The D-Rank Guild Master of the No. 1 Guild

Although Gio was the first to charge, his initial attack did not aim directly for Aleon’s throat. Instead, a high rock wall sprang up, creating an enclosed space around them. At the same time, Aleon’s water climbed up the rock wall, freezing meticulously and effectively sealing them off from the outside world.

‘To prevent anyone from interfering in the fight.’

This was not the only reason they completely isolated themselves from the inside and outside.

‘I can’t let my people get caught up in this fight.’

‘I don’t want Rudel to get hurt because of me.’

Boom!

A thunderous roar erupted from the ground where they stood. Aleon extended his hand from a distance.

“……!”

In an instant, countless stones adhered to Gio’s body, forming a golem-like armor. This blocked Aleon’s ultimate technique, which could freeze his opponent’s blood.

Aleon, lips tightly pressed together, charged forward, and the hand-to-hand combat began.

Shards of sharp stone pierced through, shattering the ice. The freezing cold penetrated the hard rock, causing it to crack.

They attacked and defended. They threatened and failed in their attacks. Their necks were within arm’s reach, but only a dizzying exchange of blows continued.

The blue ice particles, even when struck away by rocks, seeped in again and again. If there was even a 0.1-second gap, they would undoubtedly seize the entire field of vision.

The Saint’s ice could envelop anything, and it was relentless.

In this moment of constant danger, Gio had only one thought.

‘Lilith, my life.’

Just thinking of her face gave him strength. He smiled, pure joy filling him, even as ice shards grazed his cheeks, drawing blood.

Rudel, ranked 1st, had set the condition for Gio with Lilith as the stake. This had driven Gio to this point. But now, the fact that he stood here because of someone’s will no longer mattered.

He was content with himself, throwing himself towards the present.

He felt satisfaction with his own efforts and was simply grateful for the opportunity to love Lilith.

‘I’ve changed for you. I marvel at myself, and I’m proud.’

The Tarzan of the forest had finally found his reason for existence.

Gio’s attacks grew fiercer. Dozens of stone pillars rose, aiming to pierce Aleon. However, the Blue Saint’s resolve did not falter.

Aleon matched his opponent, further increasing the output of his cold. The biting wind of the snowy mountain roared within the ring.

“I apologize for causing you pain. But I also have something important to me.”

The kind Saint, even in the midst of battle, felt sorrowful for making his opponent bleed and offered an apology.

“Even for you, I cannot break my vow.”

Aleon’s voice trembled slightly as he slowly enunciated. From his outstretched hand, dozens of water streams swirled and churned.

Gio’s eyes shone with determination. He, too, was fighting with all his heart, desperate and resolute. To resist his opponent’s conviction and to prove his own greater desperation, Aleon shouted loudly.

“If I am no longer ranked number one-!!”

He could vividly recall the faces of more than a dozen of his people, all standing behind him. He could not afford to fall. He had to be number one.

Otherwise-

‘My people will turn their backs on me.’

Aleon halted abruptly, his eyes narrowing in surprise. It was as if he had pricked his thigh with a needle kept in his pocket.

His opponent did not miss this fleeting moment.

“Ugh…!”

Aleon’s chest was slashed by a sharp stone. Fortunately, it was a shallow cut, not affecting the fight much. However, while it didn’t cause severe physical damage, the sight of the wound spreading across his shirt disturbed him deeply.

Aleon couldn’t help but look down at the wound on his chest and the red streaks spreading along his collar.

‘Ah.’

The sight pulled him back into a horrific nightmare. He remembered the first ice fortress he had built, hoping it would become a sanctuary for the weak, carefully crafting the pillars and smiling with hope. But what he received in return from the weak in that first ice fortress was a sharp knife plunged into his chest.

‘I was… still stuck there.’

In truth, he feared the repetition of that despair.

Aleon shook his head vigorously, trying to clear his mind. A cold storm swirled, preparing to end it. In response, the ground on the other side shook increasingly, growing stronger.

The two figures charged towards each other with all their might for a final blow.

* * *

Rudel’s barrage of flames ceased. Ifrea’s claws and Naaldean’s movements stopped. The players who had just fended off a monster wave also looked up in unison.

