Oliver Mori stood outside the Summoning Ground, the Crow perched confidently on his shoulder, his figure shrouded in the ominous Cloak of Assassins.
He leaned back against one of the many massive pillars at the outskirts of the divine summoning space, his eagle-like eyes darting across the growing crowd as multiple groups began to surface, just as they had the first time.
Some were easily recognizable as major factions and guilds, while others seemed cobbled together from necessity, small but desperate.
It was all so familiar.
"In my first life, I was scouted by a ragtag group, never one of the big guilds or factions," he murmured to the crafty crow on his shoulder. Then he sighed, heavy with memory.
He wanted to recreate that exact moment, to be recruited by that same group once again. But his little spite with Trisha's team made that impossible now.
That was why he had returned to his Assassin outfit.
One thing life had surely taught him was to never rely on just one plan... Actually, that was what Bentley Hagriam had drilled into him.
Oliver tensed as he observed the groups gradually mixing together, nostalgia curling at the edges of his mind.
The first time he had entered this space, it had been swarming with Awakeners. Many had asked about his talent and, after hearing it, dismissed him without a second thought.
And just when hope had seemed lost, he had bumped into Bentley Hagriam, head of the Black Snakes Group.
Bentley, upon learning of Oliver's abilities, had been intrigued rather than annoyed. Without hesitation, he had taken Oliver in, feeding him, awarding him Karma points, and guiding him steadily through the levels—like a father would a son.
Yes, the story sounded almost sappy, a classic tale of benevolence and redemption.
'If anyone told it like that, it would make Bentley seem noble, and me a villain for even thinking of revenge… After all, he took me in when no one else would even glance my way.'
But Bentley was nothing short of a monster in how he exploited Oliver Mori's talent.
After all, what better use was there for a person with unlimited regeneration than as a human shield?
A shield that absorbed every attack, no matter how lethal the foe.
Oliver had been hacked in half by an Orc wielding a rusted sword, blinded in one eye, scorched by acid—and yet, he had regenerated through it all. Arrows remained lodged in his sockets, broken bones healed and shattered again, body parts lost only to reappear moments later.
"There was not a single bone I did not break, nor a single limb I did not lose," Oliver muttered through gritted teeth.
That was the root of his hatred. And with unwavering determination, he intended to settle that score soon enough.
So he waited.
He lingered by the pillar, his gaze sweeping over the stream of Players passing him. Some ignored him entirely, walking without a glance. Others whispered among themselves, undoubtedly aware of the announcement heralding his feats.
He remained unbothered. Such trivialities were beneath him.
Seconds stretched into minutes.
Then, a particular group came into view.
They moved slowly toward him, led by a hefty man with a large battle axe strapped to his back. His beard was neatly trimmed, long black hair falling over his shoulders, a prominent scar running across his left eye. A smug grin stretched across his face, one that annoyed Oliver simply by existing.
He stayed calm, watching as Bentley and the rest of the Black Snakes neared the exit of the Summoning Ground.
Oliver stepped into their path, forcing them to halt.
Surprise flashed across their faces, more than confusion.
Bentley's hand immediately went for his axe, instinctively reacting to the sudden confrontation.
"Calm down, Bentley Hagriam," Oliver said smoothly, voice low and commanding. "I am The Crow."
The name seemed to trigger recognition. One by one, members of the group murmured to each other.
Bentley, however, froze for a moment. 'I wondered why he dressed like an assassin… But that Crow on his shoulder and that name—he's the hot Rookie exploding in the game with two achievements in a single day… This is an opportunity,' he thought, smiling inwardly.
Seizing the moment, Bentley quickly spoke, "Why don't we talk elsewhere, for comfort?"
Oliver shook his head. "I need a Party to join with, to clear an ancient ruin I found. Your share will be fifty percent of the haul."
"—Fifty? Isn't that too small!" one member yelled, but a firm hand promptly tapped him on the head.
"Shut up, Clymman! Don't you know that when a hot-ranking Player makes an offer, the haul is ideally large!" a female mage in the group corrected.
Her words subdued their greed, but Oliver knew them too well. They were far from satisfied.
'Not that I ever intended to give them a single percent,' his red eyes glimmered with dark intent.
Bentley noticed too. He could read a person's aura, see the true nature of their souls. And as he studied Oliver, a chill ran down his spine, the faint sensation of standing before a predator. He shook it off and forced a smile.
"Sure, Crow, we will be happy to accompany and help you through your raids. But what my team really wants are Karma points, weapons, and—"
Oliver smiled, nodding. "Sure."
'I'll give you your graves.'
And with that, the alliance was formed.
---
Meanwhile:
Exiting the vicinity of the Summoning Ground was Trisha and her group.
She led with a fierce, monstrous glare, Kyle and the others close behind.
'That bastard! I can't stop thinking about what he did!' Trisha ground her teeth, glancing at Kyle. His eyes had healed, thanks to the effects of the Base of Alkarya, but his head remained bowed in utter silence.
Whether it was unbridled rage or deep hatred, he didn't care. All Kyle could think about was killing Oliver and mounting his head on a spike.
'Don't worry, bastard. I'll come back for you soon enough! I'll reach Level Ten and break every bone in your body. That I promise.'
***Author's note***
I rewrote this chapter 3 times. That was why the release is late. Because of work I wasn't able to focus much and ended up cancelling the chapter a few times. There might be a bonus chapter In future where I will upload those chapters. Well for now.
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