Night fell, yet the area remained well-lit from the barrage of Fire Spells bombarding Dexter in his Demonic form. Each Elemental Spell he endured made him flinch in pain.
Yet, Dexter continued to laugh like a maniac. His kill count now exceeded ten thousand, and his Combat Mastery and Specialization levels were nearing their maximum.
With his now Tier IX-equivalent equipment, his damage and combat abilities became far more prominent. Combined with the bonus percentage from his Specialization, he could kill any player wearing Tier VI or below with a single skill — no basic attack needed.
However, Dexter was not immortal. He died repeatedly, only to be resurrected each time by Bright, who remained invisible.
Even the attacking guilds were unsure whether to treat Dexter as an ally or to help the Limitless Alliance kill him. But their leader — who thought far ahead of the others — saw Dexter as an irreplaceable asset.
He commanded all the players under him to assist Dexter, not by approaching him, but by casting spells to enhance his damage, defenses, and even heal him when possible.
"DO YOU THINK IT'S FUN STEALING FROM ME?!" Dexter roared as he unleashed Flame Breath upon the nearby players.
"WE DON'T EVEN FUCKING KNOW YOU!" someone shouted.
"I DON'T CARE! YOU'LL ALL DIE BY MY HAND!" Dexter laughed.
Thousands of players emerged from the Crimson Tree Zone to reinforce the defense, only for Dexter to crush them all.
But moments later, Dexter froze — his body absorbing the full bombardment of the Limitless Alliance's spells.
"WAIT! STOP FOR A MOMENT!" Dexter roared.
Yet, the Limitless Alliance continued their relentless onslaught against him.
"I SAID WAIT, GODDAMNIT!" Dexter roared with such force that the shockwave rattled the battlefield.
Transforming back into human form — clad only in a loincloth and bracers — he casually took a seat on a nearby stone, right before the attacking guild.
His bizarre action sent waves of confusion through every player present.
(Dex... are you not done yet?) Stella whispered.
"/r No... not yet. Wait a few minutes — I'll teleport ba—"
Dexter's voice cut short as a pair of daggers stabbed through his nape, killing him instantly.
But Bright, true to his role, resurrected him immediately.
"FUCK!" Dexter shouted upon revival.
Dexter looked back, staring at the woman clad in black leather. Her curvaceous figure momentarily mesmerized him.
"Miss... wait... I don't want to fight you. Can we pause? I'm talking with someone..."
Mia immediately fell back, frowning at Dexter in confusion.
'His face seems familiar... Have we met before?' she wondered.
Everyone froze, their actions suspended mid-motion. Just moments ago, they had been united in attacking a World Boss; now they stood in bewildered silence, waiting for someone to take command.
Dexter turned to Bright once more, flashing him a grin.
"Well, I need to go now... ciao!"
With those final words, Dexter ended his own life — his body collapsing like a felled tree without warning.
Bright desperately attempted resurrection spells, but to no avail. Within seconds, Dexter's body decomposed before their eyes.
"What the fuck just happened?"
"Did he really just suicided?"
"Seriously... what? What now..."
Even Mia, who had delivered the killing blow to Dexter, stood frozen in confusion, her mouth agape. Memories flooded her mind — particularly of the man who had died after stripping in front of his girlfriend.
"ATTACK!"
A single command from the Attacking Guilds shattered the moment, reigniting the brutal battle. Mia slipped away from the chaos, uncertain of what to do next.
'Well, I killed him first, then he suicided. The 50 million bounty should still count... Right? If that bastard doesn't pay up, I'll just have to kill him.'
…
Dexter's body materialized inside their house. Stella had been lazily lounging on the bed while waiting, but the moment she saw him, she sprang up and ran to embrace him.
"Dex! I made so much coins! Sold tons of materials... Let's eat out tonight — my treat!" she announced excitedly.
"Wow... look at my girl, a regular millionaire," Dexter chuckled. "Alright... let's go."
Using the Traveler's magic, they teleported to Sunscar Kingdom. As they walked to their usual restaurant, Dexter ordered his standard modest meal while Stella — true to her nature — requested one of everything on the menu.
They ate peacefully, completely oblivious to the stares from other patrons.
After their meal, they returned to their island. Stella settled onto one end of the couch while Dexter stretched out, resting his head in her lap.
"How was your hunt, Dex? Did you have fun?" Stella asked, running her fingers through his hair.
"Eh... it was alright," he murmured in reply.
Stella didn't know what Dexter had really been hunting when he said he was going out, but she chose not to ask specifically. Even though they were lovers, they respected each other's privacy — not everything needed to be shared.
"What about you? Are you enjoying gathering? We could change Kingdoms if you want — it's so hot in the desert... Will you be okay?"
"I'm fine... though I do get bored sometimes. That's why I've been entering dungeons to kill goblins lately..."
Dexter sat up abruptly, his eyes wide as he stared at her.
"Stella..."
He bit his lip, knowing he could only ask — not demand — that she avoid dungeons.
"Alright... I'll craft you some proper gear," he conceded, voice softening. "That way you'll be safe wherever you go. Okay?"
Stella smiled and hugged him tightly as Dexter kissed the top of her head, cherishing the moment.
"Thank you, Dex... Oh, and I'll need a cloak that makes me invulnerable too..."
"Don't worry," he murmured against her hair. "I'll prepare all the gear you need to stay safe. Would you like me to come with you?"
"That's up to you," she replied, pulling back slightly to meet his eyes. "Are you finished with your hunting? I could join you instead, if you'd prefer..."
Dexter flicked Stella's forehead. While he knew she could help, the Uncharted Zone would be too dangerous for her.
"Ow! Why?" Stella pouted, her eyes glistening with tears.
"It's too dangerous out there," he said softly. "Maybe someday, after I craft something that can keep you safe even when I'm not around..."
"I just want to help..." she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.