Chapter 38
Charlotte, a few members of the High Strategy guild, and their leader, Mary Kaye, hurried to the assigned spot. The battle wagon's horse ran continuously, and Bonnie made sure the weight of the wagon was light enough to prevent the horse from getting stained as it pulled all the extra supplies. Cody used his ability to prevent any bandits or monsters from attacking them by securing himself on top of the enclosed wagon, and Charllote Lazarus made sure to use her secondary ability to scan the area as they ran at full speed.
The best dwarf craftsman in the empire of Solnara Cererindur built the battle wagon, and Mary Kaye would use his talent to clear any obstacles on the dirt road while the members of the Mary Kaye Guild made sure to eternally throw buff spells toward the horses they were utilizing. Its dimensions are ten feet long by six feet wide, but due to space distortion, its inside was miraculously enlarged to accommodate fifty people as well as supplies and weaponry for a month.
This is how the war wagon is most frequently utilized, but Bonnie's ability to control gravity made her the most valuable tool in these types of transports, as the house could easily pull the wagon. stated that the spellcasters in the wagon ensured that the horse would not perish from stress or starvation until they were at their primary destination; yet, despite all, they will arrive at the spot after two days.
The largest and most powerful empire that once ruled the other kingdoms with military superiority was cursed by an angel and transformed the entire region into this swamp because it was located west across the Elven territory on a desolated territory of Karion, which is now a swampland that was once home to 4 million people. The White Devil Guild was keen to claim the glory of slaying the Drake since it was a component of a puzzle to acquire legitimacy from the Charlotte king to provide access to rid the empire of graves, as Charlotte Lazarus is well aware.
Many people completed this objective when the game was still in development, but they were content to earn money inside the tower and live a lavish lifestyle outside of it, unlike now when a player could die. Killing the evolved drake before it reached the main capital was the only way to gain support from the empire of Solnara Cererindur, which would send a hundred thousand warriors to assist the player who would deliver the final, fatal strike to the evolved drake. This is why the few guilds challenged the empire of graves, but their efforts ended in failure.
Many participants desired to obtain that title, but the scenario would only activate if specific requirements were fulfilled. The allotted time eventually arrived, but regrettably, the third guild that was meant to take part abruptly withdrew, leaving only two guilds to complete the task. The East Guild accepted all minor quests that the Cathedral and the local guild sought to earn enough battle experience and assistance to pass the basic requirements the empire needed to hunt the drake. All of the East Lazarus members conducted training drills because they were supposed to be the Lazarus clan representative. The idea of time inside the tower is very different from the outside world.
While inside the tower, time was longer and more fluid, allowing for extended periods of training and preparation before facing the drake. The East Guild members took advantage of this unique aspect to hone their skills and strategize effectively for the upcoming battle. Spending a day inside the tower is just an hour outside. So many players prefer staying inside; the only difference is that most players who crave physical pleasure could never obtain it inside the tower, as most residents of the tower are indifferent toward players.
Many residents of the tower see the players to be hired warriors, and these tower residents would never accept them as anything more than tools for their own survival. As they were tasked to do quests to earn money and power, this dynamic creates a tense atmosphere within the tower, with the tower residents constantly on their guard and wary of the players true intentions. As the players could hear the tower's voice echoing in their minds, urging them to complete more quests, they began to question their own identity and purpose within the tower. The players found themselves torn between fulfilling their duties and seeking out genuine connections with the tower residents, leading to internal conflict and moral dilemmas.
But the East Guild members, however, saw this as an opportunity to focus solely on their training without distractions, immersing themselves in the tower; most Lazarus members were influenced by their elders, who told them playing Arcane Crusade was their way of honoring the person that created this game. Nobody from the younger Lazarus batch knew that Damon Lazarus created it.
While running at full speed Charlotte group encountered a few bandits that seemly knew what road path the will be using but Cody was always on his toes as he uses his ability to send powerful shockwaves to push anything that dares try to stop them, Bonnie was getting tire and her mana was running low, but Charlotte and Mary Kaye knew this will happen, so guild members with healing abilities would replenish Bonnies health and mana , these Mages take turns in ensuring Bonnie wont get affected by the lac of mana, and they would systematically monitor their health , as the battle wagon continued to move pushing anything out of the way, as Charlotte mad sure to eliminate any possible treat in a swift manner as they were focus on reaching the rest of the east Lazarus guild quest representatives near the small city of Lúthien
"With this speed we will reach the mountain ridge."
"The abandoned opening toward the other side won't be an issue as the tribes and clans living in that area are known to leave travelers alone passing through."
"Many of them are also hoping that we eliminate the evolved Drake as soon as possible, as it will eventually reach this mountain ridge."
"How is Bonnie doing?"
"Leader, she is a bit tired, and drinking too much potion can affect her body, but it's not that serious,"
"Side effects will be minimal, and she should recover quickly with some rest." "We just need to keep an eye on her and make sure she doesn't overexert herself."
"We are replenishing her mana gradually and maintaining a close watch on her condition."
