Chapter 180 The Nameless Sensation
"Silvervale City at last!"
"It's even grander than they said!"
"Look at those NPCs! They practically radiate power!"
Tonny and his companions arrived at Silvervale City, greeted by a wave of awe and excitement. The city's grandeur was a sight to behold, a testament to the game's incredible detail.
For most of the group, it felt surreal. Cola, AquaBison, and the others were still pinching themselves, convinced they were trapped in a vivid dream. Even FlameDancer, usually composed, couldn't shake off the feeling of disbelief.
Their journey had been nothing short of extraordinary. When FlameDancer and Cola first regrouped with Tonny, they were met with a proposal that bordered on insanity: tackling a group of level 20 monsters. Fear had gripped them, threatening to overwhelm their senses.
Divine Realms: Legends wasn't like other virtual games. Defeating higher-level enemies wasn't a simple matter of strategy or skill; it was a grueling test of strength, often ending in disaster for those who dared to punch above their weight class. Their average level was below 8. Challenging a level 20 Marshland Behemoth was practically suicidal.
Yet, Tonny and Ezio charged into the fray with an almost casual confidence, as if these towering behemoths were nothing more than harmless Green-skinned Goblins.
What unfolded next shattered their expectations. The level 20 Marshland Behemoths seemed to wither under an invisible force. Ezio effortlessly rounded up groups of five or six, and with a single, devastating Inferno Blaze, Tonny roasted them to a crisp. Their experience bars skyrocketed with each kill.
Cola and the others, seasoned gamers though they were, could only stare in disbelief.
In a matter of hours, Tonny and Ezio had transformed from casual players to powerhouses, their growth defying all logic.
Within half an hour, everyone's level had jumped significantly. When they finally pried Tonny and Ezio's levels out of them, Cola and FlameDancer were floored. Both were over level 13, a difference as vast as the ocean depths.
How had they achieved such a feat? The only explanation that made sense was Eric.
FlameDancer and AquaBison were utterly bewildered. Eric's own strength was one thing, but to elevate two more players to level 13? What kind of monstrous team were they building?
If word got out, the entire server would be in an uproar.
Over the next few hours, Cola and FlameDancer surged to level 10, while Tonny and Ezio hit level 14. Following Eric's instructions, they entered Silvervale City, familiarizing themselves with its layout and tackling quests to amass rare items.
But their arrival didn't go unnoticed. As they stepped foot into the city, a series of System announcements echoed across the Silvercrest Dominion.
System: [Five players have entered Silvervale City, unlocking the Silvercrest Dominion Level Ranking Honor Board.]
The announcement repeated twice more, sending ripples of shock and confusion throughout the region.
What was going on? More than five players had already reached Silvervale City.
[What are these guys on? I just hit level 8, and there are already level 10 players running around? How are we supposed to compete?]
[No way, they're all free players! Not a single guild tag!]
[Hahaha, this is amazing! Take that, you arrogant guilds! Free players rule!]
[Who are these guys? I've never heard of them before. Did they all arrive together? Maybe they're a premade group...]
The official forums erupted with speculation. The players on the newly unlocked Level Ranking Honor Board became instant celebrities, the subject of envy and admiration.
[Find out who they are! Now!]
[They're all free players! Offer them whatever they want! Officer positions, guild resources, the moon! Just get them in our guilds!]
Panic spread through the major guilds like wildfire.
The Level Ranking Honor Board, meant to be their battleground for supremacy, had been usurped by free players. These unknowns occupied the top six spots, a blatant display of power that left the guilds reeling. Their only recourse was to recruit these players, to salvage some pride by having their guild names displayed alongside these rising stars.
Tonny and Ezio, following Eric's advice, had declined the System prompt to display their names on the board. This only fueled the mystery surrounding them, further amplifying the anxiety of the major guilds.
Cola and FlameDancer's presence on the board, however, was a calculated move. Their level 10 status, while impressive, wasn't unheard of. It was Tonny and Ezio's absence that spoke volumes.
Revealing their true levels would be akin to dropping a bomb on the established order. It would be a direct challenge, a provocation that would paint a target on their backs. They couldn't afford to attract that kind of attention, not yet.
"Why isn't Kai Blackthorn on the list? And why do these names seem so familiar?" Isabella stared at the Level Ranking Honor Board, her brow furrowed in thought.
The top six spots were all level 10 players, but to her surprise, FlameDancer occupied the top spot, not Eric. None of the names belonged to Eric, which struck her as odd. Why would he choose to remain hidden?
"Isabella, aren't Cola, Drowsy Sloth, and Greedy Gnawer Eric's teammates? We met them back at the Shadowmoon Graveyard. I can't believe how quickly they've leveled up." Scarlet's voice was laced with disbelief. She remembered these players as complete novices, far from the top tier.
Their first encounter had been at the Silent Grove Dungeon, where Eric casually recruited them. The second time, their levels were only slightly lower than hers. Now, they had surpassed her, a testament to their rapid growth.
Prompted by Scarlet's reminder, Isabella immediately grasped the situation. The usually composed and seemingly in-control Isabella now wore a look of surprise and bewilderment.
'Who exactly is this Kai Blackthorn?' Isabella pondered deeply.
'How has Eric managed to turn a group of newbies into the center of attention in the entire Silvercrest Dominion?'
'And why are he and Tonny absent from the Level Ranking Honor Board? It defies logic. If his mentees are already level 10, there is no way that Eric and Tonny would not have reached that milestone. The only explanation is that they were deliberately hiding their levels. But why?'
'Why forgo the fame and recognition? Why choose to remain in the shadows when they could bask in the limelight?'
A chilling thought crept into Isabella's mind, a possibility so outrageous, so terrifying, that it sent shivers down her spine.
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