Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

Chapter 226: A New Story

“Strengthen the city defenses?”

At the moment, Enbillick was staying in the Temple’s VIP guest room, reading the latest intelligence.

His children were napping on the bed, while his wife, with her back to him, was busy arranging flowers in a vase—snip, snip. The sharp scissors cut through the flower stems, producing a fine and crisp sound.

Outside, a joint squad of Players and knights was tirelessly protecting the “Golden Sword family” day and night.

Star Stealer Sol casually crumpled up the letter, a flame completely consuming it, leaving not even ashes behind.

Just as he predicted, those two had entered the city under the name of “Hero Drake”. Indeed, he hadn’t felt the presence of Nol and Teest, presumably, [God’s Forsaken] was still effective.

The Lost Tower had disappeared without a trace before, and Teest had come into contact with the remnants of Perradat’s avatar. He thought he had reason to believe that those two people had teamed up with that useless Floating Cocoon—even if that guy’s powers were incomplete, the “concealment” ability was still troublesome.

That was why he had specifically set up this scenario, letting them walk into the trap themselves.

Whether in business or in divine battles, Enbillick always liked kind opponents—evildoers could be evil in a thousand bizarre ways, but the moral codes of good people were largely similar.

Just like now, Nol knew Bissus City was a huge trap but still had to fight on his own terms.

“Strengthening city defenses—that’s your first move.” Star Stealer Sol tapped his fingertips on the edge of the table. “Too boring.”

Since the other party chose to appear as “Drake”, they would inevitably be restricted by the identity of “Drake” as the spokesperson, unable to do anything too outrageous.

Try to seal off Bissus City, cutting off the attacks from external monsters, then make the Lost Tower appear outside the city, drawing the Players’ attention.

Those two would take advantage of the Players’ relaxed period to quickly move out and assassinate Enbillick Alva.

…Too naive.

Even the former “Mad Monk” had been collared by Nol, tamed to a laughable extent. Once the plan failed, even if he did nothing, those two would face the furious onslaught of Players.

But then again, how could he possibly do nothing?

“Darling, things outside seem to be getting worse.” Enbillick approached Avra from behind and spoke in a gentle tone. “It’s my fault. I thought it would be safe here… I shouldn’t have brought you and the children here.”

Avra adjusted the bouquet of roses—the rose petals were radiant, sparkling with a silky champagne gold. Her hair, neither long nor short, was tied back, making her appear gentle yet capable.

“Of course, it’s not your fault.” Avra’s tone was playful, slow, and clear. “The children were clamoring for a change of place, and I agreed. Given the choice, I would also choose Bissus.”

“Let’s go to the Great Temple Square for prayers every evening starting today.” Enbillick suggested in a way that sounded less like a question. “This is the land of the Temple of Life, and in these dire times, we should still show a cooperative attitude.”

Avra stopped arranging the flowers. “The square is crowded, and it’s hard to guard. The children won’t be safe.”

“That’s the Great Temple Square, the holiest of holy lands,” Enbillick continued cheerfully, his hands resting on Avra’s shoulders. “Every morning and evening, the clergy lead the people in praising God. I promise, at that moment, the Great Temple Square is the safest place in the world.”

“Alright, I trust you,” After a moment of silence, Avra responded gently.

The children slept quietly. The freshly trimmed bouquet still glistened with dew, as if it would never wilt.

Enbillick nodded contentedly. This was good. Compared to staying in the Temple’s guest room full of innocent people, a spacious place was more conducive to assassination.

He hoped those two would make good use of this opportunity.

The Golden Sword family’s reasons were too devout and righteous, and the Players and knights responsible for their protection had no complaints. The sun slowly set, and it was soon time for the first evening prayer.

The children, having woken up, clung to their mother’s skirt and walked step by step towards the Great Temple Square. They curiously observed this unfamiliar place—not many important figures lived in the Temple’s guest rooms. Most people here wore the long robes of the Temple of Life or the armor of the Evergreen Knights. Players from the Saints Guild naturally dressed to match the Temple’s style, gathering like a flock of white sheep.

By contrast, the Golden Sword family stood out like a sore thumb.

The Great Temple Square faced east and backed west, strictly designed according to the sun’s trajectory.

Morning prayers on the square faced the sunlight directly, dazzling and vibrant like dew on leaf tips. Evening prayers on the square, just as the sun sets, would pass through the statue of the Goddess of Life right in front of the Temple. The Goddess of Life held a basket entwined with vines and flowers. From the square’s perspective, the setting sun would turn into a ripe fruit falling into the basket.

The scene couldn’t be more sacred.

Enbillick glanced over the square, spotting a high-ranking archbishop coordinating the evening prayer, along with the Fifth Brigade. Eugene Malloy, fully armed, was conversing with the elderly archbishop.

Following the archbishop was “Hot Ash” from the Homeward Saints Guild. This knight had devoted himself to training recently, gaining another level of strength. Encased in sealed new armor, his facial expression was hidden.

With Hot Ash leading, a dozen or so top fighters from the Saints Guild also stood on the square. Judging by this setup, they were guarding the two important NPCs: “The Archbishop of the Temple of Life” and “Captain Eugene Malloy of the Fifth Brigade”.

A decent arrangement. Enbillick withdrew his gaze.

With Nol and Teest’s caution, they wouldn’t make their move on the first day. Today, his appearance here was just to signal them… Huh?

Somehow, beneath the giant statue of the Goddess, a figure in a tattered cloak appeared. The man stood under the Goddess’s feet, facing the slowly setting sun, raising his arms high. Before the crowd could react, a beam of golden flame shot straight into the sky.

At this moment, the sky was burning with orange-red twilight, and this beam was particularly eye-catching.

It exploded above the sky, creating ripples. The vast city seemed to be covered by an invisible, transparent dome, making Eugene frown involuntarily—this strong magical aura reminded him of the altars hidden by the Eternal Church.

