chapter 189 thanking those fools in mind

Raven's thoughts swirled in chaos.

Cute Mist had joined him.

The realization sent a strange ripple through his mind.

She wasn't the type to bow her head. She wasn't the type to follow orders. She was a Berserker. A force of destruction.

In previous games, she had torn through guilds, crushed enemies, and built her own legend. And now… she was with him.

Not by his request.

Not by manipulation.

But by choice.

That fact alone unsettled him.

Why?

Why would someone like Cute Mist—someone who had always walked her own path—choose to stand beside him?

He wasn't naïve. She wasn't here out of gratitude.

She wasn't here because she needed protection.

She was here because she had made a decision.

And Raven wasn't sure what that meant yet.

His Party's Reactions

Mist Low smirked. "Well, well… looks like you've gained an interesting ally."

Daniel exhaled, shaking his head. "This is going to be a problem."

Liz folded her arms. "We're not just talking about any player. This is her. Rainbow Solutions kicked her, but that doesn't mean they'll leave her alone."

Ana muttered, "Yeah… and now that she's with us, that means we're on their radar."

Raven already knew that.

This wasn't just about Cute Mist.

This was about the power struggle that would come next.

Rainbow Solutions had cast her aside—but guilds didn't just 'kick out' high-level players without consequences.

Would they try to hunt her down?

Would they frame her for something?

Would they try to reclaim her?

And most importantly—what did she want?

Cute Boy suddenly laughed, drawing everyone's attention.

"Well, Raven. Since she's joined you, I suppose that means you should prepare for a lot of fun."

His voice was light, but his eyes gleamed with amusement—like someone watching a chessboard shift in an interesting direction.

Raven didn't respond.

Because deep down… he had a feeling that Cute Mist's arrival was just the beginning.

Raven's Inner Monologue

This wasn't supposed to happen.

In his previous life, Cute Mist was never kicked from Rainbow Solutions.

Back then, after Evolution 1, she had obtained a powerful class-changing item. That item had propelled her into one of the strongest Berserkers in the game, making her a pillar of Rainbow Solutions. She wasn't just a member—she was one of their biggest assets.

But this time…

I changed that.

Because of him, because of what he had done, the timeline had shifted.

Instead of getting her hands on that item, instead of rising in Rainbow Solutions—she had been cast aside.

And now, she had joined him.

The weight of it sank into his mind. She was supposed to be a monster later. A force of destruction. A nightmare for enemies.

But now…

What would she become?

Would she still get strong? Would she carve out a new path? Would she become something else entirely?

And, more importantly—

Had he just created a bigger problem for himself?

Rainbow Solutions… you absolute fools.

If they had any idea what they had just done, they'd be scrambling to undo it.

In his previous life, Cute Mist had become a Tier 6 powerhouse.

Not just strong—unstoppable.

At her peak, she could tear through entire guilds, rip apart enemy formations, and solo raid bosses meant for teams. She was a Berserker, but her real strength had come from something else—

A class-changing item she had obtained after Evolution 1.

That item had transformed her from a strong player into a monstrous force. It had given her abilities that no other Berserker could dream of.

And in his past life, Rainbow Solutions had kept her close, showering her with resources, making sure she stayed loyal.

But now…

Now, because of me, that path no longer exists.

She never got the item.

She never became their golden player.

She was kicked out instead.

And as a result, she had joined me.

Raven's lips curled slightly. I should thank them, really.

They had handed me a future monster on a silver platter.

The thought sent a thrill through him.

She wasn't a Tier 6 powerhouse yet, but Raven knew what she was capable of. If she had reached that level in the previous timeline, there was nothing stopping her from doing it again—but this time, under his banner.

Rainbow Solutions just lost their greatest weapon.

And they didn't even realize it.

Raven exhaled slowly, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.

Their loss. My gain.

And when she evolved this time?

She would stand at the peak—on my side.

Raven's Decision: Back to the Dungeon

Raven let out a slow breath, pushing all distractions aside.

This was big.

Cute Mist joining him? That was a game-changer. A future Tier 6 powerhouse standing by his side instead of Rainbow Solutions? That would shift the balance of power in ways no one could predict.

But right now—he had to focus.

The Serpent Dungeon wasn't going to clear itself.

He glanced at his party. Daniel, Liz, Ana, Mist Low, Cute Boy—all of them were still caught up in the shock.

.

Raven took a deep breath, his mind shifting gears. Enough. This isn't the time for this.

He spoke, voice calm but firm.

"We'll deal with this later. Right now, focus on the dungeon."

The shift in tone snapped everyone back to reality.

Daniel blinked before nodding. "Right. We're still in Hell Mode. Can't afford to get careless."

Liz stretched her arms. "Tch. Fine. But we are talking about this later."

Ana sighed, shaking off the tension. "Back to business, then."

Mist Low grinned. "Well, if we're gonna fight, let's at least make it entertaining."

Cute Boy just chuckled, eyes still gleaming with amusement. "Lead the way, then."

Raven nodded and turned toward the dark depths of the dungeon.

No more distractions.

The monsters were waiting.

The dungeon was still a threat.

And they had a challenge to conquer.

Time to move forward.