MMORPG: Rise of the Strongest Shadow God

Chad leaned back in his chair, taking an easy sip of ale as he traded casual banter with Amy. She still had not fully grasped how serious things had become. To her, the situation felt tense, but not critical, nothing that warranted real concern. She had no idea that Let-There-Be-Light was already uneasy behind the scenes.

What did occupy her thoughts, however, was something else entirely. After digging through stories online about Blood-Stained Boxers and his past exploits, she found herself drawn in, intrigued by the man behind the name. It was not admiration in any romantic sense, but rather the kind of respect reserved for someone who had carved out a reputation through sheer skill and experience. He felt real in a way most players did not.

Flynn, on the other hand, had long since seen through Chad’s act. He understood perfectly well that his friend was exaggerating the situation, deliberately applying pressure to Let-There-Be-Light. Quietly, he sent a message.

"Hey, don’t push it too far. Those two are my friends."

Chad glanced at him, a grin tugging at the corner of his mouth as he replied.

"Relax, Flynn. I know what I’m doing. I’m not screwing anyone over, just negotiating properly. This is business."

Flynn frowned as he typed back.

"It’s a game. Since when did this turn into business?"

Amy looked between them, confused. "What business are you talking about?"

"Nothing," Chad cut in quickly, then leaned closer to Flynn and lowered his voice. "Seriously, though. I don’t know where you get all your money, but don’t underestimate this. People have made real fortunes in regular MMOs just farming gold. This is a full VR world. If you play it right, you can make serious cash. How do you think these studios stay alive? Not everyone can afford to treat this like a hobby."

The words hit Flynn harder than he expected. He paused, turning them over in his mind, and slowly realized Chad was right. If there was no profit in it, none of these studios would exist in the first place.

He had never really looked into the professional side of gaming, never considered how in-game resources translated into real-world income. Chad’s talk of business had always felt distant to him, almost abstract. Now, it began to make sense. At least with Chad involved, he could trust that things would not spiral into something shady. That alone eased his concerns.

After a long stretch of hesitation, Let-There-Be-Light chose to hold off and wait for Aether-Reach’s response. Chad knew he had reached the limit of how far he could push. If they refused to ask for help or consider affiliation, there was nothing more he could do.

Affiliation itself was a straightforward concept. Smaller studios could receive funding and support from larger guilds, expanding their operations in exchange for meeting monthly quotas. Deliver enough materials or complete enough assigned tasks, and the rewards would be generous. Fail, and the support would be cut off. Anything extra they managed to produce outside of those requirements belonged to them, though the guild retained first rights to purchase.

Simple, clean, and entirely driven by supply and demand.

Still, Chad understood that convincing them would not be easy. Byance Studio had never tied itself to any guild, not once since its founding, no matter how difficult things became.

That did not mean cooperation was off the table.

Once Let-There-Be-Light set aside his immediate concerns about Aether-Reach, he shifted focus and began discussing potential collaboration with Iron-Blooded Academy. He understood exactly why Flynn had arranged this meeting. A deal with Chad’s guild could mean a steady, reliable flow of work for a long time to come.

Flynn watched the negotiation unfold for a while, the two sides going back and forth over terms with careful precision. When he checked the time and saw it was nearing nine in the evening, he quietly slipped out of the private booth, left Twilight Heart behind, and made his way down the street to The Headless Tavern.

The difference between the two establishments was immediate and overwhelming.

Where Twilight Heart had been calm and refined, The Headless Tavern was loud, chaotic, and alive with raw energy. The moment Flynn stepped inside, he was greeted by the sound of a strange band playing lively tunes from across the continent. Voices overlapped in a constant roar of laughter, shouting, and clinking mugs.

The crowd was a mix of races, though most were NPCs. Only a handful of players lingered among them, likely drawn by the novelty of the atmosphere. Many of the non-human patrons rarely showed themselves during the day. While they were allowed to live on the surface, they were not entirely welcome. One wrong move could bring harsh consequences, so they preferred the cover of night.

Flynn found a relatively quiet corner and took a seat. It did not take long before a Vulpine maid approached, her movements smooth and deliberate, her smile carrying a practiced charm.

"Young warrior," she said softly, her voice laced with playful warmth, "you’re quite handsome. That strong jaw of yours is enough to make my heart flutter."

Flynn narrowed his eyes slightly, amused more than anything. The NPCs here really leaned into their roles. He wondered briefly if anyone had ever taken this kind of interaction seriously.

Probably.

Still, no matter how convincing they seemed, they were nothing more than carefully written code.

He shook the thought aside. "What’s your specialty?"

