MMORPG: The Elementalist

By the end of the battle, there was hardly any time left on the Amethyst Orc’s summoned duration.

As Fateless picked through the aftermath, Qin Ruo sat on the monster’s shoulder, affectionately patting the arm of his faithful comrade, already dreading how much he would miss it.

Although they had only been together for a mere three hours, the Amethyst Orc had been there for him time and time again. It had repaid the cost of its Sealed Mana Core several times—nay, ten times over.

Most importantly, during the time that they had spent in each other’s company, the Amethyst Orc came to be like one of Qin Ruo’s own hands. They worked well together and shared a deep understanding of each other, without any words needing to be said—they were good for each other.

When their time finally ran out, and the Amethyst Orc vanished for good, he did not know how his heart would be able to cope with the loss.

Qin Ruo sighed. It was almost more than he could bear.

Although the Amethyst Orc was a summoned monster, it was a Tier 5 Miniboss who was as wise as any human. It watched Qin Ruo with gentle eyes and extended an enormous finger to poke Poochie in a teasing manner. Poochie was sitting forlornly upon Qin Ruo’s shoulder, rubbing the tears in its eyes.

Cheep, cheep…

With a swish of its tail, Poochie hopped nimbly onto the Amethyst Orc’s expansive hand.

The two monsters, one as huge as the other was little, seemed to be able to feel the sorrow of imminent parting. They shared a long look, as though consoling each other.

Sensing the sadness in the air, Violet Orchid and the others fell silent as they approached. The Amethyst Orc’s departure would be a terrible loss for everyone. Without their Tier 5 Miniboss watching over them, the Graveyard of the Gods would become a much scarier place.

Subjugator was among many who could already feel their hearts tensing with paranoia.

A couple of minutes later, the Amethyst Orc carefully set Qin Ruo down upon the ground.

Beneath the dozens of mournful gazes, the gargantuan form of the Amethyst Orc gradually faded away into a flurry of violet dust, which was then sucked away into a dimensional vortex.

A hundred and eighty minutes, and every second of it had been precious.

***

After the Amethyst Orc was gone, everyone remained silent for a long moment. Qin Ruo, Subjugator, and the rest of their seven-man party were taking it the worst of all.

They had talked about breaking off to find their own fortune, but without the Amethyst Orc, it had become an even more daunting prospect…

Especially when they realized that they were probably the weakest group in the entire region.

However, when Violet Orchid made contact with the local forces of the Angel Faction, the circumstances were even more incredible than they had imagined. Dozens of renowned Field Commanders had banded together with several Tier 5 Supreme Champions. They were clad from head to toe in scintillating Chromatic Equipment. It left them stunned and speechless.

It was a force led by Scarlet Bauhinia, League Master of the Bauhinia League, as well as Netherclaw, League Master of the Netherspirit’s Claw League. There was no denying that it was good fortune to have them so close by.

If nothing else, it minimized the likelihood of running into the Demon Faction’s own top-tier Champions.

However, the group that Violet Orchid was leading produced a similar reaction from the local forces!

After all this time in the Graveyard of the Gods, pretty much everyone knew of the three Leagues and fifteen Clans in the Alliance. Most of their 100 or so Field Commanders had already been assembled on the fifth level.

Yet, they could clearly see that this group of newcomers included several Field Commander-level Champions, some of whose names were already known far and wide.

The Bandit Assassin, Fateless.

The Lone Man of Steel, Judge.

And a name that had recently been on everyone’s lips—the Winter Demon, Qin Ruo!

Besides these characters, there was also a summoned Tier 5 Miniboss accompanying the group, commanded by no less than Violet Orchid, a Radiant Priestess of the Bauhinia Clan.

The members of the Bauhinia League were beside themselves. A Radiant Priestess, a Tier 5 Miniboss, and all these people? This was far beyond the sort of reinforcements they had expected to receive. With the addition of these forces, they would finally be able to break their stalemate with the Demon Faction forces!

***

The six people with Qin Ruo seemed to be the only ones keeping their cool. Upon discovering that he had been named “Winter Demon” in the game forums, all Qin Ruo did was raise his eyebrows for a moment, but he took it all in stride. Now his gaze was fixed upon the one called “Dark Dragon.”

The latter was also watching him indifferently, but the moment Qin Ruo looked his way, he harrumphed faintly and turned away, gazing at the sky instead. He carried himself with haughty disdain, refusing to acknowledge Qin Ruo’s presence.

Qin Ruo averted his eyes as well.

He knew that Dark Dragon probably still refused to acknowledge him despite that small triumph back in the Great Tree Forest, not to mention his fortunate escape at the end.

Perhaps it was considered cheating a little to have had Poochie’s aid, making it a two-on-one situation. However, in an all-out fight, not even both of them working together would prove any match for Dark Dragon.

Besides, although Dark Dragon did not have his own Pet for now… if he should happen to get one later on and swiftly train it up, Dark Dragon’s overall ability would increase by leaps and bounds!

