It didn’t take long until the Black King had received her first visitor on this day. Moon Rider narrowed her eyes as someone new approached her throne room. The very fact that they were standing here before her and had even dared to venture out into her District was proof enough of this girl’s desire to join. Ever since the disbanding of the Ebony Strykers, the borders of her District had been dotted with small groups of Outlaws, ready to take out any who dared to enter her gates.

Of course, none of them were foolish enough to dwell deeper into Moon Rider’s territory. For aside from being the only real member of the Black Guild, Moon Rider was also rumored in all of Deep Ground to be a H.K. A Hacker Killer, a Player who was quite adept in slaying Hacker Players that wanted to mod the game in their own ways, thus encroaching on everyone else’s fun. Needless to say, her reputation made her feared by most, especially to any fraud Players under the guise of her Guild’s namesake. It was that very same reputation that kept the Outlaws away from her Kingdom on this day. 

Moon Rider listened to Newt’s rushed explanation before finally speaking with, [color=8493ca]“You are from the Scarlet Harleys. Now why would someone who already has a Guild want to join up with me?”[/color]

It was a simple enough question and Moon Rider’s voice alone carried with it a certain tone of authority only found by Colored Kings. While she waited for Newt’s answer, the Black King studied the Level 3 Avatar, eyes boring with a burning light of ambition.

[color=8493ca]“Well whatever your cause, I find your presence to be quite admirable. So you are the first to swear allegiance to me? Tell me, why do you want to become the Black King’s apprentice? Why would you want to learn from someone as solitary and enigmatic as myself?”[/color]

Once more, the Black King waited patiently for a reply. In that time, she noticed a message from another Player named Flan but paid no mind to it. It was most likely just a request to join her Guild and she knew that whoever held interest in the return of the Ebony Strykers had to visit her personally first. And sure enough, that very same person had arrived shortly after, Moon Rider seeing their Player Status in patience near the throne room entrance.

[color=8493ca]“You can come on in,”[/color] she called out to Flan. [color=8493ca]“After all, I expect a crowd today so it’ll be easier to speak to you all at the same time.”[/color]

Given the large crash that was heard by Moonlight Soloist’s happy spree across the Black District’s buildings, Moon Rider expected that crowd to arrive just as predicted. 

On the other side of Deep Ground Online, past the neutral territory of Faded City, lay the Green District, home of the Fanged Rangers. At the Green Guild, Unrelenting Jukebox sped off out of the Guild’s garage sitting atop a motorbike. As he zoomed past the Player known as Nies Hellum, another Avatar slowly walked out. Draped in all green military attire, the Player whistled a happy tune before giving Nies Hellum a small wink, continuing to walk in Jukebox’s speeding direction.

She would recognize him as her superior, Verdant Grin. The Green King. Watching Jukebox head off for just a moment longer, Verdant Grin kept on whistling even as an orb of pure, concentrated wind was gathered into his palm. With a final crescendo to his tune, he launched the flurry of wind blades towards Jukebox’s vehicle, tearing apart the motorbike’s wheels and crippling the vehicle.

Verdant Grin casually walked over to the no doubt crashed vehicle until he stood right beside Jukebox. He paused in his whistling, raising an eye to view the wreckage he himself had caused, before waiting for Jukebox to get up and address his King accordingly.

[color=1a7b30]“Jukebox, buddy, it’s been a while! Don’t tell me real life’s been hanging up on you man? The Rangers haven’t seen you in forever,”[/color] he said jovially, wrapping his arm around Jukebox as if the two were best friends or something. [color=1a7b30]“Hey now, you weren’t trying to drive off to the Black Guild were you? Just because old Moonie is finally opening up her gates again doesn’t mean you can skip out on greeting your leader now.”[/color]

A Colored King was the DGO equivalent to being a celebrity. In fact, the Colored Kings didn’t even bother to conceal their identity from other Players in their Guild and it was to a point where at least everyone at Purple Crown Academy had some clue as to who their real life identities were. Except of course for the Black King. No one knew that girl both in-game and out of it.

Well, no, that wasn’t entirely true. The Student President knew, given that she was Moon Rider’s public spokesperson in Purple Crown Academy.