Guild.

"Official Announcement: Establishment of Guilds and Factions"

Rael scrolled through the latest forum post, the thread title glowing at the top of the page:

[System Update] Guild Creation Now Available!

A full week had passed since launch, and as expected, the forums were a madhouse. Players were already forming factions, posting recruitment messages, and speculating about which guilds would dominate Solmora.

He clicked into one of the pinned discussions.

[Megathread] Official Guild Creation Update - Who's Forming What?

Before he could start reading, his door slammed open.

"Bro, check the update!"

Elias practically skidded into the room, his straight black hair slightly disheveled. He wasn't even wearing socks—just a loose T-shirt and sweatpants as he rushed over. "Guilds are in! This is huge."

Rael barely had time to react before Elias flopped onto his bed, leaning over his shoulder to look at the screen.

"You're already on the forums? Nice. Let's see what kind of nonsense people are cooking up."

Together, they scrolled through the flood of chaotic replies:

— [BloodWarrior99]: FIRST GUILD TO HIT LEVEL 10 GETS 500 BUCKS FROM ME.

— [ArdentDreamer]: Anyone wanna make a cozy RP guild? Strictly NO PvP psychos allowed.

— [XxDraconisxX]: If you're not min-maxing from day one, don't even bother joining a top-tier guild.

"Holy shit, people are already going full tryhard." Elias snorted.

— [S1lverHand]: We need a mercenary guild. No commitments, just contracts. Pay us, we fight.

— [HornedGod69]: Yo, where my succubus enjoyers at? We making a real guild.

— [Moderator]: This message has been removed due to content violations.

Elias choked on a laugh. "Every time, man. Every single game."

Rael smirked but kept scrolling. Somewhere deep in the thread, a random comment caught his eye.

— [SkyBound47]: Wonder if any of the old legends are coming back. ROF, DeathParadigm, maybe even Bloodfang?

— [JunoStorm]: Who cares? ROF disbanded like four years ago.

The name hit Rael like a spark in dry grass.

Remembrance of the Fallen.

Elias went quiet. His usual amused expression faded slightly as he glanced at Rael, watching for any reaction.

Rael didn't say anything. His fingers hovered over the mouse, but he didn't scroll past. The forum noise faded into the background.

A memory flickered—his old team.

Evan at the front, leading like an unshakable wall of steel. Leon slinging spells with reckless abandon. Oliver standing at the back, unreadable, loosing arrows with pinpoint precision. Lucian moving like a shadow, untouchable.

And himself—guiding them, making the calls, keeping the team together.

Four years.

Elias leaned back against the bedpost, stretching. "Didn't think I'd see that name again," he murmured, his tone casual, but there was something knowing in his voice. "Wild how people still remember."

Rael exhaled through his nose, clicking to another post. "Yeah."

More chaotic banter flooded the screen, but one post stood out—a discussion gaining traction fast.

[BlackQuill]: "Okay, forget the usual guild stuff. Did anyone actually read the fine print of the update? There's some crazy hidden mechanic about Guild Sovereignty. If a guild proves itself 'worthy' in the eyes of the Order, they don't just get a guild hall—they get actual land and autonomy. Like, full-on kingdom-building mechanics. Not just owning a fort or a castle—ruling territory. This isn't just a PvP feature; it's baked into the world's structure."

Rael sat up straighter, eyes narrowing.

Elias, still slouched, perked up. "Wait—what?"

Rael scrolled down to the replies.

— [IronHorizon]: "Yeah, I saw that too. The game calls it Token Rights. Basically, the Order can recognize a guild as a Sovereign Entity, granting them political authority over a region."

— [SilverWraith]: "LMAO so basically guilds can become actual ruling factions in the game? Not just PvP but like, managing cities and economies??"

— [CrestfallenKnight]: "Yup. And it looks like the only way to get Token Rights is through Order Trials or by completing insane-scale world events."

— [CrimsonBaron]: "Bruh, this game is on another level. We're talking actual kingdom wars down the line. This ain't just a guild system; it's a full geopolitical endgame."

Elias sat up properly now, glancing at Rael. "Dude. This is huge."

