Not to mention the special equipment—they had also received the 20 Honor Point reward, given only to the first ten teams to clear a King-level dungeon. The improved team cohesion and prestige gained from downing such a boss alone were more than enough to justify the losses both guilds had endured.
Every veteran player knew the weight of Honor in Glory.
Without it, high-level quests would remain locked. Property rights for player housing couldn't be obtained. Even red-named players would find themselves barred from entering key cities. Honor wasn't just a badge—it was a gateway.
Across the table, Zephyr and Velena exchanged glances, then turned their eyes to Kaito.
They couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
When they first met Kaito, he and his team had seemed like lucky newcomers—players who had stumbled into a King-level dungeon clear by sheer fortune. But since then, this man had surprised them again and again.
At the time, they had merely thought Raen was a determined leader with decent instincts, albeit a bit too proud. So when he received a devastating blow to his guild's standing, they had expected him to spiral or fall into despair.
They were wrong.
Instead of faltering, Raen had done the unthinkable—he challenged an entire guild alone.
Although the Everhold Dominion team he fought was just a regimental detachment, it made no difference.
They were annihilated.
And Raen's reputation skyrocketed.
Now, when players on the forums discussed South Glade Town, they didn't mention StormLife or Crimson Rose first.
They mentioned Raen.
Especially after Kaito uploaded battle footage—showcasing his solo slaughters near the Echoing Deep entrance, the mass executions inside the array, and the final clash against Gravemind. The video went viral. Over just an hour, Everhold Dominion's reputation collapsed into the dirt.
Even After watching those videos, both Zephyr and Velena finally understood why Gravemind had been so hell-bent on killing Raen. If they had been in his position, they might have done the same—to eliminate a rising threat before it became unstoppable, especially if peaceful negotiation was no longer an option.
.....
Now, on the upper floor of Glade Flame Tavern, Kaito, Velena, and Zephyr sat at the head of a long table, Marek and Revera, were seated to their right and left.
But something about this meeting felt different to Kaito.
He had a faint sense this "conversation" wasn't just a casual chat.
"Let's get straight to the point," Kaito said with a small smile, glancing at Zephyr and Velena. "There's not much game time left."
He could already tell—this meeting wasn't just a friendly chat.
Zephyr chuckled. "Brother Raen, you're as sharp as ever." His smile faded, replaced by a serious look. "I'll get to the heart of it. Everyone here is someone I trust completely, so I'll speak openly—I want to ask for your help to become StormLife's next Guild Leader."
Guild Leader?
So that's what this was about.
Kaito was momentarily caught off guard. He had always assumed Zephyr was already the Guild Leader of StormLife. In his past life, Zephyr had taken over the position less than six months after Glory launched. It was a detail Kaito had completely overlooked.
StormLife, after all, had been just a second-rate guild back then—nothing impressive. They lacked corporate sponsorship or financial backing. In most previous games, investing in non-top-tier guilds rarely brought any meaningful returns.
Without outside funding, StormLife's ownership was held by a few veteran players. Zephyr controlled roughly 10% of the guild shares, with the other two vice leaders holding similar stakes. The current Guild Leader, however, still held more than half the total shares.
In Kaito's past life, after that Guild Leader stepped down, a brief internal power struggle followed between the three vice commanders. Ultimately, Zephyr had come out on top, proving his worth through sheer ability.
So why was Zephyr so anxious now, acting as if his position was truly at risk?
"The guild leader? What exactly do you mean?" Kaito asked, his voice calm. If Zephyr's opponent was too strong, Kaito had no intention of forcing the issue. He would rather find another way to repay the favors StormLife and Zephyr had shown him.
After all, Genesis was still small. He had only a handful of skilled players under him—barely enough to match an average studio.
Zephyr sighed. "Brother Raen, you probably don't know this… but our old guild leader has decided to retire from the game. He founded StormLife and wants to see it thrive even without him. So, instead of selling off his shares, he made a public promise—he'll pass the position of Guild Leader to whoever proves themselves most capable."
