MMORPG: The Elementalist

Shortly after 12.00 am, a new dawn arrived. Much like the other three entrances to the Buried City, a silent rivalry had also slowly engulfed Aricus Underground Ruins, deep within the Kane Jungle.

Due to the undetermined spawn time and random spawn locations of the Gorefiend Spider Demon, it was entirely up to luck who would get to encounter it and acquire its loot as well as its components…

The area had been the training spot for both the Bauhinia Clan and Netherspirit’s Claw League in the past. As such, the rivalry for the Gorefiend Spider Demon parts had always been between the two of them… If it was not someone from the Bauhinia League, it would be someone from Netherspirit’s Claw… In the end, the two Leagues made an agreement to share the place and take turns to use the training ground. The fight for control over Aricus Underground Ruins finally ended in peace.

However, this day was different!

At that moment, both Leagues did not exist anymore…

The deterrence was now broken, therefore, several dozen formidable Clans and Parties slowly set their eyes on the area—one of the entrances to the Buried City.

Worse still…

The leader of the Bauhinia League, Scarlet Bauhinia, had established another Clan named Scarlet Dynasty while the Bauhinia Clan was being rebuilt by one of its former “allies”. Their internal forces appeared to have dissolved, and that spurred the fight amongst countless organized players for the Aricus Underground Ruins.

Even though the experienced players were already camping out at Level 2 and 3 of Aricus Underground Ruins for the Gorefiend Spider Demon, there were also countless other players joining in…

After all, the Buried City was the fabled treasure hunting ground for many Parties and also a dangerous, mysterious deathtrap to billions more.

They would not miss this opportunity.

However…

The players from Netherspirit’s Claw were unwilling to share their turf with lowly outsiders.

Hence, they quickly recruited and assembled their Clans, and they became the biggest Clan in the Angel Faction, with more than eight thousand members! By dawn, they had openly sent over three hundred elite players into the Aricus Underground Ruins to camp in the areas where the Gorefiend Spider Demon usually spawned.

Other than that, they also dispatched some manpower, led by Tier 5 players—Netherclaw himself; the vice-leader, Snowmelt; and the Field Commander, Dark Dragon went over to the other three entrances of the Buried City…

Seeing the three Tier 5 veterans and other Tier 5 players hold the fort at the entrances of the Buried City, many regular players who intended to focus their efforts on the Mythical Battlefield left with a heavy heart.

Flapping his Angelic Wings, Dark Dragon glided around the Level 2 area of the Aricus Underground Ruins and led his men to camp in the Gorefiend Spider Demon’s spawn locations.

There were so many players waiting patiently in the area…

Due to the intense pressure that came from Netherclaw and Dark Dragon’s presence, how could the more faint-hearted Parties stay? They felt it impossible for them to acquire a completed map now that Netherspirit’s Claw was there. Additionally, they were not willing to offend a Clan that would one day grow to be a huge League just to get a few dilapidated parts from a Boss.

Of course, not everyone was afraid of Netherspirit’s Claw.

Many were Tier 5 players who were confident enough to venture down to the Buried City, after all. They were equally strong, prideful and confident. Thus, they refused to allow themselves to be intimidated by Dark Dragon.

In the meantime, Dark Dragon was also not prepared to make everyone in the Aricus Underground Ruins his enemy. So, he remained silent…

They had already spread out their manpower, which consisted of several elite players and Tier 5 veterans, across every area. Even if they could not acquire every component, they could still acquire the keys to all the levels of the Ruins. Once they got their hands on the keys, they could always purchase parts from other groups.

So, long as they did not upset the plenty other Tier 5 veterans, why would they need to worry about the casual players?

As the intense pressure continued to linger in the air, another Clan of players stepped into the ruins…

It was a Clan with a less well-known name.

“The Executors!”

The leading player, a cold-looking Pyromancer, also led a team of Tier 5 players to seven locations that could spawn Gorefiend Spider Demons.

“The Executors? You mean the headlining Party that ranked up into a Clan overnight?” Dark Dragon frowned after he heard several incoming reports. No one had seemingly heard of the Clan’s leader, Remorseless Warrior before, and they were not a famed Clan. However, the Clan’s overall strength was not in any way weak—they were able to obtain enough Honor Points to put their name in the Top 10 list on the Leaderboard, and they had at least twelve Tier 5 players among their ranks. They certainly were a resilient and powerful Clan.

Yet, Dark Dragon was ticked off. Remorseless Warrior had already taken root in the Buried City and assigned eight of his Clan members there. Why did they still need to dispatch most of their manpower to contest for control over the Aricus Underground Ruins?

Overkill much?!

The presence of the twelve Tier 5 players from the Executors made Dark Dragon feel a looming threat…

They even brought one more player than him. Supported by Tier 4 elite players, it looked like they intended to clash with Netherspirit’s Claw head-on.

It would be a bloody fight after the Gorefiend Spider Demon was to spawn…

“Remorseless Warrior.”

After thinking over it for a long time, Dark Dragon decided to have a discussion with the Executor’s Clan Leader via private message to avoid conflict.

“Who’s this?” His voice was young and arrogant.

There was silence.

With a slight frown, Dark Dragon spoke coldly, “This is the Field Commander of Netherspirit’s Claw.”

