Shadow Temple scouts. Three of them. Trying to be subtle outside our newly acquired warehouse. Failing miserably against my unshackled Perception.
Their positioning was sloppy, their stealth techniques rudimentary compared to the high-level assassins I faced in my past life. But their presence alone was significant. Wang Kai was already moving against me, or at least, investigating the anomaly named Fierce Arrow.
"We have company," I stated calmly, my voice low.
Stone Shield immediately tensed, hand gripping his shield, scanning the empty warehouse. "Where?"
Silver Heal's eyes narrowed, her posture shifting from relaxed calculation to alert readiness. She didn't ask where; she trusted my awareness. "How many? Hostile intent?"
"Three Rogues," I specified, tracking their faint outlines beyond the instance entrance. "Shadow Temple tags. Observing. Intent… likely hostile if they think they have an advantage."
Stone swore under his breath. "Already? We just formed!"
"My name draws attention," I said flatly. "And Wang Kai doesn't like loose ends or potential threats." The name hung in the air for a moment.
Silver Heal's eyebrow twitched. "Wang Kai… Shadow Temple's Guild Master? You have personal history?"
"Ancient history," I deflected. "Suffice to say, they won't leave us alone. Question is, do we wait for them to act, or do we set the tone?"
Stone clenched his fist. "Let's show 'em Dawn Guild isn't scared!"
Silver Heal was more cautious. "Three Rogues, likely higher level than us if they're scouts for Shadow Temple. Ambushing them outside might be risky. They could have backup nearby."
"They expect us to be cautious," I countered, a predatory glint in my eye. My enhanced Perception wasn't just passive; it fed my tactical thinking. "They expect us to hunker down, maybe log off. They don't expect immediate, overwhelming aggression."
I looked at my two guildmates. The loyal Shield, the sharp Healer. The core of my future army.
"Silver, can you handle dispelling poisons and quick heals under pressure?"
She gave a curt nod. "It's what I do best."
"Stone, can you intercept a charging Rogue? Hold one, maybe two, for just a few seconds?"
He banged his fist against his new shield. "Let 'em try me."
"Good." A plan formed, ruthless and efficient. "Here's what we do. Stone, you stand just inside the entrance. Silver, behind him, ready with heals and maybe a [Holy Smite] if you get a clear shot. I'll initiate."
I quickly outlined the sequence. Simple. Brutal. Relying on surprise and my overwhelming damage output.
"They think they're the hunters," I finished, nocking an arrow. "Let's remind them who the apex predator is."
We took our positions. Stone Shield, a bulwark of determination at the warehouse doorway. Silver Heal, a picture of calm focus behind him, hands glowing faintly with prepared holy energy.
I stood slightly to the side, bow raised, Mark of Vulnerability ready. My Perception pinpointed the lead Rogue lurking just beyond the doorway's threshold, trying to peer inside.
Deep breath. Feel the System's power thrumming beneath the surface. See the target through the instance boundary.
Now.
I triggered the warehouse door control. It slid open instantly.
Simultaneously, I cast Mark of Vulnerability on the lead Rogue.
He startled, the crimson sigil appearing above his head as the door opened, exposing him. His eyes widened in shock.
Thwip!
[-70! Critical Hit!]
[Critical Combo Triggered!]
The arrow storm erupted the instant the door was fully open, lancing across the threshold.
The lead Rogue, caught completely flat-footed, barely had time to register the attack before the arrows shredded him.
[Critical Combo Stack x2!]
[Critical Combo Stack x3!]
He dissolved before he could even activate Vanish.
[Player Killed: ShadowShiv]
One down. Less than two seconds.
The other two Rogues reacted instantly, professionals despite their initial shock. One charged straight at Stone Shield, daggers flashing, aiming to breach the doorway. The other immediately popped Vanish, disappearing from sight.
"Stone!" I yelled.
Stone Shield met the charging Rogue with a perfectly timed [Shield Bash]. Clang! The Rogue staggered back, momentarily stunned. Stone followed up with [Taunt], locking the Rogue's aggro onto him.
The vanished Rogue… my Perception tracked the faint disturbance in the air, the subtle shift of dust motes near Silver Heal's flank. Going for the healer – standard tactic.
"Silver, left flank!" I warned.
Silver Heal reacted instantly, pivoting and unleashing [Holy Smite] not at the visible Rogue fighting Stone, but at the empty space where my Perception indicated the hidden threat was.
