Chapter 51
The dragonoid shifted its focus, a terrifying gleam in its reptilian eyes as it targeted the mages, healers, and the three battle wagons that were their main supply and lifeline. A primal fear gripped the players; protecting their vulnerable teammates was now paramount. Each earth-shattering blow from the dragonoid pushed them closer to the brink, but surrender was unthinkable.
Their hunt's lifeblood, 10 level 20 healers, were now their main objectives. Charlotte stood among them, her spirit unwavering despite the pain shooting through her damaged leg, while the knight and berserkers created a desperate shield around them. Her flesh was covered in dirt and blood from wounds she hardly recognized. She could feel the weight of responsibility bearing down on her; if she failed, it would mean the end for both herself and her allies.
"Protect the healers!" shouted Jacob, his voice slicing through the chaos like a blade. He stood at the forefront alongside Cody and Oliver—their determination radiating like a beacon against despair.
Charlotte gritted her teeth as Farah knelt beside her, weaving vines around her injured leg to form an impromptu cast.
"You can't fight like this," Farah urged gently. "Watch me," Charlotte replied fiercely. With each pulse of agony that surged through her body, she channeled it into arcane energy, the very essence of magic coursing through her veins, igniting a fire within.
While Natasha followed her, their combined attacks were like a dance routine; each of their swings, thrusts, jabs, and slashes was executed with precision, and the patterns were hard to evade as they practiced this swordplay many times to attack and bring down a bigger target.
Sasha, with all her will, asked Bonnie to lighten the heavy arrow and shouted at the mages near her to imbue the arrowhead with a delayed electric spell. The bow she was using was four feet tall, and the arrow she was using was three feet long and weighed about a kilo. Each of the seven arrows was brought to her by the remaining porter, who drove it into the ground. Farah used her skill to cast a large plant vine that would support her as she pulled her bow and fired rapid shots toward the target.
Cody, Oliver and Jacob were running toward Charlotte and Natasha to execute the plan, Oliver who is known to have the skill to cast poison, made sure his attack will enter the monster body so their movements must be aligned , Cody cast his shock focus wave to push the Dragonoid backward while Jacob turned the ground into magma, while Charllote used her burst attack to propel Natasha to the sky above the fallen Dragonoid and used her main weapon.
she took out her cross bow and fired ice arrows to harden the magma , the moment the monster was encased Leonid Zoya and Thomas a berserker player used their heavy axe and hammer to smash the enemies body and make the Dragonoid unwantedly open its mouth as it scream in pain, at that moment Oliver appeared above the Dragonoid face with his extended arm and place his hand on the opening of the monster and force all his poison skill into its mouth the force of the liquid poison was similar to compress water bursting out of a dam, causing the Dragonoid to convulse and thrash in agony but the hardened magma made it hard to do.
As the poison spread through its body, the once fearsome creature began to weaken and falter, its roars turning into feeble gasps for air. The creature's scaly skin slowly turned purple, and it skin was slowly melting away; the hard scales were falling off in chunks as it writhed in pain, but it didn't just die. The monster took a bite at Oliver's arm and tossed him away. The beast broke free from the hardened magma and started to run and act violently as the poison spread in its body.
It dashed toward one of the battle wagons where Mary Kaye was located as she was distributing healing potions with four members of her own guild. The creature smashed the battle wagon and let out a burst of fire from its mouth.
The impact was enough to destroy the front part of the battle wagon. Two of Mary Kaye's members died instantly while the other two were focused on salvaging any potion or attack magic scroll they could find and pushed Mary Kaye out of the burning battle wagon. Sasha fired the seven heavy arrows with imbued electric spells toward the Dragonoid. The seven arrows pierce the creature's body and are able to penetrate its skin as the poison Oliver cast is affecting its regeneration skill.
While a healer helped Oliver with his wounded arm, Charlotte, Natasha, Leonid, Zoya, and Thomas the berserker dashed toward the rampaging monster and continued their attack. Mary Kaye cast a large and thick earth wall to protect the other two battle wagons, including her teammates. The ten healers were scattered all around; they were accompanied by a porter and a guard. The main attack force made sure to be the main target of the Dragonoid, but it cast a fire arrow indiscriminately, and these arrows exploded on impact. Killing a few of the players who were in the area, four healers died and seven more were severely wounded. From their remaining force, they were now thirty-nine.
