Chapter 355 The Biggest Winner
"This BlackFlame is as sly as a fox. We've been duped. He never planned to run; he wanted to lure us here. Everyone, stay sharp."
"What's the big deal? They've got, what, a hundred people? We've got thousands. No way they can flip the script on us."
Even though everyone sensed something was off, it was too late to back out now.
Eric had amassed a huge stash of loot. A target this juicy might never come around again. Even if all the guilds pooled their loot, it wouldn't come close to what Eric had collected. They were ready to take on Aether Wing's hundred-strong team if it meant getting their hands on that treasure.
"Haha, this is awesome! I didn't get to fight back in Stream Town, but now I finally can," Tonny said, grinning as he watched the crowd rush toward them.
"Tonny, don't hog all the kills. Leave some for the rest of us to practice. Big battles like this don't come around often," FlameDancer said with a faint smile, drawing a dagger from his waist and slipping into the shadows.
The rest of the team couldn't help but feel a bit exasperated.
Everyone in Aether Wing knew about the two top killers: Tonny and FlameDancer. In the last battle, if it weren't for Tonny's massive spell, Luminous Celestialflare, FlameDancer's kill count would have surpassed his.
"Everyone, be careful. These people are tough enough to have survived this long," Rosewater said, ignoring Tonny and FlameDancer. Their attacks were too fierce for others to emulate.
"Don't worry, Rosewater. With our upgraded gear, we can use them to test how much stronger we've become."
Everyone laughed.
After the Mechanical Slaughterer was defeated, the protective magic barrier in Stream Town vanished, revealing Blood Hand Society's treasure trove. They found hundreds of Dark Iron Level items, along with numerous Mithril and Adamantite weapons and equipment, significantly boosting their gear.
Facing thousands of players now, they had the advantage in both level and equipment. Plus, they held the strategic position. The entrance to the teleportation hall was narrow, preventing too many enemies from rushing in at once. They had a fighting chance.
Eric stopped at the entrance of the teleportation hall, no longer running. Instead, he turned to face the pursuing guilds.
Despite the overwhelming numbers—thousands against a mere hundred—the guilds halted fifty yards away.
"BlackFlame, don't think having a few helpers means we can't deal with you. Hand over all the loot, and we might spare your life. If not, this will be the end of your legend."
"Give us the loot, and we'll let you live. Otherwise, you and your team are finished."
The guild leaders glared at Eric with bloodshot eyes, seething with hatred. Eric had led the Mechanical Slaughterer to wreak havoc, causing them heavy losses. His fake death had further fueled the chaos, reducing their numbers. Now, with so many reinforcements, they were unsure if Eric had more tricks up his sleeve.
Eric's sudden turn and smile made them wary, so they stopped, not daring to charge recklessly.
What if it was another trap?
No one wanted to be the first to rush in.
"Why waste so many words? You've been chasing me for so long; now it's my turn," Eric said, drawing the Abyssal Blade and grinning at the massive army.
Eric's calm demeanor unsettled the guilds.
Anyone facing thousands of enemies would be nervous, even top-tier players. But Eric showed no signs of anxiety.
Did he really have a plan to hold them off with just a hundred people?
"RedFeather, something's definitely wrong. Why didn't BlackFlame escape when he reached the teleportation hall? Instead, he seems ready to fight," Hatty said, frowning.
RedFeather nodded, sensing something amiss.
BlackFlame could have escaped to Silvervale City's safe zone, where the guards would protect him, making it hard to kill him and take the loot.
But he deliberately led them to the teleportation hall. Why?
"We've been tricked. BlackFlame is stalling for time!" RedFeather exclaimed, quickly checking the team status to see if the members in Silvervale City's safe zone were alright.
"What's going on, RedFeather?" Hatty asked, confused.
"BlackFlame is using a diversion. Aether Wing has over five thousand members, but only a hundred came here. If he could send a hundred, why not more?" RedFeather explained. "He didn't send more because he wanted the rest to ambush our loot carriers. By blocking the teleportation hall, they can attack or retreat as needed. Once Aether Wing's other members get the loot, they can leave."
RedFeather's words were loud enough for all the guilds to hear, and their leaders' faces turned grim.
They quickly tried to contact their loot carriers.
But no one responded, not even through team chat. This was unprecedented.
"Too late to realize now," Eric said, shaking his head with a smile as he watched the guilds' actions.
Just as RedFeather suspected, when Eric charged at the Darkstar Guild, he had already sent Aether Wing's forces to intercept the other guilds' loot carriers. As Eric fought the Darkstar Guild, Aether Wing's forces moved in.
The guilds had focused on Eric, leaving only a few dozen people to guard the loot. Aether Wing's groups, each numbering in the hundreds, easily overwhelmed them.
To ensure the loot carriers couldn't call for help, Eric had his team buy a large number of intelligence-blocking scrolls from the magic shop. These expensive scrolls, costing 50 silver each, couldn't defend, attack, or assist players. They only prevented players from using the communication system for a while, making them perfect for this situation.
The loot carriers, though not far from the battlefield, couldn't contact their guilds when ambushed. Facing overwhelming numbers, they couldn't hold onto the loot.
Even if the guards arrived later, Aether Wing's non-combat members would have taken the loot by then.
RedFeather's face turned pale. Though he didn't know how Eric blocked their communication, he saw their health bars dropping, indicating a fierce battle.
RedFeather realized he had underestimated Eric. He had been fooled by Eric's facade as a top-tier player. Eric's strategic mind was far more dangerous.
Despite the many players and guilds involved, Aether Wing emerged as the biggest, if not the only, beneficiary.
Eric's cunning was not that of a novice fox but of an old, wily one.
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