Chapter 17: Rumors of the Elite Knights
Zaphro's POV
The soft glow of twilight bathed the Village of Angels in a serene light. The grand cathedral, where Leanne and I had just exchanged vows, stood majestically behind us. The ceremony had been nothing short of magical, with our closest friends bearing witness to our union. Now, as the village settled into a peaceful hush, only Leanne, Gwydox, and I remained in the square, basking in the afterglow of the day's events.
Suddenly, a familiar figure approached us. Clad in his signature stealth gear, Kobi-23 emerged from the shadows, his presence as enigmatic as ever.
"Congratulations, Zaphro," he greeted, a subtle smile playing on his lips. "Heard about the ceremony. Quite the event."
"Thanks, Kobi," I replied, genuinely pleased to see him. "Didn't expect to see you here."
He glanced around, ensuring no one else was within earshot. "Got some intel. Top secret. Mind if we talk?"
Curiosity piqued, I nodded. "Lead the way."
We left Leanne and Gwydox in the square, their laughter fading as we ventured into a secluded alleyway behind the cathedral.
Once we were alone, Kobi's demeanor shifted. "There's trouble brewing," he began. "Four new players have appeared—angel class, max level 200. They're wreaking havoc, killing low-level players indiscriminately, regardless of race."
I frowned. "That's... unusual. Any idea who they are?"
Kobi shook his head. "Their in-game names are unfamiliar. It's as if they materialized out of nowhere. They call themselves the Elite Knights."
"The Elite Knights?" I echoed. "Never heard of them."
"Neither had I," Kobi admitted. "But there's more. Rumors suggest they might be part of a larger organization—a syndicate or mafia-like group aiming to control the game for illicit activities."
I processed the information, concern growing. "That's a serious allegation."
Kobi nodded. "Indeed. But the way they're operating—it's too coordinated for a random group of players. Someone's pulling the strings."
I sighed. "We'll need to keep an eye on them. Can't let them disrupt the balance."
"Agreed," Kobi said. "But be careful. They're dangerous."
Changing the subject, I asked, "By the way, the tournament's next week. You participating?"
Kobi chuckled. "Not my scene. I've got other matters to attend to."
We exchanged a few more words before parting ways. As I returned to the square, Leanne and Gwydox were engaged in animated conversation.
"Everything okay?" Leanne asked, noticing my serious expression.
"Just some intel from Kobi," I replied, forcing a smile. "Nothing to worry about."
We decided to log out for the night, the day's events weighing heavily on my mind. The joy of our ceremony was now tinged with the foreboding knowledge of the Elite Knights. The game was changing, and we'd need to be ready for whatever came next.
The next day...
The soft hum of the login sequence faded, replaced by the familiar gentle winds and vibrant colors of Frontier Village. A soothing calm settled over me for just a moment before the pop-ups came flooding in—friend messages, system alerts, and a notification about the upcoming Enigma Tournament.
But today wasn't about alerts or anomalies.
Today was about us.
One by one, the familiar faces began materializing around the fountain at the village center. First came Verillion, casually spinning his massive staff like it was a twig, followed by Ayana, clad in her golden armor with that ever-cocky smirk.
"Yo," Verillion said. "Heard we're having a little... strategy meet?"
Ayana nudged him. "More like wedding after-party plus war prep. Where's the groom?"
I raised a hand. "Present."
"Kuya!" A voice squealed, and Accel lunged forward, nearly tackling me in a hug. "Dude, last night's wedding—ten out of ten! Do it again next patch!"
"I'm not repeating vows every update, you crazy!," I chuckled, patting his head.
A ripple of system glimmers later, and more avatars began loading in. My best friend Slicer_DM, Aryus, Shion, Jin, Xavier, Erik, Erenir, even my elusive cousin Great_Kai, all gathered in sync like it was some grand reunion episode.
And of course... she was there too.
Leanne, my wife in-game now, waved at me from a bench with a soft smile. She looked radiant—even outside the cathedral glow.
"Can't believe everyone's here," I muttered, stepping forward.
"You summoned us, Guildmaster," Slicer said, arms crossed and grinning. He already know my plan. "You better have something dramatic to say."