The six remaining scared healers, tethered to their guards protection, were increasingly vulnerable, and the Dragonoid seemed to sense their crumbling morale as it was desperately trying to neutralize the poison. Then, a deafening roar echoed through the battlefield, followed by a sight that sent shivers down the spines of the wounded players. The Dragonoid, bathed in an ethereal glow, began to heal, the wounds inflicted upon it closing with impossible speed. In that moment, the weight of their impossible task crashed down upon them. Their healer's power was limited, and against a self-healing monstrosity, they desperately needed a new strategy, or their hunt would become a grave.
The Dragonoid was pushed back, crashing through the remains of the warehouse that Dane had previously been hiding in. The thick walls that had protected the warehouse came crumbling down on top of the monster. They were hoping that this time their plan would work as they surrounded the wall debris.
However, the Dragonoid easily lifted the large fallen wall off its body as if it was nothing. It simply stood up, despite its jaw being torn off, its left arm crushed, and its tail cut clean off. The creature had multiple wounds and deep cuts all over its body. A fist-sized hole could be seen in its right side as blood flowed out in rivers. It was bleeding out badly but still resisted and roared defiantly at its attackers.
Despite its grievous injuries, the Dragonoid refused to back down. Instead, it laughed maniacally as blood spurted out in a gruesome spray from its torn lower jaw. The signs that it was in pain and mortally wounded were beginning to fade. Somehow, the beast was finding the strength to keep fighting, even as it bled out on the rubble-strewn ground. Its attackers looked on in a mix of disbelief and concern—they had dealt the Dragonoid devastating damage, but it still refused to succumb. This creature was a true monster of legend, and it would take far more than this to slay it. The battle was far from over...
The Dragonoid's intentions became terrifyingly clear as arcane symbols shimmered into existence above its head. These weren't just any runes; they were a magic language understood by many mages, at least in essence, and everyone present. Saw this as nine of these symbols hung suspended in midair as fire magic missiles activated with devastating force, obliterating anything that wasn't protected instantly.
Before anyone could fully react, the spell unleashed its fury. The fire magic attack, crackling with compressed fire, erupted in all nine directions, tearing through the air. The spells were unstoppable, piercing through any obstacle and incinerating anything unfortunate enough to be in their path, leaving nothing but charred remains in their wake.
The attack lasted for ten seconds, and the Dragonoid was able to cast three consecutive nine-fire missiles. The blast and destruction were so immense that they left a smoking ten-foot-wide and three-foot-deep hole in the ground where the target once stood. The sheer power of the attack left witnesses in awe and fear of the Dragonoid's destructive capabilities.
The second battle wagon was now in flames as it was struck with the fire missiles twice, killing three more who were inside. Their combined attack lasted just a few minutes, and the monster was still alive and was seen able to overcome the poison Oliver cast. He could not believe he was able to neutralize it, as it was his strongest poison.
The Dragonoid removed the arrows that were causing more damage to its body , as it was imbued with electrocuting. Each arrow it pulled out of its body exploded with electric energy, causing the Dragonoid to roar more in pain. Despite its efforts to remove the seven arrows, the poison continued to weaken its regeneration abilities, giving Charlotte and the rest of the attack force the opportunity to press their advantage and launch a coordinated attack again. The Dragonoid, now visibly weakened, took a deep breath and concentrated its mana for another plasma blast. Suddenly wings came out from its back, and it flew upward.
With a powerful force, she propelled upward and flew fifty feet up in the air, and the sheer force it created was enough to stop the attack force from getting near, as debris and dust filled the air, obscuring their vision and causing chaos among the attack force. The Dragonoid then unleashed its plasma blast from above, catching Charlotte and her comrades off guard and causing widespread damage to their ranks.
Many of the players were hurt, but they were safe as a knight holding a large shield protected them from the blast. The fallen players saw a familiar insignia from the knight's armor. Charlotte saw Sebastian's back as the smoke and dust subsided.
"What took you so long?" asked Charlotte, relieved to see her older cousin and fellow player, Sebastian, standing strong amidst the chaos.
