Chapter 296 Chapter295-Tide Guild
"However," John began with a serene tone, "your haphazard approach to combat is destined for failure. One only becomes stronger through adversity in battle. The next time we meet, I hope to see a more formidable young magus."
His voice, cool and steady, flowed effortlessly into Cloudsong's ears.
Cloudsong remained silent, etching every word from John into his memory.
This youth seemed to possess an innate inclination to heed advice.
Youth had granted him ample time, his greatest advantage.
Among the spectators, some held a resolute gleam in their eyes.
They internalized John's wisdom, resolving to seek greater strength within the game.
Meanwhile, Darklord and the members of the Wolf Guild quietly departed the viewing area.
Glaring at John's retreating figure, their hearts seethed with anger and envy.
"That guy remains as powerful as ever! But we must surpass him!" Darklord muttered through gritted teeth.
"Absolutely. We need to prove our worth and no longer live in his shadow!" added members of the Wolf Guild, their spirits aflame.
"Galewind's prowess is truly overwhelming," someone commented, visibly moved.
"That kind of charisma is simply unparalleled. Galewind seems invincible."
"His attack speed and precision are beyond my wildest imagination!"
"I wonder how long it'll take for Galewind to ascend to the top of the Arena Leaderboard?"
"I'd wager a week!"
"My guess? Just three days!"
"Place your bets! Place your bets!"
John, oblivious to the praises sung by the onlookers, was also unaware that the bets surrounding his potential rise to the pinnacle of the Arena Leaderboard had become the hottest wager on the battlefield.
He remained impassive, hands clasped behind him, silent.
The potent aura emanating from him seemed to make the very air around him grow heavy.
"Do I have a chance to become as powerful a player as you?" Cloudsong asked tentatively.
A warm smile graced John's face. "Of course you can, as long as you put in the effort..." he murmured. "Don't fear failure, don't dread death; we're just in a game right now... Only those with a heart resilient against formidable foes can truly be deemed strong."
Cloudsong's expression became pensive.
After a moment, John inquired, "You're a solo player right now, aren't you?"
Cloudsong nodded earnestly.
"Ever thought about joining a guild? Solo players like you, with such remarkable talent and youth, are highly sought-after assets for major guilds..." John chuckled, "I'd wager you've had quite a few invitations recently, haven't you?"
With a rueful smile, Cloudsong replied, "Indeed, a few have invited me to their guilds, but I declined. I felt those guilds were mediocre at best, and joining them would stifle my growth."
John raised an eyebrow, not expecting such pride from the young magus. "What if it was one of the top ten guilds worldwide?"
Cloudsong's head snapped up, staring at John in astonishment.
John merely smiled and said nonchalantly, "If you're open to it, I can recommend you to the Blue Sea Guild. Their guild leader, Blue Sea himself, is a top-tier magus. There, you'd have access to better resources and your growth would accelerate. Especially for your class, which is said to be the most resource-intensive. Going solo, you're bound to face many detours ahead."
A puzzled expression on his face, Cloudsong asked, "The Blue Sea Guild... If I could, I'd love to join. But why are you being so kind to me, Galewind?"
John replied with a light laugh, "Perhaps I see a shadow of my younger self in you... If you're willing to join, you can head straight to the Blue Sea Guild headquarters after this. Tell them I sent you."
Cloudsong bowed deeply in gratitude toward John.
Depleted of his Mana, Cloudsong was swiftly deemed defeated by the system.
His silhouette gradually faded from the virtual desert.
John gazed at the spot where Cloudsong vanished, his eyes filled with contemplation.
The fervent effort he put into aiding the young magus wasn't solely because he saw a reflection of his younger self in Cloudsong.
It was more so because John felt compelled to guide these gifted youngsters towards a quicker maturation.
The merger of the two worlds was no longer a distant event.
Naturally, John hoped for more prodigies to emerge among the players, to aid humanity in overcoming the impending catastrophe in the real world...
