-Did you hear about it?
Those who were hunting in the gate took a break to talk.
-What?
-I’m talking about the story about Eunha.
This was a gate, and there was no one eavesdropping.
However, those who heard the name Eunha immediately looked around, showing signs of tension.
The name Eunha was the hottest topic right now.
-The Blood Cult….
-Shut your mouth.
Even though they were players in the gate, there were no players unrelated to martial artists in the current world.
-Do you want to die?
So, they could understand the coldness.
The Blood Cult and Eunha.
Right now, those were names that could get you killed if you spoke them carelessly.
-What’s between us?
-Still, there are things you should and shouldn’t say.
The fear of martial artists.
It was already deeply rooted in the players.
Even if the influence of the Assembly was small in remote areas, it could be said that players in this small land of South Korea were absolutely dominated by martial artists.
-No, no. I mean….
The player who brought up Eunha’s name said.
-I’m saying you don’t have to worry like that.
-What?
-They said that if you are under Eunha’s protection, they will protect you from the Assembly or other martial artists.
Flint.
-Didn’t you hear about it this time?
-What, what are you talking about?
Protection, safety.
They couldn’t help but listen to the words that were more interesting than anything else.
-I’m talking about how a new guild member of Eunha was kidnapped by the Guisan Clan, and the Guisan Clan and the Unryong Clan were destroyed.
-I know about that.
-They said that guild member was a player.
-What?
This time, the man’s eyes widened like a rabbit’s.
Everyone knew about the destruction of the Guisan Clan and the Unryong Clan because the incident was so big.
However, the inside story was different.
Eunha said that they were just retaliating for touching Eunha’s people, and the Assembly and other sects were silent about it.
Unless they were shrewd or good at gathering information, very few people knew the truth of that day.
The truth.
That was.
-The Guisan Clan and the Unryong Clan were destroyed because of a player?
Two names.
Neither of them could be ignored.
-Even while antagonizing the Gaebang [丐帮, Beggar Clan] and Hainan [海南, a major martial arts sect]?
The Gaebang was behind the Guisan Clan, and Hainan was behind the Unryong Clan.
The Nine Great Sects.
What they were trying to save even while simultaneously confronting the most feared names in Asia in this era.
-A player?
Such surprise was natural for them.
-That’s what I’m saying!
-Bullshit….
-Whether you think it’s bullshit or not, listen. Anyway, isn’t it true that Eunha is that sincere about players?
-…….
It was tempting.
-So, what?
-If you apply to join the Blood Cult in Eunha….
The man finally got to the point.
-They said you will be protected under the name of Eunha.
-……!
Protection under the name of Eunha.
Those who knew what Eunha’s protection was like through the actions Eunha had shown this time.
-Hey. That player must have some great value. If they are going to join Eunha….
-That’s not it! They said they would protect anyone!
-R, really?
Nod.
-Then, we become guild members of Eunha…?
Eunha’s protection.
More attractive than that was the name Eunha.
Even though martial artists were leaving Eunha, the benefits and huge salaries that Eunha offered were sweeter than anything else to players who were worried about their daily lives.
If, for some reason, ordinary players like them were to become guild members of Eunha….
-Don’t talk nonsense.
But the man said firmly.
-How can we become guild members of Eunha?
-Then?
-Would they even accept us, the dregs? It would be a blessing if we didn’t become a burden to Eunha.
-T, then… what?
-It’s just about registering with the Blood Cult and applying for Eunha’s protection.
Just that.
-Isn’t that attractive enough?
That’s right.
-Moreover, they said that those who become cult members will get an advantage in joining Eunha later.
-Really?
-Really!
The two men whispered.
-Anyway, we don’t care about the Blood Cult or anything else.
And they revealed their true feelings.
-It’s… what we’ve been hoping for.
Martial artists often expressed that the Blood Cult was an evil to be killed and eliminated, or something to be feared.
And the players who heard that.
-They were the ones who were shouting for them to come!
They had been waiting for them to sweep the world forever.
* * *
The Blue Army, the Red Army.
The righteous armies gathered under the name of liberation.
There were those who rose up with such a banner not only in South Korea but also throughout Asia.
However, the only ones who showed meaningful results among them were the Red Army.
But in the end, they were also criticized for their own purposes, for only caring about players, or for not caring about the lives of players.
That’s why.
-People, the inhabitants of Earth, have been waiting.
Someone.
-Someone to save them, or rather, someone to lead them.
Also, there is something important.
-You must not become a player. In the end, there is a perception that players are below martial artists.
So.
-Martial artist.
A martial artist is needed.
-They have been waiting for a martial artist to step forward, protect them, and save them from oppression.
Lee Sanhu.
He said.
-The Assembly has been working hard to eradicate the personality and resistance of players. They can’t do it among themselves. It’s necessary.
Something more than that.
