Chapter 49
The long preparation and unwanted hindrances add to the long, arduous journey toward the farthest corner toward the isolated city of Lúthien, the only remaining city that holds historical significance toward the mountain range dividing the northeast, where the forest of Rithakwood could be found, and on its domain was the location of the largest and deepest gorge with a length of ten miles, a depth of 200 meters, and a width of 90 meters separating the dark, murky swamp toward the Empire of Graves.
A 2-week trip after crossing Gorge, named as the Demon Mouth, as an unknown monster resides under the thick fog that settled on the gorge for nearly seven hundred years after the land was attacked by an angry Seraph and cursed their land to what it is today. That was the story of Derick Collins, Miranda Saunders, and Shawn Booth created to make the area more suitable for players with a vast hunger to fight, hunt and explore in the past. These people were key writers of the virtual game that made a billion people got addicted on. But all final implementation is approved by Dane, formerly Damon Lazarus, we was a the secluded and hermit programmer that made Arcane Crusade the envy of all,
even by the old gods that was swallowed by the world technological evolution saw this fake reality was gained more followers than the old gods themselves , the mythological stories were not enough to please these unseen powerful and eccentric egotistical and thick headed immortal beings that molded and created everything in the vast open void of the multiverse.
the main story line was created to change and evolve constantly but it wasn't allowed to get derailed from the key narrative, interpretation of those sub story line within the game was so random and unpredictable every player was faced with different quest and mission and gain rewards corresponding to the accomplished task.
But one particular small scenario eluded him. as it was a created on a whim by Miranda Saunders who was very close and emotionally connected to Damon, the pain he encountered in loosing his parents made her create such a mini story line that only a handful of players accepted ,as it was a very demanding task to accomplishing the end these players abandons the quest as it was emotionally heart breaking.
This was the story of Duchess Elleena Rothchester missing son, the quest had limited clues and so many twist and turn as the story was a roller coaster ride of despair and sorrow as it tackles the dark under belly of crime and what evil could do to those who were weak and defenseless.as the ten year old kid was never found and the trail of murder, dark cults and immoral acts was seen to traumatizing to those who tried to clear the story,
Miranda Saunders deep sadness toward Damon Lazarus broken mind and heart at those dark time was the key foundation of this game story line, their are so many scenario in the virtual game that were never played and accepted by the multitudes of players , as the players prefer accepting fantasy and magical quest . but now these scenarios are unavoidable if the players wants to gain more rewards from the tower, these task are undeniably one sure way of getting them.
and accepting the quest to finally eliminate the Evolve Drake scenario quest will soon changed again for the fifth time. the first four mission hunt ended in disaster, But based on the current outcome, it seemed their chances to finally face the drake were fast approaching.
The monster that followed the Evolve Drake was now scattering as many of their kind were found and seen dead and missing. Hundreds of high-ranking monsters just vanished as the smoke and dust settled. The players who were killing and hunting them had finally reached the hole where the Drake was resting. The blood from the monster flowed into the hole, but it was insufficient as the mana to fully evolve to a high-tier monster. Its size was now a significantly smaller mass, and its intelligence has grown exponentially.
The barrier artifact that the white guild fixed was still fully operational. The player that partook in the hunt and frontal assault gave a loud cry as they finally reached the drake's nest with minimal loss and zero deaths. All 180 combined guilds were safe; they were tired, out of breath, and felt numb all over their bodies.
These players were conditioned mentally to endure long battles and have a strong mental hold in facing dangers and life-threatening situations. The remaining mages and healers took turns in securing their force's physical and mental condition. Farah, Bonnie, Leonid Zoya, and Jacob made sure the additional weapons and armor were still fine as they cleared the area where they awaited facing the Evolve Drake. They had roughly one hour to change equipment and regain full battle awareness. They were the only group that reached the nest. All four attempts failed miserably, and they lost nearly 300-plus high-ranking players.
Now being registered as rankers, the senior players gain some valuable experience and insight on how to approach the Evolve Drake. They knew that their next attempt had to be more strategic and more well-coordinated to have any chance of success. Charlotte was talking to Natasha and with the White Devil tanker unit. Natasha assures Charlotte that the chain they had with them was imbued with a tier one magic spell with a level of 30.
The plan was simple but complicated to execute: they would use the magic chain to immobilize the Evolve Drake while the tanker unit distracted it, allowing the rankers to attack from a safe distance. By using heavy archers and Bonnie's skill to control gravity , the seven berserker players will propel the titanium sphere at the drake's body, while Farah and Jacob will trap the half-body with enchanted vines and hardened magma.
