CHAPTER 95: JOY AND SORROW

Hearing Ethan say something about LionArk made Leni happy and emotional. She became more certain that Ethan was the former Leader of LionArk, right before Ashley took charge of the guild.

His wise attitude, strong ability, and knowledge of strategy could make him an important key to the guild’s future revival.

Unfortunately, Leni saw that Ethan had joined the Sword Liberation Guild.

Since there were no members of Sword Liberation around them, Leni casually asked Ethan a question.

"Are you interested in joining LionArk right away, Ethan?" Leni asked.

Ethan went silent, then turned his head while still lying on the ground.

He cleared his throat softly, clearly showing that he would join LionArk as soon as possible.

However, the situation didn’t support him now. Many guilds hated him, especially the Big Three Guilds.

If Ethan decided to join LionArk right after the Thousand Stars Event, Redemption Sword and other guilds would target LionArk for protecting him.

Ethan didn’t want that to happen. With his current status, being hated by almost everyone, he couldn’t join a guild and endanger the lives of many people.

"I don’t know," Ethan replied, surprising Leni.

At first, Leni thought Ethan would join. But his answer shocked her.

There was a little doubt on Ethan’s face when he answered her question, his eyes still watching the cave ceiling.

"I can’t risk other people’s safety," Ethan continued.

"Risk other people’s safety?" Leni asked, not quite understanding.

Sigh.

"Sleep and rest. Don’t think too much about it."

Ethan closed his eyes and tried to rest. Luna had already fallen asleep close to him, not wanting to be apart. Leni rested farther away, still inside the cave.

Three days left until the event ended. Ethan felt he needed to recover quickly, no matter the risk.

If he returned to the White Altar while still hurt, his life could be in danger from other guilds angry at him during the event.

***

Twelve hours before the event ended.

A hideout cave in the eastern forest.

Ethan slowly tried to stand after Neryss used all her water-element magic to heal him.

She did it. At least Ethan could stand firmly without help, no longer using a stick or leaning against the cave wall.

Neryss smiled and clapped lightly, happy with his recovery.

"Thank you, Neryss. I’ll call you again in an hour," Ethan said.

Neryss nodded in understanding. Her body glowed a bright sea-blue, dazzling Ethan’s eyes before turning into a chibi form.

[Neryss Abyssborn Cooldown:]

[00:00:59:54]

Ethan smiled. He already knew Neryss’s cooldown lasted only one hour since her servant level was still level one.

It was different from Sera, who had reached level 500 and had a 10-day cooldown.

Now, Ethan couldn’t use Sera because that soul servant was still on cooldown. His trump card was unavailable, and he had to stay cautious during these last hours of the event.

Leni and Luna didn’t leave the cave. The campfire had gone out, and thick bushes covered almost the entire entrance, making it impossible for anyone outside to see in.

Leni’s caution was justified. Through the digital map, she saw that her friends had been killed.

She also suspected that Ethan’s teammates were dead, slaughtered by the remaining players from the Northern Guild Alliance in the south.

With Ethan badly wounded, Leni couldn’t be sure if they could fight all of them.

"How is it?" Ethan whispered.

"Based on my guess, they’ve probably reached the northern area after killing all the players in the south," Leni answered softly.

"Sooner or later, they’ll come here—especially after learning many guild leaders have died and the top ranks have changed," Ethan added, peeking through the bushes.

Right after Ethan said that, his fear came true. He saw several players from the Northern Guild Alliance arriving.

They searched every forest, trying to find Ethan and the remaining LionArk members.

One female player stepped closer to the cave. Ethan told Leni and the others to crouch and hide, not to make a sound.

"Hissy. Scare that woman," Ethan whispered, and Hissy hissed in response.

Just as the woman reached to touch the bush in front of the cave, she screamed when a snake suddenly appeared from the darkness.

A few others came running to help her, asking if she was all right. She was fine, only shocked by the sudden snake.

"Be careful. Some players were poisoned by snakes a few days ago," one man said.

"Looks like this cave is their nest. They get aggressive when someone threatens their den."

The woman nodded in agreement and decided not to check the cave. They left soon after.

Ethan and the others could finally breathe again. He let Hissy stay in the bushes—her job was simple, to scare off anyone who came too close.

"Only eleven hours left," Leni said.

She leaned against the cave wall. Ethan did the same across from her, with Luna sitting beside him.

"They won’t beat our Star Essence count, right?" Leni asked. Ethan nodded slightly.

LionArk had about 12,680 Star Essence from the early hunts, plus 438,000 more from Ethan and 374,000 from the Sacred Hall, Golden Spear, and Silver Star guilds.

Altogether, LionArk owned 824,680 Star Essence.

That made them the winners of the event, while Sword Liberation was second with 260,021.

With that much, Ethan and Leni were sure they’d win—as long as no other players tried to steal their Star Essence.

During the remaining hours before midnight, Ethan kept summoning Neryss every hour to heal him with her water magic.

He did this patiently, while Leni continued to monitor the area outside to make sure they were safe.

Time moved painfully slow for both of them. Leni just wanted the event to end so they could survive the player hunt.

If a fight broke out, Leni knew she wouldn’t have the upper hand.

Right before midnight, Ethan had fully recovered his strength. He thanked Neryss for helping him heal ten times that day. She nodded and turned back into her chibi form.

Outside, the forest was pitch dark, but Leni could still see many players carrying torches, searching for Ethan and the LionArk members.

The search area widened east and west, as players assumed Ethan was hiding in a remote place.

[Announcement!]

[The Thousand Stars Event will end in 10 minutes]

[All surviving players will be teleported back to the White Altar in their best condition]

[00:00:09:53]

Leni smiled wide. Ethan also saw the same panel—it meant the Thousand Stars Event was almost over.

"Stay alert. We don’t know what might happen in these last ten minutes," Ethan said. Leni nodded.

Ethan turned to the side and saw Luna sleeping against him. Worry filled his mind.

Would Luna be teleported with him to the White Altar, even though she wasn’t a player?

What if she couldn’t come? She’d be left alone in this world, with no one who knew her.

The forest monsters would kill her. She wouldn’t survive long without survival skills.

Still, Ethan felt sure Luna would be teleported with him to the White Altar.

Once there, he would protect her—or maybe ask LionArk to take care of her safety.

The countdown was almost over. Ethan’s body began glowing with a bright white light, which woke Luna as it shone into her eyes.

When she saw Ethan, Luna panicked.

"W-What’s happening?!" she asked nervously.

Ethan turned and held her hand tightly. Luna’s body didn’t glow like his. Only Ethan and Leni shone brightly.

Slowly, Ethan, Leni, and the other players’ bodies began floating and turning into soul projections.

Ethan’s hand passed through Luna’s. She cried, watching him rise higher.

"Ethan! Brother Ethan!"

"LUNAA!" Ethan shouted. His heart raced, his eyes wide and full of tears.

"Brother Ethan... please don’t leave me," Luna cried.

Unable to see him anymore, she dropped to her knees, hugging her legs. Luna sobbed alone in the cold cave, with no one beside her.

Ethan’s lips trembled. Tears streamed down his cheeks. His hands and legs shook with panic and pain.

He couldn’t let Luna suffer alone in this world. He just couldn’t!

His eyes opened wide, staring sharply at the top of the sky—the border between the game world and the event world.

I will save Luna, no matter the risk!

Even if I have to fight the administrator, I’ll do it.