Nemesis. Start on the End.

The swamp stretched before them like a vast, murky expanse, its surface dotted with thick clumps of reeds and stagnant pools of water. The air was thick with the smell of decay, and the faint croaking of distant creatures added to the eerie ambiance. Revsha led the way, his senses alert, every step calculated. The terrain here was far different from the forest—wetter, more dangerous, and teeming with enemies that thrived in the damp, dark undergrowth.

"Stay close," Revsha muttered without looking back. "This place is full of surprises. Keep your eyes on the ground and your ears open."

Gillia adjusted her robes, her eyes narrowing. "What kind of surprises?" she asked.

"Things that crawl, things that slither, and things that swim," Revsha replied cryptically, stopping for a moment to examine the muddy ground ahead. He knelt briefly, his fingers tracing the subtle prints left by something large and reptilian. "We'll need to work in sync. The enemies here move in groups, but they're unpredictable."

Elena, trying to match her brother's steady pace, glanced around nervously. DeeDee, ever the vigilant companion, stayed close to her, the puma's eyes scanning the swamp's shadows. "Are we going to fight them all?" Elena asked, her voice a mix of apprehension and curiosity.

"We will," Revsha said. "But for now, watch and learn. You'll get a feel for how things move here."

They continued deeper into the swamp, the silence thick and oppressive. Suddenly, Revsha held up a hand, signaling for them to stop. His eyes flicked to the left, where the murky water bubbled unnaturally.

"Ambush," he whispered, just as the first of the swamp creatures lunged from the water—a giant, pale, amphibious thing with a mouth full of jagged teeth.

Revsha's voice cut through the air, sharp and commanding. "DeeDee, flank left! Gillia, cover us with shadows!" He didn't wait for a response, already moving to intercept the creature.

The puma, with a speed that took Elena by surprise, darted to the left, her claws digging into the swamp's soft earth as she launched herself at the creature's side. Elena hesitated only for a second before following her brother's command, moving to take position and preparing to thrust her spear if necessary.

Gillia, on the other hand, already had a dark pulse of magic swirling around her hands. Shadows whipped out from her fingertips, wrapping around the creature's limbs, slowing its movements as it screeched and thrashed. The creature stumbled, trying to break free, but the shadows held it in place.

"Good," Revsha muttered, watching the creature's movements carefully. He stepped in closer, his blade in hand, waiting for an opening.

Before he could strike, however, the sound of rustling came from the other side of the swamp—several more creatures, this time not the amphibious monsters but swarming insects, their wings buzzing ominously. These were smaller but far more agile and deadly in large numbers.

Revsha sighed. "Looks like we're not alone."

But just as he was about to give a command, he sensed something else—another presence, watching them from the trees. He shifted slightly, narrowing his eyes. "Stay alert. We're not the only ones hunting here."

A moment later, the figures emerged from the treeline—two players, both stealthy in appearance. One was a rogue, dressed in dark leathers and carrying twin daggers, and the other a mage, whose staff crackled with arcane energy. They seemed to have been tailing Revsha's group, waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike.

Revsha's gaze locked on them, his eyes sharp. "What are you doing here?"

The rogue smirked, clearly unfazed. "Just watching. You're quite the special NPC, aren't you? Leading these girls into the swamp like it's a regular stroll through the park." His tone was dripping with sarcasm. "Thought we'd see if you were part of some hidden quest."

Gillia's eyes narrowed, her hand instinctively reaching for the dark magic at her disposal, but Revsha raised a hand to stop her.

"They're here for the quest," Revsha said calmly, his gaze never leaving the players. "You think killing the girls will get you the same reward? You're wrong."

The mage stepped forward, his staff glowing faintly. "Don't play games with us, NPC. We know there's something special about this group. You've been setting up dungeons, guiding players into raids. Surely you know something worth a lot more than you're letting on."

Revsha tilted his head slightly, considering their words. "So, you think the quest lies in killing them?" He glanced at Elena and Gillia, who were now on high alert. "Not a good move."

The rogue stepped forward, his grin widening. "You wouldn't want to fight us, would you? We're just looking for some leverage. But if you're not willing to give us any answers…"

Before he could finish, Revsha held up his hand again, the air around them growing still. "I won't kill you, but I will make you regret underestimating them."

Gillia, seeing the tension rising, stepped forward as well, her voice low and dangerous. "I suggest you leave. The swamp doesn't take kindly to trespassers."

The rogue and mage exchanged uncertain glances. They had thought they could take advantage of the situation, but now it seemed like a bad gamble. Slowly, they began to retreat, their eyes still fixed on the trio.

"Fine," the rogue spat, clearly annoyed. "But remember this. We'll be watching. We'll find a way to get what we want. This quest is too valuable to just let go."

With that, the two players disappeared into the trees, leaving Revsha, Gillia, and Elena to continue their journey.

Revsha didn't move for a moment, his eyes scanning the swamp for any sign of more threats. "You two need to get better at detecting players. In this game, anyone can be a threat, even if they look like they're not."

Gillia nodded, her expression unreadable. "I'll be more vigilant."

Elena, still shaken, glanced at her brother. "Do you think they'll try again?"

Revsha didn't answer immediately. He just started walking, his steps purposeful. "Most likely. But they'll be more cautious. This time, we'll be ready."

The swamp seemed to close in around them as they pressed on, unaware of how many more dangers lurked in the shadows, waiting to be revealed.

