Velt glanced at her outstretched hand. "What? No."
Post's grin faltered. "Come on—it guarantees you protection."
"Guilds are lame," Velt replied, shaking his head. "I'd rather lead my own party than subordinate myself."
Post's auburn brows shot up. "I save you from being torn apart by a bird, and you decline?"
"Sorry—I'm just not interested."
Post shrugged, planting her axe beside her. "Fine. Lose out on amazing guild bonuses, then."
"Guilds break immersion," Velt countered. "I don't need bonuses to survive."
"You could at least consider it," she pressed. "I did save your life."
"Not interested."
Post's lips curved in incredulity. "So you're telling me you wouldn't have died if I hadn't shown up?"
Velt casually flicked himself in the cheek. His body shattered and reformed instantly. "It's my race—I'm a Token. Practically immortal."
Post stared, intrigued. "A super-class?"
"Just my nature." Velt flexed his fingers. "Look, I'll humor you—show me your guild house, and I'll decide."
"Perfect!" Post brightened. "Follow me."
They threaded through the jungle until a grandiose building rose before them, its façade adorned with colossal gilded wings. A sign above the entrance read HEARTCORE GUILD in glimmering gold letters.
"Fancy digs," Velt remarked. "How'd you get wings on it?"
"With a bit of magic, anything's possible," Post said as she pushed open the massive doors. Inside, hallways stretched on either side, lit by crystalline sconces. Yet the silence was unnerving. Along the walls stood dozens of men—motionless, eyes fixed on nothing, as if in a trance.
Velt frowned. "What kind of guild is this? A social club? A community-builder? A Final Boss-slaying outfit?"
Post's voice softened. "A bit of all three. My girlfriend and I started it to one day challenge the Final Boss—but we also want a strong community."
Velt shrugged. "Why recruit me? I'm level 1 with junk stats, and you've already got plenty of members."
"We believe in strength through numbers," Post replied earnestly.
They came to a massive door, behind which pressed dozens more motionless men, their fists pounding against the wood.
"Where are we going?" Velt asked, uneasy.
"To see the Guild Master." Post shouldered past the throng and flung the door open. Inside, dozens knelt before a grand throne. Reclining on it was a woman whose poise exuded absolute authority.
"Baby, I'm back," Post said, dropping to one knee.
The woman on the throne rose gracefully, eyes locking on Velt. "And who do we have here?"
Velt swallowed. "I—I'm just visiting. No plans to join or anything."
The Guild Master's lips curved into a knowing smile. "A visitor—how rare. Most who come here intend to enlist."
Post blinked twice at her mistress.
"Oh, so you must be the special guest." The Guild Master's gaze sharpened. "You're Velt, right?"
"How do you know my name?" Velt demanded.
The Guild Master leaned forward. As she spoke, a tendril of pink mist drifted from her lips. "I've been watching you."
Could she be the one controlling those hunters? Velt's mind raced.
Post knelt beside her, glancing up anxiously.
The Guild Master's eyes glowed. "I see you've recognized me." Velt took an instinctive step back.
"You sent those players to kill us," he accused.
A soft laugh escaped her. "No point hiding it now. You need to hear our side."
"My side?" Velt echoed.
"Yes," the Guild Master said, voice cold. "You have a criminal in your party, correct?"
"You mean Yuli? You're bounty hunters?"
She rose. "It's deeper than that. We have personal reasons to hunt that… monster."
"You do?" Velt's heart thudded.
The Guild Master glanced at Post, who shifted uneasily. "Yes. Yuli is a terrorist. He single-handedly obliterated a village—women, children, innocents."
Yuli? That can't be right… Velt thought.
The Guild Master's eyes bore into him. "My sister was among the victims. Post survived by luck."
Post's voice trembled with rage. "He slaughtered my family, eyes blazing like a demon."
Velt's chest tightened. "I've only known him a day… that seems out of character."
"He may seek redemption, but his sins run too deep," the Guild Master continued. "I pursue him for justice. He won't escape so easily."
Velt's voice broke. "Why should I trust you? Yuli's been nothing but loyal to me."
The Guild Master's laugh was soft but chilling. "Loyalty to a killer? I pity your naïveté."
Velt glared. "Those hunters were your puppets—their deaths prove your mind-control."
"I only enslave those unworthy of free will," the Guild Master replied. "Respectable souls deserve life. Velt, you are one such soul. Don't throw it away protecting a criminal."
Velt shook his head, torn. "This all feels so sudden… so casual. I can't believe it."
She leaned close, voice low. "You're new to this world. Idealistic fools like you take any friendly face at its word—even a griefer, hacker, or terrorist."