Concealment and protection imbued with dragon essence.

The man’s intentions were probably good, but such actions must be approved by the Temple. Anyway, he had to be brought down first.

Eugene drew his sword and charged towards the man beneath the statue. The man didn’t dodge or hide. He simply removed his hood.

The moment Eugene saw the man’s attire, he abruptly stopped. It was Hero Drake—his clothes was exactly the same as when he was in Eternal Day City. Although there were slight changes in facial features and eye color, Eugene remembered the man’s power fluctuations. Quiet and resilient, with a subtle hint of death’s chill.

A snow-white cat circled his feet, clawing at his bootlaces. Drake nodded to Eugene, still with a stern face.

Without a doubt, that was the envoy of the Goddess of Life.

“You didn’t contact the Temple.” Eugene maintained a certain distance from Drake, performing a knight’s salute. His words carried no emotion, more stating a fact than an accusation. “With high alert everywhere, and your previous associations with Paradise, it’s better to consult the Temple first.”

“I only act on the will of God.” Drake was terse, and his voice was somewhat hoarse.

His gaze passed over Eugene’s shoulder, looking towards Enbillick Alva on the square.

Enbillick: “…Hah.”

He hadn’t expected the other party to be so rash. Was it to catch him off guard?

Those two didn’t just “strengthen the defenses”. A massive magical barrier covered the entire city, also secretly incorporating Perradat’s “concealment”, weakening the connection between his avatar and true body.

Nol’s approach was stronger than he had anticipated, evidently planning for a quick resolution.

What a pity, that won’t work.

Perradat’s strength was still insufficient. This protective barrier could only weaken the connection between the avatar and the true body, not completely sever it—this approach was akin to numbing his senses, but his body could still move.

Once the battle really starts, just breaking the dome with his true body would suffice.

Perradat might protect the Lost Tower but couldn’t make the vast Bissus sprout legs and run. Such a large target, Star Stealer Sol could find Bissus with his eyes closed.

However, now “Drake” was in excellent condition, and Enbillick had no confidence in achieving a one-strike kill. It was better to wait and see, wearing down the opponent’s strength.

Thus, Enbillick pretended to know nothing, continuing to “seriously” pray. He gathered strength, silently preparing to rewind time.

Make your move.

Beside him, Avra prayed with focus. The children, not fully understanding, followed her, crossing their fingers in a wheat-sheaf gesture.

Make your move.

Drake drew his sword. The cat at his feet stared dead at Enbillick, continuing to circle Drake’s heels like an eel.

Make your move.

Time passed, and the sky gradually darkened. The sunset fell into the Goddess’s basket. The evening prayer was about to end, and the crowd called the name of the Goddess of Life Tilia, but Drake remained motionless.

He was still conversing with Eugene. Enbillick could make out their lip movements. Eugene was discussing the Temple’s difficulties, trying to reach an agreement with the envoy. Drake responded half-heartedly, occasionally scanning the square.

…Was the other side really just scouting? This was too reckless, and not Nol’s style. At this point, Enbillick was starting to become confused.

He tensed up, ready to rewind time at the slightest sign of trouble.

The evening prayer reached its final stage. As important figures from afar, Enbillick’s family, along with other distinguished guests, stepped forward to receive a special blessing from the archbishop.

As the blessing ended, those who had come for the evening prayer were about to leave. Was the opposition planning to wait until most of the populace had left to make their move during their return journey?

Or did that person accurately predict Eugene’s approach, intending only to steal the god-slaying sword this time?

Enbillick feigned devoutness, bowing his head as the archbishop babbled blessings. With the corner of his eye, he glanced towards Drake—Drake still stood obediently in his spot, his sword never sheathed.

As night fell, perhaps due to the deepening shadows, a vague smile appeared on Drake’s face.

The next second, the magical lamps decorating the surroundings of the square lit up together.

“…The Supreme Lady Tilia will protect your family and your lineage. The glory of the Goddess is with the four of you.”

The moment the lights flashed, the archbishop skillfully concluded the blessing—such an effect was perfect, ensuring the congregation wouldn’t miss this moment.

At that moment, Enbillick suddenly felt emptiness in his body. Before he could think, a flash of silver light streaked by.

“Thank you for your blessing.”

Next to him, Avra said it with a smile. Her right hand hung down, with blood dripping down the blade of the small knife.

Her cheek splattered with blood, just like the moment not long ago when Painter slashed open his throat. Only this time, someone else had their throat slit—

Enbillick touched his own neck. He felt the hot blood and saw astonishment in the archbishop’s eyes.

Damn it.

That knife… the so-called self-defense blade, was unremarkable. It had been concealed by Perradat at some point. It couldn’t hurt him. Even if his head was severed by that knife, it would have no effect—only because his avatar’s physical strength was ordinary, to avoid suspicion, he could “get hurt” like a normal person.

His attention had been on Drake, then drawn by the emptiness in his body. He had no defenses against that lifeless woman… Such a lifeless person, making such a move, Avra didn’t even emit any killing intent.

Just like cutting off a flower branch, her smile unchanged.

The moment he touched the wound on his neck, Enbillick quickly made a judgment.

Something was very wrong—very wrong. Drake definitely had a plan, taking advantage of the avatar not receiving substantial damage, he must rewind…

Enbillick Alva was only injured, not witnessed dead. This surely wasn’t a major event. Everything could still be changed…

…Could it still be changed?

…Why did he feel resistance from fate?

For the first time, Enbillick shifted his gaze from Drake, looking towards the people beside him.

“’Avra’ isn’t my name. I inherited it from someone else. ‘Alva’ is not my surname. I inherited it from you. Our story spread across the world. That is, the story of the great merchant Enbillick Alva and a fortunate slave.”

