Absolute Craft-Chapter 92: The Alliance (2)

Chapter 92: The Alliance (2)

"What now?" Wolfang asked.

Kyria nodded. "We’re going to join the Tutorial Alliance. It’ll give us benefits that should persuade most of the Hounds to side with us. Once we defeat their rebellious group again, we’ll establish a proper alliance with them."

"Won’t the Tutorial Alliance suspect something?" Wolfang asked.

The Hounds were known for one central goal—killing the Rotten Leviathan themselves—and that was no secret. If they joined forces under Anonymous House’s partnership, people would suspect these two guilds of trying to take the lion’s share for themselves.

Kyria sneered behind his mask. "They’d better accept us now that we’re about to meet their only prerequisite. I doubt they want The Hounds and Anonymous House working together to ruin their entire plan."

Wolfang nodded. "I see."

It seemed Kyria had planned well ahead. If the Tutorial Alliance refused them or grew suspicious, these two guilds could always take the misfits’ route and become the problem every other guild dreaded.

The Hounds were known as a reckless force, willing to do anything for their objective. What kind of power would they show under Kyria’s tight command? This masked man was also well-versed in the MMO’s mechanics and had enough experience to foresee many variables and adapt to them.

Last but not least, he now had Superbia’s support.

Kyria possessed far more power than some might imagine. The question was whether Loot Order’s Guild Leader understood its full extent. That concern, however, would wait until tomorrow.

"We’re done for today. Thanks for coming and for contributing. See you tomorrow," Kyria said.

One by one, everyone dispersed to continue their evening either in the game world or in real life.

That left Blake and Joel by themselves.

"That was fun," Joel said. "Kyria’s plans are solid, and his execution is excellent, right? Today was anything but boring, and Lily Left isn’t nearly as Amazonian as she looks! She’s actually pretty nice."

Most men would have teased Joel for that comment, but Blake wasn’t that type of person. He didn’t assume Joel had fallen for her; he simply figured Joel had revised his opinion of her and was letting him know.

"She’s a good tank," Blake remarked.

Joel nodded. "Yep."

Blake realized he should think more about people rather than just their in-game skills, but falling back on that focus was second nature to him. He needed to broaden his view and become a better person. That would come in time.

For now, he returned his thoughts to the battle with Alex and the progress he’d made. He’d gained fresh insight and wanted to focus more on his crafting—something that had made him a better person to begin with, and had brought him real enjoyment in life.

His katana could act as both facilitator and key in battle, but he truly needed to challenge himself more in fights and take his crafting beyond his tutorial zone. In other words, he had to step further out of his comfort zone, which was swordsmanship.

He’d already come a long way by doing so; otherwise, how would he have discovered that he could combine The Conqueror Of The Winter with The Blizzard Smithy?

"Joel," Blake said abruptly. "You still have time?"

Joel nodded. "I do."

"You’ll be my blade for our contest with The Hounds’ Rebellion Team," Blake said.

"That sounds great! Count on me, big bro!" Joel exclaimed, eager to use everything he’d learned from Blake and Beatrix to serve as their blade.

"Which means you need new gear," Blake added, standing up. He summoned his katana out of thin air and used The Conqueror Of The Winter once again.

As the blizzard roared around them, Joel glanced about in awe. Ashen World Online was still in its early stages, so this kind of terrain-manipulating skill was far beyond most players’ reach. Only a rare few could conjure magic like this; countless others only dreamed of it.

On top of that, visibility and sound were nearly swallowed by the swirling snow. Yet Alex had managed to hold her own against Kyria and Blake in these conditions. How impressive was that woman? Joel wondered, forgetting for a moment that he himself was a skilled and intuitive player.

Blake followed up with The Blizzard Smithy skill, creating an ice statue of his friend. It was a perfect replica, prompting Joel to circle around it and study it from all angles, as though admiring Blake’s craft—or perhaps himself.

He gave the statue a once-over like a true critic. Blake then pried the statue from the icy ground and lifted it. He confirmed he could carry it back to his tutorial zone and work on it in private.

He wasn’t comfortable forging where someone could stumble upon him. He could always ask Beatrix to keep watch, but if he could return to the tutorial zone instead, why not do so? If he was ever forced to work outside, he’d ask for her help then.

"Show me your spear," Blake said.

Without hesitation, Joel pulled out his weapon and handed it over. He believed in Blake wholeheartedly and considered him a genuine friend.

Blake examined the weapon’s length and design, then asked a few standard questions about Joel’s preferences and any changes he wanted. Joel realized this meant Blake would be crafting him something entirely new.

"Anything you make will be awesome, big bro!" Joel said excitedly.

It would’ve been awkward if Blake weren’t actually a few months older than Joel. Luckily, he was, so Joel calling him "big bro" didn’t feel too strange.

What Joel didn’t know was that Blake planned to forge him a spear from the Stone Troll General’s weapon. It would share qualities with The Conqueror Of The Winter and might even incorporate the anti-heat skill that had once killed Blake. It would be a weapon truly worthy of Blake’s blade.

"So what’s with this whole ’blade’ thing, anyway?" Joel asked. "I don’t mind helping out, but it came out of nowhere."

Blake smiled. "I need to leave my comfort zone, that’s all."

"You won’t be using your katana? Then how are you going to fight?" Joel asked, curious.

Blake paused for a moment before answering, "...like a king."