The Earth After Rebirth

Everyone stood there a little confused. The system hadn't exactly explained how the second stage would conducted.

"System, can't you be a little bit specific? Do we fight all of us, or it'll be a one on one with the said guild?" Nikolai found himself asking.

Ding!

[The challenger will decide the way in which they fight their opponents. Yes, the system will not match you guys, you surely have grudges with each other. It would be a shame if I got in the way, wouldn't it? There's 200 guilds here right now, meaning a 100 guilds here are responsible for taking out the other 100.

Amongst the guilds up to 10 champions can be chosen if the choice is to do it one on one. I hope that's clear.]

"Is there a guild you have a grudge against?" Kiro asked Jorge.

But it was Lyle who answered, "of course we do, those guys, illusionary Insanity, they say we've copied their concept. I don't even know what they're talking about! We didn't even know they existed until they came with these stupid accusations."

"Your nemesis are some guys who are fighting you for an in-game name? That's quite, quite something." Felix found himself saying.

When Felix said it out loud it sounded silly to the rest of them. Which made them embarrassed about the whole ordeal.

"Huh, I guess we don't have any deep hatred for anyone then."

"That's quite alright, we do." Kiro said spotting Isaac.

"Is it just me or Isaac doesn't look, quite himself?" Hiro enquired looking for confirmation from his friend.

"It's not just you, that little sh*t is more reclusive now. Something definitely shifted in him. I don't care what it was that clipped his wings, he deserves worse." Kiro said with contempt.

He had no idea what it was that made him like that. But his hate for Isaac spanned over two life times. Even if he dropped dead, he'd celebrate on his grave. That was how he felt at the moment.

What the system said caused a little uproar. Arguments were about a lot of things, ranging from who to challenge to what kind of challenge should be issued.

Kiro's eyes kept falling on Isla's guild. He wasn't sure if she wouldn't issue a challenge to them. He hoped she wouldn't. Otherwise he knew that he wouldn't be able to hold back. Holding back would be bad for business.

'Haa. Maybe her challenging us wouldn't be so bad after all.'

Jorge wanted a one on one, Kiro insisted on an all out battle for their first fight. If they could be able to beat another guild in a few minutes, that would leave an everlasting impression. An impression that will solidify their place in this war.

"I understand your logic, but is it really worth it? What if we don't succeed?" He asked concerned.

"What if we don't succeed? What if we don't succeed?" Nikolai was utterly offended.

"A blasphemous thing to say." Hiro agreed with Nikolai.

After Dark knew that they were very much stronger together, they've fought monsters, cleared dungeons together. Even fought a harbinger once, so they were hundred percent sure about their teamwork.

Not that they were less trusting of their individual skills. But to finish up quicker they'd have to all be in the battlefield and completely overpower their enemy. Nobody planned to hold back amongst After Dark, they were going all out from the very beginning.

It was quite the spectacle in front of the arena. Different people were seated, nursing their wounds, nobody had yet issued a challenge, they figured they needed to be in their best shapes.

Seeing how the system wasn't rushing them, they decided to take their sweet time. Most survived hell in Tartarus, they didn't want to rush into action.

Ding!

[Since you've yet to act, you're officially being given an hour to rest up and this rest will also be deducted from your time in another task. Good day!]

That caused an even bigger commotion.

"What do you mean it'll be deducted from our time!" One yelled.

"Yeah, there wasn't even a warning, not even an instruction on what to do!"

"This game acts like we aren't the customers, like we need it to survive. Isn't it the other way around?"

"After this guild war, I'm quitting!"

They were all mostly making threats, but the system simply scoffed at those. Which almost caused a riot. The system didn't exactly care, it intended on noting those who claimed would quit and remind them when this was all over.

This was its favourite past time after all, pestering players until they wanted to pull their own hairs out of their skulls.

Kiro thought the complaints were futile, they fell on deaf ears. The system never really entertained such thoughts, that were almost threatening.

The complaints went on for the entire hour they were given. Kiro was scouting at this time, he didn't want a strong guild but he didn't want a weak one either.

He figured since they wanted an all out war, they should be the ones to challenge. So they could pick their own way of fighting.

"That guild seems alright!" Jorge commented looking at Isla's guild.

"No." Both Kiro and Hiro said at the same time.

This tickled Nikolai and Felix to the bone. It was peculiar seeing Felix laugh to Chasing Madness. They hadn't seen him do nothing grunt and be in a sour mood.

"System which guilds are available here, please rank them by strength."

The system obliged and showed him a list, ranking the two hundred guilds.

'Oh this is nice.'

Kiro was a bit surprised that they were ranked below Isla's guild. But they were in the top three so that was still damn impressive considering they were put together at the last minute. He decided they should bully number four.

He discussed it with them briefly, Jorge decided to trust him and not argue this time. He simply nodded to his guys, Lyle was absolutely obedient when it came to Kiro. He saw him as his master now, he'd follow him to the ends of the earth if he was told to.

"We challenge Evil Spawn to an all out battle."

The system asked them to confirm if this is what they wanted. Several minutes passed, and the ones who were challenged received notifications. Most of the battles were one on one, very few chose to fight it out once and for all.

"Dammit, we've been challenged to an all out war, you guys took too long to decided. This isn't something I wanted!" The leader of Evil Spawn complained.

They were walking into the arena. Those who died filled the stands, they looked like NPCS trying to fill the numbers of chairs available. Even then, they couldn't fill all of them that's just how huge the arena was.

"Next time, I won't ask for your opinions, I'll just decided all on my own. Let's finish these guys quickly." He was still complaining.

Those who were to fight were seated at the front of the stands. Divided by a big fence that stopped the spectators from climbing over. If anyone aggressiveness tried to climb they'd be penalised, the system wasn't clear about how but none of them wanted to find out.

Ding!

[Greetings again players, stage two is about to commence. The order in which this will happen is totally random. Give the spectators a battle they shall never forget. Stage three will begin after this.]

Everyone was seated and waited for their names to be called. Sure enough, the first battle was against to unknown guilds, the challenger had chosen a one on one. Read the full story on m-vl-em-py-r

They quickly entered the stage, Kiro wasn't entertained at all but the crowd seemed to be enjoying the fights. They cheered with every strike.

The first two were swordsmen, with his vibrations he could see their moves miles and miles away that's why his attention was focused on something else.

"We fight them like we fought monsters and other guilds in the forest. Our strategy wasn't bad in there. And Felix..."

"Yes yes, I'll be the healer." He said not taking his eyes off the battle, he'd completely given up arguing about what it is that he should focus on.

"We will need you as a butcher." Kiro said grinning from ear to ear.

"Really? I really can fight this time, and you're the one suggesting it?" That completely sucked his attention off the boring battle he was watching.

"Of course, just don't overdo it, remember you're a healer before you're a butcher!" He reminded him as he saw how his eyes sparkled at the mention of allowing him to fight.

"Yes sir, I'll remember that." He even saluted, he didn't know what he was doing but he was excited.

He could barely sit on the chair now, he wanted it to be his turn already. But two hundred guilds, and most of the fights were one on one, his only hope now was the random draw. He wanted their names to be drawn next!