"What are you doing here?" Mia's voice rang out, sharp and startled, echoing strangely from her spectral form. Then understanding flickered across her face. "Who told you? I specifically said not to!"

"So I should just let you keep getting corpse-camped?" Ryan replied with a chuckle, stopping beside the pile of fallen players. "Everyone, resurrect and Hearthstone back. Don't come here to level up for the next few days. The level 30 dungeon in the Forest of Decay would be a far better choice."

Mia's eyebrows shot up, indignation flashing in her eyes. "You know who did this?"

"Yeah, I know," Ryan admitted with a nod, but offered no further explanation. The refusal only seemed to fuel Mia's frustration.

She was the first to resurrect, appearing at Ryan's side. She scanned the area briefly, pouted, and then activated her Hearthstone, leaving the zone.

"Captain, you're just letting them leave?" a stealthy Rogue asked in the party chat, his tone a mix of disbelief and concern. He had been very close to Mia, and a freshly resurrected Mage was no match for his attack.

"Our main target is still here, isn't he?" he replied calmly. "Once he arrives, the mission will be complete. As long as Featherlight doesn't leave before then, everything's fine." His caution was evident; the presence of the neutral entities that had bowed to him earlier still set his nerves on edge.

One by one, the fallen players were enveloped in emerald light as they resurrected, each whisked safely away to their bound inns.

When the last player had departed, Ryan remained alone. The absence of any lingering threats confirmed his suspicion: he was the true target.

Minutes passed in tense silence. Then, figures began to emerge around him—Rogues and Druids, masters of stealth, their numbers far exceeding a dozen.

Members of the Dark Horde… and the Alliance of Light.

"Featherlight, the number one player in the game!"

The voice came not from the newly materialized players but from a Human Priest approaching from behind. Behind him, a Warlock-summoned portal shimmered and faded, its crimson light dissolving into the air.

"You're from Crimson Wake, aren't you?" Ryan tilted his head, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "You attacked my guild members just to lure me out? You probably warned the others and sent them to safety, right?"

The Human Priest shook his head. "No, it was just a coincidence. But according to my information, someone sent you a message yesterday, telling you to rein in your guild members for the next two days. Why, then, did we still find them here?"

Ryan shrugged helplessly. "Can I call it an accident? My sister can be mischievous, and I only just received the message. That's why I stayed here, waiting for you all."

"Alright, whatever you say. We'll have to take your word for it," the Priest replied with a casual shrug. "Some, however, aren't so understanding. They want to test your skills. Win, and it's settled. Lose, and well, it's just a friendly spar."

Ryan nodded. The warning from the military had been clear, and this incident was a little over the line on his part. Even if his sister's antics had caused the delay, it wasn't an excuse—he knew that.

If this whole matter could be resolved with nothing more than a spar, Ryan thought, it would be a fortunate outcome. He wasn't the type to waste energy on meaningless fights. Every choice he made now was tied to something larger, each move a step toward the future he had already begun planning.

He still relied on the military's influence for the future and saw no reason to sour relations over something so minor.

"Actually, it's just a few ambitious youngsters who aren't convinced by your reputation," the Human Priest said, his tone softening once Ryan readily agreed. "Don't take it too seriously; they'll be here soon enough. To be honest, I admire you. Many claim your success comes from luck or leaked information from the developers, but we both know that isn't true. To rise above so many, you've earned it."

The Priest barely paused before shifting gears. "If possible, would you consider joining Crimson Wake? The military intends to build a grand alliance centered on them. With your presence, Flowing Light would be more than qualified to join."

Ryan had suspected something like this since the first time he learned of Crimson Wake and guessed at their background. He had already considered forging a deeper connection.

After all, a powerful ally came with undeniable benefits. In his previous life, the only clues he'd found about the organization that destroyed his parents had come through Crimson Wake's intelligence network. Now, with his own strength and status, he believed that when that shadowy group resurfaced, he could gain information directly from the military's net and crush them with his own hands.

The Human Priest's offer made sense. Crimson Wake didn't care about Flowing Light itself—they wanted him. That only made the proposal more appealing. With his current needs for resources and support, joining their alliance was the natural choice. Flowing Light would be considered a small guild under Crimson Wake's banner, but for Ryan, the trade-off was worth it.

"They're on their way," the Priest said with a smile that grew warmer once Ryan nodded his agreement. "Get yourself ready. Have a friendly spar. And if those kids don't know when to quit, just put them in their place."

The sudden warmth in the man's tone was almost jarring, a clear reminder of how quickly attitudes changed once interests aligned.

Ryan finally let out a quiet breath. The immediate danger had passed. If he had refused the alliance, the Priest would not have been so obliging. Despite his earlier reassurances, old grudges would no doubt have been dragged into the open.

"Alright, everyone's here. Enjoy the match," the Priest said, leaving with a smile as several players closed in from the distance.

Ryan straightened, watching them approach. His cold smirk returned. "One-on-one, or a brawl?"

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