Chapter 419 Chapter419-DARK EDGE’s Arrogance
"It's too late for explanations now. Lord Darklord has already determined your betrayal, and you all must face punishment!"
DARK EDGE's words, as he slowly approached SkyStars, imposed immense pressure.
SkyStars continued to insist on his innocence, desperately trying to convince DARK EDGE and the others.
"Listen to me, I really didn't betray him. It must have been someone else! I have proof; I haven't left Storm City recently. You can ask around!"
In his frantic state, SkyStars scrambled for reasons, knowing full well they were unlikely to believe him.
His only hope was to stall for time, placing all his trust in John's timely arrival.
"Do you think anyone will believe your words?"
DARK EDGE was now standing right in front of SkyStars, his blade drawn and pointed menacingly at SkyStars' cheek.
"I hope you believe me; I truly did not betray Lord Darklord!"
SkyStars' voice trembled as he spoke, fear evident in his tone.
DARK EDGE, with a malevolent smile on his face, seemed to relish the moment.
He let his blade glide slowly down SkyStars' cheek, enjoying the intimidation and fear he was inflicting.
In this tense and perilous situation, SkyStars' only chance lay in the hope that John would arrive in time to intervene. n-)o.)V(.E.-l/)B-(I-(n
DARK EDGE's enjoyment of his power and control over the situation was palpable, and the atmosphere in the room grew increasingly ominous as the other guild members watched, unsure of how to react to DARK EDGE's dominating presence.
"If no one believes your words, do you have anything else to say? If not, I'm going to act on Lord Darklord's orders," DARK EDGE whispered threateningly into SkyStars' ear.
Though his voice was low, the others in the room could still hear him, and his actions added immense pressure to everyone present, fearing they might be next.
"I do have something to say! But I can't tell you all; I must speak to Lord Darklord himself!"
SkyStars blurted out, desperately trying to buy more time.
He had already used all the excuses he could think of in his previous attempts to stall, and now he was pinning his hopes on this last explanation convincing DARK EDGE.
However, how could such a ruse deceive DARK EDGE?
With a sinister smile, DARK EDGE swiftly raised his blade and, in a lightning-fast motion, swung it towards SkyStars' throat.
The murderous intent was palpable, and everyone in the room sensed that SkyStars was moments away from his end.
SkyStars himself felt a profound sense of despair.
He even doubted whether he could escape this predicament through resurrection, a standard escape route for many players in dire situations.
The atmosphere was tense, and the outcome seemed inevitable. Everyone braced for what appeared to be the imminent demise of SkyStars at the hands of DARK EDGE.
Just as everyone thought DARK EDGE was about to instantly kill SkyStars, his blade unexpectedly halted less than a centimeter from SkyStars' throat.
The room was filled with shock and confusion, as no one understood what had caused this abrupt stoppage.
Only DARK EDGE knew he had been restrained by some powerful, unseen force.
"Enough of this wasting time! You've had your fun, right? Finish them off quickly, we have more important matters to attend to," urged another member of Darklord's guild, seemingly annoyed at DARK EDGE's delay.
"I want to finish them, but I'm being controlled by some other force!"
DARK EDGE responded angrily, revealing his current predicament.
His admission sent waves of panic throughout the room.
The other members of Darklord's guild became highly vigilant, scanning their surroundings warily.
If this mysterious force could control DARK EDGE, who was stronger than them, it could certainly control them too.
"Don't be too nervous! This is Storm City, where players can't just attack each other freely," John's voice rang out, breaking the tense atmosphere.
John had actually arrived at the location of Darklord's guild five minutes earlier but was delayed entering due to not expecting SkyStars to be inside Darklord's guild.
When John's voice reached SkyStars' ears, it was a clear signal that he was now safe.
SkyStars immediately made his way toward John's voice and ended up colliding with John at the doorway of the room.
"You don't need to be so nervous, haven't I come to rescue you?"
John said as he pushed SkyStars aside, wanting to focus his attention on DARK EDGE.
Unfamiliar with John, DARK EDGE looked at him fiercely and demanded, "Who are you? Why are you in our guild? And are you targeting me deliberately?!"
John couldn't help but laugh at DARK EDGE's questions.
The situation was quite obvious – if he wasn't targeting DARK EDGE, how could DARK EDGE be immobilized?
"What do you think? If I weren't targeting you, how could you be restrained?" John replied.
After addressing DARK EDGE, John turned to the other members of Darklord's guild, "I need you to find Darklord quickly. Tell him John has an extremely important matter to discuss with him."
Initially, the guild members hesitated to follow John's instructions, but as his gaze turned icy, they sensed his overwhelming power and decided to comply.
With the other members of Darklord's guild leaving, John looked at the remaining people in the room, "What are you still doing here? Leave quickly. Do you plan to wait here for Darklord's return?"
Under John's urging, the others quickly dispersed, including SkyStars, who had initially planned to stay and observe.
Now, only John and DARK EDGE were left in the room.
Even though DARK EDGE recognized John's formidable strength, he still believed he had the capability to confront John.
DARK EDGE maintained his arrogance despite the situation.
"It doesn't matter who you are, you definitely shouldn't make an enemy out of me! My strength far exceeds your imagination! If you're wise, you'll release me from this restraint now. If not, once Lord Darklord returns, I'll make sure you pay a heavy price with his help!"
However, John remained unimpressed by DARK EDGE's threats.
To him, only Darklord posed a real threat.
"You needn't be so anxious. Darklord will be here soon enough. As I've told you, this is Storm City, and due to the rules, we players can't just start fighting each other willy-nilly. When my friend is ready with the Guild Battle token, you can try making me pay along with Darklord. But who ends up paying the price remains to be seen."
With that, John intensified the effect of [Abyssal Prison].
As the restraining power of the Abyssal Prison grew stronger, it became impossible for anything DARK EDGE said to reach outside the confines of the spell.
John's control over the situation was absolute, and DARK EDGE's attempts at intimidation were rendered completely ineffective.
The room was now a silent standoff, with DARK EDGE helplessly caught in John's powerful spell.
John's patience was wearing thin as he wondered about Blue Sea's reliability.
"What's taking Blue Sea so long to sort out the Guild Battle issue? Is Darklord now too scared to accept a challenge from the Blue Sea Guild?"
In John's understanding, all Blue Sea needed to do was deliver the Guild Battle token to either Darklord himself or the deputy guild leader of Darklord's guild.
The Photonic Brain System of the Godslayer Game didn't have many requirements for initiating a Guild Battle.
The purpose of the Guild Battle token was merely to confirm that both participating guilds were prepared and agreed to the battle.
This meant that any guild could challenge another at any time, as long as the challenge wasn't a direct ambush without a Guild Battle token, which would violate the rules of the Godslayer Game.
This constant possibility of being challenged was why larger guilds often had some of their top players remain on guard.
Losing a Guild Battle had significant consequences: all members of the defeated guild would have their levels reduced by one.
This rule added to the high stakes of Guild Battles, making them critical events that could drastically affect a guild's standing and power within the game.
John's concern was understandable, as the outcome of a Guild Battle could have far-reaching implications for both his plans and the balance of power within the game.