Chapter 275: The Aegis Formation

Marcus lowered his gaze to the Golden Wolf Badge pinned to his chest. It was far more than a simple piece of metal. To him, it stood as a mark of everything he had achieved.

At Level 30, he had braved the ancient seals of the mysterious Mist Veil Palace and completed a quest that had remained untouched for a thousand years. It was the kind of accomplishment most players could only dream of, the kind that deserved to be remembered.

“Yes,” Marcus replied, lifting his eyes toward the enigmatic Lord Charles. There was a trace of curiosity in his expression. He did not understand why the sorcerer had asked, but the system quickly answered for him.

Ding!

[Stonehaven, as a Golden Wolf Guardian of the Dragon Dynasty, you have triggered a hidden bonus for the quest: The Lost Roaring Tiger Squad. You may claim a portion of your reward from Lord Charles before completing the mission.]

Marcus blinked once, then let out a quiet breath.

’Now that is what I call a perk.’

It felt like fortune had suddenly taken a liking to him. One stroke of luck followed another, and the rush of it was becoming dangerously addictive.

Before he could even question it further, Lord Charles spoke again, his cold, metallic voice slicing cleanly through the air.

“Stonehaven, as a guardian of the Dynasty, the nature of this mission grants you special dispensation. I will grant you a portion of your reward now to ensure your success. However, be warned. Should you fail the mission, this gift will be revoked immediately.”

As his words faded, another system prompt appeared.

Ding!

[Stonehaven, Lord Charles of the Mercenary Guild wishes to teach you the Advanced Formation: Aegis of the Gods. Do you wish to learn?]

“Learn,” Marcus answered instantly, his pulse quickening. Anticipation flared in his chest. Whatever this was, it would not be ordinary.

Lord Charles tightened his grip on the dark crystal ball and began chanting in a low, rhythmic cadence. A brilliant golden light erupted from within the crystal, swirling outward in luminous waves until it completely enveloped Marcus. It circled him once, almost as if acknowledging him, before sinking into his skin and merging seamlessly with his body.

Ding!

[Congratulations, Player Stonehaven, on learning the Mercenary Guild’s Advanced Formation: Aegis of the Gods.]

A radiant golden aura burst to life around Marcus.

It clung to him like a mantle of light, enhancing his already imposing presence. Clad in heavy armor and standing tall within that glow, he looked less like a player and more like a god of war who had stepped into the mortal realm. There was a weight to him now, something intangible yet undeniable, a pressure that filled the room and made itself known to everyone present.

“He looks… incredible,” Chloe whispered under her breath.

“Like a king,” Anya added softly.

Their eyes lingered on him, filled with warmth and quiet admiration. To them, Marcus in that moment was strength made flesh, someone they trusted instinctively, someone they wanted to stand beside no matter where the path led.

Marcus, completely unaware of the depth of their thoughts, simply felt the golden energy settle within him. Turning toward them, he gave a relaxed, confident smile.

“I Triggered a hidden bonus,” he explained, assuming their reaction was to the spectacle. “Picked up an advanced formation. Let’s see what it does.”

He opened his skill interface and shared the details with them.

—

Aegis of the Gods: Mercenary Formation (Advanced Passive). Level 1 (0/10,000).

One of the four legendary formations of the Dragon Dynasty Mercenary Guild. Exclusive to the Monarch Squad.

Effect: When the squad system is active, all members are bathed in the Light of Protection. All stats are increased by 10%, Health Regeneration is increased by 100 per second, and Mana Regeneration is increased by 100 per second. Duration: Permanent while active.

Restriction: Can only be activated by the Squad Leader or Vice Leader. Should the quest ’The Lost Roaring Tiger Squad’ fail, this formation will be permanently removed.

—

’A ten percent boost to everything…’

Marcus stared at the screen, hardly believing it. This was not just useful. It was transformative.

“Squad system, activate,” he commanded.

At once, a golden ring of light spread across the ground beneath Marcus, Anya, and Chloe. The formation had taken effect.

Marcus checked his stats, and the results spoke for themselves. Every value had risen. Attack, defense, health, even his core attributes had all increased by ten percent. More surprising still, his Luck had gone up by three points, something that was notoriously difficult to influence.

This was unquestionably top-tier.

The regeneration alone was absurd. Recovering 100 health and mana every second meant they were effectively under the constant effect of high-grade potions, without cost or cooldown.

“Stone, this is incredible,” Anya said, her eyes shining.

She understood what this meant. This was not random chance. It was the result of everything Marcus had built up to this point.