Rael didn't respond immediately. His fingers hovered over the mouse as he read further.

— [StormReaver]: "Calling it now: top guilds are gonna monopolize this. The big dogs will run everything, and casuals will just be stuck paying taxes lmao."

— [VortexSeeker]: "Unless someone new rises up. New guilds, new power struggles. Hell, if someone wanted to take over, now's the time."

— [ShadowWarden92]: "Imagine if an old team like Ravens came back. They were tactical as hell. If they formed a guild, they'd be one of the strongest in the game." 

— [EbonFang]: "Oh, you don't know? Their leader, Salzar, is already reforming the guild with new blood."

— [ShadowWarden92]: "Wait, seriously? Salzar's bringing Ravens back?"

— [EbonFang]: "Yep. Already recruiting. Saw a few names pop up in the roster—some solid players."

— [StormReaver]: "Damn. If they're even half as good as before, they'll be a problem."

— [IronHorizon]: "No way they'll be the same without the old core. New blood or not, that kind of synergy doesn't come easy."

— [VortexSeeker]: "Maybe, maybe not. Only time will tell."

Elias leaned back in Rael's chair, arms crossed, watching him scroll. His gaze flicked to the mention of the Ravens before shifting back to Rael's face. Then, he smirked.

"You know," Elias started, drawing out his words, "you're playing anyway."

Rael didn't look away from the screen. "And?"

"And," Elias continued, stretching his legs, "you're already thinking about it."

Rael clicked his tongue. He wasn't wrong.

Elias leaned forward, resting his arms on his knees. "Look, I get it. You stepped away from all that. But let's not pretend you're just here to pass the time." He gestured toward the screen. "You don't just play—you break things down, figure them out, see angles no one else notices. It's not about winning for the sake of it. You like solving things. And this?" He tapped the monitor. "This is the biggest puzzle you've had in a long time."

Rael's fingers tapped lightly against his desk.

Elias leaned in, voice casual but deliberate. "You could pretend to be casual for a while. But eventually? You're gonna see some guild making dumb moves, you're gonna think about how you would do it better, and then—boom. You're in." He leaned back, smug. "Might as well skip the pretending and start now."

Rael clicked off the forum page and turned in his chair to face Elias. He wasn't grinning, but there was something sharp in his eyes now.

* * *

The screen faded to black as Rael logged into Solmora.

A moment later, the world loaded in—a sprawling cityscape bathed in the golden hues of dusk. The marketplace buzzed with players bartering, NPCs calling out their wares, and distant bells tolling the end of the in-game day. He stood in the plaza, the meeting spot he had sent to both Gale and Leon.

It didn't take long for them to arrive.

Leon was the first, his armored robe shifting as he slowed to a stop. "Alright, I'm here. What's so urgent?"

Gale wasn't far behind, adjusting the straps on his sword as he came to a halt beside them. He gave Rael a confused glance. "You don't usually call us like this."

Rael didn't waste time. "I'm making a guild."

A brief silence. Then—

Leon let out a low chuckle. "The hell? That's what this is about?"

Gale blinked. "Wait… seriously?"

Rael nodded. "I wasn't planning on it, but things changed."

Leon crossed his arms, amusement still laced in his tone. "What, did someone talk you into it?"

Rael smirked. "Something like that."

Gale tilted his head. "I thought you didn't care about guilds."

"I didn't," Rael admitted. "But this game's different. The guild system isn't just about status—it's about control. Influence. There's a structure here that can be shaped, and if we don't take the initiative, someone else will." He met their gazes. "I don't intend to sit back and let others decide how this world works."

Leon exhaled through his nose, shaking his head with a knowing grin. "There it is. The real reason."

Rael didn't deny it.

Gale still seemed surprised, but there was no hesitation in his voice when he asked, "So what's the plan?"

Rael looked between the two of them.

Leon stretched his arms behind his head, still grinning as he scrolled through the guild interface. Then, almost absentmindedly, he muttered, "Man… I missed this feeling."

Rael glanced at him.

Leon exhaled, shaking his head with a small chuckle. "Y'know, back in ROF, we were always breaking stuff down, making plans, pushing ahead. I didn't realize how much I missed it until now." He shot Rael a side glance. "And, honestly? I'm glad you're moving forward again."

