The news hit like a thunderclap across the entire capital.
One moment, we were just another freshly-registered guild with a silly name and a dangerously underfed squirrel army. The next? We were standing in the center of Guild Plaza, listening to the booming voice of a sky-projected announcer proclaiming doom.
Or, well… "The Guild War Trials."
"ONE HUNDRED GUILDS ENTER!" the magical projection roared, a glowing figure of light towering over the plaza. "ONLY TEN SHALL EARN THE RIGHT TO ENTER THE KING'S TOURNAMENT!"
The crowd erupted. Cheers, gasps, and more than a few screams from people realizing they'd signed up for the wrong guild and were now potentially about to get body-slammed by some fire-wielding meathead named Greg the Inferno Brawler.
I stared up at the announcement, jaw slack. "This… this is bad."
Lina looked like a kid at a candy store during a fire sale. "This is AMAZING!"
"We just became official like… yesterday," I stammered. "We don't even have a base yet! Or matching cloaks! Or— or a training montage!"
"Oh no," Iris deadpanned, closing her book. "Not the absence of matching cloaks."
"This is serious! Do you have any idea what happens in these trials? I've read forum posts. I've seen grainy footage. Guilds get wrecked. People cry. Hair gets messed up. Honor is shattered. It's like high school but with more fireballs!"
Kaela, munching on a candied mushroom she bought from a street vendor, tilted her head. "Sounds fun."
"It's not fun if we get stomped in Round One!"
Lina patted me on the back — hard. "Come on, guildmaster. You wanted us to be real. Real guilds enter real trials. This is our shot."
"Our shot at what? Public humiliation? Having our pants melted off again? Because I still haven't recovered from the last time."
"You mean when the slime wolf slapped you out of your boots?" Iris asked, eyes twinkling.
"You promised never to bring that up!"
"Oops."
Around us, guilds were already beginning to mobilize. Banners unfurled. Mages started glowing for no reason. Warriors shouted about honor and destiny and how much they could bench press. Even the cobblestone beneath our feet seemed to vibrate with anticipation — or possibly terror.
A countdown rune hovered in the sky: 6 Days Until Trials Begin.
Six. Days.
Six days to get strong enough to fight elite guilds.
Six days to figure out if we were contenders… or cannon fodder.
Lina was already sketching new fire combos in her notebook, talking about crowd control and explosive area denial. Iris muttered something about enchanting our gear and how she had "a few tricks" she hadn't tested on live targets yet. Kaela just summoned one of her smaller boars and began doing squats with it on her shoulders.
Meanwhile, I stared at my reflection in a nearby window.
A guy with messy hair, no formal combat training, and a system that tracked romance stats instead of critical hit chance stared back.
"What am I doing?" I muttered. "I'm not a warrior. I'm not a strategist. I'm the guy who trips over his own cloak."
Then, almost like my System heard me—and it probably did—a quiet ping echoed in my mind.
System Notification:New Challenge Event registered under [Special Tracking – Harem King Path]Guild War Trials: Compatibility Bonus ActivatedWarning: You will be watched.
"Watched?" I whispered.
"Talking to yourself again?" Lina called. "If you're done monologuing, we've got work to do."
I turned back to them. The girls. My team. My party. My guild.
Lina's grin was cocky and fierce, her fingers already sparking with heat. Iris looked calm, unreadable, but her eyes shimmered with anticipation. Kaela had strapped on three belts for no reason, which probably meant she was serious.
They weren't worried. They were ready.
Maybe I couldn't fight like them.
Maybe I wasn't strong — not in the traditional way.
But they were with me.
Linked Hearts wasn't about brute strength. It wasn't about top-tier skills or flashy weapons.
It was about connection. Trust. The way we'd stumbled and bickered and almost exploded our way into becoming something real.
I took a deep breath.
Six days.
That's all we had.
But for the first time since the announcement echoed across the city, I stood tall.
"All right," I said. "Let's train like our lives depend on it."
Lina grinned. "Now that's the guildmaster spirit."
Kaela tossed me a wildberry. "You'll need protein."
I caught it. Barely.
And just like that, we dove into preparation — running drills, studying maps, collecting gear, unlocking hidden synergy bonuses, and eating way too many street snacks.
All across the city, the biggest names sharpened their blades.
But in the corner of the plaza, an oddball trio and one panicking guy began preparing not just to survive…
…but to surprise.
Because one thing was certain now.
Linked Hearts was no longer just a name on parchment.
It was a name that was about to be shouted, screamed, cursed, and maybe — just maybe — remembered.
And we were only getting started.
END OF CHAPTER 32