Chapter 94: Abyss Strikes

The "Abyss" Squad, armed to the teeth, was like a blade that had been meticulously forged, polished, and tempered.

Now, it desperately needed a real battle to test its newly sharpened edge.

Aiden chose a route leading northeast of Ashford City, toward a Level 12–15 dungeon known as the Howling Mine. The dungeon had a moderate monster density, making it an ideal place to test the squad’s coordination and evaluate the performance of their new equipment in actual combat.

However, in the apocalypse, human hearts were often far more sinister than monsters.

Just as they passed through the ruins of what had once been an industrial park, a burst of arrogant shouting mixed with suppressed sobbing drifted intermittently on the wind.

"Damn it! What are you dawdling for? Hurry up and pay this week’s ’management fee’!"

"Dragon... Big brothers from the Dragon Sovereign Guild, we... we really haven’t farmed much gold. We need these materials to trade for medicine..."

"Cut the crap! Either pay up or get lost! If you keep yapping, do you believe I’ll strip you bare and throw you to the zombies?"

"Please, I beg you... Give us two more days!"

Aiden’s eyes turned cold. He raised a hand, signaling the squad to stop.

The three quietly moved behind a broken wall and peered toward the source of the voices.

In the middle of a relatively intact street, five players wearing uniform leather armor had surrounded three players who appeared to be ordinary solo players.

Simple strips of cloth embroidered with crude dragon patterns were wrapped around the five players’ arms, clearly identifying them as members of the Dragon Sovereign Guild.

The three surrounded players—a pair of men and a woman—were all around Level 5. Their equipment was worn and tattered, and fear and helplessness were plainly visible on their faces.

The five members of the Dragon Sovereign Guild ranged from Level 6 to Level 7.

Their leader was a tall, thin warrior at Level 7. His face was twisted into an undisguised expression of arrogance and greed.

They were clearly peripheral members of the Dragon Sovereign Guild, bullying weaker players and forcibly collecting so-called "protection fees."

"It’s the Dragon Sovereign’s people!" Silas whispered, his voice filled with anger.

His eyes immediately flashed with fury.

Silas had come from the bottom of society himself, so he had little tolerance for people who preyed on the weak.

And these weren’t just any bullies. They were members of an enemy guild.

Beside him, Luna nervously grabbed the corner of Aiden’s coat. Her small face was filled with sympathy as she watched the three helpless players.

Aiden’s gaze swept across the trembling trio before settling on the five arrogant members of the Dragon Sovereign Guild.

His eyes were as cold as blades. He wasn’t a saint. He had no intention of saving everyone in this cruel apocalypse, nor did he harbor any naive belief that he could change the world.

If anything, Aiden understood the darkness of the apocalypse better than most.

But this situation had presented itself at exactly the right time.

It was an opportunity. He could suppress the arrogance of the Dragon Sovereign Guild and weaken its influence among the weaker players around Ashford City.

He could also use the battle to test the Abyss Squad’s newly acquired equipment under real combat conditions.

And, most importantly... His gaze briefly returned to the three frightened players.

He could win their gratitude. If handled properly, these three players could become the first seeds of the Abyss Squad’s reputation.

After all, in the apocalypse, reputation could sometimes be sharper than a blade.

If Abyss became known as the group that protected the weak from the Dragon Sovereign Guild, while the Dragon Sovereign Guild became associated with bullying and exploitation, then Aiden wouldn’t merely be fighting his enemy with weapons.

He would be fighting them through the hearts of the people.

A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

"Let’s see," he murmured, "how sharp our new blade really is."

Aiden’s gaze returned to the battlefield.

The tall, thin warrior had grown impatient.

He stepped forward and reached out to grab the female solo player’s wrist.

That was enough.

"Silas. Luna."

Aiden’s voice was low and clear. "Prepare to move. Silas, protect Luna and block the first wave of attacks. Luna, no fancy tricks—just standard support."

His eyes narrowed. "Let’s make this quick."

"Understood!"

Silas licked his lips, a fierce glint flashing across his eyes. The [Resolute Tower Shield] strapped to his back seemed almost to hum with anticipation.

"Mhm!"

Luna nodded firmly, tightening her grip around her staff. The [Moonlight Meditation Set] shimmered faintly, its soft radiance barely visible.

