4

At the moment the horn blared, the people in Prontera, regardless of travelers, residents or guards, even the announcer himself, formed such a large crowd that could have deterred a massive Baphomet's entrance to the guild war arena. Screaming kids made up the front of the crowd, cheering till hoarse for the guild they were supporting.

The heart of the crowd suddenly scattered and dispersed, clearing the passage for the grand arrival of King Tristan the Third, who was heavily guarded by a handful of veteran knights and crusaders. The people turned their attention towards their king, bowing their heads low due respect, and reverence for the white bearded emperor.

Most of the people mumbled scornfully at those heavily armed protectors, some silently cursing them for flinging them aside to create a passageway for the king, without even a brief apology. Despite their valiant nature, their foul attitude had made them a target of aversion. Yet, the security enforced in their presence had somehow neutralized the feeling of abhorrence.

The announcer stepped up to a high platform and gave a short speech to calm the hysterical crowd and reduce the long anticipation. Even the king himself felt like part of the crowd, since the same anticipation did not fail to assail him.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, let the very last and final battle of supremacy between the guilds begin!" the announcer proudly announced.

The blare of the horn reached a higher crescendo, as if trying to keep up with the increasing excitement. That only made the hyper-active crowd screamed the louder.

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"Damn, we're one member less. What now?" Pay spoke. His question only made his guild worry more.

"There's nothing we can do. Nor do we back out," Cerberus declared.

A look of suspicion crossed Nimmber's fair face. She was deep in thought for a little while longer, before she spoke up.

"That's not the first time he goes to toilet before a guild war," she mumbled.

However, Manald's sensitive ears caught those words.

"What are you thinking?" the dubious priestess asked.

"Nothing," the rogue retorted suddenly, realizing that she was heard.

"You think you might be telling us? There's not much time left, you know?"

"Hmm... Might it be that he crossed over to their side? After all he's a former leader of them."

"That's not possible."

"You'll never know, Manald. He might be an avaricious type."

"Enough. Be glad we're one less instead of two as expected prior," Piffy ineterrupted, reminding them that at least Skull is participating in the battle with them after he left.

At the mention of the assassin, they somehow felt slightly consoled, for he was one of the most skillful members of the guild. He was on par with his guild leader, Cerberus, if not better, due to his advantage in evasion type moves. Skull merely snorted, turning his head away and letting his thoughts drift away.

"Keep to our usual plan. With or without Sagi, we still have to go on," the rogue said as the blaring of horn drowned her words.

The knight leader hollered to his guild, repeating his plans.

"Manald, Piffy, defend the emperium chamber. Pay, get to the top of the tower, and find yourself a good vantage point. Then rain our potential assailants with your arrows."

The hunter, swelling with confidence and euphoria for some action, started his ascend up the towers without delay.

"Without Sagi, I think we will have to do away with our exterior defence. We gotta rely on Pay now. Nimmber and Skull will disrupt State Overlord's proceedings, while I fight off threat from other guilds," the knight continued.

A series of heavy footfalls were heard rushing down the stairs. The Avenger turned around to find Pay racing frantically down the stairs and towards them, his right sleeve stained with blood. A stick seemed to be protruding out of his right shoulder. Upon closer examination, they realized that a freezing arrow had pierced into his shoulder. The hunter grimaced and clutched his shoulder, trying hard to fight off the excruciating pain. He had lost all feeling in his right arm due to the freezing effect, his whole arm slowly turning blue.

"What in Midgard happened?" Piffy shouted as they helped Pay to the base of the stairs.

"Oh no, that's two lost now," Nimmber said.

"Shut up. We need to find out what's going on," Cerberus replied

Pay, still clutching his arm tightly and clenching his teeth in pain, finally found the strength to speak.

"This is no good at all. We got two whole guilds after our necks. Looks like the State Overlord had found themselves an alliance. I was struck by their alliance the minute I reached the tower top. I can't... can't continue this. They immobilized my good arm," Pay explained, offering a quick apology.

Just as the injured hunter concluded his story, the guild heard harsh smites on the tough double doors, threatening to force it open with each attempt. They had no doubt that it was the alliance Pay was talking about.