Volume 57 Chapter 4.1: The Great War (1)

The elites organized separately within the Hermes Guild, the guild members that signed up to use the Brazier of Sacrifice were gathered in Yellowy Square.

"Brazier of Sacrifice, I will offer 50 levels and 10,000 health points. Grant me strength!"

"Brazier of Sacrifice·····."

"Brazier·····"

...

The Hermes guild members were enveloped with flourishing fire.

The Brazier of Sacrifice provided them with immense power!

The main forces of the Hermes Guild over level 500 were burning away their levels and health points.

"My body is light. It feels like a feather but overwhelmingly powerful."

"I can't get used to this. I'm just walking but it's so much quicker than before. I wonder how my skills will turn out?"

"By the level discrepancy, I would say we got about six times stronger."

"This means we can muster a head-on charge against the dragon. I can put up a good fight right now."

The players who used the brazier made their pledge of determination.

Burning 50 levels was not an easy decision even for these players.

Regardless of victory or defeat, the losses were final. Therefore they had to take the dragon down.

"Still, we should still be careful. The dragon's magic is not something you can tank."

"I'm sure it will be alright as long as it's not a direct hit."

"I'm a warrior, so I would be able to withstand physical attacks."

The giant knight Boemong led them.

"We will wait. As you all know already, we will be sent in once Kaybern's dark magic is down."

10,000 elites warmed up lightly as they waited to be fielded.

"Wear this."

The Mapan merchants arrived and laid down some equipment.

They were items from Kaybern's lair that could be worn by humans over level 800!

"Are you giving them to us?"

"No. You must return them once the battle is over. Here. You must sign the lease paper. If you want to rent them again, please call the Mapan merchant council."

"You can borrow equipment?"

"They are not free. They have set prices."

The Hermes Guild members were amazed with the Mapan equipment.

Some of them were over the level restriction of 900, and what was most popular were the weapons.

All warriors had the thirst for the most powerful weapon with the highest attack damage.

Meanwhile, Kaybern's dark magic activated near the Bingryeong Square.

- Mirror of Fate!

"Alright, let's get going. It's our time to fight."

"Move out!"

***

Mirror of Fate.

The ultimate dark magic spell that returns the cumulative damage taken over the last 10 minutes and reflects it against all enemies near the caster!

The countless Hermes Guild members in battle turned grey and dissipated all at once.

Just moments after, Kaybern activated a life replenishing spell as expected.

- Life Siphon of the Dead!

Kaybern absorbed the health points of everyone who died in battle. From every corner of Morata, ash-like streams of aura surged and were absorbed by the dragon's body.

The body rich in wounds recovered unbelievably quickly and the fractured scales were restored; such a perfect recovery that instilled despair in the players who had been fighting valiantly until that moment.

- Humans, bow down before my greatness!

Kaybern roared with vigor.

The absolute power of dark magic was unexplainable with the standards of typical magic.

The Black Dragon possessed both attack power and an absurd recovery speed, making it even more difficult of a creature to hunt.

However, the Hermes Guild too had been waiting for this moment.

"You all have bided your time well. Now is the time for the real fight."

Bard Ray shouted. Then the Hermes Guild members responded and raised their weapons high.

- The dragon will meet its end by our hands!

The guild members that were hiding inside the buildings began bolting out.

The fighting power in the early stages were average level within the guild. They displayed fabulous skills but still had more in the kit.

Many players had already died in the great city of Morata.

The dragon was capable of absorbing health points with dark magic, so they played the battle out to test the waters and waited for the corpses and mana to be used up.

"Charge!"

"The dragon will now meet its fate!"

The players that used the Brazier of Sacrifice at Yellowy Square were assisted by flight magic spells and arrived at the spot.

Bard Ray drew his sword. The Glacial Sword sealed with the legend!

< You have equipped the Glacial Sword.

The cold aura seeping from the sword reduces your health points by 100 each second.

Your attacks deal an additional 120 Ice type attack damage.

Consecutive successful attacks will weaken the enemy's magic resistance and apply complete freeze.

Frozen enemies are immobilized.

Attacks against giant monsters deal 4x damage.

+52 to all stats.

Slows enemies within 5 meter radius.

Perseverance enhanced by 20%.

Skills: Frost Field, Blizzard, Ice Storm, Glacial Impact, Freezing Breath are now available.

The Glacial Sword is dormant.

Awakening the sword in a raging battle will activate a random ice type magic spell on the enemy. >

The sword he obtained when he became an Ironblood warrior; there was no other that could match this sword in all of the guild's storage.

His hand that gripped the Glacial Sword froze over slightly.

Bard Ray, holding the Glacial Sword covered in white frost, threw his hand high and shouted.

- All charge!

Morata was instantly filled with the shouts from the crowd of guild members.

"To start off... Ice Storm!"

Bard Ray activated a skill sealed inside the sword to signal the start of the war.

A skill that summoned the Ice storm that blows in the Northern regions of Versailles was used against Kaybern.

* Woo-woo-woosh! *

The winds of the storm born from the ground enveloped Kaybern.

Ice shards revolved in a 500 meter radius and caused damage to the dragon's body.

"Sword of Nature!"

This time, the secret sword technique split the sky.

* C-c-c-c-crack! *

Suspenseful sounds came from the sky and soon, thousands of lightning streaks struck Kaybern.

- It is surprising that a human could wield such power. But how dare you direct it at me!