"Oh, he does," came a low, grumbling voice. Floating just beside me was Gwydox, my Animus AI partner. Still moody, still glitching occasionally, but fully recompiled and loyal—well, most of the time. "He's been thinking of this guild thing since before the vows."
I cleared my throat and turned to the group.
"Alright. As most of you probably already guessed—this tournament next week isn't just a player-versus-player event. Rumors are, it'll be Guild versus Guild, and probably one of the biggest system events since the launch. With new factions rising and strange behaviors from rogue players... we can't afford to go in as individuals."
Everyone was quiet.
"I've thought about this a long time," I said, glancing at Slicer and Leanne. "And last night... something changed. It's not just about fighting anymore. It's about protecting what we've built—each other."
"Cheesy," Gwydox muttered. "But not wrong."
I stepped forward, opened the guild creation menu, and typed in the name that had been echoing in my mind since my ceremony.
The Fallen Halo
A soft chime echoed through the village, followed by system text:
> [System Notice: A new guild has been formed: The Fallen Halo]
Guild Leader: Zaphro
Vice Leader: Slicer_DM
Commanders: Verillion, Ayana, Accel, Aryus
Members: Shion, Jin, Xavier, Erik, Erenir, Great_Kai, Leanne
There was a long pause before Ayana burst out laughing.
"Fallen Halo? That's... actually kind of badass."
"It's poetic," Aryus said, nodding solemnly. "A halo lost, reborn in fire."
Accel was grinning like a kid who got picked for a team. "We're officially guilded! Can we get jackets? Matching cloaks?"
"Let's not get carried away," Verillion chuckled. "But yeah... I'm in. All in."
One by one, they all accepted the guild invites as they popped up, their character titles updating with a shimmering effect that read:
> [Member of The Fallen Halo]
The whole square seemed to shift, the vibe going from casual gathering to something more unified. It felt... real.
"So, what's the plan, Guildmaster?" Slicer asked, flicking open his quest log. "Training montage? Screaming matches? Dramatic betrayals?"
I smirked. "We start by understanding what we're up against."
I turned to the group and began briefing them on what Kobi_23 told me yesterday.
"There are four new Angel-Class players—max level 200. No records, no known backgrounds. They go by one title: The Elite Knights. I saw footage from Kobi—these guys are not here to play fair. They're killing low-levels indiscriminately, regardless of race or affiliation. Even in safe zones."
Everyone fell silent.
Jin tilted his head. "You think they're converted players? From the migration system?"
"Possibly," I answered. "But it doesn't feel right. Kobi said their IGNs just popped into existence. Like they were spawned in... not transferred. No records even from other games."
"And get this," I added, "there's a theory going around that they're part of a larger group—maybe a mafia-like organization. Something illegal, trying to take control of the game from the inside."
Leanne frowned, stepping closer. "So they're not just griefers. They're organized."
"Exactly," I nodded. "And if they're going to be in the tournament too... we need to be ready for anything."
Erenir crossed his arms. "What's our move then?"
"We train. Sharpen roles. Learn each other's styles. We're a strong party, yeah—but this guild thing? This is a new level. No weak links."
Everyone nodded.
"We'll assign roles tomorrow," I continued. "And start joint training missions. Slicer will handle offensive coordination. The Commanders will manage squads if needed. Gwydox will provide backend support, maybe dig up more dirt on the Elite Knights."
"Tch. Now I'm your errand boy," Gwydox growled. "Fine. But I want a guild room with a data chair."
"You'll get your chair," I smirked.
Ayana laughed. "You know, for a bunch of random players who met by accident... this feels like fate."
"I don't believe in fate," Verillion said. "But I believe in Zaph."
"Damn right you do," Accel added, punching the air. "Fallen Halo's gonna sweep the tournament!"
Xavier grinned. "Let's make sure our name means something. Not just another flashy guild."
As the sun in Frontier Village dipped into the horizon, our new guild banner fluttered above us—a shimmering sigil of a broken halo wrapped in ethereal light and shadow. Not just angels. Not just dark ones.
Something in between.
I took one last look at them all—my party, my friends, my guild—and smiled.
This was just the beginning.
And whatever the Elite Knights and GM Rowan had planned... we'd be ready.