Skeleton Soldier Weed
Royal Road's website came up again and again. The first movie posted by the Cold Roses guild started.
"Look! It's the battle of the Northern Expedition."
After going into the Valley of Death from the white snowy fields, the fight started! The expedition had been fighting evil soldiers and servants, as well as Lizard Kings. The battle royal was going on in real time, uploaded by Oberon, a registered Hall of Fame user, but the responses were doubtful.
"Will we actually see some battling in the valley this time?"
"With nothing to hit, what are they even doing there?"
People had abandoned the expedition, only few lingered. The expedition was subjected to ridicule because for more than two months in Versailles Continent time, the only thing they did was wander around. However, people's reactions changed after the video progressed a little more. From the moment they entered the depth of the Valley of Death, the number of monsters that appeared increased exponentially. The identity of the expedition was still unknown, yet the Embinyu Priests stood before them, filled with feelings of rage, and casted their magic.
"So worth it ......"
"Fighting like that while whistling, as expected of the expedition led by a prestigious guild."
"Great tune."
As the expedition reached its end, surrounded by white snow and ice in the Valley of Death, the exciting last-ditch breakthrough attempt unfolded. Seeing real people fight in a thrilling action movie, you feel as though you have become one of them. While watching the video, the rumours people heard increased rapidly. The Hall of Fame's audience was always growing because it only takes a single moment to get people's attention.
"You mean you think it's related to the atmosphere?"
"Hey, wake up."
"Monster levels appear quite high. In the north, it's not uncommon for such strong monsters to appear in groups, this doesn't look good ......"
"Will it go right this time?"
People were dubious, yet they held their emerging hopes on the expedition.
"It's not the first time a courageous expedition has left to explore the northern continent. Let's wait and believe."
"I hope you have a successful expedition."
"Its way too hot, I'm dying here. It's hard to move, sweat's even flowing from my forehead. Stamina is consumed too quickly."
"We can't go to places like cool dungeons or mountain-rivers because of the prestigious guilds occupying the areas."
"It's better for wizards and clerics to move less, they can't really survive like warriors."
The Versailles Continent was harder and hotter since the failure of the last A rank quest.
The value of hunting in dungeons and mountains skyrocketed. Stamina became much more difficult to preserve, and guilds fiercely fought wars to expand their area.
Meanwhile, people of course had to enjoy themselves and so tailors had a never before seen rush of bikini orders. Muscular men removed their black body armour and burned their clothes while enjoying the glamour of tanned women.
The scene in Royal Road changed.
As the festivities ended, there was a significant increase in people swimming in rivers as people struggled to forget the summer heat by hitting the beach! Normally, if you wanted to relax and enjoy yourself, places could be found anywhere, but because of the crazy heat, they were rare. Crowds all gathered in river towns and seaside castles for the eye candy.
Even at the rivers, by noon you could no longer swim because of them.
Most people were forced to endure the heat. They were bound to be a little annoyed.
"I hope this expedition is successful."
"I really hope for the best too."
"Please make it ......"
People began to cheer for a successful expedition and a home return.
"But if they really succeed, what will happen?"
"Well, the Cold Roses guild will gain tremendous fame. They will also gather massive wealth and power from the new users flocking to join them."
"Will it really end that way? Oberon is a benevolent guy and trusts his guild, but I imagine they are growing way too daring. Think of how reckless a challenge this is ......"
"They could jump into the top 5 of the guild rankings though."
Below the video in the Hall of Fame, users posted their views.
Then someone posted an article.
It was a user with the nickname Chase. People knew him as a celebrity in Royal Road.
"About one month ago, in the middle of a quest, I heard the story from a pub owner."
Everyone focused on what Chase wrote.
"Chase-nim?"
"The high-level user ranked in the top 100? He normally doesn't write here, what the hell is going on?"
After stimulating the curiosity of a bunch of relaxed viewers, he finally posted:
I heard a simple story.
'To create the continent's cool weather again, you must acquire the things the Witch presented to the altar of the God.'
Edereune God's altar. I investigated by reading the history of the Versailles continent for information about witches. As a result, I found the records of the Serbian Ice Witch.
The Broken Beads of the Witch.
