Shion slammed his staff onto the ground.
This was a Sageâs secret technique; a spell that allowed the user to revive themselves, or their allies.
Pillars of light arose from Lacus and Light Rockâs bodies. Shion was capable of reviving two people at once.
Lacus and Light Rock stood up instantly. Their bodies glowed with light.
Transmigration of Souls didnât simply revive its target. It also applied a buff that increased their abilities too. Not only that, but it also removed the targetâs death debuff, and kept their level, experience, and proficiency intact.
Lacus and Light Rock simultaneously said.
âAttack!â Shion pointed his staff at Kang Oh.
The Phoenix attacked first.
A giant fireball came flying at Kang Oh.
Kang Ohâs necklace glowed.
A barrier akin to a full moon blocked the Eternal Flame.
That was only the beginning. The Hercules Guildâs elites began attacking him too.
Lacus swung his axe downwards, while Light Rock threw his hammer. Dulvanetta shot arrows at Kang Ohâs ankles using his dual crossbows.
Because Shion had used Transmigration of Souls, and had to focus on controlling the Phoenix, he couldnât do anything else.
In his stead, the Hercules Guildâs mages began chanting.
Shionâs elite guard threw hooks and daggers at him. Some of them even used poison or javelins.
Kang Oh swung Ubist, deflecting Lacusâs axe. Then, he spun around and used Sword Parry, parrying Light Rockâs hammer with Blood.
However, he couldnât dodge or block every one of their attacks. These were Herculesâ elites! They werenât to be underestimated.
A dagger pierced his shoulder, and a blade grazed his side.
The Phoenix prepared its next attack.
His sight was filled with feather-shaped flames.
Kang Oh swung Ubist diagonally.
His jet-black blade unleashed a pillar of darkness, which cleaved through both the flames and the Phoenix itself.
The Phoenix tottered, and its flames weakened greatly.
However, using such a powerful attack left him open, and Lacus, whoâd once been part of the Numbers, took full advantage of it.
Lacusâs axe hit his back. Red shards of light burst from the Dual Demonâs body.
However, Kang Oh paid him right back.
Blood pierced through Lacusâs stomach.
âYou bastard.â Lacus grimaced in pain. He then threw his small axe into the air.
Three small axes flew at Kang Oh like a swarm of wasps. At the same time, Light Rock swung the edge of his shield at Kang Ohâs head.
Kang Oh rolled onto the floor. That was his only way of dodging both of their attacks.
âOverwhelm him!â Shion yelled.
All of a sudden, the floor shook and a sharp stone pillar surged from the ground.
Helena, whoâd followed the Phoenix all the way here, had cast the spell. Of course, the Blue Knight, Plum, the Wind Tracker, Dambi, the Druid, Yericka, Asu, and all her other guild members were by her side.
On the other side, Hernandez, Han Seol, and the Storm Guild were quickly plowing through the Hercules Guild.
Kang Oh had kept the Hercules Guildâs executives busy, and during that time, the battle had been decided. The Hercules Guild had lost!
âItâs time.â Kang Oh opened his wings and flew into the air.
âGuilds allied to the Hercules Guild! I have six of your soul dungeons. If you abandon the Hercules Guild and join the Storm Guild, then Iâll give you a soul dungeon.â
The 5 great guildsâ power lay in their size and their immense power, but the support of their allies played a huge role too. Even if the Hercules Guild lost this war, it wouldnât collapse as long as its allies remained by its side.
But what if those guilds turned their backs on it? The Hercules Guild wouldnât be able to prevent the Storm Guild from invading their territory.
âCome to us. Weâll protect your soul dungeons. But keep this in mind. There are only six soul dungeons available!â Hernandez yelled.
However, Kang Oh and Hernandez couldnât easily sway the likes of Hwarang, Sea Palace, Tyster, etc.; the more than twenty guilds that supported the Hercules Guild.
The Hercules Guild was one of the 5 great guilds!
Though this war was lost, the Hercules Guild could always pay them back for their betrayal. This meant that no one wanted to go first.
Kang Oh assessed the situation, and then stared at someone. He was staring at the Oracle Guildâs leader, Otler. He had taken the Alkartanâs Nest from him. Their gazes briefly met.
âWe are no longer allied to the Hercules Guild!â Otler yelled.
Kang Oh and Hernandez had already won him over prior. They had agreed to give him a soul dungeon even better than Alkartanâs Nest, and the Storm Guild had also agreed to accept him as one of their own.
Heâd rather join the winning side than stay on a sinking ship. By doing so, heâd get a small share of the profits.
âAlright. Welcome, Oracle,â Hernandez immediately said.
âThere are five soul dungeons left. Whoever joins first will get a better soul dungeon! The Storm Guild will also accept you like they did the Oracle Guild!â Kang Oh yelled.
âI swear upon my title as the Storm Guildâs leader and the Spear King that Kang Ohâs words are 100% true!â Hernandez immediately backed him up.
âThose who reject our offer will be punished! Besides, the Hercules Guild will soon no longer exist!â Kang Oh roared.
The battle had already turned against the Hegang Alliance.
âDonât listen to him! Heâs trying to trick you!â Shion yelled desperately.
Taking the first step was hard, but not the second or third one.
âThe Baekdusan Guild will join the Storm Guild too!â Baekdusanâs guildmaster said. They were one of the Hercules Guildâs greatest allies.
âWelcome, brother!â Hernandez opened his arms.
âThe Sea Palace Guild will join you too!â
âNo, the Tyster Guild was first!â
âNo, we joined first. Please!â
In an instant, the Hercules Guildâs allies joined the Storm Guild.
There were only three guilds, including the Hwarang Guild, that stayed loyal till the very end.
âHaha.â Hernandez beamed.
