CRACKLE!
BOOM!
Lightning flashed across the sky followed by the rumbling of thunder. The previously declining storm suddenly increased in intensity as the rain came down with a vengeance.
The winds blew heavily onto the great walls of Kurn as the previously bustling city became silent with only the sound of raindrops pattering accompanied the streets.
Standing in front of a long glass paned window in a sky blue bath robe, Feng stood watching the rain falling onto the street across.
The water formed streams that streaked across the roads that were paved with specially made bricks and followed the drainage system that was put in place.
Small streams joined bigger ones before finally entering the sufficiently wide drainages. The drainages around the whole city were connected and all led outside the city to an artificial river created by a previous Lord of Kurn.
This human made river stretched from the walls of Kurn over the few kilometers that separated the great city from the Epilus Canyons where the all the water was eventually emptied out.
It was a great system, it kept the city free of water logging during such storms and handled the waste disposal quite well.
The Epilus canyons was a wild ground with a totally different ecosystem, such things were not enough to affect any of the flora or fauna that was present there.
All this information flashed through Feng's head just from staring at the small streams of water flowing down the streets.
This was just part of the numerous amounts of information that he had collected since he started playing AOM.
The Blue leaf guild he controlled was a relatively new guild that was still growing. Compared to other guilds like the Heaven's claw and Mountain sword guild that were well established in Gorm and were existing since earlier on in the game, Blue leaf had only existed for barely 2 years out of over 3 in game years that AOM had started.
Heaven's claw that was filled with ruthless and overbearing beastmen headed by the eccentric guild leader, Rudra or Mountain Sword that was rumored to have the backing of an ancient sect behind it.
These two guilds wielded much influence and power and had players in all four cities of Gorm.
Blue leaf on the other hand had all it's stakes right here in Kurn with the numbers of a mid-size guild and the guild leader, Feng himself was not a very powerful player compared to the other prominent guild leaders.
But there was a reason his guild rose to such a level where amongst the numerous guilds in Gorm, Blue leaf was chosen alongside hegemons like Heaven's claw and Mountain sword.
And that was, financial power!
Feng was a very talented businessman. Within a month of appearing in AOM, he had grasped a basic understanding of the power system and movements of good in Kurn.
Within 2 months, he had sent his capable generals that he had entered the game with to different sectors of Kurn's economy which they successfully infiltrated.
Within 4 months, with the use of his generals, Feng already had control of some small time businesses in Kurn.
Before the nobles and prominent merchants who monopolized these areas realized what was happening, Feng had already seized control of a sizable market opportunity that was very lucrative in Kurn, gems.
The Epilus canyons were not only filled with vicious beasts and powerful magical creatures, it was also a rich gem mine which had people rushing crazily over them as they were worth a lot of kryts.
Gems were precious materials in the world of AOM but for a different reason from that of the real world which was purely for their beauty.
In the game, gems were known as efficient mana carriers. They were useful for a range of things such as alchemy to enchantment to weapon smithing. There was high demand and not enough supply.
Feng used his already minor control of small time businesses to create a name for himself.
Soon after, using the help of his subordinates that he pulled into the game, he spread a name for himself amongst the player population and slightly increased the price at which he bought gems.
Seeing this opportunity to earn more and convinced by his planted pawns that selling to a fellow player is better than selling to NPCs, he managed to put most of the selling of gems from players in Kurn under his name.
With the significant number of players in Kurn counting in the thousands, this move was the whip that hit the camel's back.
This immediately boosted his reputation tremendously and riding that wave, he proceeded to take over large chunks off a few more lucrative businesses in Kurn.
Feng became a powerful figure almost overnight!
Of course he wasn't all safe, his power moves caught the ire of some nobles who tried to deal with him in numerous ways which he all efficiently countered.
With his large information network which he personally created, nothing escaped his notice and he read all the reports personally so that he would always be informed.
According to his philosophy, even fools can be formidable if they had enough knowledge.
A man can be stupid or retarded but could still win a game of chess against a smart person if he read up on enough tactics.
Knowledge was the only flawless weapon in the world.
And it was a weapon Feng wielded with flair.
He had attached himself to a powerful political leg not long after that and started making connections in the capital.
With the goal of making himself a certified kingdom noble in sight, he would gain his own land where he could build a guild base from ground up and have more power to move more chess pieces.
This would open a lot more opportunities for the ambitious guild leader.
Feng mulled over his thoughts for a moment as he kept looking outside with his hands behind his back. With an ever growing army and strong generals, his fighting force was seeming promising too especially with Hunter on his side.
The slippery Sleeping beauty was also a target. If Feng could get him, it would greatly boost his fighting force.
