Chapter 185: Favor between Players Tiger Eye was a boastful player with an ego as large as the mountains in Guildbane, and he couldn’t stop talking about his guild and his own accomplishments.
His words flowed like a never-ending river of self-praise, drowning out every other sound on the battlefield.
"You see, my guild is the best! We’ve conquered every dungeon out there," he bragged, his voice filled with unbridled confidence.
"I’m telling you, we’re unstoppable. This war is practically in the bag for us! You girls better admit defeat now before I pummel you with my knuckles! Admitting your loss will undoubtedly be less embarrassing! Ahahahaha!"
With a roll of her eyes, Scarlet stuck out her tongue in a mocking gesture. "The nerve of this guy," she muttered to the others, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "He acts like he’s the king of the world when half of his so-called ’members’ aren’t even in his guild."
Her fellow players exchanged amused glances, finding Scarlet’s blunt honesty both refreshing and entertaining.
Marry sighed and shot Scarlet a sidelong glance. "Although we don’t have the right to criticize them either since we employed the same tactics as them."
Scarlet pouted and crossed her arms. "They started it."
"But I have to say . . . where did Lord Schrodinger find these players?" Marry asked, addressing no one in particular. "Aren’t they like . . . scary looking?"
In the ranks of Snow Angels, there existed a handful of solos players whose skills transcended the ordinary, elevating them to the upper echelons of Guildbane’s competitive realm.
They each possess a unique blend of expertise, strategy, and raw talent that makes them highly sought after by every guild in the game.
Even though they remained relatively unknown due to guilds hogging the spotlight in both the game and the real world, top solo players couldn’t deny that they were among the best in the solo player ranks.
First among them was Aurora Blade, a fierce and agile swordsman of elven descent.
Another standout player was Inferno Sorcerer, a cunning and powerful mage hailing from the human race.
Then there was Shadow Dancer, a stealthy rogue of halfling lineage. His agility and stealth were his greatest assets, allowing him to infiltrate enemy lines undetected.
In contrast, there was Lunar Priestess, a wise and compassionate healer from the elven race.
Last but not least was Stormcaller, a fearsome mage with an affinity for thunder.
In the tumultuous world of Guildbane, where alliances were as fleeting as the changing winds, the core of Snow Angels was not a permanent fixture.
Instead, it was a coalition crafted by Xin and Victor, who had called upon these exceptional players for a singular purpose –– to aid Snow Angels in this fight.
Each member of this extraordinary quintet owed Victor a favor, a debt accumulated through past interactions and mutual assistance.
In the intricate web of player relationships, favors were currency –– valuable commodities that could tip the balance of power in crucial moments.
For players of their caliber and ranks, understanding the nuanced dynamics of these favors was essential; it was an unspoken rule that one day, the favor would be called upon.
Victor understood the game’s intricate social fabric and had chosen this moment to collect on those debts to help Xin out.
Thus, Aurora Blade, Inferno Sorcerer, Shadow Dancer, Lunar Priestess, and Stormcaller gathered under the banner of Snow Angels, not out of blind allegiance, but out of mutual respect and the intricate interplay of favors owed.
However, Victor deliberately chose to stay out of the fight, ensuring he wouldn’t be linked to Xin in any way.
At that thought, Xiaxia’s frustration surfaced as she sighed, muttering, "I wish Victor was here instead of you."
Xin simply brushed off her remark, choosing not to engage in her complaints. He paid her comment little attention. He was accustomed to her jabs and chose to focus on the task at hand.
Despite her expressed doubt, Xiaxia couldn’t deny the truth –– Xin’s presence, even without his Golems, was invaluable.
Yet, she didn’t want to show her real emotions to her brother, no matter how grateful she was.
"Well, I suppose you can help by throwing potions at everyone to keep their health up," Xiaxia suggested, trying to find a practical use for Xin in the upcoming battle.
Xin shot her a bored look. "Is that how you plan to thank the person who’s here to assist you?" he retorted, his tone a blend of exasperation and annoyance.
Unfazed by his irritation, Xiaxia huffed, adopting an air of false nonchalance. "What are you even going to do here if you can’t fight?" she challenged. "We could have given that slot to someone capable, someone who can actually contribute."
"I’m here to ensure that you win," Xin replied matter-of-factly, his calm demeanor belying the strategic mind working behind his eyes.
While Hilda might be banned from this particular war, Xin had other resources at his disposal –– like items and summoning Elysia if ever worse came to worst.
Meanwhile, Tiger Eye continued his one-sided conversation, blissfully unaware of the eye rolls and suppressed laughter from those around him.
"But you know, I’m not surprised. I am amazing, after all," he declared, his chest puffing out with pride. "I’ve got skills that others can only dream of!"
Scarlet couldn’t help herself; she let out an exasperated sigh and muttered under her breath, "Dream on, buddy. Your guild might be a mess, but at least your imagination is top-notch."
Her witty remark earned a few stifled laughs from her comrades, making Scarlet’s point even more valid.
[Are both sides ready?]
The system’s announcement echoed through the battlefield.
[Let the war commence!]
As the troops from both factions surged forward, the leading players of Feral Domination wore puzzled frowns upon seeing Snow Angels fielding an impressive roster of top-tier players.
What caught their attention even more was the fact that these players were renowned mercenaries who demanded exorbitant fees for their services.
Where on earth did Snow Angels find the funds to recruit such high-caliber individuals?
They had always assumed that their leader, Angel Xia, lacked resources and backing.
Yet, this unexpected sight left them baffled.