Chapter 94: Main Quest: War!
Yet it wasn’t just Singo who had noticed the anomaly in Dragon Vale.
Every major Guild had begun to take note.
【Royal Power】—now the most renowned of all factions—boasted over eighty members, all strictly vetted. Its ranks were dominated by seasoned, high-level Player veterans, and they had already begun constructing a crude but imposing fortress within Bathor City, which they named the Hall of Dominion. The Guild’s leader, The Overlord, was a towering, battle-hardened Conquest Paladin, a legendary figure among the player community.
At this moment, the core members of 【Royal Power】 gathered within the Hall’s grand chamber.
Seated upon the central throne, The Overlord spoke, his voice deep and commanding:
“So if the intelligence is accurate… we’re facing a war?”
Fengyun, the Guild’s Vice-Chancellor, replied with a nod:
“Correct. Our scouts at Northwind Keep report that the enemy is a coalition of forces from the Northern Regions—three distinguished ducal houses have joined together. They’ve amassed nearly thirty thousand troops, and are currently assembling along Storm Ridge.”
Bibo Jianyu leaned forward, eyes gleaming.
“Can we actually win this? If not, can we just switch sides and join them?”
Fengyun shook his head.
“I don’t recommend defection. Our roots are already planted in Bathor City. We’ve monopolized the city’s liquor production and the construction of the City Wall. If we change allegiances now, we’d lose everything—our infrastructure, our influence, our advantage. We’d be starting from scratch, back on equal footing with everyone else. The cost is too high.”
The Overlord narrowed his eyes.
“What’s our strength assessment?”
Fengyun paused, pondering carefully.
“Hard to say. On paper, the numbers are roughly even. Though we may be outnumbered, the Dragon-blooded monsters in Dragon Vale are far stronger than ordinary human soldiers.”
He paused again, voice dropping.
“But there are too many unknowns—enemy spellcasters, for instance… and our Faction Leader.”
“You mean the Red Dragon?”
“Yes. So far, we’ve only seen his manifestations and statues. The Nest deep within Dragon Vale is inaccessible to ordinary players. We can’t gauge his true power in battle. His role remains a mystery.”
The Overlord slammed his fist on the armrest.
“Then we fight. Win or lose, there’ll be Contribution Value to be earned. If they break through, we’ll simply go rogue—join them. We’re all Humans, after all. Even if the Northern Allied Forces occupy Bathor City, we’ll still be local power brokers. We’ll survive.”
Fengyun nodded in agreement.
“That’s exactly what I was thinking.”
Turning to Dadao, one of their elite Warrior Players, The Overlord asked:
“How much Contribution Value do you have now? When will you be able to claim the Crimson Scale Conqueror?”
Dadao stood tall, voice firm:
“Already 9,300. I’ll hit the threshold tomorrow. Just need to buy some Items for Taming Flying Dragons from a Hardcore Player.”
The Overlord gave a satisfied nod.
“Good. I’m planning to use the Mysterious Invitation Letter tomorrow. Let’s stock up on everything we need—money, points, everything—so we get it all in one go.”
Nearby, the quiet Construction Guy with the ID Bucket Runaway timidly spoke up:
“Since we’re going to war… should we maybe get some Special Weapons?”
“Indeed—”
The Overlord began, but was cut short.
A thunderous roar tore through the sky.
Unlike the raspy, guttural bellow of a Two-Headed Dragon, this sound was deep, resonant, and utterly commanding—so powerful it instinctively made the very soul want to kneel in submission.
Fengyun frowned.
“What in the world…?”
The door burst open. A Guard member rushed in, breathless, shouting:
“Come quickly! The Faction Leader has arrived!”
The Overlord sprang to his feet.
“Let’s go. Now.”
All members of 【Royal Power】 followed him out, racing toward the hillside district of Bathor City.
“ROOOOAAARRR!”
Another long, echoing roar split the air.
The hillside was already packed with players, and Tiefling residents had gathered in droves. Meizhuolashi and her Tiefling Guard stood at the front, forming a disciplined line.
Then—silence.
A massive shadow blotted out the sun.
From the heavens, a colossal form descended, its silhouette swallowing the light.
With a deafening crash, the Red Dragon landed atop the highest rock of the hill, dust and debris erupting in all directions. The ground trembled beneath the impact.
People gasped, staring up in awe. As the dust settled, they finally saw him.
A terrifying Red Dragon, its body massive and powerfully built, armored in gleaming crimson scales. Its sweeping horns curved like a crown upon its head.
Kai Xiusu stood atop the rock, wings stretched wide—spanning dozens of meters. His shadow engulfed the entire city below.
He looked down upon the crowd, golden eyes blazing with authority. A palpable aura of dominance radiated from him, overwhelming all who stood beneath.
Instinctively, every soul present felt it—the primal, unshakable fear of a true Dragon. Heads bowed. Hearts pounded. They now understood, firsthand, what Dragon Sovereignty truly meant.
Only then did Kai Xiusu speak—his voice like thunder rolling across the land:
“My subjects… War is upon us.”
The words echoed through Bathor City, echoing in every ear.
“The Allied Forces of the Northern Regions are gathering. They march toward Storm Ridge, seeking to destroy my city, slaughter my followers, and steal my wealth.”
“But my strength shall prove them wrong. Their dreams will burn to ash beneath my flame.”
“Prepare yourselves, my people. Prove your loyalty with Blood and Fire. The trials of battle are coming. And we will crush their weak armies beneath our might.”
“For Ashen Hollow!
For Bathor City!
For the Great Red Dragon!
For… Revenge!”
Meizhuolashi was the first to raise her sword, her voice strong and clear.
The Tiefling Guard followed, spears raised in unison.
Then more voices joined—then more—until a wave of fervent, roaring chants swept across the hillside. The people of Bathor City screamed their defiance, vowing to annihilate the invaders.
Players added their own fervor to the chant—“For the Dragon Maiden!” “For XP!” “For the Succubus!”
The Tieflings, unsurprisingly, ignored it all, as they had long grown accustomed to such antics.
The Overlord stared up at the Red Dragon’s vast, shadow-casting wings, his voice filled with awe:
“What’s the Challenge Rating on that thing? If we all went at once, we’d last less than a minute.”
Fengyun murmured, his gaze fixed on the dragon’s form.
“I don’t know… but I do know one thing.”
“This war… we’re not going to lose.”
On every player’s Character Sheet, a new message appeared.
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【Main Quest: The Beginning of War】
Under the leadership of the Flameflare Dragon, Kai Xiusu, the Ashen Hollow continues its relentless expansion. The Red Dragon’s insatiable hunger has alarmed the three Northern Regions’ duchies—Lakanman, Bosk, and Nuo Te—who have now united over thirty thousand troops, preparing to march on Storm Ridge and destroy this evil force once and for all.
You may freely choose your War Faction and strive for victory.
Each enemy you slay grants 150 Faction Contribution Points.
The war will begin in approximately 30 days. Prepare well. The battle is coming.
(End of Chapter)
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