<h4>Chapter 297 Chapter296-An Old Acquaintance, Ghostde</h4>


    As MoonWhite''s figure began to fade, ready to disappear into the virtual jungle, John remarked casually, "Given Chairman Taylor''s request to look out for you all, remind your guild leader to add me on themunication channelter. Let me know if there''s anything challenging you need help with."


    MoonWhite nodded enthusiastically. Her radiant smile suggested no trace of disappointment from her arena defeat. Instead, John''s promise had unexpectedly lifted her spirits.


    "She''s quite the optimist..." John murmured, shaking his head, as he too disappeared into the foliage.


    In the subsequent battles, John showcased unparalleled prowess andbat tactics.


    Although he kept his power on par with his opponents, regardless of the adversary, John always emerged victorious with ease.


    It was as if the twobatants were on entirely different spectrums.


    As John''s ranking climbed, the strength of hispetitors increased.


    Among them were special yers wielding unique ss-specific skills, creating quite a spectacle.


    Yet, no adversary, regardless of stature, could make a dent against John.


    He countered every strategy and attack effortlessly, toppling foes that seemed indomitable.


    His strikes, sharp and precise, were imbued with formidable power and speed.


    John''s performance left not only his adversaries astounded but also whipped the audience into a frenzy.


    Every move he made was met with cheers and apuse, with each victory bing a ssic moment.


    With each sessive win, his ranking moved closer to the top.


    After dozens of consecutive battles, John remained unfazed, appearing as if he''d expended no energy.


    Furthermore, his rank had ascended to the top hundred.


    Only a few more victories were required to secure the top position on the Arena Leaderboard.


    After breaking into the top hundred, the adversaries John encountered were a different breed altogether.


    Not only were they significantly more powerful, but they were also renowned figures in the gaming realm.


    Among them were leaders of prominent guilds! John recognized several familiar faces.


    However, most remained oblivious to John''s true identity, knowing only of Galewind, the yer acknowledged by the majority as the strongest in the game of Godyer.


    Every opponent who faced John brought their utmost effort and focus. But, regardless of their caution, they still seemed fragile against John''s onught.


    Several more decisive PK battles ensued.


    And in each, John continued his relentless dominance, dispatching foes with swift and lethal precision.


    After yet another battle, John finally met an opponent who warranted his full attention.


    Ghostde, a Spellde yer and the guild leader of de Soul Guild, one of the top ten premier guilds worldwide.


    "Didn''t expect to run into you this early," John mused as they stood facing each other amidst the vast, golden desert.


    From beneath a dark cloak, Ghostde''s slightly raspy voice emerged, "Nor did I anticipate that Galewind, the talk of the gaming world these days, would turn out to be you."


    John smiled faintly, a hint of nostalgia in his eyes.


    The two were acquainted from a previous game, where their rtionship oscited between rivalry and camaraderie.


    While John''s former guild couldn''t match the stature of de Soul Guild, Ghostde was known to act on whims.


    After a fierce resource battle that ended in a draw, the two had acknowledged each other''s prowess and had even coborated a few times.


    Ghostde, aware of John being ousted from his previous guild, had once invited him to join de Soul Guild. But a disheartened John had declined.


    "You''ve reached a level that leaves the rest of us in the dust," Ghostde remarked, holding a Magic Rapier that emitted a faint glow. "Whatever wonders you''ve encountered in this game, did you really experience a turn of luck as dramatic as they say?"


    John rolled his eyes in mock exasperation. "When did you start believing in such mystical nonsense? Don''t worry, I''ll limit myself to match your level. This way, you can face me without any reservations."


    With a flourish of his Magic Rapier, Ghostdeughed heartily. "That''s exactly what I had in mind!"


    The battle soonmenced, with Ghostde and John colliding in a whirlwind of moves.


    Their swords shed and danced, their speed blindingly fast, almost impossible to track.


    John dodged Ghostde''s attacks with nimble movements, swiftly retaliating.


