Chapter 657 - Bone Dragon (1/2)
If Qin Han knew what Nie Yan was thinking, just what kind of reaction would he have? Would he cough out blood in a fit of rage?
After a while, a large company of Thieves arrived at the scene of the crime. They started searching for traces of Nie Yan, who had already long since departed. So, they came up with nothing.
「Boss, Nirvana Flame already left. What do we do?」
Back in God Executioner Sword’s guild headquarters in the Brocchi Stronghold, Qin Han let out a storm of curses and furiously stomped the floor. Because Battle Angel Kalenna had purified his corpse, he had lost two and half levels’ worth of experience. Even worse, he had also dropped his Necronomicon. He had spent blood, sweat, and tears and died three times to obtain this Legendary item from the Undead Depths. But now it was in the hands of the enemy, his arch-rival no less! How could he not feel indignant?
「Expand the search! Report back immediately if you discover Nirvana Flame!」Qin Han gritted his teeth. Nie Yan was already aware of the existence of his skeleton army. He had to move things forward ahead of schedule to prevent Nie Yan from ruining his plans!
At Qin Han’s command, the skeletons under his control expanded their range of activities, attacking both players and NPCs alike and razing the villages near the Brocchi Stronghold.
Qin Han decided to go all out, no longer caring about exposing himself. These skeletons were extremely frightening, with few players possessing the might to stop them.
The number of skeletons rapidly multiplied.
“I want to see how you’ll deal with this, Nirvana Flame!” Qin Han bellowed. He would soon have enough skeletons to attack more densely populated areas such as Hilderlocke. When his skeleton army reached 1,000,000 strong, he would launch a full out assault on Asskickers United’s strongholds!
Nie Yan continued clearing the skeletons with Lil’ Gold. However, he clearly sensed their numbers suddenly swelling.
Nie Yan gradually realized the terror of the Vengeance of the Undead event and why the skeleton army was able to sweep through the Viridian and Satreen Empires in the previous timeline.
A war that threatened to engulf the entire continent loomed over the horizon.
Asskickers United had already finished making their preperations. As for whether or not they were enough remained to be seen. There wasn’t much else they could do. Going on the offensive, which meant engaging the skeletons in the open wilderness, was far too dangerous. In fact, it would be incredibly stupid. Every death on your side would simultaneously see the enemy's army grow.
Nie Yan thought for a moment. He should infiltrate the Brocchi Stronghold to collect some evidence, then report his findings to the Elder Council. On one side, he could receive the Great Prophet title, and on the other, it would allow the empire’s army and the temple’s Paladin Legion to mount a proper defense.
Thinking to this point, Nie Yan made his way toward the Brocchi Stronghold.
...
News of a large army of skeletons being spotted in the east of Hilderlocke spread like wildfire. Players on the forums all speculated, giving birth to the wildest of rumours. Some guessed a new undead map that spawned skeletons had appeared. Others thought it was some sort of quest; as long as they cleared the skeletons, a boss would emerge who would drop a Legendary item upon its death. No one could’ve ever imagined that it was the release of a new expansion.
The general outlook of the situation was fairly positive. Even if these skeletons slaughtered villages and towns, there was no way they could make their way into a city, right?
Everyone was oblivious to this approaching calamity. Even if someone reported these skeletons had attacked a city, no one would believe them. When word got out Hilderlocke had already dispatched an extermination force composed of 2,000 level 160 Elite guards to deal with the skeletons, the general populace nearly couldn’t contain their excitement any longer.
With the guards taking action, the players believed the skeletons would be wiped out in a flash. All the large teams in Hilderlocke mobilized into action and followed behind the extermination force, hoping to fish some benefits.
Close to 1,000,000 players in Hilderlocke set off for the east. They had no idea they were heading straight to their deaths.
...
Nie Yan arrived at the base of the Brocchi Stronghold. Like a spider, he crawled up the walls and snuck inside, finding himself in the residential district.
Surveying around, the streets were teeming with skeletons. Many were Elites or even Lords. One could imagine how terrifying it would be if they were to surround you.
Nie Yan employed the techniques of a Shadow Dancer to stealthily move around the residential district.
Nie Yan eventually arrived outside a two-storey building. He kicked off a nearby wall and leaped up onto the roof. Breaking into a sprint, he bounded six meters through the air and clung onto the side of a wall. He then started clambering his way up.
With his high Dexterity and Jumping, the buildings, walls, and other structures inside the stronghold posed no obstacle to him.
Surveying the surroundings from a high vantage point, Nie Yan noticed a stone shrine in the distance. It was quite imposing with its sinister, ashen coloured walls.
Nie Yan didn’t know why, but this shrine gave him an uneasy feeling.
After hesitating for a moment, Nie Yan decided to go over there for a look.
Nie Yan snuck past the skeletons and arrived outside the shrine. The entrance was sealed shut. The gates were five meters tall and made out of solid metal. It was impossible to pry them open.
A group of skeletons were approaching from the distance Nie Yan hurriedly ducked behind a corner.
After not discovering anything, the skeletons departed, disappearing behind the end of the street.
Nie Yan investigated the outside of the tower. Looking up, he spotted a hatchway on the roof. “I wonder if I can get in from there…” He leaped onto the roof and made his way over. Letting himself in, he found himself inside an attic filled with junk.