The article, titled An Analysis of the Impact of the First Great War in 'Dominion' on the Current Situation and Future Development, began by stating that the so-called "First Great War" was, strictly speaking, a massive brawl. The author primarily analyzed the causes and effects of the conflict, which resulted in the average player in Dragon's Peak Citadel losing a full level.
The cause, the author wrote, was simple: the player who stole the Dark Violet Sky Dragon pet egg had drawn two Divine-Beast-level creatures into a fight, showcasing the raw spectacle of Dominion and igniting the players' passion. The final drop of a hundred pieces of epic gear was the ultimate fuse, making a fight inevitable.
However, the author dug deeper, arguing that the essential reason was the growing maturity of the major guilds. The conflict was an unavoidable clash of power and interests.
The author speculated that the fight was intentionally provoked by the leading guilds, particularly the Inferno Clan, to expand their influence, establish their authority, and gain notoriety. However, the situation was too rushed, and the massive influx of non-guild players caused the Inferno Clan to lose control, leading to the chaotic free-for-all.
The author boldly guessed that even if the scenario were to be replayed, the brawl would be unavoidable and even more intense, though perhaps slightly more organized.
As for the war's impact, the author listed three main points:
1. The Leveling Storm: Players now felt a more urgent need to pursue power and grow stronger, triggering a massive leveling frenzy across Dominion.
2. Renewed Popularity: The battle had caused a surge in Dominion's popularity. More players were pouring into the game, and Dragonfly Corp was even considering using the video of the Divine Beasts' fight as an advertisement to boost promotion.
3. Preparation for the Next War: The major powers in Dominion had begun a new round of intense leveling, secretly preparing for the next major conflict, determined to come out on top.
Therefore, the author concluded, the upcoming auction for the Guild Creation Token would be another fierce contest. Who would prove to be the wealthiest and most powerful to become the ultimate winner?
No one would easily give up the chance to establish the first guild in Dominion; the prestige alone was an invaluable asset.
The article ended on an interesting note, questioning who had stolen the Dark Violet Sky Dragon pet egg and triggered the whole conflict. If that player were to reveal himself, how would the community react?
Would they admire and envy him, or would they collectively try to kill him?
'Holy shit,' Marcus thought. 'I started all that?' But then, remembering the sheer chaos of the battle, it made a twisted kind of sense.
He logged off to grab a quick break, already planning to get back in and grind. His main goal now was to hit level 30 and finally equip the Cabaro Set.
Ring...big bro...
He'd barely taken two steps back in the game when his phone rang.
"Seriously? Who is it now?" he muttered. But a glance at the caller ID sent his heart into his throat. He logged out immediately and fumbled to answer the call.
"Marcus? It's Anya."
Her face filled the screen, smiling that easy, warm smile of hers. Just seeing her sent a familiar jolt through him.
"Oh, hey Anya. What's going on?"
"Can't I just call to say hi?" she said, feigning offense with a playful pout.
"No! I mean, yes, of course you can. Always." He could feel himself tripping over his words, just like he always did around her. He couldn't help it. Even though he wanted nothing more than to talk to her, they'd naturally drifted apart after college.
If he was being honest with himself, their "relationship" had always been pretty casual; the idea that they were especially close was probably more his fantasy than reality. At graduation, she'd given him a quick "Take care!" before rushing back to her hometown. In the year since, radio silence. If he hadn't literally bumped into her outside Crestwood University recently, he'd have been convinced she'd forgotten he existed. He was likely just a footnote in her life.
"Okay, I'm kidding. I actually do need a favor. Are you busy right now? What are you up to?"
"Me? No, not at all. I'm just at home. What do you need?"
Her smile was making his head spin, and his sentences were coming out in a rush.
"Perfect. Can you meet me outside the main university gate? I'm headed there now."
"Right now? Yeah, absolutely. I'm on my way."
He ended the call, his pulse hammering in his ears. He bolted to his closet, yanking out anything that looked halfway decent. A chance to see Anya? This was the best thing to happen all week.
"Nope, this one makes me look washed out."
"God, that's a terrible pattern."
"Too sloppy."
"This is way too stiff."
"A suit? In this August heat? I'd die of heatstroke."
"Just keep it simple. She said she needs a favor, probably means moving something heavy."
He was muttering to himself, a whirlwind of discarded shirts and pants. After a solid ten minutes of panic-dressing, he finally settled on a decent light-black t-shirt and jeans.
"Jesus, I take longer to get ready than Amber does. I gotta go."
Outside the main gate of Crestwood University, a woman in a loose, pink-and-white sundress stood waiting, her eyes scanning the crowd. Passersby couldn't help but look twice. The dress was breezy and casual, hiding her figure, but her graceful posture left no doubt about her beauty, adding a kind of effortless, ethereal charm.
Up close, she was stunning. Her dark hair shifted softly in the breeze, making her look like she'd stepped out of a painting. People couldn't help but wonder how someone that beautiful actually existed.
Her calm, gentle expression made her even more appealing. Girls walking by shot her looks of pure envy, while guys stared with a mixture of admiration and longing, sneaking glances and feeling lucky just to be on the same sidewalk.
A few brave souls hesitated, wanting to approach, but her quiet, goddess-like vibe was intimidating. They shuffled their feet, suddenly finding the pavement incredibly interesting.
Everyone was wondering who she was waiting for. What kind of guy warranted a woman like this standing in the sun for him? A low current of jealousy was already building.
Then, she smiled. It was like the sun breaking through clouds; warm, genuine, and enough to make your heart skip a beat.
"Wow," a guy nearby breathed out, almost involuntarily. It was like they'd all witnessed a minor miracle.
"Marcus! Over here!"
Anya waved, a simple, elegant gesture that drew a fresh wave of envious stares from the crowd.
'Who the hell is Marcus?'
All eyes turned to him, and a laser beam of collective envy and jealousy landed squarely on his shoulders.
"Anya! Hey, sorry, the traffic was… you know." He hurried to her side. Even though he'd spent time with other women, even someone as attractive as Lily, Anya's radiance always caught him off guard.
"You're fine. I haven't been waiting long. You sure you weren't in the middle of something?"
Her polite reply made him sweat. If she knew he'd spent the last fifteen minutes having a full-blown wardrobe crisis, he'd have to throw himself into traffic.
"That's a nice outfit, by the way."
Yes! She'd noticed. All that agonizing had paid off.
"Heh, thanks," he said, running a hand through his hair with an awkward laugh. The compliment from her felt like a win.
"You look... really awake."
'Ouch.' When a girl tells a guy he looks "awake" or "spirited," it's code for "you tried, and I acknowledge the effort." His fifteen-minute fashion show had officially been for nothing.