As Kaito continued reviewing NyxBlade's combat footage, a notification abruptly appeared in the corner of his interface.
Incoming Call — [Zephyr]
Kaito accepted the request without hesitation.
"Yo, Brother Kaito!" Zephyr's voice came through, cheerful as ever. "Velena and I just arrived at the hotel near the town square in South Glade Town. When are you coming by?"
Kaito blinked, then mentally slapped himself.
Right—I promised to sell them some Bronze gear…
Without delay, he turned and began heading toward the hotel. Fortunately, he still had several Echo Core Ember Plates stored in his inventory.
Upon arriving, he opened a direct trade window and handed over the items—pricing each at five silver coins.
It was a steep discount.
Currently, the Echo Core Ember Plate was in high demand, especially after its exceptional performance during the recent battles in South Glade. Word had already spread across the entire Astralis City Region, and the market price had soared to seven silver coins per plate and even above that.
Yet Kaito kept his promise and offered them the gear at a price well below market.
Zephyr and Vilena were clearly moved. They had backed Kaito without hesitation, and now, their loyalty was being repaid.
Grinning, they each bought twenty plates without the slightest complaint.
…..
South Glade Town – Lower District, Scarlet Tankard Tavern
Inside the private room of the Scarlet Tankard, Rhine sat brooding over tactical notes and map projections. His expression was stormy, but his posture was calm—like a beast waiting to strike.
Suddenly, the door burst open.
"Boss! Boss! Urgent news!" a subordinate from the field team rushed in, panting heavily. "Zephyr and Velena's teams just left the dungeon zone! They've returned to town. This is our best shot! If we move fast, we can corner Genesis right now!"
Rhine didn't say a word.
He simply picked up the heavy tankard beside him—and hurled it.
Clang!
It smashed into the subordinate's chest, knocking him back and shaving off 100 HP.
System Notification: You have been attacked by a fellow player. Counterattack window active for 30 minutes.
But the player didn't budge. Not even a flinch.
Rhine stood, eyes blazing, voice sharp and cold.
"Then what the hell are you doing here wasting time?"
He stepped closer, his tone dropping into a growl.
"Get moving. I want the respawn point near the dungeon entrance locked down—right now. Mobilize every guild player. Surround that area completely."
"Don't let a single fucking fly get from the respawn zone to the dungeon's entry point."
"Hold the line until I arrive. Do not engage. Just contain."
The subordinate nodded furiously and rushed out.
As soon as the door closed, Rhine opened his friends list and began issuing direct voice calls to representatives of other guilds stationed in the area.
"This is Rhine. I need your teams to pull back from the Echoing Deep—for the next hour. Don't interfere."
Some hesitated. Others asked for a reason.
Rhine didn't elaborate.
"Let me finish what I started with Genesis. I'll compensate your guilds afterward—triple the cost. You have my word."
One by one, they agreed. None of the guilds had any intention of siding with Genesis—especially not against Everhold Dominion. After all, most of their players had already reached Level 15, and the dungeon no longer held much value for them. What Rhine offered in compensation was far more lucrative. In the end, it was all a matter of interests.
With that handled, Rhine opened his inventory and pulled out a shimmering, rune-lined scroll etched in silver light.
He held it in his hand, staring at the dormant array for a moment.
"Now then… let's see you get past this, Raen."
….
[Item Panel – Isolation Array Scroll]
Isolation Array Scroll (Rank 0)
Classification: Binding Formation Scroll – Single Use
Deploys a containment array that forcibly seals a designated area, preventing all forms of physical entry and exit.
Disables all instant travel, teleportation, and spatial movement abilities within the zone.
Duration: 60 minutes
Activation Time: 3 seconds
Cannot be disrupted once cast.
Use with caution: effects apply to allies and enemies alike.
...
After completing the transaction with Zephyr and Velena, Kaito was just making his way back to the Forging Life Guild, ready to resume his crafting routine.
But before he reached the guild's entrance, a sudden call request appeared in his interface.
Incoming Call – Aika
Kaito's expression immediately turned serious.
If Aika was calling him mid-session, something had to be wrong.
He accepted the call.
"What's going on, Aika?"
Her voice came through, flustered and tense.
"Brother Kaito… We're surrounded!"
"Everhold Dominion has locked down the respawn point—completely. They've deployed some kind of Isolation Array Scroll, and none of our instant movement abilities are working anymore. We can't reach the dungeon entrance!"
"They've sent both their regular players and elites. And... there are experts here I've never seen before. High-level ones. We tried to break through the encirclement, but it's no use."
There was a pause. A soft, frustrated breath.
"Brother Kaito... please come. We need you."
Aika's voice trembled, not from fear—but from helplessness. A growing self-loathing filled her heart.
If only I were stronger…
If I could hold my own… I wouldn't have to rely on him like this.
"I'm coming." Kaito's voice was calm—but dangerously cold.
The fury building in his chest didn't show in his tone. But Aika knew that calm voice meant he was serious—and furious.
"Please hurry," she whispered. "I don't think these people will wait long…"
Kaito ended the call and immediately bolted toward the direction of Echoing Deep.
He knew exactly what an Isolation Array was. Back in his previous life, guilds often used them for ambushes during large-scale wars. Once activated, they could completely seal off an area—cutting off reinforcements and retreat.
And right now, there was only one known method to forcefully break an Isolation Array of this grade.
Cyro Core Orbs.
If he used Basic Cyro Orbs, he would need at least a hundred just to create a small crack in the array's barrier, But the intermediate-grade orbs—if deployed in a synchronized burst of ten—could rupture the boundary of a Rank 0 array.
That was his only option.
Without wasting another second, Kaito activated every movement skill at his disposal and dashed full-speed toward the dungeon sector.
His comrades—his family—were waiting for him.
And no one…
No one was going to touch them.
...
Echoing Deep Dungeon Entrance
Within the sealed perimeter near the Echoing Deep dungeon, the air was tense. Nearly fifty players stood surrounded—Genesis members penned in at the respawn point, with Everhold Dominion's full force pressing in.
Rhine stood confidently at the front lines, hands clasped behind his back, smirking as he watched the Genesis members squirm under pressure.
When he saw Aika quietly making a call, likely to Raen, Rhine let out a booming laugh.
"Haha… so the little sister's calling her big brother for help?"
"You people are already dancing in the palm of my hand."
The members of Genesis glanced at each other. Despite the pressure, a smile rose on Meirin's face. She stepped forward calmly, her gaze unwavering.
"To surround fifty players, you needed to bring in your entire guild... and even borrow support from outsiders.
For someone who leads a 'prestigious' guild like Everhold Dominion, isn't that a bit shameful?"
The mocking glint in her eyes didn't go unnoticed.
Rhine's smile faltered for half a second, but arrogance quickly returned to his voice.
"Shameful? I call it efficient."
"Besides, whether it's your precious captain or someone else—none of you are getting in or out of here."
He slowly stepped forward, voice growing colder.
"You'll all be beaten down to Level 0… and then forced to log out."
"If he wants to see you, he'll have to come find you in the real world."
He chuckled again, high on the illusion of control.
"Let's see what this so-called Raen can do when I've already wiped his entire team off the board."
"Nobody can mess with Everhold Dominion and go unscathed."
Arrogance radiated from him. In both the real world and the game, Rhine had always seen himself as superior. Even without knowing the true identities of these players, he believed himself above them.
But what he didn't know…
Was that even ten Rhines combined wouldn't reach the status or strength of the very people he was mocking.
Least of all—Kaito.
A man who, if he truly wished, could make Rhine disappear in the real world without leaving a trace.
And now…
He was on his way.