Rael didn't say anything right away, but there was a brief pause before he gave a small nod. Not exactly agreement—more like quiet acknowledgment.

Gale, meanwhile, looked between them, frowning slightly. "ROF?"

Leon blinked, then glanced at Rael. "Oh. Right. You never told him?"

Rael sighed. "Not in detail."

Gale crossed his arms. "I feel like I just walked into the middle of something."

Leon smirked, but it was more nostalgic than teasing. "Let's just say… before all this, we were part of something big. ROF—Remembrance of the Fallen. It was a pro team, one of the best. Rael was our leader."

Gale raised an eyebrow. "Pro team?"

Rael didn't add much, but his expression was unreadable. "It was a long time ago."

Leon shrugged. "Yeah, but legends don't just fade away, do they?"

Rael shot him a look, and Leon just grinned.

Gale still looked skeptical. "So, you guys were, what, famous or something?"

Leon laughed. "Something like that."

Rael stood, brushing off the topic. "Doesn't matter. That was then. This is now." He gestured toward the guild interface. "And we've got work to do."

Gale studied them both for a moment longer, then sighed. "Fine, keep your secrets."

Leon patted him on the shoulder. "Hey, stick around long enough, and you'll see why it mattered."

Gale just shrugged, but in the back of his mind, he made a mental note—he could always just look it up later. If it was something big enough for them to be this vague about, there had to be records of it somewhere.

Rael was already moving forward. "Let's focus on what's next."

Leon and Gale exchanged a glance before following. The past could wait—right now, the future was being built.

He exhaled. "First, we establish the guild. After that, we grow. Not just numbers, but influence. If the game's guild system is as deep as it looks, then controlling territory isn't just about fighting—it's about positioning, resources, strategy."

Leon grinned. "So we're going big."

Rael met his gaze. "If we're doing this, we do it right."

Gale crossed his arms, nodding slowly. "Alright. What do we need?"

Rael opened the guild creation interface, scrolling through the details. "Guild functions are tied to levels. We start at Level 1 with basic features, but leveling up unlocks new perks. Here's how it works…"

Guild Progression System

Guild Level 1:

— Basic guild hall access

— Can invite up to 50 members

— Shared storage for resources

Guild Level 2:

— Unlocks guild missions (PvE and PvP tasks)

— Expanded member cap (100 members)

— Basic guild buffs (+2% EXP gain)

Guild Level 3:

— Allows guild banners (visual representation in the world)

— Unlocks minor influence in Order territories

— Guild shop with discounted items

Guild Level 4:

— Intermediate guild buffs (+5% EXP gain, +2% resource gathering)

— Access to guild-controlled dungeons

— Larger shared storage

Guild Level 5:

— Unlocks the ability to own minor settlements

— Guild members gain passive stat bonuses within owned territory

— Can form alliances with other guilds

Guild Level 6-9:

— Expands settlement control

— Unlocks unique faction-related perks

— Increases guild combat bonuses in PvP zones

Guild Level 10:

— Recognition as a Sovereign Guild (Eligible for Order Trials)

— Can establish autonomous rule over a region

— Full geopolitical influence (trade, law, military control)

Rael skimmed the details before looking back at the two. "To level up, we need achievements and members. We don't just grind—we need to complete objectives, prove ourselves, and expand."

Leon leaned over his shoulder, eyes glinting. "So, what I'm hearing is… we're aiming for Level 10."

Rael's lips twitched slightly. "Wouldn't be much of a plan if we weren't."

Gale huffed a small laugh. "Well, shit. Guess I'm in for the long haul."

Rael finalized the guild creation process. A moment later, a notification popped up.

[SYSTEM] Guild "????" has been successfully created.

A blank space. The name field still needed to be filled in.

Leon smirked. "So… what's it gonna be?"

Rael tapped his fingers against the desk for a moment, then typed in a single word.

Eclipse.

A confirmation screen appeared.

[SYSTEM] Guild "Eclipse" has been registered. Welcome, Guildmaster.

Leon let out a short laugh. "Yeah… that fits."

