"Lin Mo!"
"Lin Mo!"
"If you don't open this door, I'm going to kick it down—and you're paying for the damage!"
"Lin Mo!"
An angry voice echoed through the hallway outside Lin Mo's apartment.
Lin Mo slowly opened his eyes. His head was still throbbing from the pain that had followed him ever since he logged out of Ascension Online. He rubbed his temple and stared blankly at the ceiling, trying to remember what had happened.
The strange sensation, the system, and the impossible connection between his body and the world of Ascension Online were still fresh in his mind.
"LIN MO!"
The shout snapped him back to reality.
"I'm only counting to three!" the girl outside yelled. "If you don't open this door, I'm coming in!"
"ONE!"
"Wait! Give me five minutes!"
Lin Mo immediately scrambled out of bed.
He glanced around his apartment and froze when he noticed the mess on the floor.
There was vomit beside his bed.
"Seriously?"
He quickly grabbed some cleaning supplies and wiped the floor. He was still groggy, but despite everything that had happened, he didn't feel nearly as tired as he should have. His body felt strangely refreshed, and he wasn't even hungry.
Once the apartment was reasonably clean, he hurried toward the door.
He already knew who was waiting outside, and judging by the furious tapping of her foot, she wasn't going to give him much more time.
Lin Mo opened the door.
Immediately, a fist flew toward his face.
His eyes widened, but his body reacted before his mind could process the danger. He ducked beneath the punch, causing the girl's fist to pass harmlessly over his head.
The girl froze.
Lin Mo froze as well.
Su Muyang slowly lowered her fist and stared at him in disbelief.
"You... dodged?"
Lin Mo blinked.
"Apparently."
"You actually dodged my punch?"
"President, if I didn't dodge, I'd probably be unconscious right now."
The girl standing before him was Su Muyang, the student council president of Qiming Advanced Technology High School. She was known throughout the school for her beauty, confidence, and terrifying temper whenever Lin Mo happened to be involved.
Su Muyang continued staring at him suspiciously.
"Since when could you dodge?"
"I don't know."
"You don't know?"
Before Lin Mo could answer, she threw another punch.
He tilted his head and avoided it.
Su Muyang immediately followed with another punch, but Lin Mo stepped aside before it could connect.
Her expression became increasingly irritated.
She suddenly raised her leg and kicked toward his abdomen.
Lin Mo saw the attack coming clearly. To him, her movement seemed unusually slow, almost as though someone had reduced her speed.
He simply leaned backward and allowed the kick to pass in front of him.
Su Muyang lowered her leg and stared at him.
Something was clearly different about him.
She knew Lin Mo well enough to know that he was timid and unathletic. He was the type of person who would rather apologize than confront someone, and even when she occasionally bullied him, he rarely had the courage to fight back.
Yet today, he had avoided every attack without showing much difficulty.
Lin Mo looked down at his hands.
He didn't understand what had happened either.
Su Muyang finally stopped attacking.
"Enough."
Lin Mo sighed in relief.
"Thank you."
"Don't get too comfortable."
She crossed her arms and glared at him.
"You've been cooped up in your apartment for a day. What exactly do you think you're doing?"
Lin Mo frowned.
"What do you mean? It's late at night."
Su Muyang stared at him as though she couldn't believe what she had just heard.
"Are you still asleep?"
"Huh?"
"It's 8:20 in the morning."
She pointed toward the clock.
Lin Mo followed her finger and his eyes widened.
8:20 AM.
"You've been sleeping for an absurd amount of time," Su Muyang said. "Did you seriously lose track of the time?"
Lin Mo didn't answer immediately.
He had spent almost the entire previous afternoon and night inside Ascension Online, yet he didn't feel tired. He wasn't hungry, and he didn't feel any urge to sleep.
His body felt completely normal.
"All students are required to gather in the gymnasium at nine," Su Muyang continued. "The principal has an announcement."
"What announcement?"
"I don't know."
"Then why are you here?"
"Because you're the only idiot I know who could sleep through an important school announcement."
Lin Mo sighed.
"Fine. I'll go."
"You better."
Su Muyang turned around and started walking away.
"You've got thirty minutes."
"Thirty—"
She was already halfway down the hallway.
Lin Mo quickly closed the door.
"That woman is seriously violent."
He glanced at the clock again before looking down at his hands.
The strange changes to his body were still difficult to understand, but there would be plenty of time to investigate them later.
For now, he needed to get to school.
The gymnasium was already packed when Lin Mo arrived.
Thousands of students filled the seats while groups gathered around the floor, discussing the reason for the sudden assembly.
"What do you think the principal is going to announce?"
"Maybe the school is going to close for a few days. Everyone is obsessed with Ascension Online."
"There's no way. The game is already affecting the economy. Maybe the school is going to cooperate with the game company."
"I heard the Gu Family and Su Family are both investing heavily in Ascension Online."
"You're behind on the news."
A student laughed.
"The Gu Family already has a workshop."
"Seriously?"
"Yeah. They're recruiting players, providing equipment, and managing resources."
"That's insane."
"That's not even the best part. Gu Yichen's team was one of the first groups to clear a dungeon, and they obtained a Guild Order!"
"A Guild Order?"
"Already?"
"That's incredibly valuable!"
"So the Gu Family is ahead of the Su Family again."
"Hahaha! The Su Family hasn't even established their workshop yet!"
Lin Mo quietly listened to the conversation while looking toward Su Muyang.
She stood several meters away with an expression that remained calm on the surface, although the irritation in her eyes was obvious.
Everyone knew about the rivalry between the Gu and Su families. Their competition had lasted for generations, and Ascension Online had simply given them another arena in which to compete.
Lin Mo looked toward the side of the stage.