The tall, thin warrior’s hand was only inches away from the woman’s wrist when—

BANG!

A dull, thunderous impact exploded through the street.

Silas burst out from behind the broken wall like a steel fortress suddenly brought to life.

His massive body surged forward with unstoppable momentum, and the [Resolute Tower Shield] in his hands slammed into the unsuspecting Dragon Sovereign mage like a battering ram.

-78!

The mage didn’t even have time to react.

His body was sent flying backward, crashing heavily onto the ground as his HP instantly plummeted, leaving him in a near-death state.

"Enemy attack!"

The tall, thin warrior reacted almost immediately.

His expression changed drastically as he drew his longsword.

"Who’s the blind fool—"

His words abruptly stopped.

Aiden had already appeared beside him.

Like a ghost emerging from the shadows, he moved without making the slightest sound.

The dark-golden blade in his hand flashed.

Aiden deliberately avoided the warrior’s vital points.

Instead, he targeted the wrist holding the sword.

-105! (Armor Pierce)

"Ah!"

The tall, thin warrior screamed.

A sharp, bone-deep pain shot through his wrist, causing his fingers to spasm. His grip on the longsword loosened, and he nearly dropped the weapon.

At almost the same moment, Luna raised her staff and tapped it lightly against the ground.

A soft, moonlike radiance enveloped Silas.

It wasn’t a healing spell.

Instead, it was one of the weaker support effects provided by the [Moonlight Meditation Set].

A faint glow spread across Silas’s armor, making his already formidable defenses appear even more imposing.

"Damn it! Take them out!"

The remaining three Dragon Sovereign members finally recovered from their shock.

With anger replacing their initial confusion, they charged forward with their weapons raised.

But the person standing in their way was Silas.

Clad in rare heavy armor and equipped with gear that had pushed his defensive capabilities to an entirely different level, Silas looked less like a player and more like an immovable fortress.

"Bring it on!"

Silas laughed wildly. He didn’t dodge. He didn’t retreat.

Instead, he planted his feet firmly against the ground and thrust his tower shield forward.

Clang! Clang! Thud!

Weapons crashed against the shield and heavy armor.

Sparks flew in every direction. Yet Silas didn’t move an inch.

The [Immovable] effect activated.

A thin, earthy-yellow barrier silently enveloped his body, further reinforcing his already terrifying defenses.

At the same time, the [Taunt Arm Crossbow] mounted behind his left arm shield suddenly lit up with an earthy-yellow glow.

Whoosh!

An energy bolt shot through the air. It struck the thief attempting to circle around Silas from the flank.

-32!

The damage wasn’t particularly high. But the moment the bolt struck, the thief’s body stiffened.

A flash of confusion crossed his eyes.

Then, as though an invisible hand had seized control of his instincts, he abruptly abandoned his original target and turned toward Silas.

"Die!"

He charged forward and began attacking Silas frantically.

[Forced Taunt]!

From that moment onward, the battle became almost completely one-sided.

Silas stood at the front like an unshakable mountain, absorbing the enemy’s attacks and firmly drawing their attention.

Aiden, meanwhile, moved through the battlefield like a silent reaper.

Every time the [Devouring Soul Blade] flashed, another Dragon Sovereign member was either injured or had their weapon damaged.

Aiden deliberately controlled his strength.

He could have killed them. But he didn’t. Instead, every strike was carefully placed to cripple their ability to fight without taking their lives.

A slash across an arm. A blow against a knee. A strike that sent a weapon flying from someone’s hand.

Each attack left the Dragon Sovereign members grimacing in agony, their once-arrogant expressions gradually replaced by fear.

Behind them, Luna remained calm and steady. She occasionally cast a weak healing spell to stabilize Silas’s barely fluctuating HP bar, but for the most part, she simply observed the battlefield.

She was learning.

Learning how Silas moved. Learning how Aiden attacked. Learning how their equipment worked together.

And learning how to support her teammates without wasting unnecessary mana.

The entire battle lasted less than two minutes.

When it finally ended, all five peripheral members of the Dragon Sovereign Guild—including the tall, thin warrior—were sprawled across the ground, groaning in pain.

None of them could fight anymore.

