120: The Meeting

The Meeting

PLANET ERA1

Lotus's group of Federation soldiers, along with forty members of the Eclipse guild—including Chocolate, Hulk, and White—approached the ruins of Tyo by stealth during the night.

Once in position, Lotus pulled out a very sophisticated spy device cobbled together for the occasion. She released it into the camp and awaited its return with information.

The situation turned out to be quite dangerous. Mario was inside, one of the seven strongest MMO players in the world. In addition, there was a significant portion of his elite SuperGuild, Toxic. They made up about two hundred elite lvl 30 players, well-equipped with dungeon gear.

Though the Federation troops provided Lotus's group some numerical superiority, they were almost meaningless considering the enemies were all players. The truth was that the Toxic players were an overwhelming force compared to Lotus's group.

Realizing she needed to rely on cunning, Lotus constructed a plan and explained it to her assault squad.

Then she went alone to meet the enemy.

It wasn't long before a group of sentinels stopped Lotus, then brought her before Mario.

Mario was an Asian player, and, despite her name, a very attractive woman. She was popular among male players because of her beauty and was also cold and dominant.

Lotus, standing opposite her, was a sharp contrast. A beautiful woman in her own right, Lotus burned with a heart full of warmth and fire.

In addition, their levels were also unequal. Mario was lvl 34, while Lotus was only lvl 26. It was as if Lotus were facing double her own power!

Mario spoke first. "Ah, Lotus, of the Eclipse guild. I'm starting to doubt that you really want to keep the planet, if they only bothered to send you. Why didn't the guild leader, Apophis, come in person? Was he afraid, and so only sent his lover?"

Lotus replied calmly, "Sorry, but you will have to deal with me. Like Apophis, I used to be a solo player who wanted to found a guild that was not enslaved by the power of money, like all of you who think you are the masters of 'Horus!'

"Without your big shareholders who speculate on the value of GC, you would be nothing. Let's be honest, Eclipse's achievements are already superior to those of any SuperGuild, even though our resources are a thousand times scarcer than yours."

Mario replied, "What an idealistic and noble concept. Yet, whether you stand alone or with millions in support, only the results count. Don't you agree? And with barely two hundred men, we've taken down your main stronghold. Stand alone all you want and see where that gets you. Well, what do you have to say for yourself? What exactly do you plan on doing now?"

Lotus answered, "We are going to take back this planet, which is rightfully ours. I came to give you a chance to leave this planet in peace."

Mario gave a thin smile of arrogance. "Very brave! Or is that even true? Let me guess, Apophis and the rest of your guild are skulking around, planning to ambush me, right?"

Lotus replied, "I come alone. I do not need the rest of my guild to force you off this planet."

Mario laughed. "I can't wait to see how you manage that!"

Lotus didn't answer, but only issued a conditional duel invitation.

In a conditional duel, the game systems of "Horus" enforced an agreement between two players.

However, the game didn't prevent anyone else from intervening. Any player outside the duel could easily attack a participant, leaving the survivor as the winner.

Therefore, this was a risk-free situation for Mario. Either she won the duel Lotus offered, and in so doing gained fame for humiliating a member of Eclipse, or she "lost" until the moment she ordered her guildmates to finish Lotus off.

Mario finally answered, "A duel? Alright. What would be the stakes?"

Lotus said, "The one who loses this duel will leave the planet immediately, along with the members of her guild, or else her account will be banned permanently."

Mario gave this some careful thought.

Though she had been planning to order her guildmates to attack, something seemed wrong to her. Lotus was certainly the weaker of the two of them, so the only logical explanation was that Lotus 'did' have her guildmates hidden, perhaps all with weapons aimed at her, ready to fire as soon as the duel began!

So Mario smiled coyly. "Very well. I accept, on one condition... that none of our respective guild members intervene in the duel!"

To Mario's surprise, Lotus nodded, quickly added these conditions, and then sent the invitation again.

After a moment's hesitation, Mario accepted.

Server: The duel will soon begin. 5, 4, 3, 2, 1… Fight!

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