"Why isn't he here yet?"
Zephyr's eyes narrowed slightly as he scanned the crowd once more. Despite the dozens of players milling about the dungeon entrance, not even a shadow of Kaito could be seen.
A scoffing laugh broke the moment.
"Ha! Zephyr, maybe that guy finally realized he'd just embarrass himself if he came. Probably too scared to show his face now."
The comment came from a tall, broad-shouldered mage standing to Zephyr's left.
His name was Marek Vos, a Level 14 Mage and the acknowledged second-in-command of Storm Life. With sleek black robes inscribed with mana runes and a crystalline staff strapped to his back, Marek gave off the composed aura of a battlefield strategist.
Though he deeply respected Zephyr, today his expression carried clear dissatisfaction.
For Marek, the decision still didn't sit right.
He had never supported the idea of inviting an independent player to lead their team for a Hard Mode attempt—not even someone with Kaito's record. And when he'd learned of the unusual conditions Kaito had set, his disapproval had only deepened.
Trusting a stranger with our first Hard Mode attempt? Absurd.
And now he doesn't even have the decency to show up on time.
In his eyes, Storm Life alone was fully capable of clearing Hard Mode. Their coordination, gear, and experience far surpassed most of the local guilds. Even if they needed a bit of additional support, their temporary alliance with Crimson Rose was already more than sufficient.
To him, that was the limit of compromise.
But now… they were being asked to follow an independent player?
It defied logic.
Zephyr hadn't explained much, only saying that the player in question had unique insight into the dungeon's structure. But that wasn't enough to justify handing over tactical command to an outsider—especially not someone who had no guild, no team background, and whose so-called reputation rested entirely on one run.
Marek's expression remained calm, but a flicker of doubt shone in his eyes.
Even if that independent player—Raen—had cleared King-level difficulty with his team, Marek only marginally acknowledged the feat.
To him, it had to be luck. A rare alignment of circumstances. A fluke.
He didn't think, if clearing King difficulty was truly within reach, then why hadn't any other team—even the most powerful guilds—managed to clear Hard Mode, let alone King?
The logic was simple. Too simple.
But for Marek, that was not enough.
He didn't dwell on theories or strategy breakdowns. In his eyes, Kaito was just another unranked player who'd struck gold once and was now riding a wave of overhype.
A lucky solo runner...
He didn't voice it aloud—but the tension in his shoulders and the subtle tightness around his mouth spoke volumes. As far as Marek was concerned, Storm Life was gambling with their reputation—and trusting a wildcard to lead them straight into the unknown.
And he didn't like that one bit.
Why would our guild leader—of all people—entrust our most important dungeon run to a stranger?
Even now, as the minutes ticked down, there was still no sign of Kaito.
To Marek, that silence only confirmed his instincts.
Unreliable.
He glanced toward Zephyr, who stood quietly, unfazed by the whispers and stares around them. That only made it worse.
Just what are you thinking, Zephyr…?
Even Velena, found herself quietly agreeing with Marek's unspoken concerns.
She glanced sideways at Zephyr, then turned her gaze toward the dungeon gate with a slight frown.
"...If Raen still doesn't appear," she said softly, "then we should consider calling in our subordinates. The first clear of Hard Mode Echoing Deep is too important to gamble away. Even if we move without him, it's better to start making preparations now than to wait and be left behind."
Her voice was calm, but the underlying tension was unmistakable. Both guilds had invested a great deal into this attempt, and the clock was ticking.
Just as Zephyr opened his mouth to respond—
"Sorry, sorry! I made you all wait!"
A familiar voice rang out from behind the gathering.
Kaito came jogging over, slightly out of breath, one hand scratching the back of his head apologetically. His coat fluttered behind him, and the faint gleam of rare equipment flashed at his belt.
Despite the rush, he didn't look flustered—just mildly sheepish.
The path was longer than he expected and on the way here, he even ran into an extremely rare Level 10 Elite… so it cost me a bit of time.
....
After being apart for just over a day, Kaito immediately noticed something different.
