Heavy footsteps echoed throughout the underground library.
Torches illuminated the ancient staircase.
More than twenty players entered the hall one after another.
Every one of them wore the same blue cloak embroidered with a golden crown.
The Azure Crown Guild.
The first guild established after Version 2.0.
Leading them was a tall man carrying a massive greatsword.
A guild emblem floated above his Game Panel.
Guild: Azure Crown
Position: Vice Guild Master
He glanced around the library before his eyes settled on Lin Chen and Su Yao.
"So you're the ones who triggered the ruins."
Lin Chen remained calm.
"And?"
The vice guild master smiled.
"My name is Han Lei."
"We have no intention of making enemies."
"Leave everything you obtained in these ruins and you may leave safely."
Su Yao frowned.
"They're robbers."
Lin Chen nodded slightly.
"Just with a nicer introduction."
Several guild members laughed mockingly.
Han Lei's smile disappeared.
"This city now belongs to Azure Crown."
"Every treasure here belongs to the guild."
Lin Chen slowly spun the Ocean Emperor's Trident.
"I don't remember the system announcing that."
The atmosphere immediately became tense.
Several players quietly surrounded the exits.
Han Lei sighed.
"I hoped you'd cooperate."
"Looks like we'll have to do this the hard way."
A notification suddenly appeared before every player in the library.
Combat Zone Activated
Player deaths are enabled.
No penalties apply.
The guild members grinned.
One of them stepped forward confidently.
"We outnumber you more than ten to one."
Another laughed.
"Don't worry."
"We'll leave your bodies intact."
Lin Chen looked at Su Yao.
"You stay back."
She smiled faintly.
"I'll support you."
Golden light flickered within her eyes.
Her Treasure Goddess Talent activated.
At the same moment, every hidden mechanism inside the library appeared in her vision.
She quickly whispered,
"Left wall."
"Three traps."
"Right pillar."
"Ancient formation."
Lin Chen instantly understood.
She wasn't just finding treasures anymore.
Her Talent had evolved.
Han Lei raised his sword.
"Attack!"
The guild members rushed forward.
Dozens of skills illuminated the library.
Fireballs.
Wind blades.
Stone spears.
Lightning arrows.
The underground hall became a battlefield.
Lin Chen didn't retreat.
Instead, he stepped forward.
The Ocean Emperor's Trident erupted with blue light.
"Mythic Skill."
"Ocean God's Domain."
A sphere of water expanded throughout the library.
The rushing guild members suddenly felt their movements become sluggish.
"What happened?"
"My speed!"
"My skills are weaker!"
Panic spread among the attackers.
Within the domain, Lin Chen was the absolute ruler.
He disappeared.
Boom!
The first player was thrown across the hall.
Before anyone reacted—
Boom!
A second player crashed into a bookshelf.
Then a third.
Within seconds, six guild members had already lost the ability to fight.
Han Lei's eyes widened.
"So strong..."
He roared and charged personally.
His greatsword emitted crimson light.
"Mountain Splitter!"
The sword descended with tremendous force.
Lin Chen calmly raised the trident.
Clang!
The collision shook the entire library.
Han Lei felt his arms go numb.
Before he could recover, Lin Chen twisted the trident.
A surge of water exploded from the weapon.
Boom!
Han Lei was sent flying backward.
He smashed through three bookshelves before finally stopping.
Silence filled the library.
The remaining guild members stared in disbelief.
Their vice guild master...
Had lost in a single exchange.
At that moment, Su Yao suddenly spoke.
"Above."
Lin Chen looked upward.
Hundreds of stone arrows emerged from hidden holes in the ceiling.
An ancient defensive formation had activated.
Instead of dodging, Lin Chen smiled.
"Good timing."
The arrows didn't target him.
They targeted everyone inside the library.
Including the guild.
"No!"
Han Lei's expression changed drastically.
The rain of arrows descended.
Chaos erupted.
Guild members desperately tried to defend themselves.
Several were struck in the shoulders.
Others in the legs.
The formation completely destroyed their battle formation.
Su Yao smiled.
"I only redirected the trigger."
Lin Chen couldn't help laughing.
Her support ability was becoming terrifying.
While the guild struggled against the formation, he moved again.
The Ocean Emperor's Trident swept across the battlefield.
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
One player after another fell unconscious.
Less than three minutes later...
Only Han Lei remained standing.
His armor was cracked.
Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
He looked at Lin Chen with disbelief.
"Who... are you?"
Lin Chen simply smiled.
"A survivor."
Han Lei clenched his fists.
"This isn't over."
"Our Guild Master will come personally."
"You'll regret making Azure Crown your enemy."
Lin Chen pointed the trident toward the staircase.
"Then tell him."
"I'm waiting."
Han Lei glared at him for several seconds before turning around.
The remaining guild members quickly helped their injured companions retreat.
Soon...
The library became quiet once again.
A Team Chat notification appeared.
[Su Yao] : That was easy.
[Lin Chen] : Too easy.
[Su Yao] : You think they'll come back?
[Lin Chen] : Definitely.
"They didn't come here just because of treasure."
Su Yao nodded.
"They knew exactly where the library was."
Lin Chen's expression became thoughtful.
Someone had guided them.
Or...
Someone had leaked information.
At that moment, Abyss Sight activated automatically.
His gaze shifted toward a dark corner of the library.
A tiny black feather lay on the floor.
He picked it up.
A notification appeared.
Shadow Raven Feather
Owner unknown.
The mysterious observer...
Had been here again.
And this time...
They had left behind a clue.
To Be Continued...