Chapter 62: Red Moon Bloodline (3)

“After Kreetzone became a star in the night sky.

Ding.

[Betrayer ‘Kreetzone Clan’ has been executed by ‘Silverhair’!]

[Penalty applied to players affiliated with Kreetzone Clan.]

The server system message dryly announced the end of the incident.

A moment later—

Kreetzone and his clan members respawned at the revival point with vacant expressions.

They were sprawled out like defeated soldiers, looking so pitiful it almost evoked sympathy.

“Urgh!”

Then they checked their status windows—and fell into another wave of despair.

[You died with the ‘Betrayer’ status!]

[Special penalty has been applied!]

[Debuff: Mark of Betrayal]

-15% less EXP gained from hunting.

-15% less gold gained from hunting.

-All stats reduced by 5%.

-Unable to trade with or receive quests from some NPCs.

-Duration: 7 in-game days.

Fortunately, it wasn’t a crippling penalty severe enough to make them quit.

The devs must’ve accounted for the streamer server’s unique environment.

Enough to raise the stakes, but not enough to ruin the fun.

‘We’re screwed.’

Kreetzone sighed.

Honestly, more than the penalty itself—

What stung more was being completely wrecked in front of tens of thousands of viewers.

[Kreetzone got clapped!]

[Lost to 1 person with a whole party of 11 lololol]

[Even got cannon sniped at the end hahaha]

[Silverhair’s just insane tho]

[You couldn’t even land a hit with 11 people lololol]

Chat was still roasting him—dozens of messages per second.

And honestly, he couldn’t argue.

They had lost without doing a thing.

As Kreetzone clutched his head—

“Um, Kreetzone?”

One of the clan members spoke up hesitantly.

“You think if we ask, she’ll still give us the two million gold…?”

“Seriously?”

Like hell she would.

He hadn’t realized it in the heat of the moment, but now that his head had cooled—

It was kind of messed up to ambush a fellow streamer, even if she was just an aspiring one.

At the very least, they should’ve talked it out beforehand.

If Silverhair genuinely took offense and demanded more penalties, Kreetzone Clan wouldn’t have much of a leg to stand on.

To avoid that—

They might have to deliver an offering. Even if it was humiliating.

“…Let’s bring a gift and apologize later.”

---

“So… that’s the extent of the penalty?”

Zeronix looked at his monitor and asked Frost.

“Yes. If it’s too harsh, we might lose players from the server.”

Frost answered evenly.

The server was booming right now, so it was unlikely anyone would quit.

Still, risk management mattered. Balance was key.

“What about the damage?”

“Lavon died once, but Kreetzone had all the items. He promised to return them, and Lavon said it was fine.”

Zeronix nodded.

Those two were friendly—there’d be no issue.

“What about the poisoned crops and food?”

“Minimal impact. All the stolen goods were kept by Kreetzone Clan, and the poison only caused brief stat debuffs.”

Kreetzone had thought it through to some extent.

He caused trouble, but within limits he could clean up.

That’s veteran streamer instincts for you.

No major harm done, so no need for harsh punishment.

“Still, looked like he genuinely tried to take down Silverhair.”

“Yeah. The crop raiding and poisoning were all groundwork for hunting her.”

Zeronix remarked offhandedly.

The goal was to cut off her support and finish her during the chaos.

That was Kreetzone’s plan.

But in the end—

Silverhair wasn’t even scratched.

She came out completely untouched.

“Bet even Kreetzone didn’t expect this. He might owe her a thank-you.”

They’d attacked her full force.

And failed spectacularly.

“So much for penalties. What about rewards? Anything for Silverhair?”

“We didn’t tell Kreetzone, but the 15% XP and gold loss from the penalties—all of that goes to Silverhair.”

“Think that’s enough?”

The total 15% XP and gold from every Kreetzone Clan member.

Not a small amount.

But the victim’s opinion mattered most.

“Yes. I confirmed with her.”

Frost replied with confidence.

“Right after the ambush, I whispered to her to check if she was dissatisfied with the handling or rewards.”

Frost recalled their short conversation.

She hadn’t slain monsters, but rather monster-allied players.

Still, she was the hero who saved the town.

They needed to preemptively manage any dissatisfaction.

“Hello, Silverhair. This is Frost, a server admin. May I speak with you for a moment?”

At the unexpected whisper, Silverhair looked around in confusion.

After a moment, she seemed to realize it was from an admin.

‘Total newbie vibes, right there.’

Clumsy with game systems, yet a physical monster.

That must be what raw talent looks like, Frost thought.