Beside Avra, the figures of the two children disappeared. Avra lifted her blood-stained skirt and curtseyed shyly to him amidst distant and near screams.

She still held the blood-dripping blade.

“The spirits say that from this moment on, everyone will ‘see’ me, remember ‘me’.”

“Darling, our story will spread across the world. That is the story of the mad murderer Avra Alva and a pitiful victim.”

She showed him the bloodied blade, as if presenting a crimson flower.

Fate acknowledged it.

This woman was right. The timing, location, and characters were too special. Their romantic tale was widely circulated, turning this attack into a legend… Fate acknowledged this crime worthy of history.

Wait… Damn. With this…

Enbillick abruptly turned his head, suddenly understanding the real intention of the opposition. At this moment, his avatar indeed hadn’t suffered substantial damage, but he could no longer use Avra as an “exit strategy”.

From this moment on, this woman was no longer a speck of dust, but a criminal with a mad legend.

When had his plan been discovered? When did the opposition act? Why did Avra cooperate?

He had been careful to confirm every day. There were no traces of control magic on Avra, no powerful artifacts, and no special powers…

He had been so careful…

“Right.” The moment her arm was raised by the Investigation Knight, Avra still maintained her everyday tone. “Darling, the spirits asked me to tell you something.”

“They say, this is just the beginning.”

The archbishop was just a few steps away, and in the glow of the archbishop-level healing magic, Enbillick’s neck wound rapidly healed. Drake leaned against the statue, while Eugene looked up towards the sky.

As the flesh completely sealed, Enbillick instinctively looked up. The beautiful night sky cracked open before him. The four moons were no longer present, replaced by four massive, wildly tumbling eyeballs, and the vague organs exposed beyond the “rift”.

They were blocked by some force, allowing everyone to barely look directly at them. The surrounding screams grew louder, and the faithful rushed towards the Temple in disregard. Darkness spread, and cries and prayers of madness filled the air. Enbillick stood in place, the murderous intent around him growing stronger.

Fate acknowledged it.

On this night, the people of the Holy Land of Bissus looked directly at the “moon”.

<<< || Table of Contents || >>>

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

Chapter 225: Countdown

Several days later, at noon, at the tavern next to the inn.

Bly, as usual, was spending his time in the tavern. Suddenly, the door to the tavern opened and then closed, casting a shadow at his feet.

A man in a worn long cloak stepped in. His face was tightly concealed by a hood, revealing only a few strands of light golden hair. The man, who wore a long sword, had a large, snow-white cat perched on his shoulder.

He ordered a lavish meal and sat alone in a corner, eating slowly and attentively. It was hard to tell whether he was carefully savoring the food or trying to taste the recipes with his tongue.

The big white cat quietly stayed on his shoulder, leisurely licking its paws.

Bly took a sip of sweet wine, and a question slowly formed in his mind—since becoming a Player, he could easily distinguish those native folks weaker than himself. Even though he wasn’t outstanding among Players now, to those fragile native NPCs, he was absolutely a formidable monster.

However, he couldn’t gauge the depth of the man in the cloak, who didn’t quite seem like a Player either, radiating a subtle aura.

So far, all important NPCs had squads for special protection. To prevent Demon Players from causing trouble, Players within the city were also under the jurisdiction of the Homeward Saints Guild.

Who was this man?

Whether it was his physique or his aura, Bly felt an eerie familiarity with this person. Unfortunately, Abaddon wasn’t here. Otherwise, he could ask his drinking buddy… At a crucial moment like this, the guy was nowhere to be found.

Hm? Wait, missing at a crucial moment? Bly gradually gripped his drink tighter.

Lately, Players were all working hard to fortify Bissus, busy making it an impregnable stronghold—

Not to mention the repeated tactical training and the exaggeratedly strengthened city defenses. Everyone wished to set deadly magical devices on every street to ensure any daring monster would die within three steps. Even if the Lost Tower were to descend from the sky the next second, the Players in Bissus would still have a fighting chance.

But facing wave after wave of monster attacks, everyone’s spirits were always on edge, with even Abaddon being called away to help from time to time. Only Players “not worth mentioning” like Bly had more free time.

Having observed until now, Bly always felt something was missing in this main quest. And the moment this man appeared, he finally understood where this sense of incongruity came from—

Hero Drake.

This person had assisted Knight Eugene in Eternal Day City, participated in the ancient Demon King’s subjugation, and was personally chosen by the Goddess of Life as her envoy during the Dragon’s Lair Battle.

Now, as the main quest progressed to protecting the Holy Land of the Temple of Life, Drake’s absence was strangely conspicuous, not even listed among the important NPCs.

Initially, people mentioned “Hero Drake”, but since Drake was always linked with “Paradise” and with too many variables, there was no consensus, and the matter gradually faded.

“If the main quest really needs him to appear, he will show up on his own.” That was what everyone said.

Now, this…

Bly swallowed, picked up the most expensive bottle of wine from the table, and cautiously sat opposite the man. Drake was rumored to be a handsome young man with golden hair and eyes. Confirming it wouldn’t hurt.

The Goddess of Life had certified this man. He couldn’t be an undercover agent of the Demon King, could he…? Even if he had entanglements with Paradise, it was understandable for a main NPC’s fate to be dramatic.

“Care for a drink together? My treat.” Bly tried to sound as casual as possible.

Across from him, the man in the cloak stopped chewing and looked up for the first time.

He was a very handsome young man. Unlike the rumored golden-haired and golden-eyed Drake, his eyes were a deep-sea blue. The big cat at his side, as if startled by Bly, moved to the other shoulder.

“…Thank you.” The young man observed Bly for a while, then resumed his meal attentively.

Bly’s hand trembled as he poured the wine.

He had made the right bet!

With such a face, he was definitely an important NPC. But the eye color didn’t match the rumors? Such details weren’t important. As a magic swordsman, changing eye color was a matter of minutes for Drake.