That is.
-The Blood Cult, the Cheonma Cult [天魔教, Heavenly Demon Cult]. They are the ones.
They were the ones who only appeared in legends and were feared by martial artists.
-Wash the world with blood and dye it with darkness?
Lee Sanhu smiled.
-Their world is already blood-red and dark.
A life dominated by martial artists.
Not just simple domination, their lives are worth a little more than a stone rolling on the side of the road, and their families can be trampled and killed by martial artists at any time.
Someday.
-Everyone will die.
It was even rumored that those martial artists would kill and annihilate everyone the moment players or the inhabitants of Earth became worthless.
That meant one thing.
-Destruction is already underway.
For the inhabitants of Earth, their destruction was not a distant future event but a current one that was already in progress.
So.
-Wouldn’t they welcome the existence that will bring destruction to the martial artists?
They had always been waiting for the arrival of the Blood Cult or the Cheonma Cult.
And finally, they appeared.
-Players are requesting protection from Eunha as if they have been waiting for it.
They also wanted to join the Blood Cult.
Lee Rowan did not express the Blood Cult as a religion.
He also said that he would let them do everything freely.
Protection.
They desperately wanted to join the Blood Cult just for that.
-The strategist’s role was significant.
And that influence was given by Lee Sanhu.
Ha Semin, he said.
-Thanks to the information about the destruction of the Unryong Clan and the Guisan Clan, the players are a little more determined.
Over the long years, the Assembly had used many methods to dominate the inhabitants of Earth.
Eradicating their nature and reversing their essence.
It was not easy for them to even dare to take courage.
To empathize.
That was necessary.
And Lee Sanhu was an existence they could empathize with.
A player who was not special.
-Even though destroying a sect for the sake of a player is being criticized among the sects, it is receiving a good response among the players.
He did something that no one else had done.
Lee Sanhu released the information with the help of Black City to make it known.
-Also, thanks to the fact that it was released secretly, they think that this benefit is not something that everyone can receive, but only a few can.
Secrecy.
The players who obtained the information considered themselves special.
-That’s why they think they have to become a member of the Blood Cult as soon as possible to survive.
It was to stimulate the players and make them move.
-But even so, they are not the mainstream.
Lee Sanhu said, his eyes shining.
-Even those who want to join like that are only a minority at best. We can’t change the flow like this.
Even if a small stream breaks a dam, it would take a long time.
-Koreans can’t wait leisurely.
That’s why Lee Sanhu was trying to open a stream that would move the mainstream.
* * *
-Aaaaaaah!
The scream of a woman was heard.
-Please-!
The sound of a man crying and wailing.
Flames.
Even the flames were burning.
-Kill them all.
The martial artists holding swords looked at them with indifferent and cold eyes.
Swish!
The sound of skin being cut.
Thud!
The sound of a sword piercing through flesh and embedding itself echoed.
Thud!
The building was burning even more, spitting out flames.
[Rayon Guild]
The name that had been built so large was broken and fell.
The Rayon Guild.
It was a player guild that was quite well-known in Gangwon Province.
With a membership of thousands, it was a large guild that ranked in the top 30 among all player guilds in South Korea.
-Why-! Why are you doing this!
In just a moment, it was turning into ashes.
The time it took for the Rayon Guild to reach this point was over a decade.
During that time, everyone in the Rayon Guild had to shed blood, sweat, and grind their lives.
During that time, they had to endure countless shame and humiliation.
-Why-!
During that time, they had to lose so many things.
-Whyyyyyyyyy-!
But everything they had built up was collapsing in an instant.
Just a few hours.
Thud.
In just a few hours, the decades that the Rayon Guild had built up were collapsing.
-Why….
The man said despairingly, looking at his pierced chest.
-Did you think we wouldn’t know that your guild has a deep relationship with Eunha?
-What….
The man was wronged.
-We only did a few joint raids….
Swallowing the gushing blood, the man had to express his injustice to clear his name.
-Only….
-Only? So, your guild members become members of the Blood Cult?
-What….
He didn’t know.
-It’s already been confirmed. Accept your death quietly. You will not find peace in the afterlife, so think of it as the price for daring to pledge allegiance to the blood demon.
He had heard such a sound.
-Eunha! The Blood Cult will protect you!
And he saw those who were wavering because of it.
-No.
But Choi Doo-ho, the guild leader of the Rayon Guild, held them back.
-How long did it take us to get here? You can lose everything. So… you must never waver.
But no matter how much he did, he couldn’t control everyone.
A few defectors.
In the end.
-Only….
Only because of them, the Rayon Guild was facing destruction.
-Don’t worry. I’ll send everyone with the name of Rayon. Gather together again in hell and suffer.
It was the moment he was about to pull out the sword that was stuck in him.
Swish.
A blood-red line was drawn on the martial artist’s neck.