NOVEL WEB Chapter 123: Offers
The environment outside the Chrysalis Forest dungeon was heavy with tension and excitement. Hunters, Evolvers, and mercenary squads were scattered across the grassy clearing, some patching wounds, others laughing over loot, and many exchanging rumors of those who dared enter deeper difficulties.
Near the edge of the field, five figures sat quietly on the ground, their armor dented, clothes torn, and skin marked with battle scars. Sweat clung to their brows, yet their eyes burned with a sharp, unyielding light. They weren't broken—just exhausted from another brutal run.
A few curious evolvers gathered nearby, whispering,
"Hey, who are they? Why are they sitting on the ground like that?" one newcomer asked, pointing at Ryuzen's group.
"Hahaha… those are the ones who were arrogant enough to challenge Hell Mode," another sneered. "And now, they've had their asses handed to them."
"Wow! Doesn't that mean they beat Extreme Mode?" a younger hunter piped up, his eyes wide with awe.
"Tsk… yeah, somehow," the sneering one muttered, crossing his arms.
Before the mockery could go further, a sharp voice cut in. A tall, red-haired young man stepped forward, his presence radiating authority. His eyes narrowed on the loudmouth, Jack.
"Knock it off, Jack. They didn't just beat Extreme Mode somehow, they dominated it—again and again. I saw it with my own eyes. So you'd better shut your mouth before you bring trouble to our party."
Jack swallowed hard, his earlier arrogance draining away. He clicked his tongue but didn't dare continue.
The crowd buzzed louder now, voices rising in excitement.
"Wait, aren't they from the Junior Blood Legion! And that's… Fire Salamander!"
A voice from the crowd suddenly rang out, sharp enough to silence the chatter. Heads turned immediately toward the speaker, and then toward Ryuzen's squad.
Hearing that name, the nearby Evolvers froze for a moment, their brows furrowing in shock.
"No way… you mean the newly formed Junior Blood Legion selected personally by the Legendary Commanders?" someone muttered, disbelief in his tone.
"Yeah, the ones who survived the Jaws of Azathoth…" another whispered, his voice trembling as if even the name of that calamity still carried weight.
Gasps rippled through the gathering.
"I've heard the same. They said one of their comrades fell… but the rest carried his will."
The silence that followed was heavy. Many of the Evolvers now looked at Ryuzen's team with awe, while others wore expressions of guilt for mocking them earlier.
"Hmph… and to think someone here had the gall to insult them."
Dozens of eyes swiveled toward Jack.
Jack's face turned scarlet, like pig's liver. He clenched his fists, wishing he could bury himself in the dirt. The words he had spat earlier now felt like knives twisting in his own gut. He opened his mouth to retort, but under the weight of so many stares—and the quiet, dangerous glances from Venus and Irina—he shut it quickly.
Nearby, Venus stretched her arms, wincing at a bruise on her shoulder. Irina sat cross-legged, her bow resting against her shoulder as she closed her eyes in quiet meditation. Felix leaned back with his twin blood daggers stuck into the dirt, while Rudos muttered healing skills, a faint glow covering his hands as he patched up their injuries.
Ryuzen sat slightly apart, golden-slit eyes staring at the dungeon entrance. His chest rose and fell steadily, but his calmness only made the others around them more uneasy.
A veteran mercenary, his armor battered and sword chipped, watched silently. He finally spoke, his tone carrying respect.
"Don't mock them. If they're walking out of Hell Mode alive, even in that state, then they're leagues above most of us here. Ordinary hunters would be corpses right now."
The whispers turned into heated discussions. Some stared with admiration, others with jealousy, and a few with thinly veiled hostility. The name Ryuzen began to ripple through the crowd like wildfire.
Venus noticed the stares and smirked faintly. "Looks like we're turning into a circus attraction."
Felix chuckled dryly. "Better than being forgotten nobodies."
Irina opened her eyes, her sharp gaze cutting across the gawking hunters. "Let them talk. Strength doesn't need explanations."
Rudos gave a small laugh as he finished his healing spell, a warm glow fading from his hands. "Well, at least they're acknowledging what we've accomplished. That much is fine."
Finally, Ryuzen spoke, his voice calm but carrying weight. "Ignore them. One failure means nothing. We'll try again. We may fail again. But there will be a time we'll conquer it all. And when we do the world will remember the day."
The crowd quieted as if his words were a blade cutting through the air. For a moment, nobody dared speak.
Then, someone whispered, almost reverently, "That kid… he's going to rise far above the rest of us."
The murmurs refused to die down. In fact, they grew stronger, until even the guild leaders sitting in the far corners of the hall glanced over.
A group of armored men stepped forward first. Their leader, a tall warrior with a scar running across his jaw, bowed his head slightly toward Ryuzen and the others.
"So it really is true… Junior Blood Legion. To think we'd meet you here," he said with measured respect. "I am Roland, Captain of the Iron Fang Guild. I won't waste your time—if you're ever in need of allies, my guild will gladly march alongside you. Hell Mode may chew most people to pieces, but if it's with you, I believe we might stand a chance."
His direct tone earned nods of approval from some of his men.
Before Ryuzen could even reply, another voice cut in, smooth and proud.
"Stand aside, Roland. They don't need your ragtag bunch," said a woman draped in silver silk armor, her crimson hair tied back in a long braid. "I am Seraphine of the Crimson Banner guild. If the Legion is interested, we can supply you with resources and rare skill books—something you won't find with minor guilds."
A ripple of envy swept through the onlookers. The Crimson Banner was one of the top-ranking guilds in the Skycity, and to hear its envoy personally make an offer was shocking.
Venus raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued, while Felix muttered under his breath, "Now they come crawling…"
Yet another group advanced, this one more intimidating than the rest. Their leader wore dark armor etched with glowing runes. His presence was heavy, suffocating, like the weight of a mountain pressing down.
"I am Garron, Vanguard of the Temporals Guild," the man announced in a deep, rumbling voice. His gaze lingered on Ryuzen for a long, measuring moment. "Your squad has made waves in the alliance. I respect strength above all, and you've proven yours. But consider this carefully: as you rise higher, the world will not simply watch. Enemies gather fast. Better to have a Dominion at your back than stand alone against the storm."
The crowd fell into silence again.
Rudos's eyes narrowed slightly. "They're circling like hawks," he whispered to Irina.
Irina smirked. "Of course they are. They see value… but they also see potential threats. Ryu, what do you want to do?"
Everyone's eyes turned toward Ryuzen.
How would he respond?