Chapter 46: An Invitation From The Devil!

The regional announcement of the City Hall dungeon’s first clear was like pouring a ladle of cold water into a pot of boiling oil, triggering an explosion throughout the Ashford City player circle.

The codename ’Reaper,’ once merely a mysterious anonymous figure known for possessing rare resources, had now leaped into the ranks of recognized top-tier solo powerhouses, shrouded in a dazzling yet dangerous aura.

Aiden Cross had anticipated this.

He calmly used the City Hall Vault Key to open a secret vault hidden within the City Hall’s underground bunker. Inside, he harvested a batch of gold coins, several Uncommon-grade equipment pieces with decent stats, and a small collection of Rare materials, further enriching his foundation.

Once he had finished looting the vault, he did not linger in the now-hollowed-out City Hall.

He quickly left the troublesome area and returned to the relatively concealed "Rezvani" off-road vehicle.

Aiden understood that fame was a double-edged sword.

It could bring convenience and deterrence, but it would also attract countless gazes, jealousy, and recruitment attempts.

And the first ones unable to sit still would inevitably be the major factions seeking to establish their dominance over the region.

Sure enough, just as he settled into the vehicle, before he even had time to carefully sort through the specific gains from the vault, the anonymous forum’s private-message icon on his personal terminal began flashing frantically.

The frequency was unprecedented.

A massive flood of messages poured in.

Some expressed admiration. Others begged him to carry them through dungeons. There were even standardized recruitment letters from various major guilds, each promising generous rewards and favorable treatment.

Aiden’s gaze moved across them like a precision filter, dismissing the useless messages one after another.

Until one ID caught his attention.

His pupils contracted sharply. The temperature inside the vehicle seemed to drop several degrees, and the atmosphere suddenly became suffocatingly still.

The ID itself appeared ordinary.

[Damned Dragom]

But in Aiden Cross’s eyes, those two words were written in blood and betrayal.

’Damien Bale.’

This was the forum ID he had used in his early life. Back then, before the Dragon Sovereign Guild had risen to prominence, Damien had frequently used this identity to operate on the anonymous forums. Only after the guild became a major faction had he gradually withdrawn from the forums, shifting his attention toward managing his growing power.

What was meant to come had finally arrived.

Aiden’s knuckles turned slightly white as his fingers tightened. A killing intent as scorching as magma churned beneath his eyes, barely restrained beneath the calm surface of his expression.

Scenes from his past life flashed uncontrollably through his mind.

That cold face before the space rift. Those indifferent eyes. And those three words that had sealed his fate.

"Necessary sacrifice."

He had trusted them. He had fought for them. And in the end, he had been the one pushed toward destruction.

Aiden took a slow, deep breath. He forcibly suppressed the monstrous hatred surging within him, dragging it back into the deepest recesses of his heart, like locking a ravenous beast inside a cage.

’Not yet. Now is not the time.’

He stared at the [Damned Dragom] ID for several seconds before finally clicking on the private message.

The message was surprisingly long.

Every sentence had been carefully polished, the wording sincere and infectious, clearly designed to leave a favorable impression on whoever read it.

Aiden’s eyes slowly narrowed as he began reading.

[Mr. Reaper, greetings.

Please forgive the intrusion. My name is Damien Bale. I am merely an ordinary player who wishes to unite our fellow survivors and help rebuild some semblance of order amid this crisis.

I have just received word that you single-handedly cleared the team dungeon, ’City Hall Fall,’ with overwhelming momentum, accomplishing a feat that has shaken the entire Ashford City player community.

My admiration for your strength and courage is difficult to put into words.

In these critical days, when humanity’s survival hangs in the balance, we need exceptional individuals like you to step forward. People capable of shouldering responsibility, standing against the darkness, and giving others the courage to believe that tomorrow is still worth fighting for.

Though I may lack exceptional talent, I possess an unwavering determination to gather like-minded individuals and establish the Dragon Sovereign Guild.

Our purpose is simple: protect the weak, purge the monsters, preserve what remains of human civilization, and ensure that the spark of humanity does not disappear from this apocalyptic wasteland.

I sincerely invite you to join us. And I do not mean as an ordinary member.

If you are willing to accept, I am prepared to leave the position of Deputy Guild Leader open for you.

All guild resources will be prioritized toward your development.

As we venture into this chaotic world, you and I can stand side by side as brothers, sharing both power and glory.

I firmly believe that with your strength and the collective power of our guild, we can carve out a future in this ruined world and save countless people from suffering.

I sincerely hope you will consider my offer.

I await your reply.

— Damien Bale, respectfully.]

Hundreds of words. Every sentence had been carefully polished, overflowing with apparent sincerity and carefully chosen promises.

The position of Deputy Guild Leader. Priority access to guild resources. Shared power. Shared glory. And beneath it all was the grand banner of righteousness: protect the weak, preserve civilization, turn the tide, save humanity.

Damien had lowered his posture to an almost absurd degree, perfectly crafting the image of a magnanimous leader who thirsted for talent and carried the fate of humanity upon his shoulders.

If Aiden Cross were truly an ignorant outsider encountering Damien for the first time, he might genuinely have been moved by such rhetoric.

After all, in the early days of the apocalypse, becoming the Deputy Guild Leader of a powerful faction represented power, resources, protection, and influence.

It was an opportunity countless players could only dream of.

Unfortunately... He was Aiden Cross. Aiden Cross who had personally witnessed the coldness and cruelty hidden beneath that benevolent mask.

He knew exactly what kind of man Damien Bale truly was.