With their new strategy in place, they were hopeful that this time they would emerge victorious. The days they spent in this hunt were a risk, as most players with different reasons came together because the entrance to the second floor could grant them the opportunity to fulfill those needs no matter what they were.
Some wanted to gain the Holy Grail that heals all illness and obtain the legendary phoenix blood that was known to resurrect the dead. These items can only be obtained on the fifth floor, but with all this reason, they still need to finish the Evolve Drake quest and gain King Deryth Cererindur's official decree to purge the Empire of Graves, which is more open to all players to participate in.
The players that participated with Evolve Drake shall be granted permission to travel toward the Demon's Mouth after a month , but after a year the quest shall be open to all.
The hour was running, and some players took the opportunity to eat and change clothing and equipment. The guild members wanted to ensure they were ready for the final hunt; they placed all the equipment out. And strategically place them.
in locations where the chains were easy to move, as Bonnie and Farrah helped in the process. The White Guild mages made sure that the additional lower barrier artifact they had with them would not malfunction, as they are still open to monster attacks. The open area where the Drake underground nest was at the center city square , where most events were expected to take place. Most of the enemies were still roaming around the ruined city, but Dane made sure to clean up the dead remains as secretly and efficiently as possible to avoid drawing attention to his actions.
While Sebastian's group and Lady Riad-dûm Laenaria's soldiers waited patiently under the blanket of an illusion and camouflage, they watched from afar. Suvari Mila, the level 25 mage with a skill of assessment serving the North Lazarus Guild, was still shaken to her core, recalling that feeling of fear , as the being she saw was pure chaos energy; the mana swirling around its body was being torn apart and was like being forced and molded to fix the being's needs.
Mila Suvar could catch glimpses of the language of mana energy. Being manipulated in such a way was a terrifying experience, leaving her with a sense of unease and vulnerability that she couldn't shake off easily. Despite her training and expertise, the encounter with the chaotic being had left a lasting impact on Suvari Mila, making her question the limits of her own abilities and the dangers that lurked in the shadows.
Being a physicist , Mila's understanding of the laws of thermodynamics was known in her working field; seeing energy being manipulated in ways that defied those laws was both fascinating and unsettling for her. It challenged her understanding of the natural world and opened up a whole new realm of possibilities that she had never considered before.
The tower is still filled with so many unanswered questions. She just held her emotion and tried to overcome the anxiety she was feeling. Fear and curiosity were consuming her thoughts. Sebastian and Terrence felt her tension as they wanted to approach her, wondering what secrets lay hidden within its walls. As they entered, the air seemed to hum with an otherworldly energy, sending shivers down their spines. The three of them exchanged nervous glances, steeling themselves for whatever might happen.
Sebastian hoped that they no longer needed to come out of hiding to help with the evolved Drake, but seeing that another possible threat , especially the being they saw early on, was still lingering in the shadows, made him realize their mission was far from over. Some monsters were seen attacking the players at random.
Mila quickly grasped her chest and began to experience a sudden, intense agony that sent her reeling back. A powerful, invisible force caused the plant to bend, pushing aside the tall grass that was assisting them all in concealing their existence. Their physical bodies were still open to the creatures' attacks, but the illusion spell remained active. However, the evolved Drake, who emerged from the underground nest and now had a humanoid appearance, was the source of this force rather than an approaching random monster attack. It was not the product of an impending random monster attack, and it stood roughly ten feet tall.
The force of its roar was powerful enough to create a sound wave that rippled through the surrounding area, causing the ground to shake and the tall grass to sway, and some even bent to the ground. As soon as it took a single step, everybody who was watching from afar, including the king and nobles of the empire of Solnara Cererindur, with the help of the surviving transmission insects, the crowd shouted as the hunt was finally happening.
Sylveth Melriel was already at the location; she was further at the back, watching from afar, seeing the hidden 100 warriors a few meters away facing the main city. Sylveth Melriel could only giggle, knowing these people were taking a huge risk in interfering with another guild's quest hunt. She just smiled and just took it as another exciting event in the bustling city of Solnara Cererindur. Quest platform.
"I love it when the unpredictability comes into play," Sylveth thought to herself, feeling a rush of adrenaline at the unexpected turn of events. She couldn't wait to see how it all unfolded."
"Those nobles are stuck-up and are always causing me trouble," she muttered under her breath, knowing that this encounter would only add to the drama. As she watched the sanctioned prepare for battle,
As the tension rose, Sylveth Melriel knew that she would have to keep a close eye on the unfolding situation to see how it would all play out. With a simple hand gesture, a pale-looking figure suddenly appeared and started to set up a small table and chair as well as prepare some item that it took out from dimensional storage.
