Soma Town – Forest Ruins – Orwin Empire
The first guild to arrive at the Forest Ruins was Starry Myth.
Their Second Division had been grinding nearby at Wildview Plains, and with members already assembled, they were able to respond immediately without wasting time.
Still, upon arriving, they didn’t act hastily.
They regrouped with their own members already on-site and gathered a rough overview of the massive bat lurking at the heart of the ruins.
“They really thought that few people could challenge a boss? Where did they get that kind of courage…”
Captain Kuso Kanade, leader of Starry Myth’s Third Division, shook her head in disbelief.
Since the start of the game, she had participated in multiple boss hunts and knew that even a regular Elite Monster of the same level needed at least 50 to 60 well-geared players to take down.
Let alone a Boss-tier creature like this one.
An impromptu group of eighty uncoordinated players with no central command?
They were lucky to get past the opening act.
Still, Kuso Kanade was curious about the Dark Bat King’s abilities in that last skirmish.
Unfortunately, most accounts were vague at best:
“It summons bats, flies, and… it’s strong. Really strong.”
Helpful.
***
“How’s the situation, Kanade?”
A new voice chimed in—it was Zhenmo, one of Starry Myth’s vice leaders and the current #3 ranked wind elementalist.
He wore a complete Whisperer’s Set, his signature look.
“No useful intel,” she replied flatly.
“Figured as much,” Zhenmo nodded, then opened a trade window and passed over several dozen potions. “Reinforced buffs, made by our alchemists. Distribute them to your tanks and DPS.”
“Are we preparing for a raid?” Kanade asked, motioning for nearby teammates to distribute the goods.
“Just in case,” Zhenmo said, glancing toward the horizon.
Following his gaze, Kanade also noticed that other major guilds were starting to arrive.
Eternal Spire, Heart of Thorns, Ares, Epic of the Empire…
All familiar names.
Each of them had sent at least two squads.
Smaller guilds weren’t sitting idle either.
If more of the top guilds had a presence in this region, it would’ve been even more chaotic.
Just then, Zhenmo sighed beside her.
“And here comes the most annoying one…”
***
He pasted on a courteous smile and walked forward to greet a certain someone.
“Vice Leader Xueying. Long time no see.”
“Haha! It’s been a while, Zhenmo my man.”
They exchanged the usual polite nonsense, but Xueying cut to the chase faster than expected.
“Zhenmo, what’s Starry Myth’s plan here?”
“Plan?” Zhenmo gave an innocent look. “What plan?”
“Don’t play dumb. No one thinks they can take this boss down alone. Everyone’s scheming. I’ll be upfront—I came to talk alliance.”
Before Zhenmo could respond, Kanade suddenly chimed in from the side.
“Vice Leader Xueying must have a short memory. Forget how badly you screwed us last time? Now you come crawling back?”
“There are no eternal enemies. Only eternal interests.”
Xueying smirked. “Surely a smart girl like you understands that, Kanade.”
Her only reply was a cold snort.
“Forgive her,” Zhenmo chuckled. “Kanade’s got a temper, you know. But no hard feelings, right?”
Of course, Zhenmo avoided giving a direct answer.
That, in itself, was an answer.
Still, Xueying dropped a tidbit before leaving:
“Word of advice—this boss has AoE lifesteal. Watch out.”
“And how would you know that?” Kanade raised a brow.
She had asked dozens of people and gotten nothing that specific.
“Some of our boys were in that earlier failed raid.”
Just one sentence—but it said plenty.
Zhenmo took it in, then switched tones.
“Alright. So how exactly were you hoping to… ‘ally’?”
“Simple,” Xueying replied. “We don’t have to trust each other. Just stay out of each other’s way when the fight starts.”
“Understood.”
***
After Xueying left, Kanade looked at Zhenmo doubtfully.
“Are we really partnering with that guy?”
“We’ll take the info. That’s it.”
Zhenmo shrugged. “Nothing bad about knowing what we’re up against.”
“What if it’s fake?”
Kanade still seemed bitter—her division had suffered the most in their last interaction with Xueying’s guild.
“Don’t hold a grudge forever, Kanade.”
Zhenmo sighed, flicking her forehead. “Even a bald vulture like him wouldn’t risk lying here.”
“Don’t flick my forehead! You trying to fight!?”
“Sure, as long as it’s not 0 wins to 56 losses again.”
***
Meanwhile, Xueying wasn’t done.
He made his rounds, talking to other major guilds too.
Most of them didn’t welcome him warmly, but still agreed—at least on paper—to a similar non-aggression pact.
Like Zhenmo said, it wasn’t a bad deal.
Soon after, the elite squads from each major guild finished their internal briefings—setting up formations, assigning roles, confirming command chains.
Casual players, sensing the change in atmosphere, quickly made space.
The Forest Ruins reorganized into three concentric layers:
The outer ring: curious onlookers and scattered solo players.
The middle ring: elite squads from major guilds.
The center: the boss area itself, where the Dark Bat King roamed.
Oddly enough, the Dark Bat King didn’t seem to care.
It wandered leisurely, as if patrolling its personal domain, unfazed by the hundreds of eyes fixed on it.
In stark contrast, tension brewed between the guilds.
No one wanted to be the first to charge.
Because the first to move…would pay the heaviest price.
For now, the standoff remained.
Like a zoo exhibit where a lion paced while crowds of humans watched from behind glass.
Only the poor wild Dark Bats respawning nearby suffered.
They were instantly wiped out by elite guild squads, barely living three seconds.
Outside the circle, solo players grumbled.
“What’s taking so long?”
“Bunch of cowards. I’d already rushed in if I were them.”
“Not a single real man in these top guilds, huh.”
Even Dewdrop pouted.
“C’mon already! I still need to level up…”
Nightwish, standing beside her, tilted her head at a sudden sound.
“No need to wait. The guy who will charge first… just arrived.”