"Boss, the knight who wiped us out goes by the na Stonehaven. He’s probably cleared the area already."
SavageWolf_Slayer, the Warrior who had gone down first, could barely keep the frustration out of his voice. He had been erased so quickly and decisively that he hadn’t even managed to learn anything useful about his opponent beyond a single na. In all his ti playing Dominion, he had never once run into soone who felt so overwhelmingly out of reach.
"Then find him," the leader snapped. "He needs to learn what happens when soone sses with the Savage Wolves."
"Boss, this guy’s is different," SavageWolf_Slayer said, hesitating before continuing. "We didn’t even get a chance to trade blows. It felt like we were fighting a wall. I’m almost certain he’s the guy sitting at the top of the Rank 1 leaderboard. If we want to bring him down, numbers alone won’t cut it. We’ll need the right gear, and we’ll need a real plan."
SavageWolf_Wind, the Archer who had been the last one standing, said nothing at first. Even now, the mory of that final throw made a chill crawl up his spine. Crossing Stonehaven again filled him with unease, but pride burned hotter than fear. The Savage Wolves did not take losses quietly, and they certainly did not walk away after being humiliated.
"Stonehaven... the Rank 1 player," the leader murmured, his fingers tapping against the table. He was many things, but reckless was not one of them. "Fine. You four gather everything you can. His habits, his movents, his stats, where he spends his ti. When there’s an opening, we strike."
"You got it, Boss."
The Savage Wolves had found themselves a target worthy of their attention. They were a guild that thrived on their reputation as predators within Dominion. Strength, bloodlust, and ruthlessness were the pillars they stood on. They cared nothing for justice or public approval. All that mattered was acting without restraint and carving their na into the ga as sothing to be feared. Respect was aningless to them. What they wanted was dread.
They lived for the hunt, and the stronger the prey, the more violently their battle lust surged.
When it ca to their enemies, compromise did not exist. The Savage Wolves would chase a target across the map and beyond, using every dirty trick and underhanded tactic available until their foe stayed dead. Titles, strength, or reputation ant nothing. To them, every conflict ended the sa way. One side stood. The other did not.
They did not fear making enemies. What they feared was a world without worthy opposition, a dull ga where their fangs had nothing left to tear into.
The Rank 1 player as an enemy felt like a blessing handed down from the heavens.
Soon, the headlines would spread across Dominion. "Savage Wolves Dethrone Rank 1 Player." Just imagining it made the leader’s blood boil with anticipation. SavageWolf_Alpha’s fighting spirit was fully ablaze.
---
"Marcus, you were amazing!"
Marcus had deliberately led Lily and Amber on a wide loop around the outer districts of Dragon’s Peak Citadel before entering through the South Gate, avoiding unnecessary attention for as long as possible. Now they were heading toward his mansion within the city. Once he gave them permission, they would be able to set their personal teleport points there, allowing them to warp directly to the estate whenever they used a Town Portal Scroll. Still, neither Lily nor Amber seed particularly focused on logistics. They were riding the afterglow of the earlier fight.
"Of course I was," Marcus replied with a confident grin. "I didn’t claw my way to Rank 1 just to struggle against a bunch of thugs."
"Hehe, I know, I know. My big bro is the best."
"Amber."
"Yeah?"
Marcus’s tone shifted, losing its casual warmth. Amber blinked and looked up at him, confusion flickering across her face before giving way to a flash of anxiety. For a brief mont, she wondered if she had said sothing wrong, if she had finally gone too far and upset him.
"Amber, listen carefully," Marcus said. "From now on, if anyone tries to ss with you, I want you to ping imdiately or log out. Don’t fight them. Don’t engage. If sothing happened to you..." His voice tightened. "I’d never forgive myself."
"Marcus..."
Without warning, Amber stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him. Tears spilled down her cheeks as she buried her face against his chest, her shoulders shaking as she cried.
"Amber? Hey, what’s wrong?" Marcus asked, startled.
