[ You defeated player Beldra. ]
[ A party member defeated player Misha. ]
[ A party member defeated player Baldres. ]
[ Steel Armor Guild was completely wiped out. ]
[ You have earned 500 Contribution for defeating an enemy. ]
[ Your guild has earned 5000 Contribution for exterminating an enemy guild. ]
[ You have earned an additional 2000 Contribution. ]
[ Current guild ranking: 356 ]
[ Current number of guilds remaining: 2154 ]
Hidden Mist, consisting of ten players, was a guild resting in the heart of a forest located in the large map of Phantasy Realm. Hidden Mist participated in a world-wide guild event that brings together guilds from different countries. Leader of the Hidden Mist was a Japanese player named Ren. Hidden Mist belonged to one of the best guilds in Japan and most of its members ranked among the top 100 in the country. Ren, the most powerful of them, had the rank of eight in the domestic ranking and was also ranked in the world's top 100.
"Do you know anything about them?"
Silence was reigning in the forest where the guild Hidden Mist was resting after a difficult battle with the Steel Armor Guild. However, despite all rest, gossip traveled quickly through the community of Phantasy Realm and the information about a certain guild reached the ears of the party as well.
"Of course," a member with a twitching eye replied. "I heard that Hunt is also here."
"What? This monster guild with only ten players decided to participate in this event?"
"Idiot," another interrupted. "We won't have any problems as long as we do not encounter one of them."
Hunt. Only ten members, but each of them is a legend — a monster in human appearance.
Ren, the leader of the Hidden Mist, sat quietly, with the dagger lying on his knees. He was listening, however, his thoughts were far away.
'I have been looking for them since the servers merged. No one knows where they are and what plans they have...'
"We cannot allow ourselves being eliminated at the moment," female member argued. "At least get a top fifty place."
"Could we even defeat one of them, all of us together?"
"Maybe. However, if you happen to meet him... you should run, run as fast as possible. As long as it is not him."
"Him?"
Ren abruptly stood up. His daggers were already taken out of their sheaths, and his eyes became narrowed. "South Korea's Hunt guild leader," he whispered.
The team suddenly became silent. Tension of their leader was easily felt by everyone, his gaze was fixed on shadows between the trees.
"What happened, boss?"
"Yeah, why so tensed?"
Ren's voice lowered to a dangerous level. "Be ready, someone is coming."
With the help of Ren's Skill Enhanced Senses, every movement was clear for him — he listened to the rustle of leaves, to the smell of sweat and to the sound of footsteps. One player was moving towards them. Strange and dangerous at the same time.
'Only one? Lost? Separated?'
As the figure came closer, Ren's heart beat wildly — but not out of eagerness, but out of pure terror. The Enhanced Senses skill had a hidden element. It revealed a player's power depending on the color of the aura at high levels.
'No… It can't be…'
His teammates saw how pale he became.
"Boss?"
Ren held his breath.
'He's here.'
From the shadows, a black aura came out – dense, suffocating, living. It flowed between the trees, spreading fear over the woods. Ren started moving away.
"Run…"
Panic gripped the group.
But the game system confirmed their demise:
[ A powerful presence detected ]
[ Encounter in 10 seconds ]
[ Chances of Winning:0% ]
[ System Advice:Run ]
Ren started running as fast as he could, fueled by desperation. "Run! It's the —"
But it was already too late. The stranger emerged from the shadows. His weapon shone, and the members of Hidden Mist raised their weapons in response, though fear showed in their eyes.
Smiling, the figure said, "Zygos, it is your turn."
A black fog appeared beside him, taking shape of a woman dressed in secretarial clothes — cold, emotionless, her eyes without any warmth. She bowed. "For what reason have you called me, master?"
"Kill them."
Her answer was as sharp as a knife. "As you wish, master."
Zygos acted like monochrome death, tearing through the 'elite' Japanese players with her hands —perhaps, with her blades. Screaming was all that Ren could hear. He couldn't even turn his head and watch what was going on.
'Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!'
Ren continued to run, ignoring tons of pop-ups appearing before him.
'Damn it! Why is he here?!'
[ Party member Shizu has been killed. ]
[ Party member Kawatani has been killed. ]
[ Party member Aoi has been killed. ]
[ Party member Takumi has been killed. ]
[ Party member Sara has been killed. ]
[ Party member Yamazaki has been killed. ]
[ Party member Nana has been killed. ]
[ Party member Riku has been killed. ]
[ Party member Asahi has been killed. ]
He was breathing heavily from how much he ran.
"That damn monster…"
Ren thought that he was able to escape the player's reach. He stopped running, hiding in the tree branches, trying to catch breath in short intervals.
Up above, an eagle was crying.
"An eagle?"
He looked up — the eagle was circling around in the sky.
'Wait… Could it be…?'
He realized everything and understood that he wasn't safe. He jumped down from the branches, starting to run again with renewed desperation — but it was too late.
"Cursed Chains."
"!!!"
Chains came out of the shadows, tying his legs and pulling him to the ground. Four black chains with auras bound his body. He was struggling, cutting with his dagger, but couldn't break out of them.
"Excellent job on surveillance, Aigokeros."
The eagle came down to the player's arm and shifted to a boy dressed in a butler uniform. He bowed slightly. "The little that I did deserves no such praise, master."
From the shadows, the player came out. Ren's eyes widened in horror and surprise.
'It's really him…'
A cursed scythe shimmered with black aura in his hand, sleek hair catching the night breeze. The elegance of his butler's garb only sharpened the menace in his smile.
'South Korea's Hunt guild leader…'
"You've managed to survive this far." The player's tone was mocking as he lifted the scythe.
'Phantasy Realm's grim reaper… Shade'
"Good work."
His blade went down swiftly and mercilessly.
[ You defeated player Ren. ]
[ Hidden Mist Guild was completely wiped out. ]