Adventure World Online (AWO)

Along the beach near the port of Dark City, a group of players—long suspected by the townspeople, who had no idea why they had been camping there for so long—had begun making their way into the city. The striking architecture and the unusual nature of the AI residents intrigued the players so much that it sparked a desire to conquer Dark City for themselves. However, there were a few troubling obstacles. No one knew who the City Lord was, how large the city's defense forces were, and most unsettling of all—the residents did not seem like ordinary AI. They appeared to be warriors, seasoned fighters of high level.

Declaring war on the city required time and effort to gather forces and transport weapons across the sea. But the exotic, mysterious atmosphere of Dark City tempted many players to take the risk. Among them was Basic Guild, ranked fifth on the leaderboard, which spearheaded the effort to rally allies and declare war. They dared to move forward mainly because Chang Long's name was unknown, and they had not seen any defending players roaming the city—only their own allies.

As soon as the system allowed them to officially declare war, they did not hesitate. There were not many groups eyeing Dark City yet, so competition was minimal—unlike the heavy resistance expected in battles for cities like Heaven, Luzzor, or Celestial Steed City on the three major continents.

Killer and Murder had taken off ahead of Chang Long, but she easily caught up with them. Siegfried trailed a little farther behind, limited by his profession's lower speed stats. Instead of heading back into the city, the group decided to check out the location where the challengers had set up camp. The situation did not seem dire—the invaders had not breached the city gates, and were still being pelted with arrows from atop the wall towers.

"Hey hey, Master, should we sneak into the players' group and blend in?"

Killer asked, clearly enjoying the idea.

"Hmm, would that be alright?"

Chang Long replied, uncertain—but the idea did seem tempting.

"Of course it would. Sounds like a blast. I bet they won't have a clue who we are."

Murder chimed in enthusiastically. It was the perfect chance to attack from within enemy lines.

"I don't think that'll work. There's one guy they'll recognize the moment they see him," Chang Long said, glancing sidelong at Siegfried.

"That's what'll make it fun. The second they see Siegfried walk in, those guys—who are losing ground—will be thrilled. They'll probably start begging him for help. But surprise. He's there to wipe them out instead. Hehehe."

Killer proposed his opinion playfully.

"Or I could just end up getting killed for showing up at the wrong place at the wrong time," Siegfried said, worried. These three were so recklessly bold that it made him nervous, even though part of him found it thrilling.

"That just makes it even better. Now you'll have all the justification you need to take them down."

Killer grinned broadly, clearly pleased with his own reasoning.

"And what justification would that be, exactly?"

Siegfried asked, confused. Killer and Murder shared a sly grin. Then the younger twin answered:

"Your rightful justification, as master's boyfriend, of course. You can't just let someone bully your girl, right!"

THWACK!

Before he could finish the sentence, the assassin was sent flying from their hiding spot—booted cleanly by the graceful foot of the Reaper King herself. Killer's sudden appearance drew the attention of nearby players. They all turned to him warily, unsure if he was friend or foe.

"Hey. Who the hell are you!"

One of the players in the group demanded confrontationally.

"Good day. My name's Killer. I'm an Assassin profession player."

he answered politely, flashing a friendly smile. The tension eased—just for a moment. Then, without warning, still wearing that same disarming smile, he launched a merciless attack.

Cries of pain and shock rang out from the players he ambushed, catching the attention of nearby allies. They rushed in, yelling that an enemy had infiltrated their camp. Surrounded by fresh reinforcements, Killer stood still, almost as if resigned to his fate. The players encircling him smirked in triumph. One of them stepped forward, weapon raised high, ready to finish him off in a single blow—while the assassin did not even lift a finger in defense.

SHUNK!

The player stood frozen, arms raised high, ready to bring his weapon down on Killer's defenseless form—only to widen his eyes in shock as he looked down at his chest. A beautiful silver longsword, its guard shaped like a winged skull, was embedded in his torso. Blood began to seep slowly from the wound. Behind Killer stood a figure—perhaps a woman, or maybe a man—gazing coldly at him. They extended a hand and spoke in a calm, measured tone:

"Return to me, Sovereign Sword."

All eyes turned to Chang Long, who caught the sword gracefully in her hand. She bore the same appearance as many of the Dark City denizens, but with one clear difference: a white wristwatch—marking her as a player, not an AI. The archers on the city walls ceased fire upon seeing her. A loud animal-horn sounded through the air, followed by a booming declaration from General Tosh, the commanding officer of Dark City:

"The City Lord has returned!"

The invaders looked around, trying to identify who had just been called the City Lord. Meanwhile, the massive gate they had been trying to destroy—without leaving so much as a scratch—suddenly swung open on its own.

"Hey, the gate's open. This is our chance—charge in!"

yelled the guild leader of Visual, snapping the players out of their daze. The attackers, startled by the sudden shift, began to surge toward the open gates.

"It won't be that easy!"

Killer moved first, launching another strike—with Murder, his identical twin, joining in perfectly. Their seamless coordination made it seem as though Killer had split into two.

"Declaring war while the City Lord's away? That's some nerve,"

Chang Long muttered as she casually followed behind the twins, who were now cutting through the attackers with reckless enthusiasm.

The surprise was not over yet. Siegfried stepped out from the shadows. Most players recognized him instantly. For a moment, many thought Dark City might actually belong to him. But when they recalled the system announcement, they realized there had been no mention of Siegfried or the Pendragon Guild. And since he had appeared alone without guild support, it was clear—he was not the city's owner, and he had not come to claim it either.

No one dared attack the young elf, unsure of his role. The only one who broke the silence was a dark elf of unknown origin, someone no one recognized. Driven by curiosity, one player finally asked:

"Hey, who exactly are you?"

