Phoenix Guild's Temptation (2)
Never in my wildest dreams had I considered joining a guild, but now that an offer had suddenly come my way, I found myself pondering it seriously. After all, signing up with a famous guild came with all sorts of perks. For starters, you could easily assemble a skilled, reliable party anytime, letting you level up fast in high-efficiency hunting grounds. If you were a low-level like me, guildmates would escort you, making hunts safe and secure. But the biggest draw? Strutting around with a renowned guild mark meant no worries about backstabs or petty squabbles—you could roam the fields freely.
Phoenix Guild. A true powerhouse vying for second and third in Tayen, a prestigious giant among guilds. If Taesung was the undisputed number one, Phoenix fiercely competed with elites like Atlantis and Olympus for the runner-up spot. In a game where peak-time concurrent users topped a million, it was the guild everyone dreamed of joining. Even back in my solo Magnum days, Phoenix's first string would have been a dream invite—and now they were actively recruiting me, bending over backward to accommodate.
'Phoenix could be the perfect shield until I claim rank one... Plus, they're already at odds with Taesung, so that puts my mind at ease.'
"Jihwan, what're you doing? Sis is waiting—hand it over already!"
"Ah! Sorry, sorry. Got a guild invite out of nowhere, so I was whispering for a sec..."
Hyunjung blinked in surprise at my unexpected reply.
"What? You just changed IDs a few days ago—how'd they already spot you? Because of that time attack record?"
"Yeah, probably saw the score and reached out. It was a whisper from one of those Phoenix guys we met earlier."
"Whoa, for real! Phoenix—like, not some knockoff second or third string? Why would they want you? You need a recommendation just to get in there, even for top-tier players."
"Beats me. They haven't even seen me play, and bam—join request. But it came straight from their vice guild master, so it's legit, I think..."
"Whoa! Vice guild master? That's Hidden Card, rank-one Holy Knight! He whispered you? Dude, when did my idol notice you?"
Oh, right. This guy's a Holy Knight too, so he's got a thing for that scene.
"Saw him during the time attack earlier. One of their guildies was testing a fresh alt, loaned him gear. I shattered the top score in three minutes flat, and that guildie was blowing up the whisper channel about it."
"Damn, sounds legit... Phoenix might be a step above our Saints guild right now. I was dead set on recruiting you someday, even if it took time."
Saints Guild. Hyunjung's crew played small-scale elite—skipping sieges but earning rep in raids. Invite-only, with lifelong loyalty creating a family vibe. No wonder the old-timers from PC days all prefixed "Blessed" to their IDs.
"Not this again. I told you, no guilds for me. Quit yapping and trade already—gimme my gear."
"Tch, acting all high and mighty. Fine, bro's always got an open door—hit me up if you change your mind, I'll vouch instantly. Huh? What's this? Why'd you bundle it in?"
"Just take it. Not giving—lending."
While digging for that Shining Mana Stone in storage earlier, I'd pulled this out too—a beauty I'd stashed away for days. After agonizing over it, this felt right.
Legendary, One-Handed Weapon
Attack Power: 660(+264)
Strength +50(+20), Vitality +50(+20), Agility +25(+10)
Physical damage to undead monsters +660(+264)
Buffs, auras, and healing skill effects +20%(+8%)
15% chance on hit to trigger Holy Weapon
The beloved sword that accompanied Lion King Bernstein through countless battlefields in his lifetime.
"The 30,000 imperial soldiers who witnessed the Lion King's dazzling charge over Jaret Gorge instinctively knew Commander Antos's strategy had failed." —Historian Dmitri Lantes—
I'd gotten this from Il Do Yang Dan intending to sell it outright. But as time passed, nagging doubts piled up.
First: Merlin's betrayal. Snagging the Holy Sword from Darius was luck, sure—but the real enabler was an inside job. Hyunjung wasn't that snake, but as my sole in-game connection, he was my biggest potential risk. I refused to bust my ass just to get backstabbed like Darius.
"You're putting this in the trade for me right now?"
"Lending, not giving. Look, straight talk—this is a bribe. Don't ever betray me, keep helping like always. Gotta give something big to squash any funny ideas, right? Options are perfect for you too."
"You little punk, listen to yourself. Nah, take it back. I've done fine without crap like this, and I'll keep doing so. What do you take me for? Ugh, pissing me off."
Second: insurance. Even going all-in on this game, with big money on the line, I needed some cash buffer. Liquidating now felt wasteful—better to loan it to him for good use. Items like this fetched billions because they were worth it.
"Don't get heated—hear me out, I thought this through. Say I die mid-game and drop the Holy Sword? Total wipeout. But if this Legendary sticks with you, that's billions safe for me. Hold it for emergencies. Too good to rot in storage, yeah?"
"That logic's backwards. Just sell it for cash. I get your trust, really grateful... but even as a loan, it's no small change. Hard to accept."
Last reason: I'd need his full support going forward.
"Didn't wanna say this, but you gonna stall forever? I was trash not long ago, but I'm aiming past ranker—to lord of this game. That's why I'm rerolling! You cool staying mid-tier forever? How long you gonna envy Hidden Card?"
"Dude, rankers aren't for just anyone. Even skilled normies like me can't catch backed elites—it's the system's rigged."
"That's why I'm your backing! What made me different? Lucked into Holy Sword glow-up. Why not you? Take it, chase your dream on gear juice! That scared of your own skill?"
"......"
"Bribe, remember? Without your help and tips, I wouldn't be here so smooth. That time attack and level-up? Solo impossible. You'll keep being huge for me. Take it. Let's devour this game together."
Four billion. Selling price varied, but minimum four. Pro gamer salaries topped tens of billions ages ago. Investing in proven talent? Pocket change later. And knowing my real info, this locked his loyalty—letting me focus on growth.
"You twist my arm like that, refusing's silly. Yeah, you know I've sunk over a decade into Titan series. Think I never dreamed big? Fine—let's conquer. With this sword, ranker? Piece of cake!"
"Hah, punk. Dragged it out knowing you'd cave. Hit accept and gear up—I'm out!"
"Thanks, Jihwan. I'll return it someday—use well till then. Bro's off!"
"Bro? I'm bro."
His retreating figure looked thrilled—not my imagination. Lucky find anyway. If it paid off timely, perfect. Money? Earn more later. Life favors the bold over the stingy, right? Skimp now, risk losing a ten-billion Holy Sword or growth window—this was smart.
'Me making calls like this, stone-cold? Am I even the old Kang Jihwan?'
My petty nature was shifting fast—gearing up for supremacy.
After sending Hyunjung off, I whispered Hidden Card.
He wasn't wrong. Sticking to solo had held me back here. Ditching guilds was like playing hogtied.
A sudden idea flashed. An untapped hunting spot popped up—I pitched it on impulse.
Unexpected. Just a feeler, but he greenlit big. Shaved at least ten days off my level plan. Instance was safe, maximized Holy Sword utility. And best...
Controlled zone meant snagging that rare item unavailable elsewhere.