Second World

”That *sshole!” Queen Magenta cursed out.

”Yes, indeed, that *sshole,” manager Steelhand agreed. ”He was a hated player within my guild, so my people can easily recognize him. My member has reported that this detestable person has been riling up the masses by making an oration on the capital street. He tried to coax the independent players to follow him and battle our coalition. He said that we are congregating at this place and White Scarfs with the other guilds were on their way here. He urged the independent players to join them in the fight to stop us from continuing to monopolize the leveling grounds.”

”How stupid can he be? Why does anyone want to follow him?” The Real Man commented. He was at level 14, he was still having trouble trying to catch up with the othersʼ levels after being killed by Jack. Hence, he was amongst those that were most eager when this plan to deal with Jack was laid out. His guild, Warriors of Solidarity, was also amongst those that joined the coalition.

”Strange thing is, my member reported a lot of players were leaving the gate with him as he went out. That was around one hour ago as well,” Manager Steelhand said.

”Hm… If those independent players do join hand with White Scarfs people, that will be quite troublesome,” Scarface said. ”And what did he mean by other guilds? Is he saying that other guilds other than White Scarfs are taking action against us as well?”

”I donʼt know. The guy could just be bluffing,” manager Steelhand said.

”No matter, we will crush anyone that comes!” Prideful Josh declared.

Scarface nodded. ”Thatʼs right. Letʼs deal with Storm Wind first. Send the messages to the group leaders that they can engage!”

Bigarm followed the instruction and sent the messages. A level 20 Rogue beside him, who wore a long black cloak, approached Scarface.

”She will be furious when she finds out that you are dealing with that man when she is not around,” the Rogue, who was Blackjack, spoke.

”She has an important mission,” Scarface replied without turning around.

”Heh, I was wondering why you choose this date to enact this plan. Not two days ago, not the next three days. Now Iʼm sure itʼs because you donʼt want her to be here. You are afraid that she will insist on having a duel first with Storm Wind before she allows any of you to touch him. Am I right?”

Scarface didnʼt answer.

Blackjack continued, ”she will see this as you do not trust that she will win in single combat with that man. Thatʼs why I tell you she will be furious. You have better have a good excuse when she comes back.”

Queen Magenta who was standing nearby, overheard their conversation. She asked, ”are you talking about Red Death? I have been wondering why she was not around.”

”She has an important mission to deal with the guild quest that we discussed in the meeting. Her task is too important for her to deal with this matter here,” Scarface said.

”Heh, I will advise you to think up a better excuse than that one,” Blackjack said. He then turned to Queen Magenta, ”I also not see your top player here. Where is Selena?”

Queen Magenta face turned sour, ”that bitch, she said this ploy is beneath her. She wants nothing to do with it.”

”Haha,” Blackjack laughed out. ”Those two women with their strong personalities.”

Queen Magenta gave him a stare.

”Ah, forgive me. You are also a very strong woman,” he quickly corrected.

As the leaders of the coalition were conversing, Jack was watching the sea of players. The sentry who brought him over stood beside him. Jack looked at him and asked, ”do you want to stay here? Or do you want to cross over there?”

The sentry, coming to realize his position, immediately scurried over to his guildʼs side, cursing himself all the way.

Jack turned his attention back to the crowd. He made a rough calculation, there were probably around a thousand players over there. Most of them were basic class with an average level around 17 to 19. There were some advanced class players but only a minority, he guessed it was still difficult for most players to pass the advanced class test at this stage.

Did they really have to amass so many people just to deal with him? That Scarface guy was truly too paranoid, Jack complained in his mind.

He looked over to the small hill behind the crowd. His Dragonʼs eye skillʼs passive ability allowed him to see further distance much clearer compared to the average players. Thus, he could recognize the people on that small hill despite the distance. Amongst the people he knew, there were the leaders of the three big guilds, then The Real Man, then his three friends on the ground who were bound with some kind of rope.

”Now do any of you guys were given the authority to speak? Or should we just get directly to bashing each other?” Jack spoke out to the crowd.

A female voice responded to him, ”There is no us bashing each other. It will be only us bashing you! Canʼt you take a look at the situation? Do you seriously think you can take us on?”

Jack turned in the direction of the voice and saw a face from the past. ”Oh, itʼs you, hag.”

”Who the hell do you call a hag?!!” The woman who spoke was Flowing Fox from Weary Wolf gang, who had recently become a formal guild. Boulder was beside the woman holding her from making a rash move of running towards their opponent by herself. He was at level 18 and had just recently become an advanced class, Knight. While Flowing Fox was still a Magician at level 12, she was not as passionate about leveling up after dying in the tutorial period. She was the only odd level 12 amongst the troop. Everyone was actually wondering why the heck this weak woman was out here at the front line.

She, on the other hand, just wanted this business with Jack over with. So she could go and kill Fierce Flame. Scarface had warned to not have anyone touch their three captives until their business with Jack was done.

The Weary Wolf was the only small size guild within the coalition, so Boulder didnʼt get the privilege of standing amongst the other guild leaders on the hill. Instead, he was tasked with leading the front line of the coalition troops, which he thought was excessive. In fact, everyone standing there now think it was excessive to have so many people dealing with a single player. Everyone just considered this whole affair a weird joke.

”Itʼs Boulder, right?” Jack called out from the distance. He was around twenty-five meters away from the troopʼs front line. He was within the spell range of a Mage, but not Magician, and there were not many mages within the troop.

Around 80% of the front-line troop consisted of Magicians. Jack surmised that they had studied his previous battle styles against a crowd, where he liked to dive into their ranks and wreak havoc by abusing his overpowered attributes. Range players would not be able to provide assistance since there will be many friendly fires possible to happen. With the front line troop consisted mostly of magicians, they could start swarming him with spells before he approached. And it seemed like that was their intention, as Jack saw all the magicians holding their staffs and wands ready and aiming at him even before he came into their range.

”Is there any condition that you were asked to apply to me before we start?” Jack continued. ”Like I am not allowed to hit any of you or else my friends will be hurt?”

Boulder touched his chin and said, ”well, we havenʼt discussed that, but I can ask.”

”I mean, if you are going to add more ridiculous conditions even though you have already greatly outnumbered me, I will just pack up and leave immediately,” Jack informed him. ”I donʼt think none of you is fast enough to chase after me now, do you?”

”Uh, in that case, no, no condition,” Boulder said.

”What are we even having these small talks with him for? Letʼs just get this over with,” Fox complained.

Boulder glanced at her with annoyance, wasnʼt it you who first started responding to his talking?

”So no one is going to touch my friend while we are at it, right?” Jack asked again to confirm.

”You are such a wussy! Do you think we need any more conditions just to deal with the likes of you?” Fox mocked.

Sister, you are talking with him again, Boulder said in his mind. At that moment, he received a go message from Bigarm.

”Okay, we can go,” Boulder told the others.

At the same time, Jack exclaimed to them, ”all right, Iʼm coming over!”

😉