As a result of Aswa's skill, large chunks of stone seed to be chipped away from the bodies of the four guardians, causing them to stagger and montarily lose their flow in the attack.
"Form up!"
Aswa shouted, commanding his subordinates. The others were stunned—they had not expected Aswa to tell them to fight. In truth, they thought he would order them to run, to escape from the four Stone Guardians. From any angle, it seed impossible to win. Even if they could take down one, there were still three more ready to slaughter them without rcy. Plus, facing guardians who could coordinate their attacks so well made the battle even harder.
But orders were orders. Despite feeling uneasy, everyone followed the guild leader's command. They positioned Aswa at the front, with Boron and Lost Martial Artist flanking him on either side. rlin's Top Protege and Rose provided support from the back. Chang Long, however, stood far away, watching the battle without any intention of helping.
.....
anwhile, Kimhant, a determined young man with big dreams, was on his own mission. The Journalist and Writer Association had wronged him deeply. He would never forget their heartlessness. After bringing the guild massive profits, they left him to bear the burden of repaying a debt he had not caused with all his savings. In the end, he resigned from the guild in anger. Who would have thought that the perso, he had once wronged would be the one to offer him help? Though it sotis felt like he was being teased, deep down, he knew this person was the most genuine with him.
During their journeys together, Kimhant had discovered many things and faced life-threatening dangers that were far stranger than what most other players experienced. He learned the true aning of friendship and kindness, and how to find joy in the ga. He realized that if he had continued playing alone as he once had, he might never have found these things. Those experiences helped him grow stronger. And even though he no longer journeyed with that person, he could still move forward with confidence. Everything he had been through was now a source of strength. Kimhant no longer feared trying new things or exploring unfamiliar places he wanted to go. His level and that of his pet, Felon, had advanced significantly from their frenzied level grinding. Since they had parted ways with Chang Long, Kimhant's level was now nearing 60, and his rare demon-type pet, Felon, had recently evolved.
Now, Kimhant and his new companion, Cat-Faced Angel, were strolling through the Erald Forest. The forest had once been cursed, but Chang Long had completed a quest to help the Ugly Duckling Prince, transforming it into a beautiful place, filled with creatures from the Legend of Himmapan Forest. Players flocked to this forest, drawn by the rare chance to collect gold nuggets, gems, or high-quality ores that could be used to craft weapons. Even though the drop rate was only 0.75%.
"What are you going to do about that thing, Kim?"
Cat-Faced Angel asked, glancing at the old scroll in Kimhant's hand as he contemplated what to do with it.
"I think I'll put it up for auction,"
Kimhant replied, his expression resolute.
"Huh. I thought you'd keep it for yourself. That thing's really valuable, isn't it?"
Cat-Faced Angel furrowed her brow in confusion. When Kimhant first got the scroll, he seed thrilled, but now it looked like he did not want it anymore.
"Yeah, it's valuable—so much so that if we keep it too long, it could bring huge trouble. Look at the previous owner. He was hunted down by a massive group of players trying to take it from him,"
Kimhant said softly, still vividly recalling what had happened the previous day. While he and Cat-Faced Angel were hunting beasts in the Erald Forest, a player from the Dark Horse Guild—if Kimhant rembered correctly—had jumped high above them and accidentally dropped sothing unknowingly. The players chasing after him were so focused on him that no one noticed the small scroll that had fallen to the ground.
"But... we could give it to Chang Long or Siegfried. They're stronger than us, and who knows, we might end up reuniting with the group and adventuring together again,"
Cat-Faced Angel suggested. She liked the idea of rejoining the others, but Kimhant shook his head and responded.
"Do you think anyone in our group still wants to beco a king when there's already Chang Long and Sigfried? I'm definitely not up for that. I'm not a fighter like those two. You don't know how terrifying they can be when they get serious. I think it's better to auction it off and use the money to fund my guild project. I've already reached out to three or four trusted friends, and they're interested in joining. Plus, our newspaper can be the first to cover the auction,"
Kimhant explained with a smile. He knew he did not have what it took to be one of the Seven Kings. Giving the scroll to Chang Long or Sigfried would not be of any benefit either. Auctioning it would not only bring him a handso profit but also create new dynamics in the ga.
"Hmm, that's true. All the kings seem incredibly strong. Chang Long, Sigfried, Demos from the Doom Star Guild—I've never doubted his ability, especially with constant rumor about his ruthless reputation for killing enemies. And then there's Crown—I've never heard of him at all,"
Cat-Faced Angel said, listing off the players who had already claid the Pirate King's treasures. There were four now, and it would not be long before the next one appeared, now that the treasure maps had showed up.
"Alright, let's head back to town. The sooner, the better. We definitely don't want anyone trying to kill us for this scroll, right?"
Kimhant grinned as he suggested heading back, with his newly evolved pet Felon perched on his shoulder. The demon-like creature had grown taller, with shorter fur and small arms and legs extending from its body. Its face resembled a plush devil doll. Felon eyed the scroll hungrily, but since evolving, it seed to have better self-control over its gluttonous tendencies. Whoever claid the scroll next would be the next king, but the real unfortunate one was that Dark Horse Guild player, who had unknowingly dropped it before being sward and killed by players from various factions all fighting for the sa scroll.
