Chapter 171: The Hero Emerges (3)

"Make sure to eat it only with your parents' permission, and don't forget to brush your teeth afterward so you don’t get cavities, okay?"

"Okay!!"

Kai patted Ayana’s head as she politely responded to his request.

It had been four hours since he swiftly destroyed the Medium and Easy Gates in Glendale and visited Whitehall. In what felt like the blink of an eye, Kai destroyed the Gates and then made his way to the Smile Clinic with Ayana’s favorite treats.

"Are you leaving again?" Ayana asked.

"I have to."

"

Awww...

"

Seeing Ayana droop her shoulders and pout, Kai crouched down to meet her at eye-level and comforted her.

"There are still people suffering on other battlefields right now."

"I know you have to go... It's just..." she whined a little because she was sad.

"I’ll come back when it’s all over."

"Okay! When you do, I’ll show you some new medicines!"

"I’ll be looking forward to that."

After purchasing a variety of potions made by Ayana and her parents at a generous price, Kai bid them farewell and stepped out into the street with a light heart.

Hard Gates... They’re definitely more dangerous than the Easy and Medium ones.

However, Kai focused solely on dealing with the Gates and ignored the monsters that emerged from them.

I heard boss monsters come out of the Gates, too.

Luckily, no boss monster had appeared from Whitehall’s Hard Gate, so he was able to destroy it easily.

Now, I need to head to Castle Baden...

As Kai walked down the street, he casually looked around, as if it was nothing.

Who are they?

A few players kept glancing his way every now and then. It wasn’t that Kai was being paranoid as if he was like a celebrity so full of themself.

They’ve been following me since Glendale, haven’t they?

From there, his heightened senses as an Apostle had picked up on something unusual. Someone was watching him. Since then, Kai had started scanning his surroundings and confirmed his suspicions.

All of them have black hair...

One’s body, hair, and skin were inherited from their parents. That was an old saying by Confucius, written in the Classic of Filial Piety. In modern times, no one would seriously follow that saying...

But in MID Online, there are some who do. People who never dye their hair.

They were Chinese people. Of course, not all Chinese players refrained from dyeing their hair.

But a group that could mobilize this many people, all with black hair, can only be one.

The Black Dragon guild was one of the top ten guilds in the world, and was known for having the largest number of guild members alongside India's Shiva Guild.

Didn’t their membership requirement include something ridiculous... like only accepting Chinese players with black hair?

It was already widely known throughout

MID Online

.

So the important question is, why are they watching me...?

Kai slightly furrowed his brows. There was nothing he could think of that would explain it.

I’ve never had any conflict with the Black Dragon guild.

After all, it took two hands to clap. No matter how much trouble Kai stirred and how many enemies he made, there was no reason for someone he never interacted with to have a grudge against him.

Besides, Xao Lin of the Black Dragon guild isn’t the type to attack me recklessly just to boost his reputation.

Public opinion on him was simple. He was known to be extremely calculative and sensitive to profit and loss. In other words, Xao Lin would never do anything that might bring harm to himself or his guild.

I’ve heard it's said he's not the type to just check the stability of a stone bridge.

Instead, he would rather demolish the bridge and build his own right beside it with manpower and resources. Xao Lin was regarded as that kind of person.

In short, if the Black Dragon guild has started moving, it means they’re getting something valuable in return...

No matter how much he thought about it, Kai couldn’t figure out what that something was. However, there was one thing he was certain about.

Whatever their scheme is... I can’t afford to go to Castle Baden with such a risky factor looming over me.

That left only one option!

Let’s throw out some bait, shall we?

Feeling the eyes of several people on his back, Kai left Whitehall.

At the same time, the Black Dragon guild members who had been watching him reported through their voice chat program.

"The target has left through Whitehall’s eastern gate."

"We’ll begin pursuit."

Black Dragon guild members poured out endlessly from the alleyways and corners of the street.

***

"This place should be quiet enough."

The Wild Beetle Forest was a place where massive insect monsters around level 190 roamed, and naturally, it was an unpopular spot. That was why Kai chose it.