"Sorry for not helping sooner; it's a long story, but as of now we need to finish the task at hand," Sebastian replied with a smile, as they both prepared to regroup and strategize their next move against the formidable Dragonoid.
The dragonoid was still hovering above their heads when Sebastian ran toward his tankers and used their shields to boost him upward like what Charlotte did to Natasha. He activated his skill and flew toward the enemy at full speed as his wind manipulation made him reach the flying Dragonoid. With his long sword, Sebastian took out one of its wings, and Farrah, with a broken leg, Bonnie was seen following Sebastian with the help of the multiple plant vines going up about twenty feet, near enough so Bonnie's gravitational manipulation could reach the target.
the Lazarus clan are trained to always follow up on any attack and ensure their enemies are defeated with precision and efficiency. The coordination between Sebastian, Farrah, and Bonnie made the it fall from the ground much faster, while Thomas the berserker dragged his war hammer a few feet away and smashed it toward the monster that crashed on the ground.
Sasha has already fired her remaining two heavy arrows, while Mary Kaye cast a powerful wide-range spell toward the enemy as a two-ton compressed rock came down as soon as Thomas landed a hit and evaded the incoming meteor strike from above .
The mages who were with the North Lazarus Guild cast multiple lightning attacks along the meteorite, and another massive blast engulfed the open city square. Everybody who was watching by using the magic mirrors, as the few transmission insects were still doing their task effectively, was amazed with the players way of fighting. They were truly experts on their craft.
Even King Deryth Cererindur and his wife, Queen Nimriel Cererindur, didn't even bother to reach out with the sudden appearance of an unsanctioned guild toward the Evolve Drake quest. Meanwhile, Sylveth Melriel, or the Crescent Magus, saw the battle from a safe distance and made sure the new participating guild would not ruin the quest contract, as she was the one that granted the participating groups a simple hand gesture. She wrote North Lazarus, and with their North Alliance, hired rear guards .
The City of Arockar was known to be a hub for adventurers seeking fame and fortune in the upper region. They are always open to anybody who wishes to do business deals with them, no matter which part of the region they belong to.
The battle was somewhat nearing its end; many nobles applauded the players victory, but unlike those who were far away and safe , Sylveth Melriel, or the Crescent Mage, was watching at the location under an illusion barrier and was sure the fight was far from over.
The players combination attacks were devastating and accurate, to the point everybody would assume they had already won, but they could see what she was seeing. Mira Suvari shouted to everybody the dragonoid was still alive and was about to…
The ground exploded in a cacophony of destruction. A thundering sound echoed through the ravaged landscape, followed by a blinding flash as countless beams of light tore through the air. Embers of fire and twisted debris rained down, painting the scene in hues of hellish orange and black. From the heart of this chaos, the dragonoid emerged.
Its roar was a defiant challenge that shook the very ground. It had survived their combined assault. The poison Oliver had so carefully concocted, finally neutralized, no longer weakened its formidable frame. But the sight of its torn flesh regenerating at an alarming rate sent a wave of chilling dread through the remaining players. It was as if they faced an indestructible force, a nightmare made real.
The building that once stood at the heart of the city was utterly obliterated, replaced by a smoldering crater, and the acrid, sickening smell of burning flesh mingled with ash and smoke. Those who were caught were killed by these multiple hot beams.
All the soldiers serving Lady Riad-dûm Laenaria were now gone. Unlike players that were blessed to gain five skills to fight the monster on an equal footing, these soldiers rely mostly on their skill and knowledge in casting spells. Among the countless different inhabitants of the tower , the limit of an average person living inside is only one skill, but those who were born with high mana capacity were able to acquire two or more skills.
The bigger the mana core capacity, the larger the skill slots a being can attain. Like Ache Mages, they can gain more than five. These beings are a step closer to reaching the doorstep toward the highborn race that can rival even the lower gods .
The reserve soldiers, unfortunately, were not as fortunate, and their lack of diverse skills ultimately led to their demise in the battle against the dragonoid. The monster's movements were no longer sluggish, and its body was fully repaired, and it was now attacking the remaining players, who were seen as weaker and protecting the last healers in their group.
