Villain Ch 184. Alliance
The battle was an intense scramble, with players frantically fighting their way toward the gate. It had been a chaotic ten minutes, but finally, the majority of the players managed to make it out and sought refuge in another city. Only a handful of stubborn individuals remained behind, undeterred by the swarms of monsters that continued to roam the area. These were the high-level players, the ones who considered the monsters mere nuisances. And then there were those who saw this as a perfect opportunity to grind their levels and amass riches.
Mac and his guild decided to move to Ilude City to help injured players and to collect his payment for his help, but of course, what he was going to ask for wasn’t items or coins.
The city was bustling with activity as players sought refuge and healing. It was a hub of bustling markets, towering buildings, and NPCs offering quests and services. But amidst the hustle and bustle, the aftermath of the recent battle was evident. Wounded players lined the benches, their weary faces etched with pain and exhaustion.
Immediately, Mac spotted Yora who was tending to a strong-looking guild leader on a bench. Her hands emitted a soft glow as she channeled her healing magic, mending the guild leader’s injuries.
Approaching her with a smile, Mac gently patted her shoulder, a gesture of appreciation and reassurance.
“Take a rest, Yora,” Mac advised, his voice filled with warmth and concern. “You’ve been working tirelessly.”
Yora, momentarily breaking from her healing trance, looked up at Mac with gratitude in her eyes. She nodded, acknowledging his words, and lowered her hands that radiated with divine light.
Mac plopped down on the bench next to the guild leader, a mischievous grin playing on his lips. “You look like you’ve been through the wringer,” he remarked, his tone light and casual. It was a greeting laced with familiarity, a recognition of the guild leader’s formidable strength, as Mac had sparred with him in an epic duel before.
The guild leader let out a tired chuckle, his frustration was evident in the weary lines etched on his face. “That devil emperor is on another level. His power is immense. I’m starting to doubt if we can ever defeat him,” he sighed, shaking his head in disbelief.
Mac’s eyes sparkled with excitement as he leaned back, crossing his arms over his chest. “Come on! This is just the early game. We can’t expect to bring down the main villains so easily,” he exclaimed, his words filled with infectious enthusiasm. “It’s all part of the adventure, the challenge that keeps us coming back for more!”
The guild leader nodded, his expression a mix of weariness and resignation. “You’re right,” he admitted, his voice tinged with a hint of admiration. “But I can’t help but feel that taking down the devil emperor will require more than just the strength of a single guild.”
“I agree,” said Mac, a mischievous glint in his eyes. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, and tapped his fingers together in contemplation. “We need to gather as much information as possible about the devil emperor. Sharing his skills, powers, and tactics on the gaming forum is a brilliant idea. It’s like creating a collective knowledge base where everyone can contribute their insights and observations. Together, we can analyze his patterns, and weaknesses, and maybe even discover a hidden strategy that will lead us to victory.”
“Yeah.” The guild leader nodded in agreement, a thoughtful expression on his face. He summoned his inventory screen, scrolling through the items until he found a small vial of Mana potion. With a quick flick of his wrist, he uncorked the bottle and downed its contents, replenishing his depleted magical energy.
Mac grinned at the guild leader’s action. “Good call,” he chuckled, appreciating the practicality of the gesture. “Can’t strategize without the necessary resources, right?” he teased.
The guild leader chuckled in response, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. “You’ve got that right,” he replied, his voice tinged with amusement. ．
Mac leaned back, crossing his arms over his chest, a relaxed confidence emanating from his posture. “So… now that we’re on the same page, mind sharing some insider knowledge about the first event?” he asked, his tone casual yet full of genuine curiosity. He knew that the guild leader had firsthand experience with the devil emperor, and that information was like gold in the world of gaming.
The guild leader regarded Mac with a hint of skepticism, his eyes narrowing slightly. “I see, so that’s your goal,” he quickly said.
Mac chuckled, his grin widening. “You caught me,” he admitted unabashedly. “But hey, it’s a win-win situation. You share your knowledge, I learn something valuable, and together we increase our chances of defeating the devil emperor. What do you say?”
The guild leader let out a deep breath, his shoulders slumping slightly. The shattered fragments of the empty flask glinted on the ground and shattered. He shifted his gaze back to Mac, his expression a mix of wariness and contemplation.
“You know,” the guild leader began, his voice tinged with a hint of reluctance, “I’m not usually one to freely give away important information, especially when it comes to a fresh event like this. We’ve fought tooth and nail, and yet victory eluded us.”
“I get it,” Mac replied, his tone earnest. “It’s a tough decision to make, especially considering the stakes involved. But sometimes, sharing information and pooling our resources is the only way to achieve success. I promise I won’t take this lightly.”
The guild leader studied Mac for a moment, assessing his sincerity and determination. After a pause, he finally nodded, his expression softening slightly. “Alright, I’ll tell you what I know,” he conceded, a note of caution still evident in his voice. “But let’s make a deal. Once the second event is over, you’ll have to share with me the details of what occurred there. Fair?”
“Does that mean you want to form an alliance with me?” Mac asked, cutting straight to the chase. The notion of an alliance had been brewing in his mind ever since they started sharing information. It seemed like a logical step to maximize their chances of success.
The guild leader paused, his expression contemplative. He weighed the pros and cons of joining forces with Mac and his guild. The virtual world was rife with rivalries and betrayals, but in this dire situation, unity held the key to victory.
“That’s right, an alliance,” the guild leader finally confirmed, his voice resolute. “It’s time we put aside our differences and pool our strengths to stand against the devil emperor.”
A smile spread across Mac’s face, a glimmer of excitement in his eyes. This was the moment he had been waiting for—a chance to unite the strongest players and guilds under a common banner.
“Fine, alliance,” Mac said with conviction, extending his hand toward the guild leader.
The guild leader regarded the outstretched hand for a moment, then reciprocate the gesture, their hands clasping firmly. The act symbolized their commitment to work together, to overcome obstacles as a united front.
“Alliance,” the guild leader echoed, a note of determination in his voice.
[Congratulations! The Order of Valiance has just made an alliance with the Ironclad Legion!]