"Just regulate and properly monitor everybody's mana use. Cody, do the same thing the moment we reach the location. Jacob and the rest will surely be engaged with the Evolve Drake forces."
"As soon as we reach the location after two days, the hunt has already begun, so we need to be prepared for anything that comes our way. Let's make sure everyone is equipped and ready for battle."
"Mary Kaye, remember to remind your team that we are not stopping."
"Yes, all my guild members are aware of this. I am glad you guys spent a lot of gold coins on this battle wagon, even with our combined abilities without the dwarfs forging skill."
"As I know, that's why we all need to endure this travel,"
"Our guild members would have vomited inside now as the terrain is still that rough."
"As leader of the East Lazarus Guild, I will reward Bonnie and Cody; without them, this 1-ton battle wagon won't move an inch."
"I am glad the elders supported us, especially those who gained non-combatant abilities."
"All 50 members of the High Strategy guild are in your care, Charlotte."
"Please endure a little bit more?"
"Charlotte, we are Lazarus, and we never back down from a fight!"
"Any information about our so-called benefactor?"
" benefactor?"
"Hey Mary Kaye, you did tell Charlotte what happened to us, right, when we were transporting the titanium spear toward the tower gate?"
"Oh, that benefactor, many players with upgraded communication phones were able to record the attack. Remember, it was a trending topic on the forums for weeks."
"I thought you told her."
"Guys I am sorry. I too was out of the game. Remember, a traitor in my guild used toxic chemicals that are similar to the cursed spores at the cursed forest."
"I was only able to gain control of my action and notion after two days, remember?"
"Yeah, I remember hearing that when we got discharged from the association clinic, Doctor Rebeca Windshere sent a message that a few hours later when Bonnie and I return to secure the weapons and supplies."
"It was a confusing situation, but we expected that much; many guilds hated what the Lazarus clan achieved inside the tower."
"We are still lacking in so many ways."
"Remember what Uncle Emmitt told us when we were training our abilities,"
"That Uncle Damon Lazarus was the only Lazarus relative that never lost a fight; among all the 12 elders, he was the youngest but was a true beast in hunting."
"We all heard his story; he was a little different from the other elders, as he thinks and functions differently, especially the tale where he hunted a mountain lion for days."
"Yeah, that same lion is now at the main reception hall of the ancestral farmhouse,"
"He was seen dragging that decapitated lion head and offered it to Uncle Emmitt as a revenge payment after it killed their cow."
"We all saw the picture of a 12-year-old boy all covered in wounds and blood; he insisted that the picture should be taken as it is to show the reality of the situation and the danger he faced. It was a testament to his bravery and unwavering persistence in facing such a formidable opponent at such a young age.
"Cody, have you forgotten that same person has a son?"
"What do you think he is doing now?"
"His skills are beyond just advanced, but he never flinches facing off against the chimera in our family hunting grounds, remember?"
"He never hesitated in killing a monster that has shaken a player's resolve many times."
"We never had the opportunity nor the privilege to meet Uncle Damon, but if his son is like him, rest assured he will eventually shake the tower."
Meanwhile, Dane finally got discharged from the association clinic as he changed into his new clothing. Nurse Alice noted Dane could use dimensional storage and asked he obtain it inside the tower. Dane knew it was a curious question, and answering truthfully might open negative possibilities, but he decided to just answer with a nod and tell Nurse Alice that sadly he couldn't answer her anymore.
Dane understood that Doctor Rebeca Windshere and nurse Alice were a bit obvious with their inquiries, but he didn't want to risk revealing too much information. Instead, he politely thanked them for their concern and assured them that he would take their advice into consideration.
As he went out of the association clinic, he stared up into the sky and saw the swirling and raging plasma storm surrounding the entire continent where the tower stood. He was reminded that he created this as the entry level for all the players, seeing that mankind was able to establish a small, diverse city inside was an accomplishment on their own.
Dane felt more relaxed, and his thoughts were firm and focused as he made his way back to his office to begin implementing the suggestions from the association. The sight of the storm served as a reminder of the challenges ahead but also fueled his determination to continue pushing boundaries and creating new opportunities for progress.
As I walk toward the tower, I give once again. A few eyes were looking at him; these were players that used their ability to extort money and materials from low-rank players. Some players could see the status and level, and seeing that Dane's level was zero was a clear indication that he was an easy target.
But Dane was rather excited rather than nervous, as he saw this as an opportunity to test if the formless armor can be utilized in a manner that will benefit him. Dane wanted to conceal his real identity, and just like the fake Orion bounty hunter persona, he decided he might as well proceed with this, as he already gained the mana vein, having a second core that was like a living engine. His mana could rival the strongest warmage inside the tower, but his magic skills are still just low-tier lightning, fire, and healing.
Accidentally obtaining a magic scroll in a very dangerous situation was a blessing, so it only means he wasn't the first to enter the cursed cave; many tried to obtain the hidden treasure he and his team designed.
