Chapter 524 Aftermath
Villain Ch 524. Aftermath
The event concluded, leaving chaos and destruction in its wake. The once formidable guilds now lay in ruins, their headquarters battered and their members defeated. Among the carnage, only three major guilds managed to weather the storm - Sanctuary, Ironclad Legion, and Celestial Vanguard emerged with a draw result.
The term "draw" echoed through the virtual realms, marking a pivotal moment for these guilds. In this event, a draw meant that the villains had failed to achieve complete destruction before the allotted time elapsed. It was a testament to the resilience and strategic prowess of the surviving guilds, catapulting them to new heights of recognition.
The gaming community buzzed with the news of these draws, spreading the word of the guilds' remarkable feats. The event had not only tested their strength but also showcased their ability to withstand adversity.
This success elevated their standings and painted them as beacons of resistance against the forces of darkness. As the news reverberated through the virtual landscape, the guilds basked in their newfound reputation, ready to face whatever challenges the virtual world threw their way.
In the aftermath of the event, the Order of Valiance still stood tall in the rankings, earning the respect of players far and wide. Elio's unwavering defense against the emperor's onslaught painted a heroic picture for those on the outside. They respected him since he could defend his own headquarters till the last second. Little did they know the internal turmoil brewing within the guild.
Behind the scenes, a veil of silence shrouded the truth. Gil, who had fallen before the emperor reached the warehouse, took the secrets of that perilous encounter to his virtual grave. His chat with Elio was the reason why the emperor knew Elio's location.
Elio, despite knowing the whole story, chose to keep the harrowing details under wraps. The guild members, clueless to the internal struggles, continued to hold Elio in high regard for his seemingly valiant efforts.
However, within the guild, the air was thick with tension. Elio's demeanor underwent a noticeable transformation, especially towards Sophia. The warmth that once colored his interactions turned cold and distant. Logic now took precedence over his usual emotionally-driven decisions. It was a shift that saddened Elio himself, as he had always found solace in his heart-driven choices.
Liam and Darren, as always, caught wind of the unspoken dynamics. Though they tried to keep a poker face, a subtle glint of satisfaction betrayed their inner sentiments. Sophia, sensing the shift, decided to face the music head-on.
With a determined look on her virtual face, she mumbled an apology ro Elio, the weight of her words hanging in the air. Elio, the one at the center of it all, acknowledged her attempt at reconciliation. Yet, he couldn't shake off the lingering sting of betrayal. His acceptance was a reluctant nod, a silent agreement to move forward, but the trust that once bound them had frayed.
Elio found himself grappling with an unexpected empathy for Allen. The pain of betrayal was no longer an abstract concept but a raw emotion he could touch.
Meanwhile, the Cursed Crypts' hall echoed with the clinking of armor and the heavy steps of villains returning from the gruesome battle. The air was thick with the metallic scent of blood, a testament to the fierce war they had just faced. Allen and the girls, adorned in armor and armed to the teeth, stood in the dimly lit hall, their appearance painting a picture of battle-hardened warriors.
Their clothes, once pristine, now bore the gruesome evidence of the conflict they had faced. Stains of crimson adorned their armor, a macabre badge of honor earned in the heat of combat. Weapons, still unsheathed, gleamed with a malevolent sheen, each blade telling a tale of its own.
Despite the grim visual, the atmosphere within the hall was surprisingly lively. Laughter and animated conversation filled the air as the group, seemingly unfazed by the blood on their hands, exchanged tales of the battlefield. The juxtaposition between their fearsome appearance and the camaraderie in their banter was stark and intriguing.
Seated on the throne, Allen surveyed the group with a satisfied grin. The air in the Cursed Crypts' hall was still charged with the adrenaline of battle, yet there was a sense of accomplishment that hung in the atmosphere.
"Good job, everyone," Allen commended, his smile reflecting a mix of pride and camaraderie.
Zoe, her tentacles still dripping with the blood of their adversaries, couldn't help but express her enthusiasm. "You too, Allen!" she exclaimed, her wriggling tentacles betraying her energetic spirit.
