Jack hadn’t taken the guild’s stock of equipment, but he got plenty himself in his bag. He took out a set of rare medium equipment and one rare-grade two-handed club. He then used his mobile blacksmith tool and increased them to at least level 40. He couldn’t afford to spend too many ores.
The interface requested the equipment to be put via Uruk’s holographic image. When Jack did, the real Uruk who stood beside him magically donned the equipment.
“That’s convenient. Almost forgot this was originally a game,” Jack remarked.
While he was paying attention to Uruk’s details in the interface, he noticed that it also contained a list of his skills. Jack was surprised to find out Uruk had four skills instead of the three he exhibited in the fight. The fourth one was called Mighty Roar. It boosted his and all allies’ attributes within a certain radius.
There were also the passive skills Peniel mentioned. Simply by being registered as Heavenly Citadel’s hero, Uruk gave all soldiers a 10% boost in strength and physical damage. On the battlefield, any friendly soldiers within a twenty-meter radius from him received double that boost.
Seeing that nothing more he could do to this hero, Jack sent Uruk to the Training Hall. He was to spend his time training there until he was deployed.
Jack informed Jeanny about Uruk and told her to utilize him if necessary tomorrow. Jeanny thanked Jack for having successfully recruited the barbarian.
The next morning, when Jeanny was having a meeting with the rest of the core members, Jack left. During the last two months, their members had done lots of travels both around Themisphere and Sangrod. Many of the main cities already had their zone portals linked with Heavenly Citadel, including Sangrod’s capital, Vacharest. This was also the region where Saints Seat, Saint Edge’s Guild Headquarters, was located.
Jack could travel to this capital and save time in getting to Saints Seat, but he chose to teleport to another city in a neighboring region. It would take him a longer traveling time, but with Pandora’s speed, he should still arrive by afternoon today.
The reason he didn’t teleport to Vacharest was that he didn’t want Saint Edge to know he was coming. The report said that Saint Edge was the overlord player group in that capital. He was sure to be noticed if he appeared in that capital. After what happened yesterday, their guild would most likely be on high alert against any players from Everlasting Heavenly Legends.
If Jeanny hadn’t given him the orb of concealment, he might have just strode over Saints Seat like nobody’s business, because the guild hall’s platform would detect him anyway once he was inside their territory. But since he got the orb, he would try to sneak in if possible.
After teleporting to the city. Jack headed out before summoning Pandora and had her galloped at high speed to where Saints Seat was located.
In the afternoon, at the large courtyard outside of Heavenly Citadel, almost all the members of Everlasting Heavenly Legends were gathered outside their headquarters. Their trained soldiers were also ready in formation. Pointy Tip was to take over John’s role in giving orders to the trained soldiers via the control platform inside Guild Hall.
Pointy Tip and Weird Trap were two of John’s earliest friends, but they were also genuinely shocked when they learned of John’s treachery. They talked with Jeanny and told her if she doubted them due to this incident. It was okay for her to demote them.
Jeanny saw the sincerity in the two and said that she trusted them. She even allowed Pit to handle the control platform, just as Tip always did when John was absent. Tip thanked her for her trust and promised to not disappoint her.
Jeanny went around making sure that everyone was ready, especially the two hundred players that would be doing the battle. Almost all core members who were battle-capable were included in these two hundred players, except for Domon. The old man said he was not interested in this battle.
Everyone thought it was because Domon saw this as not a defensive battle, but Bowler knew the truth. After all this time, Domon had grown to enjoy unrestrained combat in this game world. The night before, during his chat with Bowler, Domon had actually expressed anticipation on today’s battle. But when Bowler informed him that all their opponents were women. His interest died down.
Not that he underestimated women. He had trained many girls that became as powerful as any of his male students. It was because he always saw himself as a gentleman and to not lay hands on women unless he had no choice. Even then, it would never be a lethal move. He had always instilled that kind of gentleman attitude in all his male students during his teachings. Jason was one such proof of that teaching.
