If this had been his previous life, Kaito might have swallowed his pride and yielded. Back then, his resources were limited, his family was weak, his influence small, and his vision bound by the constraints of survival.
But now, things were different.
In this life, after his rebirth, he had both the capital and the confidence to stand toe-to-toe with a colossal force like the gold-ranked Underworld. More than that, he carried a dream he had failed to realize in his last life—a dream of building his own empire, one that spanned both the virtual world of Glory and the real world. On that path, he knew he would inevitably cross swords with countless major powers, whether they existed in reality or inside Glory.
If he were to bow his head to Underworld now, how could he ever hope to challenge the tyrants that would block his way in the future? How could he compete for the vast resources, the valuable territories, the rare equipment, and the hidden opportunities Glory had to offer?
Yes, Underworld's reach was enormous. Its name alone could shake powerful organizations in reality, and its influence was something most would never dare provoke. But even that influence had limits. In the face of Glory—the world's undisputed "Second World"—no earthly power could override or interfere with the Main System's rules. Not even the mighty Federation could meddle with its inner workings, much less a single gold-rank organization.
Even if Underworld tried to uncover his real-life identity, it would be a futile effort. After over a century of development and refinement, the privacy systems of full-dive virtual reality games had become nearly impenetrable. Virtual transactions, communication records, and in-game actions could not be linked back to a player's real-life identity. And Glory wasn't just any VR game—it was born of alien technology. Its systems were so far beyond human design that even the Federation itself didn't have access to player files. The idea that Underworld could somehow find him in reality was laughable.
Kaito knew all this, and that knowledge formed the unshakable foundation of his resolve. He would not yield. Not now, not ever.
Grim shade's expression twisted, the corners of his mouth curling into a smile that was more threat than humor. His voice was low, but it carried venom.
"Very good. It seems you've truly steeled your heart to oppose Underworld. Then you'd better make your preparations…" He leaned forward, eyes narrowing into slits. "…because the next step you take will be into hell."
He truly hadn't imagined there would be someone in Glory who dared defy Underworld so brazenly—someone who didn't fear death.
To Grim shade, Kaito was nothing more than a lone, arrogant fool—an independent player too blinded by his own self-confidence to comprehend the true weight of Underworld's power. In Grim shade's eyes, Kaito's bold words weren't courage, but sheer ignorance.
Underworld's reach stretched far beyond what most players could imagine. Its influence spanned two entire empires and extended into multiple kingdoms, Solaris Kingdom among them. If Grim shade merely reported this encounter to his superiors, the wheels of Underworld's machine would begin to turn. Within mere days, an independent player like Kaito would find his every move in Glory hounded. His progress would be strangled at every turn until he had no choice but to hand over the Epic-ranked Whisper Flame.
"Hell, is it?" Kaito said with a casual shrug, his tone dripping with insolence. "I've walked through plenty of hells before. Entering yours won't make a difference."
It wasn't an empty boast. The Whisper Flame he possessed had become both a cornerstone of his combat ability and a powerful asset to his forging craft, bolstering his strength in ways most players couldn't dream of. With his current battle prowess, there wasn't a single player he feared meeting head-on. If Underworld sent assassins, he could vanish into the shadows of South Glade, striking back through relentless guerrilla tactics. His leveling speed was unmatched, his efficiency brutal. The idea of a guild—or even a gold-rank power—pouring endless manpower and resources into grinding him down in a single small town was laughable.
And should they ever attempt to corner his team?
Kaito allowed himself a faint smirk at the thought. The Cryo Core Orbs he had stockpiled would ensure that anyone foolish enough to try would find themselves tasting a far colder and deadlier "hell" than they had bargained for.
He didn't flinch under Grim shade's veiled threats, didn't offer even a moment of hesitation. In Kaito's mind, the conversation was over—and he was the one deciding when it ended.
Without another word, he cut the call, leaving only the quiet hum of the system in his ears and a small, defiant smile on his face.
Kaito exhaled slowly, letting the lingering irritation from the call fade away. His hands steadied as he refocused on his true priority—continuing his forging work. The rhythmic sound of the hammer striking metal filled the intermediate forging room, a welcome contrast to the grating voice of Grim shade that had filled his ears moments ago. He set aside all distractions, channeling his concentration into the process.
Every strike, every adjustment of the Whisper Flame's intensity, was precise and deliberate. This was the work that mattered—the kind of progress no threat could take away from him.
...
Meanwhile, on the other side of Glory, Grim shade was seething. The moment Kaito had cut the call, he opened his contacts and immediately reached out to the upper echelons of Underworld. The call connected quickly, and a smooth yet commanding voice echoed in his ears.
"Grim shade," the voice drawled, "how is the matter regarding the Epic-ranked item coming along?"
Grim shade clenched his fists as he answered, his tone filled with barely contained frustration. "Young Master Ronan, I've already tried my best, but that brat, Raen, still refused. He even went so far as to look down on Underworld, telling us to 'come at him' if we had the ability."
On the other end, Ronan let out a short laugh, one tinged with both amusement and cold malice. "Hahaha! An interesting fellow indeed. No wonder Velena and Zephyr are paying attention to him. I haven't met such an arrogant person in a long time. Very well—if he rejects my good intentions, then let him vanish from Glory. I'm granting you the authority to mobilize all of Underworld's forces in the Astralis City region. Fetch me that flame, no matter the cost."
Grim shade straightened instinctively, his voice carrying a mix of relief and determination. "Yes, Young Master. This subordinate will definitely succeed."
The call ended, and Grim shade let out a long breath, feeling the weight of Ronan's words. The Young Master was furious—there was no doubt about it. Under normal circumstances, mobilizing all of Underworld's strength in a single region was unheard of. That Ronan had given him such authority meant the order was absolute: bring Raen to his knees.
"Raen," Grim shade muttered under his breath, his eyes narrowing with a predator's focus, "let's see how long you can keep playing the free man. Soon, I'll drag you down into hell itself."
The thought of Kaito's defiant tone earlier only stoked the fire in his chest, but beneath his anger was a flicker of excitement. With the authority he had just received, he now had control over all of Underworld's operations in Astralis City's territory.
Underworld's numbers were small compared to traditional guilds, but each member was an elite in their own right—handpicked for their skill, cunning, and ruthlessness. Many were influential figures in other major guilds, giving the organization deep, hidden reach. If every member in the Astralis City region was gathered, their combined might could rival—or even surpass—that of a strong third-rate guild.
But more importantly, a majority of Underworld's members thrived in the shadows. They were predators who excelled at murder, ambush, and disruption. For players who walked the path of darkness, nothing was more enjoyable than dismantling the ambitions of an independent player. And Raen, with his lone-wolf bravado and valuable Epic-ranked flame, had just painted a target on his back the size of a fortress.
Grim shade's lips curved into a cold smile. Mobilizing such forces would not only crush Raen but would also serve as a statement—a warning to anyone else who dared to defy Underworld.