Chapter 143 Blessing of Shadows
Just as FlameDancer and AquaBison were marveling at Eric's escape, a deep voice startled them from behind.
"Why haven't you left?"
The individuals promptly rotated, brandishing their arms, and fixated their gaze upon the figure that appeared to have manifested out of nowhere.
"Eric!" FlameDancer breathed a sigh of relief, sheathing her dagger.
Tempest Canyon was crawling with Martial Alliance members. A fight here would bring reinforcements down on them like a tidal wave, making it impossible to eliminate them all.
"We came to help. The Martial Alliance has killed so many of our comrades; we have to avenge them," FlameDancer said, her eyes hardening at the mention of their shared enemy.
"I'm planning to form a raid group soon. Interested in joining?" Eric asked, shifting gears. He thought highly of FlameDancer's skills, and as free agents, their group would be a valuable asset to Aether Wing Studios.
"Well..." FlameDancer hesitated.
AquaBison remained silent.
"Do you already have a raid group?" Eric asked, a touch of disappointment creeping into his voice.
After entering Silvervale City, the focus shifted to large-scale dungeons – the primary source of high-level equipment and materials. Free players needed these dungeons to stay competitive, and guilds needed them to level up and expand. Raiding was practically mandatory to progress in Divine Realms: Legends.
However, forming a capable raid group was no easy feat. Most dungeons required fifty players, some even a hundred. Gathering that many people, building trust, and managing loot distribution was a logistical nightmare. But for elite guilds and large studios, it was far more manageable.
"No, we don't. It's just that our group... we mostly play for fun, don't really focus on that kind of thing. Can you give me some time to think it over?" FlameDancer explained.
The truth was, she wanted to progress in the game, but most of her group were casual players. Joining a raid group meant commitments, restrictions, and a different playstyle altogether. Most wouldn't be interested.
"Of course, there's no rush. Let's exchange friend requests. Once you've decided, you can contact me anytime," Eric said, understanding that this wasn't a decision made lightly. To gain something, one often had to give something up, and he wasn't looking to recruit just anyone.
"Okay, I'll talk to the others and let you know," FlameDancer nodded. It was time to make a choice.
After adding each other, Eric ventured deeper into Tempest Canyon, searching for Tonny and Ezio.
To avoid the Martial Alliance patrols, he was forced to stick to the shadows, using his stealth to navigate the treacherous terrain.
During such a detour, he took the opportunity to examine the loot dropped by the Shadow Panther King.
"Incredible. Boss-level monsters really do drop the good stuff," Eric muttered, impressed by the haul.
Among the nine items were two Mithril Weapons, three pieces of Dark Iron Equipment, two rare crafting materials for Mithril Equipment, a Bronze Level cooking knife, and a Mithril Adornment.
The Mithril Weapons were an 8th-level staff and an 8th-level two-handed axe. The Dark Iron Equipment pieces were also 8th-level, and the Bronze Level cooking knife, while seemingly mundane, could increase cooking speed and success rate – a valuable asset.
Nevertheless, the crown jewel, which was the Mithril Adornment, Blessing of Shadows, was the most esteemed acquisition of the Shadow Panther King.
Blessing of Shadows, necklace, Mithril level, equipment level 8, all attributes +5, luck +3.
Adornments were incredibly rare in Divine Realms: Legends. Many players, even at level twenty or higher, were lucky to possess one or two Bronze Level Adornments, often below level 10.
The one in Eric's hand was Mithril level, making it far more valuable than even an Adamantite Weapon of the same level.
Moreover, luck was the rarest attribute in the game. It increased the drop rate of equipment from monsters. It was estimated that 1 point of luck could nearly double the drop rate, though the effect diminished with each additional point. Having around 3 points could triple the drop rate.
Additionally, luck was highly beneficial for crafting professions, making it a valuable asset throughout the game.
To an average player, the Blessing of Shadows would be worth two or three gold coins. To Eric, it was worth at least ten.
He equipped the necklace, ensuring better drops from high-level monsters in the future.
Once the Martial Alliance patrol passed, Eric continued his search.
"Tonny, where are you now?" he asked, initiating a voice call.
"We're near some kind of swamp. Not sure exactly where, but the monsters here are way too strong. I'll send you the coordinates," Tonny replied, relieved to hear Eric's voice.
"Stay put, don't go any further. I'll be there soon," Eric said, immediately recognizing the location.
He hadn't expected them to stumble upon The Silent Marshlands.
Tempest Canyon had two exits: the one they had entered from and another leading to The Silent Marshlands – a high-level zone teeming with dangerous creatures.
The Silent Marshlands was a death trap for players of their level, with monsters ranging from level 15 to 20.
Half an hour later, Eric found Tonny and Ezio huddled under a large tree, cautiously observing their surroundings. They had encountered a level 15 Marshcroft Crocolisk earlier, barely escaping with their lives thanks to a speed scroll and a Scroll of Veiled Tranquility. They hadn't dared to move since.
"Eric, you're incredible! You actually made it through all those Martial Alliance players?" Tonny exclaimed, relieved to see him. "Let's get out of here, this place is way too dangerous."
Ezio nodded in agreement. They had just hit level 8, and that level 15 Crocolisk had nearly killed them. Staying here was suicide.
"We're staying. We're leveling up here," Eric stated, shaking his head. "I killed a lot of Martial Alliance members on the way here, they're searching everywhere for me. Getting you out unnoticed is going to be next to impossible."
Hearing this, Tonny and Ezio noticed the bright red mark above Eric's head, almost black with intensity – a testament to the number of players he had killed.
It made sense. Tempest Canyon was crawling with Martial Alliance members. There was no way Eric could have gotten here without a fight. With his skills, taking on three or four at a time wouldn't be an issue. He must have cut a bloody path through the zone.
Tonny and Ezio were speechless. Although Eric spoke casually, they understood the risks he had taken to reach them.
"Alright, let's party up. Here, equip these," Eric said, handing them the staff and axe dropped by the Shadow Panther King.
They stared at the weapons in disbelief. The 8th-level Mithril Weapons were the best in the game at the moment. How Eric had gotten his hands on them was a mystery, but they knew better than to ask. Some things were better left unsaid.
After forming a party, Tonny noticed Eric's level, and his jaw dropped. "Eric, you're... level 10?"
They had been grinding non-stop in Tempest Canyon and had just reached level 8. They were among the highest-level players around, yet Eric had outpaced them by 2 levels in just a few days. His leveling speed was nothing short of terrifying.
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