Villain Ch 173. Did You Manage to Make Him Rage Quit?
In the midst of the bustling entrance of Eyon village, Liam materialized near Thera, right after his lifeless avatar vanished from the dungeon. His eyes darted around, taking in the surroundings. The village was abuzz with activity, players rushing about, engrossed in their quests, and the NPCs bustling to serve their needs.
His attention was quickly drawn to Darren, who was seated on a nearby bench. With a smirk playing on his lips, Liam approached Darren, moving with a swagger that reflected his confidence. He plopped down beside his friend.
Darren, with a nonchalant expression, quipped, "Did he also kick your ass?" It was a rhetorical question, one that had become all too familiar. It wasn't surprising, considering their classes were not focused on pure damage output.
Liam shrugged, a casual gesture that belied the frustration he felt. He waved his hand dismissively and summoned his inventory screen, deftly navigating through the virtual interface to retrieve a healing potion. Sighing, he replied, "Yep. He sure did."
Darren's frown deepened, a mixture of annoyance and resignation. His frustration spilled over as he voiced his complaint, "Why didn't you just run, you dumb head? You saw how he wiped the floor with me. It's obvious you can't beat him."
Liam's lips curled into a smug smile, a glimmer of confidence dancing in his eyes. He took a moment to savor the taste of victory, albeit a small one. "Ah, but here's the thing," he began, his voice dripping with playful arrogance. "I managed to land a blow on him. Can't say the same as you." He glanced at Darren, his gaze holding a mix of teasing and challenge. "You may act all mighty, but your skills haven't progressed one bit. You should stop imitating his attitude when you haven't even reached his level yet," Liam scoffed.
Ignoring Liam's earlier mockery, Darren leaned in closer and asked in a mocking tone, "So, tell me, how did you manage to land that 'amazing blow'? Did you throw a pebble at him? Inflict a whopping 1-point of damage? Maybe just a little scratch?" His voice was laced with doubt, as if he couldn't fathom Liam achieving anything significant against their rival.
Liam's sly smile widened, relishing the opportunity to share his triumph. He leaned back casually, his eyes gleaming with mischief. "Oh, it was even better than that," he teased, drawing out the suspense.
Darren's curiosity peaked, and he leaned forward eagerly, his eyes locked on Liam. "Well, don't keep me waiting. Spill it. Did you manage to make him rage quit? Did you land a critical hit that shattered his confidence?" He offered a random guess, hoping for something extraordinary.
Liam's smirk grew wider, a flicker of satisfaction in his eyes. "Maybe, I managed to make him rage quit," he replied, his voice filled with smug confidence that hinted at an intriguing revelation.
Darren's eyes widened in surprise, his skepticism momentarily overshadowed by curiosity. "You're not serious, are you?" he asked, unable to contain his anticipation. "Explain."
Liam's pride was evident as he prepared to reveal the secret behind his supposed victory. With a confident gleam in his eyes, he took a deep breath before explaining, "I mocked him."
A frown etched itself on Darren's forehead as he struggled to comprehend Liam's claim. "Wait, you're telling me that all it took was mocking him? And you believe that's enough to actually hurt him? Have you lost your common sense?" he jeered, his tone tinged with disbelief.
Liam's annoyance flickered across his face, his irritation palpable. He clicked his tongue in exasperation before retorting, "Tch! That's supposed to be for you!" He rubbed his temples, trying to keep his composure. "Just listen to me. Do you remember how upset he was when we told him we signed up with Elio? Do you recall how devastated he seemed? The hurt in his eyes?" Liam prodded, hoping to jog Darren's memory.
Darren's brow furrowed as he reflected on that moment. "Yeah, I remember," he admitted. It was a memory that lingered vividly in his mind—the first time he had witnessed the disappointment etched across Allen's face.
Liam seized on that moment, a spark of realization shining in his eyes. "Exactly! It was his pride that took a hit that day," he explained.
Liam continued his explanation, his voice filled with a mixture of amusement and triumph. "So, I simply reminded him of that incident and mentioned why we chose to leave him behind. Elio mentioned that Allen wants to be a lone wolf in this game, right? I bet it's because we left him. And Allen is traumatized by that," Liam scoffed, his tone tinged with a hint of satisfaction.
Darren nodded, the pieces of the puzzle starting to come together in his mind. "Hmm... that actually makes sense," he murmured, a newfound understanding dawning upon him.
Liam couldn't resist adding fuel to the fire, a playful glint in his eyes. "Oh, and here's the icing on the cake," he chimed in. "I casually mentioned how he could never become a top player in this game because he couldn't solo the Devil Emperor. I wonder if that hit a nerve and pushed him to quit this game and switch to some silly RPG," Liam mocked, relishing in his words.
Darren couldn't help but chuckle at the thought. "Erotic RPG would be more fitting for him," he jested, a smirk curling his lips. "I heard from Elio that Allen was picked up by a group of women at a restaurant. Maybe he's paying them to make him look 'cool' or something. I swear, I can't stand how he always plays innocent as if he doesn't attract anyone's attention," Darren grumbled, a hint of annoyance seeping into his voice.
"Yeah, he's annoying as hell," Liam agreed, a tinge of frustration evident in his voice. Shifting his focus, he asked, "Anyways, where's Elio?"
Darren glanced around, scanning the area for any sign of their friend. "He should be showing up any minute now," he replied, his anticipation palpable. They had arranged to meet at this spot to join Elio's guild.
A mischievous glimmer danced in Liam's eyes as he posed his next question. "Is he going to bring Sophia with him?" His voice carried a hint of excitement, curiosity tinged with a touch of longing.
Darren shrugged. "I hope so," he admitted, a flicker of curiosity coloring his tone. "I still wonder why Allen and Sophia broke up," he mused aloud, his thoughts drifting to their former comrade's failed romance.
Liam tapped Darren's shoulder, his expression filled with assurance. "Elio mentioned that Sophia herself would explain everything to us later, right? Let's just wait for her side of the story," he suggested, trying to ease Darren's uncertainty. "But regardless of the reason, I think I'll try to approach her," he added, a hint of determination creeping into his voice.
Darren turned to face Liam, a mixture of doubt and concern etched on his features. "What if the reason for their breakup was that she betrayed Allen?" he questioned, his skepticism evident.
Liam paused, contemplating Darren's words. After a moment, he responded. "Well, didn't we betray him too when we decided to leave him behind? Perhaps Sophia had her reasons, just like we did," he reasoned.
Darren nodded, acknowledging the validity of Liam's point. "I hope so," he whispered, a glimmer of hope shining in his eyes.
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