A flash of holy light impacted empty air, but a surprised grunt and a damage number [-100!] confirmed the hit. The stealthed Rogue shimmered back into view, health significantly chunked, his assassination attempt disrupted.
He snarled, daggers aimed at Silver Heal again.
No chance.
Mark of Vulnerability snapped onto him.
Thwip-thwip-thwip-thwip-thwip!
My Critical Combo, enhanced by the Chain Reaction effect, tore into him. Arrows flew with impossible speed. Residual energy arced faintly from him towards the Rogue fighting Stone Shield, adding small, incidental damage.
The second Rogue collapsed, daggers falling from lifeless hands.
[Player Killed: ShadowFade]
Two down.
The third Rogue, still engaged with Stone Shield, saw his backup evaporate in seconds. Panic flared in his eyes. He disengaged abruptly, trying to flee down the alley.
Stone Shield was ready, anticipating the move. A quick [Hamstring] equivalent slowed the Rogue significantly.
Mark of Vulnerability.
Critical Combo.
The result was inevitable. Arrows pinned him against the alley wall before he took three steps.
[Player Killed: ShadowStab]
Three kills. Perhaps fifteen seconds total. Clean. Brutal. Decisive.
Silence fell over the alley, broken only by the distant city sounds. Three Shadow Temple corpses lay dissolving outside our warehouse.
Stone Shield lowered his shield, breathing heavily but grinning fiercely. "Damn, Fierce! That was… fast!"
Silver Heal calmly restored the minor health Stone had lost, her expression neutral, but her eyes held a spark of something new – respect, maybe even excitement. "Efficient," she commented. "Minimal risk, maximum prejudice. I approve."
"They underestimated us," I said, scanning the alley again with my Perception. No signs of immediate backup. "They thought they could observe with impunity. We just sent a message back to Wang Kai: Dawn Guild bites back. Hard."
I quickly looted the corpses. More vendor trash, a few silver, standard Rogue poisons. Nothing of real value, confirming they were just scouts.
"They'll be back," Silver Heal stated, matter-of-factly. "And they'll bring more than three Rogues next time."
"Let them come," I replied, my voice cold. "We'll be ready. Stronger."
This first clash, though minor, was significant. It was the first direct conflict with Shadow Temple. We didn't just defend; we annihilated them instantly, showcasing a level of coordination and power far exceeding what a nascent guild should possess.
It raised the stakes. Wang Kai wouldn't ignore this. He'd escalate.
Which meant we needed to escalate faster.
"Alright," I said, turning back into the warehouse. "Phase two begins now. Stone, I need you grinding levels, focusing on defensive gear upgrades. Hit the highest level dungeons you can survive, group if needed, but prioritize XP and tank gear. Silver, same for you – levels and spirit/intellect gear. But also, start researching. Alchemy recipes, rare enchantment scrolls, anything that gives us an edge. Use the guild bank for funding."
I transferred another 100 gold into the newly established guild bank, accessible only to the three of us for now.
"What about you, Fierce?" Stone asked.
"I have components to gather," I said, thinking of Hemlock's impossible demands. Heartwood and Shadow Stalker blood. "And I need to push my levels even higher. Some tasks… are best done alone."
Tasks like venturing into Level 25+ zones to hunt elusive assassins or finding paths to a Level 30 world boss, relying on the System and my knowledge to survive where I logically shouldn't.
"Divide and conquer," Silver Heal nodded in understanding. "Smart. We build the foundation; you forge the spearhead."
"Exactly," I confirmed. "Coordinate via guild chat. Report anything suspicious. Shadow Temple will be watching Oakhaven now. Be careful."
They both nodded, determination in their eyes. The first taste of combat, the clear threat from a major power, hadn't intimidated them. It had solidified their resolve. Dawn Guild's core was strong.
As they logged off or headed out to pursue their tasks, I stood alone in the empty warehouse. The silence felt heavy.
The System chimed softly.
[Ding! Successfully defended nascent organization against hostile established power.]
[First Blood achieved against designated rival entity [Shadow Temple].]
[Calculating Threat Assessment Increase... Significant.]
[Reward: Bonus System Experience. Perception +1 (Permanent Bonus outside of Unshackling).]
Another point of Perception? Interesting. The System seemed to actively reward conflict with my designated rivals. It wanted me to fight Shadow Temple.
And the 'Threat Assessment Increase'... it sounded ominous. Wang Kai would react strongly to losing his scouts so decisively.
My path just got significantly more dangerous. Good. Danger bred opportunity.
Time to hunt some shadows.