Newbie's Quest: Awaiting Challenge
Chapter 51: A Few Words About Rumors

The forums buzzed with activity all through the night, a testament to Ethan Walker's ability to stir up a storm wherever he goes, attracting a whirlwind of attention and controversy.

The hottest topic at the moment was titled, "Both Newcomers, but the Character Gap Between Ethan Walker and Felix Rayburn Is Astounding."

User 1: "Just an observation from a neutral bystander, not a fan of either. After watching several dungeon replays of Ethan and Felix, doesn't Ethan seem like a reckless lone wolf? He seems to care little for his teammates' well-being, focusing solely on grabbing rewards."

User 2: "[Video][Video]"

User 3: "Got here early, waiting for the analysis from the experts."

User 4: "Marking my spot. Got my popcorn ready, watching this unfold."

User 5: "Wow, brave post. Ethan's fans can be quite intense. Take care, OP [Praying Monkey.jpg]"

User 6: "Agree with the above. Doge meme for safety. OP, you might want to turn off your DMs. See you on your next account!"

User 7: "Really, OP? Talking about 'teammates' in the Paradise dungeon run? Everyone knows Ethan was there as a reporter, not as a regular team member."

User 8: "What about the Forest of Corpses cutscene? What does that prove? Everyone was struggling for their own survival then! Henrik Jensen didn't help anyone either."

User 9: "Here come the Ethan fans."

User 10: "To the person two posts above, if you're talking about Ethan, just talk about him. Don't drag my Henrik into this."

User 11: "Am I the only one concerned about how the forums are turning into fan circles? Fanatics, please stay out of gaming forums!"

User 12: "Objectively speaking, didn't Ethan save one of Emerald Tempest Guild's members, the one surnamed Scott, during that Paradise run?"

User 13: "Hilarious. With millions watching the live stream, he was closest and had no choice but to help, right?"

User 14: "You guys are weird, criticizing Ethan for not helping and then saying he only helped because he was being watched. There's no rule that players must save each other, right? Even if they're from the same team, they have to consider the bigger picture and can't just sacrifice themselves for anyone."

User 15: "That's why Felix is so honorable! In a previous A-rank dungeon, he carried an injured player out himself."

User 16: "Is Felix really not just showing off? That player's fall looked so fake, and I've seen a detailed frame-by-frame analysis."

User 17: "Ethan fans, stop making excuses. When your guy saves someone, it's heroic, but when Felix does it, it's showing off? Who would risk their life in such a dangerous dungeon for a show?"

User 18: "I don't get why character is now a criterion to judge a player's level. In the White Tower, it's always been about strength, not about someone being nice or good-looking."

User 19: "Here we go again, the same old Ethan fan rhetoric. If it's about EQ, he's strong; if it's about solving mysteries, he's strong; if it's about character, he's strong."

User 20: "...And? If you're not strong, why even bother speaking here? [Speechless Monkey]"

The forum discussions were heated, but Ethan Walker, at the center of it all, had just finished a relaxing bath and was leisurely browsing his phone in bed, curious to see how he was being criticized online. The door opened, and a dispirited Emily Johnson walked in.

"Hey, you're back?" Ethan greeted casually.

"Yeah..." Emily's response was muted. Though not literally flayed, her pale face suggested he felt just as bad.

"What did Alex say about your punishment?" Ethan inquired.

"Three months' salary and a two-week ban from dungeons."

"Hmm? Lighter than I expected."

Emily looked at Ethan as if he were speaking an alien language.

"Can't you sound a bit more human? Here I am, in a dire situation, and you're still scrolling through your phone."

"Can't help it. I need to see how people are criticizing me."

"Who's criticizing you? Let me see, let me see."

Suddenly reinvigorated, Emily squeezed next to Ethan, eager to join in the online drama.

"Here, take it. I'll go dry my hair."

Ethan Walker continued his routine unflustered. When he returned from the bathroom, ruffling his damp hair, he found Emily Johnson perched on the bed's edge, furiously typing on his phone. "What are you doing?" Ethan inquired.

"Setting up an alternate account to argue on your behalf, venting some of my pent-up anger," Emily replied with fervor.