The main attack force scrambled and ran in different directions as the enemy was moving toward them. Each step it took was heavy, but it was still faster than them; it was fast enough to elude Saha and Natasha's barrage of arrows. Sebastian was running alongside Charlotte and the few remaining heavy knights. As they surrounded the Dragonoid and struck the enemy as they came near it, each attack was filled with anger as the enemy took the brunt of their fury.
But it was now learning the moment it got hit it would counter the attack by any means. It used its tail and even used its remaining wing to block and strike its enemy. The sharp claws it had were sharp enough to tear the players' armor and neutralize their mana barrier. The fight was intense and unpredictable as both sides refused to back down. Each player's defense of themselves was matched only by the enemy's relentless pursuit to kill them all. Each blow landed with a resounding impact, shaking the ground beneath them and fueling the fire of their battle even further.
They took turns attacking. Sebastian made sure to sever its head. He dash-rolled, twisted in midair, and even used the ground to his advantage. The dragonoid's hard scales were getting harder to penetrate with each strike, but Sebastian remained determined to defeat the beast. With a final, powerful swing of his sword, he successfully decapitated the dragonoid tail, but in the same moment, he got punched in the stomach and flew backwards and smashed into the ground as the monster ran toward him and cast a fire missile toward Sebastian as he gasped for air, as the punch winded him. Despite the pain, Sebastian quickly rolled to the side to avoid the fire missile, narrowly escaping its deadly flames.
Mary Kaye was also moving and cast a ten-foot-long, five-foot-thick, 1000-kilo pike toward the Dragonoid face. The impact was enough to stop its movement for a second while Charlotte jumped behind it and drove her twin daggers into its neck. As her weapon nearly cut its head off, the dragonoid tail regenerated again and slapped Charlottes and flew off into the distance. While this happened, Cody came near the monster's chest and cast a focused shockwave upward. The blast crushed its lungs, and Cody took out his weapon and just stabbed it multiple times, but it was still able to endure it.
After a titanium sphere pierces and passes through its side, the Dragonoid snatches Cody and prepares to crush him; blood erupts from its lips as Bonnie tackles Cody and helps him break free of the monster's hold. Cody and Bonnie were able to safely escape after Sasha and Natasha used all of the remaining arrows that were infused with Oliver's venom to weaken the Dragonoid. They knew they had barely avoided a fatal meeting as they ran, hearing the creature's roars of agony reverberating behind them.
While Farah continued to use her plant vine skill and used her vine's agile and controlled movements to use the chains they used previously and combine them with her vine trap to tie the monster's arms and feet and force it to remain immobile, Thomas pushed the titanium sphere even better as another heavy knife stabbed the dragonoid from the back with another titanium sphere, causing the pointed, sharp tip to emerge from its stomach.
The coordinated attack of Thomas, the other knight, and Farah successfully stopped its movement. The Dragonoid was about to attack with its mouth when Terrence, with his shield, smashed it toward its face with full force upward. The devastating force blasted upward and destroyed its upper jaw, and the force of the fire went up toward the sky. However, the coordinated attack of Thomas, the other knight, and Farah successfully stopped the Dragonoid action.
It was a spectacle that made even Sylveth Melriel smile and applaud the bravery and skill of the knights. The dragonoid let out a deafening roar before it cast a summoning spell. Sylveth Melriel saw the symbols and understood what it was planning. She couldn't believe that this evolved creature could cast a summoning spell, as it was a skill created and used by powerful sorcerers and wizards. The dragonoid's summoning spell brought forth a horde of fiery minions to aid in its battle against the knights, causing Sylveth Melriel to stand up from her chair and spill her tea.
"That dragonoid is a new variant; it's a manipulated evolution."
Sylveth Melriel, the Crimson Mage, was about to leave to assist the players when somebody spoke outside her illusion barrier and politely asked her to stand down, as its not her task to help her. The being pointed out she is bound to the king of Cererindur. The being extended his hand and grabbed hold of her illusion and protective barrier and crushed it like it was thin glass. This prompted Sylveth Melriel, puppet butter, to act to protect its master, but the being simply looked at it, and it instantly broke down into the ground, motionless.
"I am not your enemy, but hiding under the veil of your spell is pointless," the being stated calmly, its voice echoing with power. "You are needed in Cererindur, and you cannot just sit here and watch."
