Black Mage Ali did not hide the fact that he was the player that entered the Hall of Kings with Minhyuk. He was as proud of what he achieved, just like anyone else, and the people were also proud of him. 

Ali was known as the number one mage in the integrated rankings, but plenty of people believed that he was a class beyond that, especially with his use of higher-tiered magic. Some people even started calling him Great Sage Ali, but of course, most of them still refer to him as Black Mage.

However, Black Mage Ali was the only one that knew that Minhyuk had given him the opportunity to enter the Hall of Kings. He had promised Minhyuk before that if he ever needed his help, he would drop everything else and run to him. Just recently, Minhyuk sent him a whisper asking him to help Legend Guild. His meaning was simple. It was because he would take some time before he could arrive to aid them, so Minhyuk had asked him for his help.

‘I’ll protect them. So you don’t have to worry, Minhyuk.’ 

Ali was now drawing an ‘X’ on everyone’s wrists. To his surprise, the members of Black Dragon and the Boys were all enchanted by it.

“What a brilliant token.” 

“Friendship. What a wonderful thing to say. Boy, are you interested in joining Black Dragon and the Boys?” 

“Hoo? Black Dragon and the Boys? That’s a nice name, just like Whitebeard and Ace.” 

Then, at that moment…

“Whitebeard and Ace… ? You… Don’t tell me…” 

Ace’s body was trembling and even his breathing had started to become labored as his eyes reddened imperceptibly.

“Have you seen the Summit War?” 

Then, Ali turned to him and solemnly said, “Of course! My goodness, is there anyone who hasn’t seen that? I really sobbed when Ace’s chest was stabbed. Oh, come to think of it, you…” 

Ace looked at him in anticipation as he listened to Ali’s words.

“…look like Ace.” 

Ace’s face lit up in joy. He said, “My nickname is Ace too! Ali is the only one who recognized me. Who’s your favorite character?” 

“It’s Zorro.” 

“Kghhk!!! You are really knowledgeable.” 

“Of course, One Diss[1] comics is the best.” 

Their eyes made eye contact and each of them could tell what the other was thinking even though they did not say a word. The two felt a great sense of camaraderie after finding out that they both liked the same comics.

Black Dragon, who was looking at them, just kept his arms crossed with his infinitely serious expression while mumbling to himself, “Zorro…? I can’t believe he knows Zorro at such a young age… Swordsman Zorro Ali…? N…no… Black Mage, you…” 

Black Dragon looked at them sourly.

***

Genie perked up as she looked at this very welcomed reinforcement. It was Black Mage Ali! She did not expect that the world’s best mage would come to support her guild.

Then…

[The Second Attack will begin.]

[The ‘War Quest: Advancing Legion’ will be created for all players present in Elvenheim.]

Ring!

[War Quest: The Advancing Legion]

Rank: SS

Restrictions: All players in Elvenheim

Rewards: 

Penalty for Failure: You will not be allowed entry to Elvenheim.

Description: The Demonic Legion had started to advance. Stop them and enter the Elven Forest!!!

The notifications did not stop there.

Ring!

[The Guild Ranking Rewards has opened.]

[If your guild achieves the first place in total contributions, your guild members will receive a 20% increase in EXP for one month, as well as Gorn’s Treasure Chest (A~SS). For ranks 2~20, please check the official website.]

Ring!

[The Individual Ranking Rewards has opened.]

[If you achieve the first place in total individual contributions, you will receive a 15% increase in EXP for one month as well as Gorn’s ‘Eye of the Abyss’. For ranks 2~20, please check the official website.] 

They were clearly huge rewards. If their EXP increased by 20%, then the members of Legend Guild, or any large guilds that managed to clinch it, would be able to cross the threshold that they would not otherwise be able to climb. This would definitely have a huge effect on large guilds. Hundreds of them would have a 20% increase in EXP for one whole month.

Then, Genie looked at her individual contribution and thought, ‘I wonder who’s number one in the individual contributions…’

For individual contributions, Genie had heard that even though they had converted them to war points and used them to purchase items, the contribution points that they had earned would still be shown. In other words, all of their contribution points, whether it was untouched or used, would be combined to determine the first in the rankings.

Then, at that moment…

Vwoooooooooong— Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!

…the sound of the trumpets and drums started to ring loudly. Along with them, whispers from broadcasting companies started to come in.

[ATV PD Kim: Genie, we’ll start the live broadcast as planned.]

Just like any other guilds, Legend Guild also had an agreement with broadcasters.

[Genie: Yes. I understand.]

The main purpose of broadcasting the guild was simple. It had the effect of promoting the guild, as well as showcasing and certifying the guild’s troops and its armed forces. Through that, they could recruit a variety of people and spread their influence. 

This was something that Genie had expected.

‘Right now, perhaps…’

The station would be talking about how to get higher ratings, and this was how the scenario was chosen.

‘Legend must not fall.’

Everyone, everywhere felt the same way. They knew that Legend would fall today. However, a strange smile hung around Genie’s lips.

‘You think we’re going to fall that easily? Didn’t they say this as soon as we received Philip Village? That we could change the village into a bunker if we used 250,000 contribution points?’

Genie had already checked the information. 

‘We won’t fall as easily as you think.’

With those thoughts, she saw the bone wyverns flying from afar.

