Chapter 75: Moment of Decision

Rules are rigid, but people are flexible.

Despite the explicit order from the official higher-ups forbidding the Angel Guild from participating in the operation, Anna had thought of another way.

"All of you, gather now!" When Aron emerged from his office, the dark cloud that had been hanging over his face had disappeared, and his robust voice echoed throughout the area.

Soon.

An elite squad specially selected from the Angel Guild, under the leadership of Aron and Anna, entered the game.

When Aron led the team to the coordinates given by Irving, there was not a single soul in the deserted bush. Not far from them, thick black smoke was billowing from a castle, and faint cries could be heard.

"He really dared to lead an attack..." Looking at the towering and sturdy castle, Anna's expression became complex, "It seems there's still a battle going on inside, I wonder how it's going."

"We should hurry up, it might be too late if we delay." Aron urged.

At this point, if the perspective could be elevated, one could see from the sky above that not only the Angel Guild but groups from all directions were converging towards this location.

Inside the castle.

The combat that James' group had initially planned to end quickly now felt like they were stuck in a quagmire. The members of The Brotherhood of Night Blades who had gathered around were still resisting desperately.

Neither side was willing to back down.

"James, we can't drag this on any longer. The guys are almost unable to hold on..."

"Yes, we've lost too many men." A group of battle-scarred players gathered around James, expressing their concerns anxiously.

Just then, a player from the group ran over from the direction of the castle gate, panting, "Bad news! Bad news, James, other groups are coming from outside. They have us completely surrounded. If we don't leave now, it'll be too late."

The Green Ivy Group had deployed over two hundred players for this mission, but now only half of them remained. Everyone was distressed.

In particular, the newly recruited players, many of whom had joined for the equipment provided by the Green Ivy Group. They were all astounded by Irving's extraordinary power and tactical deployment far beyond his age, but... Sёarch* The NôᴠelFirё.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

Players who died in this battle could not resurrect, they were essentially staking their lives on Irving.

"James, please lead us out of here." Many players pleaded, "Even if we could kill these members of The Brotherhood of Night Blades, we would simply not be able to resist the supporting groups that will arrive."

At this moment, all eyes were on James. Even a slight nod from him would signal the immediate retreat of his men, giving them a chance to survive.

James looked around.

Among the players he had brought, some had arms severed by sharp blades, others had deep chest wounds exposing bones, and there were those with long slashes across their abdomens, revealing glimpses of internal organs.

James felt a slight sting in his nose. He knew these players had given their all.

"Alright." Finally, James nodded, gritting his bloodied teeth. "While those groups haven't surrounded us yet, you all should leave as soon as possible. Get as far away as you can. It has been my honor to fight alongside you."

The players surrounding him heaved a sigh of relief upon hearing these words, but moments later, they seemed to remember something.

"James, what about you..." asked a veteran member of the Green Ivy Group. "Aren't you leaving with us?"

"Leave?" A bitter smile crept across James' face. His resolute gaze shifted towards the direction of the hall, where the battle continued fiercely. He said slowly, "Irving is still up there... Whatever the outcome, I can't leave here without seeing him first."

"I owe him this, and I must pay it back!"

His words were powerful, striking the hearts of the players like weights.

The next moment, silence fell over everyone.

"Brothers, go save yourselves. I'm not leaving either." declared an older player from the group, drawing his sword from the ground and choosing to stand by James.

"I'm staying too." another veteran player said solemnly. "These past days, I've watched friends and comrades die one by one. I don't want to live such a cowardly life anymore."

"Damn it, killing one is a fair trade, killing two is a bonus! If we don't get rid of these Brotherhood of Night Blades bastards now, they'll come after us sooner or later."

"That's right, so what if we die? We've all seen how powerful that guy Irving is. Following him is our only hope to survive!"

"..." The players made their decisions one after another.

Those who chose to stay were no longer motivated by the equipment provided by the Green Ivy Group. They genuinely recognized Irving's strength from the bottom of their hearts.

In the face of the impending apocalypse, only following a powerful leader could give them a chance to survive!

Irving's overwhelming strength and maturity far beyond his years had impressed them deeply. Just these two qualities were enough to make some players willing to risk their lives for him.

Even though those who chose to stay might never see the light of another day, they had no regrets.

Of course, some players still decided to flee towards the castle gates...

Ten minutes later.

The reinforcement groups began to arrive. A total of twelve groups, comprising nearly seven to eight hundred players, completely surrounded the castle.

When Anna and Aron arrived with the elite squad from the Angel Guild, they were also astonished by the sight of the sea of players before them.

"What should we do now?" Aron's face was graven, he turned to Anna, "I didn't expect The Brotherhood of Night Blades to have expanded to this extent in just a few days..."

Twelve groups, seven to eight hundred players, if they stormed the castle at this time, James and the players who chose to stay would be like ants, easily crushed.

"Don't rush." Anna tried to calm her emotions, her gaze fell on the groups rushing over again.

Unexpectedly, when these groups arrived with reinforcements outside the castle, they did not choose to enter immediately. They seemed to have reached some understanding and were silently waiting for something.

"What..." Aron looked at this scene in surprise and said in confusion, "Aren't these groups all under control? Why haven't they gone in to help?"

Anna seemed to understand something, a smile replaced the seriousness on her face, and she explained, "They are waiting to see how the wind blows."

"What do you mean?" Aron asked.

"If Irving can successfully take this castle and completely eradicate The Brotherhood of Night Blades, they can break free and regain their freedom." Anna continued, "On the contrary, if Irving is unfortunately defeated, they can quickly take action, rush into the castle, at least they would not be violating The Brotherhood of Night Blades order and could at least protect themselves."

Aron immediately understood.

In fact, their goal in bringing the elite squad of the Angel Guild this time was similar to these groups. Although the official high level did not allow the Angel Guild to directly participate in this operation, they did not say they couldn't come to help.

Anna had already made up her mind in her heart that she would save Irving even if she disobeyed the orders from above at the critical moment.

The presence of the Angel Guild here was as the last line of defense to cover for Irving.

"Since these groups have not gone directly in, then our goal has been achieved." Anna breathed a sigh of relief, then looked at the castle with a complex gaze, "It's all up to him now..."

At this moment.

At the front of the hall in the center of the castle, Vicky and Sophia were pale, their foreheads were covered with beads of cold sweat like beans, and there were many corpses of Stone Golem Giants and Snow Shadow Wolves around...

"Irving, I can't hold on much longer." Vicky gritted her silver teeth and said, the green light emanating from her body had become dimmer than before.

Sophia on the side didn't say a word, but her soft armor had become tattered, and her fair skin was covered with scars, with bright red blood flowing down her skin.

Irving looked at them, then at the dead bodies of the beasts on the ground. Almost all the beasts he had brought this time had been killed.

"Kid... don't you know you're going to die?" Duncan shouted hysterically, "The groups outside have all arrived, and the moment they rush in will be your death!"

Only two of the four elders around Duncan were left, both of them seriously injured. However, the reinforcements outside the castle had arrived, and the balance of victory was gradually tilting towards them.

"Die?" Irving looked at the crowd outside the castle with a nonchalant smile, "Before our fight ends, I'm afraid they won't come in."

Duncan was stunned, as if he had also reacted to something, the smug smile on his face gradually disappeared.

The next moment.

The staff in Irving's hand once again emitted dazzling light, condensing into a giant fireball with a diameter of more than tens of meters in a moment.

But this time, he did not choose to release the fireball directly, but rushed straight towards Duncan and the remaining two elders.

"Is he... going to die with them?!"

"Are you mad!" Duncan exclaimed in horror.