[ You have defeated player Beldra ]
[ A party member has defeated player Misha ]
[ A party member has defeated player Baldres ]
[ Steel Armor Guild has been wiped out ]
[ You have gained 500 Contribution for killing an enemy ]
[ Your guild have gained 5000 Contribution for wiping an enemy guild ]
[ You have gained additional 2000 Contribution ]
[ Current guild standing: 356 ]
[ Current guilds remaining: 2154 ]
Deep within a forest on the vast map, a guild called Hidden Mist, consisting of ten members, was taking a break after their intense clash with the Steel Armor Guild. They were participating in a worldwide guild event that brought together guilds from different countries. The leader of the Japanese guild Hidden Mist was a player named Ren. Hidden Mist ranked among the top guilds in Japan, with most of its members placed within the country's top 100. Ren, the strongest among them, held 8th place domestically and was also ranked within the top 100 worldwide.
"Have you heard about them?"
The forest was quiet, save for the hushed voices of the Hidden Mist members as they rested after their clash with Steel Armor Guild. Yet even in respite, rumors spread like wildfire through the Phantasy Realm community, and the whispers found their way into the party's circle.
"Of course," the member with the twitchy eyes said, lowering his voice as though the trees themselves might be listening. "I heard Hunt is here too."
"What? That monster guild with only ten members? Did they really join this event?"
"Idiot," another snapped. "As long as we don't cross paths with one of them, we'll be fine."
Hunt. A guild of ten, but each one a legend—monsters in human form.
Ren, their leader, sat in silence, his dagger resting across his knees. He listened, but his thoughts were elsewhere.
'I've been searching for them ever since the servers merged. No one knows where they are, or what they're planning…'
"We can't afford to be eliminated now," a female member insisted. "At least let us place in the top fifty."
"Do you think we could even defeat one of them, all of us together?"
"Maybe. But if you meet him… you have to run, run like your life depends on it. As long as it's not him."
"Him?"
Ren rose suddenly, steel whispering free from its sheath. His eyes narrowed. "South Korea's Hunt guild leader," he mumbled.
The party froze. Their leader's tension was palpable, his gaze fixed on the shadows between the trees.
"What's wrong, boss?"
"Yeah, why so tense?"
Ren's voice was low, urgent. "Prepare yourselves. Someone is coming."
Ren's skill, Enhanced Senses, sharpened every detail—the rustle of leaves, the faint scent of sweat, the rhythm of footsteps. A sole player approached. Strange, too strange.
'Only one? Lost? Separated?'
But as the figure drew nearer, Ren's heartbeat quickened—not with anticipation, but fear. Enhanced Senses had a hidden truth: at higher levels, it revealed a player's strength through the color of their aura.
'No… it can't be…'
His party noticed how he turned ghastly, the fear etched across his face.
"Boss? Is someone there?"
Ren's breath caught.
'He's here.'
From the shadows seeped a black aura — so dense, suffocating, and somehow alive. It slithered between the trees, wrapping the forest in fear. Ren staggered back, muttering, "Run…"
Confusion gripped the party.
Then the system itself confirmed their doom:
[ A powerful presence detected ]
[ Encounter in 10 seconds ]
[ Chances of Winning:0% ]
[ System Advice:Run ]
Ren bolted, desperation in his stride. "Run! It's the —"
It was too late. The figure emerged from the darkness. His weapon gleamed, and the Hidden Mist members instinctively raised theirs, though terror clouded their eyes.
The stranger smirked, lips curling. "Zygos, it's your turn."
A black mist swirled at his side, coalescing into the form of a woman in a secretarial uniform — cold, detached, her eyes devoid of warmth. She bowed slightly. "For what reason have you summoned me, master?"
"Kill them."
Her reply was as sharp as a blade. "As you wish, master."
Zygos moved like a blur of monochrome death, her hands or perhaps they were blades, tearing through the 'elite' Japanese players as if they were wet paper. Screams of the players echoed and clearly entered Ren's ear. He didn't dare to turn his head as he was scared seeing what was totally happening.
'Shit! Shit! Shit!'
Ren kept running, ignoring the flood of pop-up screens flashing before his eyes.
'Shit! Why is he here?!'
[ Party member Shizu has been killed ]
[ Party member Kawatani has been killed ]
[ Party member Aoi has been killed ]
[ Party member Takumi has been killed ]
[ Party member Sara has been killed ]
[ Party member Yamazaki has been killed ]
[ Party member Nana has been killed ]
[ Party member Riku has been killed ]
[ Party member Asahi has been killed ]
His chest heaved, panting from the exhaustion of his escape.
"That damn monster…"
Ren thought he had escaped the player's range. He stopped atop a tree branch, hiding his presence, forcing his breath into shallow intervals.
Above the sky, an eagle cried out.
"An eagle?"
He glanced upward — an eagle circled ominously in the night sky.
'Wait… could it be…?'
Realization struck like lightning. He wasn't safe. He leapt from the branch, sprinting desperately —but it was already too late.
"Cursed Chains."
"!!!"
Chains erupted from the shadows, binding his legs and dragging him to the ground. Four black, aura-veiled shackles coiled around him. He struggled, slashing with his dagger, but the steel met only futility.
"Good work on the surveillance, Aigokeros."
The eagle descended, landing on the stranger's arm before twisting into the form of a boy in a butler's uniform. He bowed slightly. "What I've done is not worthy of such praise, master."
From the darkness, the player stepped forward. Ren's eyes widened, disbelief and horror mingling.
'It's really him…'
A cursed scythe shimmered with black aura in his hand, sleek hair catching the night breeze. The elegance of his butler's garb only sharpened the menace in his smile.
'South Korea's Hunt guild leader…'
"You've survived this far." The player's voice dripped with condescension as he raised the scythe.
'Phantasy Realm's grim reaper… Shade'
"Good work."
The blade fell, swift and merciless.
[ You have defeated player Ren ]
[ Hidden Mist Guild has been wiped out ]