Chapter 58

As they reached the top of the stairs, the group of players saw a massive portal before them, crackling blue energy radiating outward in a massive circle. Immediately, the orange and blue haired players stepped fearlessly inside. Close on their heels, the raid party rushed in, their bodies dissolving in a rush of wind as they entered. Jae grinned at Toyo as they stepped into the vortex of light.

"One down, ninety nine to go!"

"I tried so hard, and got so far!" Jae and Toyo sang at the top of their lungs, their voices echoing into the unkempt cornfields. "But in the end, it doesn't even matter!"

Toyo pointed at Jae, who responded by bellowing, "I had to fall! To lose it all!"

Jae then pointed back at Toyo, who was more than ready to oblige.

"But in the end! It doesn't even matter-er-er-er!"

"Fuck yes!" Jae roared.

"God I love that song!" Toyo laughed. "Hands down, Linkin Park's best."

Jae held up a finger. "Numb and New Divide do deserve an honorable mention though. They come pretty close."

Toyo nodded enthusiastically. "Absolutely. Hell, half of their albums deserve honorable mentions. Still," he scratched his stubble. "Nothing beats In The End. If ever we had a song, it was that one."

Jae opened his mouth to speak, but quickly stopped and opened his menu, alarm crossing his features.

"What's wrong?" Toyo's hand went for his sword instinctively.

Jae sighed in relief, closing his menu. He waved a hand lazily. "My bad, didn't mean to worry you. I was afraid it was already passed two."

Toyo frowned. "What happens at two?"

"The Assault Team meeting."

Toyo blinked. "Assault Team?"

Rolling his eyes, Jae explained as they continued walking along the dirt road.

"Kibaou and Lind decided on Assault Team being the official name of the raid group yesterday. You would know that if you had listened to me and come along."

Toyo scratched the back of his head anxiously. "I told you, I wasn't feeling well yesterday." He paused. "Why not just keep on calling it the raid group?"

"Well…" Jae trailed off for a moment as he pulled out two thick slices of beef jerky. After handing one to Toyo, Jae tore off a large piece with his teeth.

"Sorry," he said between chews, "I'm starving and almost forgot we had these. Anyway," he quickly swallowed. "Kibaou and Lind had some disagreements the day before yesterday on how we should be conducting our operations against the Floor Bosses. So at yesterday's meeting, just before we started grinding in the Labyrinth, they both announced that they would be starting their own guild."

Toyo's eyes widened. "That's pretty big news. How come I didn't seen any of this in the newspapers this morning?"

Toyo had made sure to purchase the info-brokers' daily papers from the item shop every morning to stay on top of just such a development. If the raid party, or rather, the 'Assault Team,' was splitting up, it could mean the beginning of different factions opening up across the player community. By the sound of it, two such factions had already been created.

Toyo remembered the two players. Kibaou was the name of the spiky orange haired raid member who seemed to possess a strong will to lead, and Lind was the one with the blue man bun, not to mention the look of someone who knew how to be exceptionally cunning when he had to be. Both players had quickly taken command of the raid group after Diabel's death, but it seemed as though co-leadership hadn't quite suited their interests.

"The Assault Team agreed that it would be best not to let it leak just yet." Jae answered. "We can't let our numbers begin to dip now, and they will if it sounds like the Assault Team is having internal squabbles and groups breaking up. Besides," he added with a shrug, "The info brokers will find out on their own within a few days anyway. They have a habit of keeping themselves informed. It'll be in the papers before the week is out."

It was true about their numbers growing. In the three days since Floor Two had been unlocked, the raid party's numbers had more than quadrupled. Inspired by the success of the Floor One Boss raid, well over a hundred players had come requesting a place in the 'Assault Team,' and with the numbers of new volunteers increasing every day, Kibaou and Lind had quickly found themselves with a small army under their command.

"You said the Assault Team is afraid of sounding like they're breaking up," Toyo said carefully. "Are you saying that this two party system isn't a division?"

Jae shook his head emphatically. "Kibaou and Lind both made it clear at the meeting that even though they will each be running their own guilds, the Assault Team is still the same. When it comes to clearing Labyrinths and killing Floor Bosses, the two guilds and the players who decide to remain neutral and not join either one will all come together." He hesitated for a moment. "And so will the solo players."

Toyo caught the anger in his brother's tone. "You're talking about that black haired kid. Have they found out who he is yet?"

*****

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