“Excuse me.” While passing the wine, Bly lowered his voice to the lowest. “Are you Mr. Drake, the ‘Envoy of God’?”

Hearing the title “Envoy of God”, the young man paused his fork, and his lips twitched slightly. After a few seconds, he nodded silently.

“I am indeed called Drake.”

Bly swallowed. “Then you—”

“I’m here to eradicate the enemies of God.” The young man’s tone was calm yet cold, and on his shoulder, the white cat with round golden eyes meowed innocently.

……

Lost Tower.

“Are you sure it’s okay? A Player have found him, so he’ll be discovered by Star Stealer Sol soon!” Perradat anxiously nibbled on Lilith’s fingernails, causing Lynn to frown. “Maybe we should reconsider the tactics…”

“The tactics are set.” Lynn pulled her hand away from her mouth. “Haven’t you applied ‘concealment’ specifically against Star Stealer Sol? Using it to disguise [God’s Forsaken], Nol said it’s no problem.”

“But the news will reach Star Stealer Sol’s ears.”

Unable to nibble her nails, Perradat started crunching on the hard candy on her plate. “He will soon target Drake. That guy is alone, at most with Ben, that useless dog—”

Lynn: “You’re too anxious. Hasn’t Nol explained it to you?”

Coming up with such a cunning plan, the God of Creation was really led astray by someone. Lynn still remembered Nol’s expression when planning, that mischievous demeanor didn’t seem like a righteous character at all.

“Star Stealer Sol chose to use Bissus for a tower defense game. He wants to make this city his home ground, forcing me and Teest to act alone.”

In memory, Nol pointed at Bissus City on the map.

As the center of the continent, it had the richest storage and the strongest military force. Due to its religious uniqueness, if it faced any issue, neighboring great nations would definitely offer generous assistance.

As long as Enbillick stays inside without coming out, Paradise would have to attack.

So, Star Stealer Sol, under the name of tower defense, gathered Players, madly transforming the town. If Paradise’s people dared to enter the city, they would face a fully armed city and top-tier Players.

“This way, if I lead Paradise in a surprise attack, there would definitely be a large number of casualties among the neighbors. If I forcefully stay away, as the quest difficulty increases, Players will also suffer heavy losses—it’s a blatant scheme. He’s inviting me to walk into a trap alone.”

Nol expressed his confidence very clearly.

“Because he knows that, given my personality, I definitely won’t stand by and watch everyone sacrifice themselves. And if I wanted to infiltrate, there would only be one choice.”

That would be Hero Drake, who was publicly recognized by the “Goddess of Life”.

Even without Nol saying it, the people present could guess the answer.

“I understand the rationale, but how can you be one hundred percent certain?”

After hearing the plan, Perradat was the first to raise questions. “The Goddess back then was impersonated by Painter. What if that guy exposes this fact? Who will ensure Drake’s safety?”

“He won’t expose this at this juncture, just as we won’t go persuading Eugene.” Teest rolled his eyes. “Once we start talking, there will be endless explanations and self-justifications required. In the end, it may not successfully persuade them and would only bring greater chaos.”

“In Star Stealer Sol’s view, Teest and I can only play the assassination game according to his rules, on his chessboard. Without a doubt, he must have prepared countless tricks on his side.”

Nol’s voice remained gentle. “The tower defense quest torments the Players, and we are on his home turf. Just one slip in ‘Drake’s’ actions, and he would use his powers to strike lethally.”

“The appearance of Hero Drake signifies the arrival of major events in the main storyline. From the beginning, this world has followed such a rule.”

Nol’s fingertip nudged the black chess piece symbolizing Star Stealer Sol. With a tap, the piece fell onto the map. The white piece symbolizing Drake stood quietly, holding a cute short sword model.

“Moreover, since Star Stealer Sol specially set up the stage, of course, we have to respond appropriately.”

…Indeed, it signified the arrival of major events in the main storyline, rather than personally achieving major events in the main storyline.

Lynn ended her recollection, looking at Drake on the magic screen. Seeing his handsome face, she found it hard to connect him with that cursing, deficient candle.

Drake Kando.

After all, “Tahe” was a game made for Players. This hero, silent for two hundred years, had always been a harbinger of storms, a helper to Players, but not a terminator. Now, he had finally taken back his true mission—

“I’m here to eradicate the enemies of God.” Drake’s tone was firm, sounding exceptionally sincere. “This city needs more help.”

“Help?” Bly’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Yes.” Drake revealed an unskilled smile. “The defenses of Bissus City aren’t strong enough. I have a great idea.”

“Please let me assist you.”

At the same time, in the middle of the Endless Sea.

“I’m going to start now.” Nol took several deep breaths.

Teest: “Pfft.”

“…Don’t laugh!”

“I’m laughing from the bottom of my heart, honey. It shows my trust in you.” Below Nol, Teest blinked. “This scene is really interesting, don’t you think?”

At this moment, Teest was laying naked on the ice.

Above his body hovered the vast and beautiful true form of the God of Creation. Countless golden threads wrapped around the captivating dragon-like creature. Sunlight spilled down, making the surrounding sea shimmer. Only Teest lay in the shadow, looking much like a fragile sacrifice.

“Come.”

Teest opened his arms towards the giant beast above, making a pleading gesture for an embrace.

“The Great Hero is fighting for time. Let us bring down the moon together—”

Six hours left until nightfall.

The countdown had officially begun.

<<< || Table of Contents || >>>

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

Chapter 224: The Returned

[★Main Quest “Demon Lord Subjugation” Update★]

[Peace was fleeting, as the Demon King in the darkness stretches out his claws. Warriors from another world have disturbed the hidden army of the Demon King but failed to reach his lair. Now, the Demon King’s schemes are within reach. Fear will shroud the heartland of this continent. Please protect Bissus, the symbol of human spirit.]

