Chapter 195 Fighting One Against a Hundred
"Lure some more of those scorpions! With a leveling spot this good, I'm aiming for the top of the leaderboard. Let's show these other guilds what the Martial Alliance is made of!" ZephyrStrider's voice boomed in the guild chat.
"Got it, boss!" came the chorus of Assassins.
FlameDancer still held the top spot, but second place had changed hands. Not because her team was slacking, but because they were focused on reputation quests in Silvervale City – rare quests that promised a significant boost to their standing.
In Divine Realms: Legends, becoming an official class at level 20 wasn't just about hitting the level cap. You had to apply at class associations in major cities, and those associations had reputation requirements. That's why Eric had sent Tonny and the others ahead to Silvervale City. He wanted them to wrap up those reputation quests early so they could switch to their official beginner classes the second they hit level 20.
Waiting until the last minute would only mean wasted time and a lag in their progress.
While ZephyrStrider gleefully farmed Tri-Tail Venom Scorpions, Eric, riding his Spectral Knight, arrived at the Martial Alliance's designated healing spot.
Seeking revenge on an elite guild group as a solo player seemed like a fool's errand. But Eric wasn't just any player. He had the power to back it up.
ZephyrStrider was the only one present at level 10; the rest were all level 9. That five-level difference, coupled with the current scarcity of level-ignoring gear, gave Eric the edge he needed to tear through a group of level 9s like paper.
As the Martial Alliance healers tended to their frontline tank, Eric materialized out of thin air. Thunderbolt crackled, engulfing the unsuspecting healers in a blaze of energy. Damage numbers exceeding 500, some even hitting 1,000, filled the air. In the blink of an eye, most of the healers were nothing more than loot drops.
The scattered formation had allowed three healers to narrowly escape the initial blast.
Eric, propelled by Wind-chasing Sword, closed the distance in an instant. A single, decisive Slash cut down a terrified Priest. A few more well-placed strikes, and the remaining two healers joined their comrades.
"Kai Blackthorn!" ZephyrStrider roared, veins throbbing in his forehead.
"ZephyrStrider, weren't you looking for me?" Eric asked, a hint of amusement in his voice. He met ZephyrStrider's gaze, unfazed by the hundred or so players glaring daggers at him. "Here I am. Ready to die?"
"You think you can kill me?" ZephyrStrider scoffed. "Last time, you only won because you were higher level. This time, we're both level 10. Let's see who's afraid of whom! Everyone, get him!"
He didn't believe for a second that Eric could survive an encounter with a hundred elite guild members, let alone kill him.
The Martial Alliance players, their faces twisted in mocking smiles, echoed their leader's sentiment. This lone wolf was clearly delusional.
'One against a hundred? Does he think this is a superhero movie?' they puzzled.
Last time, Eric had only faced a handful of elites alongside regular members. This time, every single player present was a level 9 elite of the Martial Alliance. Eric's fate was sealed.
Dozens of spells arced through the air, aimed at Eric.
Shield Warriors, Guardian Knights, Berserkers, and Swordsmen charged, their weapons thirsting for blood. Assassins melted into the shadows, waiting for the opportune moment to strike.
Facing the onslaught of spells, Eric didn't dare to be careless. He activated Zephyr Stride and level 2 Vital Guardian, his body becoming a blur as he plunged into the heart of the enemy formation.
His incredible speed rendered most of the spells useless. Some were dodged with deft movements granted by Zephyr Stride, while others, like fireballs and ice arrows, inflicted negligible damage. Thanks to Vital Guardian's damage absorption, the actual damage Eric took was less than 6 points...
The spellcasters gaped in disbelief.
"Don't let up! Hit him with everything you've got! He may have high defense, but he's not invincible! Melee, spread out and watch out for area attacks!" ZephyrStrider's voice was laced with urgency. He, too, was surprised by Eric's resilience. But he clung to the fact that Eric was still just a player, not a raid boss. How much health could he possibly have? Even if each attack only chipped away single-digit damage, with dozens of attacks landing every second, how long could Eric possibly last?
Eric, watching his health slowly tick down, knew he couldn't maintain this forever. The sheer number of enemies, even with his superior attributes, would eventually overwhelm him.
'Time for plan B,' he thought, closing in on the enemy ranks. At 30 feet, he pulled out a mid-level Frostbite Grenade and hurled it into the heart of the crowd.
The Martial Alliance players saw the projectile but, mistaking it for a simple item and not a skill, didn't pay it much heed.
They realized their mistake a second later.
The grenade detonated, unleashing a wave of frigid air that instantly encased a 36-foot radius in ice. Anyone caught within the blast radius was frozen solid for 3 seconds and suffered 400 points of damage.
Most of the Martial Alliance's melee fighters were caught in the icy blast.
"MTs, survival skills, now! Spellcasters, focus fire and crowd control! Don't let him get close to the frozen players!" ZephyrStrider bellowed, his voice raw with panic.
Shield Warriors and Guardian Knights hastily activated Shield Wall and Blessing of Protection, knowing full well that these defensive skills were mere paper shields against Eric's onslaught. Their only hope was to divert his attention towards themselves, hoping their increased defenses would buy their allies some time.
The spellcasters, taking cover behind their tanks, unleashed a barrage of control skills like Frost Barrier and Frostburst Orb, trying to keep Eric away from their immobilized comrades.
But Eric was already one step ahead. He vanished, reappearing behind the spellcasters thanks to Silent Stride. Wreathed in Frost Azure Flame, he unleashed Inferno Thunderstorm, incinerating several Elementalists and Sorcerers caught within the area of effect. Critical damage numbers exceeding 2,000 lit up the battlefield as their equipment shattered under the intense heat.
Some of the quicker-witted Elementalists reacted instinctively, casting Frost Nova Cascade and Blink, hoping to freeze Eric in place and escape.
But Eric was faster. He activated Swordsoar Ascension and Duskblade Furydance, rendering himself immune to the freezing effects of Frost Nova Cascade. With a mighty swing of his blazing Abyssal Blade, a wave of deep blue flame, shaped like a sword, cleaved through the air towards an Elementalist 30 feet away. The attack hit true, dealing over 1,000 points of critical damage and instantly vaporizing its target. The two Summoners unfortunate enough to be caught in the attack's wake lost over 400 of their 600 health points.
Eric pressed his advantage, his blade a whirlwind of death. Deep blue flames consumed one spellcaster after another within a 45-foot radius.
"Kill him! Don't falter! We outnumber him! He's down to half health!" ZephyrStrider screamed, his voice cracking under the strain. Despite Eric's dwindling health bar, ZephyrStrider felt a growing sense of dread. His own attacks, ice arrows and death shots, were easily dodged by Eric, who moved with an almost unnatural agility. The sudden transformation, the scorching flames, the sheer destructive power… ZephyrStrider was already contemplating a tactical retreat, but morbid curiosity kept him rooted to the spot.
"Half health, you say?" Eric chuckled, pulling out his trump card.
A mid-level healing potion, capable of restoring 800 health points with a one-minute cooldown. Each player in Silvervale City could only purchase five of these per day, each costing 3 silver coins. It was an expensive lifeline, but one that could mean the difference between life and death in a clutch situation.
Eric downed the potion in one gulp, his health bar instantly shooting back to full. Panic rippled through the ranks of the Martial Alliance.
They had lost dozens of players just to bring him down to half health. Now, he was back at full strength, wreathed in flames, his combat prowess amplified. The mere act of standing near him caused their equipment durability to plummet. Their confidence, once unshakeable, was crumbling like ash.
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
