The Dark Forest
Leon Steele, hailed as one of the "Twelve Gods" and known as the "Blade God," sat quietly on a massive, jet-black boulder.
His sharp gaze was fixed on a floating virtual screen in front of him, which was playing a video so intense it could make anyone's blood boil.
Around him, dozens of top-tier players had gathered. These weren't just any players—they were legends in Dark Scrolls, each a household name in the game's community.
Yet, at this moment, they stood silently by Leon's side, like loyal knights guarding their king.
Not a single one of them spoke, nor did they show the slightest hint of impatience.
In the early days of the game's launch, everyone else was scrambling to level up and snatch resources.
But these elite players had chosen to pause their grind, just to accompany Leon. To them, gaining levels or gear paled in comparison to being near the "Blade God."
His presence alone was like an unspoken faith, a silent religion.
The surrounding forest was eerily quiet. The wild monsters that usually roamed the Dark Forest had long been cleared out by these players.
Now, the only sound was the faint combat noises coming from the video playing in front of Leon.
Dark Scrolls was often called the "Second World," and it wasn't just empty hype.
This game wasn't just about leveling up, fighting monsters, or farming gear—it was a vast, immersive virtual universe filled with endless possibilities.
Among its many features was the ability to watch videos, a form of entertainment within the game itself.
However, unlocking this feature wasn't cheap; it required a hefty payment. But for Leon, such expenses were trivial.
The video on the screen was a classic clip from Everfall, a game that had once taken the world by storm. The star of the video was none other than the legendary player known as "The Unyielding Blade." His name had been etched into the hearts of millions of players, a myth that transcended time.
The footage captured The Unyielding Blade's epic showdown with the ultimate boss, the "Dark Overlord." This battle was nothing short of legendary, a fight so iconic that it had been studied and revered by countless players as the ultimate example of skill.
In the video, his movements were breathtakingly precise, his positioning as fluid and elusive as a phantom.
Every action seemed meticulously calculated, executed with a level of perfection that left no room for error.
But what truly set him apart was his audacity—he had chosen to face the Dark Overlord alone, a feat that most players wouldn't even dare to dream of attempting.
The entire video was 140 minutes long, documenting the grueling battle in its entirety.
Over the course of the fight, The Unyielding Blade was hit only once. That single instance occurred when the Dark Overlord unleashed an unavoidable, full-area ultimate attack. Aside from that, he remained untouched.
A flawless solo takedown of the Dark Overlord.
At the time, this was considered an impossible feat by the gaming community.
Yet, he had done it.
As the video neared its end, the Dark Overlord collapsed to the ground with a thunderous crash, signaling the conclusion of the battle. The screen faded to black.
The players surrounding Leon remained silent, but their eyes betrayed their awe and reverence. The respect they felt was palpable, almost tangible.
Leon slowly closed his eyes and let out a long breath. His expression was calm, yet there was a trace of something deeper—an emotion too complex to decipher.
No one could tell what he was thinking in that moment.
At that moment, a middle-aged player dressed in a black necromancer's robe slowly approached Leon.
His steps were steady, and there was a hint of respect in his expression.
He waited until Leon turned off the video before speaking. "Young Master, you've watched this video countless times already, haven't you? His Instant-Switch Technique, Airborne Chain, Phantom Slash, Cyclone of Ruin, Phantom Step… Fourteen god-tier techniques. Haven't you already mastered all of them?"
Leon was fiddling with an Uncommon-grade longsword in his hands. The blade gleamed coldly under the dim light.
He stayed silent for a moment before letting out a soft sigh, his tone carrying a trace of melancholy.
"Yeah, I've learned them."
"But…"
He lifted his gaze, staring into the depths of the distant forest. His voice was low, tinged with helplessness. "I still can't reach his level. Take his Instant Twelve Strike, for example. He's already surpassed the limit of thirteen strikes per second. And me? I can't even manage eleven."
He paused, his fingers lightly brushing the hilt of the sword.
His tone grew more reflective. "These techniques… Sure, I've learned them. But they'll always be his. They carry his mark, his essence. They were made for him, perfectly tailored to his style."
The middle-aged player's expression grew serious. His tone was cautious, probing. "Young Master, are you saying… you want to break free from his shadow and create your own god-tier techniques?"
Leon shook his head, a bitter smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "It's not that simple. He wasn't called 'The Eternal God' just because he could create god-tier techniques."
He paused, his gaze lowering slightly, his voice laced with regret. "I just think it's a shame… that I never got the chance to face him."
The middle-aged player said nothing, simply watching Leon in silence. Leon seemed lost in thought, his tone growing even more somber.
"I was obsessed with learning his techniques. From the age of fifteen, I spent five whole years. By the time I turned twenty, I'd finally mastered all of his god-tier skills."
"From that day on, I started searching for him like a madman. I thought, someday, I'd find him. I'd get to challenge him, even if it was just a brief duel."
He shook his head lightly, a bitter smile playing on his lips. "But instead… all I got was news of his death."
A flicker of sadness crossed Leon's eyes, but he quickly pushed the emotion aside, letting out a faint laugh. "Oh well… The dead can't come back to life. Now, my opponents are the other Twelve Gods."
He turned to the middle-aged player beside him, his tone regaining some calm. "Alfred, any updates on DerpyKitty's whereabouts?"
The middle-aged player lowered his head slightly, his tone cautious. "No concrete leads yet. But based on some clues, it doesn't seem to be one of the other gods' alternate accounts. It's… a new necromancer player."
"A new player?" Leon raised an eyebrow, a flicker of interest in his eyes.
"No one's helping them?" he asked, his tone curious.
"No one," Alfred replied firmly, clearly confident in his investigation.
Hearing this, Leon's lips curled into a faint, meaningful smile. "Interesting. If Overclock finds out that he hired thirty top-tier players to power-level him, only to get left in the dust by a newbie… What do you think? Would he cough up blood from sheer frustration?"
He chuckled softly, a glint of amusement flashing in his eyes.