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nVillain Ch 426. Doubt Before The War

nThe clock displayed 07:51 PM, and Ront City had transformed dramatically in the past hour, setting the stage for an impending clash. The city’s towering walls, previously mere barriers, now featured accessible stairs, granting players the privilege of commanding a panoramic view of the sprawling cityscape before them. This alteration extended to the surrounding guard towers as well, where, unlike in the past, several of them welcomed players to their heights, replacing NPC soldiers who had previously held sole dominion.

nThese renovations were orchestrated to immerse players in the epic scale of an impending war, a grand event slated to span two intense hours. This was just a prelude to the overarching narrative of the game, an inaugural power struggle between the villain’s force and the valiant player base. Each event was a colossal battle for supremacy, where survival meant triumph, and defeat would herald an onslaught by the opposing faction.

nRont City, as the capital of this virtual realm, stood as the initial battleground, poised to be the target of the first major assault. Concurrently, conquests of other villages and cities were designated as separate, smaller-scale events, characterized by limited participants and shorter periods of warfare.

nThe bustling streets of Ront City were now teeming with players from various guilds, each one donning their guild emblems and colors proudly. They congregated in clusters, discussing strategies, alliances, and the impending challenges that lay ahead. The air was filled with a palpable mixture of excitement and anticipation.

nHowever, participation in this grand event wasn’t open to all. Players had to meet specific requirements to earn their place on the battlefield. First and foremost, only those who had attained advanced classes were eligible to join the fray. This restriction ensured that only the most experienced and powerful adventurers would take part.

nAnother crucial criterion was guild affiliation. To enter the battle, players needed to be at least in advanced class and part of a guild, a testament to the importance of teamwork in the coming conflict. Furthermore, participating guilds had to have reached at least level 3 and established a home base, underlining the significance of this event for larger and more renowned guilds. It was their time to shine, showcase their strength, and compete for dominance.

nMeanwhile, smaller guilds and lower-level players would engage in their own events held in Eyon Village or Berlt Harbor, providing opportunities for adventurers of all levels to partake in the events.

nThe atmosphere in Ront City was electric, and the importance of this event couldn’t be overstated. If the city fell to the villains, it would lead to significant changes within Ront, making it a pivotal moment in the game’s storyline. As Ront had always been considered the core city in this virtual realm, it was only natural that every player wanted to leave their mark on this battlefield.

nAmidst the bustling crowd of players, Elio stood near the city gate, giving out precise instructions to his team and guild members. Their undivided attention was on him, recognizing the gravity of the situation. Elio, along with other guild leaders, had been in constant communication via the Discourd app for days, strategizing and coordinating their efforts for the impending war.

nTheir discussions ranged from defending against the enemy while they were still outside the city gates to contingency plans if the villains managed to breach the city’s defenses. Victory or defeat hinged on the extent of destruction wrought by the villains. If they managed to cause over 50% damage to the city, it would fall into the hands of the villains; anything less would be considered a player victory.

nIn this event, players weren’t limited to just fighting; they could also repair the city. This meant that with effective teamwork, victory could be secured in the players’ favor. The fate of Ront City hung in the balance, and every player was determined to give it their all.

nElio looked around at his guild members, taking in the sight of them all gathered online in one place. It was a rare sight, and he wanted to ensure that everyone was on the same page.

n“Is there anything you want to ask?” he inquired once he finished his long explanation, scanning their faces for any lingering questions or concerns.

nSophia, playing her role as the ‘kind priestess,’ chimed in with a smile. “I think we understand everything. You explained it very well.”

nElio responded to Sophia with a polite smile, but beneath the surface, he couldn’t shake off the unsettling feeling that had been gnawing at him ever since his encounter with the Devil Emperor earlier in the day.

n“Your priestess’ web of deceit is far-reaching, and you and your guild are not exempt from its entanglements,” those ominous words kept echoing in his mind, like an unsettling refrain that wouldn’t fade away.

nHe questioned whether he should have shared the incident with others or other guild leaders, but he chose to keep it to himself, convinced that the Devil Emperor’s warning was intended for him alone.

nAs the guild leader and a friend, Elio felt a growing unease about the trust he had placed in Sophia. The Devil Emperor’s words had sowed seeds of doubt, making him reevaluate the events that had transpired between them.

nHis growing mistrust of Sophia had begun to manifest the day before when she asked him to pick her up in front of a cafe. It had struck him as odd because, when he had passed by a nearby coffee shop and spotted Sophia engaged in an intimate conversation with Darren and Liam. He couldn’t deny what he had witnessed, yet when he confronted Sophia, she only said she just had a meeting with an old friend. It was a blatant lie, and Elio knew it.

nMoreover, Elio noticed that Sophia had been subtly weaving a narrative in which Darren and Liam were portrayed as bullies. She presented it as a joke, but the constant hints she dropped during their conversations when they were with Gilbert and others made Elio increasingly suspicious.

nElio couldn’t help but wonder if he was being ensnared in a complex web of deceit and manipulation, orchestrated by someone he had trusted implicitly. The doubt lingered, and Elio couldn’t ignore the unsettling feeling that the Devil Emperor’s words might have more truth to them than he had initially believed.

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