The pale, ash-grey-looking figure was tall and slim and looked like a mannequin. It only had button eyes and was wearing an elegant, tailored butler's uniform. It placed a set of teacups and a place that looked expensive and delicate on the table, as it was preparing for a formal tea party. Her servant moved with precision and grace, wondering. poured tea gently and even placed a small plate of delicate pastries on the table. The figure's movements were eerily robotic, yet strangely elegant, as if it had been programmed to perform the perfect tea party.
The sun was still up, but the air blowing in her direction was a bit cold. The sky was void of any flying creatures in the air. The sound of lurking creatures that escaped the hunt was the only sound she could hear. It was unpleasant and made her feel uneasy, as if she was being watched. The eerie silence added to the mysterious atmosphere, causing her to shiver involuntarily.
"Those pesky critters are making me lose my appetite," she muttered to herself. She snapped her fingers as she picked up the warm tea. The sound from those lurking creatures vanished, and she uttered the spell.
"mirror projection."
And just like that, a large mirror appeared a foot away from the tip of the coffee table and floated on top. It was round and had a diameter of two feet. Unlike the transmittal insect, this spell only magnified the reflection of the area and captured the events and even the sounds , revealing every movement within its range and scope. As she continued to sip her tea, Miko alerted Dane that another party had entered the vicinity. The information now was different because, unlike the second party that was stationed a few hundred meters away, the main road entering the city was the North Lazarus Guild, and their backup reinforcement was from the north.
Her knowledge of spells is far greater than any archmage in the East. Ward told Dane this was an opportunity to gain free Magic language. Dane was watching the upcoming fight as the Evolve Drake finally showed its face. He was busy calculating and marveling at what he was seeing. He had tested this scenario many times before in the game, but seeing the evolved dragon come out differently was new to him.
The Evolve Drake can now stand upright and develop hands and a more humanoid-looking feature. It now stands 10 feet tall and weighs about 1500 pounds. Even if it didn't fully reach its maximum evolution, it still has unimaginable power and bloodlust to kill and hunt.
The scenario and gameplay have changed; the Drake might be incomplete, but it was still powerful. Now, a level 60 dragonoid has its power unmatched by any other creature in the east region. His calculations were no longer valid as his actions changed the narrative and flow of th quest. It has a mana capacity of 15 thousand, compared to his, which was only now 4 thousand. His advantage was his mana engine that can replenish the consumed mana per minute. Casting an attack spell that consumes 1000 points will take him more or less ten minutes.
It's similar to a cooldown, but because of the mana engine Dane obtained, he just needs to calculate the amount of mana consumption and the capacity of the mana engine's reproduction speed. He can shoot nonstop attack spells without worrying about waiting for a cooldown. This gives Dane a significant advantage in prolonged battles, allowing him to maintain a consistent offensive strategy without pause.
But Dane prefers not to use these attack spells in a hunt because they ruin the actual challenge and excitement of a fair fight. He enjoys the thrill of engaging in battles where his skills and strategy are put to the test, rather than relying solely on his mana engine for victory.
His mana core capacity was reaching its limit; breaking the seal to go beyond 4 thousand needs a stronger mana core, and that problem is now solvable as the dragonoid core was the answer, gaining its core and increasing his capacity to double. But one wrong move can also end his life in the blink of an eye, as the consequences of overestimating his ability and knowing Dane used his prior knowledge in obtaining the mana engine were critical factors in this change.
Dane watches silently, like the Northern Lazarus Guild and Sylveth Melriel, or the Crescent Magus, and just hopes everything will be alright in the end. The risks were high, but the potential rewards were even greater, pushing Dane to push his limits and take the leap of faith. Only time will tell if his gamble will pay off or if it will lead to his downfall.
Charlotte and her guild members were ready. Natasha's warriors were already waiting and stood near their designated location with the imbued chains and a few titanium spheres, while Mary Kaye and her guild team were behind the tankers as the frontal attack force, holding each of them 3 magic scrolls with magic buffs for speed, strength, and protection.
The heavy archers with human-sized bows are ready as the few mages stand near them, waiting for the signal. Porters are anxious, but their job is important as they are tasked to give the titanium spheres as they play to shoot it like an arrow, and Farrah's plant skill will be the support to the heavy archer as Bonnie makes the sphere light .
Jacob's task was to seal the hole in the ground with his lava skill, and Cody needs to ensure the Dranoid won't reach them. As Charlotte Lazars and Natasha Sokolo stood in front with their main attack force behind them,.