System Announcement: “The [World Dominators] guild has changed factions to join the Dark Dragon Empire. Guild members have received the Dark Dragon King’s Blood Blessing!”
System Announcement: “The [Rattlesnake] guild has changed factions to join…”
System Announcement: “The [SSR] guild has officially disbanded, a conclusion that leaves us all sighing…”
“…”
Almost simultaneously, over ten system announcements flooded the chat, leaving players in the US server stunned.
Since [Dragon’s Kiss Guild] led by Usher first broke the trend by switching factions, players gained the ability to change factions and select their “starting faction” as an option.
Though many players had switched to the Dark Dragon Empire previously, most were either small guilds or solo experts.
But now, seeing so many medium and large guilds switching factions all at once was truly shocking.
“This is totally understandable. With the Celestial Fortress battle now over, these guilds were all involved in the Godslayer’s hunt, and they’re probably worried about retaliation!”
“Switching factions wasn’t surprising, but what’s with SSR? They just completely disbanded? Where’s Wedge?”
“I heard, I mean, I heard, that Wedge first quit the guild and then disbanded it. It’s unclear what’s really going on.”
“…”
“That was quicker than I expected. They were fighting and suddenly everyone’s gone?”
Upon seeing the announcement, Orson was equally confused. He knew some factions might collapse under pressure and change sides, but he never expected it to happen this fast with so many guilds.
With everyone running, who was he supposed to collect taxes from?
Orson furrowed his brow, muttering to himself, “Tax evasion… don’t they know that’s illegal?”
The already struggling guilds were now hit even harder.
Orson sighed, realizing he had been planning to give some of these rival guilds discounts…
Divine Slash: “You guys see how impressive this Triple Crown winner is? He scared the crap out of these big-shot guilds. Is there anything money can’t solve in this world?”
Luna Frost: “I heard that guy’s ruthless. His ability to change stats is insane. Killing NPCs is like child’s play, and killing players is just a breeze. Right, Raven?”
Raven, who was crouched down searching for clues in the village ruins, glanced up and replied, “What’s the big deal with people fighting over game items? These kinds of people have issues, that’s all I’m saying.”
Raven then turned his attention back to “NPC Orsix,” keeping a wary eye on the strange NPC, afraid that it might suddenly attack.
To his surprise, Orson clasped his hands together with a solemn expression and said, “This great adventurer is the extension of the Empire’s will, a favored of the Elemental Deities. He is worthy of our respect.”
Divine Slash: “Ha! Did you hear that? The NPC just gave you the most accurate review, Raven. Stop being so salty.”
Luna Frost: “If I ever get the chance to join Godslayer, I’ll seriously need a microscope to examine that guy… hehe.”
Divine Slash: “Luna Frost, stop it with the nonsense.”
Luna Frost: “We’re just regular players, earning a few thousand a month. Those top-tier players won’t even look at us.”
Everyone laughed at that. Raven, however, scowled and sneered, “It’s just a matter of spending money on the game. What’s so impressive about that?”
Orson: “Ha, he’s jealous. He’s jealous!” Orson, standing behind Raven, turned into a monstrous grin.
Grinder was famously cheap and despised the wealthy, always believing that the top players in Infinite Dimensions didn’t make their progress through skill, but through their excessive spending power.
That was why Grinder trusted only his longbow, firmly believing that with sheer effort, he could win everything.
The group entered the village ruins, beneath towering trees and amidst collapsed stone houses.
Divine Slash whistled as he entered a crumbled stone building, rummaging through jars and bottles, but unfortunately found nothing of value, not even a silver coin.
“This is weird. Normally, the center of a treasure map should either be a treasure point or a quest trigger point. Why is there nothing here?”
A thief climbed a tree to survey the terrain, pulling up the team’s shared map.
After cross-checking the coordinates with the landscape, he repeatedly confirmed that this was indeed the trigger point.
As the group stood confused, Raven suddenly raised his longbow, aiming at Orson. Divine Slash was immediately alarmed, “What the hell, why are you losing it again?”
A swift arrow was shot. Orson’s gaze sharpened but he didn’t dodge, seeing something unusual about the angle of the shot.
“Not dodging? Could it be… he’s really a quest NPC?”