    His strikes were precise, each filled with formidable force.


    However, Ghostde seemed to effortlessly evade John''s blows.


    His swordy was sharp and fierce, with every strike appearing as if it aimed to cleave John in two.


    John had to immerse himselfpletely in the battle, doing his best to avoid Ghostde''s relentless assault.


    "Who on earth is this guy dueling with Galewind?"


    "That looks like the guild leader of de Soul Guild. He''s definitely a big shot!"


    "That''s Mr. Ghostde. He''s currently ranked 52nd on the Arena Leaderboard. The only reason he''s not higher is that he''s often busy with guild affairs and doesn''t have much time for the arena."


    "Didn''t they say Galewind could annihte these top guild leaders in a blink? Why does it seem he''s evenly matched with Ghostde?"


    "Bro, are you blind? Can''t you see Galewind is deliberately holding back? He probably knows that going full force in the Arena would be like bringing a gun to a knife fight. So, he''s intentionally limiting himself."


    "There''s a way to suppress one''s own strength?"


    "For us, that''s a fantasy. Levels are fixed; no one can just change them at will. But for Galewind, this might not be such a big deal."


    "True, he''s the beast who can withstand system-imposed lightning penalties after all!"


    The chatter amongst the spectators in the arena hall grew louder.


    Within the virtual desert chosen by John as the battleground, the fight was reaching a fever pitch.


    The atmosphere was thick with tension and intensity.


    John''s body had been assailed by countless waves of sword energy, yet he showed no signs of faltering.


    Determination and resolve shimmered in his eyes.


    John knew all too well what kind of person Ghostde was.


    This man seemed to have an obsession with swords.


    In every game, his chosen ss always had something to do with a de.


    One only had to look at his name to know...


    In the previous game, Ghostde''s ss was also Swordman.


    Upon arriving in "Godyer", without hesitation, he chose the Spellde ss.


    And judging by the strength he disyed, it wasn''t just a basic Spellde, but likely some unique ss or perhaps a rarer hidden ss.


    Dodging one of Ghostde''s advances, John swiftly turned to counterattack.


    With a slight twist of his right hand, a pale blue energy longsword materialized in his grasp.


    [Divine de (Divine Skill) (Level 7): This skill allows the user to conjure a weapon based on their divine power. The weapon''s attributes depend on the skill level, character level, and the character''s divine power. The initial Divine de possesses +800,000 damage with a 25% critical hit rate.]


    Caressing the hilt of this energy-infused sword, a trace of nostalgia appeared on John''s face.


    Ever since he acquired the Divine weapon, Divine Pce, he hadn''t summoned this energy sword.


    But facing Ghostde, it wouldn''t be fair to draw the Divine Pce.


    ncing sidelong at the energy sword in John''s hand, Ghostde remarked with a smirk, "So, Galewind, you darepete with me in swordsmanship now?"


    John shed a faint smile, waving his energy sword, "We''ll find out if I''ve got what it takes, won''t we?"


    Stepping on the golden sands, John dashed towards Ghostde, his swordy undting like a raging dragon tearing through the skies.


    His swordsmanship became even more ferocious, forcing Ghostde to step back with each blow.


    Pushed back by John''s fierce onught, a look of astonishment took over Ghostde''s face.


    He never anticipated that this old friend, whom he thought he knew inside out, could corner him with just sword skills.


    With a roar, Ghostde raised his Magic Rapier and boldly met John''s attacks head-on.


    In the realm of his expertise, the prideful Ghostde would not allow any retreat.


    Though Ghostde''s swordy was sharp, John was able to urately predict every move.


    Dodging Ghostde''s strikes, John retaliated with even greater speed.


    The energy sword in his hands flowed seamlessly, each stroke delivering immense destructive force.


    Passion for the battle gleamed in John''s eyes, showing not a hint of hesitation.


    Ghostde was profoundly shocked by John''s prowess.


    In all the time he''d known John, he had never seen him so spirited and full of vigor.