At Suvarn City Bank, Kimhant sat conversing with the bank manager, receiving VIP treatnt as soon as the manager learned what he was bringing to the auction. After hearing the details and procedures for participating in the auction, Kimhant decided to let the bank handle everything for him. After all, the treasure map he had obtained was not sothing he had discovered himself—it was pure luck that the previous owner had dropped it right in front of him. Once the starting price for the auction was set and the item entered the auction system, the bank manager eagerly escorted Kimhant out, viewing him with newfound respect and reverence.
"The bank manager was hilarious. He bowed so low to you, Kim,"
Cat-Faced Angel said with a chuckle, amused by the manager's overly respectful deanor.
"Yeah, money really changes people,"
Kimhant chuckled too. He could not help but wonder if the reaction would be the sa if the bank staff were AIs instead of real people.
"So, what's the plan now? Are we staying in the city to wait for auction updates, or are we heading out to hunt beasts?"
Cat-Faced Angel asked as they walked through Suvarn City.
"We'll stay in the city for now. My friends, the ones I ntioned who'll be joining us, are coming to et here. I'll need to wait for them," Kimhant replied with a smile. Felon, on his shoulder, looking like a small plush toy, stirred slightly as the scent of food wafted by. Children and female players were particularly fascinated by the creature, so pointing it out without a care for Kimhant's presence. Occasionally, people even approached him, asking where they could find such a toy, to which he would simply smile and reply, It's not a toy.
Having decided to stay in the city, Cat-Faced Angel began preparing for her street circus performance to raise money for her pets' food. Her performance was still a street act because she did not yet have the fa, wealth, or high enough level to be widely recognized by other players. Using the large circus tent she had acquired from the Cave of a Million was still impractical, as it risked being stolen.
Kimhant often played a guest role in Cat-Faced Angel's performances, but while she and her pets were busy rehearsing, he sat nearby, checking the auction announcents from the bank. These announcents allowed players to see the latest items available for bidding, along with details and starting prices, all without having to visit the bank in person. Players could activate a special communication channel with the bank (for a fee and installation by the bank), which connected them directly to the auction system. Through this channel, they could place bids by entering an amount in the detail section of the item they wanted to bid for, which would be updated instantly in the auction system.
Kimhant was eagerly waiting for his auction item to appear on the system, and he did not have to wait long. Soon, his item was listed at the very top. A broad smile spread across his face as he saw the na of his item:
"Treasure Map of the Pirate King (Sealed)"
And as if displaying the item prominently in the auction system was not enough, Kimhant noticed a commotion in the city when he looked up. The bank had put up a massive sign announcing the auction of the Pirate King's treasure map for all to see.
News of the Pirate King's treasure map spread quickly. Many players flocked to see the auction layout at the bank, where a large screen displayed the list of items up for auction, allowing players without the bank's special communication channel to participate and bid as well. Ordinary players were stunned by the starting bid, which was as high as one million coins. However, guild-affiliated players did not hesitate to join the auction. For a special auction of this level, the bank allowed players to bid for three days, and the player with the highest bid at the end would receive the item.
The Dark Horse Guild was most shocked by this, especially one male player who was nearly faint with shock upon seeing the map he had painstakingly sought being put up for auction by an unknown person. He rushed to report this to the leading mbers, who were already frustrated by their inability to contact the guild leader. Moreover, they had to think hard about the Pirate King's treasure map since Aswa had demanded that they had to obtain it. They had no choice but to place bids until Aswa returned and gave them further orders.
.....
The battle between Aswa's group and the Four Stone Guardians was more prolonged than Chang Long had anticipated. Although Aswa's side was now on the brink, ordinary attacks were ineffective against the Guardians' stone skin. Therefore, they relentlessly used their skills. rlin's Top Protege primarily used water magic, hoping to soften the hard stone bodies of the Guardians and increase the attack's effectiveness.
rlin's Top Protege's tactics were clever but insufficient, as the water magic only turned the stone surface into a mud-like consistency that still could not be penetrated as the stone beneath the surface was still solid. The battlefield, however beca flooded with water, making movent difficult for them. Aswa ordered a switch in tactics, but lightning magic was forbidden due to its potential to harm their teammates.
Rose had used a considerable amount of her mana crystals to bestow various blessings on her group and restore their power. Although her healing magic was not as effective as that of healer players, it kept everyone alive, albeit barely.
Aswa continued to use powerful, group-targeting attack skills, draining his strength and visibly slowing his reactions, resulting in nurous injuries.
Boron and Lost Martial Artist, aware of their level limits, climbed onto the Guardians, attacking their weak points like joints or heads. However, their actions only enraged the Guardians. Soon they were thrown to the ground and stabbed by the weapons, ending their lives.
The female priest scread as she witnessed her to comrades' violent deaths, being impaled by spears and turning into white lights, awaiting respawn. Now, only she, rlin's Top Protege, and their guild leader were left, clearly not far from joining their fallen comrades.
After Boron and Lost Martial Artist's demise, Chang Long beca the new target. She used Spirit Realm skill and had Devi-chan and Hisa-chan defend her while she resud deciphering the strange symbols on the stone pedestal. Aswa and his remaining followers were stunned by the arrival of the newcors—one woman and two n. One man dressed like Chang Long, the other was evidently a samurai. The newly arrived woman was so beautiful that she montarily distracted Aswa from the fierce battle with the ruthless Guardians. Her sweet smile caused him to lose focus entirely, until one Guardian's blow hurled him to the ground.
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