[Warriors from another world, please protect these innocent lives.]

[Normal Achievement Conditions: Repel the Demon King’s army, successfully protect Bissus; protect important NPCs within Bissus territory.]

[Perfect Achievement Conditions: Repel the Demon Lord’s army, successfully protect Bissus; protect important NPCs within Bissus territory; eliminate the new Demon King.]

[Quest Rewards: Divine Skill x 1 (Top 3 monthly contributors) [Standard], Sacred Equipment Set Piece x 1 (Top 10 monthly contributors) [Standard]; God will grant your wish [Perfect]]

[Quest automatically accepted]

Mentor opened the system description for “important NPCs”, and a list of moderate length unfolded before him. He held his teacup, glanced briefly over it, and quickly locked onto a line of text.

[※The “Golden Sword” family (4 people): Enbillick Alva, Avra Alva, Moore Alva, Colette Alva; Golden Sword Enbillick Alva is an important figure in the Alva Merchant Group. His survival is beneficial for the region’s reconstruction]

The rest of the NPC descriptions were similar, and unsurprisingly, Mentor found the names of the Pope of the Temple of Life and the two archbishops, as well as Eugene Malloy. Basically, all notable figures were listed, except for Godfrey Painter.

“This time I don’t see any level restrictions.” Teest poked the system pop-up curiously. “Last time during the Tower assault, Star Stealer Sol made sure to exclude us with great care.”

“He must have strengthened his control over the system, not placing the conditions openly.” Lynn frowned. “Otherwise, it would be too outrageous, and surely some Players would feel something is off.”

Nol nodded in agreement.

Last time, Star Stealer Sol’s restriction was “humanoid players below a total level of 300”. Such a condition appearing in a regular quest might be normal, but appearing in a main quest, no matter how you think about it, would be very strange.

Star Stealer Sol made the first move.

This quest was very subtle. It appeared to be a main storyline tower defense quest, but the rewards included a count for “monthly contributors”. This meant the quest might continue for a long time.

Every month, the Players who contributed the most could receive “Divine” skills and equipment, a not insignificant temptation. As long as Enbillick remained in Bissus, he would be protected by the Players.

But they all knew, Nol and Teest wouldn’t let this avatar go.

The Enbillick left there was both bait and a restraint—Star Stealer Sol wouldn’t just play defense. He was surely planning to counterattack them.

However…

“Let’s go have a look in Bissus, Teest.” Beyond the circle of fire, Nol donned his cloak.

“Good idea. It’s been a while since I last visited Bissus.” Teest gathered his long hair.

“Is it really no problem for us to just go back like this?” Solo shivered. “That God definitely knows we’re associated with Paradise… Ow, ow, ow!”

He hadn’t finished speaking when Anakin grabbed his ear.

“That’s exactly why we want him to see us.” Anakin bared her teeth. “Don’t worry. He won’t consider you a threat. They’d come for me first.”

“Sister…” Even though he was ranked among the top hundred players, Solo looked like he wanted to cry at that moment.

“He won’t easily attack Players in Bissus,” Lynn comforted, then turned to Nol. “I’ve prepared everything. Have a safe journey.”

Nol weighed the heavy suitcase in his hand and smiled. “Of course.”

It was Anakin and Solo who crossed the fire circle first. They didn’t head directly to Bissus but chose to join a team of Homeward Saints Guild in the neighboring Shidina Federation, then pretended to rush back from abroad.

Teest took Nol’s hand, and the two teleported directly outside the capital of Bissus using their hidden power.

With a flicker of blue fire, the light extinguished, and Nol appeared beneath the towering city walls. From this angle, he could only see the spires of buildings behind the city.

As an island nation situated in the middle of a river, the Holy Land of the Temple of Life, Bissus, didn’t cover a large area.

Over eighty percent of its land was given to forests, mountains, and grasslands, boasting natural scenery no less magnificent than the forests of Shiva. The remaining twenty percent of the land housed the most prosperous and largest holy city-state on the continent of Tahe.

At this moment, they were at the capital of Bissus, the only city in Bissus—Saint Bissus. Usually, people still habitually call it Bissus City.

At this moment, it had become the Players stronghold for a tower defense game.

At the foot of the city, Nol watched as monsters attacked from all directions. The current monsters weren’t very strong, only including some poisonous giant rats and killer flies. There was also ample breathing room between two waves of monsters. Backed by the high city walls, Players valiantly exterminated these attackers.

The blood and flesh of monsters soaked the grasslands beside the city. Green bushes hung with intestines, and even the moat had taken on a tinge of blood.

As the weather warmed, to prevent the spread of plague, the Temple hired many local refugees as a “cleanup crew”. Three times a day, people carted monster corpses to a designated location for a unified burning.

Nol blended into the group of local refugees, heading into the city. At this moment, he wore a worn and dirty cloak, with a long sword hanging from his waist. He carried a huge suitcase in one hand and a fluffy white cat in the other.

His hood concealed his face, with only a few strands of light golden hair peeking out from the gap in the cloak.

The guards checked each person entering the city, but when it came to Nol, it was as if they couldn’t see him, letting him directly into the city.

Nol deliberately dialed down his concealment power a bit. He could feel a faint gaze coming from somewhere. Pretending not to notice, he headed straight for the city’s worst inn.

Considering Bissus City’s wealth and uniqueness, a lousy inn here was harder to find than a good one.

Bissus City was the most magnificent city-state Nol had seen; not even the famously prosperous Grape Collar could compare to a tenth of it, let alone places like Whitebird City—though Nol didn’t quite like it here, missing the “liveliness” of Grape Collar. Everything on the streets was orderly; everyone dressed in neat, light-colored clothing. The air was filled with the elegant fragrance of incense offered to God.

Nol’s destination was in a corner of the city, a district specifically for foreign laborers.

