Souls Online: Mythic Ascension

When Leo returned to the main area of the gym, he saw the remaining party members there talking with people he did not recognize and some he did in passing. Seeing Morgan talking with Penny, he shot a look at Lily who merely shrugged her shoulders.

"My dad told him to come with me. He could be useful I guess."

Leo's eyes widened slightly at Lily's calm reaction. Just earlier today she had screamed at him with a voice full of hatred. Yet now she was willing to at least give him a chance?

As for the man and woman talking with Aria and Crystal, Leo didn't recognize them at all. However, judging by the way that Aria who was one of the more introverted members of their party was talking with them quite easily, she must know them quite well or for a very long time.

As if to prove his assumption to be correct, Aria's face brightened up when when she saw Leo returning with the others, looking relatively better than what penny had told her.

"Leo! I'm glad to see you're feeling better! I want you to meet my friends. They have been with me for years. This is Ethan," she motioned to the young man who was starting to look really uncomfortable at being introduced to a bunch of strangers that were close with his Young Miss.

Aria then motioned to the beautiful woman who for some reason had a bottle of vodka in her hand.

"And this is Vivian. She has always been like an older sister to me."

Vivian took a long sip from her bottle before looking between Leo, Adam, and Greg with a sly smile. Her eyes lingered on each one as if she were weighing her options.

"So, Aria," Vivian said without the slightest hint of shame. "Which one of these three is your boyfriend? The cute catboy, the devilishly handsome pretty boy, or the macho bodybuilder-looking hottie?"

Aria froze, her cheeks turning bright red in an instant. "W-what? None of them are—" She cut herself off, clearly flustered.

The three men exchanged bewildered glances, caught completely off guard by the question. Leo's ears twitched slightly, Adam raised an eyebrow, and Greg looked like he wasn't sure whether to laugh or flex.

Ethan let out a sigh and stepped forward, shaking his head. "Sorry about her, guys. My sister's just a psycho bitch."

Vivian's eyes narrowed dangerously. Without warning, she drove her fist into Ethan's gut with surprising force. The impact knocked the wind out of him, and he collapsed to his knees, clutching his stomach and wheezing in pain.

"Watch your mouth, little brother," Vivian said casually before taking another swig from her bottle.

Ethan tried to say something in response but only a groan of agony escaped his lips. Luna looked thoroughly amused as Vivian then kicked his shoulder lightly while looking at him with disdain in her eyes.

"Oh stop being a baby. I didn't hit you that hard."

Vivian's words earned her a few chuckles from the group, though Aria looked mortified. Ethan stayed hunched over, still wheezing, his face contorted in pain.

Lily raised an eyebrow at the scene. "Not that hard? He looks like he's about to cough up a lung."

Vivian waved the comment away and took another swig of vodka. "He'll live. Besides, it builds character."

Ethan shot her a glare from the floor, though it lacked any real heat. "You're insane…" he rasped.

"That's why you love me," Vivian replied sweetly before looking back at Aria, the mischievous grin returning. "So? Still not going to tell me which one is yours?"

Aria buried her face in her hands, groaning. "Vivian…"

Greg finally let out a laugh, shaking his head. "I like her. She's direct."

Adam smirked faintly. "A little too direct."

Leo just stood there, unsure whether to defend Aria, change the subject, or quietly disappear into the nearest corner.

Vivian's gaze snapped back to the three guys standing nearby as she seemed to switch gears, the teasing expression on her face becoming a bit more serious

"Okay, enough beating around the bush. Which one of you is Leo?"

Leo blinked, caught off guard by the question. "Uh, that'd be me. Why do you want to know?"

Vivian smirked, clearly amused. "Really? I never would have pegged the cute, innocent-looking one as someone who could tear people apart like they're made of tofu. I'm honestly shocked."

Leo's ears twitched and everyone's expression took a turn for the worse. Adam and Greg were frowning while Luna's previous amusement had turned into a snarl while Lily and Rachel were gritting their teeth.

Leo's ears twitched again, a flicker of irritation flashing in his eyes. "Is that supposed to be a compliment or an insult?"

