Chapter 192 Ambition and Dominance
The Ruins of the White Sands, a popular leveling ground for players striving to reach level 10, drew in ambitious level 9s from several surrounding towns.
It wasn't just the abundance of level 10 monsters offering increased experience points, but also the area's wealth of quests, many promising substantial experience rewards. To top it off, there were advanced quests that offered a chance to snag coveted Bronze Level or even higher-tier equipment.
The recent discovery of Hammerstone Village within the Ruins had only intensified the area's allure. It was a veritable paradise for players. Reaching a certain reputation level within the village granted access to level 10 Bronze and Dark Iron equipment at incredibly low prices, a perk unmatched by any other town.
It was no surprise, then, that the Ruins of the White Sands had become the go-to leveling spot for level 9 players. Guilds like Martial Alliance wouldn't dare miss out on such an opportunity.
ZephyrStrider, still smarting from his humiliating defeat at Eric's hands back in Willowbrook Town, had come to the Ruins to recover and level up. After considerable effort, he had finally clawed his way back to level 9 and was on the cusp of hitting level 10.
"Just you wait, Kai Blackthorn. Once those small-fry guilds flood Silvervale City, your days are numbered," he muttered under his breath, peppering a level 10 Tri-Tail Venom Scorpion with arrows.
Despite having his secret exposed and incurring the wrath of numerous guilds, Eric seemed to be living the good life, raking in a fortune while remaining frustratingly untouchable. ZephyrStrider was consumed by envy and resentment. Why couldn't that be him?
Martial Alliance, unlike some of the other major guilds, hadn't originated in Divine Realms: Legends. They were a carryover from a different virtual world, lacking the backing of major corporations and relying solely on the deep pockets of a few wealthy players. In that previous game, these players had been considered high rollers, casually dropping hundreds of thousands of credits, propelling Martial Alliance to a position of dominance. The thrill of wielding such power had been intoxicating, so they had reformed their alliance in Divine Realms: Legends, aiming to recreate their past glory.
As a high-ranking member, ZephyrStrider enjoyed a monthly income exceeding ten thousand credits, a king's ransom in the real world. He often bragged about his status as a top player to his friends, flaunting his wealth by picking up the tab at lavish dinners, much to their envy.
But when he saw the sales figures for the Silvervale City guide, his blood ran cold.
A quick calculation told him that Eric was earning well over a million credits per day. With that kind of consistent income, his assets likely dwarfed those of the wealthy players backing Martial Alliance. If Eric decided to cash out, selling his speed-leveling guide at a cut-rate price, he could easily set himself up for life, living a life of luxury and indulgence beyond the wildest dreams of those who funded Martial Alliance.
The thought gnawed at ZephyrStrider, fueling his resentment and jealousy.
His only solace was that Eric hadn't chosen to sell out. If he, ZephyrStrider, could somehow get his hands on that guide, be the first to market it on the official website… he could kiss his life as a professional gamer goodbye and enjoy the good life in the real world.
"ZephyrStrider, I found a spot with a crazy spawn rate. We could increase our leveling speed by at least 60%," an Assassin announced in the guild chat.
"Coordinates, now!" ZephyrStrider barked, his pulse quickening.
The Ruins of the White Sands were getting crowded, the competition for monsters fierce. If they could secure a prime farming location, they might even be able to push through to Silvervale City today and finally settle the score with Eric.
"Sending them now," the Assassin replied, posting the coordinates in the guild chat.
"Alright, let's finish off these last few mobs and move out," ZephyrStrider said, a predatory grin spreading across his face. It seemed luck was finally on their side.
He led his elite group to the location.
As promised, it was a secluded spot, teeming with monsters. Each spawn wave brought forth over fifty Tri-Tail Venom Scorpions, an ideal hunting ground for their group of over a hundred elite players.
There was just one small problem. The spot was already occupied.
"ZephyrStrider, what are our orders?" a Shield Warrior asked, frowning at the sixty or seventy players already farming the area.
"Can't you see they're all solo players?" ZephyrStrider scoffed. "Just a bunch of disorganized rabble. We're Martial Alliance. We don't share prime farming spots. We claim them."
He was right. The players currently occupying the area were indeed solo players, lacking the backing of a powerful guild. They were simply a loose collection of players who had banded together for mutual benefit. Any self-respecting guild would have thought twice before challenging them for such a lucrative spot. But Martial Alliance was different. They were the elite of the elite, drawn from five different towns. Even Thornheart's elite group couldn't match their numbers.
"Clear them out. Anyone not affiliated with Martial Alliance has ten seconds to get lost. After that, they can stay and decompose for all I care," ZephyrStrider announced, his voice dripping with disdain.
Over a hundred elite players fanned out, surrounding the area, their weapons at the ready.
Solo players, even at level 9, were generally poorly equipped compared to their guild-backed counterparts. And they were hopelessly outnumbered, sixty or seventy players facing off against a force of 132. It was a fight they couldn't win.
One of the solo players, seemingly the de facto leader of the group, stepped forward. "Brothers of Martial Alliance, surely there's enough to go around. We were here first. Leveling up is tough for everyone. How about we share the spoils?"
"Get lost, or I'll make sure you never level up again," ZephyrStrider roared, his patience wearing thin.
"Don't be ridiculous! We found this spot fair and square. We're not just going to hand it over to you!"
"Everyone, listen up! We outnumber them! Let's fight back! The worst that can happen is we all die. I don't believe they're willing to risk that!"
As the player tried to rally his comrades, a wave of fireballs erupted from the Martial Alliance ranks, engulfing several of the solo players in flames. The smell of burning flesh filled the air, silencing the remaining players. They stared at ZephyrStrider, their eyes filled with a mixture of fear and anger.
"What are you waiting for? An invitation?" ZephyrStrider sneered, gesturing with his hand.
Another volley of spells rained down on the defiant players, claiming a few more lives.
"We're leaving," one of the groups finally caved, their defiance crumbling.
The remaining groups exchanged uneasy glances, shook their heads, and reluctantly retreated. No one wanted to die for a lost cause.
"A bunch of spineless cowards. As if they could stand up to Martial Alliance," ZephyrStrider scoffed, watching them flee.
His words were met with a chorus of laughter from his guildmates. They were invincible.
Meanwhile, Eric was making his way towards the Ruins of the White Sands.
"Martial Alliance should be just ahead," he muttered to himself, consulting the map coordinates Thornheart had provided. He broke into a run, eager to confront his enemies.
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
