Chapter 117
▪️Only the Wealthy Can Be Dragon Knights
"Grandma Philothea, I'm sorry... but I still think we should join the Chosen Ones!"
A young elf gazed firmly at the chieftain of the Rageblaze clan with his voice still carrying a hint of youthful fervor in his tone.
"During these past few days... I've seen a side of them that I've never seen before. They're always so full of vitality and passion whilst also willing to work hard for a better future! Not only that, but they've been selflessly helping us..."
His voice was brimming with ardor and resolution.
"They're our saviors! I believe that when they choose to fight, we can't just stand by and watch either!"
"I agree!"
Another young elf nodded as well, his expression just as excited when he spoke.
"I've been thinking... is our belief really right? Is kindness really always the correct path?"
"I previously discussed this issue with some of the Chosen Ones, and we even had a bit of a dispute, but their words completely woke me up... the struggle between races and beliefs is not something that can be won through understanding and compromise alone. This is war! War is brutal, it's a violent action where one race tramples over another!"
"Being kind to others is being cruel to oneself!"
Many of the players are also chronic keyboard warriors who spewed so much toxicity online, hence it was relatively easy to convinced these young naive elves who were as pure as a blank paper with their seemingly eloquent nonsense. Plus, there were simply too many similar propaganda back on earth that can rouse such fervent feelings.
Just a few modifications were enough to get the job done so to speak.
Elder Philothea was stunned as she looked at these younglings who have almost changed completely after spending just a few days with the Chosen Ones.
"You... you guys..."
She understood the passion of the young elves, but... the Rageblaze clan only had less than two hundred people left. She really didn't want to see her own people take huge risks again.
But looking at those determined gazes and thinking of the hints from the goddess, the Rageblaze chieftain could only worryingly sigh:
"Well... go ahead. But... please be careful."
Instinctively she then realized that no matter what the outcome of this raid, the elves, are going to change.
Even though many old elves don't allow it, there were still a dozen or so young elves who slipped out and decided to join the players' campaign.
However, this made the players start to worry.
For them, these native NPCs were not only tools to exploit for resources, but also crucial personnels that keeps the plot going.
Furthermore the Goddess's mission also personally requested:
NPCs cannot die.
If an NPC dies, then players will receive a high debuff and punishment!
So, what players hope for is that these elves can stay in Florence safely.
But...the Goddess's mission also has a requirement:
That players cannot stop an NPC if they chooses to participate in the battle.
Players: ...
Okay, fine.
These NPCs are walking treasures, and the Goddess is the boss who must be obeyed no matter what.
This...is simply going to make them escort a group of delicate youthful looking fossils to fight, and the difficulty instantly multiplied several times fold.
Are the NPC's tools, or are we the tools?
However, after some deliberation, Li Mu, who was the raid leader of the campaign, finally had a good idea.
Just let these dozen or so native elves take the back row and snipe from afar.
Elves generally have good innate archery skills.
Position them at the backrow as shooters, not only are they safe but can also play a good support role.
Their aiming are much higher than most players in terms of sniping. Furthermore majority of the players have choosen to develop their melee skills first and neglected their long range skills hence... their accuracy is really not that commendable.
Especially for the melee-specialized players with no aiming skill whatsoever, just making them shoot is a disaster and waste of arrows.
However, the person who was most excited about all this actions was not the players or the native elves nor even Alice and the others...
It was the black dragon Meryer.
They don't know what the Goddess communicated with it, but the once stubborn little black dragon suddenly changed its nature and became so obedient.
This surprised the players and the elves, and they were once again amazed at the power of the Goddess's influence.
In fact, even Evé did not expect the dragon to become so docile after knowing her true identity.
However, she did know the name mentioned by Meryer...
Nidhogg.
It was an ancient black dragon that once participated in the Heavenly War thousands of years ago. This ancestral dragon was so strong that it even made the rest of the gods wary!
It was also the one that chew off the root of the world tree, causing the former world tree's vitality to greatly decline.
"This little black dragon hates evil, upholds justice, and calls itself a Silver Dragon... Could it be that the one who raised it was a Silver Dragon?"
Eve had some speculations about the little creature's adoptive father.
