"Yes."
Rhys accepted the quest almost without hesitation. He had come specifically for this chain quest; refusing was never an option.
[Chain Quest: Deity's Relic (2)]
[Details: The Mayor of Riverwood shared a fragment of forgotten history with you.]
[Objective: Venture into the relic's depths and restart the ritual.]
[Reward: Unlocks the follow-up quest 'Deity's Forsaken Land'.]
Rhys glanced at the quest interface before him and shook his head slightly. The early stages of this chain quest offered no tangible rewards at all. It seemed all his efforts now were solely for that Ancient-grade necklace awaiting him later.
"Outlander, the depths beneath the Deity's Relic are perilous beyond measure. It would be wise to seek companions before venturing in."
The Mayor's concerned voice cut through Rhys's thoughts. Deep worry etched itself into the lines around his eyes.
Touched by the sincerity, Rhys felt a flicker of warmth. He nodded, acknowledging the dangers, and offered genuine thanks.
Even if it was just an NPC in a game, Rhys never took such kindness for granted.
He certainly wasn't reckless enough to delve into the Deity Relic's depths alone. According to that friend's account, the lower levels teemed with perils—natural disasters and man-made calamities alike. Their squad had been nearly wiped out there, leaving his friend with what amounted to PTSD. He'd never recovered.
Though Rhys was powerful, far surpassing most players at this stage, the penalty for death in this lethal game was absolute. No matter how bold he was, he wouldn't underestimate a known danger.
Unless... he could find some "companions" to enter the ruins with him.
With that thought, Rhys turned and walked away, leaving the Mayor behind.
"Friend, hold up a moment."
A coarse voice halted Rhys's steps. He looked up. A burly man with a thick, bushy beard stood before him, blocking his path.
Rhys remained silent, his gaze fixed on the large crimson wolf's head emblem emblazoned on the man's chest. His expression grew complex.
Crimson Direwolf...
In his past life, Rhys had forged a blood feud with Crimson Direwolf. Bloodmoon Pack bore half the "credit" for Rhys's death.
Now, face-to-face with an enemy, how could he not feel hatred surge? Yet, after a moment's thought, Rhys took a deep breath, burying all emotion beneath a calm facade. He met the large man's eyes evenly. "What is it?"
"You're Abysswalker, right? The top-ranked player on the leaderboard." The man offered a friendly smile, projecting goodwill. "Let's get acquainted. I'm Windrunner, a member of Bloodmoon Pack."
As he spoke, Windrunner extended his hand, radiating confidence. It was understandable. Bloodmoon Pack had established power in numerous games; they were a veteran, formidable Guild Charter. He dared to drop his name precisely because he knew it carried weight.
Rhys didn't respond, instead sweeping his gaze over the man once more. He had no idea what this so-called "leaderboard" even was, but given how easily the man recognized him, it seemed Bloodmoon Pack had already acquired some means of scouting player information.
He also had a rough idea why Windrunner had appeared at this exact moment, representing Bloodmoon Pack to make contact.
"No malice intended," Windrunner said, raising his hands placatingly when Abysswalker didn't accept his overture. He showed no sign of embarrassment. "I just wanted to know if you accepted that quest."
As he spoke, Windrunner's eyes narrowed slightly, a glint of wariness flashing within them. Simultaneously, he retrieved a deep blue, gelatinous object from his inventory.
"Here it comes," Rhys sneered inwardly. He'd known Bloodmoon Pack was here for this. He also knew perfectly well the man harbored no good intentions, yet he kept his composure, feigning ignorance. "So?" he asked flatly.
"Let's cooperate," Windrunner began his pitch. "From what I understand, this is a hidden quest. Extremely difficult. Even as the top-ranked player, you'll struggle to clear it alone. Bloodmoon Pack can help you complete it."
"Rest assured," he continued smoothly, "we're not exactly notorious. If you're willing to work with us, we'll only take fifty percent of the rewards."
