South Ridge Path. Firelight crossed the night, the air thick with iron and blood.
On one side, Overlord Spear's massed ranks loomed, black-gray cloaks like pressing shadows.
On the other, Skyveil Alliance's silver cloaks snapped in the wind, almost lighting the darkness themselves.
The atmosphere froze.
Neither side struck first, but the tension was suffocating, forcing the spectators in the viewing channel to hold their breath.
[Overlord Spear VS Skyveil Alliance!]
[Top guilds in a face-off!]
[Residual Blood Maniac the fuse? This is insane!]
[Don't blink, boys—this fight's history in the making!]
…
Overlord Spear's vice master stepped forward, spear tip striking the ground with a heavy thud.
"Skyveil, this is our bounty. You interfering—are you declaring war on us?"
Skyveil's chief swordsman sneered coldly: "And if we are? You mobbing a one-HP player with ten-plus men—isn't that shameful? The honor of Seles Continent won't be trampled by the likes of Overlord Spear."
The two forces clashed in aura, as if even the air might tear apart.
…
At the edge of the crowd, Xu Zhu leaned on his stick, breathing ragged, sweat beading his brow. The toll of the Residual Edge left his vision dark, yet the clash of the two guilds was sharp as blades before him.
He knew well: this storm wasn't about him—it was the guilds, fighting for dominance, borrowing the symbol of "Residual Blood Maniac."
Ling Xue stood at his side, voice low: "Xu Zhu, this standoff isn't yours. If you stay, they'll use you as a pawn."
Fatty Third trembled: "Big bro, maybe we… sneak away?"
Xu Zhu stayed silent.
His gaze swept the countless prying eyes, a chill rising in his chest.
—He hated being a joke, but hated more being a tool.
"I won't run." His voice was low, but resolute. "Residual Blood Maniac has spread across the server—how it continues, I'll decide."
…
Overlord Spear's guild master finally spoke, voice of iron: "Hand over Residual Blood Maniac, and this ends. Otherwise—Skyveil Alliance becomes our enemy."
Skyveil's chief swordsman answered coldly: "Residual Blood Maniac may not wear our tag, but today he stands with us. If you want him—you step over Skyveil's sword array first."
At his words, dozens of Skyveil players drew their swords in unison. Blades surged like a tide, aura shaking the night!
Overlord Spear's heavy-armored squad roared, shields raised, spears leveled, killing intent flooding the field.
Two top guilds, under the name of the Residual Blood Maniac, on the brink of war!
…
The spectator channels went mad:
[Holy shit, they're really about to clash!]
[Residual Blood Maniac is the fuse!]
[First guild war of Seles Continent about to erupt!]
[Crazy! And Residual Blood Maniac's still in the middle of it!]
…
Just as the sides were about to explode, the system threw up a cold prompt:
[World Announcement]: Abnormal confrontation detected. Hidden Event triggered—"Prelude to the Storm."
Condition: Residual Blood player survives while top guild conflict reaches threshold.
Reward: Event Trigger—Xu Zhu.
Xu Zhu's eyes sharpened suddenly.
The system… was watching him?
Ling Xue whipped her head toward him, eyes locked: "Xu Zhu, your curse—it isn't just a curse. You… are the key to this world!"