MMORPG: The Elementalist

“Clan Leader!”

“The Fallen Angels Clan is such a pushover!”

“Yeah! They’ve bullied our Clan members to a pulp already! And you’re just going to let it slide? Are we going to just sit here and watch them sh*t on us like that?!”

Many of the Tier 5 Champions from Netherspirit’s Claw were shouting profusely in their Clan Channel… And they complained about the Fallen Angels all over the place, asking their leader to stand up for the Berserker in their Clan, who had been beaten by the Fallen Angels’ Field Commander—Judge.

Some even brought up some old scores that they had yet to settle as well: like the last time Qin Ruo defeated their Field Commander, Chameleon or Black Dragon’s conflict with Qin Ruo that other time or when he clashed with the Ron Couple.

Everyone in the Clan eagerly volunteered to head out and retaliate against Qin Ruo; some of them even asked for Netherclaw to send out Hunters to wipe out the Fallen Angels! Even though Netherspirit’s Claw lagged behind the Fallen Angels on the Honor Point Leaderboard, they had acquired many more Tier 5 players, reaching over hundreds of Tier 5 Champions. That included their Tier 5 winged Champions Black Dragon and Snowmelt as well as Netherclaw himself.

Other than that, Netherspirit’s Claw was the Clan with the most number of members within the Angel Faction! And they were able to rebuild their Clan to such heights a day after the fall of Moonrise City— surpassing even the Hall of Heroes and Bauhinia Clan. Netherclaw’s power and reputation were also in many ways superior to Majestic Hero and Scarlet Bauhinia’s, and the other twelve Clan Leaders in the Angel Faction.

Hence, many members within Netherspirit’s Claw could not bear to see the newly-risen Fallen Angels arrogantly sh*t all over them, or see other players proclaim that the Fallen Angels were the No. 1 Clan in the Angel Faction; not when Netherspirit’s Claw was still rapidly expanding with such vigor and strength.

Judge’s actions in the Buried City had undoubtedly created a spark that ignited the fiery anger of every Tier 5 Champion in Netherspirit’s Claw.

To them, the Fallen Angels Clan was just a newbie organization, which had not gone through harsh trials like them. They had been through hell and were forged in fire. Those newbies did not deserve to even call themselves a “Clan”!

The Fallen Angels merely had twenty members. That number was probably lesser than a huge contesting Party. If the Winter Demon or the Tier 5 Champions had not been in their ranks, the Fallen Angels would never have climbed higher than Netherspirit’s Claw on the Leaderboard.

Who gave them the right to act so conceitedly in front of them—an actual Clan that had over ten thousand members?!

Who gave them the right?!

As more and more Tier 5 Champions raised their questions angrily, Dark Dragon and Snowmelt remained silent.

Even though they were the veterans in their Clan and their reputations were just behind Netherclaw’s, most of the new Tier 5 Champions who just joined the Clan had been pulled over by Netherclaw from other big Clans—not everyone would listen to them.

Therefore, only Netherclaw could end the restless rattling of complaints.

***

“Everyone, listen to me! I know how you feel.”

As Netherclaw’s voice sounded in the Clan Channel, a sudden veil of silence blanketed the atmosphere.

“The Fallen Angels… They’re a bunch of hardboiled, proud young people. They love to stand out in the crowd and look for attention. They don’t respect us. In fact, they don’t even respect the other Clans too. They don’t care about respect.

“Nonetheless! We must admit that Qin Ruo isn’t a small fry… based on his demonstration of power, skill, and intelligence… He’s one of a kind… Besides, there are also other members in the Fallen Angels who possess formidable strength, like Fateless and Permanent Lock…”

Then, he continued with a shift of tone in his voice.

“In fact, Snowmelt, Dark Dragon and I were discussing this one topic several times yesterday… If Qin Ruo were to latch on to our feud and stand in our way, how should we react or retaliate.”

“Dark Dragon and Snowmelt were, of course, to retaliate!”

That gained plenty of warm support from the Tier 5 Champions in the Clan Channel.

“Yeah!”

“I will support this decision, Boss! I’ve wanted to kick their a**es a long time ago!”

“…Indeed. We can’t let those Fallen Angel bastards keep growing their b*lls!”

However, not everyone in Netherspirit’s Claw was a simple-minded brute. Some of them were able to think clearer and see the bigger picture. Those individuals provided rational responses.