Raven was shocked. Normally, players would instinctively dodge any attack, even if they didn’t fully understand it. But NPCs from the same faction were often rigid, only responding after being locked onto and attacked.
Thud! The arrow embedded itself into the moss-covered stone path.
Raven relaxed, a smile creeping onto his face. “Just as I thought. There’s an empty space under the stone slabs!”
Orson found this interesting. Raven was testing him out, looking for his weaknesses.
Divine Slash exclaimed, “Could the treasure be beneath us?”
Luna Frost: “What are you standing around for? Let’s pry up the stone slabs and see what’s underneath!”
The team immediately pulled out their weapons and began digging. After prying open the slabs, they discovered an intricate pattern beneath.
“Keep digging!”
“This one’s got something too! Looks like it stretches all the way toward the coast!”
Everyone worked quickly, knowing this was a golden-tier treasure, and if they managed to excavate it, luxury would be just around the corner.
“Shit! They’re getting too close to my treasure!”
Orson’s face stiffened, forcing a smile.
At the same time, the The Divine Legion’s Treasure quest icon glowed more brightly. Orson suppressed the urge to eliminate these “little thieves” and figured that Raven and his team wouldn’t get their hands on it so easily.
“Damn, what kind of treasure is this? The area’s huge!”
Raven and the others realized they were in for a challenge. The golden magical symbols under the stone slabs were vast, extending in five directions toward the coastline. Excavating all of it was going to be a massive effort.
“Let’s head straight to the coast and see if we can trigger the quest.” Raven suggested.
“No way. Nothing’s even there. The coast’s empty,” the thief returned with a disappointed shake of his head.
Divine Slash said, “Why bother with all this? Let me call in Master Lin, he’ll just flip the village over!”
Raven gave him a skeptical look. But even he couldn’t help but turn to Orson for confirmation.
“As you wish, adventurers. Please step back a little,” Orson said with a smile, pulling out the Heavenly Fire Staff.
He began chanting an incomprehensible incantation: “O Eternal Flame God, bring down the light of hope and guide the lost followers. We will offer the endless treasure beneath our feet to you…”
The Dragon Curse spell was cast!
“My God… could this guy be the youngest Supreme Mage of the Light Dragon Empire?”
Divine Slash gaped as a terrifying, boundless dark-red hexagram appeared, its diameter reaching several hundred meters.
Raven shuddered, “No way… this kind of elemental fluctuation, even players with unlimited funds couldn’t match this!”
Divine Slash yelled, “In our team, we can avoid the fire-element face wash, but if those tree remains hit us, we’re toast!”
Luna Frost: “Brothers, Big Daddy’s making his move! We gotta bounce!”
Luna Frost summoned a horned beast, a level 30 elite boss. Though its battle power was weak, its large size allowed multiple players to ride on it.
The group immediately ran for cover. Orson raised his hand, and a wild gale whipped up. “Awaken, Judgement of Fiery Fury!”
Whoosh!
The black orb emitted an eerie pulling force, uprooting countless trees. All the ruins of the village began to gravitate toward the orb.
Boom!
The Heaven Demon explosion erupted, with five times the magical power and devastating destructive effects. Everything within a kilometer radius was leveled.
In the perfect vacuum circle Orson had created, there was not a single trace of the village left.
Divine Slash: “Orsix… such an innocent-sounding name, but man, you really know how to make people underestimate you!”
The scene was apocalyptic, leaving Divine Slash and the others pale, swallowing nervously.
Especially Raven, who was sweating bullets, realizing if they had attacked the NPC, they’d probably have been obliterated without a trace.
Orson walked up to a higher vantage point and gazed at the village’s position.
Beneath the stone slabs was a glowing golden mural, depicting Gaedashiram with a king’s crown
, holding the God-Emperor’s sword. The scene was surrounded by the blood and heads of countless mighty beings, seemingly celebrating the past greatness of the God-Emperor.
The light from the sword’s tip shone as a beam of blue mist slowly dissipated, revealing a shadowy figure standing unexpectedly there.
Orson’s eyes gleamed as he checked the figure’s stats.
[Half-Orc Queen: Tomb Guardian, Ninela]
Level: 40
Saint-level Entity
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