Gale raised a brow. "Why Eclipse?"

Rael glanced at the screen, watching as the guild interface activated. His voice was calm, steady.

"Because an eclipse isn't just the absence of light," he said. "It's the moment before everything changes."

Leon grinned, something knowing in his expression. "Dramatic as ever."

Gale shook his head with a half-smile. "Guess we're really doing this, huh?"

Rael clicked the final confirmation button. "Yeah. We are."

* * *

Their first job together as a guild party came from a local noble in Vash'kar. It wasn't an official guild quest—just a normal bounty, but it would do for now. The task was straightforward: recover a stolen heirloom from a group of bandits hiding in a forested ravine east of the city.

The journey there was uneventful, but as they reached the outskirts of the bandit camp, Rael raised a fist, signaling them to stop.

He scanned the area. Four hostiles patrolling the entrance, light armor, mostly iron weapons. Nothing special.

"Take them fast before they alert the rest," Rael murmured.

Gale smirked, drawing his sword. "Been waiting for some action."

Leon cracked his knuckles, small flickers of frost dancing at his fingertips. "I'll freeze their legs—slow them down."

Rael unsheathed his blade, its silver edge glowing faintly with divine energy. 

The fight started with Leon unleashing a sharp gust of ice magic, freezing the ground beneath the nearest bandits. As they struggled to regain their footing, Gale dashed in, his sword flashing through the air.

The first bandit barely had time to react before Gale's blade carved through his defenses, sending him sprawling.

Another lunged at Rael, but he angled his shield, deflecting the strike before countering with a clean, precise slash of holy light, cutting through the bandit's armor with ease.

A third managed to break free from the ice and attempted to flee.

Leon was faster.

A sphere of fire shot forward, exploding against the bandit's back and sending him crashing face-first into the dirt.

The last bandit dropped his weapon and raised his hands in surrender. "H-Hey, wait! I can tell you where the loot is—"

Gale knocked him out with the pommel of his sword. "Not interested."

The dust settled, and silence returned to the forest. The bodies of the fallen bandits lay scattered at the entrance of the ravine, steam still rising from the frozen patches where Leon's magic had taken hold.

Rael stepped over one of the unconscious men, his gaze sweeping the narrow trail that led deeper into the camp. He could see the glow of torchlight flickering between the trees ahead.

Leon exhaled, flexing his fingers. "Not bad. We handled that cleanly."

Gale rolled his shoulder, sheathing his sword. "Could've been cleaner. I should've taken two of them before they even reacted."

Rael smirked slightly. "Then do better next time."

Gale huffed but grinned. "You're enjoying this too much."

"No," Rael said, eyes forward as he started moving. "Just calling it how it is."

They pressed on, stepping carefully over the roots and uneven terrain. The path curved slightly before opening into a wider clearing, where the actual camp sprawled before them. Wooden barricades formed a crude perimeter, and two watchtowers flanked the entrance. Several tents were pitched in a semicircle around a central bonfire, where six figures sat drinking and talking.

One of them stood out.

The Elite Bandit, larger than the rest, had heavier armor—studded leather reinforced with metal plates—and a long, curved greatsword resting against his shoulder. He wasn't just some random thug.

Leon clicked his tongue. "That one's gonna be a problem."

Rael noted the way the others deferred to him, their stances less relaxed whenever he moved. The leader, most likely.

Gale tapped his fingers against his sword's hilt. "We got a plan, or are we just jumping in?"

Rael's eyes darted between them, then to their surroundings. "Leon, keep them clustered with ice. Gale, go for the ranged ones first—I'll deal with the leader."

Leon raised a brow. "You sure about that?"

Rael unsheathed his blade. "We'll find out."

The fight started with Leon launching a wave of frost, coating the ground and catching two bandits mid-step. They cursed as their movements slowed, and Gale took the opening, dashing forward in a blur. His blade whistled through the air, cutting through the first bandit's side before he twisted and knocked another off balance.

The Elite Bandit reacted fast. He barked a command, and the remaining fighters spread out. Unlike the first group, these ones were experienced.

Rael barely raised his shield in time as the greatsword came crashing down. The impact rattled his bones, and he had to dig his heels into the dirt to hold his ground. Strong.

