Chapter Seven: The Mysterious Man in the Mask

Shen Ce narrowed his eyes, the cold, dark gaze betraying a tangled web of emotion. Was this person offering to help him? Yet, he did not know him. What was his true purpose? At that moment, Shen Ce’s basic reconnaissance skill had finished its cooldown, and he swiftly cast it toward the mysterious figure perched atop the treetop.

A mechanical chime sounded: “Ding—Sorry, unable to identify.” The system’s voice was tinged with helplessness. Shen Ce was startled, a heavy mist seeming to cloud his vision—given his full-time leveling strategy and the advantage of his early profession change, how could any player in “Heaven’s Dominion” possibly be more than five levels above him?

But the situation allowed no further contemplation. The warrior at the front, known as Bloodthirsty Wild Wolf, let out a cold snort: “Hah! Didn’t expect you’d have backup!” He drew his steel blade from its sheath and launched a Wolf Slash.

Everyone in “Heaven’s Dominion” knew that classes like priests and mages were the most fragile; their health and defense were unimpressive, and if a warrior with high attack got close, their fate needed no further explanation.

Bloodthirsty Wild Wolf’s gaze locked onto Shen Ce, a triumphant smile on his face. A mere priest—this Wolf Slash would leave him dead or half-crippled.

Yet, what happened next defied all expectations. The sharp steel blade did not strike the white-robed priest as anticipated. In the split second before impact, it pierced directly into Bloodthirsty Wild Wolf’s own chest.

The noon sun blazed overhead, a gentle breeze brushing past the crowd’s collars. Bloodthirsty Wild Wolf’s face twisted into an exaggerated, almost comical expression, his eyes bulging as he stared at the blade embedded in his chest. His trembling hands tried to pull it out, and blood sprayed forth, staining the grass a vivid crimson. With a heavy thud, a hulking figure collapsed to the ground.

The three men standing behind Bloodthirsty Wild Wolf barely caught how the white-robed priest had nimbly evaded the strike, but they could not see the shadow that reversed the blade into Bloodthirsty Wild Wolf’s heart.

It was simply too fast—a fleeting shadow left in the air, the sound of wind brushing against a hem, like a bolt of lightning that split the sky in a blink.

“What?! Impossible!” Bloodthirsty Wild Wolf was one of the top ten warriors in “Heaven’s Dominion,” yet he had been dispatched so effortlessly?

What kind of terrifying attack power was this? What kind of speed?

Silence fell, and all eyes turned to one figure. He stood at ease, as though out for a stroll, untouched by blood or murderous intent, only a silver mask on his face, unsettling in its strangeness.

An inexplicable tension thickened the air. The three companions of Bloodthirsty Wild Wolf stared, stupefied, at the masked man, as if the scorching sun had sapped their strength—was this person even human?

The female priest, sensing the tide turning, vanished in a flash of white light—logging out, unwilling to risk losing levels and experience. The two male mages were stunned, not expecting their teammate to abandon them so ruthlessly. They glanced at each other, then at the fading corpse of Bloodthirsty Wild Wolf. In three minutes, he would respawn in place and still be in PK mode, unable to log out for fifteen minutes. Should they wait and join forces with their leader against Shen Ce and the masked man, or log out now while not in PK mode?

The two mages exchanged a look, recalling the masked man’s terrifying power. Their hesitation faded, but Shen Ce gave them no chance to escape. He unleashed a sustained ranged AoE spell—he was not one to show mercy, and letting enemies slip away would only make things harder for himself.

“You have initiated malicious PK against two players and are now in PK mode.”

Shen Ce’s action cut off the mages’ retreat. They had not expected a mere priest to provoke them so brazenly. Furious, they hurled a Fire Blast and a Rock Strike in retaliation.

Flames roared, stones and sand surged toward the white-robed priest, but their grand assault was quickly blocked by a pale shield of light.

“How is this possible—he knows Barrier of Light, a level 23 spell?” The fire mage gaped, feeling as if bad luck had descended—first the masked man was a monster, now the priest was no pushover either.

Shen Ce’s icy gaze bore into the two mages astride their chestnut mounts, a cold, merciless aura emanating from him, yet there was no discord with his sacred priest robes.

