Absolute Craft-Chapter 86: Anonymous House (5)

Chapter 86: Anonymous House (5)

Blake learned nothing new about the Supreme Blade’s mindset from Kyria, even though it supposedly revolved around him. He still couldn’t figure out how anyone could use that mindset to sway an entire guild. The only possibility he imagined was taking off his mask to reveal his face, but there was no way Kyria knew his identity.

With this on his mind, Blake followed his group. Their formation was straightforward: a tank at the front, a healer in the middle, and damage dealers spread out around Kyria, who served as the team’s linchpin.

The plan was already in motion. Hidden in the shadows, two of Anonymous House’s parties edged closer to a six-man squad from The Hounds, who were busy bullying other players. Once in position, each party leader confirmed their location, then signaled for a surprise attack. Backed by tanks and healers, Anonymous House’s damage dealers emerged from the bushes and closed in on their targets like a well-oiled machine.

With every advantage in their favor, the battle ended swiftly. However, a few minutes later, the tables turned, and Anonymous House found itself under ambush from unexpected angles.

Though predicting every possible tactic was difficult, Kyria’s formation—two tanks and two healers—proved stronger than The Hounds had anticipated. Their guild buffs, combined with defensive and supportive skills, kept everyone alive and prevented their health points from hitting zero.

Then Kyria shifted the tide once again, leading the rest of his teams into the fray.

-

"We’ll take the left flank," Kyria said.

As if on cue, Lily Lift and Wolfang charged forward. Despite weaker physical stats, the healer hurried after them to maintain the formation. Blake, who was used to following clear tactical plans, held his position too. Joel, adept at working quietly in the background, stayed at Blake’s side along with Beatrix.

’We’re improvising a lot here, since we don’t know each other’s skills,’ Blake thought.

At that moment, the healer cast his buffs. A gentle breeze passed through everyone.

<You have received the Blessing of Warm Foliage (Rare)> <You have received the following buffs for one minute:

Mana cost reduction by 25%

Stamina reduction by 50%

Max health points increased by 10%>

Because Kyria’s buffs mainly boosted strength and speed, the other healer’s job was to lighten the avatars’ load. In response, Wolfang and Lily Lift activated their own enhancing skills as their enemies approached. Briefly bathed in colorful auras, their attack power and defenses rose.

’Let’s adapt,’ Blake thought.

Still running, he slashed forward, unleashing a blizzard in a straight line while creating an Ice Path at the same time. Fusing two skills seamlessly, he formed a Blizzard Path that streaked past Lily Lift and Wolfang.

Blake jumped onto it, followed by Beatrix and Joel. Joel lost his balance for a second but quickly mimicked Beatrix’s stance, gliding forward like a practiced snowboarder.

By then, Blake’s Supreme Blizzard had hit two players, signaling that combat had officially begun. He sheathed his katana in The Winter Scabbard, shifting into a stance as he glided toward the enemy group.

A swirling chill gathered in his scabbard, intensifying by the second. When the Ice Path ended with a curve, Blake was launched into the midst of his opponents.

He landed smoothly and drew his katana in a single fluid motion, spinning in a perfect 360. A blizzard erupted around him, coiling upward like a serpentine dragon, each twist cutting through armor and rending it apart.

Before the storm dissipated, Beatrix harnessed its lingering force, turning it into arrows that rained down on the stunned enemies. Amid the chaos, Joel landed near a vulnerable damage dealer and channeled his mantra, defeating him with a sequence of moves he’d practiced alongside Beatrix.

Thunder boomed overhead.

Kyria quickly boosted Wolfang and Lily Lift, ensuring they wouldn’t lag behind Blake’s team. Both charged in, overpowering their foes through a mix of experience and sheer determination.

In other parts of the battlefield, Anonymous House’s remaining teams carried out their tasks effectively, subduing their enemies in less dramatic but equally successful ways.

Kyria strode among the fallen Hounds like a boss. Their health bars hovered just above zero, and it would take only the slightest push to end them. They glared at Kyria with open resentment, almost daring him to finish them off.

"This could all be resolved by your guild leader," Kyria said. "Tell her we’ll keep hunting the Hounds until she meets me. You might think there’s nothing to lose, but you’re mistaken. She’ll understand." Narrowing his eyes, he aimed his index finger at one of the defeated players.

A spark of red energy leapt from his fingertip, striking the man dead.

When the teams regrouped, Blake asked, "What do they have to lose?"

"Morale," Kyria answered.

Blake frowned slightly. It wasn’t something he typically worried about, as he couldn’t imagine himself losing morale.

Kyria noticed his confusion and sneered. "The Hounds favor Supreme Blade. Their entire guild in the tutorial zones is trying its best not to prevent the Rotten Leviathan’s Resurrection. They’re not working with the Tutorial Alliance, but it’s clear they want in on the boss event. For Supreme Blade’s sake, they fully intend to conquer that boss.

"That’s why their morale can’t be shattered. If even a third of them fight half-heartedly, their odds of success will plummet."

It boiled down to this thought: "If we lost to Anonymous House, can we really take on the Rotten Leviathan?" That nagging doubt would sap many players’ willpower and stop The Hounds’ best members from achieving their goal.

Blake stood still. ’Oh...’

He still had much to learn.

Perhaps it was because everyone had been a beta tester selected through special prerequisites that Blake assumed they all wanted to reach the top and become the best. However, as he thought more about it, he realized he had focused solely on winning and neglected his people’s feelings. That was likely why even his friends left him—he simply hadn’t paid enough attention to them. He thought he had been a good friend, but clearly, he wasn’t.