"Me, I'm Chang Long—the ruler of Dark City."

Though her words were shocking, she said them with such calm and deadpan simplicity that it only confused people more.

"Huh, what did you say? Say that again!"

The player, clearly unsure he had heard her right, asked her to repeat it. Others around him wore the same dumbfounded expressions.

"Geez, deaf much? Killer, answer for me. I don't like repeating myself."

Chang Long said with an annoyed expression, turning toward the assassin to have him repeat her answer.

"Yes!"

Killer responded instantly and flashed beside the questioning player. He leaned in, whispering softly in the man's ear—like a ghost whispering death. Not only did he give an answer, but he also drove his dagger deep into the player's chest, yanking it back out violently. A fountain of blood erupted from the wound like a fountain. The victim gasped, his body going limp before disintegrating into a streak of white light that shot skyward.

"Anyone else want to know who our Master is? I'll give you an exclusive answer just like that."

Killer beamed with delight—but his words sent chills down everyone's spines. The invaders now knew that negotiating with this group was pointless. Their best chance was to kill them—fast.

A group of four or five players rushed at Chang Long, who stood yawning amid the chaos, completely unguarded. But before they could reach her, they were blasted back—struck down by the elf named Siegfried. His very presence inspired deference. He was the leader of a famed guild, a top-tier player, and one of the Pirate King heirs. Chang Long turned and flashed him a sly smile, just as panic started to ripple through the enemy ranks. If Siegfried was about to join the fight—things were about to get much worse.

"Don't be afraid! If that weak-looking Dark Elf who's got Siegfried and those two assassins protecting them is really the City Lord, then all we have to do is kill them. The city will be ours!" The leader of the Basic Guild shouted. It did not matter how that Dark Elf player had claimed the city—it clearly was not by strength. From the look of it, they were doing nothing while others fought to protect them. That meant taking over the city would be easier than expected—without shedding as much blood as they had expected. All they needed was to lure Siegfried away, keep him occupied, and that helpless City Lord would be wide open.

He quickly whispered a plan to his top aides, and they scattered to execute it. But it was not going to be as simple as he thought—because the other two invading guilds had also set their sights on Chang Long.

Despite being surrounded on all sides by a horde of players, none of Chang Long's allies stepped in to defend her. Each was engaged in their own battle. Yet her expression showed no hint of fear or concern. Even the AI soldiers did not move to protect their commander, who now stood isolated inside the circle of enemies just outside the city walls.

"Infernal Demons."

Chang Long activated her summoning skill. Five blazing beasts burst forth, cutting off the enemy's assault. Without a single command, they charged at the attackers. Biting, clawing, slashing—ripping through the invaders who tried to hurt their master with brutal efficiency, amidst the terrified gazes of other players. Even so, five beasts were not enough to hold back the elite players for long. Clearly, these three guilds had brought their best.

"Hey, pointy ears! You just let others protect you. If you've got any guts, face me one-on-one!"

shouted the leader of Visual Guild, taunting her. He assumed her skills could not be much—why else would she rely on bodyguards? In a duel, he figured she would be minced meat in seconds.

"Big talk. Fine, I'll humor you."

Chang Long glanced sideways at him with displeasure and drew her sword, stepping forward to face him directly.

"Heh. Nice blade, though in your hands, it's a waste of good craftsmanship."

the guild leader sneered. In the blink of an eye, Chang Long vanished. Suddenly, her blade was pressed to his throat, and her cold whisper brushed his ear.

"You'll find out soon enough if it belongs in my hands."

"Huh—!!"The man jumped back immediately, narrowly avoiding an unexpected strike. Sweat poured down. She had been right in front of him, then appeared inches from his neck without warning. He was one of the elite players, yet he had not even sensed her. He touched his chin where her blade had nicked him. One second slower and it would have been through his windpipe.

"What's wrong—losing your nerve already?"

came her voice—from behind. His eyes widened again. He spun around to block, but it seemed just blocking her sword was not enough. Her kick sent him flying. The attack should have stopped there, but Chang Long pivoted swiftly and closed the distance.

Shunk!

"GUILD MASTER!!"

His guildmates cried. The man stumbled, eyes wide in shock, lips trembling as he struggled to speak:

"Y... you. Who are you… really?"

But before he could hear an answer, his body burst into white light—disintegrated by the Sovereign Sword, which had struck him square in a vital point.

"What--they're strong,"

several players muttered nearby, faces pale with fear. In under ten minutes, Chang Long had taken out the leader of Visual Guild—without even needing to summon a spirit to possess her.

"You thought this city was a pushover—easy to conquer. You charged in without even knowing who your enemy is. If I didn't give you a proper welcome, you'd just look down on us even more, wouldn't you?"

Her voice was barely above a whisper, yet every player heard it loud and clear. A chill crept through the battlefield, making their hair stand on end. The next words were enough to shake them all, making them all want to flee from the battle as fast as they could.

"Dark City has no supporting guild. That's why no players came out to defend it. All you see here is the Dark Elf army, and the army of the reborn from the land of the dead. Nearly all of them are A-Class or higher. And they haven't attacked yet, because I haven't given the order."

"Wait, this game has that kind of mechanic!"a player gasped.

"No way. Players can't command independent AI—only the NPC guards assigned by the system. They're lying!"

"Wanna test that? Commander Tosh!"

High on the wall, Commander Tosh nodded once. The next moment, the air around the invaders shifted—gusts of wind brushing past. In the blink of an eye, Dark Elves and pale-skinned warriors had closed in. Screams rang out as the counterattack began. Those below level 50 were cut down in a single strike.