Gaining those magical scrolls was somewhat coincidental and unexpected. But even with this low-tier magical skill, it was still overpowered because he has a large amount of mana. He wanted to ask Miko and Ward, but doing this will compromise his competitive advantage in the tower. So, he decided to keep his newfound abilities a secret for now and continue honing his skills in private. But still, he misses hearing Miko and Ward as they represent his late parents.
One of the six skills he gained that merged into and became the form of the shadow was the creation of personalized small golems. The real owner used these skills to commit crimes in the past. He now wanted to know if that skill was still available, as he opened his hands while casually walking and minding his own; he wanted to create something.
Miko and Ward were subconsciously watching from within and remained silent as they were wondering what Dane planned to do with this low still, as he only had one remaining magic skill slot. Reviving these skills will automatically register you at one of the open slots.
When Miko finally accessed his skill slots, a wave of disbelief washed over him. The familiar, simple five slots that every player possessed had undergone a radical transformation. Gone were the basic placeholders; in their place was an intricate pattern, dominated by what appeared to be a central slot. Surrounding this central point were still the five primary slots, but beneath them sprouted a network of branch-like structures. These branches, delicate and complex, were themselves adorned with numerous, smaller slots, creating a skill system far beyond anything he had ever imagined. The sheer complexity of the design hinted at a depth of customization and potential he couldn't even begin to fathom.
"Did this happen because I obtained a secondary core and evolved in a core engine?"
"This wasn't part of the hidden scenario in the curse cave."
"This means the old gods are changing the scenario?"
"Or am I the one that is changing the scenario?"
"I still wish to try my theory: a simple, personalized golden would confirm my suspicions."
"The possibilities for advancement and discovery in this tower might truly be endless."
Even as Dane meticulously tested his novel idea, the ever-present threat of opportunistic players in the outer tower temporary city kept his senses heightened. Knowing he was still being targeted, he channeled his focus into crafting subtle defenses using the raw resources he'd bravely secured from deep within the cursed cave.
With skilled hands, he coaxed the swirling smoke and glowing fragments of burning amber, his movements precise and deliberate, as if shaping clay but with elements far more ephemeral. These shimmering remnants, the captured essence of the core he'd wrestled from the labyrinth cave, pulsed with a latent power he now sought to unleash. First, focus tightened, and a sinuous, animalistic form took shape of a smoky serpent flickering with hot amber light, its presence fleeting as it vanished into the deep folds of his worn grey coat, leaving only a faint scent of ozone and hot stone. Then, with another delicate gesture, a horned owl materialized, its majestic form coalescing from the shimmering, dissipating tendrils of smoke and the last vibrant embers of amber, its luminous eyes seeming to blaze with borrowed fire.
before settling with quiet grace onto his left shoulder. The venomous-looking snake, now a hidden guardian, subtly peeked out from Dane's right coat collar opening, a silent and watchful presence against any who might dare approach with malicious intent.
Those that were eyeing him saw he created a golem; it was a common ability, as many golem users were much bigger and stronger, but Dane wasn't to incorporate these two golems into his main arsenal; he imbedded Miko and wards sentience into these two to gain physical form.
Miko and Ward were delighted, but they still lacked an actual manifestation of their real voice; as the three still communicated mentally. One of the players slowly approached Dane before he could reach the tower gate stairs, but something hit the man's forehead and collapsed. It was a needle, as it instantly paralyzed the player's nerves. Those who saw this move were annoyed by the fact that the owl was ordinary-looking and didn't even emit any mana like normal golems.
The other 2 players that saw this suddenly moved, and four low-level players attacked Dane, but they all fell as they all fell unconscious into the ground. They were bitten multiple times. The cascading shadows from the narrow street coming from the association clinic were the fatal instrument that made the 3 players lose their chance; the two were not solid, but they were both similarly made from the formless armor.
No other player or civilians saw what Dane did, as he was just walking towards the staircase going up the tower gate; this was his second time; Dane thinks this won't be the last. The materialization of golems was in line with the tower's law, as many golem mages also use the raw materials fund inside the tower, so Dane was sure that no anomaly notification would occur upon entering for the second time. As many players do come in and come out randomly, the small buildings surrounding the tower were supposed to be owned by guilds and organizations, either private or public. So many non-ability users could be seen in the area. Many of these people can also enter the tower, but at their own risk, as they are powerless without a player protecting them.
Dane had not previously noticed that this was a daily occurrence in the area. However, because these disabled people could still use their normal skills to earn gold coins, the wealthy and noble residents of the tower would hire people and players to work for them as servants. According to information, if this act benefits the tower residents, it will allow social integration and temporary citizenship from the lord of the domain based on the merit and accomplishments of the hired employees.
Dane waited a few days for his broken mind to completely recover and heal while he was in the clinic recovering on the advice of Doctor Rebeca Windshere. The first-floor nobles and aristocrats made an announcement and made a request, which ultimately led to the approval of the negotiation to hire both players and non-players. A lot of aristocrats want to benefit from races beyond the fence. This one announcement altered the tower's flow; apparently, the ancient gods were fed up with waiting and desired more mayhem to break out inside. As they competed for jobs in the new employment prospects.