CHAPTER 84: ETHAN HUNTED FOR STAR ESSENCE

***

Nine days before the event ended.

Arco Village.

Since the ranking broadcast, Ethan hadn’t seen Elle again. He didn’t know where she was or what she was doing.

The two of them failed to reach an agreement after he got no information about how to enter Uruk City.

Because of that failure, the Star Heaven guild fell apart, earning very few—or even no—Star Essence at all.

Ethan felt he had rested long enough in Arco Village. With only nine days left before the event ended, his goal was clear: collect as much Star Essence as possible to perfect his plan.

He was ready, and so was Luna.

Even though she had no fighting skills, Ethan felt it was his duty to protect her no matter what.

He was curious about the reward he would get in the end. After preparing everything, Ethan left Arco Village and headed into the eastern forest.

He didn’t know what kind of strategies the top ten guilds were using, but since there were only ten days left, this was clearly the most crucial phase.

At the very least, Ethan had to finish everything two days before the event ended. If he failed, then it would all be over.

There are many people counting on me. They put their hopes on me to raise their guild’s reputation. I can’t give up... I have to save Ashley.

Ethan pulled out the black mask he bought from the equipment shop last night, replacing the white one destroyed by Arnold.

Unlike before, this new mask came with its own buffs—an agility boost and a vision modifier.

Ethan liked it, not only because of the buffs but also its design. He put it on and continued into the forest.

Because he had to protect Luna, he needed someone to watch over her. Hissy was perfect for that role.

With her poisonous spikes, she could wound any enemy that tried to attack Luna, giving Ethan a big advantage.

His steps stopped when he reached a wide tropical forest with high humidity. Ethan asked Hissy and Luna to hide—he could sense another team nearby.

"Come out, all of you!" Ethan said firmly.

Not long after, several people stepped out from behind the trees. There were eight of them, wearing black-and-white guild uniforms with the abbreviation SWP.

Ethan quickly analyzed their levels—most of them were between 47 and 50, with the highest being a level 50 warrior.

"SWL? What’s that?" asked the man standing in front.

Ethan didn’t answer. He summoned his Bloodblade Ashura and swung it horizontally, releasing a crimson-red slash followed by maroon lightning that crackled along the attack’s path.

They were shocked and quickly formed a defensive formation. It worked, but it drained their HP and MP heavily.

"DAMN IT! WHAT’S YOUR PROBLEM?!" shouted the warrior.

Ethan didn’t stop there. He jumped forward at high speed and landed hard, his blade releasing shadow slashes all around him in a wide radius.

[Passive Skill Activated: Intimidate]

Three people died instantly, their bodies turning into floating particles of magic. The warrior froze, shocked to see his teammates—one of them a priest—killed so easily.

Five remained, but they couldn’t move, affected by Ethan’s passive skill triggered by his ultimate.

With the advantage in his hands, Ethan struck them down using fast, sweeping attacks and his second skill.

When his first skill’s cooldown ended, he used it again, finishing off the entire group. Ethan won without ever revealing who he was or where he came from.

He stretched out his hand and caught the glowing Star Essence that fell to the ground after the guild’s defeat.

[Event of a Thousand Stars]

[Team Name: Sword Liberation]

[Rank: 12]

[Star Essence: 61,632]

Just a little more. I should start hunting the top ten guilds now.

Ethan called Luna and Hissy. Luna ran to him, asking if he was okay. Ethan smiled, knelt, and gently patted her head.

"There will be a lot of fighting today. You’ll need to stay hidden, understand, Luna?" he said.

Luna smiled brightly, her eyes fixed on him. "Of course. I always listen to you."

Ethan nodded. Done with that area, he continued exploring other parts of the forest, hoping to encounter one of the top ten guilds.

But even by afternoon, after circling the forest near Uruk City, he still hadn’t found any of them.

He did, however, defeat two other guilds—the Fire Arrow Guild and the Knight of Liberation Guild.

He earned a total of 12,250 Star Essence from those two, a surprisingly small amount for two full guilds.

[Event of a Thousand Stars]

[Team Name: Sword Liberation]

[Rank: 10]

[Star Essence: 73,882]

Looks like I made it into the top ten. Thanks to those two guilds, the boost was big.

However, the Heaven Sword Guild clearly didn’t like this.

Ethan smirked, a wild grin forming on his face. Heaven Sword had been holding the tenth rank for a long time, but now that Sword Liberation appeared, they were pushed down to eleventh.

That meant losing the top-ten event rewards.

"Let them be," Ethan said quietly.

"Let them come after me. Lara and the others don’t have much Star Essence anyway."

"If they come for me, they’ll bring their best players."

Luna looked ahead, watching Ethan talk to himself. She recognized that look—he was planning something.

He always muttered like this whenever he was plotting a strategy. Curious, she asked what he was thinking.

Ethan turned to her, smiling as he playfully pinched her cheek.

"Something terrifying, of course."

"What are you planning to do?" Luna asked.

"I’m going to fight more guilds soon."

Ethan would think about the details later. For now, night was coming, and they needed rest.

They found a hidden cave to stay in. Luna helped cook while Ethan built a campfire.

That day, Ethan had done well—but he wasn’t satisfied. He needed to fight more guilds to get the best result.

If the Heaven Sword Guild really comes after me, and I win against them, my total Star Essence could reach over 140,000. That’s enough to push me into the top three—past Silver Star.

Interesting. Redemption Sword and Scavenger won’t just sit by and let Silver Star fall. After all, Silver Star is part of the Big Three Guilds.

Elsewhere, the Heaven Sword Guild leader slammed the table and shouted when she saw their rank drop below Sword Liberation.

She pulled up Sword Liberation’s profile—and was shocked to see their rank was only D.

"How could a low-ranked guild like that take our spot?!" she yelled, her face red with anger and her fists clenched.

"W-We don’t know, leader," one of her members said nervously.

That made her even angrier. She ordered her team to move immediately and find Sword Liberation’s whereabouts.

"Team Heaven, sweep the east with me! Team Sword, take the west!" she barked.

"Find that low-rank team and take all their Star Essence!"

"Yes, ma’am!"

They rushed out of their base in Uruk City. But as the leader stepped outside, she stopped in her tracks when she met a man wearing an elegant red-and-gold uniform.

"M-Mr. Gilgamesh?" she greeted nervously.

"How’s your day, Miss Veres?" the man, Gilgamesh, asked calmly.

Everyone in the city knew him. His real name was Horald, but he idolized Gilgamesh so much he took the name as his own.

A level 60 warrior, the strongest in the city—and the leader of the Redemption Sword Guild.

"I see," he said with a small smile.

"I’m glad to hear that."

Veres smiled and excused herself. Gilgamesh nodded, but suspicion flickered in his eyes.

"Raphael," he called.

A man in dark gear appeared behind him. "Yes, sir?"

"Go and investigate what’s happening with them. Avoid combat. Return immediately once you find anything about that guild."