They don’t drop expensive materials, and every time you hunt one, you get covered in green goo. Plus, no one wants to deal with the annoying patterns of these bugs unless they’re a real lunatic.

If Kai could just uncover what the Black Dragon guild was up to here, it would be a huge gain for him.

Besides, I have my Shadow Shift skill. It might take some time to cast since it’s a return skill, but I can easily get myself out of here if needed.

Kai’s confidence came from his accumulated experience and his current class.

I was just a larva, like the bugs here in the Wild Beetle Forest, but now...

Now, he was a butterfly with beautiful, large wings. A butterfly armed with a toxic venom capable of subduing any predator.

Silence filled the forest clearing.

Large enough to hold at least a hundred people, Kai stood in the center and firmly pressed his feet into the ground as he said, "So, no need to act anymore. Come out."

There was a brief silence. But soon enough, faint sounds reached Kai’s ears.

𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

Rustle, crunch.

It was the sound of dried winter leaves and branches snapping underfoot.

One, two, three, four... Wait, how many of them are there?

Kai observed the approaching figures.

"

Huh?

"

When Kai saw their faces and the emblem on their chests, his expression twisted in confusion.

"They’re not from Black Dragon."

The emblem they wore was of a muscular arm, with flexed biceps prominently displayed. Clearly, this wasn’t the Black Dragon guild’s emblem of a soaring black dragon. However, just because it wasn’t the Black Dragon emblem didn’t mean it wasn’t famous.

"...Titan."

Before the word he muttered under his breath could even be scattered by the wind, footsteps echoed once again. It sounded as though an entire wall of massive humans was slowly surrounding the forest itself. It was indeed the Black Dragon guild.

"This is..."

Kai exhaled lightly through his nose, looking back and forth between the members of the Titan guild and the Black Dragon guild with a confused expression.

"No matter how I see it, you all seem ready for a fight."

"Correct," Goliath stepped forward and pushed the Titan guild members aside, giving a decisive nod.

As that, Kai couldn't help but feel not just baffled, but also a genuine sense of curiosity.

"...Really, just like this? Out of nowhere?"

"Since ancient times, the key to winning wars has been to strike first. What, did you expect us to send you an invitation in advance?"

"You world-class guilds sure know how to operate in the shadows."

"

Hmph

, blame your arrogance for coming to a desolate place even though you knew you were being tailed."

Goliath, ignoring Kai's remark with a scoff, casually cracked the knuckles of his fist.

Crack, crack.

The unsettling sound echoed as a grin slowly crept across his lips.

"

Oh

, and don’t worry about the Black Dragon side. They won’t be participating in the battle."

"So they’re just here to act as a wall?"

"You catch on quick."

"I have to ask—there’s nothing for Titan to gain by picking a fight with me. Why go through all this trouble?"

"Trouble?

Hah,

you still talk as if you’re something special," Goliath growled. "We’ve learned everything through the Black Dragon guild’s vast network of information. There are no elves, no merfolk, not even any NPCs from the Solarian Church around here to help you."

"So?"

"Without your powerful allies, you’re just a player with the title of first ranked. Even that monstrous Yoo Ha-Rin didn’t dare challenge the world’s top ten guilds."

"But I did, so it bruised your ego, did it?"

"Keep provoking me and it won’t end in your favor." With a sly grin, Goliath continued, "But I’m a guild leader. Putting personal feelings aside for a moment... I’ll admit, your role in the downfall of the Black Bee guild and your combat sense in the Battle of the Bir Plains were commendable."

"Should I be thanking you?"

"Of course. I’m offering you a lifeline when you’re backed into a corner."

Goliath put on what he thought was the most benevolent and merciful expression he could make. Of course, to everyone else, it just looked terrifying.

"Join Titan. Under our management, you won’t need to fear any faction. We’ll help you build the greatest career possible."

"...What?" Kai took a step back, his face twisted in disgust.

The image of this giant man, at least a head taller than him, offering his hand with that creepy smile was enough to give anyone nightmares!

"Wait a minute. That’s not what we agreed upon, is it?"

