Absolute Craft-Chapter 95: The Alliance (5)

Chapter 95: The Alliance (5)

The Guild Leader of Loot Order clapped his hands with unrestrained enthusiasm. He had never expected to come across such an exquisite piece of Winter Armor straight from the Eternal Winter Graveyard. Yet here it was—a knight clad in a bestial-shaped helmet that concealed his identity and made him stand out even among his own allies. His spear, too, looked like a true work of art.

Such equipment surely couldn’t be crafted by just anyone or reshaped in the tutorial zones, meaning it must have originated in the Eternal Winter Graveyard. And so, yet another powerful item would join their alliance.

"That means there’s no need for tension!" he said, laughing. "You’ve found an amazing player for your guild, Kyria! Luck doesn’t reward the unworthy, and if it does out of pity, reality quickly proves them wrong!"

"Don’t tell me you want to be that reality?" Kyria asked, smirking.

He refused to back down or show any fear. If these six players wanted to fight him, Blake, and Joel right now, he was ready for it. He would never let anyone look down on his people or threaten them.

In response, the guild leader of the other group shook his head with surprising vigor. His energetic manner clashed with his appearance—a handsome player with white hair and red eyes, a style many found edgy but undeniably cool.

"I have no doubts your player is worthy. Without further ado, I welcome you to our alliance. Leave everything to me. I’ll convince the others to accept you and give you a prime spot in the upcoming boss battle. Once I’ve finished talking to them, I’ll add you to our group chat on social media so you can review our main battle plan. Just leave me your details," he said.

Kyria found the swift welcome suspicious, yet he had indeed met the requirement. Moreover, he had already aligned himself with The Hounds and saw no need to hide that from Loot Order.

"I’ll be working with The Hounds," he said.

"No problem," the man replied without hesitation. "I heard they also found a piece of Winter Gear or two, so that’s a welcome surprise! These items are truly key to our victory against the Rotten Leviathan."

Even Blake began to suspect something was off. This man seemed almost too eager, as if he cared about nothing but Winter Gear. His true intentions were difficult to read.

It was an odd amount of emphasis to put on items, though.

Meanwhile, Kyria cursed Alex Red Moon. She hadn’t told him about her guild’s Winter Gear—perhaps she was waiting to see if they would overcome the rebellious group before making that information public. Although it rubbed him the wrong way, Kyria admitted he would likely have done the same in her place, so he decided to let it go.

"Anything else you need to know?" Kyria asked.

The white-haired man shook his head. "No. Just wait for good news, Kyria."

Kyria nodded and turned away.

Blake and the others followed, feeling somewhat disappointed that nothing dramatic had happened. While they hadn’t been itching for trouble, the smoothness of the conversation felt anticlimactic after their confrontation with The Hounds and Alex Red Moon.

It could be said that The Hounds were more demanding.

That said, the true value of Loot Order and The Alliance would only become apparent on the day the Rotten Leviathan Resurrection began. For now, everyone could only train in various ways and prepare for the event as thoroughly as possible.

"Got a plan for the rebellious Hounds?" Blake asked.

Kyria nodded. "We’ll launch ourselves at them. Your Ice Path, combined with my blue lightning boost, will turn your skill into a barrage of cannons. That should give us the upper hand and set the stage for the final showdown."

-

"Yet another one for you," a woman from Loot Order remarked, watching Joel’s back as he walked away.

With everyone else gone, the Loot Order guild could speak freely. Since guilds didn’t yet own private estates, meetings had to occur in villages or open areas. If anyone attempted eavesdropping, they would simply be killed.

Loot Order’s Guild Leader—Eclipse—smiled broadly. He, too, was eyeing Joel as if the man were a prized possession. In truth, Joel’s armor and weapon were what really caught his interest.

Eclipse nodded. "We’re so fortunate."

Just as Kyria had suspected, Loot Order had a hidden motive for insisting on Winter Gear. The guild had already shown how powerful such items were against the zombies of the Eternal Winter Graveyard, so few questioned them. In reality, their zeal stemmed from Eclipse himself.

His Winter Gear was known as the Winter King Armor, and he had collected every piece, including the king’s weapon. This gave him a special effect that grew stronger with each "subject" he had under him—which included every allied member of the so-called Tutorial Alliance. By harnessing this ability, he uncovered more Winter Gear for his followers, making himself even stronger in the process. Likely, no player in the tutorial zones could defeat Eclipse one-on-one, provided his guild members were within earshot.

Remembering how many people had watched the beta tester’s finale—he was among those viewers—Eclipse felt a surge of excitement as he imagined himself headlining the upcoming Rotten Leviathan Resurrection Event.

He envisioned surpassing every beta tester, including the famed Supreme Blade, whose "meteor rush" had captivated countless onlookers and left them clenching their buttocks in awe.

Eclipse opened his eyes and stood.

With his most loyal guild members gathered behind him, he declared once more, "I’ll be the king."

His comrades grinned, sharing his excitement. If their leader took center stage at this event, they—his top players—would bask in the same spotlight. More players and fans would flock to join them, and they would head for the mainland with both fame and advantages.

Their time had come. No one would thwart their plans.

No one would usurp their positions.

No one would become king except Eclipse.