Title: The Birth of a Shadow Guild
Seven Ring – First Stage Vol. 2
Chapter 26
Our story begins exactly where the previous chapter ended.
Billy comes to talk to the MC.
Billy:
He says to Navi, "May I talk to you alone?"
Navi:
"Hm."
He tells Jake Lee to go outside. "You wait outside."
Jake Lee:
"Okay. If something happens, call me inside."
Jake Lee goes out.
Navi (in a cold tone):
"What do you want? Why have you come?"
Billy:
"I came to see how you are… and to say thank you."
Navi:
"That is not a good enough reason. You can leave. I want to be alone."
Billy:
"Sir… I had some work with you. Will you join our guild?"
Navi:
"No. I have no interest in any guild.
Your father already has a powerful guild with many strong hunters, and he himself is a national-level hunter."
Billy (politely):
"I want to build my own guild… and I want to add you to it."
Navi:
"My answer is still no."
Billy:
"Don't you want to know why I want to do this?"
Navi:
"No. I have no interest. You may leave."
Billy:
"Please sir, think about it properly. You will get whatever you want."
Navi (his eyes turning black):
"Don't you understand?
Don't you love your life?
Staying with me means death.
Are you ready for that?"
Billy falls backward in fear.
Billy:
"I understand…"
Navi (suddenly):
"What can you give me?"
Billy cannot speak at first. Slowly he says,
"Whatever you want… you will get it."
Navi:
"Go outside and wait. Come in only when I call you."
Billy goes outside, thinking,
"It feels like he might kill me anytime…"
Navi's eyes return to normal.
Navi walks to the mirror and says,
"Why did you do that to me?
Why did you take control of my body without asking me?"
Dark Shadow:
"Right now, we must survive.
The more powerful people we gather, the higher our chance of survival.
We don't even know who our enemy is or what he wants.
On top of that, we have no power of our own."
"So understand this…
Join hands with him.
Create your own guild instead of joining his.
That way, the power will remain in your hands."
Navi:
"But we will have to use them… and betray them."
Dark Shadow:
"To stay alive, we must do anything.
You want revenge too.
Revenge without planning is impossible.
Your enemy grows stronger every day, while you only think."
Navi:
"But this is wrong, isn't it…?"
Dark Shadow:
"I know… deep inside, you want to use those foolish people."
Navi:
"No… I never wanted that."
"Fine…
But don't control my body without my permission."
Dark Shadow only gives an evil smile and keeps staring at him.
Navi says,
"Billy, come inside."
Billy enters.
Navi:
"Does your family know that you want to build a new guild?"
Billy:
"Not yet.
I will convince them.
And don't worry about money… that is my responsibility."
Navi:
"Okay. I want to be the leader of your guild.
You will be the vice leader. Do you agree?"
Billy:
"Yes, I agree."
Navi:
"One condition — except for you, no one should know that I am the guild leader."
Billy:
"Agreed."
Navi:
"I want monster cores from low-rank monsters."
Billy:
"Agreed."
Navi:
"You may go now."
Billy leaves the room.
Scene Shift-
Scene Shift
Somewhere else…
The sky had turned red.
A mountain of corpses covered the ground.
The air was filled with the stench of blood and gunpowder.
In the middle of the battlefield stood Ghost Knight…
A black sword in one hand,
blood dripping from the other.
In front of him stood a man…
with thousands of soldiers behind him.
His name was — Lee.
Lee (angrily):
"Who are you?
Why did you kill my people?!
Do you even know which family you are making an enemy of?!"
Ghost Knight slowly looked at his sword…
as if he was in another world.
Ghost Knight (in a cold voice):
"You are not worthy…
even to hear my name."
Lee opens his mouth to say something…
⚔️ SLASH—
In a single instant, Ghost Knight's sword cuts through the air.
The next moment…
Lee's head falls to the ground.
The throats of all his soldiers are cut at the same time.
Blood rains down like a storm.
For one moment…
absolute silence spreads across the battlefield.
No one even gets the chance to react.
Ghost Knight shakes his sword.
Blood scatters into the air.
Ghost Knight (irritated):
"You talk too much…
I hate being disturbed."
He walks forward through the pile of corpses.
Ghost Knight:
"Now… it's the Lee family's turn.
I have an old debt to settle."
Lee Family Headquarters
The news strikes like lightning.
Lee Family Head (furious):
"Who dared to kill my son?!"
A soldier speaks while trembling:
Soldier:
"G… Ghost Knight did…"
As soon as he hears the name, the cup slips from the Lee Family Head's hand.
His hands and legs begin to shake.
His face turns pale.
The families that supported the Lee family…
step back in fear.
People run while shouting:
"That devil is coming!"
"This city will be destroyed!"
"Run!"
The Lee Family Head collapses into his chair.
His eyes widen in shock.
Lee Family Head (whispering):
"He… has returned…"
His throat goes dry.
He cannot speak a single word.
The chapter end