Level 1 to Infinity: My Bloodline Is the Ultimate Cheat - Chapter 41

Chapter 41: Heartstrings

“These are just regular players, no good loot on them,” Ethan remarked. “The others should be in position by now, right?”

“Yeah, Ryan and Slashblade are ready over there,” RadiantJester replied. “But the enemy hasn’t made a move yet. No idea what they’re waiting for.”

Ethan frowned. Could they have already given up?

He opened the guild chat and confirmed the situation with Skyblade. Then, his expression hardened. “It’s time. The enemy has been forcibly logged out, but during a guild war, their in-game avatars remain online. Tell the rogues stationed at their respawn points to keep killing them until they’re down to Level 1. After that, keep going until their gear stops dropping.”

Originally, Ethan had been brainstorming ways to turn the entire enemy guild red-named. Now, there was no need.

Under Ethan’s leadership, this guild war had become a near-flawless victory. With minimal losses, Renegade Alliance had decimated Unity Hall’s leadership and top players.

The fallout was immediate. Dozens of players quit Unity Hall, leaving the guild in disarray. Their reputation, already tarnished by bullying local players, turned public sentiment fully against them.

In the days to come, Unity Hall would face relentless revenge from the entire Zone 1370 player base.

Without their core members, Overlord’s Unity Hall was on the brink of collapse. It might survive, but only after the players moved out of the starter zone, where they could attempt to rebuild.

Seeing that his presence was no longer needed, Ethan bid farewell to Lyla and her group of rowdy friends. Amid their playful teasing, he stepped onto the teleportation array in the starter zone and returned to Harmony City.

Little did Ethan know, the guild war had become a global sensation.

A player had uploaded video footage to Aeon Corporation’s official forums, specifically in the player discussion section. Within minutes, the post had over a million views, and the count continued to climb.

The comments section exploded. Some cheered, saying Unity Hall deserved its fate. Others praised Renegade Alliance as righteous avengers. Still, others argued that not all Unity Hall players were at fault, accusing Renegade Alliance of going too far.

The debate quickly escalated. Insults were hurled, and the conversation spiraled into personal attacks and even regional prejudice. Aeon Corporation was eventually forced to intervene, locking the thread to prevent further chaos.

Ethan, oblivious to the online uproar, had transformed into his stag form and was galloping down the main road leading north to Springhaven.

Originally, his plan was simple: return to Harmony City from the starter zone, spend some money to teleport to the two other cities, buy the plots of land he needed, and return to complete his quest.

What he hadn’t expected was this:

Ding!

[System Notification: “Teleportation to Springhaven is currently unavailable!”]

He stared at the message, cursing under his breath. Was the teleportation array genuinely out of service, or was the city lord, Gregor Darnell, deliberately making things difficult for him?

In his stag form, it would take him six hours of running to reach Springhaven. From there, it was another ten-hour trek to Blackridge. If the teleportation arrays in Blackridge were also unusable, he’d waste nearly three days just traveling.

The thought was infuriating, especially since the second-ranked player on the leaderboard had already hit Level 9. He had no idea what the top players in other regions were doing.

But one thing was certain: in his previous life, that archer, Feather had left the starter zone in just ten days. If Ethan couldn’t use teleportation, he might only barely make it back before Feather left the zone.

With these thoughts swirling in his mind, Ethan continued his long run until the game’s scheduled shutdown forced him offline.

—

After logging out, Ethan wasted no time. He went straight to Lyla’s room and knocked on her door.

Today, she hadn’t logged off early, no doubt because the guild war had been exhilarating for her.

His guess was spot on.

When Lyla opened the door, she launched into an excited recap, talking about how precise her commands had been, how flawlessly she’d timed everything, and so on.

They sat at the dining table near the floor-to-ceiling windows, enjoying breakfast. Ethan listened to her storytelling, a faint smile on his face.

After enduring five thousand years of solitude in the dream world, this peaceful reality was nothing short of beautiful.

Ethan couldn’t help but recall a moment from his previous life, a drunken night in the game with Moonbeam that had changed everything. Now, as he watched Lyla standing before him in nothing but a silk camisole, bathed in the golden glow of morning sunlight, those memories surged forward.

The light caressed her face and shoulders, making her skin shimmer with an almost ethereal softness. Every detail—her lashes, the smooth curve of her neck, the faint flush on her cheeks, seemed impossibly perfect. Ethan’s chest tightened, a heat stirring within him.

Beneath his gaze, Lyla seemed to sense his thoughts. Flustered, she grabbed a piece of bread from her plate and stuffed it into her mouth. “I’m done eating,” she mumbled, rising to take her plate to the open-plan kitchen.

As she passed by him, Ethan reached out and caught her wrist.

Lyla froze, her breath hitching, unsure of what to do.

Without a word, Ethan gently took the plate from her hand, setting it back on the table. Then, with a firm tug, he pulled her into his arms.

Last night in the game, holding Lyla had been a starkly different experience, her armor was an obstacle. Now, it was the opposite. Her warmth, her softness—it was intoxicating.

In his embrace, Lyla felt a reassuring strength that went beyond physicality. She had already made her choice to be with him. She wouldn’t have sacrificed so much or moved to Harmony City to find him otherwise.

For years, she had quietly followed Ethan’s life, never stepping forward, though her feelings had grown deeper with every passing moment. But this time was different. This was her chance, one she’d fought hard to have.

Ethan’s hold on her tightened. A part of him wanted nothing more than to claim her entirely. Yet, he also knew it wasn’t the right time, not yet.

Lyla shifted slightly in his arms, her gaze soft and uncertain.

Ethan sighed inwardly. He knew if he made a move now, she wouldn’t resist. The realization quickened his heartbeat. Were they already more than just friends? Were they finally… something more?

“Lyla…” Ethan murmured near her ear.

“Yeah?” she whispered back, her voice barely audible.

With a sudden motion, Ethan lifted her off her feet and set her on the dining table.

Lyla gasped, wrapping her arms around his neck, her legs instinctively tightening around his waist.

The faint floral scent of her hair filled Ethan’s senses as he held her close.

In her mind, Lyla’s thoughts raced. Was he really going to—?

She let out a soft sound, her entire body trembling, unable to muster the strength to move.

Ethan’s mind flashed back to his past life. How had she felt then, during those moments they had sex in the game? Surely, she had known it was him. She must have. He had told her his in-game ID, hadn’t he?

Looking at her now, vulnerable and trusting in his arms, Ethan ran his hand slowly along her back, feeling her shiver beneath his touch.

He leaned in, his voice low and steady in her ear.

“Should we… take this… further?”