***

ATV PD Kim Dae-Guk looked at the incoming Demonic Legion through the screen with his crossed arms and serious expression.

“It’s a good thing that Callian Alliance had taken out about 1/3 of their forces… but it seems like they can’t stop them with just their elite minority… Too reckless…”

PD Kim Dae-Guk had said these words coldly. He liked a big hit and high ratings and he believed that Legend Guild might be the guild that would give him those numbers. Of course, even if they did not get those numbers, their ratings would still be fine.

Twenty elite members of Legend Guild would be defending against the Demonic Legion. Although their numbers weren't huge, he had been cheered up by the thought of those rankers’ strength. However, he still had many concerns.

‘If you’re not able to last at least ten minutes…’

Their ratings would be high, but it would still be a loss for ATV, since they would not be able to maintain it. So, instead of asking for their help to broadcast, ATV had provided huge funds to Legend Guild. The contract was signed when they entered Elvenheim so they never thought that something like this would happen. In fact, it was even an exclusive broadcast.

Then, he heard the voice of the relations people.

“The current audience ratings are at 4.3%.”

“…It’s lower than what we thought?”

“It’s because the response is not as good as we thought.”

PD Kim Dae-Guk hurriedly checked the netizens’ response.

[I don’t want to see my Legend fall…]

[How long do you think will Legend be able to hold out? 5 minutes? 10 minutes? How can 20 people deal with such monstrous numbers? What’s worse, they’re all strong.]

[I’m still watching this live. At least we can watch Legend fall down the abyss.]

[What are you saying? Legend Guild is a legend. And they’re going to do well. Obviously.]

[Right now, Cane, the strategist Ztuber, is doing an exclusive live broadcast on NTV! He’s telling us about dungeons and class-specific targets!]

“NTV is the biggest.” 

People wanted to see the battle of the strong. They wanted to see excellent physicals, amazingly ridiculous skills, as well as monstrous stats. But what if they collapsed in vain? Of course, even the viewers would feel empty and at a loss.

Currently, their rival TV company, NTV, was showing Cane, the most popular figure on Ztube. He heard that NTV had invited the Sun Guild Alliance. In other words, once Legend Guild collapsed, then they would immediately send out the Third Coalition’s defense. By then, they would get high ratings. ATV might have something far lower than what they had originally expected.

At that moment, hundreds of bone wyverns started to appear in the air. There were even thousands of fierce hellhounds on the ground, along with the occasional Silver Wolf, that was as large as a one-ton truck. 

[Keong, keong, keong!]

[Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr!]

[Kiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiieeeee!]

Philip Village was still standing strongly, albeit stubbornly. Then, he saw Guild Master Genie climbing on top of one of the small sentry towers.

At that moment, the Taming Master, Jan, who was casted by ATV, started her commentary.

***

[It looks like there are thousands of hellhounds on the ground, while there are some wandering Silver Wolves and Bone Wyverns. I wonder if Legend Guild can hold out? Guild Master Genie is looking at the battlefield with a relaxed expression. Also, inside Philip Village, the members of Legend Guild are all quickly preparing for the incoming aerial warfare!!]

[The guild members are standing close to the village!!]

[It seems like Khan and Locke are the ones in charge of them!]

[‘Marksman Root’ is the one in charge of aerial warfare. He has amazing archery skills, being a former gold medalist and all, so he definitely deserves the title of ‘Marksman’.]

Then, something extraordinary happened.

Crack, crack, crack!

Craaaaack!

The running hellhounds suddenly started digging the ground as they entered it like moles.

Pa, pa, pa, pa!

Pa, pa, pa, pa!

“…” 

[D, did you see that?]

[Ah. It’s not the anticipated aerial warfare from Commander Rufel!]

[If you look at them now, the hellhounds looked different from the existing ones. Instead, they’re exactly like moles.]

[And it seems like they’re really fast! They look like they’re approaching and entering Philip Village at a breakneck speed!!!]

[The Legend Guild members looked like they’re confused!]

[They’re done!!! Legend Guild doesn’t look like they will last long!!!]

Genie’s eyes widened in shock. Just like what the commentators said, she looked like she was confused. However, that was not the reason why she was perplexed. She felt flustered because it was going exactly how she predicted it to go.

Then, a small smile graced her lips as the commentator started to shout again.

[Huuuuuuuh? Is that guy standing much higher than I last saw him?]

[It’s Fly!!! But, Legend Guild is known for not having any prominent mage players?]

[The mysterious mage player is looking down at them from a height that is much higher than the height that the wyverns that we saw before flew on!!!]

Then, at that moment, the mage raised his hand. As soon as his fingers flicked together…

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr—

…the ground began to shake violently, as tree roots and branches twisted out from the ground and trapped hundreds of hellhounds. Then, the mysterious mage unfolded the palm of his hands, before clenching his fist tightly!

Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang!

The hundreds of hellhounds that dug deep in the ground, were popped out by the roots and branches, and exploded.

Fwiiiiiiish—

Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang!

Then, the green gas scattered as explosions started one after the other.

[…!!!]

[…!!!]

The commentators were left astounded. Then, one of the commentators began to say...

[A…a black robe and a black hat… D…don’t tell me that’s Black Mage Ali?]

[The world’s greatest mage, Black Mage Ali, has joined Legend Guild!!!]

1. Reference to One Piece ☜