“Regarding the Kreetzone Clan punishment and your reward. First…”

Frost calmly explained the prepared details.

The penalties for Kreetzone and his clan.

The rewards going to Silverhair.

“If anything feels insufficient or if you want more…”

He carefully asked for her input.

And still worried a little.

What if she demanded excessive rewards?

“No, it’s fine.”

“Also…”

“PvP was fun.”

Instead of complaints or demands—

Silverhair just said she enjoyed it.

“…She said it was fun?”

An 11v1 ambush.

Most players would at least express frustration.

But Silverhair—

Treated it like enjoyable content.

Though it caught him off guard at first—

“Thank you for your gracious attitude. I’ll pass that along to Kreetzone as well.”

Her leniency made things easier for the devs.

Frost gave a brief thank-you, then ended the whisper.

“…That concludes my report.”

Frost finished his explanation.

“Pffft!”

Zeronix couldn’t hold back a laugh.

“She really isn’t normal. But hey, it made for great content.”

Kreetzone may have lost face.

But it was definitely buzzworthy.

From the admin’s point of view, Zeronix was pleased.

“By the way, has Silverhair’s streamer application still not gone through?”

“No. Soopjijik’s focused on our server right now. Everything’s backed up.”

Yoo Seo-yeon had no idea.

But the delay in her application was because of the very server she’d made famous.

With all the attention and ad revenue, everyone was swamped.

New streamer applications were indefinitely on hold until the server closed.

“Shame, though. She’s gotten so much attention. It’d be a waste if she doesn’t make it in time.”

Zeronix pulled out his phone and made a call.

“Ah, Director. Have you eaten? Haha. About that thing we talked about…”

---

Meanwhile, at the same time—

The Rune Slayer, Argon.

He was rewatching the just-ended ‘Silverhair vs Kreetzone Clan’ highlight reel with his viewers.

Though calling it a highlight was generous. The fight was too one-sided.

‘Wow… This can’t be real.’

His jaw practically dropped.

Against eleven streamers supposedly decent at Pixelwars—

She had overwhelming composure.

The way she used Aegis’ Touch to turn Kreetzone into a firework at the end—it felt like she was toying with them.

[Think our host could 1v11 too?]

[No cap, probably yes?]

[Eleven’s a stretch though]

[Still, our host’s a former pro lolol]

“O-of course I could take them. What are you guys saying… haha…”

Argon laughed nervously at his chat.

Honestly… 11?

He wasn’t sure.

Maybe three or four.

But eleven?

‘That’s not human.’

What Silverhair showed—

Wasn’t PvP as he knew it.

It wasn’t even the same game.

He muttered quietly in his heart.

‘…Let’s not get cocky.’

Argon had considered challenging Silverhair.

He was an ex-pro gamer, and viewers had already started polls on who would win: Silverhair vs Argon.

As a former pro, he had confidence.

But the more he rewatched the footage, the more that confidence melted away.

If he charged in and got wrecked like Kreetzone, he wouldn’t be able to show his face.

‘But… what if Silverhair challenges me to PvP?’

She didn’t seem the type to launch a betrayal attack like Kreetzone.

Still, player-versus-player was always an option.

If she offered, how would he dodge it?

Pretend to have a stomachache?

She wouldn’t hit someone with a tummy ache, right?

He’d fake some condition and back out somehow.

“A-anyway. If Silverhair played Raid & Master, she’d be amazing. That physicality is just crazy.”

At that moment, chat was buzzing about ‘Silverhair vs Argon duel’—

So Argon quickly changed the topic.

“She’d totally fly through it. Don’t you agree, guys?”

He prompted his viewers, steering the topic away.

But it wasn’t all empty talk.

As a former Raid & Master pro—

He’d seen countless aspiring players and could spot real talent.

‘That kind of physicality is insane.’

Pixelwars and Raid & Master were totally different games—

But even accounting for that, she stood out.

[Yeah, she’d probably be cracked.]

[Her movement’s just built different lololol]

[Argon’s scared of getting clapped—respect lmao]

[Still, Argon’s a pro. He’d win.]

[Wait, didn’t Silverhair play R&M on Raidel’s stream once?]

“Huh? She played R&M?”

Argon tilted his head.

She played Raid & Master with that kind of talent?

If she did, it should’ve caused a stir.

People would’ve talked about a female challenger-tier player.

But he hadn’t heard a thing.

Which meant—

She probably didn’t make much of a splash.

So maybe she’s just good at Pixelwars?

Slight disappointment.

And some relief.

Argon finally spoke.

“So, where can I watch Silverhair’s R&M gameplay? On Raidel’s stream?”