Compared to other areas of Bissus, this was like a different world. In this large city, only here could one find noisy inns and taverns filled with curses and laughter. Even so, it was much better than the lower districts of Grape Collar. At least there were no street children, drug dealers, and prostitutes to be seen.

The inn was easy to find. It was located right in the center of the district. The building was brick-red, resembling a scar on the landscape. The innkeeper glanced at Nol’s attire, without even confirming his face, and threw a key to him.

“End of the hallway on the second floor. One gold wheel a day,” he said, chewing on tobacco. His lips emitted a foul odor. “If you can afford it, stay. If not, get lost.”

The big white cat’s tail swayed, and its eyes narrowed slightly. Nol soothed the cat with a couple of strokes, silently taking the key.

The room here wasn’t big, but it was better than the rooms in Perradat’s church. Its bed was a sturdy old wooden bed, and the bright sunlight… was completely blocked by Nol with the curtains.

With a click, the door was locked.

“If someone ever sings praises of your legend in the future, this part definitely needs to be embellished.” The big white cat jumped onto the bed with its tail held high. “You really have no taste in locations for performing ‘miracles’.”

As soon as Teest finished speaking, a scream of “I want to break up with you!” came from next door, followed by the sound of glass shattering. The curses of guests downstairs were nonstop, among which the clearest voice complained that the nearby fried meat tasted like shit.

Nol: “……”

He seemed to have no rebuttal, so he let it go.

The white cat sighed, curled up its limbs, and coiled up beside Nol like a loaf of bread, its golden transparent eyes reflecting the entire room. Nol opened the heavy suitcase, starting to organize the materials inside—

A small tube of blood given by the young black dragon girl with a toothy grin.

A skeleton Nol had made himself, then Lynn adjusted several times, perfectly mixed with dragon bones.

Lastly was an eyeball from Perradat. It came from Perradat’s core, shimmering with a beautiful blue, possessing a portion of the core’s power of the Floating Cocoon—of course, it was merely symbolic. Perradat quickly grew another eye for herself.

After verifying the materials, Nol spread out a sheet on the floor. The white cat yawned, and golden threads whizzed across the room, arranging the bones from the suitcase into a human structure, without the slightest error.

Ben curiously stuck out its nose, trying to steal a bone, but was unceremoniously slapped back by the cat’s paw.

Nol kissed the cat’s ears and placed Perradat’s eyeball into the heart position of the skeleton. Then, with a feather pen dipped in dragon blood, he wrote line after line of runes on the white bones.

As he moved, a chilly magical fluctuation spread out, securely contained by the magical barrier enveloping the room.

In the chest cavity of the skeleton, the eyeball trembled non-stop, gradually turning into a deep red mass of flesh. Countless tendrils shot out, climbing rapidly along the bloodstains on the bones. Blood vessels and organs gradually appeared within the empty skeleton, and nerves grew like a spider web.

Nol’s pen moved continuously, downwards then upwards, finally stopping at the forehead of the skull. Sweat beaded on his forehead—this time, he couldn’t add anything uniquely his. He had to act according to the system. With heavy restrictions, this task was more troublesome than repairing a magical circuit.

Beside Nol, Teest maintained his cat form to ensure ample space.

At this moment, Teest had no mood to even purr. Actually, this task didn’t need to be so troublesome. As long as a certain person accepted becoming Nol’s retainer, Nol only needed to give a drop of blood to easily and quickly handle everything.

But to use Perradat’s flesh and blood as the core, Nol couldn’t freely use his own powers, only meticulously carved as an unrelated party—the reason was simple. Once the magical circuits of two gods intermingled, the product could easily malfunction.

At this moment, Nol was completing the last step.

He removed Kando from his staff and placed it into the skull’s eye sockets. The candle’s blue flame illuminated the hollow cranial cavity, and those eye sockets were no longer purely black.

“…Are you sure?” Nol whispered. “This is your last chance to back out.”

“If you continue, you’ll wake up as a ‘Dracolich’. You’ve been dead too long. I can’t turn you into a living person.”

“If you give up, we’ll consider other methods. Once I take back the permissions stolen by Star Stealer Sol, I can definitely do better, maybe even grant you real life.”

“I’ve been dead for two hundred years already. I’m used to it.” Inside the skeleton, Kando snorted disdainfully. “Stick to the plan.”

Nol hummed in agreement, then stood up. He held his hands above the skeleton, beginning to chant silently. The cold power gradually became gentle, centered on the “eyeball”, the flesh inside the skeleton grew faster.

Organs, muscles, skin, hair.

The heart began to beat. Nol’s modified [Ash Remnants] gradually took effect—the dried-up blood vessels were gradually filled with blood, sending warmth to every corner of the body. The pale skeleton gradually disappeared. The exposed teeth were covered by pale red lips.

A young man lay on the white sheet.

With a swipe of the white cat’s paw, the blanket was pulled to the man’s lower body, so he wasn’t entirely exposed. Nol made sure the man’s face gained color before stepping back two steps and letting out a long exhale.

The man on the floor moved his fingers, opening his eyes—those were the familiar blue they all knew, the blue originally seen in Kando’s one eye.

The blue that belonged to the hero Drake.

The real hero Drake, or rather Drake Kando, sat up, his light golden hair falling with his movements. He stared at his hands for a long time, speechless.

Nol moved his fingers, and the curtains silently opened. For the first time in over two hundred years, sunlight poured onto the Hero’s skin.

“The plan has finally begun.” The white cat arched its back, elongating into a big stretch. “First, put on some pants, Great Hero.”

The author has something to say:

Adding a Drake first (?

Drake’s team is finally assembled!

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Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

Chapter 223: Main Quest

Winter ended.

The seasons near Bissus weren’t so distinct. The night wind changed from “the cool mist of mountain streams” to “a breath caressing the skin”, and the grass blades showed off their pretty new green.

