Those Apocalyptic Guild players exchange looks, then brandish their weapons and charge viciously toward Ares. Murderous intent gleams in their eyes—they clearly plan to take him by force and drag him back to their guild master.
Ares, facing these high-level aggressors, sets his jaw, lifts his iron sword, and concentrates his energy for a fight.
But before anyone can make a move, a calm yet commanding voice rings out from a distance:
"Stop!"
Everyone turns to see a woman clad in gleaming ice armor strolling forward. The frosty aura radiating from her armor enhances her aloof, regal bearing, and her beautiful blue hair ripples in the wind, immediately drawing every gaze.
She is Elsa, the vice guild master of the Cold Moon guild.
Elsa takes in the scene before settling her gaze on Ares, her eyes reflecting a hint of admiration. "You must be Ares," she says. "I'm Elsa from the Cold Moon guild."
Her voice is cool and clear, with an understated authority that leaves no room for argument. The Cold Moon members follow behind her in a neat row. All of them are female, and by the looks of it, they're powerful ice mages.
The Apocalyptic Guild players scowl in annoyance. One of them, a large, hulking Warrior, steps forward. He wipes a hand across his face in a brusque gesture and barks, "Elsa, this is Apocalyptic Guild's business. Don't butt in!"
Though he speaks gruffly, there's a flicker of wariness in his eyes.
Elsa doesn't even glance his way. She walks right over to Ares and, with quiet politeness, says, "Mr Ares, our Cold Moon guild appreciates your strength. I believe you've got incredible potential. Would you consider joining us? We can provide abundant resources—rare gear, skill books, and exclusive instances to help you level up fast.
"More importantly, in our guild, you'd be highly respected. You'd have free rein to choose your tasks without heavy restrictions.
"But if you're not interested, we won't force you."
Her tone is logical and sincere, a stark contrast to Apocalyptic Guild's bullying.
Ares frowns slightly, letting his eyes flick from Elsa to the Apocalyptic Guild crew. He doesn't answer at once, clearly weighing his options.
"Tch, like your little Cold Moon can compete with us for recruits?" scoffs a Shaman from Apocalyptic Guild, an arrogant sneer curling on his lips. "You think you're hot stuff? In all of Auragon continent, nobody dares provoke Apocalyptic Guild!"
Despite Elsa's towering level, but they put their faith in Apocalyptic Guild's massive influence, so they sure aren't showing her proper respect.
Everyone knows that fighting even one member of Apocalyptic Guild practically means declaring war on the entire guild. And a guild war is a resource-intensive nightmare, risking reputation and development alike.
All eyes drift to Elsa, curious how she'll react to the threat.
Elsa's expression remains steady, though a fleeting spark of anger flashes in her eyes.
"Ares has the right to choose," she says, voice cool but resolute. "You have no authority to coerce him."
"You damn bitch…"
Spurred by her retort, the Apocalyptic Guild players go red in the face with fury. Yet they're not reckless enough to attack. They know Elsa is a formidable ice mage, and if it comes to a fight, they'd be wiped out instantly. At the same time, backing down leaves a bitter taste.
For a tense moment, everyone is at a standstill. Nearby onlookers edge away, not wanting to get caught up in the conflict.
Ares remains in the center, acutely aware of the stark difference in how each guild has treated him. He's developed a bit of a soft spot for Cold Moon, though he's also keenly aware that joining any guild means stepping into a tangled web of rivalries.
After a brief silence, he quietly says, "I need time to think."
His voice is calm and measured, unaffected by the stand-off around him.
"Ha! Acting high and mighty," snarls one of the Apocalyptic Guild members. "Wait till you're desperate in this game—you'll learn soon enough how powerful Apocalyptic Guild really is!"
Seeing that Ares's not signing on with Cold Moon right away, they assume they still have a shot. They hurl nasty threats, stepping back a few paces but refusing to leave entirely.
Elsa nods slightly, giving Ares a small, understanding smile. "All right. Take your time. No matter what you decide, Cold Moon will always welcome you." The sincerity in her eyes makes it hard to doubt her words.
Then, without warning, a mysterious glow streaks through the sky above Black Dragon City. A booming system announcement echoes across town:
"Attention all players! The Ancient Ruins are about to open. This expedition will grant a chance at rare items and gear, and may even trigger hidden quests. Head to the designated area to participate!"
Instantly, the tension shifts. Everyone recognizes the massive opportunity—nobody wants to miss a prime shot at more power.
"Tch, we'll let you go for now," one of the Apocalyptic Guild players spits, throwing a parting insult over his shoulder. "But once we're done with the ruins, don't think you'll have any place to hide!"
With that, they rush off toward the Ancient Ruins, clearly eager to claim its spoils.
Elsa looks back at Ares. "The ruins are no joke," she says quietly. "You should probably level up some more and wait for them to open next time."
Having said her piece, she and the rest of Cold Moon depart as well.
Ares stands there, watching her disappear in the crowd, deep in thought. He knows these Ancient Ruins are a huge chance to level up. And maybe he can find some clue about his missing memories too.
Resolved, he grips his sword more tightly, and heads in the direction of the Ancient Ruins.