Villain Ch 176. Switch 

The girls couldn't help but catch Allen's intense expression, and it sent a shiver down their spines. At that moment, they witnessed a side of his thirst for vengeance. It was a side that both intrigued and unsettled them, leaving their hearts racing in the silence that followed.

He then turned to them. As if a switch had been flipped, as suddenly as it had appeared, Allen's aura shifted. The killing intent dissipated, replaced by a warm smile that reached his eyes.

"So yeah, you don't have to worry about me," Allen reassured them, his voice returning to its calm and composed state. "Just put your concentration on our hunt and the upcoming event."

Allen's gaze then shifted towards Zoe, his expression turning thoughtful. "Also, Zoe," he directed his attention solely to her, a faint hint of teasing in his voice. "A strong and responsible woman is more attractive than anything else. Just be yourself."

Zoe couldn't help but feel a rush of emotions as Allen's words settled within her. It was as if he had given her permission to be her true self, to embrace her strength and individuality without reservation. She wanted to thank him, to express her gratitude for his encouragement, but the words got caught in her throat. Instead, she settled for a beaming smile that spoke volumes.

Allen turned his attention back to the hunt. The girls, still awestruck by the exchange, exchanged glances and silently agreed to follow Allen's lead.

But as they separated, Jane's voice broke the silence once again, causing the others to pause and turn their attention towards her.

"You know what?" Jane's voice was filled with a mix of amusement and intrigue. "He looks like one of those red-flag male leads from a dark romance novel. And I think... I really fell in love with him."

"Seriously?" Bella protested, her voice laced with shock and disbelief.

Jane, on the other hand, didn't back down. "Hey, we're all villains in this game. Let's embrace our dark side, including this irrational thing," she argued, defending her perspective.

Shea nodded in agreement, her tone reflecting a hint of mischief. "I kinda agree with her," she chimed in before turning her attention back to the hunt and moving away.

Alice chimed in as well. "I'm with Jane on this. It's just a game, and it offers us the opportunity to do things we can't do in the real world. So why not have some fun with it?" With that, she too ventured off to continue her own hunt.

Bella sighed, feeling slightly outnumbered but also aware that her friends had a point. "Alright, if you guys insist, I'll happily do my part," she relented, a playful glint in her eyes as she joined the others in their pursuit of monsters.

The hunt continued for another two hours. The field echoed with the clash of weapons and the sound of spells being cast. When the time showed 06.31 PM, the group decided to regroup and made their way back to the entrance of the cursed crypts.

Shortly, they all agreed it was time to break. They dispersed to attend to their respective activities, whether it was preparing a meal, grabbing a quick snack, or simply taking a rest and recharging.

Meanwhile, Allen took advantage of the break to attend to his own needs. He quickly prepared a satisfying dinner. Afterward, he indulged in a refreshing bath before he grabbed his phone and opened his Discourd server. Engaging in casual conversation with his readers, he shared updates on his progress in his novel, answered questions, and interacted with his followers.

With the break coming to an end, Allen bid farewell and returned his focus to the game. He logged back in, reappearing in the virtual world. The others were still occupied with their own activities, so he decided to make the most of his time and attend to his own affairs.

He made his way to the nearest NPC merchant to sell his spoils. The merchant greeted him with a smile. As Allen sold his loot, the virtual currency piled up in his inventory.

Once he finished, Allen decided to utilize the remaining time by fiddling with his character's status. He accessed the character menu, navigating through various attributes and skills that could be enhanced and improved. Carefully considering his options, he distributed his stat points strategically, aiming to strengthen his character's abilities for the challenges that lay ahead.

The previous hunt had proven fruitful, propelling him to level 62. Reaching this milestone meant that he had surpassed the requirements for tier two, the next stage of his character's development. However, he knew that before he could progress further, he had to face a daunting test. The test to break through to tier two was not an easy feat and it was a solo challenge.

For his skill, after considering his options, Allen decided to acquire Stone Curse skill. He knew the importance of crowd control in battles, and having the ability to stun his enemies would undoubtedly give him an edge during the upcoming event. With this skill in his arsenal, he felt confident in his ability to face the challenges that awaited him.

Different from before, the next event was a series of long-term quests that would take place in two different places, Ront City and Eyon Village. Each event session would last for approximately half an hour, providing ample time for participants to complete their objectives and earn rewards. However, there was a catch—the event was only open to players with a minimum level of 30. This meant that newer players who hadn't reached that threshold would be relocated to Ilude Town during the event to ensure a fair playing field.

To ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience for all participants, the game developers made the decision to split the event into two separate sessions. This was primarily done to avoid issues such as lag and mass disconnections caused by the influx of players. By dividing the event into two distinct time slots, players could focus on one session without overcrowding the game servers.