Zenith Online: Rebirth of the Strongest Player

Chapter 598: Growing Entitlement



Kieran met up with Altair after avoiding the attention his tactless guild members would have brought. They were oblivious to the commotion his reappearance would cause. He had been radio silent for weeks, likely creating a vacuum in the streaming space and a pressure bubble that would erupt.

Actually, after returning to the Bazaar and being seen, his message board was filled with message requests. He skimmed through some of them, but none seemed genuine or would tide over the issues he was currently plagued with.

If he was interested in allying with them, he had to do that at a later, more convenient date when he wasn't operating from a position of overall weakness. His personal strength soared in the sky compared to others, but the things he sought to build anchored him to the ground and threatened to pull him into the earth.

Altair waved to Kieran from behind a curtain, gesturing for him to come closer.

He did, and he came with questions. "This place is larger than you described it to be. It could fit several guilds with ease."

Altair agreed his descriptive skills left much to be desired, but he didn't find that important. More important was the information he picked up after skulking the town.

"I heard some things. Some would say this kind of information is undoubtedly a scoop." Kieran could hear the ecstatic undertones in Altair's voice, but he also caught hints of mischief and guile, like what he was about to tell him could lead to fun times ahead.

There was a pause for dramatic effects as Kieran screamed with body language, finally elbowing Altair in his side.

"Don't keep me waiting here. Lay it on me."

"Oof," Altair groaned. Rubbing his side with a pained smile, he revealed it. "I heard rumors about the true reason people don't want to level too quickly - new types of dungeons. Can you guess the kinds I'm talking about?"

"Raids!"

"Bingo!" Altair laughed hysterically.

Kieran beamed.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

In most cases, Raid Dungeons led to incredible rewards, some so mighty it could change the prospects of a player overnight, but those potential rewards didn't interest Kieran personally. But if he could conquer a Raid Dungeon, perhaps Sanguis Requiem would no longer be in a precarious position.

However, that wasn't enough. Kieran needed more, a lot more. If he could grasp some absolutes, prepping a team to participate in a Raid didn't seem too impossible.

"Is that the extent of the rumors you've heard?"

"Nope," Altair answered. "These rumors are less concrete, but I'm inclined to think they have some substance to them. Apparently... whoever clears a Raid Dungeon in an unclaimed territory may lay claim to the lands."

What was once a glimmer in Kieran's eyes turned into a brilliant blaze. He hadn't forgotten about the Conquest Order in his position. In fact, that was a well-kept secret he rarely shared with anyone. He wouldn't be surprised if a grisly war were to break out when rumors of this item somehow bruited about.

For that reason, Kieran was confident those "rumors" Altair mentioned were somehow accurate. Like with many rumors, though, a lot of information was missing. Holding that Conquest Order was a prerequisite to laying claim to a land.

This meant that one of the rewards for a successful Raid may very well be a Conquest Order.

Kieran and Altair chose to keep this information between them for the time being. Information was invaluably precious, and the person who held dominion over it was an arbiter of great power. As such, those who did not have Kieran's trust could not learn this information from him.

As they spoke, Kieran kept a mindful watch over the number of members pouring into the guild. Soon, he even saw Bastion and Nemean enter shoulder to shoulder, putting a faint smile on his face.

Lillian tending to his grandmother had likely given him the confidence to enter Zenith Online. And though he was far away, Kieran recognized the embers of convictions steeling his gaze. He seemed more focused... driven, even. Which made Kieran wonder why that was so.

'I'll ask once this is all over.'

Eventually, everyone took a seat while the leaders of Sanguis Requiem approached the dais Kieran and Altair stood upon. Alice, Bastion, and Nemean joined.

A heavy weight descended in the room as Kieran stepped before the podium, peering at his guild members. All taking ceased, and some wore expressions of fear. A recurrence of this trend meant it was no coincidence.

He hadn't confirmed it, but Kieran believed that reaction stemmed from the ambiguously defined [Gaze of Carnage]. It commanded a certain level of fear towards what he had endured and what he could inflict.

Gathering his thoughts, Kieran spoke calmly.

"I have been absent for a long time, and in that period... the guild has fallen into a trend heading for dissolution. That is partly my fault, and I accept that blame, but you must all hold yourselves accountable, too."

Murmurs grew amongst the audience, and Kieran paid them heed, scanning the audience, chiefly their lips. He could make out their words with his powerful eyes alone - eyes honed by the Apex Predator Title, Predator Type, and commendably high Perception attributes he

possessed.

He singled out those with reactions he had seen before - the entitled mindset. One he despised, for it paved the way to lackluster efforts and resentment when things weren't given

to them.

Those people were on his radar, and there was a decent chance they'd be axed from the guild if that mindset showed zero signs of maturing.

Kieran gave the members a few moments to quiet down, then he continued.

"Some of you find it difficult to take accountability, and that's natural. There aren't many people who'd openly want to accept credit for something failing. In that case, voice your input. I'd like to hear your perspective."

The floor was open, and with that comment, many guild members stood up in different rows. However, they didn't immediately speak. Instead, they looked around to see if others shared a similar opinion and stood in solidarity.

The power of their Guild Master and his less spoken-about feats had been etched into their minds. They didn't forget the force they were standing before.

Nevertheless, they found strength and confidence in knowing others were with them.

"You say we are to take accountability for the guild's lack of performance and stagnation, but that isn't true. I think it's up to manage to ensure the guild thrives."

Kieran's noncommittal attitude remained as he nodded.

Others spoke up and voiced their genuine feelings.

"You're putting way too much expectation on us, man. We joined this guild because we saw a

bright future and saw a role model to guide us."

"If you want us to shoulder that responsibility, I feel like our positions in the guild should

reflect that."

"We shouldn't be expected to put forth backbreaking effort if you get to be absent. We deserve that right, too. No one person is better than the other. That's depriving us of our

autonomy."

Kieran listened to everyone but noticed each complaint sung a similar tune - entitlement. The loudest speakers here were practically unknown, and Kieran could tell by the expression of his Commanders' faces.

However, as he moved to offer a rebuttal, Bastion grabbed his shoulder and took the podium

calmly.

Then, a beast Kieran had never seen before erupted from the typically jovial young man.

"I've had it up to here with your shit. We didn't ask any of your sorry asses to be here. You CHOSE to be here. The door is behind you if you wish to leave."