Chapter 538: Boundless Grandeur—the Struggle between Leagues

Netherclaw was in a bad mood these days—his tone was gloomy even when speaking to Snowmelt and Dark Dragon on the voice channel.

Still, that was hardly a surprise. His original plan was to borrow the powers of Eight Gods and Holy Clan to steadily usurp Fallen Angels place at the top of the Honor Points leaderboard, beating down that hated clan, along with Bauhinia Clan and Violent Army Clan into second-rate clans. He never expected that Netherspirit’s Menace that came out of nowhere to throw all his plans in a disarray—with him, Homme Fatale, Black Rock, Violet Orchid and other elites present, the Netherspirit’s Claw would not dare to act with the risk of severe harm to their own Clan despite holding a slight advantage.

After two days of calm, bad news started streaming toward them without end…

The Order of the Eight Gods appeared to be continuously beaten by Violent Army Clan. Now, forced to leave the Mythical Battlefield’s Honor Points quest system, they could not even stay in the Buried City, their nearly major clan now reduced to around a thousand players within three days. As billions of H&G players swarmed the Buried City to charge toward Tier 5, they were unable to enter to train, leaving them to a worse fate than death—it was no surprise that even newly joined players were leaving.

Their remaining members had fallen to dire straits, although Holy Clan, another group of victims in Savis Town, did not fare any better.

Raziel’s defeat earned him the beautiful moniker of the “Grandkid”, a video stream having captured his vintage dialogue with Netherclaw’s Menace in their battle.

“Gramps is coming for your life!”

“Whoever dies is the Grandkid!”

Later, edited by someone mockingly, the video showed that the moment when Raziel spread his wings and charged toward Netherclaw’s Menace was one of warm greeting…

“Gramps!”

Then, as Netherclaw’s Menace flapped his own wings to meet him…

“…Grandkid.”

“＃◎￥＃◎…％￥※￥＃”

That video of a stirring battle turned into one of acknowledgment between grandparent and grandchild.

The post heated up for most of the day and quickly became a great classic in the official forum. If it was not removed after someone reported it, Raziel would be left so red-faced that he might delete his account.

Nonetheless, the Clan Leader of Holy Clan had not logged in over several days. His defeat also left the clan dispirited, with many newcomers leaving as well!

On the other hand, the clowns that were Pharaoh Clan and seemed to play an insignificant part in that battle fortunately survived, escaping the pursuit of Violent Army Clan and Fallen Angels—precisely because they did nothing.

The more Netherclaw thought about it, the more he was left annoyed. He could only focus on rebuilding his League, and in his head, the unhelpful Order of the Eight Gods was already eliminated from his list, just as Raziel’s Holy Clan was on a downward spiral without any hope in sight.

Both could no longer support Netherspirit’s Claw.

“Snowmelt! Any developments with the Executors?”

The new clan that was the most famous next to the Fallen Angels and the Violent Army Clan boasted seventeen Winged Champions, five hundred Tier 5 and eight thousand members. It was certainly stronger than Holy Clan, with some League Clans in the past perhaps unable to compare against the new star.

The Executors was the best clan that Netherclaw was observing in hopes of forming a partnership.

If he succeeds, the Netherspirit’s Claw’s League would be a class stronger!

Still…

It was difficult to get a powerful clan join Netherspirit’s Claw beneath their banner!

“Per your instructions, I’ve already offered him the position of Deputy League Master, but he had yet to take it. Oh, right—it appears that Scarlet Bauhinia and another Clan Leader is quite close to him as well… Tch, that bastard seems popular since they have the greatest comprehensive ability apart from Fallen Angels.”

“Hmph!” Netherclaw snorted. “They’re still inferior to Fallen Angels… and yet they’re putting on such airs. The other clans are trash apart from Scarlet Dynasty, but even Scarlet Bauhinia could only at most offer position of Deputy League Master. What, would he just let some novice step on his head? Couldn’t he tell who is stronger between Scarlet Dynasty and Netherspirit’s Claw?”

And that was certainly not wrong. To Scarlet Bauhinia, losing Homme Fatale was equal to losing a pillar just as the departure of a group of elites in Violet Orchid, Slayer’s Heart and Steel Dude left his clan a shade of the former Scarlet Bauhinia League’s glory—Netherspirit’s Claw aside, Scarlet Dynasty was a class below even the Hall of Heroes or Fallen Angels.

Even if they could build the frame of a League, they would never recover their bygone glory!

They were certainly not special compared to Netherspirit’s Claw’s meteoric rise.

“Still…” Snowmelt said hesitantly, “I observe that Remorseless Warrior has no intention of merging with our clan, but nor does he intend to merge with other clans.

“You mean to say that Remorseless Warrior intends to establish himself as a League Master?” Netherclaw’s brow lifted.

“Can’t eliminate that possibility.”

“If that ‘s the case… Hmph. Well, whatever. A fellow so short-sighted is not worth luring—keep an eye out for other clans for me, there are a few clan bosses who appeared recently and are worth pulling in, and they might perhaps be a better choice than the Executors.”