Haa, haa.

Apart from the sound of heavy breathing, there was no other noise. In the profound silence, everyone eagerly watched the collapsing rock wall, anticipating the result.

Slowly, the scene emerged from the dust.

One figure stood while the other lay on the ground. In the midst of the dust, making it hard to distinguish who was who, the broadcast announced the result first.

[The personal ranking has just been overturned.]

A significant shock spread throughout the Ice Fortress.

Gio stood there, with ice crystals embedded all over his body, clearly injured. But he was unmistakably standing alone.

The Saint, with his eyes closed, gradually disappeared. Gio looked down at him for a moment before a triumphant smile slowly spread across his face.

“Aaaah…!” 

A scream erupted from someone within the Ice Fortress, filled with shock and horror.

Rudel snapped out of her daze and quickly regained her composure. Ignoring the stunned Ifrea and Naaldean, she dashed up the hill and approached Gio.

“Gio, we need to get back to our territory. We can’t stay here long.”

“Okay.”

They had to disappear before the Ice Fortress could regroup and launch a full-scale attack on Gio. 

However, Gio and Rudel started heading in different directions. Gio moved towards the hole they had made earlier, while Rudel headed towards the main gate of the Ice Fortress.

Gio, puzzled, grabbed Rudel’s wrist.

“Where are you going?”

“It won’t take long. I need to make a quick stop.”

“No, let’s go back together.”

“It’s not dangerous. I’ll be back soon. Go ahead.”

The members of the Ice Fortress, still in disarray, didn’t notice Rudel heading towards their entrance. Naaldean was the first to shout in realization.

“Rudel is heading to the starting point! No way!”

The starting point of this round was where dead characters would respawn.

“Rudel is going to…!”

As Naaldean’s scream echoed, the Ice Fortress members buzzed with anger and confusion. Some even seemed ready to chase after Rudel.

“Stop! Do not leave your positions. Rudel isn’t going to harm or mock the resurrected Aleon.”

The one who calmed them was Ifrea. Her face was pale, still unable to believe Aleon’s defeat, but she managed to add a final, rational statement.

“Everyone, can we please look at Rudel with even a fraction of the faith we have in Aleon?”

* * *

Must the virtuous always fall after giving everything they have?

Must the kind-hearted always be doomed to lose because of their kindness? Is that the way of the world?

The Blue Saint wanted to know the answer. He hoped that answer wouldn’t push him to the brink.

But once again, the world had knocked him down.

Step, step.

Familiar footsteps approached from behind the cross-legged, upright Blue Saint. Despite not being one of his guild members, the keenly perceptive Aleon recognized the presence by the sound of their steps alone.

It was the guild master of Agasa.

Hesitating, Rudel spoke to him.

“I couldn’t just do nothing, so I followed you… I don’t know if this was the right choice. If you tell me to leave, I will.”

Aleon, who usually never sits or lies down during a round to always show a confident stance to his people, looked even more vulnerable sitting alone after his defeat. Rudel, mindful of Aleon’s pure nature, was always careful with her words around him, but today she was especially cautious.

She had been the one to defeat him, causing him to fall in front of his people. Now, following him out of concern for his well-being, she felt her actions were shameless.

The Blue Saint exhaled softly, turning to look at her while still seated.

“No, your choice was the right one.”

His sapphire eyes, though tinged with sadness, welcomed her with a gentle smile.

“Would you give me a hug?”

Rudel approached slowly, kneeling before him, and embraced Aleon deeply. Even in this moment, she had the thought:

‘Even now, viewers must be watching us closely. This must be a happy moment for the Rudel x Aleon fans…’

But for once, Rudel wanted to set aside any notion of performance and offer genuine comfort to the deeply saddened Aleon.

Aleon, nestled in her small shoulders, took a deep breath. A serene silence enveloped them.

With his eyes closed, he looked up at the sky, a single tear rolling down his cheek. He did not wipe it away. After a moment, he gently pushed Rudel back and gave her a wet smile.

“Thank you for indulging me. It was an honor to compete with you. Meeting you has been the greatest joy of my life.”