Lord Of The Lost

In a virtual world where magic and mystery are increasingly real, something extraordinary has happened, ghosts have been discovered. But amidst the chaos of this revelation, William remains calm and deliberate, refusing to act beyond what's necessary.

Meanwhile, in Border Town, tension is mounting. The ongoing battle between players and thieves has reached a boiling point. Although the first wave of players fought valiantly, many lost their lives. A new group of players has since risen, but they lack the strength and coordination of their predecessors.

The thieves, cunning and relentless, refuse to engage in direct combat. Instead, they spread out, launching constant attacks on village; looting, burning, and killing indiscriminately. The players, frustrated and overwhelmed, are struggling to keep up.

The Forum Master, the players' leader, is working tirelessly to manage the chaos. Game time is limited, so he's turned the forums into his war room. Players log out of the game at set intervals to report battle updates, while strategies are planned and debated online. Despite careful planning, every execution ends in failure, casting a dark shadow over the players' morale.

Amid this turmoil, William sends the Forum Master a private message:

"Gather everyone and focus on defending the north. Leave the south to me, but don't mention my name in the forum."

The Forum Master hesitates. He's an elite strategist with a sharp mind and the ability to 'identify all things,' but even he is at his limit. Identifying traitors among the players is impossible without exhausting himself. He's tried spreading false information and organizing small surprise attacks, but the thieves remain a step ahead.

The thieves' speed and unpredictability make them almost impossible to corner. The players' varied skill levels only add to the chaos, some refuse to follow orders, while others are simply ill-equipped for close combat. The Forum Master considers banning the forum to create an information cocoon, but doing so would shatter his credibility and alienate the players.

Caught between maintaining trust and managing chaos, he's forced to fight a defensive war, suppressing the thieves wherever they appear.

The situation in Border Town grows worse by the day. Nearly half of the villages have been attacked, leaving the residents in constant fear. The number of extraordinary thieves, those with supernatural abilities; has surged, and their attacks have become more brutal. In just one day, three villages were completely massacred.

The players, however, have no extraordinary individuals among their ranks, and the border town's own extraordinary fighters are spread too thin to mount an effective defense. The thieves strike swiftly and vanish like ghosts, leaving devastation in their wake.

For the Forum Master, the stakes couldn't be higher. His prestige and influence hinge on Border Town's survival. If the town falls, everything he's built will crumble.

Just as despair begins to set in, William's voice cuts through the noise:

"I understand the situation. Go ahead and do what needs to be done. I'll help."

For the first time in days, the Forum Master allows himself a moment of relief. William's calm confidence offers a glimmer of hope, even as the chaos in Border Town rages on.

William logged into the game and headed straight to the southern region of Border Town. Climbing to the top of a mountain, he stood motionless, surveying the vast wilderness that stretched for miles. The strong wind whipped through his hair, but he remained still, waiting.

Suddenly, a white-faced owl appeared, circling above him.

"Kite Village," it hooted before flying back into the distance.

William reached into his cloak and pulled out the 'Black Crow Wings' badge. Instantly, black feathers sprouted from his body and neck. With a single powerful motion, he transformed into a massive black crow and launched into the air, heading toward Kite Village.

From above, William saw chaos. A group of masked thieves, led by a superhuman from the Path of Thieves, was attacking Kite Village. The village guards fought valiantly, but they were no match for the sheer number of thieves swarming in. Homes were ablaze, residents were screaming, and blood stained the streets.

Without hesitation, the giant black crow swooped down.

'Thud!'

William landed in the heart of the chaos, his voice cold and commanding.

"Stop it, all of you!"

The thieves froze at the sight of the massive crow transforming back into William. Fear gripped them. Some trembled; others dared not even breathe. One thief turned to flee.

'Whoosh!'

A spear flew through the air like a silver dragon, striking the fleeing thief squarely. He disappeared in a flash of white light, dead before he hit the ground.

William took a step forward, his voice sharp and unyielding.

"Let's see who dares to move!"

His gaze swept across the group, piercing like an eagle's. The air grew heavy as if frozen by his presence. The thieves, now visibly shaken, stood paralyzed.

With fires crackling around them and cries echoing in the background, William's voice cut through the chaos.

"Take off your hoods."

The thieves hesitated, glancing at each other nervously. Finally, one stepped forward; a hulking figure holding a massive axe. He yanked off his sack hood and tossed it to the ground. Dust rose as the hood landed, and one by one, the rest of the thieves followed suit.

But one thief held out. His hands trembled as he clutched his hood, refusing to remove it. William's eyes narrowed, his gaze icy and relentless. Under the mounting pressure, the man finally tore off his hood, his face pale and downcast.

"Why did you become a thief?" William demanded, his tone cold and sharp.

The first thief to remove his hood stepped forward, forcing a grin. "Brother, I'm one of you. I'm—"

'Smack!'

Before he could finish, William struck him with a thunderous slap. The thief flew backward, crashing into a burning house. The weakened structure collapsed, burying him in flames. Screaming, the man scrambled out of the wreckage, rolling on the ground to extinguish the fire.

Despite his injuries, the thief managed to stagger to his feet. Blood dripped from his mouth, his teeth loose, his body shaking.

William stood firm, his expression as cold as steel.

"Don't call me brother. I have no brothers like you. I don't care who you are. I asked you a question, answer it!"

The thief's face twisted with fury as he staggered toward William, his voice trembling with anger.

"Why? Why do you get to act like this?" he shouted, his chest heaving.

"Why do 'you' level up so quickly? Why do 'you' get the best items and the most rewards? Why is everything handed to you while we're left with nothing?!"

His voice grew louder, more desperate.

"We're the same; we're all beta testers! But you're always ahead of us! Why should we kill monsters, craft weapons, and risk everything just to be left behind?"

The thief's eyes burned with frustration and pain.

"You know what? At least the thieves give us something real. Real power. Real benefits. Why 'shouldn't' I become a thief?"

His words hung in the air, filled with bitterness and rage. The other thieves looked on, silent but nodding subtly, their faces etched with resentment.

William's expression didn't waver. He stood there, unflinching, as the weight of the thief's outburst pressed against him.

'The battlefield was silent, but the storm was just beginning.'