Chapter 131 The First Use of Frost Azure Flame
Eric's post exploded on the forums, drawing a flurry of responses.
[No way, is this bounty for real? I wish I was in Willowbrook Town right now!]
[One silver for a regular member. That's my entire day's earnings! If I go all out and take down seven or eight, that's seven or eight hundred credits. A month of this and my income would skyrocket!]
[This has to be fake, right? Isn't Kai supposed to be a struggling expert? Where'd he get this kind of money?]
[The guy above has a point. This reeks of a scam. He's just trying to drum up publicity, play the victim card, and turn public opinion against the Martial Alliance.]
The comments section became a cacophony of opinions—some supportive, some skeptical, and a fair share outright cursing Eric's name. The predominant sentiment was disbelief. The majority of players were unable to comprehend Eric's accumulation of such vast wealth. Even setting aside the expenses associated with placing the bounty, the potential financial reward for eliminating several members of the Martial Alliance was extravagant. The fiscal responsibility was inconceivable for a player of even moderate wealth, let alone one who was purportedly facing financial struggles.
[This is Thornheart of the Assassin's Alliance. I fully endorse Kai and guarantee the veracity of his claims. If proven otherwise, you have my word that I will personally compensate any losses.]
Just as the court of public opinion was about to brand Eric a fraud, Thornheart's message appeared, throwing fuel on the already raging fire.
While Kai had gained considerable renown, his credibility paled in comparison to that of a major guild.
Thornheart's endorsement, however, carried significant weight. The Assassin's Alliance, a second-tier guild boasting over ten thousand members, had established a reputation for trustworthiness over a decade of operating in various virtual worlds. Their word was as good as gold.
[Damn, it's Thornheart from the Assassin's Alliance! I wanna join them!"
[If Thornheart's backing this, it has to be legit. Players in Willowbrook Town are about to hit the jackpot!]
Thornheart's appearance was quickly followed by another post that sent the view count of Eric's bounty soaring.
[Kai is a personal friend, and I can attest to his character. Should any discrepancies arise, you may hold me accountable.]
The post bore the unmistakable digital signature of Ice Goddess Isabella. With her endorsements, the individuals who had previously labeled Eric a charlatan were compelled to retract their accusations, dreading the potential backlash from her vast multitude of admirers.
[Kai, you're my hero! Please, take me as your disciple! I'll do anything, I swear!]
[Kai, are you seeing anyone? I'm eighteen, gorgeous, and with a figure that'll blow your mind. Be my boyfriend, let's have a family!]
The forum erupted once more. Securing endorsements from both Thornheart of the Assassin's Alliance and Ice Goddess of the Devouring Serpents elevated Eric to legendary status. Such support was unheard of for an ordinary expert. With Divine Realms: Legends' meteoric rise in popularity, Eric's future seemed brighter than ever.
Meanwhile, in the seedy underbelly of Willowbrook Town, inside a private room at the Drunken Heart Bar...
"Leo, we have a problem! That Kai just put a price on our heads!" An Assassin burst through the door, his voice laced with urgency.
Leo, his rugged face flushed, frowned. He was thoroughly enjoying the unexpectedly potent and delicious virtual rum, which surpassed anything he had tasted in the actual world. No wonder this place was a favorite haunt for players seeking respite from the daily grind of virtual combat.
The interruption, however, had abruptly shattered his moment of bliss. "What's with all the yelling? The world's not ending. Who's the idiot trying to put a bounty on me? I'll gut him myself."
"Leo, it's Kai," Simon Hemdrift mumbled, his words slightly slurred.
"Kai? He thinks he can put a bounty on the Martial Alliance? Who'd be stupid enough to believe him?" Leo scoffed, taking another swig of his rum.
"Leo, it's real. Check Kai's post if you don't believe me. It's pinned at the top with over a million views," the Assassin pleaded, desperation creeping into his voice.
He, too, had initially dismissed the notion as absurd. What solo player in their right mind would dare target an entire guild? It was practically suicidal. Unless driven by an immense personal vendetta, challenging a major guild's authority was simply not done. Guilds had the resources and reach to make life a living hell for anyone who dared cross them, often driving them to quit the game altogether.
Yet, here it was, staring him in the face.
Leo remained unconvinced. Eric had to be out of his mind to even consider such a move. It was an act of utter desperation. So, he pulled up the official forum on his interface.
What he saw left him speechless.
Eric had indeed issued a bounty on the entire Martial Alliance. This was no longer a simple rivalry; it was a declaration of war.
In his drunken stupor, Leo had conveniently forgotten that he was the one who had initiated this deadly game by placing a bounty on Eric and his team.
As he scrolled through the post, a wave of shock washed over him. The very same players who had moments ago denounced Eric as a fraud were now salivating at the prospect of claiming his bounty, treating it like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
The bounty amounts themselves were enough to make Leo's blood boil. He had shelled out a million credits to CelestialParagon, offering a ten thousand credit bounty as a mere formality, never truly expecting anyone to succeed. His primary targets were Eric's teammates.
Now, Eric was offering five thousand credits for his head, a clear message that he considered Leo far beneath him.
The most baffling aspect of this entire ordeal was the involvement of Thornheart and Isabella.
Leo couldn't comprehend it. He had targeted only Kai, so why were these prominent figures inserting themselves into the conflict? Isabella's involvement was perplexing enough, but Thornheart? He had never even interacted with the Assassin's Alliance. What possible reason could he have to support Eric?
The gravity of the situation sobered Leo instantly. His face hardened, his expression turning as cold as ice. "They want to play dirty? Fine, let's play. We'll see who comes crawling back for mercy. Double the bounty on Kai's teammates to two thousand each. Let's see how many are tempted by greed."
"And tell everyone to be extra vigilant. No more solo leveling in the Wilderness. From now on, it's groups only."
"Yes, sir."
With his orders delivered, the Assassin bowed and left the room. Leo immediately contacted CelestialParagon, urging them to expedite their mission and crush Eric's rebellion before it gained any more traction.
Concurrently, Eric had arrived at the Blacksmith Association and secured an intermediate forging chamber.
With the Frost Azure Flame in his possession, he intended to dedicate his time to honing his forging skills and crafting powerful equipment, including the Silver Dawnrift set.
He approached the furnace and deactivated the standard-issue first-tier exotic flame provided with the room. From his backpack, he retrieved a vibrant blue flame that danced in his palm like a mischievous spirit. The air around it shimmered with intense heat, rapidly raising the temperature of the entire room.
System: [Do you wish to bind the Frost Azure Flame as your personal exotic flame?]
'Bind? Does that mean I can only use it after binding?' Eric wondered aloud. Despite holding the flame, he couldn't access any of its attributes.
Exotic flames above the first tier were incredibly rare in Divine Realms: Legends. He had never encountered one before, let alone heard of binding them.
He distinctly remembered that exotic flames could be placed within a guild's forging room for communal use, preventing anyone from claiming ownership.
'So how had this become a personal bindable item?' he puzzled.
Deciding not to dwell on it, Eric chose to bind the flame, eager to unlock its true potential.
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