***

Three weeks later.

The conditions in the city center were not particularly crowded that afternoon. The wide stone streets that usually buzzed with noise felt calmer, almost peaceful.

Merchants still opened their stalls, and shop signs still glowed faintly under the artificial sunlight, but the usual rush of players haggling, shouting prices, and comparing equipment was noticeably reduced.

Everything looked almost normal, just like any other day, yet there was an underlying sense that the city was holding its breath.

Most of the items being sold in the shops were low grade items. Basic weapons, simple armor sets, potions with limited effects, and accessories meant for beginners filled the display racks.

This situation did not occur by chance.

It was the direct result of the increased demand for high quality items during the previous period, when many players had rushed to purchase better equipment to strengthen their abilities.

During those weeks, gold and resources had flowed rapidly from player to player. Veteran adventurers and ambitious guilds emptied the markets of rare materials, enchanted weapons, and high tier artifacts.

Some bought them to survive upcoming battles. Others did so out of fear of being left behind.

Now, after that wave passed, the shelves that once held powerful items stood empty, leaving only the leftovers that few experienced players cared to look at.

Now, there was only one week left before the Guild of Champions Event officially began.

Every guild had been busy making preparations. Training grounds were filled day and night. Strategy rooms stayed lit until dawn.

Leaders argued, debated, and calculated every possible scenario. Yet, not all of them chose to move forward. Not a few guilds decided to withdraw entirely.

The reasons were simple, yet painful. Some leaders quickly realized they could not compete at all.

Their members lacked combat experience, coordination, or the equipment needed to survive high level encounters.

Others faced internal problems. Communication between alliance members broke down, trust eroded, and old conflicts resurfaced at the worst possible time.

There were also those whose funds were too limited to properly support a team. Potions, repairs, and gear upgrades demanded more gold than they could gather.

LionArk, however, stood apart from most of them.

LionArk was one of the guilds that had prepared their team thoroughly.

From the very beginning, their approach had been decisive.

Compared to other guilds that formed mixed teams with allies, LionArk chose a different route. They decided to send a single guild team.

That decision carried weight. It meant LionArk would not rely on other guilds within the same team.

Every member would listen solely to Ethan's commands. His words would be absolute on the battlefield.

Ayaka occasionally came to Mavelard to meet Ashley. Her relationship with Ashley had grown quite well, largely due to the shared tasks they needed to carry out together.

Their conversations were no longer limited to work reports and strategy updates.

Over time, they spoke about daily matters, small frustrations, and even fleeting memories from before they were trapped in the game.

Ayaka had successfully dealt with the Shadow Guild that appeared in Porco, as well as Kuniko.

Those operations had ended cleanly, without unnecessary bloodshed or complications.

Her instincts and experience had sharpened over time. She no longer doubted her judgment as much as she once did.

Trust also naturally formed within Ayaka toward Eric's words.

At first, she had found him suspicious, strange, and difficult to read. But after multiple confirmations and successful operations based on his information, her view changed.

She no longer saw Eric as a strange person, but rather as a reliable informant whose warnings carried weight.

That day, Ayaka returned once again to LionArk's headquarters. She met Ashley in her office, where documents and reports were neatly arranged across the desk.

Meanwhile, in another place within the same city, Ethan stood in front of twenty four selected individuals.

They were the chosen members, those deemed capable of representing LionArk in the upcoming event.

Their expressions varied. Some looked calm and confident. Others were tense, hiding their anxiety behind focused gazes. All of them understood the meaning of this selection.

Sherly was not among them.

She did not pass the standard requirements to become an event participant.

Her combat abilities, while useful, fell short of the harsh criteria set for the event. Hanss, however, was included in the team.

Sherly felt a deep sense of sadness when she learned the results.

The disappointment lingered in her chest, heavy and difficult to ignore.

Still, Hanss and Ethan both took the time to reassure her. They reminded her that strength did not only exist on the battlefield.

They told her that she could still be very helpful at headquarters, where organization, coordination, and decision making were just as critical.

Because Hanss would be leaving with the team, Ethan assigned Sherly to act as the temporary executor of duties for the City Security Authority Officer position.

It was not a light task. It meant overseeing patrols, responding to emergencies, and ensuring the city remained stable during the team's absence.

Sherly nodded in understanding. She accepted the responsibility without hesitation. She promised Ethan and Hanss that she would protect Mavelard properly.

