Because this was the last day, the group had decided to stick together once more, as sticking together increased their chances of survival.
Scarlet and Gabriel led the front while the rest remained behind. None of them complained—in fact, most adventurers were glad to stay at the rear.
"Master, I sense dozens of monsters towards the west," Anna whispered to Gabriel.
Anna possessed the Hunter class, and like every class, it came with its perks... one of them being her ability to sense and track monsters.
Hearing this, Gabriel halted his steps, turned toward Anna, and asked, "How many are they?"
Scarlet, who had overheard, stopped in her tracks as well. So did the guild members.
"Okay." Anna nodded, and with a serious expression, she closed her eyes and spread her senses outward.
Naturally, Gabriel and Scarlet’s perception stats far surpassed hers, but even as they extended their senses, they weren’t able to detect any monsters.
Instead, what they sensed was a powerful energy pulsing faintly to the west.
"Did you sense it as well?" Scarlet asked.
"Yes, I did. It was faint," Gabriel replied.
Just then, Anna opened her eyes, fatigue showing in them. For those unfamiliar with Hunters, it was difficult to tell how draining this skill could be.
"There are at least a hundred plus monsters," she explained. "However... I can sense one even more powerful, though its presence is faint."
After hearing the confirmation, the group quickly headed in that direction, Anna taking the lead.
As they drew closer, Gabriel and Scarlet realized the faint energy they had sensed earlier was in the same direction as Anna’s reading.
On their way, they encountered a number of monsters. Though numerous, they posed no real threat and were easily dealt with.
Some time later, the last of the creatures fell without a single casualty among them.
"Are these all the monsters? I was expecting a horde or something... these barely bumped our score up," Brunt complained, spitting on a corpse.
Anna shook her head. "These aren’t the monsters I sensed. The real ones are still further down."
"Huh?" Alice frowned. "You mean there are even more?"
The Huntress nodded. "Yes... and it seems their numbers are growing with each passing second." Her eyes narrowed. "It’s as if something is drawing them."
"Must be the strange energy," Gabriel said.
"What energy?" Sophie asked curiously.
Even though she was a level 50 existence in the process of completing her class advancement quest, Sophie couldn’t sense a thing.
She wasn’t the only one. None of the guild members sensed anything either.
That raised a troubling question among them—
How was Gabriel able to sense the energy when they couldn’t?
"Don’t tell me this guy isn’t just powerful but his perception stats rival the vice leader’s too?"
"Damn... just how many things is he hiding?"
---
Martial Palace side...
"Halt!" Liang, the vice leader of Martial Palace, suddenly shouted at the top of his voice.
Behind him, hundreds of guild members and otherworldlers—as the inhabitants liked to call them—came to a stop.
"Do you sense it too?" Liang smiled, turning to the Asian beauty beside him.
Evelyn nodded with a calm smile. "Yes. We have company."
Moments later, the sound of roaring engines filled the air. The guild members grew tense, yet couldn’t help but marvel at how easily their vice leader and Evelyn had detected the approach.
On the viewing platform, the comments section began to flood.
...
Vesuvy : I remember those vehicles! Those belong to the White Flame Guild!
Jermel_Taylor: Yes, indeed—they’re the only ones using vehicles and aircraft.
ZabMiggy: Damn, it’s the first time the top five guilds are clashing! This last day is stacked!
Mitharsh: HAHA MY BOYS ARE HERE! WELCOME TO THE FIRE!
Sydney_Mlakar: Trash guild. They’ll burn out quick. I’m putting my money on Martial Palace!
...
The viewers watching the broadcast went wild as the camera panned over the horizon.
Several massive armored trucks and modified jeeps came into view, engines roaring and dust clouds rising behind them. Painted across their sides was the insignia of a white lotus engulfed in flames—the unmistakable mark of the White Flame Guild.
"Ohhh, baby! Look who just rolled in—it’s White Flame! One of the Five Major Guilds of the Valerian Kingdom, known for their flashy entrances and even flashier destruction!" Doodle’s excited voice echoed.
It was the first major encounter of the day, and all attention shifted toward them.
Meanwhile, in the game world, the vehicles screeched to a halt, kicking up a thick cloud of dust that blinded Martial Palace’s frontline.
But with a wave of Evelyn’s hand, a surge of qi swept across the battlefield, clearing the haze.
The doors swung open, and dozens of White Flame guild members and otherworldlers stepped out.
At the lead was none other than Felix Darkwood, the vice leader himself, a cocky grin etched across his face.
Felix felt he had struck gold by encountering Martial Palace. White Flame had fallen behind in points, but they had a numbers advantage.
With those numbers, he believed White Flame could overwhelm Martial Palace and claw their way into the top three.
"Liang, let’s make this easy for both of us." Felix smirked as flames began to curl around his arms. "Surrender all your points."
On the broadcast, Noel leaned forward sharply. "Bold move from White Flame’s vice leader—demanding Martial Palace surrender without even lifting a sword."
Doodle slammed the desk, laughing. "THIS IS PEAK DRAMA, PEOPLE! Liang’s not the type to bow down—oh man, this is about to get ugly!"
Smirks curled on Liang and Evelyn’s lips as a faint killing intent exploded from their bodies. The tension skyrocketed, and both viewers in the game world and real world leaned forward, waiting for the clash of two top guilds.
At the same time, Gabriel’s group finally reached their destination.
"That..." Shock filled their eyes at the sight before them.
***
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