Through the information I learned from the history of the Versailles continent, the beads are in an unknown location in a valley... and from what I have heard, it seems that the expedition is probably battling around that place.
Chase's article was like pouring oil onto a roaring fire.
"The expedition is at the place where the broken beads of the Serbian Witch can be found!"
"Chase said the expedition's battle is associated with the heat in the Versailles continent!"
"The quest to blow the heat away from the Versailles continent is finally in progress?"
The Broken Beads of the Serbian Witch was a kind of item that corresponds to accessories.
It is known for its special power of manipulating the surrounding climate, but it constantly eats away your life. Unless you are a master wizard specializing in ice, just touching the cursed item will freeze your body.
The spotlight was focused on the Hall of Fame as the video came up.
All professional stations -including KMC Media and CTS Media- interrupted regular news broadcasts to show the video. The real-time news was not to be missed; its purpose was to tell exactly what the big issue in the Versailles continent was.
The TV screen showed the expedition finally venturing deep into the Valley of Death.
Then something gigantic emerged.
One of the most powerful undead creatures, the Bone Dragon!
With every roar of the Bone Dragon, the earth underneath already shaking feet trembled.
Kuah ahang!
"Damn! Run!"
"Divide the party!"
"Don't stick close to the wall! Ice blocks will fall from above!"
The expedition fell into disarray.
Bone Dragons have never once appeared before, let alone been hunted.
It is usually much easier to fight in the plains. You can put your feet on the life filled earth and stay steady until the enemy is defeated.
But here, the ground is made of slippery ice, making it very unstable. To make matters worse, whenever the Bone Dragon moved, the earth shook.
"Knights, please clear the rocks!"
"Damn it! It's so difficult to keep balance!"
Swordsmen, knights and warriors ran off with their swords, dislodging the ice every time they slipped and fell. No matter how strong the thrust was, it could be easily stopped by a twisted foot.
Complaints burst out across the expedition.
"Stand united, together we will have a better shot at killing it. Wizards, attack with magic!"
"Damn it ... can't use magic! The body's not listening due to the Bone Dragon's roar."
Roar of the Bone Dragon.Dragons are peerless.They inflict psychological pressure on inferior creatures!
Even if thousands of animals such as foxes gathered, they would end up lying on the ground, dead.
The mentality of the magicians got disturbed with fear of the Bone Dragon.
Magic failed. Mana reflux.
A number of hands started shaking. Words did not come out properly. More than nine tries failed in succession.
"Fireball wave! Keuaaag!"
While trying to attack, the wizard's magic failed and his body caught on fire, burning him afterwards.
Such a sight made the mouths of wizards freeze.
"Oh my god. What in the world......"
"Never seen that monster before."
The Bone Dragon's level was known to be in the late 400s.
Many users in the expedition had a level in the late 300s. It had incredible strength for a difference of only about 100 levels.
Significantly higher levels reveal greater gaps in power.
Furthermore, the Bone Dragon was one of the large boss monsters able to fly and use magic!
Because of these reasons it was an even more difficult opponent.
"Stupid human race!"
The Bone Dragon was communicating.
A body made only of bones.
The area where eyes should be shined a dark blue glow.
"This will be everyone’s grave!"
Whenever the Bone Dragon roared, the ice spontaneously ruptured.
"Behold your sanctuary!"
The wings folded over the large body spread wide out.
Parararak!
The Bone Dragon unfolded its bony wings.
Its broad wings completely covered the Valley of Death.
The Bone Dragon majestically soared into the sky. It reversed directions and descended, all the while using its feet to pick people up and its head to swallow them.
"Oh shit."
"We’re trapped. We're all going to die!"
Despair filled the eyes of the young users that believed in the Cold Roses guild and followed the expedition.
Bone Dragon!
They were legendary mythical creatures fought against in ages past.
But Cold Roses was a rather ambitious guild and went straight into the fire without a glance at the frying pan. The guild alliance had not lost any of their will to fight.
"It is a Bone Dragon."
"A golden opportunity to hunt one."
Bone Dragons have not yet once been hunted.
The reason was not because they were invincible, but rather Bone Dragons were never seen in the continent until now. They are very rare in nature, making them hard to encounter.
Usually, as soon as boss monsters over level 400 appeared in dungeons, guilds joined together into