The Storm Guild had gained so much power in such a short period of time. It was obviously something heâd be happy about.
âWe have to retreat,â Paton whispered to Shion.
âWhat!?â Shion yelled angrily. âThey humiliated me, yet you want me to run!?â
âIf we lose any more troops, then thereâs a chance that our headquarters and the guild itself will fall,â Paton said calmly.
âMm⊠Will they let us go?â
âWe have to save as many as we can. And we have to regroup at headquarters. If we manage to get through this, then we may be able to rise up again.â
âGot it!â Shion heavily nodded his head and said, âAll forces, retreat! You have to survive! Iâll see you at headquarters!â
The Hercules Guild began to run away.
âWhere do you think youâre going!? Donât let a single one of them escape!â Hernandez yelled.
âKill them all!â Han Seol yelled.
The Storm Guild, as well as its new allies, began to execute the Hercules Guildâs members.
Shion rode atop the Phoenix and flew into the air. Kang Oh quickly followed him, and threw himself at the Phoenix.
The Phoenixâs flames devoured him. His body felt warm, like he was in a sauna. Messages informing him that he was losing HP kept popping up too.
However, he didnât let that worry him.
âI just need to kill you!â Kang Oh swung his sword at Shion. Shion gritted his teeth.
Great Spiritâs Barrier!
He was encased in a green barrier.
Blood bounced off the barrier.
âIâll break through!â
Kang Oh, in his demon form, released dark red energy.
Kang Oh crossed Demon Sword Ubist and Demon Sword Blood together, and unleashed two auras together.
The Great Spiritâs Barrier was shredded instantly.
A golden aura shot out of his jet-black blade. However, the Phoenixâs flames blocked the tiger.
âYou can only fly for another 30 seconds!â Tashaâs voice resounded through his head.
â30 seconds is plenty!â
His blades danced through the air. He began shredding not only Shionâs body, but the Phoenixâs as well.
It was due to Ubistâs Abyss Blade, which allowed him to cut through the immaterial.
âYou bastard. Do you know who I am? Iâm Shion!â
âYou wonât beat me this easily!â
Summoning plants was his specialty. Unfortunately, he couldnât summon plants on top of the Phoenix. It was a spell that was only usable on land.
But that didnât change the facts. Shion was still a Sage, which made him better than any Druid in existence.
Shion cast a variety of spells with his staff. This included healing spells, buffs, debuffs, and offensive spells!
Add to that the Phoenixâs flames, which attempted to consume Kang Oh.
However, Kang Oh was a stronger predator. Each time he swung his swords, he got stronger, and Darkness Strike activated too.
The red, bat-shaped wave and the black beastâs wave mixed together, extinguishing the Phoenixâs flames, and striking both the Phoenix and Shion simultaneously.
âUgh!â Shionâs body shook.
A giant chunk of ice came flying, and struck the Phoenixâs body.
Kang Oh wasnât the only one with a grudge against Shion. Helena and the members of Witchâs Forest hated him more than him. There was no way theyâd just let him get away.
Helena attacked the Phoenix repeatedly with powerful spells. Kang Oh also kept swinging his swords at both it and Shion.
Swish, slash, swish, slash, swish!
Ultimately, the Phoenix plummeted to the ground.
The Phoenix crashed into the ground. It briefly surged with flame, and then turned into a pile of ash. Kang Oh, Shion, and a Phoenix Egg came out of the pile of ash.
âCough!â Shion suddenly stood up. âI have to get out of here no matter what!â Thatâs all he was thinking about at the moment.
However, Blood reached Shionâs throat first.
âShut up!â Shion instinctively swung his staff. Kang Oh easily avoided it and overpowered Shion with pure physical strength.
Kang Oh grabbed him by the back of his neck, and pushed his face into the ashes.
He wanted to just end it right then and there. However, he relaxed his grip when he saw the Witchâs Forest Guild come over.
âDo as you please with him.â Kang Oh gave him to Helena. He wanted to kill Shion himself, but he believed it best to leave him with the Witchâs Forest this time.
After all, Asu was with them too. Sheâd probably feel a lot better if she could get revenge against him in person.
In exchange, Kang Oh secretly placed the Phoenix Egg inside his inventory.
âFirst come, first serve.â Kang Ohâs lips curled upwards.
Kang Oh excused himself, and Helena coldly stared down upon Shion.
âMana, annihilate him.â
Helenaâs hand, which was pressing down on Shionâs shoulder, began to glow. Then, Shionâs MP completely disappeared.
âYes, maâam.â Yericka cast Super Heal, healing Shion back to full.
âBeat him up!â Helena ordered. The Witchâs Forest immediately rushed at Shion, and began hitting, stomping, and scratching him.
âYouâre just like Yoon Se Hwa!â Asu had specifically prepared stilettos for this very moment. She took them out, wore them, and began stomping on a very delicate area.
âPay us back for our guild house!â
âMy experience; my proficiency!â
âThis is all due to your greed!â
Arth limited the pain a player could feel, but it didnât mean all pain was completely eliminated. The purple energy surrounding Helenaâs fist, or Mana Burn, inflicted more pain than normal.
Anyhow, inflicting small amounts of pain continuously can eventually become too much for one to handle. This was the straw that broke the camelâs back.
âUgh!â Shion cried out in pain.
âYericka!â Helena said coldly. Yericka, whoâd been enthusiastically beating on Shion, immediately began healing Shion.
Shionâs HP went back to full!
The members of Witchâs Forest continually beat on Shion, venting all of their anger and rage.
âP-Please let me die!â Shion begged.
âNo!â the Blue Knight, Plum, said decisively.
âUnni, heal him again!â
âWeâre not through with you yet, you bastard!â
Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned!
They kept venting their anger⊠for quite some time!