Forming the squad, holding Rank 1 on the Reputation Leaderboard, earning the Golden Wolf Badge. All of it had led here. In Dominion, nothing came for free. Every stroke of luck was earned somewhere along the way.

The Aegis of the Gods lived up to its name.

And because it was tied to the squad, Chloe could activate it even in Marcus’s absence.

’It really does pay to have a title,’ Marcus thought. Being a Golden Wolf Guardian had opened doors he had not even known existed.

Still, his focus shifted quickly back to the mission. If this was only a partial reward, then the full quest would be something far more intense.

Dangerous, demanding and worth it.

’Perfect.’

A faint smile tugged at his lips. This was exactly the kind of challenge he thrived on. The higher the risk, the more alive he felt. The Valley of Ten Thousand Wolves was already calling to him.

Once the transfer was complete, Lord Charles fell silent again, returning to his unmoving, statue-like state.

Seeing that there was nothing more to gain here, Marcus turned to the two women.

“Alright,” he said, his tone light but eager. “Let’s go kill something.”

To his surprise, Anya hesitated.

“Stone… Chloe and I actually have some quests to do. We will not be joining you for leveling today.”

Marcus blinked, caught off guard.

“What quests? I’ll come with you.”

“It is nothing big,” Anya said, lowering her gaze to her boots. “We just… want to handle a few things on our own.”

“On your own? Why?” Marcus frowned slightly. “I can carry you through higher-level zones. You would not even have to do anything.”

He genuinely did not understand. Most players would have jumped at the chance.

“No, Stone… really,” Anya said, her voice starting to tremble. She waved her hands lightly, her composure beginning to crack.

“Anya, what is wrong?” Marcus’s tone sharpened with concern. “Did something happen?”

His questions only made things worse. Her face paled, and her eyes quickly filled with tears. She looked at him as if she were caught between guilt and something she could not quite put into words.

Marcus felt a sinking weight in his chest.

’Did I do something wrong?’

For a brief moment, his thoughts drifted back to three years ago, to the day everything had fallen apart between them. It was a memory that had never fully healed.

Now, standing here with her again, a quiet fear crept in. Was it going to happen again?

If she truly felt nothing, then why had she come back?

“Stone, stop,” Chloe stepped in firmly when Anya could no longer speak. “It is not what you think. Our levels are too low. If we go with you, we will just slow you down. We talked about it earlier. We want to take on lower-level squad missions and help build the Monarch Squad properly. We want to contribute, not just rely on you.”

Marcus went still.

He knew Chloe well enough to recognize the truth when she spoke. There was no hidden meaning or excuse.

It really was that simple.

“Anya…”

He looked at her again.

She stood there, fragile and beautiful, her elegance untouched even in distress. She had always seemed almost otherworldly to him, like something too delicate for the world they stood in.

And yet here she was, crying because she thought she was a burden.

“Anya, you idiot,” Marcus said quietly, his voice softening. He stepped forward and pulled her into a firm embrace.

“You silly girl,” he murmured.

He held her close, feeling her warmth, the steady rhythm of her heartbeat against his chest. It grounded him in a way nothing else could.

“Marcus…” Anya’s voice broke as she finally let go. She pressed her face into him, as if afraid he might disappear if she let go.

“Marcus,” she said, her voice thick with emotion. “Chloe and I… we felt useless. Our levels are so low, and we cannot help you. We did not want to hold you back. We just wanted to do something for the squad. Something for you.”

Marcus pulled back slightly, just enough to look at her.

“You silly girl,” he said gently. “How could you even think that? Being with you is not a burden. You have no idea how much it means to me just to have you here. I want you with me.”

Her sad face only made her more beautiful to him. There was a vulnerability there that he had never seen so clearly before, and it stirred something deep inside him.

“Anya…”

He said her name softly, his gaze dropping to her trembling lips. Slowly, he lifted her chin, brushing her cheek with his thumb.

A quiet sense of peace settled over him as he closed the distance between them.

The kiss started soft, almost hesitant, but quickly deepened as the emotions they had both held back for so long finally surfaced. He pulled her closer, and she responded without resistance, their breaths mingling as the moment stretched.

Around them, the guild hall had gone silent. Players stared, stunned, but neither of them noticed.

It was a long kiss, filled with everything left unsaid over the years. A promise, unspoken yet understood.

When they finally parted, something had changed.

The past no longer lingered between them like a shadow. The misunderstandings, the distance, the doubts, all of it had quietly fallen away.

For the first time in a long while, everything felt clear; they understood each other.

And in that moment, they were exactly where they belonged.

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