“Oh!” The other side replied in a haughty voice, “Someone from Netherspirit’s Claw… What do you want?” Dark Dragon was pissed the moment he heard the conceited response. He gave himself a few seconds to recollect himself, then calmly told him what he wanted to discuss.

“Hahaha…. So you’re saying… we should just heed your orders and leave the Aricus Underground Ruins?” Remorseless Warrior scorned. “Who do you people think you are? The supreme leader of the Angel Faction? That I’ll just do what you say, huh?”

“Look, all I’m saying is… just leave this place for one day. If you need to, you can come tomorrow. We’ll even hand over the Gorefiend Spider Demon parts to you.”

“Are you assuming that I’m some sort of fool? The sixth Golden Key in the Buried City has already spawned. All ten Golden Keys could most likely be collected by tonight. What do I need that Gorefiend Spider Demon for? For my supper? Get lost!”

Remorseless Warrior absolutely had no respect for Dark Dragon, a Tier 5 Champion. After he barked at him to “get lost”, he disconnected the private message channel. Dark Dragon was pissed.

Since the day his name was put on the map, no one had ever been so insolent towards him.

“Great! That’s just great!”

He turned on the Clan’s communication channel. “Guys, if you see Remorseless Warrior from the Executors, give me his coordinates.”

“What’s wrong?”

Netherclaw’s firm voice was heard in the channel. He did some research earlier on the Executors. They had good strength and many Tier 5 players—the amount rivaling that of other Associate Clans of the Leagues before the fall of Moonrise City. It seemed like Dark Dragon wanted to stir up trouble with them; he was concerned.

As Dark Dragon was about to explain, someone reported in the channel.

“Remorseless Warrior?

“He’s in the ruins near me, right around seven spawn locations of the Gorefiend Spider Demon. His coordinates are XXX, YYY…”

Someone found Remorseless Warrior, and was reporting his coordinates. Netherclaw’s concerned voice sounded again.

“Dark Dragon, don’t stir up trouble!”

“Clan Leader, this time, don’t you interfere!”

“Listen, the Bauhinia Clan and Fallen Angels have already headed toward Aricus Underground Ruins. Fall back. You don’t want to lose face in front of Qin Ruo, do you?”

Netherclaw’s words indirectly cautioned Dark Dragon…

“Qin Ruo’s here?”

As though a bucket of water had been poured onto the flames of his anger, Dark Dragon was now much calmer.

He was no idiot. If he were to fight with the Clan Leader of the Executors in front of the Bauhinia Clan and Fallen Angels, it would certainly be an embarrassing scene. Additionally, it could potentially tip the Executors over to the Fallen Angel’s side too.

“Not just him. All the Tier 5 players from the Fallen Angels are on their way as well. Then there’s also the Bauhinia Clan’s Violet Orchid, Slayer’s Heart, and Violent Army Clan’s Dinosaurcerer and Homme Fatale. It would seem that Qin Ruo and his gang are determined to win over the Aricus Underground Ruins. Listen to me, just fall back…”

Netherclaw’s underlings were confused. “But Boss! Even if the Fallen Angels, Bauhinia, and Violent Army Clan are here, we don’t need to retreat, right? Wouldn’t it be better to stir up some trouble for them?”

“That’s right, we can grab some of his components! Let’s see how he’d be able to enter the ruins’ secret chamber!”

“Yeah!”

Several of the Netherspirit’s Claw members started to agree.

Netherclaw coldly said, “Don’t be stupid! This time, it’s different! Yeah, we can use our name, ‘Netherspirit’s Claw’, to intimidate other players. But do you think Qin Ruo will yield to that? I don’t want to attract any vendettas from the Fallen Angels yet, so fall back and stop causing me trouble!”

Netherclaw was also hoping to not affect the morale of his underlings, so he continued, “And we don’t need to lift our fingers anyway. The Executors are currently in the Aricus Underground Ruins. They’re formidable foes and ought to be enough of an obstacle for the Fallen Angels… We just need to wait and watch. No need to put ourselves in between their conflict.”

His words lifted his underlings’ spirits. Dark Dragon also felt that his leader had played a good hand. “Now that’s my wise Clan Leader!”

“Hahaha!! Yeah Yeah Yeah… let them fight!”

***

Meanwhile, on Level 2 of the Aricus Underground Ruins… After he taunted Dark Dragon, Remorseless Warrior cautioned the Executors to be wary of Netherspirit’s Claw. However, after a few minutes, there was no trouble coming their way—in fact, members from Netherspirit’s Claw all started to retreat from the spawn locations of the Gorefiend Spider Demon.

That amused Remorseless Warrior and the Executors.

“Hahahaha!”

“They’re all just a bunch of senile wimps over in Netherspirit’s Claw!”

“I’ve heard that Dark Dragon’s quite a character. He always uses his reputation as a Tier 5 Champion to bully others. But when faced with our Clan Leader, he doesn’t even dare lob out a fart! Hahaha! This feels so good!”

“Heh, the Winter Demon castrated him. He doesn’t have the balls anymore.”

“The Winter Demon? He’s just a casual who relies on his pet and equipment. If he comes, I’ll beat him to a pulp!” As Remorseless Warrior said that with pride, someone reported in the Clan’s communication channel.

“They’re here! It’s the Fallen Angels!”