Domon was still stuck with this thinking from the previous world. He was not like his grandson who was used to a game system where there were practically no differences between genders other than outward appearances. The idea of complete gender equality was still not prevalent in Domon’s old-fashioned mind. While Jack had no problem slicing any enemy women he encountered, Domon was more reserved.
Jeanny received a message, she then said to the others, “They have arrived. Let’s move out!”
The area where they did their battle was at a plain in the periphery of Heavenly Citadel’s territory. This was to ensure Everlasting Heavenly Legends did not cheat and use their trained soldiers. Yet, Jeanny preferred it to be nearby the territory. So, that if Wicked Witches decided to go against their words, they could easily retreat to where their soldiers were on standby.
Despite being a mother and daughter, when it came to the confrontation between two guilds, both Jeanny and Nova didn’t give one another complete trust. The fate of many of their members depended on their decisions, after all. One wrong decision might cause irreparable harm to their guild. Hence, the choice of the battle location.
The group marched together. With around one thousand and five hundred players, accompanied by around six hundred trained natives. These trained natives were comprised of 200 squires, 150 bandit archers, 100 knights, 50 cavalries, 50 mages, and 50 healers. All had been trained to the current average players’ levels around level 44.
Their presence combined with a large number of players would intimidate any guild. Yet, when they arrived, they saw the mass awaiting them was not fewer than them. In fact, the opponent might have even more numbers.
Everyone was alarmed. Did Wicked Witches bring all their members here? The enemy could only bring players outside their territory, no trained natives. Did that mean Wicked Witches had fully maxed out their two thousand member slots? But their numbers seemed to be more than two thousand.
When they came closer to where their opponents were waiting, they saw that the mass was not all women. They were in fact formed of multiple groups. The center group was Wicked Witches. The other groups by the sides were some of the other guilds from the coalition.
Jeanny had the troops stopped at the periphery of their territory, where the native soldiers couldn’t pass through. She then came out of her troops, accompanied by Bowler and The Man. Nova, Jennifer, and Queen Magenta did the same. The six met in between their two forces. “What is this? Do you plan to gang on us?” Jeanny asked her mother.
“They are only here as spectators. Everyone loves a good show, I’m sure you won’t object,” Queen Magenta answered for Nova.
Jeanny could see it must be Queen Magenta that had invited the coalition. She was basically one of the leaders of the coalition, after all.
“As long as all they do is spectating,” Jeanny replied.
“Don’t worry, little girl. We are not backstabbers, unlike your friend,” Queen Magenta added.
Jeanny frowned. So the news of John’s treachery had reached outside. For all they knew, Saint Edge could be cooperating with Wicked Witches for that. The invitation for yesterday’s meeting was coincidentally the same time when Saint Edge enacted their plan.
“Let’s just get this over with!” Jeanny exclaimed. She was a patient woman, but she was already in a bad mood after what John did. She didn’t care if this battle was against her past guild or her own family. She was eager to just vent her frustration.
“Hold!” A voice called out.
Jeanny had turned around and was walking away. She recognized the voice was her sister’s, Jennifer. Jennifer walked forward and uttered loudly, “Before we start the group battle. I challenge you to a duel!”
Jeanny didn’t turn around. Bowler and The Man did. The two looked at Jennifer who had her spear at the ready. The Man, who never turned down a challenge, brandished his large two-handed axe and said, “You have the nerve to challenge our leader. If you wish to do so, you should at least go through me first. Let me be the one to…”
“I accept!” Jeanny turned around, her spear was also at the ready.
Bowler immediately advised against it, “Jeanny, this might be a trick. They might be trying to affect our morale.”
“Our morale won’t be affected as long as I don’t lose,” Jeanny replied.
The Man also tried to dissuade her, “There is still the risk, let me be the one to…”
“Go back to the troops,” Jeanny ordered.. She then took a combat stance.
