Meanwhile, at the Gold Coin Auction House...
GoldDiggerIRL heard the system ad and let out a breath he didn't know he was holding, unsure whether to laugh or cry.
He had to admit, the Merchant Alliance had been on a terrifying streak lately. Selling those pieces of Level 15 Gold gear had given them a reputation boost his own house couldn't match. He'd been lying awake at night, worried CryptoWarlord was about to pull so far ahead he'd never catch up.
But now, the quiet, unassuming Old Vine had just thrown a grenade into CryptoWarlord's perfectly planned party. A part of him was thrilled to see his main rival get a new, unpredictable challenger. He was genuinely curious to see how this would play out.
The other part of him just felt tired. His list of serious competitors had officially grown by one.
The reactions among the other top players on the Leaderboard were even more intense.
"Are you kidding me? What is wrong with you people? You've had all this time and you still haven't gotten your hands on a Guild Creation Token! Are we just going to sit back and let the 'World's First Guild' title go to someone else?"
InfernoRider was fuming. The second he saw the announcement from the Old Vine Auction House, he'd stormed out of his grinding session and started tearing into his team.
"I don't care what it takes. We have to be the first to establish a guild."
InfernoFiend's expression was grim. He didn't give a damn about the 'World's Top Player' or any other leaderboard. His one and only goal was that 'World's First Guild' title, and he would not let anyone snatch it from him.
The last system announcement about a token had nearly sent him over the edge, convinced he'd missed his shot. But this auction? This was a second chance.
He was getting that Guild Creation Token. A thin, hard smile spread across InfernoFiend's face.
When Hexium heard the news about the token being auctioned, he shot a cold glance at ShadowWhisper standing nearby.
"Well, well. This 'top player' is quite a character. Everyone else is killing themselves for a Guild Creation Token, and he's just… selling his. The irony is delicious."
"Sir, I… I'm on it," ShadowWhisper stammered, his knees feeling weak under Hexium's icy stare. He knew exactly what his Master was thinking, and if he screwed this up, the consequences would be severe.
ShadowWhisper was miserable. He knew any Level 30-plus Silver BOSS had a chance to drop the token, but he'd organized four or five raids with nothing to show for it. He'd give anything to know the actual drop rate.
"This is the best you can manage, ShadowWhisper? Three, four raids? And still nothing?"
"I'll start the search again immediately. I'll put another team together."
"Another hunt? Of course, we'll hunt. But what if our luck doesn't change? Am I supposed to just sit back and watch some other guild get the glory?"
"Sir, I—"
"Then get the funds ready! Start preparing for the auction! Do I have to think of everything for you?"
Hexium was seething, his hand twitching with the urge to slap some sense into the man.
—
"Whoa, check out that Knight! His horse is flying! I wonder what mount that is. Dude must be loaded," a player remarked as Marcus thundered past.
"Looks like a Common Steed to me," his friend replied.
"A Common Steed? Those only give a +3 speed boost. No way it's that fast."
The second player just shrugged, stumped.
Marcus chuckled to himself. Sure, his horse was just a Common Steed, but his own naturally high Movement Speed made it seem like a champion racehorse, leaving other players in the dust.
He rode on, the landscape shifting into rugged foothills where players were few and far between. Rounding a bend near a babbling stream, he spotted a lone figure in the distance; a slender girl, completely overwhelmed by a snarling red-maned lion. As he got closer, he saw it wasn't even a fight; she was purely on the defensive.
She wasn't stunning in the way Lily was, but she was undeniably pretty, with a graceful figure and a fresh, gentle air that made her instantly likable. There was an elegant calmness about her that stuck with you.
She was a Cleric, dressed in simple robes, desperately casting Heal on herself with a short staff as she tried to back away.
For a Cleric with no real attack power or defense, the lion was a death sentence. Her only hope was to out-heal the damage, but she could never kill it. It was only a matter of time.
The Cleric, whose nameplate read FreshwindElara, noticed Marcus watching from a distance. She didn't call out, just kept casting her spell and shuffling backward.
"Need a hand?" Marcus finally called out, a little put out. Being utterly ignored by this gentle-looking Cleric, did she think he couldn't help, or was he just that unimpressive?
"Yes, please. I could use one." Her voice was soft but clear.
"Well, you could've just said so," Marcus muttered under his breath. He drew a plain-looking Level 20 blade; nothing special, just trash loot, and charged the lion. No need to reveal his real power; better to keep his strength hidden.
"Ding! Player FreshwindElara has invited you to a party. Accept?"
He accepted.
A few swift, controlled strikes later, the Level 20 lion lay dead at his feet. Even holding back, it was no match for him.
"Wow, you're really good," FreshwindElara said. She had immediately started casting a Heal on him the moment he'd joined the party, a thoughtful touch he appreciated.
"Just got a lucky crit," he shrugged.
"Thank you. I honestly didn't know what I was going to do." Her gratitude wasn't effusive, but it was deeply sincere.
"Why didn't you just ask for help sooner? A Cleric can't solo one of these things." Marcus was genuinely curious.
"I wasn't sure if you could take it, so I didn't want to get you killed for no reason. And if you'd wanted to help, you would have offered. So I didn't say anything."
Marcus was speechless. That was… a very particular logic.
"What's a Cleric doing out here all alone, anyway? Don't you have a party?" That was his next question.
"What's this, an interrogation?" she replied, a faint, playful smile touching her lips, turning his own question back on him.
Marcus blinked, caught off guard. He hadn't expected that kind of retort from the quiet, gentle woman. He was at a loss for words, again.
FreshwindElara let out a soft laugh at his flustered expression. The sound, combined with her calm demeanor, was surprisingly charming.
"Hah," Marcus laughed too, the tension breaking. He rubbed the back of his neck. She'd put him on the spot twice now, but somehow, it felt easy, comfortable.
"Is this your usual approach with women? It could use some work."
"…."
'Where did that come from?' he wondered.
"I was here with some friends, but they logged off to get some rest. I was about to do the same when I stumbled on a Hidden Quest. I went to check it out and… well, I agroed the lion. If you hadn't shown up, I'd be taking a free trip back to the city square right now."
"A Hidden Quest?" Marcus's eyes lit up with immediate interest. "Can I see?"