The Demon emperor logged into a Divine Game

Chapter 5 — Scheming Against A Demonic Cultivator

The village was still noisy when Ravan stepped out of the training room.

Players stood around the square talking over each other. Some had run to their instructors. Others stood refreshing the announcement on their interface.

“Player XXXX?”

“He created an Arank skill?”

“The game just opened.”

“Maybe it’s a hidden class.”

“Then where is he?”

“Why would he stand around after hiding his name?”

Ravan walked past them without stopping.

Near the side of the square, Tobin saw the sword first.

He was standing with Garrick and Tessa. He stopped midsentence when Ravan passed, his eyes following the blade across Ravan’s back.

“That sword looks special,” Tobin said.

Garrick looked up and saw Ravan heading toward the forest path. A new player, alone, already heading for the forest.

“He’s going out by himself?” Tessa asked.

Tobin’s eyes were still on the sword. “Looks like it.”

Garrick smiled. “Then let’s ask.”

They moved without waiting.

Garrick reached him first.

“Hey.”

Ravan kept walking.

“You heading out already?” Garrick asked.

“Yes.”

“Alone?”

“Yes.”

Garrick gave a short laugh. “That’s one way to lose EXP.”

Ravan looked at him once.

“Relax.” Garrick fell into step beside him. “We’re short one. Basic forest run. Nothing serious.”

Tobin came up on the other side. He tried to look casual but his eyes kept dropping back to the sword.

Tessa stayed a step behind Garrick. “We’re only hunting near the village. Boars, lizards, maybe some materials if the drop rate is decent.”

“Normal drops split evenly,” Garrick added. “Anything good, we roll for it.”

Ravan looked at them.

Garrick’s smile stayed in place. Tobin’s eyes had not stayed still since he first saw the sword. Tessa watched Ravan’s face instead of talking too much.

They thought he was a lucky beginner with a good weapon.

He still needed to learn how parties worked in this world. EXP sharing. Loot rules. Support skills. Player behavior outside the safe zone. If they were planning something, that was useful too.

Ding! Player Garrick has invited you to join a party.

Accept / Decline

Ravan selected Accept.

Ding! You have joined Garrick’s party.

Party Members: Garrick, Tobin, Tessa, Ravan.

Only names appeared. No stats. No classes.

Garrick nodded. “Good. We move quick. Don’t pull more than one group at a time.”

Tobin grinned. “And don’t freeze if something charges.”

Tessa looked at him. “First run and you’re already trying to scare people?”

“Better than dying because someone panicked.”

Ravan said nothing.

Garrick seemed to take the silence as nerves.

The group left the beginner village through the forest path.

Ding! You have left Beginner Village.

Safe zone protection has been removed.

Death outside the safe zone will result in EXP loss.

The village noise fell away behind them.

Garrick walked at the front. Tobin drifted to Ravan’s side.

Tobin looked at the sword again.

“Scheming against the demon emperor, you’re a thousand years too early.”

Ravan sneered as he kept walking.