The evil black dragon Nidhogg has always been the arch nemesis of the Silver Dragons. So for them to raise an enemy dragon as their own is quite unheard of.
As for the Silver Dragons... according to the World Tree inheritance, their relationship with the World Tree seems to be rather good.
However, they seem to have not told anything about her to Meryer since the black dragon only commented, "What a big tree", when it first seen her and nothing else.
This little dragon is also humorous and rather naive, a total contrast to the usual temperament of a Black dragon so it made Eve wonder what the Silver Dragons plans are for this young black dragon.
The Forest of Elves.
All the participating team for the Orc campaign have assembled and been teleported to Florence.
After a period of development, more than 900 of the 1,200 closed beta players have been promoted to Iron rank, and more than 800 people have decided to join this main questline campaign.
Under Li Mu's unified command, the players formed a simple formation, giving off a slight military aura.
In addition to the players, there are also more than ten young elves from the Rageblaze clan who have joined the team as archers.
More than 100 elves from the Rageblaze clan have also came to see them off under the guidance of their tribal chief, Philothea.
In recent days, the native elves have gradually settled down in Florence with the help of the players, and they are very grateful to the players.
Although just as the Saintess said, the Chosen Ones do have some bad habits, such as eating meat, taking advantage of others, having twisted logic, being too flattering at times, and knocking on your door in the middle of the night... and so on.
But overall, they are enthusiastic and hardworking bunch and are really striving for the future of the elf race.
Even the most rigid and stubborn elves cannot deny the help and contribution of the Chosen Ones.
Watching the Chosen Ones, who although looked lax, but are excited and without any hint of fear, Philothea secretly nodded.
Although their discipline is a bit lacking... they are really a courageous team that dares to fight to the death.
Being fearless is the most terrifying thing.
Plus with their undying abilities, as well as the assistance of the Black Dragon, the Saintess, and the Elven Protector, perhaps... they can really defeat the beastmen forces that have been lurking near the Forest of Elves for many years and force them to move away.
She turned back, waved her hand, and offered some magic materials along with some of her fellow clansmen:
"These are the materials needed to make the teleportation circle. I heard from the Saintess that these are what you need the most right now... these were made by a few elf mages in my clan overnight."
A Teleportation circle!
Li Mu's eyes lit up.
The most crucial item for this mission is this thing.
According to the reconnaissance team, the Orc settlement is very far from here. Even if the elves rush with minimal rest, they would need at least 20 days, despite having the forest affinity buffs.
Moreover, there are thousands of Orcs.
To be honest, without the dragon and Ael's help, the campaign seems close to impossible.
Their overall strength is weak, and the only thing they have going for them is the ability to resurrect and cooperate as a team to perform sacrificial rush.
However, if they die in the vicinity of the Orc tribe, then it would be impossible to return since the current respawn point is set back here in the Elven Forest.
But it's now a different story with the help of the teleportation circle...
Li Mu nodded to Salty Cat who had been waiting by his side for a long time. The two then quickly took the materials for the teleportation circle and thanked Philothea repeatedly:
"Thank you so much!"
Philothea sighed while waving her hand:
"This is all we can do."
The young folks are enthusiastic about taking the initiative to attack the Orcs, but most of the older indigenous elves are not very interested.
After receiving the teleportation circle materials, Li'l Salty Cat waved to the dragon Meryer,
"We got the stuff! Li'l Blackie, let's go!"
Meryer glanced at the two players beneath and reluctantly crouched down, muttering:
"Hmph, If I'm carrying you this time then you have to roast meat for me for one... no... three days when we get back!"
After hearing what it said, Li'l Salty Cat's eyes curved in mirth:
"Just three days? A week is fine you know!"
After they finished speaking, they took the materials for the teleportation circle and, under the envious gaze of the other players, the two jumped onto the dragon's back.
After the two of them settled in, Meryer let out a long howl and slowly took off by flapping its wings.
As they watched the black dragon getting smaller and smaller in their field of vision, Demacia kept sighing:
"Dammit it seems that you need a lot of cash to burn if you really want to be a dragon rider."
Upon hearing this, the player beside him playfully rolled his eyes in jest.
"I think even if you had money, you still wouldn't be able to become one."
Demacia:...
Bro, can you stop making snide comments all the time?