Their weapons lay scattered around them, their equipment battered, and their faces were filled with fear and disbelief.

They had no idea who these people were.

They had no idea what kind of background they possessed.

They only knew one thing.

The squad that had suddenly appeared before them possessed equipment far beyond anything they had expected.

And the five of them had been completely crushed.

For several seconds, the three rescued solo players simply stood there in stunned silence.

Only now did the reality of what had happened truly sink in.

They were alive. The Dragon Sovereign members who had been bullying them were lying helplessly on the ground.

And the mysterious squad that had intervened had defeated all five of them in less than two minutes.

Relief, lingering fear, and awe mixed across their faces.

Aiden paid them no attention at first. He walked over to the tall, thin warrior and stopped in front of him.

Looking down at him, Aiden’s expression remained cold.

When he spoke, however, he deliberately raised his voice so that the three solo players could hear every word.

"Remember this." He paused. "The people who defeated you are called Abyss."

The warrior’s expression tightened, but he didn’t dare respond.

Aiden continued, his voice carrying a faint chill.

"Tell Damien Bale that Ashford City isn’t under the sole control of his so-called Dragon Sovereign yet."

His gaze swept across the five battered players.

"Now, get lost."

The three words sounded almost like a decree of amnesty.

The five Dragon Sovereign members exchanged glances.

None of them dared utter another word. They hurriedly helped one another to their feet and staggered away, fleeing in a pathetic state as quickly as their injuries allowed.

Only after they had disappeared into the ruins did Aiden turn around.

His gaze settled on the three rescued players.

The coldness on his face faded slightly, though his expression remained calm and indifferent.

"Th-thank you for saving our lives, big boss!"

The leading male solo player finally snapped out of his daze and hurriedly bowed.

His voice still trembled with excitement.

"Thank you! Thank you so much!"

The other two quickly followed, their faces filled with gratitude.

Aiden waved a hand dismissively. "It was nothing."

His tone was indifferent. "The Dragon Sovereign acts tyrannically, and I simply can’t stand watching them bully weaker players."

He glanced at the three of them. "Be more careful in the future."

That was all. Aiden didn’t ask their names. He didn’t inquire about their abilities. And he certainly didn’t try to recruit them. There was no need.

A favor freely given without asking for anything in return would often leave a deeper impression than one given with an obvious motive.

Let the gratitude grow naturally. Let the name Abyss spread on its own.

Aiden had no intention of forcing his reputation upon anyone.

He only needed to plant the seed. The rest could be left to the people themselves.

"Let’s go." Aiden turned around.

Silas and Luna immediately followed.

The three continued toward the Howling Mine, their figures gradually disappearing into the ruins as though the entire incident had been nothing more than a trivial interruption to their journey.

Behind them, however, the three solo players remained rooted to the spot.

Their eyes followed the departing figures, especially the badge on Aiden’s chest.

The Abyss insignia radiated a dark, gloomy aura, making the squad appear even more mysterious.

"Abyss... I’ve remembered that name."

The leading male player clenched his fists.

"They’re too strong! That tank is practically a fortress! And that guy with the short blade... I couldn’t even see how he moved!"

"And they weren’t afraid of the Dragon Sovereign Guild at all!"

"Exactly! If we encounter people from Abyss again, we have to thank them properly!"

Their excited voices gradually faded into the ruins.

But the story didn’t.

News traveled quickly among the scattered groups of survivors and solo players.

A mysterious squad called Abyss had appeared.

They were powerful enough to crush members of the Dragon Sovereign Guild.

They didn’t bully the weak. And, more importantly, they dared to stand against the Dragon Sovereign Guild when everyone else was trying to avoid trouble.

The name Abyss began spreading from one group of survivors to another.

Slowly but surely, the mysterious squad entered the awareness of more and more players.

Meanwhile, far ahead, Aiden walked through the ruins with Silas and Luna.

A faint smile curled at the corner of his lips.

The encounter had gone exactly as he had intended.

He had struck a blow against the Dragon Sovereign Guild. He had tested his new equipment in actual combat. And he had planted the first seeds of Abyss’s reputation.

Three birds with one stone. Aiden couldn’t help but find it amusing.

Apparently, playing the hero and standing up for justice could be quite a profitable good deed.