chapter 171 hooded figure entry

The Arrival of the Unknown – A Moment That Changed Everything

The scene at the dungeon entrance was loud—voices overlapping, laughter echoing, and bets piling up over Raven's inevitable failure. The spectacle of a Level 1 player attempting Hell Mode had become the highlight of the evening, drawing in more players by the minute.

At the heart of it all, Elder Mirsha stood as an unmoving pillar of authority. She had spoken, and her command was clear:

"No one joins that party."

She hadn't yelled. She hadn't needed to.

Her words carried the weight of someone whose voice dictated reality in this game.

Rainbow Solutions was a rising powerhouse—an elite guild that had clawed its way to dominance. Mirsha, as its fearless leader, had built her reputation on tactical prowess and decisive leadership. Her word wasn't just advice—it was law.

And so, the players obeyed.

Or rather, they had been obeying.

Until now.

The First Step—Breaking the Silence

It was subtle at first.

A single footstep.

Not loud, not hurried—just a calm, deliberate step forward.

At first, no one paid attention. The crowd was still reveling in their mockery, too caught up in their own entertainment.

But then—

A warrior's laugh cut off mid-chuckle.

A magician, who had been smirking, froze mid-comment.

An archer, previously collecting bets, suddenly lowered his hand.

Because someone was walking toward Raven's party.

Toward the outcast.

Toward the failure.

Toward the one who had been utterly dismissed.

And they weren't hesitating.

The Hooded Figure – An Unshaken Presence

The player was clad in a dark hooded cloak, their face obscured from view.

Their posture was relaxed—too relaxed—as if they weren't affected by the atmosphere of ridicule surrounding them.

They didn't flinch under the weight of Mirsha's reputation.

They didn't falter at the stares and whispers.

They didn't stop.

And that, more than anything, sent a ripple of unease through the crowd.

Who was this?

A reckless fool?

A clueless newbie?

Or something else entirely?

For the first time, the jeering paused.

Uncertainty crept in.

Because this wasn't normal.

The System Prompt – A Moment of Defiance

The hooded figure reached Raven's party.

And without a word—without hesitation—

[Request to Join Party]

The system prompt flashed in front of Raven.

And just like that—

The entire dungeon entrance froze.

Dead silence.

The shift was almost tangible, like the moment before a storm.

Just minutes ago, this place had been a festival of mockery—players pointing, laughing, and treating Raven like a joke.

Now?

It was as if no one dared breathe.

The jeers stopped.

The betting halted.

The arrogant confidence wavered.

Someone had challenged Mirsha's decree.

Someone had defied her will.

And they did it without a second thought.

The Party Accepts – Reactions Erupt

Raven didn't hesitate.

He didn't ask who they were.

He didn't question their motives.

He simply smirked and pressed [Accept].

The system notification rang out.

[Unknown Player has joined your party.]

And just like that, the silence shattered.

"WHO THE HELL IS THAT?!"

"They ignored Elder Mirsha's warning?!"

"Idiot! Do they have a death wish?!"

"Are they a troll? Or are they actually strong?"

The murmurs turned into full-blown arguments.

Some were convinced this was a prank.

Others thought it was a secret pro player smurfing.

A few considered the possibility of a hidden agenda.

But no one—not a single person—knew for sure.

And that uncertainty?

It was more terrifying than anything else.

Mirsha's Reaction – The Weight of Authority

Elder Mirsha remained silent, watching as her absolute control over the situation cracked for the first time.

Her face didn't change, but those who knew her well—those who had fought alongside her—saw the subtle tension in her jaw.

This wasn't anger.

This was irritation.

A small, but significant difference.

She didn't lash out. She didn't yell.

Instead, she let out a slow, deliberate exhale—a sigh of disappointment.

"A shame," she murmured, loud enough for those nearby to hear. "There are always those who don't know their place."

A simple sentence.

A subtle dismissal.

But one designed to brand the newcomer as a reckless fool—someone unworthy of respect.

However—

The hooded player?

They didn't react.

Not to her words.

Not to the stares.

Not to the unspoken challenge.

They simply turned their head slightly—acknowledging Mirsha's existence… and nothing more.

It was the first time Elder Mirsha had been treated like a background character.

Cute Mist's Perspective – A Dangerous Realization

Standing nearby, Cute Mist—Rainbow Solutions' Vice Guild Leader—watched everything unfold, her sharp eyes analyzing the moment.

Unlike Mirsha, who had written Raven off as a joke, Mist had noticed something.

Something dangerous.

That expression.

The way Raven stood, unshaken by the laughter.

The way he smirked, as if he was in control.

The way he ignored Mirsha, as if she was just another NPC in his story.

This wasn't the face of a desperate fool.

This was the face of someone who had already planned how the story would unfold.

And that?

That sent a chill down her spine.

Raven's Final Thought – The Beginning of the End

Raven, standing at the center of the storm, felt the shift.

The first crack in Mirsha's reputation.

The first mistake.

She had underestimated him. She had dismissed him as a fool.

And because of that?

Her end had already begun.

Not Rainbow Solutions. Not yet.

They were just the pawns.

But Mirsha?

She was the real target.

And he was going to destroy her.

Not just in the dungeon.

Not just in this moment.

But completely.

He was going to rip apart her reputation, her influence, and everything she had built.

And the best part?

She had just given him the excuse to do it.

As the hooded figure turned to face him, Raven's smirk deepened.

"Let's go."

The crowd could keep laughing.

The doubters could keep doubting.

Because soon—

They wouldn't be laughing anymore.