At that moment, Ethan and Hanss stood in a training field on the outskirts of the city. The ground was worn from countless battles, and the air carried the faint scent of dust and sweat.

Ethan took his position as the team leader, standing with a calm yet commanding presence. Hanss stood beside him as his deputy, ready to support and enforce decisions.

"The reason I gathered all of you is to begin full scale training before the event starts," Ethan said, his voice steady and clear.

The gathered members straightened instinctively.

Hanss nodded and began explaining the rules to them. The training they would undergo was sparring.

Each team consisted of three people, competing team against team. There would be no holding back, but safety measures would be enforced to prevent fatal injuries.

Everyone listened carefully to what Hanss explained. A strong sense of enthusiasm rose in each member's heart.

Some clenched their fists. Others exchanged determined glances. They were all driven by the same desire.

They wanted to prove themselves worthy.

Ethan turned his head and asked Hanss to lead the sparring session. Hanss stepped forward and gave the signal. Battles broke out across the field almost immediately.

Ethan watched closely from the side, his eyes sharp as he analyzed every movement, every decision.

Sherly also remained by his side at the field, observing quietly, committing each detail to memory.

Winning carried meaning. It meant catching Ethan's attention. It meant being considered for a better position once the event began.

Observing their abilities was another reason why Ethan initiated the sparring. He was not only looking for strength, but balance.

To protect the city, the team had to be divided into two units: the combat unit and the guard unit.

The combat unit would be deployed for invasion missions.

They would lead soldiers onto the battlefield, confront enemies directly, and push through hostile territory.

The guard unit, on the other hand, would remain behind to ensure the city stayed protected from any form of attack.

Every role mattered.

Ashley and Ayaka walked side by side along the edge of the training field. They paused, turning their heads to watch Ethan as he focused on the sparring matches unfolding before him.

"It looks like LionArk's team is truly ready," Ayaka said quietly.

"That's right," Ashley replied. "Ethan is the most serious about this. He does not want to miss this event."

"For some reason," Ayaka continued, "Guild Yotsuba is really lucky to be able to join the alliance Sir Ethan formed."

"All of the member guilds feel the same way," Ashley said. "They see Ethan as a kind of hope."

As Ethan's wife, Ashley felt proud of his achievements.

What he had built was not just a guild or an alliance. It was something that could ignite hope for many people across the eastern lands.

Even so, Ashley was also painfully aware of the other side of that hope.

She knew it could easily turn into disappointment once people learned that Ethan was guarding two goddesses of the Tower of Ascension.

Guarding the goddesses meant allowing the players to remain trapped for a longer time. It meant delaying their escape.

However, their weak abilities left them powerless. They could not challenge the gods. They could not change the system. In the end, all they could do was surrender themselves to fate.

"Miss Ayaka," Ashley called out softly.

"Yes?" Ayaka responded.

"Do you ever miss your old world?" Ashley asked.

"You mean Earth?"

Ashley cleared her throat and nodded.

Ayaka fell silent almost immediately. She and all the players had been trapped in this game for an entire year.

Every day followed the same rhythm. The same routines. The same faces. Even the sky remained unchanged, lit by the same artificial sun that never truly set.

For Ayaka, who was not a professional player, being trapped in the game for this long was exhausting. The novelty had long faded, replaced by a constant pressure to survive and adapt.

If she had to be honest, she truly missed her family.

"I miss my little sister," Ayaka said softly, her gaze lifting toward the sky.

"Her name is Sayaka. She's ten years old. She's still in elementary school. She likes cake and hates insects."

Her voice trembled slightly.

"If I could trade something," Ayaka continued, "I would trade it right now just to be free from this game."

She clenched her hands slowly.

"But I know that's impossible. My abilities are weak. I can't even defeat Ethan, let alone fight the gods and goddesses of this game."

Ashley looked at Ayaka's sad expression. Hearing her story made Ashley's chest ache. She understood that longing all too well.

Her attention shifted forward, back to the training field. Ethan stood at its edge, calm and unwavering. Behind his back, two of the three goddesses of the game floated silently.

No one else noticed them.

Only Ashley did.

"I'm sorry for making you talk about that," Ashley said gently.

Ayaka smiled faintly and shook her head. "That sadness has already passed. I don't think about it too much anymore. There really is no way out for me."

People miss their families. They miss the feeling of Earth, the natural environment, and the warmth of a real sun. Seeing that longing in others made Ashley feel deeply sad.

She looked once more at Ethan.

Ethan. Have you ever thought about leaving this game too?

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