Spring, the season that symbolized life, was also the Goddess’s favorite season, according to the holy scriptures.

As a devout believer, Eugene Malloy didn’t wholly love spring. Naturally, he adored the vibrant spirit of spring but disliked the encroaching new green that spread across the land. It always reminded Eugene of someone—a shameless charlatan who claimed to be “the messenger of the Goddess of Life” used just such an excuse.

“The Goddess has bestowed upon me the eyes of spring,” that person once said.

Lies.

Inside the tent, Knight Eugene removed his armor and personally cleaned it with coarse cloth and grape oil paste. The ointment, provided by the Temple of Life, emitted a pleasant fruit fragrance. He smoothed out the scratches on his armor and applied alchemical sword oil to the “Dominator” longsword, sharpening it enough that it could cut through moonlight.

At this point, Eugene no longer believed that Enbillick Alva was sheltering Painter. Golden Sword was heading towards Bissus. Perhaps the reality was the opposite—that the shrewd businessman had sniffed out something amiss and wanted to distance himself from anything related to the Demon King.

But Eugene would continue to track Golden Sword.

First, he must verify the intelligence in the hands of Golden Sword. Secondly, the Pope of the Temple of Life personally ordered him to return to Bissus with the Fifth Brigade and wait for further instructions. As to why, the Pope didn’t elaborate.

Since the disappearance of the Lost Tower, the situation in Tahe had become odd.

Recently, members of the Homeward Saints Guild had been gathering towards Bissus, claiming that numerous regional quests have spawned nearby. The Realm of Shiva had seen a surge of monsters, leaving the non-human races overwhelmed.

The Eternal Church had been eerily calm. The new Eternal Pope had been in secluded cultivation, not showing himself for a long time. With their support collapsed and after the battle of the Lost Tower, the Demon Players had also become much more subdued, rarely causing trouble lately.

Without the troublesome forces from Shiva, without the evil Eternal Church and Demon Players, all events were currently moving in a direction favorable to the Temple of Life.

Zealots didn’t believe in luck. All this must be guided by God. Now, the Temple’s only enemies were the Lost Tower representing Paradise, and the newly supported Demon King behind it.

Eugene sensed the smell of a storm in this eerie calm. The day the Lost Tower reappeared would be the beginning of war.

As for whether what the Players saw in the Lost Tower that day was the Demon King, there was ongoing debate. Half were convinced that the blue fire creature was absurdly powerful and must be the Demon King lying in wait. The other half believed it was just a monster under the Demon King—the legendary ancient Demon King was immense. How could the new Demon King be merely a simple humanoid?

The word “Demon King” was being mentioned more and more frequently among the populace and the Players.

This must be preparation to confront the Demon King. The real war was coming. As the sword of God, he was bound to chop off the head of the False God known as the “Demon King”.

Eugene’s fingers touched the soft cloth. As his fingertips moved, the smooth blade trembled slowly under the fabric.

The Pope ordered him to stay in Bissus, likely due to God’s arrangements. His mission was clear, with only one ambiguity.

At this point, what is Godfrey Painter’s stance?

He had once collaborated with the harmless-seeming Lost Tower but didn’t disappear with it. Painter claimed to cooperate with the Master of Paradise, but few words out of that guy’s mouth were truthful. No matter how Eugene thought about it, he didn’t believe Painter would stoop to consorting with the Demon King.

Painter’s oracle clearly stated, “to fulfill divinity”, not a False God. God had let this man roam, surely with deep intention—

If Painter were still the Pope, he wouldn’t stand at the forefront of this war. Given the current situation, God needed Painter to participate in this war, so the man had temporarily turned traitor.

It was likely Painter would come to his senses in this war and fulfill God through his sacrifice.

Eugene’s movements in wiping the longsword became slower.

No, at his level, he shouldn’t presume to guess God’s prophecies. It might be him who decapitates the False God first, and Godfrey Painter returns to the right path.

The man could also earn enough merit in the war to atone for his sins with the remainder of his life. His extraordinary deeds would be recorded by the Temple, further glorifying God.

Thinking this, Eugene’s tense back finally relaxed a bit.

“Actually, I know he understands God’s mercy and painstaking efforts better than anyone. Since leaving the Temple, he hasn’t committed any evil deeds against God’s will.” Eugene murmured to the longsword, “Lady Tilia, he must pay the price for his betrayal, but…”

Suddenly, Eugene’s movements froze.

Reflected on the smooth blade were a pair of light green eyes.

“But?” The pair of eyes in the reflection curved slightly. Painter began to speak as if chatting, with one hand resting on Eugene’s shoulder.

All expressions vanished from Eugene’s face.

He spun around instantly and, with a swish, pointed the longsword directly at Painter. The latter sighed somewhat helplessly. “Alright, we both know you’re not going to kill me. There’s no need to be like this every time. It’s hard even for me to watch.”

“What did you do to the guards?” Eugene ignored him, the tip of his sword drawing a fine line of blood on Painter’s left cheek.

“I just put them to sleep. No need to be tense,” Painter said nonchalantly. “Don’t blame those kids. You know well they couldn’t stop me if they tried.”

He emphasized the word “me” particularly.

“Fine, then I’ll ask a different question.” Eugene clenched his teeth, and the muscles under his skin twitched. “Before, you used precious teleportation magic to escape, and now you’re willingly walking into the trap. Can I take it to mean that you’re willing to return to Bissus with me?”

“You’re greatly mistaken.”

Painter moved the sword as if to comfort him. The sharp tip pierced his hand, and bright red blood quickly seeped out. “I just came to see you. I have no intention of returning to the Temple.”

He had already dined with the “Goddess of Life”, so playing the Temple’s games seemed pointless now.

Hearing this absurd reason, Eugene stiffened for a moment.

“To take a look at me,” he said sarcastically after a while.

