Ren emerged from the Forgotten Caverns of Vyrendyll, battered but triumphant. The first rays of dawn bathed the Valoria region in golden light, a stark contrast to the darkness of the caverns behind him. The Voidwalker class, now his, pulsed with power beneath the surface of his stats screen. Yet Ren knew this was only the beginning.
To survive what was coming, he couldn't just rely on his own strength. He needed allies, a guild of his own—a loyal force ready to face the horrors of Ascendant Realms' future. And to build it, he would need more than raw power. He needed reputation, resources, and strategy.
---
In the early days, Ascendant Realms was an open, unstructured world—a blank slate where players had only begun to carve out their marks. Most players focused on leveling up, claiming unprotected territories, and forming small, loose-knit groups to tackle content. The larger organized guilds wouldn't emerge until later, and Ren intended to get ahead of them.
1. The Big Three Zones:
Valoria Region: The beginner-friendly, peaceful fields where new players started. Light monsters like slimes and hounds filled the landscape.
The Bronze Peaks: A mountainous mid-level region teeming with aggressive mobs like Drakes and Earth Elementals. Controlled by a few small guilds vying for dominance.
The Crimson Marches: A lawless, PvP-enabled zone where early power-hungry players would test their strength, eventually forming the seeds of future guild empires.
2. First-Generation Guilds:
Ironblood Company: A proto-guild of mercenary players who hired themselves out as muscle for early dungeon runs. Led by the ambitious and ruthless Rykall.
Dawnforge Collective: A loosely allied group of crafters and merchants pooling resources to dominate the game's budding economy.
Shadow Fangs: A rogue PvP group that used ambush tactics to prey on unsuspecting players in PvP zones.
Ren knew that these early guilds would eventually grow into major factions controlling entire regions. His strategy was simple: make a name for himself before they fully formed and carve out his own foothold in the chaos.
---
Ren stood in the bustling city square of Valoria, where hundreds of players gathered to trade, form parties, and chat. His appearance was unassuming—he still wore basic gear aside from a single new item dropped by the Void Sentinel:
> Shadow Mantle (Rare - Voidwalker Exclusive)
+10 Dexterity
+10 Intelligence
Passive Ability: Cloaked Presence – Reduces enemy aggro range by 50%.
Though modest, the rare cloak caught the attention of more seasoned players who were already grinding for dungeon gear. As Ren scanned the square, he identified his first targets: guildless players with potential.
A bickering pair at the edge of the marketplace caught his attention.
"I'm telling you, Lysa, we should just join Ironblood Company," said a young man in leather armor. He carried a bow slung over his back and a frustrated expression on his face. "They've already cleared three mid-level dungeons."
"I'm not signing up to be someone else's grunt, Kael," the woman snapped back. She had the look of a rogue, twin daggers strapped to her hips and a sharp, calculating gaze. "Why don't we just make our own party? You're good with a bow, and I'm—"
"You're good at getting us killed," Kael interrupted.
Ren chuckled to himself. He knew these two from his past life. Lysa and Kael were mid-tier players who eventually joined separate guilds. They had potential, but their constant bickering held them back.
"Maybe you two need a proper leader," Ren said, stepping forward.
Kael raised an eyebrow. "Who the hell are you?"
Ren smiled faintly. "Someone who knows how to win. I just cleared the Forgotten Caverns."
Lysa's eyes widened. "You're joking. That's a Level 10 zone."
Ren gestured to his Shadow Mantle. "Does it look like I'm joking?"
Kael looked skeptical. "Okay, let's say you did. Why are you talking to us?"
"Because I'm forming a team," Ren replied. "And you're exactly the kind of players I need. Talented, but wasting time fighting each other instead of the real threats."
Lysa smirked. "Confident, aren't you? What's your plan?"
"To dominate the Bronze Peaks," Ren said. "But first, we're going to farm the Silver Depths. That dungeon hasn't been cleared yet, and it's only a matter of time before Ironblood Company claims it."
Kael frowned. "The Silver Depths? That's a three-player dungeon. We'd need—"
"I'll tank," Ren said, cutting him off.
"You're a tank?" Lysa asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Not exactly," Ren admitted. "But I have other ways of keeping us alive."
---
The Silver Depths dungeon lay in the eastern forests of Valoria, a winding underground labyrinth filled with traps and mid-level monsters. It wasn't designed for low-level players, but Ren's knowledge of the game's mechanics gave him the edge.
Monsters in the Silver Depths:
1. Stone Rats (Level 6):
EXP Given: 100 EXP
Health: 150
Weakness: Slashing damage deals 150%.
2. Lurking Shadows (Level 8):
EXP Given: 200 EXP
Health: 200
Special Ability: Stealth ambush.
Weakness: Vulnerable to AoE attacks when revealed.
3. Depth Stalker (Level 10 - Mini-Boss):
EXP Given: 500 EXP
Health: 500
Special Abilities:
Piercing Fang: Ignores armor.
Shadowstep: Teleports behind players.
Weakness: Bright light disrupts its teleportation ability.
Ren led Kael and Lysa through the dungeon, calling out enemy patterns and weak points with precision.
"Kael, focus fire on the Stone Rats—aim for their heads," Ren commanded as a swarm of rats scurried toward them. "Lysa, stay on the edges and be ready to intercept the Shadows when they come out of stealth."
The two hesitated but followed his orders. Kael's arrows struck true, and Lysa's daggers tore through the exposed backs of the Lurking Shadows as they revealed themselves.
---
The Mini-Boss: Depth Stalker
The final chamber of the dungeon held the Depth Stalker, a massive wolf-like creature with glowing red eyes.
"It's going to teleport," Ren warned as the monster growled. "Kael, keep your distance. Lysa, don't engage until I've drawn its attention."
The Depth Stalker snarled, vanishing in a blur of shadow. It reappeared behind Kael, claws raised for a deadly strike.
"Move!" Ren shouted, activating his new skill:
> Shadow Bind – Immobilize an enemy while draining 10% of their health over 10 seconds.
Dark tendrils erupted from the ground, wrapping around the Depth Stalker and holding it in place. The creature howled in frustration as Ren lunged forward, slashing at its exposed side.
"Now!" Ren barked.
Kael unleashed a barrage of arrows, and Lysa struck with a critical backstab, finishing the creature.
> Depth Stalker Defeated!
+500 EXP
Loot Acquired: Lunar Fang Blade (Rare)
---
As they exited the dungeon, Kael and Lysa exchanged glances.
"Okay," Kael admitted, "you might actually know what you're doing."
Lysa smirked. "Not bad, Ren. Not bad at all."
Ren grinned. "This is just the beginning. Trust me, if you stick with me, we're going to change the game."
Word of their success spread quickly in Valoria. Players who had struggled with the dungeon were shocked to hear that a low-level team had cleared it—and more importantly, that Ren had led them.
Soon, more players began to approach him, asking to join his group. Ren's following grew steadily as he continued to exploit his knowledge of hidden zones, rare items, and unbeatable strategies.
By the time the larger guilds began to solidify their power in the Bronze Peaks, Ren already had a core team of loyal, skilled players. The foundations of his guild—one that would rival the future titans of the game—were firmly in place.
For now, he called it the Black Veil, a fitting name for the shadowy power he intended to wield.
"This time," Ren thought as he watched his growing team, "I'll be the one who sets the rules."