, his daggers materializing in a smooth, reverse grip. The bandits visibly recoiled, their faces paling in instinctive fear.

“Boss,” one of the bandits shouted, panic creeping into his voice. “This brat—he’s one of the Fallen!”

“A Fallen?” another murmured, his complexion turning pale.

“Isn’t it supposed to be impossible to kill them?”

“Those pesky bastards,” one hissed under his breath.

The leader grunted, his grip tightening on the axe resting across his broad shoulders. “Being a Fallen means he’s immortal, not invincible. If we finish him off now, we’ll have plenty of time to slip away before he can call for backup.”

Emboldened by their leader’s unwavering confidence, the lackeys edged closer to their prey, their twisted grins stretching wider as they brandished their weapons, ready to strike.

“It’s a pity we won’t be able to profit from him,” the leader continued with an evil grin, eyes glinting with dark amusement. “But there’s no shortage of fools in Wonderelle. Sooner or later, they’ll wander out from behind their precious walls—just like these insects.”

The man’s final words rumbled from his throat in a low growl as his axe came crashing down like a sledgehammer. The deafening clang of metal on keratin echoed through the air as the sharp blades of the Lipanthyer’s Fang and Salamander’s Claw crossed to meet it.

BOOOOM!

Cracks splintered across the earth and Daisuke’s feet sank deep into the ground at the sheer force of the impact. Time seemed to stretch, each second dragging into eternity.

Thalia’s panicked scream cut through the stillness. Rocks and debris floated momentarily in the air, caught in the shockwave as the two warriors locked eyes, their fierce glares meeting like a storm brewing. Then, with chilling satisfaction, the leader’s lips curled into a sly grin.

SYUK-SYUK- SYUK!

The surrounding brush stirred briefly before a volley of arrows shot forth from hidden archers. Their aim was true, each bolt cutting through the air with lethal intent, seeking to silence the accursed Fallen and pave the way for a quick escape.

CLANGG- CLANGG- CLANGG- CLANGG~

But a sudden, resounding clash had the bandit’s sneering in frustration, their deadly projectiles ricocheting off a hard surface.

[Ironhide Bulwark +2]

[Rank: Rare

Type: Shield

Melee Defense Power: 15.9 | Magical Defense Power: 25.4 | Durability: 48/59

The Ironhide Bulwark is a formidable shield, its surface dominated by the menacing visage of an Orc chieftain, forever immortalized in iron. The etched face, with its fierce glare and battle-worn scowl, seems to challenge enemies to strike, only to meet an impenetrable wall.

Reinforced with layers of hardened steel, this shield excels at repelling both physical blows and magical attacks, making it an indomitable defense for any seasoned warrior.

▪︎ Defense +5

▪︎ Knockback Chance +51%

▪︎ Petrification Chance +35%

Conditions of Use: Lvl 26+ | Strength 85+ | Stamina 65+]

[Petrification Status]

[A creeping curse invades the target’s body, progressively turning flesh to stone and severely limiting movement until immobilization. Fully petrified foes are rendered helpless and can shatter upon impact. As breathing becomes increasingly difficult, health drains by 0.2% per second for 60 seconds. Duration can also be dependent on the level and grade of the weapon or skill used to apply the status effect, as well as the target’s level of resistance.]

Sparks erupted from the grating clash of the Lipanthyer’s Fang against the leader’s axe, even while Daisuke deftly maneuvered the shield in his right hand to fend off incoming arrows.

“RAWRR!”

Zephyr’s mana-forged fangs sank into the jugular of a bandit foolish enough to venture too close, leaving the man crumpling lifelessly to the ground. The brutal display earned the tiny canine a newfound wariness from the remaining bandits.

In response, a sharp whistle summoned a pack of Bearhounds from the surrounding brush. The hulking beasts wasted no time, lunging at the lone pup with unrelenting ferocity, their massive forms circling him in a coordinated assault.

“AWRUU!”

“Zephyr!” Daisuke exclaimed.

The leader seethed with rage, his pride stung by the realization that this boy—likely a mere fraction of his own age—was fending off his mighty axe with just one arm. Yet, he refused to let his anger cloud his judgment. He had long since learned that judging a Fallen by their appearance was a fatal mistake. A fragile-looking old woman could possess the strength to rival a thousand Minotaurs, and no hint of that power would show on the surface.

With a sinister chuckle, the man hammered his axe against Daisuke’s blade in a flurry of strikes before hurling a small, suspicious sack to the ground. The bag burst open, unleashing a dense smokescreen that shrouded the battlefield in an impenetrable haze.

Amid the chaos, Thalia was swiftly seized, her muffled cries barely audible over the commotion, while Zephyr remained locked in a fierce struggle against his much larger counterparts.

As the bandits fled with their captives in tow, the archers lurking in the underbrush withdrew, but not without raining down a final barrage of arrows. Each shot was precise, ensuring that Daisuke remained firmly planted where he stood, unable to pursue.

The hounds, last to retreat, glanced nervously toward a growing disturbance. A low, foreboding rumble filled the air, growing louder with each passing second. The ground beneath their feet began to vibrate ominously, a sign that whatever approached was not far behind.

“Don’t tell me…” Daisuke’s face paled, his voice faltering. “Did they use an Insidious Incense?”

The answer arrived in the form of the first wave of Kobolds erupting from the woods in a frenzy. Unlike Repel Incense, which kept monsters at bay, Insidious Incense drew them in, stoking their hunger and driving them into a ravenous state.

The Kobold’s mouths dripped with thick saliva, eyes wild and glazed, their every movement fueled by an insatiable hunger. Talons scraped against the earth, and their jagged fangs gleamed, eager to rend flesh from bone in their relentless, bloodthirsty charge.

“Haxks!” Thalia cried, her voice cutting through the mist as she reached out from the back of a retreating horse, her figure barely visible in the swirling fog.

“Thalia!” Daisuke yelled in return, his heart pounding as he stretched toward her, helpless against the distance.

Through the Eye of Verity, Daisuke could see the girl’s tear-streaked face, her wide eyes filled with fear as the bandits made their hasty retreat on horseback.

A surge of anger and frustration coursed through him, intensifying with each second as her figure grew smaller, gradually consumed by the growing swarm of monsters spilling from the woods.