On the other end of the phone, Shadow.Q's voice remained calm:
"So, do you still have Moon Sand? We'd like to purchase so."
Rita leaned back against the headboard, relaxing as she replied lazily,
"I do. But I need it myself and won't be selling."
When it ca to Eclipse Vanguard, traditional lies—no matter how cleverly constructed—were useless. The organization was filled with experts, not to ntion specialized skills like [Is That True?!], a unique ability Rita had seen Brooks use before.
That skill allowed the user to discern the truth behind any information, whether spoken, written, or even a prediction. If Eclipse Vanguard didn't already possess a similar skill, it was likely they had developed sothing equivalent. Lying was pointless—any attempt would be sniffed out instantly.
So why deny it?
Yes, she had Moon Sand in her possession. So what?
There was a ti when she had been weak, relying on Eclipse Vanguard for support. Even with Nivalis by her side, she didn't trust anyone fully—not even her dragon. She would never arrogantly defy a major faction like Eclipse Vanguard, because the risk of Nivalis abandoning her at a critical mont would have left her defenseless and vulnerable.
But that was then.
Ever since leaving the High Tower, she was no longer the sa.
The three centuries spent inside the High Tower had honed her combat skills, allowed her to build an intricate skill system, and prepared her for the challenges ahead.
Take Zoey, for example. Alone, she had managed to wipe out the entire Lopez Family. Rita, however, could multiply that destruction a hundredfold if she truly wanted to—especially with Nivalis by her side. Even if sothing happened to Nivalis, she was confident she wouldn't lose.
Rita quietly listened to the sound of Shadow.Q's breathing, waiting for Eclipse Vanguard's response. She felt both anticipation and a hint of nervousness, but one emotion was conspicuously absent: fear.
What would Eclipse Vanguard do?
The resources and advantages Rita had amassed were now at a boiling point—Moon Sand, Nivalis, resurrection abilities, and more.
Would Eclipse Vanguard turn hostile? Would they guilt-trip her, accusing her of selfishness, of neglecting the greater good? Would they threaten her with the idea of exposing Moon Sand's purpose to the entire world?
After all, Moon Sand offered the chance to rewrite one's fate—a temptation no player could resist. If word got out, everyone would want it. If Rita refused to share, the collective outrage would drown her in public condemnation. She'd go from being a celebrated leader to a universal enemy.
Her accumulated advantages—Moon Sand, Nivalis, alchemy recipes, and the orange-red wings—were like a mountain of gold waiting to be seized. Eclipse Vanguard could easily justify acting against her.
The orange-red wings alone were a perfect excuse. Label her a traitor and take everything for the "greater good."
And if they did? Rita chuckled at the thought, her mind playing out a dramatic scene.
She would grin, crookedly, as though she had expected this betrayal all along.
"Ha! So it finally cos to this," she'd mutter.
Then, alongside Nivalis, she would defend her estate against Eclipse Vanguard's forces in an epic battle.
Three centuries of survival in the High Tower hadn't been wasted. She was confident in her ability to fight off even the highest-level players. With Nivalis mastering new advanced skills during their ti in the High Tower, they were an unstoppable duo.
Even ti-stopping abilities wouldn't guarantee Eclipse Vanguard an edge. Rita had seen their best ti-related skills—it was limited to 30 seconds. Between her current stats, self-crafted top-tier als, and equipnt, she was practically a mini-boss in her own right.
If a single player dared to engage her during a ti-stop, they'd find themselves dead simply from her [Hit Again, I Dare You!] A-rank counterattack skill.
Beyond that, she had mastered dozens of applications for Oakfruit, giving her a massive tactical advantage. She was certain Eclipse Vanguard's players wouldn't even make it past her front gate.
And if the fight escalated? She'd hop onto Nivalis, who would transform into her dragon form, and they'd storm Eclipse Vanguard's headquarters in S-City. She'd bomb their office to rubble, and for good asure, Nivalis would defecate on the ruins.
"Enough is enough!" Rita would proclaim, pointing at the remnants of Eclipse Vanguard's forces.
"I built you up—I can tear you down!"
The forums would explode in chaos.
Player A: "Oh my god, did she really just do that?!"
Player B: "No way... she actually did it!"
Player A: "Traitor!"
But then, the majority of players would rise in her defense.
"She's no traitor—Eclipse Vanguard provoked her first! This has to be a conspiracy. Has Eclipse Vanguard lost their minds?"
Gaaah! The drama! The chaos! The satisfaction!
Rita, grinning like a lunatic, snapped back to reality. She covered her face with her hand, suppressing the giggles threatening to burst out of her.
Nivalis, who had just finished a ga, turned around, startled by the strange, almost sinister chuckling coming from the bed. She watched as Rita alternated between snickering and burying her face in embarrassnt, her laughter still escaping between her fingers.
Nivalis tilted her head and thought to herself, This disease isn't contagious, right?
anwhile, Shadow.Q sat alone in a soundproof glass chamber, surrounded by Eclipse Vanguard's executives on the other side of the glass. The room buzzed with activity as the leaders engaged in heated discussions, so pointing at her while arguing passionately.
Such etings were not uncommon—many had been held for S-rank talent holders or key players like Rita. The outcos were rarely terrible; most individuals ended up cooperating with Eclipse Vanguard, receiving fair compensation in return.
But this ti, the stakes were different. This was the first eting where nearly all of Eclipse Vanguard's top brass were present.
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Shadow.Q yawned, leaning her head on one hand as she stared at the phone on the table, still on speaker. She glanced up and t the gaze of a woman standing at the center of the crowd outside the glass.
Her presence dominated the room, even in silence. Arms crossed, her stance exuded authority and elegance. Her raven-black hair was pinned into an immaculate updo, and her simple yet refined makeup accentuated the natural beauty of her face—every wrinkle seed deliberate, each line telling a story.
She wore a set of matching jewelry—earrings, a hairpin, a necklace, and a ring—all encrusted with purple gemstones. Her magic robe, embroidered with shimring runes and spell lines, occasionally pulsed with a faint violet glow, complenting her jewelry.
Her aura was like the rising sun illuminating the ocean, effortlessly suppressing the brilliance of the jewels she wore. On her, those dazzling ornants seed no more than decorations on a crown.
Her eyes resembled Rita's, yet they were vastly different. Where Rita's gaze carried liveliness, emotion, and whimsy, hers was calm, unreadable—a still lake that gave nothing away.
This was Benjamin Wilson, the Commander of Eclipse Vanguard.
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