Then, three hours later, they arrived at the top of the hill, the forest finally giving way to a jagged, rocky expanse. Before them, nestled at the foot of the two towering, mist-shrouded mountains, lay what looked like an abandoned fort structure, its stone walls cracked and overgrown, now clearly encamped by orcs. But what they witnessed at the scene was horrifying.
A truly monstrous, hulking figure, if it could even be called an orc anymore, was ravaging outside the fort walls. Its skin was a mottled, diseased green, rippling with unnatural muscle, and its eyes glowed with a feral, mindless rage.
It moved with a terrifying speed and destructive force, easily swatting aside the smaller, regular orcs that dared to approach it. Orcs from inside the fort walls, and even ground forces from the surrounding area, were being thrown like rag dolls, their bodies exploding into sprays of green blood and bone against the stone. This was no ordinary monster. Above its head, the luminous text screamed its level: [ Level 45 ].
As the mutated orc easily picked up a screaming orc and bit into its neck, tearing flesh with a sickening crunch, Jordan's stomach churned. He gagged, nearly vomiting onto the rocky ground, his face pale. His eyes, wide with shock and revulsion, darted to Ben.
"Dude, we should leave," Jordan whispered, his voice hoarse with genuine fear. "That monster is gonna evolve soon. We can't fight that thing. It's a fucking nightmare."
Ben, his gaze fixed on the brutal display, remained outwardly calm. "What do you mean, evolve?"
"Everyone, monsters and Players, eventually evolve into a higher species and class," Jordan explained, forcing himself to breathe through his mouth. "Orcs found on D-ranks are Level 50 and above and have their own distinct evolutions. Orcs evolve into Bloodred Orcs, Steel-Skinned Orcs, Rock-Skinned Orcs—they have different evolution paths, depending on their environment and how they grow. That monster… who knows what it could evolve into. We should leave, man. Let the high ranks handle it. This is way above our pay grade."
But Jordan saw Ben undeterred, his eyes fixed on the abomination. On Ben's view, a new System notification flared, overriding all other information.
[EMERGENCY CLASS QUEST: Audit Trigger – Unlawful Growth Detected ]
Target: Mutant Orc (EXP Growth Anomaly – Illegal Injection Suspected)
Objective: – Subdue the target – Initiate [Foreclosure Authority] – Seize all legally and illegally obtained EXP
[REWARD ACQUIRED – CLASS EQUIPMENT]
📦 ITEM: Auditor's Mantle
"You are not dressed for war. You are dressed for verdict."
Bound to: [Bennison Crowfield – Tax Collector Class]
Type: Outfit (Class-Specific Set)
Rank: Unique
🧥 [Auditor's Mantle – Full Set]
🔹 The Compliance Jacket
+50 Charisma
+20 Magic Resistance
Passive: "Presence of Order" – Delinquent entities within 50m have -10% movement speed and must pass Fear Check every 10s.
Bonus: Auto-cleans itself after every judgment rendered.
🔹 The Weighted Slacks
+40 Endurance
+10% Debuff Duration Extension to marked targets
Passive: "Burden of Debt" – Marked targets feel 15% heavier within radius.
Effect doubles if debtor is over 30 days overdue.
🔹 The Silk Tie of Red Notice
+35 Intelligence
+15 Magic
Passive: "Execution Thread" – If wearer activates [Final Notice], tie emits aura that reduces enemy skill cooldowns by +25%.
Bonus: Doubles intimidation value when Tax Pressure is over 75%.
🔹 Shoes of Swift Judgment
+15 Agility
+10 Movement Speed
Active Skill: "Step of the Enforcer" – For 10 seconds, movement leaves behind ghostly ledgers. Anyone crossing them suffers -25% speed and vision blur. (Cooldown: 60s)
🔹 Accessory: Compliance Badge (Left Lapel)
+20 All Attributes
Unlocks passive HUD overlay to track top 10 debtors at all times.
Reveals illegal EXP inflows and untagged stat injections.
📈 SET BONUS: "Tax Authority Embodied"
Wearing full set grants:
▪ +10% Tax Collection Rate
▪ Enables [Emergency Ledger Override] once per day:
Stuns all marked targets in range for 5 seconds and forcibly reveals all hidden assets.
Ben smiled, a slow, grim curve of his lips.
There's no reason to refuse this wonderful gift.
This wasn't just gear; it was a mandate. He felt a surge of cold determination. He looked at Jordan, who was still pale from the sight of the mutated orc.
"Won't we level up by a lot if we killed that thing?" Ben asked, his voice calm, adjusting his tie, a purely habitual gesture.
Jordan sighed, running a hand through his hair. He knew Ben wasn't going to back out after coming this far, especially with that look in his eyes. "Yeah, we could fight it, I guess. If we don't die, we'd probably jump a few levels. But that thing's a fucking nightmare."
Ben's smile widened, a predatory glint in his eyes. "We'll wait for it to finish the orcs."
Or so he thought.
Suddenly, with a deafening roar that even surprised the mutated orc, the massive, fortified doors of the fort exploded outwards. Splinters of ancient wood and chunks of stone flew through the air. What they saw emerge was a figure of true power.
Above its head, luminous text blazed: [ Level 51: Orc Chief ]. It was an orc, yes, but unlike any they had seen. Its skin was a deep, angry red, its muscles corded and defined, slightly thinner than the brute mutated orc, but radiating a far more disciplined, dangerous power. It stood as tall as the mutant, wielding a massive greatsword that seemed to hum with dark energy. Its tusks were immense, curved like ancient scimitars. This was the dungeon boss.
Even at this distance, both Ben and Jordan could feel the immense, suffocating weight of the boss's aura, a primal force that made the very air tremble.