Velt exhaled slowly. "Then what do I do now?"
"Help Post fulfill her wish," the Guild Master said. "Bring me Yuli's head—or his body—and I'll reward you handsomely."
Velt glanced at Post, whose eyes glistened with tears. "Anything… to help."
"Excellent," the Guild Master purred. "Off you go, novice."
Post rose and beckoned. "Let's move."
Together, they slipped into the night-shrouded forest, each step echoing with the weight of the task that lay before them.
Velt stepped beside Post as they wove through the moonlit trees. "So," he began, voice low, "if you don't mind my asking… can you tell me exactly what Yuli did?"
Post's grip tightened on her axe. Her gaze drifted to the dark canopy overhead, as though the branches themselves held the memories. "I've known Yuli since we were children," she said, voice tremulous. "Back then, he was a bully—mean, but you could excuse it as kids being kids. As he grew, though… he turned into something far darker. He was always stronger than everyone else, and he used that strength to prey on weaker souls. He took whatever he wanted—friends, families… lives." Pain etched her features as she spoke.
That doesn't match the Yuli I know, Velt thought, torn between disbelief and the gravity in her voice. But monsters can wear gentle faces.
He nodded slowly. "I—don't fully understand. But if both you and Fell believe it… I'll trust you."
Post's eyes blazed. "That's what makes him so dangerous—he's a master actor and the best liar I've ever seen. He cares only for himself."
Velt opened his mouth—then closed it, unsettled by her certainty. Post prepared her axe as she spoke again, tears glinting in her orange hair. "Do you know what it would mean to me to end his misery? To stop a life so twisted that it can only destroy? Fell—my girlfriend—saved me from Yuli's terror. She rescued me from the wreckage he left behind. I can't let him roam free."
Her voice cracked, and she wept openly beneath the stars.
Those aren't the tears of relief, Velt realized. They're tears of vengeance.
They made camp in the clearing they'd left only hours before—but Yuli's lean silhouette was nowhere near the smoldering embers.
"Where is he?" Velt whispered.
Post's brow furrowed. "He's gone? Has he sensed we're after him already?"
Velt's pulse quickened. "That's impossible… Should we split up to search?"
Post shook her head, voice urgent. "If he knows, dividing ourselves makes us easy prey—he'll pick us off one by one."
"So what do we do? Wait until dawn?"
Post squared her shoulders. "Yes. He's a level 1—he's weak when we're vigilant. I'm level 9; you're… immortal. Together, we can handle him."
Velt frowned. "He's only level 1, you say. Then why worry about splitting up?"
Post's voice dropped to a whisper: "Because even a single, perfect strike from him could end me in an instant. But together… we stand a chance."
Velt ran a hand through his hair. "So, do we keep searching, or head back?"
Post exhaled. "Be patient. We can rest, then go after him at first light—on one condition."
"Name it."
"Join our guild. We need someone like you to bring him down." Her eyes glowed with fervor.
Velt hesitated. This all happened so fast… Finally, he nodded. "I'll think on it by morning. Let's head back."
Post gave him a grateful smile, and they wound their way through the underbrush to the Heartcore Guild hall. Inside the cavernous foyer stood Fell, flanked by her silent sentinels.
"Oh, you're back," Fell said, rising from her throne. "No head, I see. Didn't find him?"
Post stepped forward. "Yuli left camp. He must know we're trailing him. We returned to wait out the night."
Fell shrugged. "Understood. Give our… guest a fresh room." She snapped her fingers; the motion sent the zombie-like men shuffling into position.
Post embraced Fell, then stepped back. Fell's cool gaze fell on Velt. "Have you decided about the guild?"
Velt hesitated. "Give me until morning."
"Very well." Fell clasped her hands. "By the way—Yuli was captured once for his crimes, but he broke out of prison. He slaughtered even more innocents in his escape."
Velt paled. "I never imagined he could be… that monster."
"He is." Fell drew Post closer. "He'll never atone."
A sudden crash shattered the hall's heavy silence—men were hurled aside as the front wall exploded inward in a cloud of dust. Post sprang between Fell and the breach, axe at the ready. Fell merely smirked, eyes unblinking.
Through the clearing dust stepped Yuli himself. His war-hammer rested casually on one shoulder. His eyes were vacant, expressionless—yet cold as obsidian. Each footfall cracked the marble floor, leaving jagged fissures in his wake. Men cowered as the ground heaved beneath him.
Fell rose, voice soft. "Looks like he came to us."
Yuli's gaze locked on Fell. "You're dead."