Far from the Vance Guild headquarters, in a vibrant and overcrowded metropolis in Elysium, the setting was slightly different, but the reaction to the news was just as intense.
In the Grand Hall of the [Vance Corporation] Guild (Isaac’s guild is called [Vance Guild]; this is a different guild), a place that served as a central hub for hundreds of Players coming and going every second, the atmosphere resembled a frantic blur of colors and races.
In the center of the hall, surrounded by an entourage of Players trying to maintain their composure amid the crowd, stood Ivan Vance, known in the game simply by the ID "Ivance."
Unlike Isaac, Ivan was a man of slow, calculated movements. His face remained constantly set in a cold expression, rarely showing interest in anything.
[Congratulations to Astralis Requiem for killing Elysium’s first Level 15 Elite Monster!]
When the global announcement appeared in front of every player, causing hundreds of them to stop what they were doing and murmur in shock, Ivan merely paused.
He looked at the golden notification with half-closed eyes, analyzing every detail as the temperature around him dropped noticeably.
"Astralis Requiem... and a Level 15 Elite..." Ivan muttered to himself, ignoring the frantic questions from his subordinates.
He recalled the conversation he’d had with his mother, Evelyn, about Isabella’s potential and how Isaac was doing.
Unlike Isaac, Ivan had picked up on the details of what his mother had said—that Bella was also doing very well in Elysium, potentially better than any of the three siblings—and something inside him told him that this Astralis Requiem had something to do with it.
"Master Ivan, what are we going to do?" a player asked nervously. "Astralis’s prestige, which had finally begun to show a downward trend—with other news and achievements gradually taking its place—will surely skyrocket back to the top of the interest of billions of players."
Ivan turned around, his expression returning to neutrality. "We won’t do anything impulsive. This Astralis Requiem seems to be taking a path opposite to ours, focusing on a small number of elites, but limiting itself to a small group as well. That won’t necessarily remain the right choice in the long run, so let’s keep our focus on recruitment. I’m sure that in a month or two we’ll be able to regain that popularity—people have short memories."
While Ivan’s players calmed down and dispersed to carry out their leader’s orders, hundreds of kilometers away, on the outskirts of a trading city called Silverport, another group of players viewed the global announcement in a much more bitter light.
Ernesto Hogue and the vanguard of the Hogue Guild were returning from a very lucrative expedition.
They were carrying the carcasses of Level 13 monsters, some rare Mana Stones, and crafting materials that could be turned into top-notch gear for the guild’s main group.
Feeling satisfied with the day’s progress, Ernesto was arrogantly laughing at a joke about how slow the other guilds were when the notification from Astralis Requiem popped up.
[Congratulations to Astralis Requiem for killing the first Level 15 Elite Monster in Elysium!]
Ernesto’s laughter died instantly. His face contorted into a grimace of pure hatred, and he spat on the ground, kicking the carcass of a wolf that one of his men was carrying.
"THOSE DAMN WORMS!" Ernesto shouted, his rage causing the surrounding Mana to ripple erratically. "First the PK, then the Dungeon, then the first Guild, and now a Level 15 Elite?! They’re rubbing their luck in our faces!"
Siena, the mage and Ernesto’s assistant, shuddered beside him, but the one who really caught his attention was the figure walking right behind him—Brynnear.
Brynn, now inhabiting her new human body after her humiliating death at the hands of Halon, stopped in her tracks.
The moment the names "Astralis Requiem" and "Level 15 Elite" flashed before her eyes, she felt a murderous chill run through her chest.
Brynn’s rage wasn’t loud like Isaac’s or explosive like Hernesto’s.
It was an icy, concentrated, and sickening fury. She clenched her fists so tightly that her nails dug into her bleeding palm, reminding her of the fragility of the skin she was now forced to wear.
’You’re growing up...’ Brynn thought, her eyes glowing with a cold purple light.
She looked at Ernesto, realizing that the Hogue leader was on the verge of another nervous breakdown. Disappointed, Brynn stepped forward, her voice calm but clearly irritated.
"Calm down, Ernesto," Brynn said, imposing a reluctant silence around them. "Let them celebrate the Level 15 Elite. Let the world look at them. The higher they climb, the greater the impact will be when we orchestrate their downfall. I know the fighting styles of that Slime and that Fox. I know how they think. That Level 15 Elite wasn’t luck—it was just a coordination we haven’t replicated yet."
Ernesto looked at Brynn, the hatred in his eyes meeting the murderous determination in hers. "And what do you suggest, girl? That we stand by and watch while they grow faster and faster than us?!"
"I suggest you finally stop hesitating and give me full control over the training of your vanguard," Brynn replied, a cruel smile curving her lips. "With my infusion of life essence and the corporate backing of the Hogue Group, I’ll transform your soldiers into something even more powerful than those vermin. The next global announcement won’t be of one of their victories... it’ll be of the annihilation of Astralis Requiem."
Ernesto, sensing the sincerity and intensity of Brynn’s hatred, let out a dark laugh that echoed through the gates of Silverport. "Great! Fuck it, take whatever you need! I want the heads of that Slime and that Fox served on a golden platter!"
While the major corporate groups wallowed in envy, rage, and plans for revenge, the name Astralis Requiem returned to the minds of ordinary Players like a meteor, causing them to remember that name and wonder once again if it was possible to join that prestigious group.
After four global announcements involving them, even the most skeptical players couldn’t deny that this guild was demonstrating power far beyond that of the other major guilds—and that was exactly what Lohan and Lisa wanted.