The players that died must be compensated properly, as their task was created with ill intent. That monster was not part of the scenario; somebody has manipulated its evolution, and you know this already. ,
Sylveth Melriel found herself paralyzed, her gaze fixed on the entity before her. It was a figure she had longed to witness, yet not under these terrifying circumstances. A swirling vortex of darkness cloaked its form, pulsating with a raw, untamed chaos energy that felt profoundly wrong. Considered a master mage in the East, Sylveth now trembled, beads of sweat forming on her brow. The physical manifestation of chaos and destruction stood before her, an existence that surpassed anything she had previously confronted. Its very presence seemed to violate the fundamental principles of the world, sending cold shivers down her spine as she fought to maintain her composure. This was a threat of unparalleled magnitude, and Sylveth knew that she would require every ounce of her skill and intellect to even hope to survive.
Whispers and ancient texts echoed in her mind, tales of a being born from the fragmented remains of Nether. This legend, passed down through countless generations, warned of its inevitable return, a harbinger of universal annihilation. The nature of magic itself, rooted in the interplay of chaos and order, was suddenly called into question. Order, traditionally understood as the force of creation, and chaos, as its destructive counterpart, seemed like simplistic interpretations in the face of this entity. The long-held understanding of their roles, she suspected, was a grave misinterpretation of their true, far more complex nature.
Even though she knew, intellectually, that escape was unlikely, her body refused to cooperate. Panic seized her, a primal scream trapped in her throat. Death, now a tangible presence, hovered just beyond her reach. The chaotic energy Dane exuded pulsed with an intensity that eclipsed anything she had previously experienced.
The crushing realization that her magical foundation was built on flawed assumptions left her exposed and utterly helpless. But Dane, or rather, the figure before her, seemed oblivious to the terror he inspired. He perceived himself as ordinary, a carefully constructed disguise meticulously crafted to conceal his true identity. Miko and Ward, having been granted free rein in interpreting Dane's directive, had unleashed their creative power.
Dane saw only a skillfully designed persona meant to instill terror in his enemies. He understood that Miko and Ward had taken his request seriously. Yet, the alter ego they birthed surpassed mere intimidation; it was an overwhelming display of power that resonated deep within the second strongest mage. She fought to maintain her composure, her body trembling violently, teetering on the edge of collapse under the sheer weight of the chaotic energy radiating from Dane's creation.
Unbeknownst to him, Miko and Ward were subtly manipulating his perception, carefully filtering the reality around him. He was being shown only what he needed to see, a carefully curated version that concealed the true extent of the power he now wielded, the unimaginable threat his alter ego represented.
"Please stand down; let me protect those who are related to me."
Sylveth Melriel's voice quivered as she knelt down and asked the being in front of her for forgiveness and pleaded for mercy. She knew that any misstep could result in catastrophic consequences, and she hoped that her humble plea would be enough to sway the being's intentions. With a heavy heart, Sylveth awaited the being's response, praying that her words had not fallen on deaf ears.
The being towered over her, its presence radiating an aura of power that made Sylveth tremble. As she awaited its response, she knew that the fate of her own life hung in the balance, dependent on the being's mercy. As Dane felt confused seeing the mage's reaction, he was simply asking that she not intervene with the quest contract that she herself drafted and had signed by the participating players.
Dane knows that most of the NPCs his team created for the Arcane Crusade were created to adapt and learn from the players' reactions, a meticulous programming that made the virtual game more interesting to play in the past. Dane also knows that having their program character NPC become real, certain changes might have been manipulated by the old gods to further enhance the resident of the tower and make them more real, and the unpredictability of each character was still the main feature of this immersive experience.
So Dane just reacted casually, just followed the normal gaming flow, and he hoped this was the appropriate response he was hoping to gain. As he walked away and vanished, Sylveth Melriel' was still in a state of shock and took a deep breath and cast her spell to reactivate her butler. There was no human player; it was entirely different.
At the same time, the Dragonoid summoned a two-headed basilisk that was twenty meters long. It came out from the very ground the Dragonoid was standing on. The massive serpent was in a coiled position, and it protected its master. While it heals itself from the players' intense and combined attack.
