At the summit of a snow-covered mountain stood a sturdy fortress, an important outpost of the Storm Horn Guild. It towered majestically like a guardian deity.
Around the fortress, squads of vigilant mercenaries occasionally patrolled. Their sharp eyes watched for any sign of movement, ready to stop monsters or other players who might wander in.
However, the troops stationed here were not core guild elites. They were part of one of the guild's subordinate groups.
Big guilds always liked to maintain a few smaller groups to help gather resources and guard important strongholds.
Though they weren't the best of the best, they were still important, contributing to the guild's prosperity and stability.
Inside the fortress, several players who had just returned from patrol sat together, talking in low voices. One of them glanced at the lively conversation in the world channel and couldn't help complaining.
"Why's headquarters making such a big deal out of this? It's just a small group. Now we have to step up patrols too. We'd be better off spending this time killing monsters. Maybe we'd get some good drops and make a little money."
Another player heard him and smiled mysteriously.
"Heh, you don't know, do you? That group might not have many members, but it's got two top players, the 'World Champion' and 'World Disaster,' not to mention the other members, who are pretty strong too. People like them would be first-rate players in any guild."
Another player said enviously,
"Man, I wish I had a class as good as theirs."
"Forget it. We couldn't afford to support a high-level player like that. If I had that kind of money, I'd rather spend it on some decent food. I'm sick of nutrient fluid. I really want something with some flavor."
As they chatted, two figures approached the fortress at incredible speed.
Their skill was impressive. They used blind spots in the guards' field of vision to evade detection, then closed in on their targets with lightning speed and took them out one by one.
Nishikienrai and Genjiro carefully laid the bodies flat on the snowy ground, then each took a small chess piece from their inventory.
[Insulation Chess Piece]. Once placed in a concealed spot nearby, it could connect to other chess pieces and block communications within its range.
"These are the last two. You clear out the mercenary units while I take care of the players inside."
Nishikienrai spoke in a low voice. Genjiro nodded in agreement.
"Sure. There are only a dozen or so players inside, all in their eighties. They'll be easy for you."
The two were the vanguard of this operation. Nishikienrai, a ninja, and Genjiro, an assassin, were both high-speed, high-damage players, so they had been tasked with scouting the outpost.
According to the plan devised by the tactical mastermind Bukubukuchagama, all they had to do was determine the outpost's personnel distribution and combat strength, then place the communication-blocking devices nearby.
However, by their logic, the mission wouldn't be truly complete until they'd eliminated everyone at the outpost and ensured no one knew about their operation. Now they were preparing to wipe out every player there, completing Bukubukuchagama's mission in their own unconventional way.
The two quickly split up. Genjiro vanished into the snow like a phantom, while Nishikienrai slipped toward the fortress.
The players inside were still chatting, completely unaware of the danger approaching.
Nishikienrai nimbly vaulted over the fortress wall and landed without a sound. He quickly surveyed his surroundings, confirmed his position, and began his killing spree.
The players inside were still chatting when one of them suddenly spotted a figure outside the window. His eyes widened in terror. He was about to shout, but Nishikienrai killed him in an instant.
The other players heard the commotion and grabbed their weapons, looking out the window. They saw only their comrade's corpse on the snowy ground, not realizing that Nishikienrai had already infiltrated the fortress.
Nishikienrai swept through the fortress like a ghost, each appearance accompanied by a spray of blood. His movements were swift and precise, every attack striking its mark.
The players inside panicked. They ran in every direction, trying to find somewhere safe to hide.
Some tried to call for support from the stronghold, but when their messages wouldn't go through, they finally realized this was a planned ambush.
Unable to call for help, they could only take up their weapons and charge at the enemy, hoping to take him down with them. But Nishikienrai was far faster and stronger than they were, and they couldn't escape his pursuit. One by one, the players in the fortress fell to his attacks. Their bodies littered the ground, and blood flowed like a river.
Nishikienrai looked at the corpses scattered across the floor, then took out a Resurrection Delay Cube and casually tossed it onto a stone. His expression didn't change.
After all, this was only a game. Without this magical interference, they would soon revive at the stronghold. The cube was a special item that could delay their revival.
By then, Genjiro had also finished clearing out the mercenary units nearby. He returned to the fortress and met up with Nishikienrai.
They exchanged a glance and nodded in understanding. The mission was complete, and they were about to notify Bukubukuchagama and the others.
But just as they let their guard down, a figure suddenly appeared in front of them. He was a minotaur player in ornate armor, wielding a massive battle-axe as he charged toward them.
"Who are you? How dare you cause trouble on our turf! You're pretty skilled, but you're no match for me. Surrender now, and I might give you a chance to join us."
The player had been resting in a secret room when he suddenly noticed that his teammates were all entering the death-and-respawn state. He assumed a powerful player had attacked. He'd planned to tell the guild that their stronghold was under attack, but when his messages wouldn't go through, he mustered his courage and used a scouting spell to take a look.
He saw that two assassin-type players had killed all his teammates, but their gear wasn't very good. He was confident that he could take them down himself.
Both men were wearing gear gifted to them by Mu Fengyu, which concealed most of their information. That was why he'd mistaken them for low-level players.
As the minotaur rambled on, Genjiro teased Nishikienrai.
"How'd you let one slip through? Want me to handle this one?"
Nishikienrai glanced at the charging minotaur, a cold glint in his eyes.
He could have found the secret room, but he hadn't thoroughly searched the area because he wanted to complete the mission efficiently. That was how this guy had slipped through.
Now he'd deal with the last survivor himself.
"He was probably hiding in a secret room or some other concealed area. I can handle him."
Peroroncino had just shaken off his pursuers and was about to take a breather when the ground beneath his feet suddenly caved in.
"Found him! He's over there!"
Clearly, his pursuers had no intention of letting him rest.
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