The Elite Bandit pushed forward, pressing the weight of his blade against Rael's shield. "Not bad," he growled. "But not good enough."

Rael suddenly angled his shield, redirecting the pressure to the side. The bandit stumbled forward just slightly—enough for Rael to strike.

His blade flashed, divine energy surging along its edge as he slashed across the bandit's exposed side. A deep cut opened, but the man barely flinched. He was tankier than expected.

Meanwhile, Leon had switched to fire, hurling bursts of flame to keep the others from overwhelming Gale, but it wasn't enough.

A bandit got past the fire, closing the distance and slamming a dagger into Gale's side.

Gale grunted, staggering back. His HP dropped into single digits.

Leon saw it happen. "Gale—!"

Gale moved before anyone else could react. With his free hand, he grabbed a potion, ripped the cork off with his teeth, and downed the whole thing in seconds.

The wound stitched itself closed, and his HP shot back up. He exhaled sharply. "Okay. That was too close."

Rael's grip on his sword tightened.

They were struggling. This wasn't like before.

He stepped back from the Elite Bandit, breathing slightly heavier than before. If this was what a single elite fight felt like, then casual play wasn't going to cut it.

Gale wiped the back of his hand across his mouth, his breathing still uneven from the near-death encounter. The bandit that had stabbed him lay sprawled on the ground, motionless.

Leon flicked his wrist, sending another firebolt toward a retreating enemy, the explosion lighting up the battlefield for a brief moment.

Rael squared off against the Elite Bandit, gripping his sword tighter. The man was still standing despite his wounds, his smirk laced with amusement.

"That all you got?" the bandit taunted, adjusting his stance.

Rael didn't respond. Instead, he stepped forward, his blade gleaming with divine energy.

The Elite Bandit lunged first, his greatsword arcing downward in a devastating overhead strike. But this time, Rael was ready.

He sidestepped, letting the massive weapon slam into the dirt, and with a single fluid motion, he brought his sword up in a tight diagonal slash, carving a golden arc through the night air.

Holy Edge.

A radiant gash split across the bandit's chest, and for the first time, his smirk faltered.

Rael didn't give him a chance to recover. With precise footwork, he closed the gap, bashing his shield into the man's ribs, forcing him off-balance.

Leon seized the moment.

A concentrated spear of ice formed in his palm before launching forward at blistering speed, piercing straight through the Elite Bandit's exposed shoulder.

He staggered back, blood dripping from the wound.

"Now," Rael commanded.

Gale was already moving. His blade flashed once—twice—then a third time, each strike cutting deep.

The Elite Bandit tried to raise his sword for a final swing, but his strength failed him. His knees buckled, and he collapsed with a heavy thud.

A system notification flickered at the edge of their vision.

[SYSTEM] Elite Bandit defeated. Rewards distributed.

A heavy silence hung in the air for a moment before Gale exhaled.

"Okay," he muttered, rubbing his neck. "That was way harder than it should've been."

Leon rolled his shoulders. "No kidding. If we're struggling this much now, we need to grind. Hard."

Rael didn't say anything. He already knew.

They had no choice but to level up—fast.

With the bandits defeated, they turned their focus to the tent at the center of the camp.

Rael stepped inside first, sword at the ready. The interior was dimly lit by a single lantern hanging from the support beam. A crude wooden table was stacked with various stolen trinkets and bags of coin, but his eyes went straight to a small, ornate box resting at the back.

He picked it up and flipped the latch open.

Inside, nestled on a bed of velvet, was a silver signet ring inlaid with a deep blue gemstone. The crest engraved into the metal matched the description from the quest.

The stolen heirloom.

Rael held it up, letting the light catch on the polished surface.

"Found it," he called out.

Gale and Leon stepped inside. Gale raised a brow. "That little thing caused this much trouble?"

Leon smirked. "People get real touchy about sentimental stuff."

Rael closed the box and tucked it into his inventory. "Let's move. I don't want to stick around in case more show up."

With that, they left the tent and began their journey back to the city—this time, with a clear goal in mind.

Rael understood—if they wanted to stand a chance, they had to grow stronger.