Her sudden breakdown caught him completely off guard, and before he could react, they had beco the center of attention in the heart of Dragon’s Peak Citadel.
From the mont they entered the city, Lily and Amber had already been drawing eyes. Two stunning won appearing seemingly out of nowhere was enough to bring players to a halt. Their beauty was flawless, and the aura they carried only heightened the effect. Whispers spread quickly, so wondering if they were hidden NPCs, others joking that the system had glitched and created sothing impossibly perfect. One was serene and gentle, the other lively and irresistibly adorable.
Naturally, Marcus beca the most envied man in the city.
Walking with two won like that was bad enough, but Lily, graceful and composed, clinging lightly to his arm with a warm smile and eyes reserved only for him, pushed many male players past their limit.
Then there was Amber. Bright, energetic, her hand firmly entwined with Marcus’s, she gazed around the city with open curiosity. Yet every ti her eyes returned to him, they shone with such pure affection that it was painfully obvious he was the center of her world.
The collective jealousy of the male player base edged toward eruption.
Who the hell is that guy?
This has to be a cri. How can one person have both of them?
If looks could kill, Marcus would have ceased to exist on the spot. Teeth ground together throughout the plaza, the sound almost audible.
Then Marcus said sothing, and the cheerful, adorable Amber burst into tears.
What kind of bastard makes a girl like that cry?
A few players even stepped forward, their expressions righteous as if ready to intervene. That impulse died instantly when they saw Amber clinging to Marcus, her body pressed close to his, as though he were the only safe place in the world.
"Amber, what is it?" Marcus whispered, lowering his voice as he looked down at her. Her face was streaked with tears, but beneath the sadness was a radiant smile, fragile and luminous at the sa ti. She looked like a pear blossom caught in the rain, heartbreakingly beautiful even in sorrow.
His chest tightened.
"Amber, talk to . Don’t scare ," he said softly, lifting a hand to gently wipe the tears from her cheeks.
"Marcus..." Her voice trembled, each word tugging painfully at his heart. "I’m just so happy. I couldn’t stop myself."
"I’ll listen to you. Whatever you say, I promise," she continued, her voice steadier now. "I won’t do anything reckless again. I won’t make you worry."
As the words left her lips, Amber suddenly pulled him closer, tightening the embrace, her arms wrapping firmly around his neck as she pressed her forehead against his chest.
It happened so fast that Marcus froze for half a second, caught completely off guard.
Right there, in the middle of the bustling plaza, under the unblinking gaze of every player in Dragon’s Peak Citadel, Amber clung to him as if she were afraid he might disappear the mont she let go.
"Marcus..." she murmured, her voice soft but clear. "Thank you. For always being there."
She lifted her head slightly and, instead of anything improper, planted a quick, affectionate kiss against his cheek before resting her forehead against his shoulder again, smiling through lingering tears.
The effect was imdiate. The tension in the plaza shattered, confusion replacing outrage. The players who had been ready to charge forward hesitated, suddenly unsure what exactly they had been witnessing. What they saw now was not scandal, but sothing unmistakably sincere.
It felt like a younger sister clinging to the brother she trusted more than anyone else.
"Amber..." Marcus exhaled slowly, his heart finally settling as he raised a hand and rested it gently on the back of her head. "You scared ."
She laughed softly, the sound muffled against him. "Sorry. I just couldn’t help it. You’re really amazing, Marcus," Amber said as she finally pulled back, her eyes bright again, her familiar mischievous grin returning. "I knew I could count on you."
Marcus shook his head, helpless but fond. "You’re unbelievable."
He stood there for a mont longer, watching her bounce back to Lily’s side as if nothing dramatic had just occurred. Amber was emotional, impulsive, and endlessly expressive, and she had a talent for turning even the smallest mont into sothing unforgettable.
It drove him crazy sotis. But she was his little sister. And protecting her, no matter the cost, felt as natural as breathing.
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