Chapter 1 Dark Night Empire, City of Light and Shadow

In the Dark Night Empire stood the City of Light and Shadow.

A massive, deep purple crystal floated above a towering spire, protecting the entire city with a magical barrier. The streets teemed with players, NPCs, and dark creatures such as demons, abyssal fiends, and vampires—more so than even the dark cities of the kingdoms.

Neutral races could even be seen hawking their wares, a rare sight in the dark cities of other empires.

The City of Light and Shadow was every bit as prosperous as the Dark Night Empire's capital, Dark Night City, if not more so in terms of sheer population.

On a bustling street in the central district, a lavish five-story mansion stood, with players constantly coming and going. These players were either affluent merchants or experts above level 54.

This sight filled the players waiting in a long queue outside the mansion with envy.

"Those guys' levels and equipment are amazing! They seem even better than the experts from first-rate guilds!"

"Of course. Although Dark Soul isn't a guild, but an alliance, they regularly organize raid parties and frequently plunder the elite and main forces of various guilds. Naturally, they've acquired some excellent weapons and equipment. What's more, the major guilds can't do anything about it. A while back, a first-rate guild tried to take on Dark Soul with all its might, but Dark Soul wiped them out completely. Now, the entire guild is finished."

"Yeah! That's why I rushed here as soon as I heard Dark Soul was recruiting. If I could join this alliance, it would be awesome."

"Definitely. Join Dark Soul, and you can swagger around the Dark Night Empire's guilds, even in the surrounding kingdoms. Other dark guilds will give you a wide berth. Especially if you get selected for one of the top five adventure teams, like Shadow Claws, the number one dark adventure team in the Copper Eagle Kingdom, or Dark Hunters, which has made a name for itself in the Dark Night Empire. If you can get in, you'll be set for life."

"I dream of joining one of the top five adventure teams too, but the requirements are too high. You need to clear at least the fifth floor of the Trial Tower, or reach the sixth floor, or at least reach the mid-point of the fifth floor and have a special skill."

...

Thousands of dark players in the queue whispered, their hearts filled with longing for Dark Soul.

In the dark forces of the Dark Empire and the surrounding kingdoms, Dark Soul held a position similar to that of super-first-rate and super guilds. Other dark guilds and adventure teams were wary of normal major guilds, but Dark Soul wasn't. They even openly opposed the two super-first-rate guilds, making them untouchable.

For dark players who were constantly hiding, this was something they desperately craved.

Now that Dark Soul was openly recruiting, these free dark players naturally wouldn't miss the opportunity.

In the office on the top floor of the mansion, a young man stood by the window, quietly watching the players below, a faint smile playing on his lips.

This man was none other than Duantian Hu, the leader of the Dark Soul alliance.

"Alliance Leader, since we released the recruitment news, over two thousand players have passed the tests so far. In addition, more than thirty well-known adventure teams want to join us. With these people, as long as the Starstream Conglomerate's resources are in place, we can quickly cultivate two or three well-equipped expert legions," reported a male Elementalist, level 55, holding a gnarled wooden staff.

"Good! Wu Dao, you've done well this time. As long as the other adventure teams take care of Zero Wing Guild, I don't think there will be any problems with the Starstream Conglomerate's resources," Duantian Hu said with a smile, nodding.

"Don't worry, Alliance Leader. I heard Black Shark and the others have already found Zero Wing Guild's executives. Now, the Dark Hunters and Shadow Claws adventure teams have gone to encircle them. I believe this will inflict significant damage on Zero Wing Guild, which should satisfy the Starstream Conglomerate and get them to pre-pay some of the resources," the level 55 Elementalist named Mo Wu Dao said, laughing.

Once all these resources were in place, their Dark Soul would become the dark overlord of the Dark Night Empire. Then, they would continue to expand outward, becoming the overlord of the entire God's Domain's dark forces.

Just as the two were talking, Mo Wu Dao received a message. After opening it and reading it, his expression darkened.

"What's wrong?" Duantian Hu asked, looking at Mo Wu Dao's somber face, puzzled.

"I just received news... All the adventure teams that went to the Star-Moon Kingdom to deal with Zero Wing Guild are preparing to return..." Mo Wu Dao said in a low voice.

"Returned? Did they resolve Zero Wing so quickly?" Duantian Hu couldn't help but be surprised. "That's not right. Zero Wing Guild is a major guild comparable to a first-rate guild. It's impossible to eliminate them so quickly. What exactly happened?"

"The Dark Hunters and Shadow Claws adventure teams that went to encircle Zero Wing's main force... Were severely damaged by Zero Wing. More than half of them are dead or injured. According to Shen Yin, the information the Starstream Conglomerate gave them about Zero Wing is completely wrong. So the leaders of the various adventure teams have decided to return to the City of Light and Shadow first, to re-negotiate how to deal with Zero Wing Guild," Mo Wu Dao said quietly.

"How could this be? Those are the Dark Hunters and Shadow Claws adventure teams. They were only dealing with Zero Wing's main force. How could they be severely damaged by Zero Wing, and with more than half of them dead or injured..." Duantian Hu's eyes flashed with astonishment as he looked at Mo Wu Dao. "And what does Shen Yin mean by 'not a guild'?"

"Alliance Leader, there's a combat video taken by a player on the scene. Would you like to take a look?" Mo Wu Dao was also bewildered, and immediately forwarded the video sent by his subordinate to Duantian Hu.

"A combat video?" After receiving it, Duantian Hu immediately opened the video.

In the video, the two thousand members of the Dark Hunters and Shadow Claws adventure teams used their trump cards, which even astonished him. Then, he saw a female warrior from Zero Wing Guild quickly kill Black Shark, followed by a single strike that wiped out nearly a hundred experts. Finally, Shi Feng summoned a black dragon that instantly killed magic soldiers, and summoned direct guards who slaughtered everywhere. In an instant, the two adventure teams fell into a disadvantage.

"This is the so-called Zero Wing that's comparable to a first-rate guild?" Duantian Hu said angrily. "What are the Starstream Conglomerate's intelligence personnel doing! This is comparable to a first-rate guild? Can the main force of a first-rate guild wipe out two of our Dark Soul's adventure teams? Wu Dao, contact Lu Xingluo immediately and tell him that if he wants to eliminate Zero Wing Guild, the previously agreed price must be tripled. Otherwise, the deal is off!"

"Yes, I'll contact him now." Mo Wu Dao was also furious, feeling that the Starstream Conglomerate was simply playing with their Dark Soul.