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Even as he said that, Snowmelt already paused for a moment before telling what he thought.

“There is certainly no lack of outstanding clans lately, with some having fine compatibility with their Pets and considerable combat prowess. With time, they might become fine help… It’s a pity that they’re still too inexperienced. It’ll be too late when they finally catch up to us.”

Indeed, the new clans and Tier 5 players were formidable, but while individual ability was important for a League’s Subsidiary, the clan’s overall Honor Points was vital as well. With Netherclaw about to struggle for the title of First League against Majestic Hero and Scarlet Bauhinia, he naturally must not choose a clan that was too inexperienced.

“A pity, then…”

Netherclaw was silent for half a beat, before abruptly sighting. “If Dark Dragon did not clash against Qin Ruo at the Graveyard of the Gods, if I could control Dark Dragon back then… the Winter Demon and Fallen Angels would actually be our ideal partner…”

“Urgh.”

Snowmelt stuttered and kept quiet for some time before saying, “Hmmm. Have to admit that what Qin Ruo made out of nothing is frightening.”

“The man’s himself even more terrifying than that,” Netherclaw said self-deprecatingly. “He could composedly level up even when he’s caught in an environment like the Underworld, while his Honor Points leaped up to over twenty thousand points… Even I am getting worried what kind of a scary opponent the Winter Demon would become after surviving that place.”

“I don’t think you have to worry in that respect. As long as Qin Ruo remains in the Underworld, Fallen Angels could never become a League. It’s useless for them to have all that Honor Points—they could never build a League with Scarlet Bauhinia and Violent Army Clan.”

At that, Snowmelt’s tone abruptly changed.

“If the Netherspirit’s Claw League is founded, our position would become unshakable… What could Qin Ruo do then, even if he steps out from the Underworld? He could no longer threaten our clan.”

“That’s true.”

Of course, Netherclaw was aware of everything Snowmelt was saying. To build a clan, every leader of the Five Great Clans must themselves be present at the Ruler’s Residence. Therefore, nobody can help Qin Ruo with him being in the Underworld: no one can act as his proxy or gather his Honor Points along with that of other clans.

“Still, it is clear that Qin Ruo had found a way against the Liches at the speed that he is obtaining Honor Points. It’s not impossible for him to leave the Underworld before schedule…”

“Moreover, he’s even beginning to use the resources found in that place! He knows information we don’t. I’m even thinking that it’s precisely because we hold such reverence of the Underworld that it kept us from entering and not trying to understand it…”

“What on earth went wrong!” Netherclaw’s tone was somber and a loss.

***

“Boss Qin… I think I want another Divinity Crystal.”

“Eh?”

Windy Groan’s request came to Qin Ruo out of the blue as they rested and sorted out the rewards at camp. Still, he did not hesitate to pass the Bandit one Divinity Crystal and a pile of Spectral Mana Cores right in front of Captain Edgar.

“For that girlfriend of yours—Codlike, right?”

“How did you know, boss?” Windy Groan smiled in embarrassment, scratching the back of his head. If he was to be honest, he was only bold enough to ask that of his Clan Leader after seeing him obtain more than a dozen Divinity Crystals over the past few days, intending to deliver it as a present to his girlfriend who had just leveled up to Tier 5.

“You’ve just told me that Codlike reached Tier 5. Did you forget?”

Qin Ruo replied, handing items to Edgar for appraisal while drawing another Legendary item from the Ring of Honor.

“Here, give this to her as well.”

“Ah! No, I can’t take that, I’ve already got two Divinity Crystals.” Windy Groan hurriedly shook his head. After he swiftly joined Fallen Angels following his first partnership with Qin Ruo and obtaining a Divinity Crystal, things had changed for him as if from hell to heaven when he met his new Clan Leader…

With Qin Ruo’s help, he was freed from the hostile and desperate situation, swapping equipment and becoming a rare Winged Bandit. What could he ask more now that he already received a present for his girlfriend?

Qin Ruo, however, thought nothing of it.

Over the last few days, he could not have slain so many Liches and obtained so many Divinity without Windy Groan’s help, destroying six portals over a two hundred kilometers area. Indeed, the Bandit’s contribution was undeniable for him gaining almost twenty thousand Honor Points and sixty Reputation Points, along with seventeen Dark Divinity Crystals.

Therefore, two Divinity Crystals and several equipment was a mere fraction of the rewards that he obtained in the days before this.

“It’s fine, I’ve already got someone to deliver it for you,” Qin Ruo said, fiddling with the items. “I’m leaving the Underworld, you’re going to stay here alone for some time.”

“Oh. How long would it take for you to come back?” Windy Groan asked, returning the Divinity Crystal to Qin Ruo. He had expected the Aquamancer to leave anyway since there was only one portal left to destroy nearby, while the Liches were mostly slain as well—it was unlikely that he stayed here, wasting time.

“Not sure. But I’m leaving this time to set up the League.”

Qin Ruo’s reveal left Windy Groan in shock!

“Really?”

“Um-hmm. In the next few days if nothing unexpected happens.”