Rhys didn't answer immediately, his stare unwavering on Windrunner.
Bullshit!
This was utter bullshit. Rhys knew Bloodmoon Pack's nature far too well. Offering fifty percent in exchange for a powerful, numerous force like theirs? It looked suspiciously generous, almost like they were running a charity.
But Rhys knew Bloodmoon Pack were no philanthropists. Quite the opposite. From the very start, they planned to eliminate the mule after grinding the grain – the moment the quest ended, every Bloodmoon Pack member would turn on him.
Then, it wouldn't matter if they'd promised fifty or a hundred percent – Rhys would get nothing. Bloodmoon Pack could afford to seem magnanimous because they intended to take it all back.
How did Rhys know? This was precisely his friend's experience. If it were only the monsters within the ruins, his friend's squad would never have been nearly wiped out. It was Bloodmoon Pack's ambush at the critical moment that had sealed their fate.
Now, in this timeline, Rhys had taken the quest himself, saving his friend's squad but painting a target on his own back for Bloodmoon Pack.
"We're showing genuine sincerity here. We hope you'll give it proper consideration..." Windrunner tried to press further.
But before he could finish, Rhys suddenly laughed. "Consider it done, then. Thank Bloodmoon Pack for the assistance." His tone was deceptively light. "Get your people ready. We depart in one hour."
The moment the words left Rhys's mouth, Windrunner froze. He was momentarily at a loss for words. Rhys had agreed? Just like that? Without Windrunner needing to deploy any further persuasion or emotional appeals?
This was excellent news. Windrunner too began to laugh, a coarse sound tinged with unmistakable cruelty.
Rhys was also smiling. Two individuals with scheming minds had just sealed a pact of cooperation under a veneer of peace.
...
"Boss, are we really giving that Rhys fifty percent of the rewards? Isn't that... a bit much?"
After Rhys left, a man dressed in Mage robes beside Windrunner voiced his concern, his expression troubled.
Hearing this, Windrunner turned his head, a cruel glint flashing in his eyes.
"Fifty percent?" He sneered. "If that Abysswalker knows his place, maybe we'll even let him keep the EXP bonus. If he doesn't... forget fifty percent. He won't lay a finger on a single quest reward!"
"Ah..." Understanding dawned on the Mage-robed man's face, followed by a flicker of glee. "Understood, Boss! I'll make the arrangements right away!"
...
Rhys continued walking deeper into the town.
He knew Bloodmoon Pack had him in their sights. If it weren't for the fact that only one player could accept this specific chain quest at a time, Bloodmoon Pack would never have approached him with such "courtesy."
Then again, even if Rhys had refused, Bloodmoon Pack would have simply cornered him in the wilds, overwhelming him with numbers to force his cooperation and achieve their goal. That was the essence of Bloodmoon Pack – inherently wicked and ruthless.
Rhys's choice to cooperate wasn't born of fear. Bloodmoon Pack saw him as prey on the chopping block. Little did they know, Rhys saw them as a tool to be used.
Who was the hunter, and who was the prey? That remained to be seen.
With Bloodmoon Pack joining the fray, he could easily leverage their numbers to clear the dangers lurking in the ruins' depths. And when the task was done? He would choose to eliminate this Bloodmoon Pack contingent.
From the moment of his rebirth, Bloodmoon Pack had been on his kill list. Now, presented with such a perfect opportunity, how could Rhys possibly let it slip away?
"Bloodmoon Pack," Rhys murmured, the name cold on his lips. "This time... consider it collecting some interest."
"The debt between us... we'll settle it slowly. Payment by bloody payment." His voice dropped to a near-whisper, heavy with intent. "Until your... utter annihilation."
Taking a deep breath, Rhys forcefully suppressed the knot of fury and resentment coiling in his chest. He stepped into the bustling market district. Calmly, he placed the Bow of Withering and Root Bind onto the ground before him. Then, he settled in, a silent sentinel, waiting patiently for fate to bring the right buyer.