A man from the Black Dragon guild stepped forward to block Goliath. Since Xao Lin wasn’t present, Kun Feng—the third commander of the Black Dragon guild—had taken on the responsibility of overseeing their guild members.

"This isn’t the place for a mere commander to butt in. Back off.”

As Goliath growled, Kun Feng was on the verge of retorting, but he remembered his master's order not to cause unnecessary trouble and quietly stepped back.

With the nuisance out of the way, Goliath raised his voice even more confidently as he made his proposal. "Now, make your choice. Will you soar with us behind you, or will you fall, your wings ripped apart until there's nothing left?"

After quietly listening to everything Goliath said, Kai slowly began to say, "I really don't get it. I don't understand."

His expression truly conveyed confusion.

"I don’t know if the information hasn't reached you, but... until today, I've destroyed three guilds with my own hands."

The Crimson Fist, Crimson Sunset, and Black Bee.

"Among them was even a guild that, like yours, was once praised as one of the top ten guilds."

“Don’t compare us to them. And back then, your guerrilla tactics spread their forces thin. We don’t make such foolish mistakes. Even a lion goes all out when hunting a rabbit.”

Goliath had engraved the lesson deep in his bones that the failure of Black Bee taught them: never underestimate Unknown, or Kai. Thus, if Kai rejected his offer, he was fully prepared to kill him without hesitation.

Killing Kai might reduce the potential gains from the Invasion Event, but...

Eliminating a powerful competitor like a thorn in his side wasn't entirely a loss.

"So, what will it be?" Goliath asked.

In Goliath's mind, the answer was already clear.

Even Kun Feng of the Black Dragon guild, who had been observing, sensed the gravity of the situation and had already contacted Xao Lin.

If Kai joins Titan... It'll be a real headache.

Any top ten guild with the backing of the Solarian Church, the merfolk, and the elves would be unbeatable.

As everyone silently calculated their next move, Kai slowly shook his head. "I reject your offer. I won’t be joining Titan."

"Are you choosing death, then?"

Kai shook his head again. "I reject that too. I’m not exactly fond of dying."

"You idiot... You’ll regret your choice in less than ten minutes."

"I’ll return those words to you."

Click.

Kai set a timer to ten minutes and observed the surrounding Titan guild members with a cold gaze.

One hundred and fifty... They’ve picked the best of the best.

And with the sturdy wall of the Black Dragon guild blocking any escape, the situation left no choice but to fight.

There’s no time to be picky about the situation.

This was war. In war, the victor takes everything, and the loser loses it all.

Kai wasn’t foolish enough to hold back any cards in a life-or-death battle.

Flash!

Kai raised his left hand, and on it were two rings.

Then, without hesitation, Kai said, "Knight of Nightmare."

As he shouted the activation command, one of the rings emitted a brilliant purple glow. At the same time, around fifty skeleton knights appeared, clattering as they surrounded him

In response, Goliath furrowed his brow and carefully examined them.

Are these the gnoll skeletons from that old video... No. These are different.

These skeletons were twice the height of gnoll skeletons and wielded swords and shields, clad in full armor.

"They’re skeleton knights."

Hovering above their heads, their levels showed as an impressive 298, reflecting the influence of the caster’s own level.

"I was wondering what made you so confident, and it turns out you had a hidden card."

Goliath admitted he was slightly surprised.

But the situation hasn’t changed.

The skeleton knights were a straightforward force. Typical of knights they wielded swords and shields, and their attack patterns were simple. So even if their level were at 320, Goliath felt confident he could defeat them.

"Just think of it like a hunt. Sweep them away."

With a slight nod of his chin toward his subordinates, 150 Titan guild members began activating their respective skills.

Clatter, clatter.

On the other hand, the skeleton knights surrounded their master, waiting for orders.

As Kai gazed into their hollow, empty eyes, he raised his left hand once again. "Sorry, but I never said I had just

one

hidden card."

At that moment, the ring on his middle finger emitted a bright light.

"Activate skill, Appoint."

Then, an eerie darkness swept over the battlefield, so dense that even the midday sun could not shine through it.