Adam crossed his arms, shooting Vivian a sharp look. "Maybe tone it down a bit."

Greg nodded, his jaw tightening. "There's no need to be rude."

Luna stepped forward, her tone was fierce as she glared at the other woman with a fierce glare. "You're lucky I don't rip your mouth off where you stand."

Lily and Rachel exchanged tense looks, clearly ready to back Luna up if things escalated.

Vivian raised her hands in mock surrender, still grinning. "Alright, alright. I get it. But seriously, Leo, if you ever want to prove the cute catboy's got claws, I'm game for a match."

Leo sighed, clearly tired of the spotlight. "I'm not interested."

Vivian's eyes sparkled with mischief. "Come on, if you win, I will let you fuck me."

The room froze instantly. Every pair of eyes locked on Vivian's bold words. Leo's ears twitched nervously as the tension thickened.

Aria's cheeks flushed even deeper as she buried her face in her hands. "Vivian, please..."

Greg let out a low whistle, shaking his head in disbelief. "You really don't hold back, do you?"

Adam's smirk deepened, though he kept his expression neutral. "That's... quite the offer."

Luna narrowed her eyes, clearly unimpressed. "You're playing a dangerous game."

Lily and Rachel exchanged glances, both silently bracing for how Leo would respond.

Leo exhaled slowly, weighing his options, then gave Vivian a tired look.

"No matter what I say or do, I will lose something. You fight someone else if you are so keen on getting fucked over."

Leo's words cut through the charged silence like a blade. "No matter what I say or do, I will lose something. You fight someone else if you are so keen on getting fucked over."

Vivian's pride snapped like a taut wire. Her eyes narrowed and a low growl escaped her lips, sharp and fierce. She took a step closer, ready to retort, but Leo did not flinch.

Rachel, standing just beside Vivian, blinked slowly and smiled softly. "If you want to challenge my cutie," she said sweetly, "you'll have to get through every one of us first."

Vivian paused, eyes flicking between the group. A slow, sly grin spread across her face. "That's great," she said, voice dripping with challenge.

Before anyone could react, Adam moved like a flash of lightning. In an instant, he appeared right in front of Vivian, so fast she barely saw him close the distance.

His knife was pressed cool and deadly against her throat. His expression was calm, almost emotionless.

"As you are now," Adam said quietly, "you will lose. If you want to face Leo, you need to get stronger."

The room held its breath, every eye locked on the tension crackling between them. Vivian's smirk faltered for a heartbeat. She then she slowly lifted her chin, eyes blazing. There was finally something interesting for her to look forward to after such a long time.

Vivian's smirk deepened, eyes gleaming with renewed fire. She pulled back slightly from Adam's knife, the faintest trace of respect in her gaze. "I'm done playing around," she said firmly. "I want to officially join your group. And Ethan will be joining too."

Leo's brow furrowed. He opened his mouth to refuse, unwilling to let new, unpredictable people join so suddenly.

Before he could say a word, the familiar chime of the system notice rang through the air, clear and unmistakable.

Potential Zodiac Bond Targets found.

Leo glanced at the message with quickened heartbeat, then looked back at the two standing before him.

Above Ethan and Vivian's head, two screens appeared that were visible only to Leo.

Zodiac Bond- Ox

Perfect Compatibility for Individual Vivian Cross.

Zodiac Bond- Dog

Perfect Compatibility for Individual Ethan Valkyrno

Leo let out a slow, weary sigh, rubbing the back of his neck as he stared at the system's glowing confirmation above Vivian and Ethan's heads.

Was it the name of their guild pulling in wild cards? Or was it just his own fate that attracted this kind of chaos? Crazy people, unpredictable forces, and trouble seemed to gravitate toward him no matter what he did.

He glanced around at his group, feeling the unspoken tension hanging in the air. Vivian's fierce gaze met his, unwavering and full of challenge. Ethan was still recovering, but his eyes showed quiet determination.

Leo's head then drooped as a defeated sigh slipped from his lips.

"Welcome to the Chaos Pantheon."

The guild was somehow going to get even more chaotic