Chapter 201 The Power of the Holy Scripture
Hearing Bob's attempt to win him over, his tone almost reverent, Eric couldn't help but sigh.
"What goes around comes around," he murmured, more to himself than Bob. "Fate has a sense of humor."
He could practically taste the desperation in Bob's voice, the eagerness to cling to power.
"You want to recruit me," Eric stated, his voice flat. "Tell me, what's in it for me?"
"Satisfaction, guaranteed," Bob gushed. "Join us, and you'll be an honorary elder of ShadowForge Studios. We have a major corporation backing us, ample funding. Your starting annual salary would be one million credits, plus..." he paused for dramatic effect, "10% of ShadowForge Studios' shares."
Bob hurried on, "I think you know what guild shares represent. If ShadowForge Studios takes off, which it will, that 10% will be worth exponentially more than millions. No other guild can offer you this." He sounded as if he were trying to convince himself.
"10% shares, huh?" Eric mused aloud.
Which guild in their right mind offered shares upfront? They all dangled annual salaries, knowing full well the value of those shares would skyrocket as the guild grew. Given the potential of Divine Realms: Legends, if ShadowForge Studios played their cards right, 10% could translate to billions of credits down the line. No wonder major guilds shied away from promising shares and stuck to hard figures.
"Who authorized this offer?" Eric asked, a flicker of surprise breaking through his indifference. He hadn't expected ShadowForge Studios to go this far.
In his past life, despite leading ShadowForge Studios, he hadn't held a single share. Back then, he hadn't given it much thought when he took the reins, but it ultimately led to his downfall. Shares were true power in a guild. If he had owned even 10% back then, Jack wouldn't have dared to oust him so easily, leaving him with nothing.
"Our guild leader himself," Bob answered, laying it on thick. "With your skills, the guild leader position is practically yours for the taking."
"Is that so?" A ghost of a smile touched Eric's lips, his voice turning as sharp as a well-honed blade. "Go back and tell your guild leader, I'll join ShadowForge Studios under two conditions: 60% of the guild shares and the position of guild leader. Anything less, and I walk."
Without waiting for a response, Eric ended the call.
He was, of course, messing with Bob. Even if ShadowForge Studios offered him 100% ownership, he wouldn't touch the guild he despised with a ten-foot pole.
He simply wanted to give Bob, Lucas, and Jack something to chew on. They would never agree to such an outrageous demand. 60% shares meant absolute control, making him the undisputed king of ShadowForge Studios. Neither Lucas nor Jack would tolerate such a power shift.
"So demanding, no wonder he brought Martial Alliance, a guild stronger than ours, to its knees," Bob thought, a grudging admiration mixing with disdain. "Such a shame, a brute with no patience. With his strength, becoming the true leader of ShadowForge Studios would be child's play."
But Bob needed a powerful figure to latch onto, and Eric fit the bill perfectly. 60% might seem like an insurmountable hurdle, but with some careful maneuvering... "I'll need to rephrase this delicately for Lucas and Jason," he muttered to himself.
Meanwhile, Eric, oblivious to the seed he had sown, had already moved on. Inside the Inferno Shrine, he pulled out a Solar Flame Scriptures and began to read.
Instantly, the scriptures ignited, a brilliant golden flame erupting from its pages. Countless fire elements within the shrine stirred, bowing to the golden blaze like subjects before their emperor.
Even Eric's Frost Azure Flame pulsed with an instinctive subservience.
"What kind of flame is this?" Eric stared at the golden fire, curiosity burning bright.
He couldn't gauge its tier, but for it to command obedience from the second-tier Frost Azure Flame, it had to be at least third-tier, possibly even fourth. If he could somehow subdue and absorb it... the boost to his strength would be significant.
Unfortunately, it wasn't an Exotic Flame, putting it beyond his reach.
After a minute, the golden flame, seemingly satiated after absorbing a sufficient amount of fire elements, flowed into Eric's body. A new buff appeared in his status bar.
Solar Radiance Buff: Fire resistance increased by 100 points, fire damage reduced by 90%, 20% chance to recover equivalent damage when hit by fire attacks, fire damage dealt increased by 100%, duration two hours, effective only within the Inferno Shrine.
The Solar Flame Scriptures were intended to aid players in leveling up and battling monsters in high-heat environments. But within the fire-element-rich Inferno Shrine, its effects were amplified, allowing players to farm elites and bosses with relative ease.
Eric's already impressive 20 points of fire resistance were bolstered by an additional 100. Ordinary fire attacks were reduced to mere scratches, further mitigated by the 90% damage reduction. The boost was nothing short of exhilarating.
Emboldened by the Solar Radiance Buff, Eric confidently ventured deeper into the Inferno Shrine.
The shrine was a labyrinthine expanse, but for the reborn Eric, it was familiar ground. He soon located a level 25 Magma Houndraiser lounging in a pool of white-hot lava.
Magma Houndraiser, normal monster, level 25, HP 5400.
Larger than a lion, the Magma Houndraiser was a creature of fire, its dark yellow hide licked by flames, its round eyes glowing blood-red. It rose from the lava, fixing its gaze on Eric with a guttural growl, its claws easily shattering the scorched rock beneath them.
As Eric drew the Abyssal Blade and Silverlake Gleam, the Magma Houndraiser unleashed a torrent of fire from its maw.
Eric didn't hesitate. Activating the Frost Azure Flame, he charged through the inferno, his body wreathed in deep blue fire.
The attack, capable of wiping out half the HP of a tank of the same level, dealt a measly dozen points of damage to Eric, less than a lovetap from a level 10 monster.
"120 fire resistance is nothing to scoff at," Eric noted, pleased with his newfound durability. He pressed his attack, slashing at the Magma Houndraiser's neck with his Abyssal Blade. The blow landed true, drawing a spray of hot blood and inflicting 345 points of damage, well within Eric's expectations.
And because he was fighting a monster 11 levels above him, his skill proficiency soared, gaining 3 points with each successful strike.
The Magma Houndraiser was no pushover, but Eric's primary concern lay in its area-of-effect skills like Flameburst Inferno and Pyroblast Burst. Without those threats, his exceptional dodging skills and high agility allowed him to dance around the creature's claws with ease.
In less than a minute, Eric took down the level 25 Magma Houndraiser, which dropped a Flamecrystal Ember and a few copper coins.
System: [Defeated Magma Houndraiser 11 levels higher, experience reward increased by 1100%, gained 16500 experience points.]
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