His individual strength would never equate to collective might.
Only with the birth of countless powerhouses could human civilization stand a chance against the abyssal invasion.
And Cloudsong, this young magus, perfectly fit the mold in John's mind.
Young in age, with a keen ability to learn, and a commendable mindset...
[System Prompt: Congratulations player Galewind for defeating your opponent. You have advanced to the next round. Please prepare, as you will soon enter a new battlefield.]
The system's voice echoed once more in John's ear, and subsequently, his form dissipated amidst the swirling desert sands.
When he reappeared, he found himself amidst a dense jungle.
The trees, tall and imposing, blocked out the sky.
A hint of confusion crossed John's face as he internally queried the system, "Why the sudden change in the battlefield?"
The system responded in its mechanical tone, "Arena PK mode operates with home and away combat scenarios. This time, you're the away player, battling against the home defender..."
John nodded in understanding.
When he looked up, he found a captivating female player standing directly before him, her hand gripping a green longbow, eyeing him warily.
"Galewind? What are you doing in an Arena PK of this rank?"
The voice of the female archer was melodious and pleasant, perfectly matching her delicate beauty.
John glanced at the female player's ID and paused.
"Tide Guild—MoonWhite."
The latter part, of course, was this girl's name, MoonWhite, which sounded quite endearing.
But what truly caught John off guard was the guild's name preceding it.
Tide Guild. Why did it sound so familiar?
John subtly furrowed his brow, pondering deeply.
Despite racking his brain for a long time, he couldn't recall where he had heard the name of this guild.
Judging by the equipment donned by MoonWhite, the Tide Guild might not have reached the stature of a major guild.
Or perhaps this girl didn't hold a significant rank within the guild.
To John, her gear seemed rather basic. However, for an average player, it would be considered quite luxurious.
While John was deep in thought, MoonWhite suddenly stowed away her longbow, waved her fair hand, puffed her cheeks, and murmured, "I'm done, I'm done. I must be truly unlucky. To face the legendary Galewind in the very first round, I might as well save some energy for the next one!"
MoonWhite voluntarily conceded, granting John a victory without a fight.
In the arena hall, the spectating players ignited another round of fervent discussions.
"Can Galewind really defeat all his opponents? I'm truly eager to see his performance!"
"He's rapidly climbing the ranks. I wonder when he'll reach the top spot."
"There are a few more rounds to go. Who knows if there might be even stronger contenders?"
"Are you kidding me? Who could possibly be stronger than Galewind?"
"There's always someone better out there. I can't believe that among so many gamers, only Galewind possesses such caliber and strength!"
John's domineering performance in the arena garnered everyone's attention, earning him widespread respect and admiration.
Within the virtual jungle constructed by the system, John furrowed his brows, looking at the conceding MoonWhite.
"You're giving up just like that?"
MoonWhite spread her hands, her face etched with resignation. "What else can I do? I can't beat you anyway... Besides, our guild leader mentioned that you have a good relationship with our boss. I wouldn't want to anger you and risk losing my job..."
John paused for a moment, a hint of realization sparked by MoonWhite's words.
Finally, he remembered where he had heard of Tide Guild.
Tentatively, he asked, "The boss you're referring to... Is he Benjamin Taylor, the Chairman of Taylor Group?"
MoonWhite beamed a radiant smile, her endearing demeanor evoking an involuntary warmth.
"Yes, yes, Chairman Benjamin Taylor! Our Tide Guild is under the Taylor Group..."
A smirk crept upon John's face, finding it rather unexpected to encounter someone from Tide Guild in such a setting.
He recalled his first meeting with Benjamin Taylor, attending his daughter's birthday party.
At the time, Benjamin had mentioned that his corporation had founded a guild named Tide Guild.
Benjamin had even asked John if he could assist Tide Guild members should they cross paths in the game.
John had readily agreed, but with his commitments within the game, he never really had the chance to interact with Tide Guild.
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