Larissa chimed in, her eyes gleaming with the thrill of the recent event. "I could say this is a fun event. It's like a hunt mixed with hide and seek, but a private one. Some kind of escape room," she remarked, sharing in the collective excitement.
Alice, with her happy face, added her own flavor to the conversation. "Yup! I even experimented with nursery rhymes like Allen, and I can declare, it was quite effective," she proclaimed, a proud grin stretching across her lips.
Allen's curiosity was piqued by Alice's mention of singing nursery rhymes during the intense battle. He leaned in, a curious glint in his eyes.
"Oh, what song were you singing?" Allen inquired, leaning in with a genuine curiosity. He hadn't expected Alice to follow his creative approach with children's songs.
Alice, her demeanor casual, flashed a mischievous grin before answering, "I'm a Little Teapot." She chuckled, admitting, "But I didn't change the lyrics since I don't have that kind of creativity."
Allen raised an eyebrow, intrigued by the simplicity of Alice's approach. "So, you sang it as it is? And they were afraid because of that?" he probed further, genuinely surprised. His curiosity painted his voice with a playful tone. He hadn't anticipated that traditional nursery rhymes, even with the correct lyrics, could induce fear, and he wondered if he had somehow traumatized players with his habits.
With an easy nod, Alice affirmed, "Yes. They weren't scared, but laughed since I got the lyrics wrong a few times." She shrugged nonchalantly, her tone carrying a relaxed air. "So, I can find out their hiding places easily."
The others erupted into laughter, imagining the scenario where Alice's playful rendition of a nursery rhyme became an unexpected weapon in their strategic arsenal.
Allen couldn't help but suppress a cringe at the unexpected turn this discussions had taken. 'Well, it suppose could work that way too,' he mused internally. The notion of nursery rhymes doubling as strategic tools for detecting enemies was an unintended consequence of her creative approaches to the event, and it certainly deviated from Allen's initial intentions, especially considering the menacing image they had intended for their adversaries.
Ignoring the peculiar direction their conversation had taken, Larissa pointed out, "Anyway, Jane seems to really enjoy it more than us." She cast a playful glance toward Jane, who wore a wicked smirk.
"Khu Khu Khu!" Jane cackled with an odd laugh, reveling in her success. "I succeeded in creating that scene... where the tragedy meets the couple and separates them," she declared, her tone carrying a sense of satisfaction.
"Oh... I bet it was the famous couple from the Mystic Sentinels guild," Zoe remarked with a cringe, sensing the dramatic turn the event had taken.
"Yep! It's them. I made that couple separate between life and death. It was a good tragedy scene. Just like Romeo and Juliet. They should put it in the montage!" Jane exclaimed with enthusiasm. Her eyes sparkled with the delight of an evil necromancer, relishing in the idea of orchestrating the demise of every in-game couple that crossed her path.
"Uh… They will respawn at the gate, remember? So it shouldn't be that dramatic," Alice casually reminded Jane, injecting a dose of reality into the conversation.
The mischievous smile on Jane's face instantly vanished, replaced by a flat stare that hinted at annoyance. "You don't have to remind me about that," Jane responded curtly, her irritation evident.
Ignoring Jane's momentary annoyance, Zoe chimed in with a teasing grin. "Well, next time, Jane, let's make it a real heartbreaker. Maybe throw in a love triangle or some forbidden romance. Spice things up a bit!"
Jane's expression shifted from annoyance to amusement, and she joined the banter. "You know what, Zoe? I might just take you up on that. A love triangle with a touch of betrayal, now that's a plot twist."
Larissa, shaking her head, interjected, "Just make sure the players don't file a complaint about emotional trauma. We're here to become the villains, not scar them for life."
Alice added her two cents, "Or we could organize an in-game counseling service for those traumatized by our actions and songs. 'Have your mental been broken by the villains? We're here to help!'"
Laughter echoed through the hall as the girls continued their playful banter, temporarily leaving behind the serious tones of battle strategy and in-game events. In the virtual world, where the boundaries between reality and fantasy blurred, their camaraderie and humor added a layer of depth to their gaming experience and relationships, making every moment memorable.
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