Zephyr, Velena, and the rest of their squad had clearly upgraded. All five members now wore matching bronze-tier equipment—the current pinnacle of team gear available in South Glade Town. Every piece gleamed with purpose, radiating the unmistakable pressure of elite readiness.
Kaito's eyes lingered briefly on their gear.
With this setup, he thought, as long as the team leader commanded properly, they stood a real chance of conquering the Hard Mode of Echoing Deep—especially after gaining familiarity with the dungeon's mechanics.
He had already handed over a complete tactical guide for the Hard Mode run. Yet even with that, his own team, Genesis, had still failed to clear it.
The reason wasn't a lack of strength.
It was experience.
Genesis was still unfamiliar with Glory's unique dungeon mechanics. Their teamwork had improved, but not yet to the point of fully mastering the chaotic, multi-layered layouts of this new world.
But Kaito had a plan.
First, I'll clear this run with Storm Life and Crimson Rose. Let them learn. Let them verify.
And Once this raid was over, he'd regroup with Genesis.
Then—they would challenge King-level difficulty again.
"So, you're finally here."
Marek's voice was laced with thinly veiled mockery as he stepped forward, ready to unleash another sarcastic remark.
But before he could speak further—
"That's enough, Marek."
Zephyr cut in, his tone calm but firm. He turned to Kaito with a composed smile.
"Now that you're here, let's begin. It's time to see if what you claimed… is really true."
Kaito gave a faint nod, no irritation on his face—only quiet confidence.
Without wasting another moment, the team entered Echoing Deep: Hard Mode.
The first run was focused—not on speed, but precision. Kaito led them methodically through the twisting passages, explaining terrain triggers, mob aggro mechanics, and timing patterns as they fought. The group moved in near silence, absorbing every instruction, adjusting formation with every wave.
They faced monsters like:
Emberclad Ravagers, with explosive charges and AoE flame crashes
BlazeMaw Shredders, elites whose arms were twice the size of its legs, its skin cracked like overcooked stone.
Finally, after nearly an hour of continuous coordination, they stood victorious over the Echoflame Sovereign, the flaming tyrant of the first layer.
As they stepped out of the dungeon, the leaderboard outside shimmered—and updated.
[Echoing Deep: Hard Mode Clear – Team: Crimson Storm – Time: 00:52:14]
The team name combined both guilds—Storm Life and Crimson Rose—marking them as the first to clear Hard Mode publicly, and instantly skyrocketing their prestige.
The crowd around the dungeon entrance fell silent.
But the real shock came when eyes drifted to the man leading that elite group.
"Wait… isn't that…?"
"That's Raen! The Genesis team leader!"
"He led the run…? No wonder they managed to clear Hard Mode…"
Murmurs turned into astonished shouts—but no one had time to approach.
Kaito turned to Zephyr's squad, eyes calm.
"That was the warm-up."
Then he walked forward again—straight back into Echoing Deep.
"We're going again. This time—King Mode."
They hesitated at first, unsure whether to follow. But the momentum was too strong, the pressure from Kaito too commanding.
So they followed.
What unfolded next was chaos forged in fire.
Wave after wave of brutal foes awaited them:
Emberfang Ravagers, faster, deadlier cousins of their earlier counterparts
Blazemaw shredders more ferocious than the ones in hard mode.
And finally—once more—the Echoflame Sovereign, now transformed into a King-Level Raid Boss, wielding empowered flame vortexes.
This time, even Velena and Marek looked shaken during the battle, but Kaito led them without a single misstep—reading every mechanic before it unfolded.
When they emerged again, drenched in sweat and smoke, the leaderboard flashed anew:
[Echoing Deep: King Mode Clear – Team: Crimson Storm – Time: 00:58:22]
This time, the crowd erupted.
Even the earlier Genesis team record had been broken. The time posted now was several minutes faster than the old run Kaito had performed with his own unfamiliar team.
But Kaito didn't care.
He already knew the truth—only the first clear mattered.
The one-month gold remittance, exclusive loot, and reward rights still belonged to Genesis. Nothing could change that.
He turned back to the stunned team behind him.
"Now that you've seen it with your own eyes…" he said calmly.
"If you want to buy the full guides—for Hard or King—just let me know."