100% Assassination If I Do It Openly

"I told you my guide was useful, didn't I?" Elena said proudly, flashing a mischievous grin at Damian as she leaned against the doorframe. "Yesterday, you made six hundred, and today, you raked in six thousand!"

"Yeah, yeah, you're right," Damian replied casually, giving her an absent nod.

Most of that six thousand came from selling the superior longsword he'd looted from Grant. After buying the Blade Dance skill book, that was what remained.

But there was no need for Elena to know the details—or the fact that he'd nearly been ambushed and killed. If she found out, she'd probably worry herself sick.

Glancing at her, Damian couldn't help but think about the siblings he'd met earlier, Lucas and Amelia.

In just a year, Elena would also be stepping into the world of Divine Genesis.

And Divine Genesis was no playground.

Because death in the game didn't lead to real death but instead resulted in the permanent loss of access to the game, people didn't treat killing as a crime. In the game's early days, actions like stealing in-game items were legally prosecuted. Now, even theft wasn't punished.

As a result, many darker impulses that were restrained in the real world found free rein in Divine Genesis.

What if Elena, naive and stubborn as she was, got bullied in the Starter Zone?

Should he stay at Level 10, like Lucas, and wait a year to help her?

The thought lingered for a moment before Damian dismissed it.

He had an SSS-tier talent. In one year, if he played his cards right, he could easily reach Level 40 or beyond. By then, he'd be strong enough to protect Elena in more significant ways.

Being stuck at Level 10 would limit his potential and wouldn't help her once she left the Starter Zone.

Better to focus on building his power base now. By the time she joined, he could welcome her to a faction he controlled, and with a grand gesture, say:

"Look at this empire. I built it for you."

The thought brought a smile to his face.

"What are you grinning about, huh? I'm talking to you!"

Damian snapped back to reality just as Elena slapped him lightly on the face.

"Ow! What?" he asked, rubbing his cheek.

"I want some spending money!" Elena demanded, holding out her hand with an air of authority. "You made a ton because of my guide, so it's only fair you give me something!"

"You know what? You're right." Damian nodded in agreement, pulling a ten-credit bill from his pocket and handing it to her. "Use it wisely."

"Damian!" Elena hissed, glaring at him. "Do you want me to bite you?"

"Fine, fine. How much do you want?" Damian relented, hiding his amusement.

"Hmm…" Elena tilted her head, her eyes sparkling with mischief as she extended one finger cautiously. "How about... one hundred? I need a new dress."

A new dress?

When was the last time she had one?

"Buy a few," Damian said with a soft smile, pulling out five hundred credits and placing them in her hand. "Don't forget to bargain."

"Yes!" Elena cheered, practically bouncing with excitement. She was already chattering about which dresses to buy as she skipped off to her room.

Damian shook his head with a grin and stood up.

"I'll get dinner started," he announced.

"I'll help!" Elena chimed in, carefully tucking her money away before bounding after him.

Soon, the aroma of food wafted through the small apartment.

...

Later that night, Damian sat at the dining table, reading Elena's guide once more.

"The Black Rock Serpent..." he murmured thoughtfully.

Elena had dedicated several pages of her guide to analyzing this particular boss, one of the three major bosses in the Starter Zone.

Every boss had unique mechanics and triggers, and the Black Rock Serpent was no exception.

It had a "frenzy" mechanic that activated if it took more than 10% of its health in damage within ten seconds. Frenzied, the serpent's skill cooldowns halved, its defenses increased, and it would attack anything in range indiscriminately, ignoring aggro.

For coordinated teams, the frenzy mechanic was a nightmare, requiring careful damage control to avoid triggering it.

The safest way to kill the serpent was to whittle its health down slowly and steadily, ensuring it never entered a frenzy state.

There was, of course, a more reckless method: overpowering it while it was frenzied. However, that required a team of exceptionally geared and highly skilled players.

"No doubt Lucas will go for the slow and steady approach tomorrow," Damian mused. "With him and Amelia's high-tier gear, it's the most logical strategy."

As for himself...

"I'll probably just stay hidden and wait for my chance to strike," Damian chuckled.

After all, as an assassin, using Stealth to wait for an opening made perfect sense. Lucas would likely suggest it even if Damian didn't.

...

"Damian! Look at my new dress!"

Elena burst into the room, spinning in front of him in a princess-style dress that fell just below her knees.

Damian blinked, momentarily caught off guard.

The dress highlighted her delicate collarbones and framed her cheerful smile perfectly.

"It's nice," he said after a moment.

"What? Just the dress is nice?" Elena pouted, crossing her arms. "Aren't I the one who's supposed to be nice-looking?"

Before Damian could respond, she thrust a shopping bag into his arms.

"Here. I got you something too. Try it on!"

"You bought me something?" Damian asked, surprised, as he pulled out a sleek, autumn jacket. Without hesitation, he slipped it on.

"Perfect timing. It's almost fall," Elena said, nodding in approval as she walked around him. "See? I've got great taste!"

Her gaze shifted to the table, where the guide was still open.

"Hey, you're reading about the Black Rock Serpent?"

"Yeah," Damian replied. "I'm teaming up tomorrow to take it down."

Elena froze, her eyes widening.

"The Black Rock Serpent? Isn't the minimum level requirement to join a team for that Level 5?"

"Yep," Damian said with a smug grin. "Told you I'm a genius with an SSS-tier talent. Level 5 is nothing."

"Look at you, all cocky!" Elena huffed. "Fine, but listen carefully—when you're fighting the serpent, stay hidden. You're an assassin. Find a safe spot and wait it out."

"If your teammates seem incompetent, run. If they're decent, wait for the right moment to attack."

"Boss fights are no joke. Assassins are the best for hanging back and avoiding danger. Oh, and—"

As Elena continued her lecture, Damian couldn't help but smile.

Reaching out, he ruffled her hair.

"Don't worry," he said gently. "I'm a natural at playing dirty."