The ethereal beauty of the two handmaidens was breathtaking. Even a casual glance was enough to make people pause, but a closer look made their beauty almost overwhelming.
Their features were exquisitely refined, flawless to a degree that seed unreal. Yet what made them truly striking was the strange contrast in their presence. There was a cold, distant pride about them, the quiet arrogance of soone accustod to standing above others, and yet at the sa ti they carried the gentle composure of obedient attendants. They could appear soft and demure like loyal servants, tender and graceful, but in the next mont their bearing resembled that of noble princesses whose dignity made others feel instinctively small.
Their brows curved like slender crescents, and their eyes were clear and fluid like flowing water. Their lips held a natural crimson hue without the slightest trace of costics, while their teeth shone with the pale brightness of polished jade. Long, smooth hair fell freely over their shoulders, giving them an almost otherworldly elegance, as though they had stepped out of so distant fairyland rather than the mortal world.
Their slender figures only added to that impression. Their waists were delicate and supple like willow branches swaying in the breeze, their posture both graceful and light. The purity of their appearance carried an undercurrent of quiet allure, an almost imperceptible charm that stirred the heart without seeming deliberate.
They were rare beauties by any standard. And even more astonishing, they were identical twins.
Without looking closely at the equipnt they carried, it would have been nearly impossible to tell them apart.
"Raven. Skye," Blaze Phoenix said calmly. "I want you to keep watch on that rabbit-masked Knight. Gather as much information about him as possible, but do not allow him to notice you. Most importantly, do not provoke him. If anything unusual happens, report back imdiately. I want to know which faction he belongs to and who might be backing him."
"Yes, Master," the twins replied together.
After receiving their orders, the two handmaidens quietly withdrew from the room.
Blaze Phoenix remained seated behind the cherry blossom screen. His fingers began tapping lightly against the armrest of the chair, the soft rhythm of thump... thump... thump echoing faintly in the quiet hall.
Could the Knight riding the Nightmare Dragon Steed really be the player who currently stood at the very top of Dominion’s Level Leaderboard? The one who was a Royal Knight?
Obtaining a Divine Mount was not sothing luck alone could accomplish. Even the rarest fortune still required strength to claim it.
Blaze Phoenix considered the possibility carefully. To be safe, he had sent the two most perceptive and agile attendants under his command. If the mysterious Knight truly was the strongest player in Dominion, then confirming that fact would be extrely valuable.
In terms of raw combat ability, Raven and Skye were no match for the Twelve Cherry Blossom Envoys. The difference between them was considerable.
Even so, Blaze Phoenix had deliberately chosen the twins for this task.
The Twelve Cherry Blossom Envoys were his most formidable force. Each of them had been selected from among countless infants and raised in isolation from the outside world, trained relentlessly in ancient combat techniques. They were the shadows that guarded him, warriors of unquestionable loyalty whose individual abilities were exceptional.
Blaze Phoenix trusted them completely. But precisely because of that, he could not send them.
The Twelve Envoys possessed extraordinary strength, but their upbringing had taken place in a sealed and controlled environnt. Their understanding of the outside world was shallow. They had never truly learned what it ant to encounter opponents stronger than themselves, nor did they grasp the reality that beyond every peak there was always another mountain.
Their strength had beco a flaw. They were too confident in it and too conspicuous.
Too convinced of their own invincibility.
If Blaze Phoenix sent them to investigate the rabbit-masked Knight, the outco was almost predictable.
If the Knight proved weak, the Twelve Envoys would likely kill him without hesitation and attempt to seize the Nightmare Dragon Steed for themselves. If the Knight proved strong, their pride would drive them into direct confrontation anyway, determined to prove their superiority.
Either way, the situation would spiral into open conflict.
And if the Knight truly was the number one player in Dominion, the Twelve Envoys, who were only beginning to encounter the complexities of the outside world, would likely crash headfirst into a wall and suffer a humiliating defeat.
That was why Blaze Phoenix had chosen Raven and Skye instead.
Though the twins were still young, they were quick-minded and perceptive. They understood how to observe quietly and withdraw when necessary. Even in the worst case scenario, if they were discovered, they possessed another advantage.
The most effective weapon against most n had always been temptation.
With their delicate beauty and youthful charm, the sisters’ natural allure was almost impossible to resist.
The only unfortunate detail was their stubborn temperant. Both Raven and Skye held a deep disdain for n and avoided contact with them whenever possible. Otherwise, sending them to infiltrate the Knight’s inner circle would have been the perfect solution.
Blaze Phoenix leaned back slightly in his chair as his thoughts drifted.
Why would soone who ranked first on the Level Leaderboard, who possessed the Divine Mount Nightmare Dragon Steed, and who already stood at the peak of fa choose to hide his identity?
That kind of reputation was a priceless asset in Dominion. Fa could attract allies, followers, and opportunities beyond asure.
Yet the rabbit-masked Knight had chosen anonymity.
There had to be a reason.
Blaze Phoenix slowly turned the possibilities over in his mind, searching for a motive or perhaps even a weakness that could be exploited.
The top player on both the Level and Reputation Leaderboards was a hidden class known as the Royal Knight. That alone strongly suggested they were the sa person.
But sothing else was curious.
The players currently ranked first on both the Pet Leaderboard and the Mount Leaderboard had also hidden their nas.
Could there be a connection between them?
---
"Marcus, what are you planning to do with that Guild Creation Token? Are you really going to auction it off?"
Chloe slowed her pace slightly as she spoke, glancing back while Marcus and Anya caught up from behind on the Violet Thunderwing Steed.
"Yes. I’m sending it to the auction house."
Marcus answered simply.
Chloe’s expression carried a trace of curiosity. From the tone of her voice, it was clear she had hoped he might use the token to establish a guild of his own.
"No. Starting a guild doesn’t interest ," Marcus said with a faint shake of his head. "I’m not doing it."
For many powerful players, founding their own guild was a dream worth pursuing.
For Marcus, however, the idea stirred no excitent at all.
A guild without his Bros ant nothing to him. Building a new one from scratch held no appeal.
With his current abilities, creating a powerful guild in Dominion would not have been difficult, even without the people who once stood beside him. Plenty of players would have been eager to join.
But the truth was simple. There had only ever been one guild he truly wanted.
The IronWing.
mories surfaced unbidden as he rode forward.
He rembered the days when they marched into guild wars together, crushing rival factions beneath their banners. He rembered the exhilaration of battle, the thrill of hunting enemies across the battlefield, and the shaless, almost wicked strategies they had sotis used to win.
He even rembered their more ridiculous antics. Camping outside the gates of Newbie Village to ambush unsuspecting players. Surrounding newcors and pressuring them until they reluctantly joined the guild. Laughing together over reckless plans that inevitably failed, like their repeated attempts to capture system cities before they were strong enough.
Those chaotic days were ssy, ridiculous, and unforgettable.
If his bros could not stand beside him again, then he would never start another guild. So mories were too precious to replace.
The IronWing would remain exactly what it was in his heart.
The best mory he had.
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