The sudden appearance and summoning shocked the remaining players, but Mira Suvari shouted that the Dragonoid used half of its mana in summoning such a creature. This was actually the issue. All the players were in a state of bewilderment as the Dragonoid was showing skill and intelligence similar to a mage.
Only highborn dragons with high intelligence have the capacity to display such advanced skills, making the situation even more dire for the players. Mira Suvari, alongside the last healer, Sebastian, has fully recovered from the dragonoid attack. While the healer was exhausted, her mana was depleted, and all of the potions and magic scrolls were gone. The huge serpent was another treat, as the dragonoid was nearing its end when this situation unfolded. Mira Suvari sweats in fear as she whispers beside Sebastian, while he is in a crouching position, that death is upon them.
Sebastian experienced this as well; the coiled serpent's two heads were staring down, and Charlotte and the other serving players noticed that something darker was standing in front of the serpent. The tiny, long snake could only obey orders; it detested the idea of dying in the face of a being far bigger than the one who had called it. The serpent felt death but was obligated to defend its summoner.
The humanoid-looking being was dressed with a long, dark, smoke-like hooded coat with black moving metallic armor that seemed to shift and change in the dim light. Its eyes glowed a menacing red, sending shivers down the spines of all who beheld it. The air around it seemed to grow colder, as if even nature itself recoiled from its presence, multiple metallic liquid tendrils extended from its body and had faces of venomous snakes. As the poison dripping from each of its fangs was dripping poison that even Oliver could not describe, it was so potent and strong it was like corrosive acid.
The mask was similar to a plague doctor, but the design was more intimidating, as serpent scales and metallic feathers were seen integrated into its clothing and appearance. The creature's eyes glowed a menacing red, adding to its aura of danger and malice.
The huge serpent was old and knew how to communicate, as it knew even in this realm a hierarchy was still maintained among the high beings. Its hissing voice echoed through the devastated center city as it uttered its name.
"I am Nagros, oh great dark one. I am bound to this Dragonoid by force. I do not wish to be the one that will end all of my kind. This act is unforgivable. Will you end me with your power and set me free from this unwanted share?" The plague doctor, who is Dane in disguise, was intrigued by the serpent's plea.
Miko told Dane what he needed to respond, as she told him the right sentence he had to say so his alter ego persona could take control of the situation and respond appropriately.
"I am Netherborn, born from the womb of darkness and nurtured by death."
The dark figure loomed in front of the two-headed serpent Nagros. Netherborn was considering its request with no malice , but never once did it look up. As the serpent waited, it understood this higher being would never answer its question as it was looking down at it, so the two-headed serpent lowered its head out of respect and accepted its place as a lesser being in the presence of Netherborn. This act of submission allowed Netherborn's alter ego persona to take control and respond with the appropriate words, bringing the situation to a peaceful resolution. touching the ground.
"Your request is made from a place of desperation and fear. I cannot grant it, but I can offer a chance to serve me if you are willing to ," Netherborn's voice echoed through the chamber, sending shivers down Nagros' spine. The serpent raised its head in acknowledgement, ready to obey, and accepted Netherborn generosity.
He raised his hand, and a smoke-like energy covered the huge snake and was absorbed until it was gone, exposing the healing dragonoid at the center.
Everybody saw what just happened and could not believe what just happened. All the surviving players among the joint guild heard Sebastian's voice as she ordered all of them to move and stay away from the one wearing the plague doctor.
"Everybody stay away from the one called Netherborn!"
They all heard Sebastian's command but found it difficult to comprehend. As soon as the dragonoid was fully healed, it saw the other being in front of it and was instantly threatened by Netherborn energy and presence. Dane clenched his fist and accepted the dragonoid's resolve to settle the fight with their bare fists.
"Ah! Are you here to claim my life?"
"Answer me!"
The Dragonoid was taken aback by Netherborn's non-responsive demeanor, but it stood its ground.
"I never talk to my prey ,"
Mira Suvari saw the drastic change on Netherborn! Energy, her fear and panic returned, and this made her heart race even faster. She knew she had to act quickly if they wanted to survive this encounter. She stood up and shouted and screamed at the top of her lungs.
"Everybody, run away!"