Revsha could feel the tension in the air as they moved deeper into the swamp. The trees were thicker here, the ground sloshing underfoot as the moist earth seemed to pull at their boots. Every step felt deliberate—this wasn't just about training the girls. It was about maintaining his role. He couldn't afford to show weakness, even in a seemingly inconsequential situation like this.

His sister Elena walked confidently at his side, DeeDee—the large puma—happily trotting beside her. Gillia, as usual, was more measured, but her presence was always reassuring. The dark aura of her magic hummed just beneath the surface, waiting for a command.

They were still in the early parts of the swamp when Revsha heard the muttering of players nearby, trying to stay out of sight. He didn't need to turn to know what was happening. A small group of players had picked up on the fact that he was leading them, not really understanding why an NPC would be walking so purposefully through the swamp. They had been watching them for a while, and Revsha knew that sooner or later they'd try something.

As expected, a voice broke the silence.

"Look at this guy," one player snickered, his voice dripping with mockery. "Just some NPC trainer. What's he going to teach us? How to be a good little hunter?"

The second player chuckled. "Yeah, maybe we should be honored to train with a top-tier NPC. Wonder if he'll give us a quest or two while we're at it. Maybe a secret treasure hunt?"

Revsha stayed silent, his eyes narrowing as he continued forward, as though he hadn't heard them. The two players, clearly thinking they were unnoticed, continued to chat among themselves, unaware that their voices carried in the otherwise quiet swamp.

"He doesn't even look that strong," the first one remarked. "Who is he really trying to fool? An NPC can't be this advanced."

The second player sneered. "Who cares? We're here for the quest, right? This guy's just an NPC, and we're the real players. Let's see how long he sticks around before we take him down."

Revsha's lips curled slightly, but his expression remained neutral. He had expected this. These players were so eager to find a hidden quest or some way to get an advantage. They wouldn't think twice about trying to harm the girls if it meant getting ahead. But Revsha had already made his decision. He wouldn't risk drawing attention by outright confronting them. Instead, he would use their ignorance to his advantage.

He glanced at Gillia and Elena, giving them a subtle nod.

"Elena," he said, his voice calm and even. "Take DeeDee and flank them. Stay quiet."

Elena nodded, and with a silent motion, DeeDee darted off into the underbrush, her sleek body blending into the shadows. The rogue and mage wouldn't have a clue what hit them.

Revsha slowed his pace, giving the illusion of a simple, unaware NPC, while in reality, his mind was calculating every move. He didn't need to act until they did. The rogue and mage would get greedy soon enough.

The two players were still laughing, thinking they were unobserved.

"You think they're gonna give us a big reward for clearing the swamp?" the first player asked, as if to reassure himself.

"Not if it's just a random NPC leading us around. But who knows? Maybe he's hiding something, like a secret dungeon."

"That'd be nice. I wonder how long before the NPC just disappears. It'll be like he never existed."

The second player grinned. "Maybe he's part of some event. I'm betting we get some kind of bonus for taking out a high-level NPC like him."

Revsha listened carefully, the taunts and dismissive comments from the two players confirming what he already knew: they were planning something. But it wasn't time to reveal himself yet. He would continue with his role, let them believe he was just another "NPC trainer" until the moment was right.

Sure enough, the rogue and mage started to make their move. They crept closer, weapons in hand, preparing to strike at the girls. They likely thought that Revsha would be too oblivious to notice their intentions.

But Elena and DeeDee were ready.

With one swift motion, Elena's spear flew from her hand, embedding itself into the rogue's chest. DeeDee pounced, her massive form crashing into the mage, knocking him off his feet and rendering him helpless.

The players' arrogant chatter ceased immediately as they realized they had been set up. They struggled and tried to fight back, but they were too outclassed. Elena and DeeDee held their own easily, keeping the two players at bay. Revsha stood still, watching the encounter unfold.

"Shut up, NPC," the rogue muttered as he tried to fight against the puma's powerful claws. "You can't just let your girls do all the work. You're supposed to be training us, right?"

The mage, now immobilized by DeeDee's weight, spat, "You're just an NPC. What are you really doing here? Playing us for fools?"

Revsha didn't react immediately. He had to keep up the image.

"Remember your place," he said coldly, his voice carrying authority. "You were the ones who thought you could manipulate the system. You've just been caught in the trap you set for yourselves."

The two players finally realized they were overmatched, both of them subdued and utterly humiliated.

Elena gave him a questioning look as she stepped back, letting DeeDee keep watch over the two fallen players.

"Should we finish them off?" she asked.

"No," Revsha replied firmly, "let them think they've learned something. Tying them up and leaving them here will make them reconsider. But this isn't about them. It's about keeping our image intact. Remember, we're not just out here hunting. We're out here teaching. The others will be watching, and I need them to think I'm just an NPC. Let's leave them with a lesson."

The rogue and mage grumbled in defeat, cursing under their breath as they were bound up and left behind.

Revsha didn't even spare them another glance as he motioned for Elena and Gillia to follow him.

"Move out. We still have a journey ahead," he said, leading them through the swamp.

As they moved deeper into the murky forest, Revsha's mind was already working on his next steps. The players might dismiss him as nothing more than a training NPC, but he knew better. His carefully constructed persona was working just as he intended, and the moment would come when they'd realize they had underestimated him.

For now, though, he would keep leading his small party onward, teaching them, commanding them, and making sure they stayed in line—all while maintaining the image of the "helpful NPC."