Chapter 200 Inferno Shrine
Crimson Flame Keep, nestled within the heart of the Scorching Gorge, stood in the ominous shadow of a colossal volcano. The air here was a living furnace, the heat a tangible, oppressive force that bore down on anyone foolish enough to venture into its domain. Even the wind, instead of offering respite, arrived in searing gusts, carrying the promise of heatstroke and despair.
Scorching Gorge was a desolate wasteland, a testament to some ancient cataclysm. Towering mountains, their peaks lost in a haze of heat, ringed the region, their slopes scarred with deep fissures that snaked across the parched earth like the veins of some monstrous, slumbering beast.
The virtual reality immersion was absolute, unforgiving. Players didn't just see the heat; they felt it. Dry mouth, sweat-soaked brows – these were the least of their worries. The real challenge was the constant drain on stamina, the blurring of vision, the ever-present threat of heatstroke.
Moreover, the map for levels 20 to 25 wasn't limited to Scorching Gorge. Just in Silvercrest Dominion alone, there were over 20 other maps, allowing millions of players to choose freely where to level up and complete quests. There was no need to suffer in Scorching Gorge when there were many pleasant places like cool lakesides and shady forests to choose from.
Eric, however, was unfazed.
His 20 points of fire resistance, coupled with the passive benefits of his basic physical enhancement, rendered the oppressive heat all but nonexistent. His stamina remained unaffected, his vision crystal clear. In fact, Scorching Gorge, with its abundance of fire-based enemies, was an ideal leveling ground for him, offering an experience point gain 20% higher than other, more temperate zones.
Divine Realms: Legends, for all its fantastical elements, adhered to a certain realism when it came to the elements. Overcoming these environmental challenges was key to progression, and resistance, in its various forms, became increasingly crucial as players climbed the level ladder.
It was this very principle that made the prospect of Frost Azure Flame, with its promise of enhanced fire and ice resistance, so enticing.
Arriving at Crimson Flame Keep, Eric consulted his System map, orienting himself before setting off down Crimson Earth Avenue, the main thoroughfare leading to the Inferno Shrine.
The path was fraught with danger, teeming with level 20+ enemies – Inferno Bullrage, Furyblaze Wolven, and other creatures with equally intimidating names. But Eric stuck to the main road. It was a calculated risk, one mitigated by the presence of high-level NPCs.
These NPCs, guardians of the main thoroughfares, were a minimum of 15 levels higher than the surrounding mobs. They patrolled in groups, their very presence a deterrent to any creature foolish enough to stray too close. Any monster that wandered within 120 feet of the road was swiftly and mercilessly dispatched. It made for a relatively safe, if somewhat nerve-wracking, journey.
After an arduous trek that spanned the better part of an hour, he arrived at the foot of the Inferno Shrine.
The Shrine, nestled near the outermost reaches of Scorching Gorge's active volcano, was a den of elite and Wilderness boss-level monsters. It was a place most players stumbled upon by accident, only to beat a hasty retreat, their tails tucked firmly between their legs. Had it not been for a group of players, fleeing for their lives from a particularly nasty pack of mobs, the Ranger in Eric's past life would never have discovered this hidden gem.
And now, he was the sole keeper of this secret.
The denizens of the Inferno Shrine were all level 25, a daunting challenge for even the most well-equipped level 20 players. Eric, thanks to his level-ignoring gear, could hold his own, though the battles were bound to be protracted, drawn-out affairs.
But the rewards… the rewards were well worth the risk.
The Inferno Shrine's inhabitants were notorious for their high fire damage output. Even a regular level 25 mob could take down a similarly leveled tank in two or three hits. And they rarely traveled alone. Groups of five or six were the norm, making it a suicide mission for all but the most coordinated, over-leveled groups. Add to that the elite and special elite mobs, capable of one-shotting even the sturdiest tanks, and it was little wonder that the Shrine remained largely untouched.
The Solar Flame Scriptures, however, changed everything.
They held the key to unlocking the Solar Flare Stance, a state of being that drew power from the surrounding environment. The denser the fire element concentration, the more potent the effects. And the duration? A glorious two hours.
The Scriptures themselves made no mention of this hidden power. It was a secret, stumbled upon by chance, guarded jealously by those fortunate enough to uncover it.
And the Inferno Shrine, with its off-the-charts fire element concentration, was the ideal proving ground.
Even with the Scriptures, caution was paramount. An eleven-level difference was nothing to scoff at. One mistake, one moment of carelessness, and Eric would be staring at the respawn screen, his hard-earned progress reset. His low level made him easy prey for the Shrine's hyper-aware denizens. Stealth was his only ally.
He crept into the cavern, the air thick with heat and the pungent aroma of sulfur. His senses were on high alert, every rustle, every groan of the earth, sending a jolt of adrenaline through him.
And that's when the System communication chimed, its cheerful jingle jarringly out of place in the oppressive atmosphere.
"Bloody hell," Eric muttered, his heart skipping a beat.
Thankfully, the System notification sound, like team and guild chat, was localized, audible only to the intended recipient. It wouldn't attract unwanted attention.
'Skywing Revenant,' he mused, glancing at the flashing caller ID, 'What's he doing in Divine Realms: Legends?'
Skywing Revenant was none other than Bob, his classmate, the one who'd secured ninth place in their school's martial arts tournament. In his past life, Bob had joined the game long after its launch, by which time Eric had already established himself as the leader of the Ghost Guild. Bob had gone on to join a prestigious guild, eventually leveraging his in-game connections to become a major player in the real world, amassing a fortune that dwarfed Eric's own.
"The butterfly effect, perhaps?" Eric wondered, a wry smile touching his lips.
He'd been careful to keep his in-game identity a secret. Tonny, too, had been sworn to secrecy. No one at Evergreen University knew that he was Kai Blackthorn, just as they were unaware of Tonny's in-game persona. All they knew was that Tonny was doing well, that he, too, was playing the game.
"State your business," Eric said, his voice cold, commanding, a stark contrast to his usual demeanor. It was a voice that spoke of power, of authority, of someone accustomed to being obeyed.
Bob felt a shiver run down his spine. The pressure was immense, like being dunked in an icy lake, then thrust into a furnace. His heart hammered in his chest.
'This must be him,' he thought, awestruck.
'Kai Blackthorn, the one who forced Martial Alliance to back down. His voice alone… it's incredible. Even Lucas never intimidated me like this. No wonder he wants this guy on board.'
He'd been tasked with contacting the mysterious expert, a responsibility originally assigned to David. But David's past encounter with the expert, an encounter that had ended poorly, had made him unsuitable for the task. Bob saw this as an opportunity.
Success meant aligning himself with a powerhouse, a rising star in the world of Divine Realms: Legends. It would solidify his position within ShadowForge Studios, allowing him to surpass David, whose future within the company was now uncertain.
As for who truly held the reins of ShadowForge Studios… Bob had always believed that Lucas was the undisputed king. But now, after experiencing the sheer presence of this mysterious expert, he wasn't so sure. If this Kai Blackthorn joined ShadowForge Studios… well, even Lucas would have to bow down.
"Greetings, expert," Bob said, his voice trembling slightly, his earlier arrogance replaced by a healthy dose of fear. "I am Skywing Revenant, a representative of the ShadowForge Guild. We extend to you a heartfelt invitation to join ShadowForge Studios. Rest assured, you will be treated with the utmost respect, and your compensation will be commensurate with your skills."
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
