21 Chapter21-Stirring the Entire Forum

"Holy crap, a cheat!"

"Damn, Rock Guild got wrecked. It hurts just watching."

"Mother of God, was that intense! Are we sure this isn't a clip from a sci-fi movie?"

"This looks like a scroll attack, but how can it be this terrifying? Could it be an epic-grade scroll?"

"Is this edited? Can players really inflict such monstrous damage?"

"The fact that the officials pinned it means it's been verified."

"If this is real, is the poster that player? If so, big shot, are you taking on apprentices? Or can I be your errand boy, serving you tea and water daily?"

"Kinda jealous of the Rock Guild players, witnessing that firsthand."

"To the guy above, I suspect you're taking pleasure in their misfortune, and I've got evidence!"

...

Endless chatter echoed, as everyone marveled at the spectacle of flames, sharing their comments incessantly.

Since [Original Realm] launched over a month ago, while players were still outwitting low-level monsters, none expected someone to unleash such a devastating area attack.

Merely watching the video left them awestruck.

Speaking of which, one couldn't help but mention the backdrop for this display: Rock Guild.

At this moment, countless comments swarmed under Rock Guild's official account.

Players were paying their respects with a digital moment of silence, increasingly curious about how they managed to provoke such a powerhouse.

Rock Guild's players felt truly wronged.

How were they to know that this guy named ShepherdWind had such a terrifying ace up his sleeve?

Had they known, they would've steered clear!

Now, those who were smitten by that celestial fire harbored deep regrets.

Inside the Darkstone Guild Tower, Rock Guild's base, WindSovereign spent 10 gold coins to restore its former glory.

He sat there, visibly upset, surrounded by other players, heads lowered, resembling children who had done something wrong, mute in their guilt.

"Guild leader, what do we do now?" Chaser asked, his face etched with embarrassment.

They had planned to brush off last night's event as though nothing had happened.

Yet, come morning, that video had soared to trending status.

Now, the Rock Guild was the laughingstock of Darkstone. Wherever they went, whispers and stares followed.

Many were too embarrassed to even venture outside, opting instead to remain within their base.

Facing this predicament, WindSovereign felt utterly lost.

At the moment, he wasn't concerned about the guild's reputation, but rather if that ShepherdWind would once again unleash his celestial fire.

If so, Rock Guild might soon find itself wiped off the map of Darkstone.

"Let's apologize."

After long contemplation, WindSovereign suddenly suggested.

Upon hearing this, everyone who had been hanging their heads shot up, surprise evident on their faces.

"Guild leader, if we apologize, Rock Guild will be the laughing stock forever!" Chaser exclaimed hastily.

With a resigned look, WindSovereign scanned the room, "Aren't we already the butt of jokes? Making an enemy of such a player is a losing proposition. Better to apologize promptly."

Several senior members exchanged complicated glances, as if wanting to say something, but eventually remained silent.

They knew that if they wanted to prevent the guild's utter collapse, this was the only damage control option.

Now, all they hoped for was the other party's forgiveness.

Soon, an official post was made on Rock Guild's account, tagging Sebastian's handle.

The post was a masterclass in public relations, essentially conveying:

[We were wrong. We failed to recognize your greatness. We had no idea of the caliber of player we were dealing with. Times are tough for us too, and we hope you can forgive our oversight. Please, no more celestial fire attacks.]

Within just half an hour of its posting, it surged to the trending list.

It was only then that players got the full story.

The guild had tried to suppress a player, oblivious to the fact that he was a powerhouse, and had gotten a taste of their own medicine.

Once the truth was unveiled, many players chastised and berated Rock Guild. 

At the same time, they became increasingly curious about this powerhouse, eager to meet the legend behind the username.

Were it not for the vast distances between each newbie village, and the risks of encountering wild monsters during transit, many would have probably flocked to Darkstone by now.

Currently, the whole of Darkstone buzzed with chatter about this incident.

And just like that, the name ShepherdWind echoed throughout the entire village.

Upon further investigation by the player community, a startling revelation emerged. 

This ShepherdWind was the very same player who had met the village chief, the only one to do so.

With this revelation, the puzzle pieces fit together, and they finally understood the origins of his terrifying power. 

It was evident that he had procured a significant item from the village chief.

Thinking back, players who had encountered the crying child in the wilderness were suddenly overcome with regret. 

If only they had known, they too would have taken the child to the village chief, seizing that golden opportunity.

However, most brushed off the regret with a shake of their head. 

After all, who could have predicted that the quest would entail delivering the child to the village chief?

At the North Wind Team base, Sebastian sat rather awkwardly, being intently watched by the five team members whose eyes were practically glued to him.

"Um, you all have been staring for ten minutes now," Sebastian remarked.

"Sebastian, the big shot, that's not nearly enough. I need a proper look at our team's celebrity," Jason quipped.

"Absolutely, with such a legend in our midst, we should practically worship him," SubtleSorrow chimed in with a playful grin.

"Speaking of which, if we had known to take the child to the village chief, would things have turned out differently?" pondered InkStainedNebula.

"You think? Sebastian must've known something special, right?" SnowAdmirer said, admiration shining in her eyes.

"Ahem, well, I did have some inkling," Sebastian admitted without beating around the bush.

At that moment, Mia interjected, "Sebastian, wasn't the scroll a tad overkill? Using it during our dungeon raid might've been more impactful."

From her perspective, Rock Guild was a minor threat, and since they couldn't kill them, it seemed wasteful. 

But Sebastian shook his head, "The whole point was the shock and awe. Scrolls like that are meant to be used."

"So, that's the mindset of a big shot? Respect," Jason commented, flashing a thumbs up.

Sebastian's perspective wasn't without merit, especially considering North Wind Team comprised only six members. 

In the eyes of larger guilds, they were hardly a blip on the radar. 

Without showing strength, they'd simply be underestimated and suppressed.

"Absolutely. Once we enter the dungeon, those guilds won't dare cross us," InkStainedNebula agreed.

The rest of the team nodded in agreement.

Glancing at the clock, Mia then suggested, "It's about time. Let's gear up for Valley of Death."