"So Gu Yichen is the one who obtained the Guild Order"
He suddenly remembered the item sitting inside his inventory.
A Guild Order.
The exact same item. Except nobody knew that he had one.
Before he could think further, the principal stepped onto the stage.
"Good morning, students!"
The noisy gymnasium gradually became quiet.
"Please settle down and listen carefully. I will get straight to the point."
The principal paused briefly.
"Qiming Advanced Technology High School will officially be joining Ascension Online."
The gymnasium immediately exploded.
"What?!"
"Seriously?!"
"Our school is entering the game?"
"Does that mean we're getting a guild?"
"Quiet!"
The principal raised his hand, and the students slowly settled down.
"It isn't the best part of the announcement."
The students became attentive.
"Our school will establish an official Ascension Online workshop."
Another wave of excitement spread through the gymnasium.
"The workshop will provide equipment, training facilities, and other benefits for qualified students. The specific policies will be announced later."
The principal adjusted his glasses before continuing.
"More importantly, we will be establishing the Qiming Advanced Technology High School Guild."
The students immediately began whispering.
"Recruitment will begin today," the principal announced. "The position of Guild Leader is also officially open."
The crowd became even more excited.
"Who could become the leader?"
"Probably someone from the student council."
"Maybe the strongest player in school."
The principal raised his hand.
"I already have two candidates in mind."
The entire gymnasium became quiet.
"Of course, this will only proceed if they agree to accept the position."
He looked toward two students.
"Gu Yichen."
"And Su Muyang."
Both students stood and walked toward the stage.
Gu Yichen carried himself with an indifferent confidence, while Su Muyang remained composed and aloof.
The principal gestured toward Gu Yichen first.
"Introduce yourself and your character."
Gu Yichen stepped forward.
"I am Gu Yichen. In Ascension Online, I am GrimFang, a Level 16 Beastkin."
The crowd immediately erupted.
"Level 16?!"
"He's already Level 16!"
"That's insane!"
Gu Yichen waited for the students to settle before continuing.
"However, Principal, I apologize. My family has already established our own workshop, and I'm currently responsible for several matters involving our players. Because of that, I won't be able to accept the position of Guild Leader."
The principal nodded.
"Understood."
He then turned toward Su Muyang.
Su Muyang stepped forward.
"I'm Su Muyang, the current student council president. My character in Ascension Online is Aurielle, a Level 15 Celestial."
The students immediately began whispering again.
"A Level 15 Celestial..."
"She's close to Gu Yichen's level."
Su Muyang continued.
"I'm also sorry, Principal. The Su Family is currently preparing to establish our own workshop, so I won't be able to accept the position either."
A faint chuckle came from beside her.
Gu Yichen.
He turned toward Su Muyang.
"Preparing?"
Su Muyang's eyes narrowed.
"What exactly are you trying to say?"
Gu Yichen smiled.
"Nothing. I was simply surprised that the Su Family is still preparing."
The crowd became quiet.
Gu Yichen folded his arms.
"Our Gu Family already has an established workshop, along with players, equipment, and resources. We even obtained a Guild Order."
He glanced at Su Muyang.
"Meanwhile, the Su Family hasn't even finished setting up its workshop."
Su Muyang's expression became colder.
"Having a workshop doesn't make your family superior."
"Of course it doesn't."
Gu Yichen's smile widened.
"But it certainly gives us an advantage."
He looked around the gymnasium before turning back toward her.
"Since your family hasn't established anything yet, why don't you simply join our workshop?"
Several students gasped.
"Join the Gu Family?"
Su Muyang stared at him.
"You really are arrogant."
"I'm only being practical."
Gu Yichen shrugged.
"Your character, Aurielle, is Level 15, and your Celestial race has excellent potential. It would be a waste to sit around waiting for the Su Family to catch up."
Su Muyang's eyes narrowed.
"You seem awfully confident that the Su Family needs to catch up."
"Don't you?"
Gu Yichen chuckled.
"Our team already obtained a Guild Order, while your family is still preparing its workshop. If you join us, at least you won't have to worry about falling behind."
Su Muyang clenched her fists but maintained her composure.
"You should worry about yourself instead."
"Oh?"
"Having one Guild Order doesn't mean you've already won."
Gu Yichen laughed.
"Then I suppose we'll find out."
Su Muyang looked directly into his eyes.
"The Su Family doesn't need to follow the Gu Family."
Her voice remained calm, but there was a sharp edge beneath it.
"We'll simply surpass you."
Gu Yichen's smile didn't fade.
"I'll be looking forward to it."
The two eventually walked off the stage, leaving behind a gymnasium filled with excited whispers.
Neither of them noticed the boy standing quietly near the back.
Lin Mo had watched their entire exchange without saying a word.
A faint smile gradually appeared on his face.
The school wanted to establish a guild.
The Gu Family already had its workshop and a Guild Order.
The Su Family was still preparing its own.
And he had a Guild Order sitting inside his inventory that nobody knew about.
Lin Mo lowered his gaze as an idea began to take shape.
He had always played alone because he had no reason to build a team. However, the situation had changed. The school was offering a guild, and both the Gu and Su families were already treating Ascension Online as an important part of their future.
Perhaps he could make use of that.
Perhaps the Guild Order in his possession wasn't useless after all.
The principal returned to the microphone.
"Now that both of our initial candidates have declined, the official selection for Guild Leader will begin!"
The students immediately became restless.
"Anyone who meets the requirements may register for the selection."
Lin Mo remained at the back of the gymnasium, his eyes quietly following the students who began gathering around the registration area.
The smile on his face became slightly more pronounced.
Nobody knew about his Guild Order.
Nobody knew what he could do.