Chapter 42: Eternal Winter Graveyard (2)
An army of more than thirty players formed an impregnable wall in front of Blake and his party, blocking every possible escape route. They cleverly used the tall tombstones around them to conceal additional guild members.
Standing at the forefront, appearing exposed to any attack, was Anonymous House's Guild Leader: Kyria. He wore a black military hat and a face mask. His gear consisted of light armor, with the sole exception of a unique steel vest over his clothes. His level was fifteen—the highest anyone could achieve in the Eternal Winter Dungeon and Graveyard.
He stood at attention, hands clasped behind his back.
"Good evening, lucky and courageous players," he said softly. "Your luck ends here, but your courage may remain. I trust you understand you have no chance against our numbers?"
His words sparked a wave of displeasure in Silver Dash and his friends. While the two girls exchanged worried glances, the mage, the tank, and Silver Dash all gritted their teeth and clenched their fists. No one liked being looked down on.
Still, Kyria's statement rang true. In MMO games, having a numerical advantage was often the deciding factor in both skirmishes and large-scale battles. The more active players a guild had, the stronger it became. Active players were worth their weight in gold.
"…We understand that," Silver Dash said through clenched teeth.
Kyria smiled, though no one could see it behind his mask. "Your courage can still be put to good use. I'll give you a chance to prove yourselves. Fight my men—one on five—and show me what you can do. If you win, I'll welcome you into my ranks, where you'll have a shot at the items from this tomb."
He explained briefly. Anonymous House held mini-tournaments among its members to determine who was best suited to wield valuable items. It was a fair system, considering only one person would ultimately wear the entire Winter General set. Not everyone would receive an item, despite the hours they had spent guarding this place.
Blake narrowed his eyes. 'He's going to exclude anyone who dies against us. He's basically running a pre-tournament selection. Clever.'
It reminded him of how his own guild operated during beta testing. The main difference was that Blake personally dueled anyone who wanted sword-type weapons or armor, pushing them to their limits and judging their potential himself.
While he considered Kyria's offer from a former guild leader's perspective, Silver Dash turned to his mage and tank companions.
"…No way we just hand over the items, right?" he asked.
The mage spat. "It's not like we own them anyway. Better to take him up on his offer and do our best. You think that guy"—he nodded toward Blake—"would share if he got them?"
The tank would have agreed with him before, but not now. "There's a chance to win it all. Superbia is really strong," he said.
"Bro, we'd be just as strong if we had his gear," the mage retorted sourly.
Having felt the same way, Silver Dash sided with the mage. He convinced the tank and the two female players that their best option was to fight alone and prove themselves. He also insisted that joining a well-organized guild was a golden opportunity.
"I'm… out… I can't fight alone," Scarlet Tornado said, looking down and raising her hands in defeat.
Her healer friend felt the same. "I'm also just a healer… I'm sorry."
These two withdrew before any battles even began. The same couldn't be said for the three men, who were determined to defend their pride at all costs.
"We fight!" Silver Dash, the tank, and the mage shouted in unison.
From the sidelines, Blake watched them. 'They didn't even ask my opinion, even though I have the items… Is this a betrayal? Maybe?'
He understood why they were hesitant to take on everyone and why they preferred Kyria's offer. Given the circumstances, he wasn't sure if this really counted as betrayal. They hadn't abandoned him in the middle of a certain victory; they also weren't true friends—just a group formed by random matchmaking.
Just then, Blake felt Kyria's gaze. Their eyes met.
"What about you?" Kyria asked.
"I'll stay where I am for now," Blake replied, lifting his head proudly.
"I see," Kyria said with a quiet smile.