Kyle closed his status screen. His Ark was peaceful. The Foxes hunted Spirit Fauna in the Eternal Forest, the Moss Golems patrolled the Silent Marsh, and the Giant Bats filled the ceilings of the Dark Cave. [Harmony Level: 94% (Very Stable)]. It was the paradise he had built.
But he couldn't stay.
His eyes were fixed on the new notification flashing in his interface.
[Warning! Genesis Gate (YELLOW) detected!] [System Name: Genesis Fragment: Solar Heart] [Location: Old City Ruins] [Danger Level: Medium] -> [Adjusted Rating (Level 12): Challenging]
(Challenging...) Kyle thought. (Not "Low" like the White and Green Gates. This will be different.)
He was no longer naive. He had learned. He reviewed his forces in the [Ark Forces] tab—a total of 154 units. He knew it wouldn't be enough if he just relied on his old tactics.
He took a deep breath, then concentrated. The illusionary energy from [Fox's Shroud (Lv.3)] flowed over his face, obscuring his features into a swirling, shadowy mask. "The Ghost" was ready.
"Exit Ark."
The rainbow light faded, replaced by dry, dusty air.
Kyle appeared in a part of Hexa he had never visited. This was no longer the lush Silverwood Forest. He was standing in the middle of the "Old City Ruins"—the skeletons of ancient, crumbling buildings, swallowed by sand and dry vegetation. The air was hot, and in the distance, he could see a towering mountain range.
He immediately crouched behind a collapsed wall. This place felt far more dangerous.
As he began to move silently through the rubble, his passive blessing suddenly activated.
[Blessing: Forest's Vigilance (Active!)]
His heart hammered. He felt a strong killing intent, very close. But he saw nothing.
(An ambush,) he thought. He immediately activated another skill.
[Echolocation (Lv.1)]
PING!
His world momentarily dissolved into sound waves, mapping the environment in sonic blue. And there they were: three figures—not Players, but monsters—crouching behind a collapsed wall 20 meters ahead, clearly waiting for him to pass.
(Goblins... or something like them.)
He activated [Fox's Shroud] over his whole body, his shadow dimming, and tried to sneak past their blind spot. He made it past two.
But the third, a seemingly more alert sentry, turned. "Grk?!"
The goblin spotted him. It shrieked and lunged with a rusty knife.
Kyle, now Level 12, didn't panic. He didn't even dodge. He let the attack come.
CLANG!
The rusty knife slammed into Kyle's chest and bounced off as if hitting steel. [Stone Shell (Lv.2)]—his passive skill from the Badgers—had activated, a thin layer of rock armor appearing under his clothes and taking the full impact.
The goblin's eyes widened in shock.
"My turn," Kyle said, his voice muffled by his illusion-mask.
He activated [Golem's Punch (Lv.2)]. An illusory, boulder-sized fist formed beside him and smashed into the goblin. The creature was thrown against a brick wall, then slumped to the ground, unmoving.
Kyle looked at the defeated goblin, then at his hands. It was the first time he had won a purely solo fight in Hexa. He was breathing heavily, but he was unharmed.
(I... I'm actually getting stronger.)
He continued, using [Echolocation] to avoid any more ambushes. He climbed through the ruins, heading toward the mountains where the Gate marker was leading him.
After an hour of climbing, he finally saw it.
On a high mountain peak, shining like a beacon in the sun, was a Gate. It wasn't white or green; it was a brilliant yellow, pulsing with an energy that felt "hot" and "pure."
[Genesis Fragment: Solar Heart]
And flying around it, patrolling the sky, were magnificent creatures that made Kyle hold his breath. Half-eagle, half-lion, with silver feathers that gleamed in the sunlight.
[Silver Peak Griffin]
"Incredible..." he whispered.
He was admiring the view, planning how he could possibly approach the heavily guarded Gate, when his [Forest's Vigilance] exploded.
Not one killing intent. Not three. But dozens. It was like a jolt of static electricity to his brain.
He immediately dropped behind a large boulder. The killing intent was coming from below—from the Old City Ruins he had just passed through.
He peeked over the edge of the cliff.
The ruins weren't just home to monsters. They were a massive, organized Player base camp.
It wasn't a party of 4 or 5. Kyle counted at least six large tents, campfires, and patrolling sentries. Thirty... maybe forty Players. All of them in full armor, clearly high-level. This was a Guild.
In the center of the camp, a Player in golden armor (clearly the Guild Leader, maybe Level 20+) was shouting orders, pointing up at the flying Griffins.
They weren't just here for the Gate. They were hunting the Griffins—maybe for rare loot, or maybe... for mounts.
Kyle swallowed, a cold sweat running down his back.
(This... this isn't a 'Dungeon Run' anymore. This is a 'Guild Raid'.)
He looked at his [Ark Forces] tab: 154 total units. He looked down at the Guild below: 30-40 coordinated, high-level Players.
(My 'mixed-race bug' tactic won't work against this. They're too organized. They won't 'Rage Quit'.)
He gripped the rock, realizing the new scale of his challenge.
(This isn't sabotage anymore. This... this is going to be a war.)