The fox-girl’s expression flickered for a moment, a hint of disappointment slipping through before she recovered. "If it’s a drink you want, our Serpent-Berry Wine is famous. Sweet, but strong enough to put whiskey to shame. Not many can handle it."

Flynn raised an eyebrow. "And the price?"

"Five gold for a glass, or twenty for a full bottle," she replied smoothly. "Surely that’s nothing for someone like you."

"Twenty, huh?" Flynn let out a quiet chuckle, then leaned forward slightly. "I’ll take five bottles to go, and bring a few glasses now. Add your best snacks too. The expensive ones. Plenty of them. I’ve got company coming."

He already had a plan in mind. If Aether-Reach wanted to play this game, then he would make sure they paid for the privilege.

The Vulpine maid brightened immediately and glided away, her tail swaying behind her as she weaved through the crowd. A few rowdy patrons reached out in passing, laughing as she skillfully avoided them without breaking stride.

It did not take long for the order to arrive.

Platters of ’Tender Roasted Lizard’ and ’Savory Grilled Water-Snake’ were set down alongside the wine, the rich scent of spices rising into the air. Flynn realized just how hungry he was and did not hesitate to dig in. The flavor was impressive, far beyond what he expected, and the subtle attribute boosts that came with the food were a welcome bonus.

He was halfway through his meal when he noticed two figures standing at the entrance.

Misty Rain and another girl he did not recognize.

Misty Rain he knew. She was the Vice President of Aether-Reach’s Monster branch, the one he had spoken to earlier. The other girl, with twin braids and a sharp expression, wore the same guild insignia.

Flynn raised a hand and called out, "Over here."

They spotted him quickly and made their way through the crowd. Misty Rain greeted him with an easy smile.

"I didn’t expect someone like the Night-Stalker to keep such a low profile," she said, glancing at his concealed name. "Being cautious?"

Flynn wiped his hands with a napkin and smiled back. "Not low profile. Just careful. Someone sent a Rogue after me this morning, and after what happened this afternoon, I figured it wouldn’t hurt to stay alert."

Misty Rain’s smile thinned slightly. "You have quite the sense of humor."

The girl beside her let out a sharp, dismissive snort. "Do you even understand who you’ve been provoking? You were cutting down our people like you owned the place."

Flynn gave her a brief glance before turning back to Misty Rain. "And this is?"

He tilted his head slightly. "Mind if I call you Misty?"

The casual tone caught her off guard. It sounded natural, almost familiar, as if they had known each other far longer than a single meeting.

The other girl did not take it well.

Her hand slammed against the table. "Watch your mouth. Who do you think you are, calling her that? She’s our Vice President. Show some respect."

Flynn let out a small laugh. "Your Vice President, not mine. I don’t see the problem."

"You..." she started, but the words failed her.

Misty Rain placed a hand on her arm, gently but firmly. "That’s enough, Jingle." She turned back to Flynn with an apologetic expression. "Sorry about that. She’s my younger sister. She’s a bit impulsive."

Flynn studied them both for a moment, his gaze sharpening despite the faint smile on his lips.

"Interesting choice," he said calmly. "Bringing someone like her to a negotiation. What is this supposed to be, good cop and bad cop? Or are you just hoping I’ll slip up?"

Both women stiffened, their expressions tightening as his tone shifted.

The change was abrupt, almost jarring. One moment he had been relaxed, even playful, and the next he was cutting straight through the pretense, leaving no room to maneuver.

Misty Rain felt a quiet frustration rise in her chest. This was going to be more difficult than she had hoped.

"You’re reading too much into it," she said, forcing a steady smile.

"Just call me Night-Stalker," Flynn replied lightly, slipping back into his earlier demeanor as if nothing had happened. "It’s easier that way."

The sudden shift left them both momentarily off balance.

Misty Rain hesitated, then nodded. "Alright. Jingle just wanted to come along. That’s all."

Flynn waved a hand dismissively. "I’m not interested in this brat’s details. What I care about is the price your guild is offering for the crystal."

The bluntness hit like a slap.

Misty Rain’s patience began to wear thin, but she kept her composure. Jingle, however, had no such restraint.

Her hand slammed down again as she shot to her feet, pointing straight at Flynn. "That’s enough. Who are you calling a brat? Say one more word and I’ll make sure you regret it."

Flynn leaned back slightly, completely unfazed, his expression calm, almost amused.

"Go ahead," he said. "Try."

That was all it took. Jingle’s anger boiled over. "You asked for it!"

In one swift motion, she drew a pair of daggers, their edges catching the dim tavern light.

So she was a Rogue too.