Chapter 90: Into the Scarred Waste

This time, the circumstances were entirely different.

He possessed a hidden class, an extraordinary bloodline, an SSS-rank talent, and companions whose strength was already far beyond what most players could achieve at the same stage.

His equipment was exceptional, his understanding of the game was unmatched, and his growth potential had become increasingly difficult to measure.

The Astral Spire would eventually be his to conquer.The summit reward, whatever it turned out to be, would not remain a mystery forever.

But there was no need to rush.

The Spire would still be there tomorrow. Its floors weren’t going to disappear simply because he chose to pursue something else first.

And there was one matter he had waited long enough to address."Ironclad Esports."

The name left his mouth without warmth.

His fingers tightened briefly around the edge of his interface, and the satisfaction he’d felt moments earlier vanished from his expression.

"Time to settle this."

The betrayal from his previous life remained a wound that had never truly healed.

He remembered the years he’d poured into Ironclad, the championships he’d helped them win, and the teammates he’d trained until they could stand beside him on the biggest stages.

He remembered how quickly all of it had been discarded when his power became something they wanted for themselves.

Cynthia Miles and the people who had followed her lead had made their decision.

Now Kael would make his.

He opened his contacts and sent Alexis a message.

Kael: Find out where Ironclad’s main roster is currently leveling.

He didn’t need to explain himself. It was a straightforward request, and Alexis had already agreed to help him handle his territory dealings.

Locating a prominent guild’s main team shouldn’t be difficult.

Her response arrived a short while later.

Alexis: Found them. Ironclad established a guild in Westfall yesterday. They’ve already filled their roster.

A second message followed.

Alexis:They’re running leveling groups with roughly two thousand players in the Scarred Waste. Most of their core players and officers are out there with them.

Kael read the messages twice, committing the location to memory.The Scarred Waste.

Convenient.

Kael: Got it. Thanks.

He closed the conversation.

A cold, focused intent settled behind his eyes. He didn’t need to announce his intentions or waste time making threats over a message.

Ironclad had gathered most of its important members in one place, giving him exactly the opportunity he needed.

Kael recalled his four companions.

One after another, their figures disappeared from the surrounding hunting grounds, returning to their designated spaces.

Once the last recall was complete, he opened his inventory and pulled out a return scroll.

The parchment crinkled between his fingers.

He crushed it.

A circle of light formed beneath his feet, its markings spinning faster as energy gathered around him.

The landscape blurred, the surrounding monsters vanished from view, and the familiar sensation of spatial displacement swept through his body.

A moment later, he reappeared in the central plaza of Frostwatch.

The city’s familiar buildings surrounded him, their banners stirring in the wind as players moved between vendors and public facilities.

Several people glanced in his direction, but Kael didn’t stop to acknowledge them.He headed straight for the Waygate.

The enormous structure stood within its designated plaza, its carved stone frame covered in glowing runes. Energy rippled across its surface, creating a shimmering distortion in the air at its center.

Kael approached the interface and selected Westfall.The system confirmed his destination.

A pulse of light engulfed him.

When the glow cleared, the architecture around him had changed.

Westfall’s broad plaza stretched beneath his feet, surrounded by stone buildings, merchant stalls, and the movement of players going about their business.

Kael wasted no time.He summoned Thunder Roc.Golden lightning erupted beside him, followed by the thunderous beat of enormous wings.

The creature’s dark feathers gleamed beneath the sunlight, and arcs of gold energy danced along its body as it spread its wings across the plaza.

Nearby players stopped in their tracks.

Some instinctively stepped back as Thunder Roc lowered itself toward the ground. Others stared openly, taking in the enormous mount and the unmistakable power radiating from it.

Kael climbed onto its back.

With a powerful beat of its wings, Thunder Roc launched into the air. A gust swept through the plaza, scattering loose papers and sending dust spiraling across the stones.

Golden lightning flickered beneath its wings as it climbed above the rooftops and turned toward the distant wilderness.

Within seconds, rider and mount were racing across the sky.

The crowd below remained silent for a moment, trying to process what they had just witnessed.

Then the questions began."Who was that? Did you see the mount?"

"That wasn’t an ordinary mount. Look at the size of it!"

"Wait a second. The lightning was gold, not blue. That’s Thunder Roc!"

"Thunder Roc? As in Unrivaled’s mount?"

The name immediately changed the atmosphere.

Several players opened their interfaces, searching for confirmation while others looked toward the sky.

The golden figure had already become smaller in the distance, but the trail of lightning still marked its path.

"Unrivaled is in Westfall?"

"The number one player on the Ascendant Rankings? What is he doing here?"

"Isn’t his main territory in Frostwatch? Why travel all the way to Westfall?"

Someone followed the fading trail with his eyes, noticing the direction Thunder Roc had taken.

"Look at where he’s heading. He doesn’t look like he’s out sightseeing."

A player beside him folded his arms, watching the distant sky with growing curiosity.

"Whatever the reason, someone like that doesn’t summon a mount in the middle of a city just to take a casual flight."

Another player opened the local chat."Anyone know where he’s going?"No immediate answer came.

But the possibility of witnessing something involving Unrivaled was enough to overcome any hesitation.

A handful of players hurried toward their own mounts. Moments later, several riders rose above Westfall’s rooftops and followed the distant golden trail.

They had no idea what awaited them in the Scarred Waste.

They only knew that the strongest player on the server was heading there with a purpose.

And whatever happened next, they wanted to see it for themselves.