“No, we shouldn’t. The time isn’t right yet…”

“That’s right. Moonrise City fell mere days ago. Everyone from the Angel Faction should join forces and unite against the Demon Faction first… Besides, we number in the tens of thousands while they’re just a twenty-member Clan… if we take them on with all our might, it’d look very graceless to the other Clans. And according to news from Aricus, the Fallen Angels have at least six winged Champions. The Bandits— Fateless and Permanent Lock—are also daunting foes. Furthermore, the Fallen Angels’ teamwork and mobility are quite overwhelmingly formidable too. They could very easily gain the upper hand if our two Clans were to clash…”

“Other than that… there’s also the Bauhinia Clan and Violent Army Clan looking out for them. Qin Ruo is also close friends with Majestic Hero and Black God. They’re even teaming up to take on the Dark Knight Commander in the Buried City as we speak. If we lift a finger on the Fallen Angels, the other two Clans will not just stand and watch. Hall of Heroes may not directly stand in our way, but the Black Jail Clan is quite a different story… There has always been some rivalry between Black God and us. It’s unwise to take on the Fallen Angels at this time.”

The analysis and explanation from the several brains in the Clan stumped the brawns—they finally realized that a thoughtless and impulsive strike would have dire consequences. However, they still had not given up.

“Sure, they have Black Jail and Bauhinia looking out for them. So what? We aren’t scared of them. Besides, are we just going to let the Fallen Angels keep sh*tting on us like that?”

Hearing the shift of tone in the brawns’ voices, Netherclaw spoke again.

“Of course not.

“The Fallen Angels’ rapid rise has completely been the work of just one man—Qin Ruo. If we make haste and work harder in the Buried City, we’ll be able to acquire even more Divinities than them. Then, the Fallen Angels won’t possess more advantages than us. By then… they’ll just be a bunch of insignificant grasshoppers…

“And when that day comes, we will make them pay by the hundreds for humiliating us today! Do you understand me?”

“Yes, sir!”

Everyone in Netherspirit’s Claw was finally persuaded.

“Good. From now on, stay away from the Fallen Angels…

“Now, the ‘six-direction’ squadrons in the Buried City, after our new members have completed their missions, wait until the Eye of Hades finishes its patrols. Then, head to the rendezvous point at once!

“As for the other ‘four-direction’ squadrons… focus on your primary objective—the Golden Key Mission!”

“Yes, sir!”

***

It would seem that Netherclaw’s plan was quite surprisingly similar to what Qin Ruo and Majestic Hero had in mind.

With keen observation and intuition, he was able to quickly determine the actions and movement of the five Angel Faction Clans based on the various information he gathered from the Buried City. Then, he deduced a plan similar to Qin Ruo’s and preemptively launched a strike on the Dark Knight Commander.

Aside from Netherspirit’s Claw, there was also another Clan after the Dark Knight Commander. It was stealthily hiding in the shadows of the Fallen Angels and Netherspirit’s Claw—the Scarlet Dynasty.

Scarlet Bauhinia had also led his Scarlet Dynasty Clan into the Buried City, setting his eyes on the Dark Knight Commander. His team started their journey almost the same time as the Fallen Angels and Netherspirit’s Claw, traveling through an underground passage beneath the Eternal Tower.

As for the other clans… they were either too powerless to contest with the powerful Clans, or they had miscalculated the timing to enter the Buried city, rendering them unable to compete with the others who were already there.

However, due to the three Clans of players entering the Buried City, the entrances were each suddenly filled with at least fifteen Tier 5 Champions now… It was quite a sight…

It was nothing like they had ever seen in the Buried City. The three Clans also quickly realized what the other Clans had in mind. They knew that all three Clans were after the same target, the Dark Knight Commander!

Fortunately, because of the early realization, Majestic Hero, Scarlet Bauhinia, and Netherclaw had a thorough discussion before they finally decided to let Majestic Hero have the first Dark Knight Commander.

Of course, it was not for free.

Majestic Hero proposed a race—whoever found the Dark Knight Commander first, the Dark Knight Commander that spawned in a much more geographical advantageous area would be theirs.

Scarlet Bauhinia and Netherclaw had to yield after they heard that.

They were no idiots. It was Majestic Hero’s idea, so he must have really possessed great confidence and the means to locate the Dark Knight Commander quickly…

Top that off with Qin Ruo’s Aquamorph, who would have the time to compete in a losing fight?

Besides, Majestic Hero’s team had the strongest lineup too!

Other than Majestic Hero, Qin Ruo, Homme Fatale, Black God—the Tier 5 veteran Champions—there was also the other winged Champions like Black Rock, Subjugator, Judge, Dinosaurcerer, Violet Orchid, and Fateless…

They had a total of eight winged Champions and eighteen Tier 5 Champions. That was more powerful than what the other two Clans had brought with them.

***

Therefore, a total of six members in Qin Ruo’s team arrived at the lair of the Dark Knight Commander. Other than Qin Ruo, who was using his Aquamorph to reach the destination faster than the rest in the team, there were also Majestic Hero, Black God, Subjugator, and two Elementalists from the Hall of Heroes.

Five of them were far from their destination, but their strength was unparalleled. If there were any patrols standing in their way, those patrols would be crushed in a mere ten seconds.

Qin Ruo did not have any companion by his side…

As he was cloaked in his Aquamorph, Qin Ruo swiftly traveled to his destination alone.