Emily had once shared tales of her youthful days, creating multiple accounts for online skirmishes. Her rapid response and combative spirit, honed in the dungeons, were now being unleashed on the trolls.

Ethan asked her for some quick tips on handling such situations, to which Emily responded, "Who needs tactics when you can just go berserk?" And now, she was doing exactly that on the forums. Emily's posts were fiery and confrontational:

- "Why are you all upset with Ethan for claiming rewards? Isn't it natural to reap the benefits of one's hard work? Are you suggesting we should be leaving opportunities for others? Maybe Felix damaged his brain in a dungeon, being too selfless?"

- "To those moralizing, try surviving a 35 dungeon, then talk about 'Why doesn't Ethan save anyone?' That's an insult even to dogs."

- "Could it be Felix is feeling overshadowed by Ethan and is now orchestrating a smear campaign? Let's all make money together - next time, count me in."

- "Talking about Ethan being all brawn and no brain... What does Felix have then? Good looks, character, skills? Laughable. I bet even if Felix fans fell into a river, they'd emerge praising his character."

Emily's tirade on the forum was a clear indication of the toll her punishment had taken on her spirit.

Other fans of Ethan began to express concern over Emily's aggressive defense:

- "We're having a civilized discussion here, don't attract negative attention to Ethan!"

- "Exactly. We don't want the other side claiming Ethan's fans lack decorum."

- "I think this guy makes sense. Why should we stay silent and let others tarnish Ethan's reputation?"

Observing Emily's impassioned defense, Ethan remarked, "I must admit, compared to you, my manners could use some lowering."

"Are you... complimenting me or insulting me?" Emily retorted, half amused, half indignant.

Satisfied with her venting, Emily put the phone aside and turned to Ethan. "What's your plan? Felix Rayburn's team is twisting facts. You might not care much about stuff outside the dungeons, but we can't let them tarnish your reputation." Ethan took his phone back, opened his messaging app, and began typing earnestly to someone, his fingers moving swiftly across the screen. Emily peeked over, expecting Ethan to be seeking help, but instead saw Henrik Jensen's name at the top of the chat.

"Grasping at straws? Emerald Tempest Guild won't be able to help with this. You might as well ask Avalon Guild for assistance," Emily suggested.

"It's not about that. This might not be a big deal, but I plan to address it before the next dungeon run."

"Oh? And how do you plan to do that?" Emily asked, curious.

Ethan smiled mysteriously. "By disproving the rumors, of course."

Meanwhile, Felix Rayburn, having delegated the task of spreading negative posts to his team, contentedly reaped the benefits, watching as Ethan was lambasted online. All night, Ethan made no response, which Felix found hard to believe. He decided to add fuel to the fire.

Felix shared a link to his next dungeon live stream on his social media, accompanied by a serene message: "No matter the chaos outside, replace peace in Felix's live stream." This passive-aggressive jab irked Ethan's fans to the point of near-rage. Ethan had his own personal account but remained unresponsive online. However, offline, he memorized the coordinates of Felix's next dungeon run. The blue light from his phone cast a chilling glow on his smile.

The next morning, a well-rested Felix Rayburn headed to the designated dungeon in area 806, an A-level challenge. Unlike Ethan's relentless style, Felix valued pacing and strategy in his runs. Confident, he greeted his audience, "Hello, everyone."

But the chat was not as harmonious as he expected. His fans were anxious, urging him to be careful. Careful of what?

On the other side, Ethan's personal live stream channel, dormant for several days, reignited with activity. Despite the previous night's controversy, his channel was overflowing with viewers.

Ethan appeared relaxed, leaning against the inner wall of the White Tower in area 806. "Hello to all the friends in the live stream, fans of both me and Felix. I'm Ethan Walker. Last night was quite eventful online, and as the person involved, I've been silent, which seems a bit rude. Everyone knows I'm more about action than words. So today, I've come to the 806 dungeon. As for the rumors of my 'discord with Felix Rayburn,' I'm here to set the record straight."

Ethan's smile broadened, and out of nowhere, his loyal companions, Little Red Cap and Jane, appeared, grinning fiercely on either side.