"So now, the position of Guild Leader is being contested between me and the other two vice presidents," Zephyr explained, his gaze fixed on Kaito. "Whoever can demonstrate greater strength, leadership, and influence will be given control of StormLife."
He leaned forward slightly, lowering his voice.
"Brother Raen, you've dominated the spotlight ever since Glory launched. One strategy after another—bold moves, unexpected victories. I believe that with your support, my success is guaranteed. If I can rise to the position of Guild Leader, I promise you this—StormLife Guild will always stand behind Genesis as your unshakable ally."
Zephyr's words were smooth, but Kaito could see the hesitation behind them.
He's fishing.
He wants me to name my price first.
Kaito gave a subtle smile. "Brother Zephyr, since we're talking about a true partnership… why don't you tell me why you're so anxious? Did the other two vice presidents already get outside help?"
Zephyr's expression twisted with a bitter smile.
"Well… previously, I wouldn't have cared about either of them. One of them, Marcos , is all talk—his influence and player base aren't worth worrying about. But the second one—Derrick Stroud—has recently received terrifying support."
He paused and took a deep breath.
"And I think it's connected to our previous clashes with Everhold Dominion."
Kaito blinked. "????". It looked like the Butterfly effect had begun.
Zephyr nodded slowly. "Brother Raen should already know—even though Everhold Dominion isn't officially ranked yet, they've already poured massive resources into Glory, bringing in Thousands of players before the game even launched. And it seems they've placed a final bet on Glory."
Kaito's eyes narrowed.
Zephyr continued, "The town Derrick's branch is based in—Redmist Hollow—was originally dominated by a loose alliance of third-rate guilds. But just a few days ago, with support from Silent Reign and Everhold's elite squad, Derrick led a crushing victory over that alliance. His branch now controls the entire region."
"That's not all," he added, grimacing. "They even achieved a Horror-level first-clear on the local dungeon. It made waves across the regional leaderboards. And with that exposure, they'll keep receiving better equipment, more recruits, and more resources."
"If this keeps up… I won't be able to keep up."
"So that's how it is…"
Kaito smirked, a trace of disdain curling at the edge of his lips.
Silent Reign, huh?
"So you've already made it to Redmist Hollow?" he murmured to himself, voice calm yet chilling.
"Looks like the only way to delete your account… is to wait until we all reach Astralis City."
His gaze then shifted back to Zephyr.
"Honestly, Brother Zephyr, I have a good impression of you. You're the kind of partner I don't see often—and I don't mind helping someone like you. Not just because I can… but because I will."
Kaito leaned back in his chair slightly, his expression turning arrogant and relaxed.
"At worst, I'll just wipe the floor with Silent Reign and his dogs once we're in Astralis. End of story."
His tone was domineering—unapologetically confident.
But no one at the table dared question it.
After what they had witnessed during the Everhold Dominion battle… who could?
"…But," Kaito added, his tone suddenly turning sharp and businesslike, "you should know—I'm a professional player. I don't move without returns. The benefits you offer will determine just how far I go for you."
And with that, Kaito calmly unhid the visual effects of his equipment.
In an instant, flickering silver and gold light burst forth from his gear.
An oppressive, radiant glow flooded the tavern's second floor.
Everyone froze.
Even Zephyr—who had braved dozens of dungeons.
Even Velena—who led Crimson Rose's elite.
Even the two seasoned veterans, Marek and Revera.
All of them stared in stunned silence.
The silver glint across Kaito's armor shimmered like moonlight on a blade.
The golden hue of his weapon—Solstice Blade— radiated a heat that could burn through words.
This was no mere player.
In all of StormLife, and even Crimson Rose combined, they had barely managed to secure 4 or 5 Silver-grade equipment pieces—and that was after two or three full clears of the King-level Echoing Deep.
Their Bronze equipment pool? Just 50 or 60 items, spread across their top elite members.
But Kaito?
He stood there alone—clad in a complete Silver set, wielding a Gold-grade weapon—as if this level of gear was natural.
What kind of stats did he have now?
A silent shiver ran down everyone's spine.
Because they all knew—this wasn't a bluff.
This was power made manifest.