Chapter 205: Counting the Spoils
Hours later, as tiny specks of light converged, the three players respawned together in Northwind Keep.
This ancient teleportation array was heavily guarded—its perimeter patrolled by Meizhuolashi’s most elite and reliable Tiefling soldiers. These guards were well aware of the peculiar nature of the "Stellarfallen," and thus, they treated resurrections with detached familiarity. As long as the players didn’t break any rules, the soldiers simply turned a blind eye.
Stuffed Bun and Singo, both veterans with deep roots in the system, already knew the guards stationed at this respawn point by name.
"Hey, Kelun—today’s your shift, huh?"
The Tiefling Guard, identified as Kelun, gave a polite nod in reply.
"Nothing out of the ordinary today. Just another routine one-day cycle. No strange Stellarfallen showing up."
Kelun mentally sighed with relief. He preferred normal players. Who knew what horrors might emerge from the Rune Array? Last time, a player had stepped out in broad daylight—completely naked, utterly unselfconscious—emerging from the glowing runes with nothing but raw flesh on display. The sight of such a body, devoid of any Holy Light aura, had been utterly revolting to the Tiefling’s eyes.
Just thinking about it made Kelun’s grip on his Long Spear tremble.
If not for the regulations, he thought, I’d have skewered that indecent fool on the spot.
But then, another ripple of light formed in midair—solidifying into a form so unashamedly, brazenly meat—a naked human body, utterly without shame. It was a raw, primal expression of humanity’s instinctive desire for freedom. The sight twisted the Tiefling Guard’s expression into something grim and furious.
The player’s name tag hovered above their head: 【Ziyou no Yi】—a title known to the internal testing community as Holy Light Guy.
Due to the uniqueness of the Druid Wild Shape ability, Holy Light Guy frequently transformed into a massive bear, charging headfirst into the frontlines of every battlefield. Death was a daily occurrence for him—so much so that he’d grown personally acquainted with the guards stationed here.
They say these Non-Player Characters are highly intelligent, Holy Light Guy mused internally. Maybe it’d be smart to build a good rapport with them.
With that, he waved at the guard with a cheerful, naked grin.
"Hey, it’s you again! Long time no see."
Kelun’s face instantly darkened. His jaw clenched. To him, this was nothing short of an open, unmasked provocation.
Control yourself. Don’t let your hands twitch.
But this Stellarfallen… he really is a damn nuisance.
His fingers tightened around his spear, trembling slightly as he stared at the bewildered player, scratching his head in confusion.
Meanwhile, Stuffed Bun and the others had already rushed back to their temporary base, eager to tally up their spoils.
Due to the Death Penalty, the already low Experience Points of Stuffed Bun had dropped him back to Level 3. Singo and Tian Sheng Zhan Kuang, however, barely held onto Level 4.
But for seasoned, high-tier players like them, such a setback was trivial. They weren’t average casuals—this was professional-grade combat.
Now, Stuffed Bun’s inventory overflowed with precious White Dragon Scales. His Character Sheet now displayed the new trait: 【Faint Ancestral Dragon Bloodline】—a massive boost to his base stats, and a brand-new passive ability: 【Transform into Dragon】.
And not only that—he’d also unlocked a Hidden Quest reward.
Hidden Quest: [Investigate the Tower of Eternal Night]
Truth of the Tower of Eternal Night (1/1)
The towering structure lay deep within the Karka Mountain Range, a dread legend whispered across the Northern Regions. Many adventurers had sought its treasure, only to become meals for the monsters within—or worse, transformed into twisted Human-Dragon hybrids, forever wandering the tower’s halls, screaming in agony.
Reward:
- 1,000 Experience Points
- Passive Ability: 【Eexperience pointslorer of the Black Tower】
- Skill Proficiencies: Insight +1, Investigation +1, Perception +1
Stuffed Bun grinned from ear to ear, his face glowing with the pride of a man who’d struck gold.
"Whoa, man—we just blew up this run!"
Tian Sheng Zhan Kuang rubbed his bald head, smirking.
"Heh, we didn’t die in vain. Especially you, Stuffed Bun—loaded up like a damn treasure chest!"
Singo suddenly paused. "Hey… haven’t you updated your video in ages?"
"Wait… update?"
Stuffed Bun blinked. "Oh… right. I totally forgot. Last upload was… uh… a month ago?"
He slapped his forehead, a sheepish grin spreading across his face.
He could already picture the Live Chat:
"Lock Stuffed Bun in the Dark Room!"
"Send a knife."
"Where’s the body?"
Cold sweat broke out across his forehead.
What’s wrong with that?
I’m just a creator who wants to play freely!
Singo patted him on the shoulder, voice calm.
"This dungeon run? Perfect material. You can really show off your new abilities."
Stuffed Bun raised an eyebrow. "Now? You’re not gonna hoard the loot for yourself?"
Singo let out a dry chuckle.
"I’ve got my limits. This dungeon’s way beyond what we can handle alone. These NPCs are incredibly intelligent—almost like real people. If we’d been unlucky, that Mage would’ve been ready. With high-level spells at the ready, we’d have been wiped in seconds."
"Fine, then I’ll edit it tonight," Stuffed Bun said, scratching his head with a relaxed shrug.
But then he felt the hand on his shoulder—still there, growing heavier, squeezing harder.
Singo’s voice dropped low, almost whispering:
"Remember those fifteen gold coins?"
"Damn it, man—no need to hit below the belt!"
"I’ll pay you back! I swear!"
After nearly emptying his entire stash—pledging every last Dragon Scale to Singo in a desperate bid for freedom—Stuffed Bun finally escaped the grip. He stayed up all night editing the video.
He posted it at 3 a.m., with a title dripping with drama:
"Mysterious Black Tower Echoes with Screams: Who’s Behind the Nightly Wails? The Beast Mage Turned His Own Daughter into a Monster—Is This Moral Corruption or Pure Madness?
All in Episode 8 of Alerzage Log: Investigate the Tower of Eternal Night"
Stuffed Bun’s previous video had drawn massive traffic. Not only longtime fans, but nearly 100,000 new players—curious and intrigued—had taken notice.
Despite months of silence, the moment the video dropped, fans flooded in. Casual viewers, lured by the shocking title, barged in too.
> "Real missing person returns!"
> "Stuffed Bun finally resurrected?!"
> "One month! Do you know how long I’ve been waiting?!"
> "Big brother, let me clarify: Stuffed Bun didn’t die—he was locked in the Dark Room and thoroughly tortured. I just finished. Now he’s free. For your info."
> "Hahaha, dude, you’re such a pervert."
> "Stuffed Bun is dead. For小事, burn paper. For大事, summon spirit. If you see him again, it’s a resurrection."
And there he was—Stuffed Bun’s smug, cheeky face back on screen.
"Welcome to the highly anticipated Episode 8 of Alerzage Log… I’m Stuffed Bun!"
(End of Chapter)
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