Even Kaybern was astonished by the powerful offensive skill!

After Bard Ray used the Brazier of Sacrifice, his level was over 1,100 when he used the secret sword technique.

He was also equipped with equipment and accessories that enhanced the power of nature.

On top of this, 10,000 players who used the brazier charged into battle.

It was a force that just might succeed in hunting the dragon!

"I can't trail behind."

"I won't hand over the dragon to anybody!"

"The lord seat is just before my eyes."

The guild members charged boldly at the dragon.

The dragon's forelegs and tail struck them but they either blocked or leaped over them and continued their advance.

"It's manageable."

"It hurts but one hit won't kill me!"

The Ice Storm and Thunder Strike swept the dragon, but the dragon held up and kept attacking.

* Dum! Dum! Dum! *

The bards led by Marey positioned themselves at the opposite end of the city.

??? We sing.

Of victory, honor, love and of the future.

WIth light and joy,

And the courage within, we stand. ???

In between the high buildings they had had hidden performance stages with instruments installed.

The performance in the boundless plain.

They used the bard secret technique and spread a pure, honest melody.

??? For those opposing the foolish dragon that brings destruction.

The power and courage of the warrior

Is sung by all.???

They were a group of thousand bards who passed through an audition.

They encouraged the Hermes Guild members by playing together.

"Recover from all pain and wounds. Sacred Healing!"

"Healing Touch!"

"Heaven's Light!'

"Revitalize!"

The support from the priests materialised from all around.

The Hermes Guild members kept flashing with light as their health points and stamina were replenished.

"Flames of Blood!"

"Armor of Darkness!"

"Frenzy!"

"Dark Counter!"

The shamans and sorcerers followed up with their buff rituals.

If they could hold down the dragon, they could receive the most powerful assistance from all over Morata

"Kaybern!"

Bard Ray charged through the Ice Storm and Thunder Strike. He equipped himself once again with high-level equipment he prepared to hunt down the dragon

"Power of Creation, Dark Knight Strike, Another Sword!"

He activated the skills that could be called his originals and jumped at the dragon.

"Spear of Annihilation!"

"Empowered Commandment!"

"The Seeker's Arrow!"

"Piercing Flash!"

At that exact moment, countless ranged attacks were fired at Kaybern.

Bard Ray and his personal guards witnessed Hermes Guild members collapsing all around Kaybern.

- Mere humans. Grand Rupture!

Kaybern, seemingly caught off guard by the sudden attack, chose to cast the ultimate fire magic spell this time.

Raging explosions and waves of fire waged in a several hundred meter radius and engulfed the guild members.

Still, the warriors pushed through with their bodies inflamed. The damages were significant but they did not die.

< The Ironblood resists the vicious fire.

Health points reduced by 31,397.

Ultimate Perseverance reduced damage taken by 86%.

Additional fire damage is nullified. >

Bard Ray stuck his sword in Kaybern's foreleg and climbed on top of its back.

"Singularity Attack!"

A technique that aimed for a single spot!

It was a skill that he learned to use on the giant monster after having seen Weed perform it.

"Soul-crossing Strike!"

He even activated the skill that consumed stamina and health points and boosted his attack power over 400% temporarily.

After he advanced into the Ironblood warrior, he possessed even more health points and stamina and therefore there was no need to be stingy with the brazier of sacrifice.

Each time Bard Ray stuck down with his sword, the area around the spot started to freeze.

"Protect Bard Ray-nim!"

"We need to distract the dragon, so just keep attacking!"

The guild members carried on the relentless attack from the ground, and many more followed after Bard Ray and climbed on top of his back and head.

- Get off of me! Dark Eruption!

An aura of darkness grew from the Black Dragon and coated its body.

It was a spell that allowed Kaybern to recover its own health points and attacked its enemies simultaneously.

Arkhim: Disengage that dark magic spell!

"Light of Judgment!"

"Virtuous Purification!"

"Angel's Blade!"

There were paladins among the guild members on Kaybern. They instantly cast their divine spells and weakened dark magic...

Hundreds of these spells tore down Kaybern's darkness.

- Get off!

Kaybern shook its body and flapped its wings, but more guild members clambered on top of him than those that fell off.

"We must not give it time to cast the next dark magic spell."

"Keep hitting. Players out of mana must step back so others can attack!"

A life and death battle was taking place around the dragon.

The warriors that used the brazier focused on attacking the wings.

The magic spells and arrows leased from the distance struck Kaybern and exploded.

The ranged attacks did not cause great damage, but some that occasionally missed the mark demolished buildings and ruined the ground.

The mages in the Hermes Guild also poured their mana into the offensive.

Bard Ray kept stabbing away at Kaybern's back and cried out.

- We will be victorious. Do not stop attacking!

With every sword slash and spear stab, the damage on Kaybern multiplied.

The attacks from the players under the brazier's effects destroyed the dragon's scales and blood spewed from the wounds.

Regardless, Kaybern retaliated in anger and the players were kicked and whipped by its legs and tail.

* Stomp! Stomp! Stomp! *

When Kaybern ran, hundreds were planted into the earth.

Gaushu: Players who have used the brazier, do not engage from the front. What we need is not defense, but offense!

Those players circled around to the sides and the rear.

The common guild members were the ones to defend the front.

They were sent into the most dangerous grounds, but pushed restlessly with their shields aligned.