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However, Dragon’s Fury’s charge had already thrown the city guards into disarray, drawing significant firepower and allowing the ogres, hobgoblins, and other Dragonkin to advance deeper into the city, preparing for street combat.

"Now it’s my turn to shine!"

"Watch me replicate that move!"

"For every monk’s dream!"

Many monk players attempted to mimic Dragon’s Fury’s tactics, leaping across rooftops to charge forward, but most ended up being skewered like pincushions.

After all, not everyone could match Dragon’s Fury’s skills. The monks’ frail, unarmored bodies stood no chance against a few well-placed strikes.

Meanwhile, some players took a different approach, opting for unconventional strategies.

Take Charlotte, for example.

His 【Magic Coin】 party had unexpectedly welcomed a druid player—"Brother Holy Light."

Together, the two snuck up to the towering city walls, overlooking the massed ranks of city guards below.

They exchanged sinister smiles.

"Brother Holy Light, shift into bear form."

"Got it."

Stripped to the waist and glowing with divine light from the waist down, the druid crouched, his body swelling with nature’s magic, transforming into a massive bear.

Charlotte smirked, brandishing his wooden-engraved staff.

【Enlarge】

The spell caused the druid’s body to grow significantly.

As the shimmering magic took hold, Brother Holy Light’s bear form doubled in height and grew eight times heavier, towering above as a monstrous creature.

Charlotte raised his staff, pointing at the tightly packed ranks of city guards below, numbering in the hundreds.

"Brother Holy Light, smash! Smash them hard!"

"Roar!"

Brother Holy Light let out a deafening roar.

Now an eight-meter-tall, ten-ton beast, he radiated menace.

Below, at the western guard post, Baron Alta rallied his troops for a final charge.

Clad in ornate heavy armor, his expression was one of unyielding resolve, his loyal soldiers gathered tightly around him.

Alta had been trained as a warrior by the Lackman family since childhood. Renowned for his swordsmanship, he had traveled far and wide in his youth.

Now, with the nation’s survival at stake, he had rushed from the south to aid Northwind Fortress, determined to repay his debt to the Lackman family.

"Soldiers, it’s time to give your lives!"

"For the honor of the family!"

"Defend Northwind Fortress to the death! Stop these invading beasts!"

Suddenly, Baron Alta noticed a shadow falling over him, as though something enormous was blocking out the sun.

Instinctively, he looked up, only to see the massive body of the bear descending, filling his field of vision.

"This is—"

"Boom!"

With a thunderous crash, dust and debris erupted.

When the dust settled, a massive crater marked the ground where Baron Alta and twenty of his elite soldiers had stood, their bodies reduced to indistinct pulp.

Atop the mound of blood and viscera lay a naked male corpse—Brother Holy Light, whose fall damage check had failed.

Though his transformation reverted upon death, the 【Enlarge】 effect persisted, leaving his three-meter-tall body as a grotesque monument.

Surveying the carnage, Charlotte nodded with satisfaction. "Directly smashed the opposing boss to death—Brother Holy Light, your sacrifice was worth it!"

He opened the player forum and messaged Brother Holy Light, who was waiting to respawn.

"How much XP and faction contribution did you get?"

"3,900 XP, 4,000 faction contribution."

"That much?"

Charlotte’s eyes widened in envy, his teeth gritting with jealousy, wishing he could trade places with the corpse below.

As a guild leader, Charlotte felt conflicted—torn between pride in his guildmate’s success and envy over the rewards.

"Let’s keep farming!"

Charlotte growled.

Just as he thought this, his interface flashed with a new task notification.

"Wait, this is—a special mission?"

……

Although players were currently capped at level four, they had already begun to make their mark.

According to system standards, most creatures in Erezaghe had no levels at all. Even among armies, only the most seasoned soldiers counted as level one, while units composed of level one professionals were considered elite.

Yet here were thousands of level one or higher players, many of them spellcasters—a force to be reckoned with, even on the sprawling Anzeta Wasteland or throughout all Erezaghe.

With the public beta 【Northern Storm】, tens of thousands of players would flood into Erezaghe, making their presence felt worldwide.

Returning to the present, with players joining the fray, Northwind Fortress’s fall was inevitable.

Ember Nest’s forces continued their relentless advance, crushing the last vestiges of resistance and pressing toward the assembly hall.

However, the Lackman family played their final cards. The elite "Eagle Shields" and royal spellcasters provided considerable resistance to the Dragonkin’s advance.

Amid the escalating conflict, a small covert team maneuvered through the city.

In a hidden alley of Northwind Fortress, Singo reviewed his task interface.

【Special Mission: Prevent Ascension!】

【Mission Description: The withered trees of the forest weep. Within the eerie halls of Lackman Castle, Duke Brad Lackman orchestrates a dark conspiracy, sacrificing 1,674 vampire progeny souls and bodies to achieve a great ascension.

When black mist obscures the moonlight and blood boils within veins, Duke Brad will become the eternal Vampire King, immune to sunlight and imbued with unimaginable dark powers. Heroes, stop him!】

【Faction Mission: Prevent the Ascension Ceremony】

【Faction: Ember Nest】

【Mission Description: Collaborate with Medrolash and Alger to thwart the ceremony. Slay Brad Lackman, and the Lord of Ember will reward you with power and riches.】

Singo’s voice brimmed with excitement.

"Duke Brad Lackman, the vampire mentioned only in the background story—this boss is going to be a tough one."

Summer Night Autumn Rain nodded. "We’d better prepare thoroughly."

Born Battle Maniac smirked, rubbing his bald head. "Who cares? We’ll just chop our way through."

Mantou, his dragon-faced avatar tense, muttered nervously.

"That task description sounds terrifying. Is this some kind of horror dungeon? I—I’m not good with scary stuff."

Singo shot him a disdainful look.

"Coward. Stay back if you’re scared.

"Even Autumn Rain isn’t fazed. Why are you acting up?"

Mantou blushed, crossing his arms defensively.

"Fine, I’m going! Let’s see who’s really scared in the end!"

Summer Night Autumn Rain sighed, trying to mediate.

"We probably can’t handle such a big boss on our own. The mission says to coordinate with Medrolash and Alger. Let’s follow the guidance and meet up with them first."

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