New Eden: Live to Play, Play to Live

He\'d been there the first time. He\'d seen what a dungeon break could do.

In fact, the first dungeon break had been rats that they had already defeated. And if that was any unit of measurement, it could only get worse from there.

"We\'ll have it the worse around the world, aside from South America. I\'m not sure why that is, since it also happened last time, but I know it will be like that again. In total, three spots will get it bad, and, out of the three, two we have to protect at all costs."

Alex looked at Kary with a questioning face.

"Why on two? Can\'t we protect all three? I\'m sure it\'s feasible, and more people staying alive means better odds, no?"

David scoffed in his telephone.

"You are naïve. Protecting all three would be ideal, yes, but I doubt it\'s a good use of our limited resources. Plus, one of them won\'t need as much help as you think. The three hot spots for dungeon breaks will be here, in North America, down in South America, and over in mainland China.

"The spot in China; we figured out why after some time. With how many people are over there, the number of pods they got was phenomenal. And with them, the amount of breaches in the veil was enormous.

"As for here, we never found out why we were hit so hard. Yes, we had a lot of pods in service when the veil broke. But it wasn\'t remotely close to what China had. Luckily, it meant we had more awakened players, as well.

"As for the last place, in South America, we think Gaius did something there, away from any watching eye, and that\'s why it was hit so hard. The issue lies with what came after."

Kary was taking every detail in, trying to guess the next step. Nôv(el)B\\\\jnn

"So you want to defend China and here more?" she asked, interrupting him.

David sighed, but he didn\'t insult her like he had Killi.

"No. China is actually the only one of the three spots that will handle itself without issue. I don\'t know if it\'s because they always expected to get targeted, but their response time was insane the last time.

"No. My primary fear is about South America. From what we gathered after raiding EG headquarters last time, South America has received no pods. They shouldn\'t have gotten awakened players any time soon.

"But when the dungeon breaks occurred, a guild rose from the ashes of destruction, and that\'s where the problems stemmed."

"Why would a guild cause problems? Aren\'t they a welcome addition to our side?"

But Kary already understood why they were a problem.

"Not if they are a dark guild," she said with a grave tone.

Alex\'s face paled.

"That is exactly why," David said.

"The guild that grows out of the South American chaos is called Mercadores Da Morte. The merchants of death. And they live up to their name…"

Kary could almost hear Alexander\'s thoughts as she looked at him.

"The merchants of death? Why would anyone call themselves that? What is the point?"

David sighed again.

"They never made a statement to explain it, sadly. But there were rumours from people who managed to escape their clutches during the early start of the end. Something about them wanting to get back at the world for letting South America rot.

"They claim that the world abandoned them when South America burned. Since the Amazonian Forests, their home, burned, they took it upon themselves to cull the world to balance the scales. I imagine the name stems from that."

Alex was horrified at what he heard.

\'Deciding the world has to die because they didn\'t get help? Isn\'t that like playing god?\' he wondered, horrified.

He wasn\'t hypocritical enough to say he would hesitate to take a life to save his own or that of his friends and family. But to go out of his way to hunt down people in revenge?

That was a line he vowed never to cross. Of course, as he thought that, images of him killing Kary and a mountain of bodies under his feet flashed in his eyes.

He shook the thought away, a cold sweat dripping down his temple.

"Then why do you want to defend that place? Wouldn\'t it be better to let them all die if they eventually strike out against humanity?" he asked, angry that humans would resort to killing their own, in a conflict that was so much bigger.

David chuckled.

"And leave the possibility that they rise again this time? I don\'t think you realize how much damage dark guilds will do to us once the demons spill into the world. Whose side do you think they\'ll take when they see hordes of demons doing exactly what they are trying to do?"

Alex realized the naivety of his words.

"Then why defend them?"

David took a moment to answer.

Alex heard him sigh again.

"I never said anything about defending them. I said we should defend South America from the dungeon breaks. But that isn\'t the main reason we should go there. And we should go there ourselves."

Alex frowned, already catching on.

"We should go there to defend, and if we catch wind of their guild, then we should find their headquarters and exterminate every last one of them. If that guild sees the light of day, thousands will die within the first month of the end alone. We can\'t allow them to exist."

Once again, Kary felt a shiver down her spine.

\'Why is it that we talk about this? How are we talking about killing people with such ease?\'

"Now, listen," David\'s voice pulled her out of thought.

"I know this is asking a lot. And the burden it\'ll put on your mind is enormous. But I want you to think about one thing. Especially you, Kary. If Mercadores Da Morte sees the light of day, your life will be as good as forfeit…

"Mercadores Da Morte\'s guild leader will come for you, and he won\'t come alone. Many people will die, and ultimately, however strong you are, he will be the one to come out victorious, with your life snuffed out. He will kill you…"