"How could this happen!" George frowned deeply, staring at the chaos covering Bluewave Harbor.
"My lord, should I take some men to gather information?" Zack knelt on one knee and said in a low voice.
"How will you even get there? The port isn't that close!" George pointed toward the distant harbor, confused.
"Of course we'll swim!" Zack said as he stripped off his shirt.
They had survived the freezing cold of the Arctic. The temperature of this sea meant nothing to them.
"Alright," George nodded after thinking for a moment. "Take a few men and check things out—but safety first."
Zack's eyes lit up. Finally, a chance to prove himself.
He immediately chose four men and dove into the water. The five of them swam toward the harbor.
About half an hour later, Zack and his team returned. On his back, he carried a man covered in blood.
George quickly summoned his Holy Light Wings, flew over, and lifted the wounded man onto the ship.
Soon, Zack and the others climbed back aboard. "My lord," Zack said seriously, "this man's from the Cloudsea Guild. We pulled him out of the water."
"Oh?" George looked down at the man. The face did look familiar—he was one of Origi's crew members.
"What happened to you? And where's Origi?" George asked anxiously, handing him two bottles of healing potion.
The player gulped them down quickly, color slowly returning to his face.
He gasped for air and choked out, "Our Guild... it's gone. Completely gone..."
"What do you mean? Tell me everything, slowly!" George said, sensing something was terribly wrong.
The man wiped his tears, voice filled with grief and rage. "It was the Azure League! Those bastards attacked our Guild headquarters, then set up an ambush at Bluewave Harbor. They killed and captured everyone from the Guild!"
George's heart sank. His tone turned cold. "What about Origi? What happened to him?"
The man thought for a moment before answering, "Captain Origi was taken alive. They said they'll execute him tomorrow—in front of all the city's players—to show what happens to those who cross the Azure League."
"Damn it!" George's face darkened instantly.
He hadn't known Origi for long, but he truly liked the man's open and upright nature.
After seeing so much deceit and betrayal among players back on Cologne Island, George had come to value people like Origi even more.
And besides, his hatred for the Azure League already ran deep.
No matter what—it was his duty to rescue Origi.
"Sophia!" George turned as she stepped forward, her face unusually serious.
"I know you want to rescue Origi," she said, her tone firm. "But I have to warn you—the Azure League is extremely powerful. They have tons of high-level players."
George nodded, but her warning didn't shake him.
With the cards he held now, he was confident he could go head-to-head with the Azure League.
Just then, Dorothy suddenly pointed toward the distance and shouted, "Look! There's a small boat over there!"
George turned to look. Sure enough, a tiny boat was drifting near the waves, and on it sat a middle-aged man covered in wounds.
George threw out a rope, and the man grabbed it, slowly climbing aboard.
"I'm... I'm with the Cloudsea Guild," the man panted heavily, his voice weak.
George frowned and glanced at the wounded player they had rescued earlier.
That player looked the newcomer up and down and hesitated. "Our Guild had a lot of members. I... I'm not sure if I've seen him before."
The middle-aged man quickly said, "I really am from the Cloudsea Guild! I know where Origi is!"
George narrowed his eyes. "Where?"
The man pulled out a strange stone, and a glowing image appeared in the air.
In the projection, Origi and several others were being escorted by Azure League players into a prison.
"This is a temporary prison built by the Azure League," the man explained briefly.
"I see," George said. "Zack, take these two to rest—and keep them apart."
"Yes, my lord." Zack nodded and led them away.
As the middle-aged man was taken below deck, he turned back and added anxiously, "Lord George, if you don't go soon, Origi might not survive!"
Once he was gone, Sophia frowned. "That guy seems off."
Dorothy crossed her arms with a cold snort. "Please. Even an idiot can tell he's probably with the Azure League."
George let out a quiet sigh.
He had noticed something wrong the moment the man climbed aboard.
Zack and his men were strong, but they were still just normal people—they hadn't realized that their movements had already been tracked by the Azure League.
And now the League's plan was clear.
Sending someone to "reveal" Origi's location was just bait to lure George in.
The so-called prison was surely crawling with Azure League players, waiting for him to show up.
"George, we can't fall for this!" Sophia warned him sharply.
"That doesn't matter," George said, taking a deep breath, his voice calm but firm. "I'm going to rescue Origi."
"No! The place must be full of Azure League ambushes right now!" Dorothy said quickly.
"I know," George replied, taking a deep breath, his tone heavy. "But this is my choice."
George loved The Supreme Divine Realm, but he also understood how this game revealed the ugly side of many people.
He didn't mind competition between players—but he hated those who used power to bully the weak.
And the Azure League was full of players like that.
If George didn't step in and crush their plan today, the Azure League would only grow more arrogant.
In the end, they would ruin The Supreme Divine Realm for everyone.
George never saw himself as some kind of savior, but for the future of all players, this time—he had to fight back.
"Sophia, Dorothy, you two stay here. I'll go alone," George said firmly.
"No way! If you're going, we're going with you!" Sophia and Dorothy grabbed his arm, their eyes full of determination.
"The Azure League will send plenty of powerful players. You won't be able to help much," George said, shaking his head.
The two women looked upset at his words—but before they could say more, George suddenly unfurled his Holy Light Wings and shot into the air.
"Zack! Take the helm and keep the Dragon Bone Ship right here—don't move it!" George called out as he flew off.
This mission was his decision alone.
He didn't want anyone else getting caught up because of him.
George flapped his wings, activating Speed Boost, and quickly soared over the skies of Disail.
Looking down, he saw Azure League players wreaking havoc—raiding, attacking, and looting other players without mercy.
They moved in large groups, backed by high-level fighters. Ordinary players didn't stand a chance against them.
George's brow furrowed tighter, his hatred for the Azure League growing deeper by the second.
People like them, plundering others and draining the game dry, were destroying the balance of the world.
Instead of challenging high-level demons or NPC bosses, they targeted new players who had barely started their journey.
George took a deep breath and focused his eyes on the temporary prison below.
He pulled out the Dwarven King's Iron Hammer, gave it a light swing—and smashed a massive hole through the prison roof.
Through the opening, he spotted Origi locked deep inside, covered in wounds and barely holding on.
With a flick of his hand, George dragged Origi out of the cell.
"Origi! Are you alright?" George lowered him gently to the ground, his voice firm.
Origi's whole body trembled in pain, but he still managed to whisper, "George... go... run! The Azure League... they've already set the trap!"
He waved weakly. "Forget about us. Just get out of here... avenge us later!"
George shook his head, standing tall. His voice turned cold. "I don't like waiting for revenge."
Then he looked around, his presence radiating power. With Deep Sea Shield in his left hand and the Dwarven King's Iron Hammer in his right, he rose slowly into the air with his Holy Light Wings.
Scanning the area, he said in a calm, steady tone, "Azure League... are you done hiding?"
The moment his words fell, flashes of light burst out from every direction.
Dozens of players shot into the sky at once, surrounding George from all sides!