"And then, how do I use this upcoming war to my advantage?" this was where his thoughts were focused most of the time these days.
The expedition to the kingdom of Aysver was already certain. If it wasn't for this unexpected heavy storm, preparations would have been well underway and in a few days, the players would be teleported to the south of Gorm where they would cross the border and reach Aysver.
'But now…... sigh' he sighed deeply as he stared at the rain through the windows.
"My poor Feng, what is bothering you this time?"
A silky soft voice that was laced with a hint of seductive sweetness to it rang out from behind him.
He tilted his head backwards and looked at the mesmerizing figure of the woman behind him.
With long wavy black hair that was still wet from the bath and soft pale skin, to her deep black eyes and extremely curvy body that showed through the blue bath robe she wore.
The beautiful high elf that was walking slowly towards him gave out a small smile when she saw him turn. She walked up to him with her soles making no sound as it crossed the soft carpet floor.
Putting her arms around him with her chest to his back, she hummed a soft tune and caressed his body slowly.
Feng closed his eyes as he felt all his stress and fatigue were washed away and it left his body and mind feeling free and unrestrained.
After a few minutes, she stopped and turned him around to face her properly, her deep black eyes boring deep into his dark blue ones. And they stayed like that, seemingly lost in each other's gaze.
After a few seconds, Feng got his bearings back and leaned forward to kiss her forehead.
"Thank you, Rin" he muttered softly.
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"BALUUU!!!"
A pain filled howl tore through Vars's throat as he saw the wolf that had attacked his best friend standing there with bloodied fangs and craze filled eyes.
Baluu was still in a daze as his hands held the spot he was attacked while the blood dripped between his fingers.
The cold rain beat down on him mercilessly and his straw hat was blown away by a sudden gust of wind. All of a sudden, he felt a strong wave of nausea hit him.
'Funny, I suddenly feel very cold…...'
THUMP!
His massive body hit the wet floor with a muffled sound.
"Shit!"
Rastel and Roxanne cursed almost simultaneously as they both rushed towards the ominous looking wolf.
Seeing its victim laying motionlessly on the floor, the wolf howled loudly in victory as its crazed filled blue eyes flashed with malice.
It lunged towards the downed bearman with no regard for anything else and for the umpteenth time since he started playing the game, Rastel cursed his lack of sufficiently useful spells.
He lacked a reliable long range spell that won't be affected by the rain!
'Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!' he cursed multiple times in his head as he tried to increase his speed. Roxanne was already ahead of him as she struggled with her gun.
Before they could both do something about it though, someone reached the wolf first.
BOOM!!!
A loud explosion shook the air as Vars's lithe figure suddenly appeared in front of the wolf. With a wide swung fist, an explosive punch landed onto the top of the wolf's head.
"YAGHH!!"
BOOM!!!
A literal explosive punch!
The wolf was sent flying back by the attack and it rolled on the wet ground but after a moment, the wind covering its body seemed to react and it adjusted itself with a disturbingly abnormal twist of its body.
It raised its head to look towards Vars with malice only to see another fist growing larger in its view.
"ARGHHH!!!"
BANG!
This time, the wind around its body reacted fast enough to block the attack and nullify the damage by solidifying but before the wolf could even make a move, a second punch came flying through.
BOOM!!!
By this time, Rastel and Roxanne had paused in their tracks and watched this scene in shock!
Vars was not letting up as he unleashed punch after punch while yelling at the top of his lungs. The wolf was able to safely block or tank the damage of these attacks at first but it never got its momentum back.
Vars was dominating throughout as he gave a thorough beatdown like he had gone mad!
Each of his punches were accompanied by mini explosions that resounded through the air.
BOOM!!
"ARGHHH!!!"
BANG!
"YEEARGH"
BOOM!!!
"GYARGH!!!"
BANG!
BOOM!!
BOOM!!!
Very soon, the wolf started blocking less hits and the damage was slowly building up. Rastel and Roxanne didn't even have the chance to lend a helping hand as they stared dumbfoundedly.
It didn't take long before Vars ended the beast with a final punch that blasted the now pathetic wolf's skull into pieces.
BLURSH!
Pieces of bones and brain matter was splattered on the floor and all over Vars's hand only to be washed away by the rain.
Vars held the position of his final punched as he stared at the stiff body on the floor, beaten to death!
Looking dazed, he slowly lowered his fist before he dragged his feet to Baluu's still body.
He kneeled on the floor and pulled the heavy bearman's head onto his laps.
All it took was one look at the large gaping wound on Baluu's neck and Var's burst into tears.
His loud sobbing sounds mingled into the rain and was eventually swallowed by the storm.