Sacrifice's Rise: I Became Invincible After Entering Godslayer Temple

In a grand castle in the eastern district of Storm City, Darklord stood sternly, scrutinizing the group of people in front of him. 

Their silence in the face of his glare was palpable.

"Someone among you has leaked my whereabouts. If you confess now, I might show leniency. Continue your silence, and I'll show you what true despair is," spoke the deputy guild leader, trying to coax a confession from the group. 

He knew Darklord's fury well and understood the severity of failing in the task assigned to him. 

His future in the guild, perhaps even his well-being, depended on the success of this inquiry.

Despite his best efforts, the group remained staunchly silent. 

They all knew Darklord's reputation for revenge and understood that his promises were not to be trusted. 

Believing in his leniency would be nothing short of foolish.

Among the group was SkyStars, acutely aware that he had once disclosed Darklord's movements to John. 

As Darklord's impatience grew, he stood up and approached the person closest to him, staring intensely. 

"Was it you who leaked my whereabouts? Confess now if it was you!" he demanded.

But the person he confronted, like the others, had not leaked any information and knew better than to admit to something he hadn't done, especially given Darklord's vindictive nature.

After scrutinizing each individual without success, Darklord's frustration mounted. 

"If none of you admit, then I'll assume you all betrayed me!" 

He returned to his seat, his gaze shifting to the deputy guild leader, who now faced the challenging task of handling the situation under Darklord's wrathful watch.

The deputy guild leader, unsure of Darklord's exact intentions, cautiously inquired, "Guild Leader, what exactly would you like me to do?"

Darklord's anger was now unmasked and palpable. 

In a fit of rage, he knocked the deputy guild leader to the ground, shouting, "Are you an idiot? Didn't you understand what I said?! They all leaked my whereabouts! Punish them all! Reset their accounts back to level one and confiscate all their equipment!"

After venting his anger, Darklord stormed out of the room. 

The deputy guild leader, though maintaining a calm facade, was inwardly cursing Darklord for his unreasonable outburst.

Turning to the group, he said, "You've seen it yourselves. I have no choice in this matter. These are Darklord's orders, and I must follow them." 

He continued, "If any of you have a way to escape, do it now. If not, I suggest you start leveling a secondary account."

Despite his position, the deputy guild leader wanted to offer some assistance. 

He suspected that Darklord's rage stemmed from encountering a formidable opponent, and these individuals before him had provided information to that very adversary. 

If he indeed reset their accounts as ordered, he feared it would incite further retribution against Darklord, and he had no desire to be collateral damage in that inevitable confrontation.

The group suspected by Darklord was in a state of panic. 

Some glared angrily in the direction Darklord had left, while others pleaded with the deputy guild leader not to reset their accounts to level one. 

Their efforts, however, were in vain. 

Even if the deputy guild leader wished to let them go, other members of Darklord's guild wouldn't allow it.

The guild had players from the Dark Faction, who often targeted Order Faction players to level up. 

As the deputy guild leader conversed with the suspected group, players from the Dark Faction within Darklord's guild entered the room.

"Deputy guild leader, we are well aware of Darklord's orders. We'll start executing them, so you don't need to stay here, do you?" spoke DARK EDGE, one of the top assassin players in Darklord's guild. 

DARK EDGE excelled in hiding and ambushing other players for their equipment, and he wouldn't hesitate to eliminate them if the opportunity arose.

The deputy guild leader sighed silently as he looked at DARK EDGE, realizing he had no choice but to leave. 

DARK EDGE had never really considered the deputy guild leader as a figure of authority. 

His request for the deputy guild leader to leave was more out of irritation than respect.

Left in the hands of DARK EDGE and the other Dark Faction players, the suspected group faced a grim fate. 

Their pleas and anger would likely go unheeded as these players were known for their ruthless methods and loyalty to Darklord's commands. 

The atmosphere in the room grew tense as the deputy guild leader departed, leaving the suspected players at the mercy of DARK EDGE and his cohort.

DARK EDGE, true to his name, exuded a menacing aura. 

His eyes, devoid of warmth, instilled fear in anyone he looked at. 

"If any of you think you can defeat me, go ahead and try. I don't enjoy one-sided battles; I prefer a bit of a challenge," he taunted the group.

Among the group, only SkyStars managed to maintain a semblance of composure. 

In Darklord's presence, he wouldn't dare to make any moves, but with the top player gone, he saw an opportunity to seek John's help. 

He quickly sent a message through his communication channel, explaining his current predicament to John.

Back in the secret hall of the Blue Sea Guild, John was deep in discussion with Blue Sea about the Naga Tribe. 

Initially, when he received SkyStars' message, he assumed it was about gathering more Crystal Fruit and didn't pay much attention. 

However, as the messages from SkyStars rapidly accumulated, John's impatience grew.

Blue Sea noticed John's distraction and suggested, "It seems someone has urgent information for you. It might even be from Adam. You should check it out."

Upon reviewing the messages in his communication channel, John quickly grasped the severity of SkyStars' situation. 

Realizing the urgency, he promptly excused himself from Blue Sea.

"I have an urgent matter to attend to. A friend of mine is in grave danger, and I need to ensure his safety," John explained succinctly, avoiding unnecessary details to save time, given SkyStars' critical predicament.

Blue Sea, trusting John's judgment, didn't inquire further. 

He believed John would share more information if it was necessary. Recognizing a potential need for assistance, Blue Sea offered his help, "Do you need my help? Although I may not be as strong as you, I'm still one of the top players. Acting alone, you might fall into a trap. With my assistance, we might be able to rescue your friend more quickly."

After a moment's consideration, John accepted Blue Sea's offer. 

He recognized the value of having an ally in this situation, especially one as capable as Blue Sea. 

With a plan in mind, they prepared to leave the secret hall and embark on the mission to rescue SkyStars from the precarious situation he faced in Darklord's guild.

Before setting off, John sent a message to SkyStars: [I need your exact location. Please open your communication channel. I can track your position through it.]

SkyStars saw John's message and promptly opened his communication channel without hesitation. 

However, his action caught DARK EDGE's attention. 

"What are you sneaking around for? Do you think you can call for help? Do you really believe any player would dare to come to our guild?" 

DARK EDGE fixed his gaze on SkyStars as he bombarded him with questions, drawing the attention of everyone else in the room to SkyStars.

Panicked and caught off guard by DARK EDGE's scrutiny, SkyStars hastily tried to defend himself. 

"I haven't done anything! Maybe you saw it wrong? I am innocent! Lord Darklord didn't even accuse me of being the one who leaked his whereabouts!"

SkyStars' protest was met with disbelief from DARK EDGE, who wasn't inclined to trust or care about his explanations. 

DARK EDGE's primary interest was in harassing other players; he didn't concern himself with whether they were actual enemies or not.