Damn, did Painter return for this “Dominator” longsword? Or, did he intend to shake the resolve of the one prophesied to slay a god before the war officially began?

Should he wound him now? Or try to persuade him again? They were very close to Bissus. Perhaps he could try to capture him again?

Countless thoughts buzzed rapidly in Eugene’s head.

“Now that I’ve had a look, I can go back,” Painter interrupted his thoughts with a smile.

Eugene took a deep breath, anger burning up from his heart. “Are you mocking me?!”

The sword tip pierced towards Painter’s shoulder, but Painter just stood there. The sharp longsword instantly pierced through flesh, the tip emerging from his back.

…What’s happening?

Unexpectedly, Painter didn’t defend himself, making Eugene’s scalp tingle. He swallowed, his grip on the sword loosening for half a second. Blood slid down the blade, dripping onto the ground. Blood spread from the wound on Painter’s tunic, blooming like a flower.

“Calmed down?” Painter looked at the wound on his shoulder. “Alright, I admit, I was indeed mocking you.”

“You—”

“But I didn’t mock you back then, Eugene Malloy.” Painter’s smile faded, showing a rare serious expression. “Remember. Whatever happens in the future, trust your own judgment, trust your own God.”

“You have no right to say that,” Eugene said hoarsely.

Should he stab deeper? Or withdraw the sword? Painter was one of Tahe’s top mages with frightening healing abilities, so he wouldn’t be easily killed. The situation was favorable. Perhaps he should seriously wound this man…

The war was coming. Controlling Painter under the Temple might be more advantageous…

Attack? Not attack? Attack? Not attack?

The rush of thoughts made Eugene dizzy as the familiar smell of blood surrounded his nose. His heart raced, and his breath turned to white steam in the warm air, like a panting beast.

Painter still stood quietly in place, looking at Eugene’s eyes, which gradually filled with blood.

“I’m sorry.” Painter’s tone became even more serious. “Goodbye, my child.”

Eugene truly froze this time as the Former Pope repeated his old trick. The teleportation magic activated at an opportune moment, and Painter’s figure disappeared once again.

Painter didn’t lay hands on the “Dominator”, nor did he attempt to assassinate him, leaving behind only a pool of blood. In the end, the man indeed just came to take one look and speak a few words.

Eugene suddenly realized that, more than Painter’s infuriatingly confident tone, he detested the rare seriousness in the other. It sent chills down his spine, giving rise to many ominous premonitions.

He weakly lowered his longsword.

Drip, drip. The blood from the sword tip fell to the ground, quickly swallowed by the earth.

……

Bissus.

“Let’s just stay here honestly. This is the safest place in all of Tahe!” In a certain inn, Mr. Abaddon declared. “Even if the world were to end, this place would surely be the last to go.”

Beside him sat the gloomy Bly, who just silently drank his sorrows away.

Those Players remaining in the city were unwilling to join the war’s first wave. Most were cautious, a few were timid, and the rest were simply incapable.

Bly counted himself among these “incapable ones”.

Initially, to take care of his friend Barto, he left the novice village late, lagging far behind everyone else in leveling and equipment. His former companions scattered, and he spent much effort maintaining their relationships.

However, as the situation in Tahe became more severe, his efforts ultimately ended in failure.

Latus became part of the forefront of the Saints Guild, suffered mental trauma in the battle in the Brick Mountains, and then cut off contact. Barto went to work for the Alva Merchant Group and disappeared not long ago. Following the death of Duke Alva, the Alva Merchant Group entered a state of emergency, leaving Bly with no way to investigate.

He failed to protect his friends and his strength was neither here nor there. Ultimately, he squeezed into the tavern as a reserve force.

The people around him were somewhat intriguing—Ranger Abaddon had previously participated in a quest related to Paradise, closely encountering the ancient Demon King. He had interacted with heavyweight NPCs like Eugene Malloy and even mingled with top Players like Anakin.

This helped him level up significantly, qualifying him as an expert. Who would have thought this rising star would only see decline from there—

After the news that Paradise belonged to the Demon King emerged, Abaddon showed no anger. Instead, he began slacking off like crazy. He stopped exploring altogether, almost as if wearing “I don’t want to fight” on his face.

The Saints Guild tried to mobilize him a few times but were straightforwardly rebuffed with “I’m just that shameless,” leaving them speechless. Since a bull refused to drink water and couldn’t be forced to, Abaddon ended up in the tavern, humorously dubbed “Lian Ge” by the patrons.

“Brother, to be honest, do you have some deal with Paradise?” Bly asked listlessly.

“Hm? I just think they’re too strong, and I’m scared.” Abaddon swirled his drink. “Isn’t it obvious with my ID born lacking courage?”

“You don’t seem like it,” Bly said. “I don’t know how to put it… It’s like, you seem to actually like Paradise.”

“Of course, I like Paradise. They have succubi. Need any other reason? …Ahem, I mean female succubi.” Abaddon glanced at him and cracked a smile. “If possible, I hope to be killed by a succubus. I mean a female succubus.”

Bly: “……” Have you been harassed by a male succubus or something?

“Forget it.” After a while, Bly chuckled bitterly. “Since it’s come to this, let’s just take it one step at a time.”

“Don’t be so down. Who knows what the future holds.” Abaddon put down his glass and lowered his voice. “I know you. Everyone says you’re very loyal—if it really comes down to it, just stick with me. As long as you continue to be a good person, I guarantee you’ll be fine.”

What kind of reasoning is that? Bly was speechless. Abaddon just winked at him and raised his glass.

“Everyone will have to join the fight sooner or later. It’s better to understand the situation clearly before making a move. Trust me. It’s not about the strength of the enemy. You’ll understand when the time comes.”

Just as Abaddon set down his glass, the system notification sound rang—

[★Main Quest “Demon King Subjugation” Update★]

The author has something to say:

The final battle is upon us!!!!!!!

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