For a moment, the team channel descended into chaos as multiple voices chimed in.
"It’s true! I don’t know how he did it, but he jumped so high, then suddenly accelerated, flying right over our heads and heading down the mountain!"
The team members shouted what they had witnessed into the channel.
Frostflame’s last shred of hope turned to ice. He turned to the only woman behind him and said, "Xandria, your guild’s rogues are on the perimeter. Send them after him!"
"Oh," the woman replied indifferently, her black scarf covering her face as she twirled a dagger between her fingers.
Her lukewarm response nearly made Frostflame explode. What kind of answer is ’oh’? But he didn’t dare lash out. This woman was not someone to be trifled with. Her name was Xandria, the leader of Nocturne Order Guild.
Her guild was unique—aside from a few crafters, every member was a rogue or assassin. Crossing her meant making enemies with nearly every rogue player in Blackridge, and even as a guild leader, the thought of being targeted by so many stealthy killers sent shivers down his spine.
Moreover, she was no ordinary player. She was a professional gamer who had dominated multiple games, always under the name Xandria. In every game she played, her guilds were exclusively composed of rogues and assassins, and she herself always played as one.
If Ethan had taken a moment to think when the rogue earlier mentioned the guild name, he might have remembered her. In his past life, Xandria had always been overshadowed by him and Shadowstrike. Later, when he stepped away from the game, Shadowstrike became the brightest star among rogue players, and Xandria faded into obscurity.
When he heard the name Nocturne Order Guild, it didn’t immediately click. The rogue had only mentioned the guild name, not her personal reputation, so Ethan hadn’t made the connection.
---
Ethan’s body arced through the air. He shifted into Tree Form, casting a few instant healing-over-time spells on himself. Just before hitting the ground, he transformed into an Owl Form and used Wingbeat to cushion his fall.
The moment his feet touched the ground, a chilling sensation crept up his spine.
There’s a rogue nearby…
Ethan’s heart skipped a beat. He shifted into Bear Form and swung a heavy paw behind him.
Clang!
The bear’s sharp claws met two crossed daggers—the rogue’s Parry skill.
Thud!
The rogue was sent flying backward, crashing into the soft snow. Despite successfully parrying the attack, the sheer force of Ethan’s strike had launched him several feet away.
"Don’t attack!" the rogue shouted as he scrambled out of the snowdrift, his voice echoing. It wasn’t clear if he was yelling at Ethan or the other rogues closing in.
Once he was back on his feet, he added, "Druid God, it’s me!"
Ethan recognized him—it was the rogue he’d encountered earlier on the mountain.
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"Uh… alright, I’m out of here!" Ethan said, realizing the rogue wasn’t there to fight. But he had no intention of sticking around.
The group on the mountain would be descending soon. If Ethan got surrounded again, he wouldn’t be so lucky to escape a second time. Explore stories on Freewebnovel
"Druid God, don’t misunderstand!" the rogue said quickly. "Our guild leader told me to warn you—don’t go back to Lakeview Town. Head south after you descend the mountain! Also, take this scroll!"
Ethan took the item from the rogue’s hand and opened it, his eyes widening slightly.
[Beginner Status Cleansing Scroll]
Effect: Removes all negative status effects for characters under level 30.
Although it was only a beginner-level scroll, it was still worth around a hundred gold. Why would they give him something so valuable? As far as he knew, he didn’t have any connection with their guild leader.
Seeing Ethan’s puzzled expression, the rogue explained, "Our leader is Xandria. She wants to meet you in half an hour at the SK Tavern in Blackridge." He glanced nervously up the mountain and added, "You should go now! They’re coming. And remember, don’t head toward Lakeview Town. It’s been blockaded by nine guilds."
Ethan didn’t respond, simply nodding in acknowledgment. Whether the direction they suggested was safe or if they had ulterior motives, he couldn’t be sure. But the scroll was exactly what he needed right now.
Above his head, a bright red arrow floated—a marker placed on him by a Marksman. It would last for an hour, preventing him from using Stealth. No matter how far he ran, the Marksman would always know his direction.
Transforming into Panther Form, Ethan used the scroll. A wave of white light enveloped him, cleansing all negative effects, including the Marksman’s marker.
With the marker gone, Ethan turned to the rogue and said, "Thanks!" He activated Stealth and dashed down the mountain.
The rogue watched him go, and another rogue materialized beside him. "Captain, that Status Cleansing Scroll was hard to get. You just gave it away? Our leader only told you to warn him about Lakeview Town, not to hand over your scroll."
The captain shook his head calmly. "The warning was just a courtesy. The scroll was the real help he needed."
"Captain, are you trying to get on Druid God’s good side?" the other rogue asked, his face showing a mix of excitement and confusion.
"Isn’t that what our leader wants too?" the captain replied, his hands clasped behind his back. "With Xandria, we’ve thrived in Blackridge. But when Ethereal opens up the Zone Wars, how long will we last among so many guilds? This game is different from any we’ve played before.
We rogues can form a strong organization, but we’ll never be the main force in large-scale battles. But with Druid God… maybe… I think our leader is thinking the same thing."
With that, he bent down, activated Stealth, and disappeared into the snow. The other rogue hesitated for a moment before following suit.
Ethan, still in Stealth, hadn’t gone far. He had been standing nearby, listening to their conversation. He couldn’t help but chuckle inwardly. So, that was their plan. And the scroll hadn’t even been a gift from Xandria—it was the captain’s personal item.
While it was clear they were trying to curry favor with him, the scroll had indeed been a lifesaver. It had solved a major problem for him. He also realized now that the lack of rogue encounters on the mountain was likely due to Xandria’s orders.
Ethan’s memory of her was coming back. In his past life, her guild had been a sharp blade in the Northern Frontier Region. But when Nation Wars began, her guild was absorbed and dismantled by larger forces. Xandria herself had faded from the spotlight after that.
Whether she quit the game or became a casual player, no one knew.