Both mages felt a chill down their spines under his stare, anxiety gnawing at them. They quickly recovered, cursing their own cowardice—it was humiliating to be cowed by the game’s weakest class. After chugging two mana potions each, they unleashed a barrage of spells at Shen Ce.

Shen Ce let out a cold laugh, his thin lips forming a sharp, resolute line, as if unfazed by the reduction in his HP. He formed seals with his hands, murmured incantations, and targeted the fire mage first. His strongest move, Lightning Break, struck, and the fire mage was instantly reduced to a flash of white light, leaving behind several potions—a sign he had lost a level and respawned.

The earth mage drew a sharp breath, his face paling. Witnessing the level 24 Lightning Break, he finally realized what kind of opponent he had provoked. Few players had reached level 24 in “Heaven’s Dominion,” and warriors and mages perhaps—but this was a priest!

As the earth mage stood dumbfounded, a milky-white mist enveloped him—Daze spell paired with Wrath of Light—and he too lost a level, returning to the city’s respawn point.

The battle between Shen Ce and the two mages lasted barely a minute or two, while the mysterious masked man watched with detached amusement, his brows barely raised, betraying no intent to join the fray.

Shen Ce stored the equipment and potions dropped by the mages, gazing quietly at the inscrutable masked man. He was about to speak when he saw the once-faded corpse behind the masked man suddenly come alive.

“Watch out—” Shen Ce’s eyelid twitched, his warning urgent.

A steel blade fell from above, aimed straight at the masked man's head, but the man did not even turn. His slender fingers casually caught the blade’s edge.

His thin lips curled slightly, his demeanor as relaxed as if plucking a flower—the essence of tranquility and poise.

Bloodthirsty Wild Wolf, newly revived, was terrified, teetering on the brink of collapse—was this man a bug spawned by the system? Shen Ce was equally shocked, unconsciously pressing his lips together. This masked man was, without doubt, the most formidable he had ever encountered. Shen Ce asked himself, if he were Bloodthirsty Wild Wolf, could he have survived? He dared not answer, a heaviness settling in his heart.

Blade rose and fell; blood splattered. Bloodthirsty Wild Wolf lost a level and vanished in a flash of white light. A resounding clang echoed, and a steel blade appeared on the ground—the very one Bloodthirsty Wild Wolf had used.

Shen Ce’s gaze shifted from the blade to the masked man’s silver cloak—his attire revealed nothing of his class, but paired with his terrifying speed, deadly strength, and that enigmatic mask...

After some analysis, Shen Ce finally asked, half certain, half unsure, “Are you an assassin?”

If so, everything made more sense. Assassins, like thieves, excelled at disguise, moved swiftly, and specialized in deadly strikes. Shen Ce’s eyes lingered on the mask, suspecting it might block his reconnaissance skill. He still refused to believe any player was five levels above him, since the shops sold temporary disguise masks with similar effects.

The masked man smiled at Shen Ce but neither nodded nor shook his head. Shen Ce took it as tacit confirmation.

Seeing the man uninterested in retrieving the steel blade, Shen Ce felt puzzled—soon the system would clear it away. He picked up the blade and offered, “How about we split the equipment and potions dropped by the three earlier—half each?” Shen Ce disliked owing favors, and dividing loot was a practical solution.

The man said nothing, and Shen Ce worried his method displeased him: “Alternatively, you take all the equipment, I take the potions?” Equipment was clearly more valuable, especially Bloodthirsty Wild Wolf’s blade, but the man had saved his life, so such a division was fair.

“No need, keep it for yourself.” The masked man’s voice was deep and elegant, as if echoing across distant waters, elusive and ethereal.

Shen Ce was taken aback, an odd feeling rising within him. He was not unaccustomed to such generosity—previously, Han Qishao had gifted him a manual in exchange for a favor—but this man was a stranger, not seeking equipment, and had no prior enmity with Bloodthirsty Wild Wolf. Why had he helped?

Was it simply a distaste for Bloodthirsty Wild Wolf’s arrogant ways?

“Celos. That’s my name.” As Shen Ce pondered, he heard the man’s introduction.

Shen Ce was momentarily stunned, caught in the other’s clear gaze—a gaze that did not flinch. He met Shen Ce’s eyes directly, his silver cloak billowing in the wind.

Something felt off to Shen Ce, but after a moment’s hesitation, he cleared his throat and managed a slight smile. “I’m Zero.”