Red Leaf Forest, carpeted with lush green grass.
A level-5 party was surrounding and attacking three level-5 Forest Wolves. Their combat was well-coordinated, driving the wolves back step by step. Before long, one wolf fell to a blazing Fireball, leaving only two with critically low health.
"Captain, we're all level 5 now. We're sick of farming Forest Wolves. Why don't we go after level-6 Savanna Lion Cubs instead? I heard the drops are way better, and the experience split is more generous too." The burly Shield Warrior spoke while blocking a wolf's attack.
"Forget it. Times are dangerous right now. Don't you remember the Martial Alliance has a bounty on all of us? One silver coin per head — there are plenty of people looking to cash in on that." The Elementalist captain shook his head, feeling it wasn't safe.
A sallow-skinned Berserker curled his lips dismissively. "Captain, when did you get so spineless?"
"Back when we were snatching Elites and gear, killing those other players, I didn't see you hold back."
"The Martial Alliance is still one of Red Leaf Town's biggest guilds. I don't believe anyone would be dumb enough to come after us. And even if they did, we'd just take them out and make a quick buck."
The Elementalist captain nodded — that made sense. In Red Leaf Town, only the Martial Alliance bullied others. Who would dare cross them? That'd be suicide.
"All right," the captain said. "We'll take out these two wolves, then move on to the Savanna Lion Cubs."
"Sounds good!"
The Shield Warrior grinned and blocked a wolf with his shield. A Heroic Strike finished off the other low-health wolf.
Just as the Martial Alliance squad dispatched the last Forest Wolf, they suddenly noticed a group of over twenty players closing in on them — and every single one had a red name. Clearly, they'd killed plenty of people.
"Lucky us, boys. These are all Martial Alliance players."
A red-named female assassin with a hot figure emerged from stealth, smiling as she looked over the Martial Alliance members.
A chill ran through the group. This female assassin had obviously been their team's scout — lurking right beside them the whole time without any of them noticing.
"What do you want?" The Elementalist captain scanned the encirclement and spoke coldly.
"What do we want?" The female assassin glanced at the Martial Alliance captain with a playful smile. "Obviously, we're here to have some fun with you."
"Fire Dance, why bother talking to them? Just kill them already." A Ranger within the encirclement had already drawn his bowstring, aiming at the Martial Alliance's Priest, eager to strike.
The Martial Alliance Shield Warrior knew they were outmatched and tried to intimidate them. "You'd better think this through. Making enemies of the Martial Alliance won't end well for you. Once we deal with that Ye Feng, we'll hunt down everyone who's been killing our members one by one. You'd best reconsider and not bring this on yourselves."
"Oh, is the Martial Alliance so impressive?" The assassin called Fire Dance toyed with the dagger in her hand, half-smiling. "Because last I heard, my idol Ye Feng had you lot running for your lives."
"And if you dare cause trouble for my idol, that's cause for trouble with me. You can all die here."
"Everyone, move in! Don't let them escape!"
With that, the twenty-something players charged at the Martial Alliance members.
Fire Dance herself darted behind the Martial Alliance captain in a flash, stunning him instantly. Her ice-cold dagger sliced across his throat in a blur, followed by a backstab and a gouge that finished him off — clean and efficient.
The remaining Martial Alliance members were stunned by the display. They lost all will to fight and turned to flee.