The difference in ability between the two of them was still too great!

He was glad that Scarlet Bauhinia had formed a treaty with Netherclaw and his League right from the start. If it were not for that, he would not have made it as long as he did in the fifth level of the Graveyard of the Gods without the Amethyst Orc by his side.

At this thought, Qin Ruo’s heart was afire!

He found a renewed desire for power! He had never hungered for it like this before!

After this, he ought to start leveling up again!

As for Poochie… after Qin Ruo had put together a full set of Dark Gold Equipment and made it to Level 49, with Poochie’s level somewhere on Tier 4… advancing to Tier 5 should be no big deal!

And once he was at Tier 5, hmph!

Nonetheless, just thinking about how he had no chance against Dark Dragon, even with Poochie by his side, Qin Ruo felt a sharp pang of frustration. Talk all you want about Clans or Leagues, no matter how many Tier 4 players you had on your side, there was still nothing you could do to keep a Tier 5 Champion in check.

When he gave the matter more thought, Qin Ruo felt his fists tighten inside his sleeves. His heart was racing. The depression he had been feeling since losing the Amethyst Orc had now been completely washed away. It was replaced by a fierce fighting spirit as well as a sense of ambition.

At the same time, he suddenly felt like, no matter what the cost, he absolutely had to get himself a piece of Divinity during his time there on the fifth level of the Graveyard of the Gods!

Although he kept his head down, his expressions betrayed him to a concerned few.

After all, this Level 41 Aquamancer was currently making big ripples in the world of Honor & Glory, with several of his recent feats quickly becoming the stuff of legends.

Even Netherclaw found himself watching Qin Ruo closely, despite himself.

Of course, for him to have risen as the head of five powerful Clans, he could not just be any ordinary person.

Qin Ruo’s level may be low, but whether it was thanks to his Pet or sheer luck, he had humiliated Dark Dragon in the Great Tree Forest (never mind what happened in Killer Bee Valley). Plus, with a Red Tag over his head, he had somehow survived his journey through the second, third, and fourth levels of the Graveyard of the Gods.

On the fourth level, he somehow rescued Violet Orchid from the death trap that Tiger Cub had set for her before he pushed on through to the fifth level. There was no question that Qin Ruo’s combat ability was not to be underestimated.

Then there was the matter of the people who had flocked to his side.

Netherclaw frowned. Some of them were also lone wanderers who had caught his attention before, max-level Tier 4 players he had been considering for recruitment.

And of course, how could Netherclaw fail to notice Qin Ruo’s station among them?

Even though not officially the party leader, it was quite clear that they were all clustered behind him as he spoke with Violet Orchid. This sense of deference…

‘Dark Dragon, that fool. He ought to control his temper,’ Netherclaw muttered to himself in silence.

***

Once Violet Orchid and Qin Ruo were done, Scarlet Bauhinia came over and watched the departing figures of Qin Ruo as well as his six-man party.

“It’s been three days since we last met… I turn away for a moment, and the kid has grown even stronger.”

“You’re only saying this now?” Violet Orchid replied serenely. “I was expecting you to chat him up a little, try and invite him into our Clan.”

“There’s no longer any need.”

Hearing this, Violet Orchid turned and regarded Scarlet Bauhinia closely before she shook her head. “Slayer’s Heart was right. You’re still the same as before.”

“The same as before?” Scarlet Bauhinia struggled for a moment to maintain a polite smile, but gave up and sighed. “I thought I managed to change a lot, for the better; I didn’t think you all still saw me that way.”

“Am I mistaken?” In her eyes, there was a hint of mockery and exasperation. “When it comes to dealing with people, you’re always so calculating and aloof… You’re more than aware that Qin Ruo has made an enemy of Netherspirit’s Claw—other Clans won’t possibly dare offer him an invitation.

“Qin Ruo has no choice but to seek shelter from Slayer’s Heart and me, as well as maintain friendly relations with Bauhinia. This way, you’re able to avoid any conflicts with Netherspirit’s Claw, while you indirectly retain Qin Ruo’s loyalty… Isn’t this the conclusion that you’ve reached?”

Scarlet Bauhinia looked at Violet Orchid sheepishly. He had to admit, this woman’s insight was terrifying at times. She had seen right through him completely.

Faced with his silence, Violet Orchid sighed again. “Have you considered that once we’re through with the Graveyard of the Gods, how dangerous Qin Ruo’s days will be? Without the protection of the Bauhinia League, Dark Dragon can send people after his head at any time without a care in the world. This is where you’re too cold and too calculating—you’re too unfeeling.”

Violet Orchid fixed him with a hard look, then turned and walked away.

After Violet Orchid’s scathing remarks, Scarlet Bauhinia felt his chest heave. His heart was pounding out of control. At last, he took a deep breath, dispelling all anxiety and hurt from his expression. Meanwhile, his gaze once again found that lonely figure, now an indistinct blur in the distance.